A SCARLET SIN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 182, 16 August 1909, Page 4

A SCARLET SIN.

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A POWKIMTL STORY.

n>- At.icr. ntui (askew. Authors of "The Shnlomitr." "An* no of the Plain*." Ac.. &c«

TWKNTY-FOt RTII IN'STALMKN'T. "Well." tla-sil concluded, "the position rwolvMt it.nrlf into this. I've got to larlilp Sir. IVrrint as soon n* hj? conn-* in and make him uro rrawn. I don't think he'll insist u|H?n claiming you. I'nmela. a/ter he hnjt had half an hour'* conversation with nv. I want to make a friend of hint if I can. for it i* MUT we should work together to-night ; but if he is pig-headed and obstinate I shall find other means of settling with him and putting him in his right plan l . Xever fear for that, ♦larllnjf. Holi IVrrint shnll give you up of hi* own free will, and he shall hrenthe a word as to the mnnn«r of Clinton I'eele's death."

Perhaps Basil was promising more than Iv could perform, but he spoke with such cheery confidence that his words lightened the burden at the girl's heart. Basil was glad to see that a little colour had crept back to her rheeßs that her smile was more natural, and came spontaneously to her lips. "It is strange that Mr. Perrint has not returned yet." remarked Pamela at Inst. "He is usually in the house before dusk, and 1 should have thought that h.' would have returned directly after he had left the Mclherlv Inn* Kven M'Alpin is getting restless."

This was true. For the last few iuinutt-* the hound had been moving restlessly about the hall, and now ho hod taken up his |>osition by the >t->or. crouching at full length upon the ground, his great head resting upon his forepaws. his eyes fixed upon the door ly which he expected his master to enter. Xow and again he gave v.-nt to a low growl. "1 trust that nothing can have hnpi».*ncd to Mr. Perrint." said Pamela a little anxiously. She rose from her chair as she spoke, and stood liefore the fire, a pleasant glow from the blazing logs illuminating her far- and hair. "Those men Inst night—l rnn.'t help thinking of them. And thi* innkee|>er at Mcthcrly who must l»e one of them —you say hj» was a dangerous-looking man Basil."

In his turn Basil sprang to his let.

"By .love f I didn't think of that."he cried. "For all we know those scoundrels may have set on Rob IVrrint ns he made his way back to the house. I must go out and see. Pamela, even if I have to walk as far as the inn. Of course, our fears may »w altogether groundless, for Rob Perrint. as he said, is a man quite capable of looking after himself. But still It is best to sure."

lie s-i/ed his hat which he had thrown down* upon the hall table when first admitted to the house, and strode to the door. M'Alpin started up. and uttered a loud, eXidled bark.

"The brutti knows what I am about to do. and wonts to go will) in*, you see." said Basil.

"But I'll go too. Basil." said Pamela, quickly. "Indeed, indeed. I want to r"

IT. IFied. to dissuade her. but her mind was .-set on accompanying him. She was warmly clad, she explained, an t ilm| not mind the evening air. Sh • would put a light wrap over her ii> n I. so as not to lose time by goiii» upstairs for her hat. A* soon ns the door was opened. M'Alpin darted out. his nose to the ground. -tt> can't do lietter than follow the dog." said Basil. "He'll lead «s to his master if Rob Perrint is anywhere in the neighbourhood." Presently, however. M'Alpin disappeared, losing himself in the heather anil rank grass that lay to cither side of the |»oplar avenue. They hurried on down the long avenue, stumbling now and again in the deep nits, or entitling fheir feet in the tendrils of the profuse-grow-ing herbage. Pamela had to grip Basil's arm lightly, and she found it limit ult to keep pace with him. The conviction had grown upon both of them that there was something wrong. The unaccountable absence of Rob Perrint had seemed but a little thing when they had been seatmi together in the light and warmth of the hall : but now. in the gathering twilight, as they passed amid the long, interlacing shadows of the avenue, the foreboding of evil was strong upon them bpth ; Pamela shuddered, for the air was keen, though, luckily, the damp mist, which had become such a familiar feature to her. was absent that evening. Basil glanced down at her face with keen commiseration. "I wish you had not come with me. Pamela." he fnuttcred, "I am happier with you. Basil." she returned with a little gasp—">oh for happier, whatever it may be to whtVh we are going." B«*i| made no reply, hut he clasped ihe girl's «rin tighter, for was it not possible that there might be a danger for her If his surmise was correct, ami Rob Perrint had been »ttnrked by unscrupulous enemies? Thev reached the gate with Its unoccupied lodge. The gate stood o|«en. but this was not unusual at Orgadale. since there was no one to attend to the shutting of it. The road—it was little more than a track—that led to Melherly stretched for a Bttle woy tA their M*. ' nen made a sudden curve and was lost to sight. There was no one in sight —no sign of a vehicle having recently passed that way—yet Rob Perrint as Pamela knew, had driven to the village in a dog-cart. "We must go on as far as Metherlv." muttered Basil ; "there is notVng tor It but thj»t, Pamela. At any rate we shall And out there, if Perrint set out to return home, or if he drove on in another direction. \o doubt we are alarming ourselves for nothing But I wonder what h«.=i h.-omr of the d"g?" The* turned in'o th-- road, ami n" ho spok./. from a !:!>!.' distance >i-

