THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 224, 12 January 1910, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS

AM. IiTGIITS iIiCSEIiVED

By MAURICE SCOTT, Author of "The Mark of the Broad ' Arrow, etc. etc.

, PART 16. CHAPTER XXII. TWO OF A KIND'. Dr. Del mold sat in his lofty luxurious ''study " looking out upon a vista •of beautifully-kept grounds 1 o d.Ted. by a fringe of grand old elms,, whose wealth of foliage hid the lofty stone wall, and also shut o'-it a formidable network of iron spikes, with which it was surmounted.

Dr. Detmold was a man below the medium height, of a fleshy build, wiili soft white hands, and a suave, purring manner intended to suggest benevolence, and which went well whh his smooth face, with its chin bordering on the double, and his venerable forehead, from which the grey—almost white hair was rapidly receding. For a number of years he had successfully conducted this extensive private asylum with, it was to be supposed, profit to himself, and certainly with satisfaction to the authorities, as also to the visitors of his numerous pat kills. As to (he patients themselves, they being mad, or at least suffering from delusions, their opinions would have cotmted for nothing, even had they been permitted to express any. But their relatives and friends, who occasionally visited the asylum, ami were entertained by Dr. Detmold carried away a most charming impression of ilv.it gentleman, an; 1 afterwards clescrib.d his virtues as being little short of marvellous. 15ut Sir Tall'ol Hester, who now sat facing him, was n diplomatist, an 1 a reader of nun. 'lie saw that underneath ihe purring manner, the outward suavity. and ilv soft white hands, were an iron will and claws of steel. The doctor, he concluded, was a scoundrel, who would perpetrate any act of villainy, if well paid for it, ami for a moment he consigned his affairs into oblivion as hi wondered in what maimer Dr. D tmokl ail I his man, Marker, had become acquainted —for that there v.a 1 : n 1 ii\k. between tho two ho felt assured.

"Jt comes to this, Sir Talbot," spoke the doctor, rending something of his listener's reflections, "you are anxious to be rid of on.v future annoyance on the part of this lady who claims to be your wife—unhappily dead"

"J did not say 'my' wife," interrupted the baronet, thinking it was little use to try to hoodwink this man, whose soft, benevolent aspect vvas rapidly disappearing.

'•'lnY). you spoke in hypotheses," returned Dr. .Detmold ; "but if I am to be of any material use to you, I must be. put in possession of the absolute facts. It would be of little account to place the lady here under my charge if my authority to detain her were open to question. You need not- feel uneasy. Many and strange confidences reach my cars. How can a physician diagnose his case unless the patient be explicit with regard to tjie facts?" ' Sir Talbot narrated Uve ■stances surrounding his marriage and the death, of his wife —in which he still professed to believe, "It is absurd to suppose that both her father and her aunt so intimately associated with her all her life, could be mistaken wheit they identified her remains," he said. ■"The poor young lady's body was shockingly disfigured, if I remember right!v?" suggested the cloctpr. "jt' was; I grant that," returned Sir Tn-lbot, hotly. "But, confound it, the woman was with me in the compartment wearing the gping-away gown chosen by Mrg. Gorc-Ritchie, and lifter wards' recognized by that lady. And is jt likely I should have driven away from Buckingham Gate with any other woman beside me but she to wlioiii .]. iiarj just been married?"

"No: you have a strong case. On the ffjee of things you were justified in beUevipgf ypur wife dead and buried. I may'take it, tjven, the visit or the, present claimant was as a bplt from the blue?" ' -• "Absolutely. I was dumbfounded fit her assertions." _ "And how did you establish her identity—the identity you believe to be justly hers?""There was a slight stress on th tjvprd "believe," and Sir Talbot felt instinctively that this man read liim like a book. "I —I remembered having - seen her in a remarkable juggling performance at the Pathenon, and then I commissioned my man, Harlcer, to make inquiries as to who she really was-' with the result you know." mail? 'Anfl a very intelligent man too. H'm! This juggler, Stanniforth, believes the lady to be his cousin, you say?" inquired the doctor."He is convinced of it, and of course she is—she must be."

- "Exactly," replied Dr. Detmold. "That, I take it, is the point you seek my'help to try and establish. N"ow - I must have authority, fpr the patient's detention. Would tljjs supposed cousin sign a document confiding her to my care?" "I haven't the least idea," replied Sir Talbot. "Harker might be ablf to tell you." "Ah, then, I'll have a chat with Harker. I want my authority, and the patient once beneath my roof, you • need anticipate no further trouble."' v "But supposing. Just for the sake pf argument—sypppsing prior to her residence beneath yojjr roof, that this unfortunate girl Jiad succeeded in obtaining sympathy in—in some quarters—that some misguided persons followed her here "They would go away convinced ol the injustice of their suspicions, convinced .also that the detention ol Alison Stanniforth was a measure necessary for her wellbeing as also 'that of others." The two men looked into each other's eyes and then, in those of

