THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 228, 26 January 1910, Page 3

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

RIGHTS RESERVED,

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

But" then the possibility of her brother's reproaches faded into insignificance as compared with the dread of danger to tho girl herself. Where could she have g-ono? But, at any rate, Keiih must be informed at once, and for the first time regrettins- her objection to have her lino old house with its antique furniliirc given an incongruous note by thi instalment of a telephone, Lady Blair flashed a message across the wires: "Keith Heriot, Esq., M.D., Royal Tynesidc Hospital, Newcaslle-on-Tync.—Alison left in a cab at four this morning, presumably for King's Cross, but leaving no message for me, no clue to her destination. .She had previously expressed a wish to visit some friends in Scotland, as I understood her. But I am anxious, as she has not been looking so well lately. If possible, will you communicate with Mr. Stanniforth, who came here to see her recently, and may know her movements* and let me know Maud."

As fate or. good fortune would have it, Hermann was performing that week in JSTewcastle-on-Tyne and on receipt of his sister's message Keith proceeded direct to the juggler's rooms. And then both men looked at one another in consternation.

"Why, doctor,"- cried Hermann, "little Alison has no friends except ourselves and you and my lady!" •"You saw her lately at my sister's house?" asked Keith. "I did, doctor, and her ladyship behaved real handsome to me. And only that the girl's natural place is .with her sister, I'd have been thankful to my lady if Alison could have remained with her always." And Hermann detailed his interview with Barbara, but the narration only left them more mystified than ever.

-'Did you write to Monica?" asked Keith'.

"Right away, do.-tor. And now I can see Monny's got to come across, and as quick as can be. It's no time to think of the cost."

''The matter is very n?ar my heart, Stanniforth," interrupted Keith, gently. "Won't jou allow me to" —

"No, doctor," replied Hermann with a simple dignity at which none could take offence. "I'm. a provident man, sir, and it's my duty to see to the needs of my own kith and kin, though I'm perhaps the more obliged for the suggestion, doctor, because I don't see my way to accept it." "I shall go to London at once," said Keith decisively. "My place can be supplied at the hospital. Vou cannot accompany me, I suppose? "-

•"No, doctor, but I happen to have next week vacant, so after Saturday night look upon me as quite at your disposal. And of course, I needn't ask you to let me know should Alison write to her ladyship?" •"At once; and you, should you hear, will do the same by me? Does she correspond usually with your tvife?"

"N-o," replied Hermann. "They're both as good in their ways as two fyomen can possibly be, but there's no denying - the fact tj)at they're as unlike as the north is tp the south. And little Alison's success over the knives was a hard nut for poor Sel« jna to crack." ypu k?ipw pf n ° existing reason why. she shquld go to Sept* land?'•"Jfone whatever ; she have gone there with us sfime weeks agft. t put it to her that the old city pf Edinburgh was well worth a visit, but she seemed at that time tq Shrink from the idea,'-'-•*'H'm! That suggosts same paiftfu] connection with the place, does it not?"

"I never saw it in that light, doctor," returned th? juggler. "No, sip, the fact is that little Alison disliked the publicity pf my occupation—disliked the atmosphere surrounding it --even while no one uttered a rough word in her presence. She isn't, to blame, sir. Peelings of that sort are instinctive, and ought to bo respected where they are sincere as in little Alison's case, totally devoid of snobbery or affectation." Keith left the juggler with a mutual faith and understanding between Bach, and Hermann's gratitude rendered him speechless when Heriot announced his intention of leaving no gtono upturned to, discover the t'littlc' cpusin " wjio, since ipr Hirst landing on British soil, had given rise to so much anxiety, with the promise pf even more tp come. Selina, who had out ! 'markets ing '-• during Keith's visit, looked decidedly uncomfortable when informed of Lady Blair's telegram concerning Cousin Alison's disappearance, and busied Herself preparing a dinner on a portable cpoking-st'pve which formed on? pf her most cherished possessions., so that her husband might not Spe hep p&le face nor the frightened look in her eyes. For what had she done anyway? The strange doctor had told her that ]%cv ladyship afl rt Dr. Heriot knew all about it, and here was her ladyship telegraphing to her brother in »' fright, and he starting off to Ippk fpr Cpusin iVlispn and vqwing vengeance against anyone who had lured her away, It was sll in contradiction to what the strange man had said; but evidently Alison had been annoying somebody again, and whoever it was, had got her shu: up.

And to judge by Hermie's description of Dr. Hbrlot'g v}ew ®t the mat< ter, and the stern look on Hermie's own face, Selins might expect a mighty bad time should her own share in the transaction be dis-: covered. Possibly Hermie'd nevej forgive her, What a fpol she had been to let that strange doctor tail? her over! If his yarn had referred to anyone in the world except Cousin Alison she supposed she'd have been sharper; but she did so he to a household of three anyway.;

'And what was done, was done. There was no use in crying over spilt milk. All the English doctors knew each other, she reckoned. England was only a scrap of a country, and Dr. Heriot would soon find her. If she'd ha' been lost in the States,

now! And perhaps the strange doctor mightn't give Sclina away. It would be real mean if ho did. Anyway she

hadn't courage to risk Hermie's displeasure, nor did she sec she was called on to do so.