r.- •. ! ■■< :h--in. round the i-iirvi- of thf ■-.' .•>.::;•■ !h<- sound of M'Alpin';- '. ■ ; ,arj> harking. Th-y Imu'kml ...■: '; si.ii) <a<h oihrr's oy.-s. ■ ■': i dnrinc to voire the thought '■-.!■ v ;»•- in their minds. f\v l>nrk became an angry yelp : ,• d then, of n sudden, through the ■ : dines* of the evening* resounded the report of a pistol. One shot, but dter it M'Alpin's bark was hushed. Ba«dl laid a detaining hand on Pamela's shoulder. The girl had uttered a low cry and started forward. "They have shot M'A I pin." she cried. "Oh. the brutes, the brutes !" She struggled to free herself from Mnsil's grasp. lie felt the necessity of firmness. "l»ear." he said, quickly, "we don't snow what is happening over there, but this I know—you must not go .•n. Whatever danger there is it is not for you to face it. Go bock o the lodge and wait for me there. Pamela "—his voice became stern and rommnnding for the girl hesitated to obey him—"you must do as I bid you. For the sake of our love go back." Without a word she turned and went. It was no time for hesitation, and Ilasil's words were a command. She staggered back to the <»p-n gate of Orgadnle, while Basil, after a quick glance over his shoulder to see if she had obeyed him. set ut down the road at a sharp run. CIIAPTBR XXX. A SKCOXD OBLIGATION. To Pamela, crouching against the gate—unable to take refuge in the lodge, ns she had l»een told to do—owing to iho terrible anxiety that oppressed h«-r. the minutes that ensued were charged with the tensest pain. Her lover was in imminent danger, she had no doubt of that, and she had not lieen allowed to share it with him. Again and again she started down the road, but it was always to stop before she had advanced many paces and to turn back to the gate, behind which she must wait her lover's return. Why. had he not let her accompany him ? It was a greater cruelty this, to keep her in suspense. For what If ho should himself be killed in his attempt to rescue Rob Perrint. He was unarmed, and whoever it was he had gone out to meet, the man who had shot M'Alpin had a revolver in his possession, a revolver which ho did not fear to use. Should she run to the house and call for help ? But who was there to help her? The farm hands lived at detached cottages and there was no one in the house itself to render assistance. How silent it was ! She felt impelled to cry out and it was with difficulty that she restrained herself from doing sp. The in mutes dragged on. a very eternity. At least she had heard no rc|H*tition of the revolver shot, and had there been a struggle, surely she must ha%"c heard the sound of it. The very silence terrified her. All her nerves were on the alert, tingling with terrified excitement. She craned her eyes to pierce the darkness that was gathering about her, but the liend of the road was an. effectual bar to her sight. At last she thought she could discern the sound of footsteps—a slow, even tread. She had lieen alone for some half hour, but for her the time had seemed immeasurable. She listened for there was something peculiar in the quality of the sound. It was not what she had exjiected. Surely it was not the footsteps of a man she heard, but of several. And they were walking slowly, as though carrying a heavy burden. A sickening dread seized her. and she clasped her throat, her breath coming with difficult.*. What if they werVi carrying Basil back to her—Basil •lend or sorely hurt ?

