A SCARLET SIN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 183, 19 August 1909, Page 3

A SCARLET SIN.

By ALICF. ai-.d f'i.uHi. : ; .\SKKW, Authors of "The Shulamite." "An» na of tt»o Plains." &c., &.c.

(ALi. n Ti ; ■> r.-- nT; v r:i:vr:n )

A ]'< )\v];i;i'UL STOMY. .

TU KXTY-F1 FT 11 1X ST ALM KXT. Si ill. it iron evident that he fully oml r«luoil all I hat Pamela hail laid him. lie half closed his eye* when she hod and Pamela hail to stoop her head to hear Ibo words he Nfofce. "So .vuti line saved ma life again.** h** tinrrmun-d—"you. Pamela Martindale, and this young lover o' yours? It looks like fate ; vest, it seems ns though ye're hound to tv guiil t«» him who meant to do ye harm. Ye an* treating me. Pamela : l«y your aiu guidness ye're lieatin' ine. An' now I'm stricken down an' helpli"ss, on' 1 con do nowt in return this n lit. 1 canna keep ma promise for my limbs will na bear me up." "lie turned and groaned, conscious at lost that he was more seriously hurl than h<« had been willing to admit.

After a few minutes he asked if Basil Forraday was in the house, repressing n desire to see and I hank him lor what he had done. "There's na doot." he mullered. "(Kit I'd bae lieen a dead man l»v row had ;v not come out to lind me. From what ye've said it's clear lo m- that young Jock—him whom I turned away yesterday on' who was in lhe plot wi" Puguld M'Laren lo harm me—hail found a line attil easy way to «-nd the business. He'd hae laid nie out wi' a blow o* the skull, on* none would hae been the wiser. An' he shot M'Alpin you say." The man sighed heavily, for the hound hod Iktd dear to him. "The brute! He shot M'Alpin. Hut I brought it a" on myself. Yes. Pamela " —the admission seemed wrung from him agarnst his will—"! brought it a" on myself." Pamela spoke what consoling words she could, ond saw to it that this new patient was made as comfortable os possible under Ihe circumstances. And presently the dortor pi rived, find look the ip ' • into his own hands. He was merely told that Itob IVrrinl had met with his injury by I wing thrown from his cart no mention Iwing made of the attack which hiiil been so happily frustrated by Haiti's timely np|»enrance. The dot-tor's report was more favourable than Pamela had anticipated A bad jar to the spine, but nothing broken, no internal injury. A few days' rest and ltob Perrinl would Ik* himself again : but on no account must hi- l>e allowed to move from his bed lor the present. In fact it would Ih* impossible for him to do so.

"AirJ wire's r t K „ ~Mt to night ? " srnaiictl ih«* icr.n when th- doctor had nt Inst la J, en his departure—in somewhat of a hurry, for he hail duties at a dislnnce to attend 10. "Who's to go and dig In Ihe Metherly field for the bones of Clinton Peele ? To-morrow it will lv too late.""

PatufEa li.nt over him. "The v. <>r* shall l»e done to-night

ibe whiHfvrid- "Though von canrui? help. Mr. Perrint. there is one r- ,-Uy t-» take yirt*". ii'o"''. Basil I'ticrailnv will snve »*«. »et.'* And it.*! 1 * fVrrint turned his h-ad ,i r y v: F, , t low moan, but he oflcrv. I. no •■'»)> i (iun. CIIAPTKR XXXI. Tfiwas no mist lo shroud the fr.n.l .»• lu;:bf. l-r-t Ihe wind bad riien. it-1 grunt cloud masses scudn t t « - a vapoury moon, proibicv.»r,| effect* of alternate light itml ;arkn<"t*. Basil anil Pamela si.-pp-tl briskly along Ihe rough Irark that E«il l«» Ihe Methetly fields. Th' girl hail insisted upon accompanying her lover, nnd rendering him what help she could In the ghastly that lov l»-fore him. Naturally : usil hii;l demurred strongly, but Pauv a had pointed out thnt she knew the exact spol where it was metcssory to dig. having been witi ■*.«» of Itob Perrint's efforts the t :h( b fore, and thai consequently f might lie able to •'ave Basil useIc. hi hour. Moreover, she had qui' ■ .made up her mind that Basil shot; .1 not go out olone lo foce any il.np I- thai might befall . He had prom - I her that t|>is should noi lv so. and !<he held him lo his word. Ihe young man had al last yii'ltlc.l ,yn unwilling consent, lull had • li;i.-ff9ted that, the spol oni e I'itinled out lo him. Pomelo ihoubl t:>t.e no further port in the proceedirig!, but should nwoil his return ol A llislanre. (»> orgn Marl Indole hod not Itcen t >!d of his daughter's intention, though he had learned of the accident to Itob Pcrlint.