So the en; person who might have

thrown ar.y light on poor Barbara's disappearance remained as silent as he grave upon the subject and '\eith after arranging his affairs at •he hospital, travelled by a fast •rain to London to find his "big sister " thrown into a state border-

"ng on nervous prostration by her rompanion's mysterious disappearance, anil only preserved from total collapse by the consoling presence r.nd comforting words of Sir John reniplccnmbo.

"Two h a«ls arc sometimes better than on','' observed that gciitlemnn,. half apologetically, "and if you're in ih> humour for a trip to Scotland, Heriot, my motor's entirely at your service. It's a new an;l exceptionally powerful one, and will spin jou over ilie ground like a rocket" "Thank you. Temples!on?, but has she gone to Scotland?" was Keith's anxious reply.

Lady Blair told,.of the girl's broken agitated ■ sentences -while asking leave of absrnve, and how the word "Scotland " seemed to involuntarily

escape her lips. Ami ih n Keith submitted the entire household to a searching crossexamination, during which .Tenks allowed it to be understood that he had personally executed the 01 der given him with respect, to the cab required to take Miss Alison to King's Cross. But Dr. Heriot did nothing by halves. In the hope that thj driver might have learned his fare's destination, he went personally to the livery stables, to be faced with the astonishing information that no such order had been booked on the night referred to, nor had a cab been despatched to the house of Lady Blair as stated. The oflice clerk showed his order book in support of his assertion, and to confirm it announced the fact that motor-cabs were not used in connection with the business the stock consisting of horse-drawn vehicles exclusively. And then Mr. Jenks in the course of a very bad quarter of an hour at the hands of Dr. Heriot, reluctantly admitted h:s dereliction of duty and explained how his friend, Mr. Smith had kindly offered to order a cab on his way home. He told all he knew about Mr. Smith (which was little), and vowed he had not seen that person since the night on which Miss Alison had sent him to order the cab.

Warned sternly that only by doing ill he could in reparation for his neglect could he hope to keep his place, Jenks was despatched to the Regent's Arms in search of Mr. Smith, or to make inquiries about him. But the now crestfallen, Jeinks, returned after having ascertained from the barman that Mr. Smith had not. set foot in the Regent's, Arm* since the night up. which Jenks and he had parted on such excellent terms. And the barman gave it as his opinion that Mv, Smith had somo "lay " he was on. People didn't part with their moivy so free without a motive. Though what the lay might "be, the barman couldn't venture to fay, but he had d-jcided in his own mind that should such a thing as a burglary take place in the house of Lady M«\ Smith would be the first person en whom the police ought to have an eye. Keith's face was by this time an a!rh n grey. Lady Blair had gone to, her room, and now d/ismissimj; Jenks. with ar. admonition, most fiercely to Sir John Templestone.

"What (Jo you. tt\&<o ftf this V- ho

asketf. "On til.-, face of it it looks suspicious," replied Sir John. "On the other hand th-j barman's <&».'" n >on may only have been his opinion. The man Smiih may have ordered the cab regularly enough and his disappearance be Ih~ result of his obtaining another situation. Thanks to mud.'i'ii journalism, pvery man nowadays t"h*nks himself a Sherlock Holmes, Suppp.se we go to King's Gross? That red hair is singular; some one may have noticed " They were interrupted by Martha, r.ho had found a blotted label in the waste-paper basket in Miss Alison's room,

Tho name was hopelessly illegible, but "Passenger to Edinburgh " stood out in bold relief; also, in smaller characters, -"Midlothian Hotel." "I'll accept your offer, Templas combe," . said Keith, ! shartiy. ''How soon, can your notor be ready?" "Within the hour.. You are going to Edinburgh ?''• "At enje.""Let me go with yon.* l "You?" Keith looked hard at the other,* who met his eyes steadfastly. He had always thouglit of ''Johnny ' as a butterfly, if not quite a fool; but ihis moment of tension showed him his mistake. "I—l loved.' her," ,sa'd Sir John, simply. "I tried to tell' her so—to

"I—l loved, her," ,sa'd Sir John, .simply. "I tried to tell' her so—to ask her to benny wifc.""Did— did .you know?" asked Keith brokenly. "I knew nothing of her. I know nothing now except that she is anhonoured guest in your sister'? house." "You asked iiq more?"

."I agked nothing. She promised me—friendship only—and I have tried to be content. And because I am ,h'' r friend —I say let me go in search oi her." "By Heaven, you shall!'' cried Keith. "You're a fineifellow Johnny We'll not only search J -but we'll fine her."■But the culoglum fell on deaf ears Sir John Templestone had fled on wings qf the wind- it search of hit motor.