She could stand ft no longer. She ran forward along the road and reached the liend. tottering and half fainting, just in time to lie caught in Basil's strong arms. She had rushed forward so blindly, that without this she would have fallen to the ground. lie held her- up. half laughing, but there was n catch in his voice as he murmured her name.

"Oh, Basil, you are unhurt. Oh, thank God for that ! " He saw that she was half ready to faint, and he gently led her to a great stone that lay by the roadside and upon which she sank down still ■supported by his arm. Then ho turned to one of the little group of men that surrounded a dark object ; Pamela could not distinguish what it was. "Give me the flash." he said, shortly, and taking it he moistened her lips with brandy, and made her swallow a little of the fluid. "Go on to the house." he said to the men. "I will follow. And one of you had better run in advance to warn them to have a Ikhl ready for a wounded mgn." The stolid rustics obeyed* him. There were four of them, and Pamela could distinguish that they were carrying a rough stretcher on which a body was extended. ■"ls it Rob Perrint ? " she asked, tremulously ; and then as Basil nodded, "Is \\c dead ? " she inur inured in an awed whisper. "So. he Isn't dead." came the answer, "nor do I think he is seriously hurt. Damaged his head a bit, and his back, too. I fancy. He was thrown from, his carl and must have l»een lying in the road for more than an hour unconscious. "But I don't understand." Pamela struggled to her feel as she spoke, resting heavily iipotr"Basil's arm. Her faintness had passed. It had been but a momentary attack, consequent upon her wild rush down the road with the strain of terror that was upon her. Now Basil was safe—she could see, hear, and tptich him—and Pamela's strength returned with the knowledge that all her fears had tieen groundless. "But I don't understand." she repeated. "M'Alpin—the revolver-shot ! I—l thought—l feared " "M'Alpin is dead," said Basil, slowly. "Poor brute, he died to save his master. But I will tell you aM * h «l h ftS happened, Pamela, as we walk back to the house. Lean on my arm."- he. added, with some anxiety, "for the sooner I get you hark the liettcr. You are not fnint now ? " She shook her head, and stepjwc out '>> l>ia side. 'Die mi-r. with th'ii nui-deii had di.-^ipp-iired

now into the poplar avenue that led lo Orgadah-. l',a<i! and Pamela were one- lm ■'■'•■ a >i>jp-. '■Why did yw-i •'■;r.'-' la" ?*' rfie murmuf-d, hai: r"pr<>a< n."i!ly. , si!, ym; don'' krvv v.! :>. ! I v;::-red. :It was a v.•!-;.- aLP :::;■ "'• :a- ; " 'hir.k that von \v ••:-■■ :r: 'ia:.„-;' a:ai "ha* I could not .-}-,,-!!' ;" a":. ; <> ; j "I tlioUL'h: t ;..•:■■• v a.- dai.L'.-r." F Basil r.--.;i--d. "a!ai I .-ho-.;",d have I hoin a t.rute if r had dr;v_-e;.-d you into it. Pamela. V<.-;r lif.- is too precious to me to he ri'-k'-d unnecessarily." "Oh. but you don't know," she shuddered, "how terrible it was— the gloom—the silence. I could not understand why I heard no sound —the fear for you, awl then the solitude ! Oh, may I never have to endure such agony again '. " .She turned to him quickly "Promise nie. Basil," she said—"promise me that if there should ever be danger of that sort again, you will let me be with you—you will not send me away." To satisfy her Basil gave the required promise ; then, as they walked briskly side by side, he explained what had happenen to Rob Perrint.

"This abominable road was the muse of Perrint's smash," he began. '"He was prolrably excited after his talk with the innkeeper and very likely he had drunk a good quantity of whisky. The wheel of his cart collided with a big stone, like the one you were sitting on just now, and there was a general smash. The horse seems to have turned and made a bolt across country. It was that that brought these men upon the scene. They recognized Rob Perrint's property ami realizing that an accident had happened, set out to look after the owner of the cart. They put in an appearance some ten minutes after me. He paused as if he found sonic difficulty in continuing his tale.