Dr. Detmold, Sir Talbot read an infernal determination to wreck the hapless girl, should his right of detention be -dragged, into the searchlight of open day. And villain in intent as Barbara's husband undoubtedly was, even he qimiled before the diabolical suggestion. "It may not be necessary to resort to such extreme measures," he urged. "Then rest assured. I shall not employ them," was the . suave reply. "But in cases involving risk, I believe in leaving nothing to chance. I will have a chat with your man I-lar-ker, in regard to the possibilities, and will communicate .with you when svery thing is in trim. JYou are aware it will be an-expensive proceeding?" "I suppose so. You will lose no time?" "Most assuredly not, for in this rase your interests are mine, Sir Talbot. I infer you would scarcely be. in a position to pay me, say one thousand guineas a year as long as you are untroubled by the woman snown as Alison StanuiforWi, until your marriage with Miss Vansittart" Sir Talbot bit his lip with vexa-Lic-n. ITad Marker been gabbing? But most likely it was the result of the übiquitous journalist again. ■"And an affair of this kind is especially irritating under the circumstances. I will see this juggler as soon as possible," continued tlw doctor. "Need you consult him?" "Whom linn?" returned Dr. Detmold. "You have no legal right to interfere with tho 'liberty of a person lo whom you declare yourself to be nn utter stranger. That is your altitude. I think?" "it is," returned Sir Talbot. "Then I must apply to tli-i man who believes himself related to the lady."— "Who is related to the lady, Dr. Detmold!" "'As you please. Forms of expression mailer little: the result is what L aim at. Will you accept the loan dC my motor? My chafieiir can drive you. back to town. In that case I can go into the matter with Marker at once. Jt will not be plain sailing and I may require his assistance. Will you place him at my disposal?"' Sir Talbot had no alternative but to agree. 1 hough again he wondered what was the connection between two men so dissimilar in their presentpositions. More than once he repentid having entered into the all'air; ho [lesired no harm to Barbara if only she would keep out of his way. To lose a wife with a perfectly colossal fortune and be asked, instead, to accept an impecunious one whom he iad looked upon as dead and buried was enough to aggravate any mail out lie by no means approved of such extreme measures as were iy hinted at by Dr. Detmold. Still, was a ca-e of nothing venture, nothing win. 'Detmold was a clever ciilain; he would only resort to extremities wh. n all else failed. Besides,* at present, nothing definite was decided, and Sir Talbot still noped something would happen, relieving him of the responsibility of iecision.

CHAPTER XXIII.

SRLUNA FALLS IXTO A TRAP

Selina sat alone in (he little sitting' room of her lodgings in Birmingham on the. Sunday of Hermann's visit lo "Cousin Alison " at Lady Blair's house. She was alone, oecause Selina, always took pride in "keeping to h •rself." the "wny.s " of :ight-hearie<!. irn'sponsible, if goodnatured members of the fraternity to which her husband belonged did not suit the prim little >.'ew Knglander, so that wlii-u nermann happened -to t>e away Selina was, without doubt, lonely to a degree. And now she was "reflecting that until this tiresome Cousin Alisop had come to disturb their peace, Hermann had rare-ly-loft, her alone. For it was on Alison's account h.G nad travelled up to London on the previous night—Selina felt assured of that. He had hitherto always managed to arrange ■ his engagements through the post, and except when resident in London, a- personal interview with a manager was of rare occurrence.

But nothing lyo.uld suit him now but he must' gp lip to London figging himself with a flight journey, and rendering it necessary Selina should travel alone to their next town on Monday morning. And if there was one thing Selina hated it was travelling alone, And though Hermann had only meant to joke her in suggesting Cousin Alison's aptitude in performing the new trick—in acquiring which at lii'-st Selina retained a vivid remembrance of Alisori's success over the living knives, and deep down in her h -art lurked the fear that Cousin Alison would rejoin them, and gradually oust Hermann's wife frqin iier hithertp proud position of being his sole assistant.

For in so many ways was Cousin Alison superior to herself. Selina l-n w lhat only tijo well, though the knowledge did not tend for her greater happiness. And so, .on this miserably wet .Sunday, • the poor little woman sat looking out on the dull, unattractive in which their apartments were situated, and, thinking of Hermann probably spending a pleasant day., in London : .with the .woman whom she was beginning to look upon as coming between husband and wife, a strong dislike almost amounting to hatred spraug up in her heart, increasing .by leaps "and bounds as she reflected on her wrongs. Her unenjayable r revcrie was broken In upon by. the entrance of the landlady,

"There's a gentleman waiting to see Mr. Stanniforth, ma'am. I said as' 1 'ow? Mr. Stanniforth had gone away last night, but that Mrs. Stanniforth wasn't a-goin' until tomorrow morning, and he said I-wus .to ask you to favour him with a n interview—on business, he said." f'l§ it some-one from the Hall?" asked Selina; "I guess there's no use my seeing him. My husband arranges air that business, Mrs. Ste-, vens." "No, ma'am, it's nobody in the perfession; I could sec that at a glance. The gent said as he'd come frpm' London, and to judge by hisr p'ays ma'arn I should say myself he was a doctor," declared Mrs. Stevens oracularly, gelina looked anxious. 'A doctor!