"Fato is playing into our hands." he hod murmured lo llasil. who. standing by his bedside, hod modestly enough I old the whole slory of the afternoon's happenings. "It seems that first Pomelo and now you have been instrumental in saving Perrint's life. If then- is «nv sense of gratitude in Ihe man lie car. no longer attempt lo keep you *vpart. you two wjio lovp roth oth-r I think we shall win." He rubied hi? thin hands together with feveristi anxiety. "Ye*. Basil, if only fortune favours you to-night, nil may yet tie well with us. The bones of Clinton Peele moj* rest un* disturbed in n new grove, ond the world lie none the wiser thon it hos lueen for the lost flve-ond-twenly years thol a man was done to death in the Melherly field. *' He shook Basil heartily by the hand, ami the young pian realized Ihe depth of feeling imported by tho nervous grip '"Sly honour and Pomelo's, your mother's and your own—all these depend upon your success to-night. Remember that, Basil, and may the thought of it lend strength to your arm and coyrage to your heart." It was midnight when Iho two voung people set out upon their truss ton from Orgadalo Lodge. Basil carried all thnt he would need for hi.i work—a spode ond a sack of rmtsfh matting. He spoke little as he walked on, I'amela by his side.

!• ;? uh'-n. onr.» or twice. sh«* clnnred t,;, mW. hi* fine • !v- i-ad V-

- , in his lirm-vt m-mth. an«l h r 1,, art swelled with prid,? for the : ..in she loved. She had little fear »l the task that lov before them, horrible as it was. The issues were too great, 100 momentous. She felt that she had reached a crucial point in her life, and that all het future depended upon what the next few hours might bring forth. Long shadows, fantastically interlaced, fell athwart the rough track, and the wind made melancholy moan among the tree-tops. Had she been of a superstitious nature, hod she h«cn easily a fleeted by the queer «tori«s that Liddy—a firm believer in ghost and bogie—had regaled her with, she could easily have imagined unranny shape's crouching down among the trees, or the moaning of restless Spirits far awav upon the sweeping moors. Luckily her mind was too evenly balanced for such fears, iml it was with the consciousness of <i real rather than an imaginary presence in their neighbourhood that ol n sudden she rested her hand upon Basil's arm and drew him into the -hndow. "Basil, what is that ? "•

They had reached the spot where the branch track that led to Orgatlole abutted upon the broader and more frequently us«*d road. They were close now lo the Motherly field, u portion of whiih. though not that whiih they sought, reached the high road itseif. Pamela had heard footsteps approaching and as she drew Basil back among the trees that bordered this side of the path, a figure, guunt and pretcrnaturolly large in lit- pale light of the moon, made its appearance and passed I hem by almost within touch of I heir hands. A wayfarer. Certainly at that advanced hour of the night they had not expected to meet any one upon the Metherly road. Yet there was nothing stiange in the fact that some lielutod villager should l»e ahroad. It was a trille disconcerting to meet any one so close to the Metherly fields that was ull.