CHAPTER XXVH, "BARBARA MORAY, AGED SIXTEEN",'*

Even had conversation been pos< sible under the enormous pressure put upon the motor, and the tremendous speed kept up by the chai*

feur during the whole length of the run, neither man felt the least disoosed to enter on any. Each was too occupied with his own thoughts. To Keith it was now too horribly plain that the barrier between Alison Stanniforth and himself was a man—a, living man. Whether husband or lover he had yet to learn. In either capacity the wretch had brought, sorrow into the girl's young life, and if, as Herman suspected, he should prove to be an Englishman, belonging to tho class so frequently miscalled "gentlemen," he should find he had to deal with one who would see justice done to a wronged woman even though her birth might be less noble than that of the villain by whom she had been deceived. His

own love for her might be—was—hopeless, but by reason of (hat love he would defend and protect her to the last drop of his blood! And Sir John Templccombc also

was cogitating over the possibility of "Miss Alison" having been lured away through the instrumentality

of the man Smith, even though .she had originally contemplated the journey to Edinburgh. Looked at after reflection, the barman's suspicions did not appear so preposterous as when originally set forth. And Sir John, also, was quite prepared to execute a swift and summary vengeance upon any "bounder" who had even cherished any ill intentions towards the. dear little girl who could be his friend and nothing more. Heriot, too, was hard hit, poor chap, and seemingly with no letter prospects than himself. And then Sir John wondered why Heriot had expected him to make inquiries concerning Miss Alison before asking her to become his wife. Surely the fact of finding her in the house of Lady Blair was sufficient guarantee that she was worthy to be the wife of any man! What • could Heriot have meant? And then they reached the "modern Athens " and made straight for the Midlothian Hotel—a small, unpretentious hostelry under the shadow of Holyrood Palace. They were told they could be accomodated, and the chaffour uvus directed to a garage where he could leave the car. Hut their spirits sank to zero when the landlord assured tlum that there were no ladies staying at the Midlothian, n<>r had any lady arrived there on the day of Alison's disappearance from the house of Lady Blair.

"We'd bettor feed." suggested Sir John laconically, "and after dinner we might stroll out and look at some of the other hotels. There's no use "in neglecting one's grub and getting knocked up. But you medical chaps know that better than I do." They dined, and then went, as it seemed to them, to every hotel in the city at which a lady might be expected to put up. But all to no purpose. Neither by name nor description could they gain any information respecting the missing girl.

And after a sleepless night and an early l/reakfaafc they, started out {vgain in other directions, with no better results. Koith thin sought the assistance of" the head of the police, who was known to him, and whose advice appeared practical and sound.

"You see, doctor," said the official, "the young lady, for reasons of her own may wish to remain in seclusion, and once she knows you arc searching for her it's no hard matter to slip out of jour way, Js r o.w, if you'll furnish mc with, particulars I'll undertake t$ lot you know within, faptyseight hours whether she's atili in Edinburgh or even whether she's ever reached it. And moan-, while, you two gentlemen n>ai' facilU tatc matters by keeping quiet. Do a bit Qf sigh t-s,ceij:g—anything to pass the time.'* Keith's fierj' OeHig Wood was impatient, but the more lethargic Sfti £{m in Sir John Templccombc entirely acquiesced in the chief, of police's suggestion;.

"llq's right,"- he said, "and tho plan will save us time. We might go as we thought, to every small hotel io the city, and still miss the identical one at which she is staying."

"But to remain inactive for two whole days, with one's heart and brain on fire! Tcmplecoinbc, you do not know " -'I know that you doctor johnnies are very bad at taking your own physic. Didn't I hear you preaching patience, and dilating on the benefits to be derived from self-control to Lady Blair only yesterday? And you needn't bo inactive. Suppose you show me tho lions? This is my first visit to Edinburgh, and no doubt you've got its historical associations at your finger-ends, And though I'm only a Sassenach, I take the keenest interest in antiquities; so between my desire to acquire knowledge and your own pride in the land of your birth, we might forget our troubles, or a.t any rate lull them until the arriva.l of the chief's rcpprt/i

Keith knew his companion was rattling on, and making this proposition, moro with a view of consoling his impatience than any real desire to sec the lions of Edinburgh. And yet it might ho better than to sit idly in the hotol, watching the clock and anathematizing the slowness of time as it dragged. Us measured space.

So they, did Holyrood Palace, and climbed up to the summit of the ''Seat " and looked down on thj city, enveloped In a thick, soft mist which hung over it like a nebulous pall, almost obscuring it from sight. -And then they came down on to the plain. There was the Castle to be seen next. "There is a fine old houce to be scui somewhere here," said Keith as they directed their footsteps to' wards the Canongate, "for generations, if not centuries, the residence of the Maraj's, I wonder if it is shut \ip? You might like to see it. Suppose we try?" "Moray? And reiation to Hester's wife? She cams of an old Scotch family I believe. Sir Talbot Hester, you know?" asked Sir John. ''Yes," replied Keith, "the same. The poor little lady probably, spent her childhood in this— Ah, here it is, almost falling to pieces, sad to say! Look, Templecombe, at the escutcheons emblazoned on th» gates,." •To be Continued. ~"