"Rut who fired the revolver that gave us such a fright ? " asked Pamela ; "and how was poor M'Alpin killed ? "

"That's the worst part of the story," returned Hasil ; "and it is very lucky Pamela—very lucky for Rob Perrint—that I came upon the scene when I did. Had it not been for that, unless T am very much mistaken, he would have been a dead man by now." Hasil lowered his voice and glanced half-ncrvously at the bushes that lined the avenue up which they were now walking. It was as though he feared to be overheard. Pamela trembled and drew closer to her lover's side. "Tell me," she whispered.

"There was someone else who found Rob Perrint hurt, and incap able of moving by the roadside." said Basil. "I don't know who he was, for in the darkness I could not clearly distinguish his face. But it wasn't the innkeeper Dugald M'Laien —I am sure of that. A younger man 1 should judge, tall and slight, but very poorly dressed. It was he who shot M'Alpin. The animal attacked him, so I imagine, just as he was about to carry out his brutal murder. Of course, I may be mistaken ; but I think I see clearly enough what his intentions lie didn't mean to use his revolver, and only did so through the force of circumstances. Hob Pt-rrint was lying there, the evident victim of an accident of some sort ; but he was not dead, nor likely to die ; though, of course, he was quite unable ici defend himself. What easier than to hit him on the head with a stone For no one would think that this injury was due to anything but the accident that had already brought him down." "Horrible, horrible ! " murmured Pamela. "But hpw do you know this was the ease. Basil ? "

"It is conjecture, founded upon a rather solid basis," was the reply ; "for this is certain, Pamela —after he had killed the hound he went back to his interrupted task. I found him stooping over Perrint, a grea'. murderous stone, with sharp edges in his hand. I can swear that he was about to strike, when he. looked up and caught sight of m<>. He dropped the stone and was gone like a shot. I ran after him for a little way ; but he knows the country ami I don't. Jk'sjdes, at that lime T didn't know to what extent P«r-ripi needed my help. It's only afterwards that I've been able to put two and two together, and if these good fellows who have just carried your unhappy host to the house had not turned up, no doubt I should still be very much in tho dark."

They reached the house as Basil concluded his tale, and all discussion on it had necessarily to be posponed. Rob Perrint, they found, hat) already lu-en carried in, and, under I.iddy's guidance, placed upon his bed lf< had regained consciousness, and. so the nurse reported, was entr'-r to hear all that had happened in him. lie jsemembcred pract i < :a! 1 y i; o•h; ?, n from the time that h<- was thrown out of his cart. One of the m ■■n had l>een despatched for the do., ••m. though Perrint himself ;, L •>. ;..:.];-i this useless, maintaining Mia' h-- had never needed a doctor in hi- i::'••. and would be well again at'-i :"--w hours' rest —a contention \\r,irj, was palpably absurd, for e,. ; , ; -,,-.•■:;,.-p.t he made was accompane d by --ym;itottis of acute pain. After a while he asked to Pamela, and she went to him ah.:,.-, judsrir\g it wisest that hj" should h'-ar all that had happened from her !:p.-, and that the part pla.-.-d by I'.a-i! in his rescue should be rev.-a-.-d ••> k:m by her. l-'roni Pamela, t,,,, i... m'i-t. learn of Basil's pres.-n. e j ; , •;.-..- house and of what her coti-d:, p:-..; .i to do that night. It was no easy t,\sk ih;-- 'fiat she had set herself,' hut she appr..aeh.-d jt bravely, confident tha' P'-rrint. must at least yield some He-asm-.• of gratitude to the man -.\ho had sav-d his life. •So, in the pres.-nee ..; I.iddy. -Alio hovered about the i.erj a'•••r.ditm- :<j this and that. The .-mail da'i'"~ oi the sick room in wh;.-;. -.h.- \\ .as proficient. Pamela t.,b". ':.-• -'.,ry, and Jlqb IVrnni 11.- t.• ii • ■.. j to it in sil-no', Only broken !--.- an 0..-.-a--:. T.nl moan as he found i' t >siry ■<• shi;' Imposition. His h-ad had b.-vi) badly rut, but al! his supurii'dal wounds ha<l already I n 'lr-svi. boi:nd tip by IJddys sk:i;m 'naiids. His worst injury seetn.-d :,, ;,.. •,, h is hack, and also hi- mind v.-a- ha/;. :v. the residj of shock. To b.; Cont intied.