"We must wait till he has passed," whis|H*reil Basil. "There's nothing to fear. Pamela —nothing at all." But the pressme of Pamela's hand tightened upon his nrm. for at that moment a cloud passed from tiefore the moon, anil the figure of the man, trailing a somewhat erratic course along the road before them, became more clearly visil-!.*. •*I)o you see. Basil ? " Pamela whispered. apprehensively. "He, 100. has a spado in his hand ; he is as anxious us we an? to escape observation. how he glances about him. and how he swerves from side to side us if to keep in the shadow What can he be going to do? And now look nt him I.ook ! The man. whoever he might bo, had halted by the low wall that bordered the Metherly fields. He was ••landing there us if in indecision as lo what he should do next. Presently he turned glancing furtively down the road in the direction of the watchers. His white face was Really outlined by the light of the moon.

Pamela and Basil Ported simultaneously. anil it was all they could do lo refrain from crying out. " Sir Charles Sainton, by all that's unholy ! " muttered underneath his breath . "What does it mean. Pamela ? "

The girl shoo), her head but made no audible reply. Her hand still lay upon Basil's arm. ond she drew him still further bark Into Ihe shadow, trembling with fear lest their presence should l»e discovered.

For a strange presentiment hac! come upon her that Sir Charles Sainton was connected in some manner that was about to be revealed lo I hem with the murder of Clinton Peele, with the secret that lay hidden in the Metherly fields "We must watch." she whispered. "He must not see us. Basil, whatever we do. we must not let Sir Charles Sainton surprise us. I feel Mire —sure that he hns come out lient on doing what we were about to do. Basil he has come to dig, even as we mine to dig." "I don't understand it at all," relumed Basil : "but 1 lielieve you ore right. Pomelo. S«v. now. he is over the wall, nml in llie field." As Basil spoke Pamela could discern the man hail «limlxil, with some difficulty, ovei the low wall, and was now making his way in the ;!:rrr'.ion cf the spot for which they themselves were bound. Then the moon was once more obscured, and he was hidden from her sight. "We must follow him. There's nothing for it but that." said Basil. "It's a lucky thing that he has not seen ii-t. for he's evidently terribly alraid of lieing surprised. I never saw such a scared face in my life as was his when he turned and gazed down the road. Whatever he wants to do. 1 here's no doubt that he hates the job. But It's no use trying to explain things lo ourselves ; all we have gol to do is to follow. It is lucky there arc trees and walls bohind which we can conceal ourselves" Ho set his teeth firmly. "The plot thickens," he muttered with a low laugh, "but it shall be solved tonight." It was well that Pamela knew the lie ol the land for she was able to leod Basil lo the desired spot by another woy to that taken by Sir Charles Sointon. There were two lield-s to lie traversed—barren fields. long left uncultivated—the walls of which had rolled and crumbled riway, presenting lit lie or no obstacle even lo Pamela. The field which lhey desired to reach—it was a stretch of bleak moorland rather than o field—lay on high ground ; anil presently as they noarcd it, the figure of Sir Charles Sainton apiieareil, once more inordinately magnified. black and grotesque, but well defined against a stormthrealening background. He was striking nt the earth with his spade, now on one side of him. now on the other ; sometimes aiming savage blows with the handle of it al the tow stunted bushes that interfered with his progress, sometimes standing still, his arms falling helplessly lo his sides, as (f in indecision. ••Ho doesn't remember the situation of the spot for which he is seeking." whispered Basil. "These bushes—thev have no doubt grown up and changed the aspect of the ground since he knew it. Where's the place. Pamela ? Can we ser> it from here 9 " He Ik-sihn head to

thc girl so that he might hear her low-voiced reply. Pamela was trembling a little, and Basil drew her closely to his side, throwing a protecting arm about her waist.