Was Hermann . ill.' Had there been an accident, and had lie sent someone to warn her? It would be just like him." '

"I guess he'd better come in," she said,- shortly.

Her feelings on--the-.subject of Hermann lay deep, but she was not given to expressing them. The landlady retired, and presently" came back, ushering in Dr. Detmold wearing a long travelling-coat and his best professional manner. He bowed profoundly to Selina, seated himself in" the chair* placed for him by the landlady, and then fixed his eyes on that individual and kept them there until; she had closed the door after her—to her evident anjioyance as displayed by the; noise with which she made her exit. Then ho turned to Selina, who was watching him a Httlc uncomfortably. He was" sleek and soft, she thought, out there was something underlying these qualities of which the was afraid.

"I have the pleasure of addressing —"Mrs. Hermann Stanniforth? Yes? I'hank you. I must apologize for my intrusion. I travelled down from town to-day in order to see your esteemed husband, whom as I had ascertained was performing at the Paragon Theatre of Varieties in this city." "Yes, that's so," returned Selina, "but we finished last night, and my husband went, to London by the night mail on a matter of business." "Ah, I am sp unfortunate as to have missed him," returned the doctor; and as I must go back this evening— By the way, perhaps he returns to-night?" "No," replied Selina, "he doesn't some here any more—at least not at present; he joins me in Bradlord tomorrow morning, and to do that, he leaves London by to-night's North31'n Express."

"Dear, dear, how very unlucky! I might get up to Fusion to-night in lime to anticipate the departure of the. express by a few minutes —and then, I might, not. Sunday travelling in Fngland is so abominally arranged. Let me see " anil Dr. Detmold pretend'd to consult a time (able. "It's a c'-ose shave. I can :>nly try."

"You want to see my husband Jarticularly?" askul Selina. by this tine- disabused of <he notion that iiiythir.g had hapi»ened to Hermann himself.

"T do indeed. • on a very serious matter. T am a medical man, and" — "There's nothing wrong with Hermann is there?" ask..d Selina evincing curiosiiy for ilv tirst time. "I'.-trust not," returned tho-doctor, pleasantly. "I have not as yet the pleasure of Mr. Stanniforlh's personal acquaint an-e. ?vo, it is concerning the health of a young relative of his that I wish to consult aim."

"Relative? Yo'.i mean Cousin Alison. She's the only relative we've got on this side of the pond, and it 'ud been a sight better for her if she 'id never crossed it."

Though regretting the words the moment they had escaped her lips, Selina could not, for the life of her, refrain frqiji uttering them.

f'l agree with you, madam, absolately," replied Detmold accurately gauging Selina's attitude, and desiding that the old actor's definition of Mrs. Stanniforth as "jealous of tier more attractive cousin was not Very far wrong. "The poor lady met with a very serious accident on the day of her arrival, I am informed, a calamity the consequences of which will, I fear, pursue her to the ?(id of her days." "Is she ill again?" asked Selina. "My husband meant to go and see her to-ilay." "He will find her greatly changed, I fear," replied the doctor, shaking his heatl a s with profound sympathy. M I wish 1 could have anticipated his yisit and had a chat with him before lie visited Lady Blair's. I could nave prepared him for that in her qianuer which it is more than pro* bable he will not under.sti-.ivl." "Is she laid up?" asked Selina. "Oh, dear no; it is not her physical condition that is causing anxiety to those with whom she is residing. I—l suppose I may speak plainly to s"ou, Mrs. Stanniforth?" "'l'd a deal liefer" you would if you've anything to say," said Selina "It is an extremely delicate question,. my dear lady, but one that will have to he faced, the. sooner the better. You, for instance, are far too intelligent not to have noticed your cousin's manner —that i-lv; was fiot quite as—supposing we say as "well balanced "• as ordinary folk?"

"You mean her not remembering things and all that?" "The loss of memory was a phase, certainly, but the consequences resulting from that injury to the head are even more serious. To speak frankly, Mrs. Stanniforth, your unfortunate is not responsible fpr actions." "Not respon You don't mean mad!"

"Not quite as bad as that," returned Dr. Detmold consolingly, "but if prompt and decisive measures are taken she may he happily preserved from developing a more violent form of mania. But for her own sake and for the sake of those about her sho should be placed under restraint."

"Under —in a lunatic asylum!" gasped Selina. "Oh, no, at least not now. But in the opinion of her ladyship's medical advisers the poor young lady should be secluded—placed in a retreat ulcere sUe would be perfectly comfortable.. and happy and wlveie li;r delusions would cause no distress or annoyance.'to any one."- N " 'Delusions' ? "

"Most extraordinary hallucinations, surely. Only a few days sin.e she called upon an old and esteemed friend of her ladyship's and. coolly informed him sh^'.was his wife, long since dead- Imagine the poor man's consternation! But to. bo practical, •he cannot remain in her present sition. No one could be expected subject themselves to tho danger what might happen should the tiered brain develop insanity in olent form. For instance after I have told y,ou, you would little uneasy 'were your cousin ■come once more a member of own establishment?" To be Continued.