"Don't be afraid," he went on, quickly. "The fellow cannot sec us, and I'll take good carc he does not do so till I know what he's driving at. He's half-daft with fear as it is and if he were suddenly to see you or me he'd run as if a thousand devils were on his track. We are on the eve of a discovery, Pamela," he continued in an impicosive undertone, "so you must bear up for the sake of us all." "I'm not afraid," said Pamela, stoutly. "If I trembled, I think it was with cold. You needn't lear for ine. Basil. See," she added. r|iiickly, "he is nearing the spot where Pcrrint was digging last night. I ihink he has recognized it. It lies yonder, just on the further side of that clump of low trees. If you move a little to the right you can sec it clearly." "Thank goodness for the trees," <aid Basil, moving a few steps as the girl suggested. "If we get behind them we can see everything that happens without being seen ourselves. There's a ditch and a low wall to cross first, though. But, never mind them Pamela, for I'll help you over" Darkness had again supervened, and for the moment the figure of Sir Charles Sainton was hidden from them. Groping his way carefully along, Basil guided Pamela (o the desired spot. From here the whole sweep of desolate moorland was visible, for the curtain of bushes and stunted trees—a rank vegetation which had grown tip along the line of a ruined wall which divided field from field—was sufficient (o afford them shelter without impelling their view. Pamela panted, out of breath after the quick ascent of the slope and leaned heavily upon her lover's arm. He glanced down at her with some anxiety, but was reassured upon looking into her face for Pamela wus neither faint nor terrified. Her purpose was as strong as his own, her nerves as collected.

Suddenly the moon reappeared from behind the clouds which had hitherto hidden moon clear and free from the haze which had shrouded it in the earlier part of the night. Ppon the horizon line great cloud-masses were gathering, but it would be a little time yet before these hid the moon. A few stars appeared, set faintly in a background of purple. It was a temporary rift in the threatened storm. Pamela pointed across her lover's shoulder. Even at that moment he noticed that there was no nervous quiver of her hand. "Look,"- she whispered simply ; then with a quick change in the inflection of her voice, she added : "1 don't know what has happened. The earth has been disturbed again, for last night Itob Perrint restored everything to its former condition. Basil, some one else has been ging."She spoke the truth as was evident to Basil upon a quick glance in the direction she indicated to him. The earth had been piled up in a great heap—a heap interposed between them and the pit that had been dug out.

"What docs it mean ? " faltered Pamela-

"I cannot say," he returned, hoarsely. "There are strange things happening in the field to-night, Pamela. ' There's some one now whom we cannot sec because of the slope of the ground and because of that mass of earth that he has heaped up. Listen ; you can hear the sound of the spade." Pamela listened, and despite herself she trembled a little. It was her dream fulfilled. They had come to dig in the earth, but there were others already there : it was harvesttime for the field of blood. The monotonous sound of the spade as it threw up the earth—how well she knew it !—how often she had listened to it in her dreams ! Sir Charles Sainton was not in sight ; yet whoever was working in the pit it was palpably not the baronet, for the work already accomplished must have taken considerable time. Sainton was probably still slowly following the line of the wall, searching for the exact spot which he desired to find.

Suddenly he appeared from behind a cl9mp of bushes, still swinging his spade and, us the watchers could not fail lo notice, muttering to himself. He was as unprepared as Basil and Pamela themselves for the sight that mot his eyes ; and for him a greater terror lay in wait than that which they had been forced to endure, for as ho stood, faltering ond irresolute, slowly realizing the import of that tnound of earth, a dark figure rose from the pit—a figure armed, like (limsolf, with a spade—the very semblance, as it seemed, of himself. The spade fell from Sir Charles Sainton's hand, and he threw up his hands with a wild gesture of despair, then shriek after shriek burst from bis lips. BasM gripped Pamela tightly, and his hand pressed her mouth, for he was afraid that she, too, might yield to the terror of the moment. But Pamela, though she clung closely to her lover, though ho felt that she was trembling in every limb uttered no sound, nor did .she attempt to_ move ; only she hid her eyes in the shadow of his arm, and he heard her murmur : "I am with you, Basil —with you. I am not afraid."

The strange man sprang from the pit which he had dug. his spade" gripped manacingly above his shoulder. It was evident that he, too, had been surprised. He advanced upon Sir Charles Sainton, who sank upon his knees, his arms stretched out helplessly before him. Basil realized then that the man was overwhelmed by a very madness of terror "Go away. Clinton Peele," ho screamed. "For figd's sake, go ! 1 won't disturb your bones, I swear it —I swear it ! " To be Continued.