THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 233, 12 February 1910, Page 4

THE PRIDE OF THE MORAYS.

'ALL IUGL,

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

■ "f : PART 25,

"I hope not." smiled the scoundrel "but sir.ee tin left my house I have no information."

"Left your house !'-'■ exclaimed all three. "At her own request, three days r.go." -He lies. Don't believe him !" Thi word* came in a shrill, boyish treble, as if from the roof ; and then, as Hi; four men looked up, a figure ro'.hd info a ball darted, seemingly, out of the broad frieze with which the room was surmounted, and after revolving in mid-air, alighted on his feet in their midst. The page-boy, Tim !

l)r. Dctmo'd made a movement as if to seize the lad,' which was immediately frustrated by Keith, who now, his suspicions of foul play confirmed —seized the master of Carbcrry Grange in an iron grip, and forced him back in'o a chair, at which proceedings Tim danced with delight.

"That's right, sir !" he cried. "If you gcnllemen'll only fasten him ihere, T can show you where to find the huly. Don't you remember me, Mr. Stanniforth ? Bimbo—you know? You done me a good turn, an' now I'm able to pay it back ag'in." , "Dr. Hcriot— Sir John—you shall answer for this outrage. Assault a man in his own house !" exclaimed Detmold, vainly trying to reach the bell, but powerless in the hands of Uie two younger men, as they forced him into a chair ar-d bound htm to it securely by the aid of their handkerchiefs, supplemented by some surgical bandages, to which Tim drew their attention. 'And then Hermann was shaking hands with Tim. "Why, where did you spring from, Bimbo *?"

"From up there, Mr. Stanniforth," replied the boy.

"Up there," proved to be a ventilator high up, close to the cornice—the last place, being scarcely two Feet square, one would have suspected as a possible lurking place for an sneniy ; yet behind its shelving front rim had oftentimes laid snugly, proudly showing Hermann how, with a. run and a spring, he had vaulted first on to the- woodwork over the door, and from thence climbed, or rather, crept, into the ventilator. "A very n.at performance,'-' smiled the juggler. "Thank you, Mr. Stanniforth, it s been very useful," replied the boy. And then, while Detmold ground his teeth with fury and impotent rage, Tim narrated the scenes to which he had been a witness, with a simple, straight-forward air of fidelity carrying its own conviction.

"I l;n :w Miss Stanniforth, the minute T first sot eyes on her," ho said, "end I knew she was no more mad than I was. I'd seen fishy goin's on here once or twite before, an' this time I mad > up my mind to queer the pitch, an" as I'd been careful to give 'em no cause to-suspect me, it wor no hard job." He detailed th • doctor's conversation at ih?. telephone, which, though Detmold - s voice was aloiu audible, left no doul.it in any one's mind as to the idmtity of the person at the other end of the wire, described Dr. Detmold's treatment: of the china teacup, with the most minute details, to which narration the three men listuvd in silent horror, Keith's hands itching the while to be at the throat of the dastard whose skill was dograd.d to serve such diabolical ends. Then Tim went on to the doctor's interview with Nurse Waiham, and how he had that morning deliberately foiled the villainous project by smashing the cup prepared for such horrible intentions.

".And I've got piece of it,'-' ho cried, producing something wrapped in paper from the pocket of his uniform jacket. "I knew that old poisoner would say that I lied if I hadn't something to prove my words."

And now it was first Dr. Heriot, find then Sir John Templecombe, warmly shaking the hand of the pool' little, once half-starved acrobat, whose agility had stood them in such good stead ; while Hermann, who well knew how often a heart of gold lay beneath a spangled jacket, smiled approvingly while forming mental plans for Bimbo's future which should repay the lad's loyalty to himself and the "little cousin," for whom, even though now lifted far abovo him in station, he must always feel an affectionate i-cgard. "Hut in the meantime, what fur-r thcr villainy, may not have been perpetrated !" cried Keith. "Come, my lad, show me where this ruffian has secreted the lady .whose very life may be in danger." "No fear, sir,'- 4 replied Tim. *'X hoard him tell old. Mother Warham that the patient was .worth more alive than d.'ad"—

"You .young If I could only get at you !'•• "Yrh, yah ! But you can't ! Ain't it a Pi'y '•'" chuckled Tun, as Dr Detmold .struggled vainly to release himself from his bonds. "King- that bell, sir, please. That'll bring Nurse War-ham,-as she's called. She's Detmold's wife, and Harker, Bh l Talbot Hester's man-servant, is her brother. Don't give her a chance to double on you, sirs ; she's got the key of the underground.vault, and don't let her go out of the room till she gives it up." : The warning was timely, for Nurse Warhani on entering the rooni and seeing the plight of her villainous partner, would have retreated, only that, on turning, she found Sir John Templecom.be with his back - firmly planted against the dpor."I am informed that you a v e at present in personal attendance on a young lady named Stanniforth, madam," said Hermann, politely. "I'll trouble you for the toy of her apai't' inent, if you please,'' The woman looked from one to an* other of the three men, and then at Dr. Detmold, grinding out impotent oaths and threats between clenched teeth.

"Free my ~ hands," he urged'. "Let us talk things over—see if we cannot come to terms"—

"Don't believe him," shouted Tim. "He's got enough infernal machinery among them taps and funnels to poison us all, once he could got free to set 'em a-goin'. An' don't stand on ceremony with her, neither ; she's as bad as he is, and worse. Mr. Staiiniforlh, catch hold of her keys, they are hanging at her side." And without a moment's warning, Bimbo leapt up and alighted on the shoulders of Nurse Warham ; and th.ii, as she furiously raised her arms to rid herself of the clinging encumbrance, Hermann obtained possession, of the keys, which he. handed to Keith.

"This way," said Bimbo. "But some one had better stay here on guard.""I will do so," replied Sir John,

'•though I think by this time, that Mrs. Detmold, like her husband, recognizes the futility of resistance. One .moment, Heriot, before you go."

And as Sir John unhooked the telephone receiver, looked up the number in the list, and 'phoned a message to the police headquarters, the guilty pair knew that Nemesis had overtaken them at last, and that the freedom both had so grossly misused would soon be gone from them for ever.

And what of Barbara ? Hardly recovered from the horror aroused by the "cup" incident, she had been roughly aroused from her reflections by.-.-a. faint, sickly odour in her nostrils, following the intrusion into her room of Nurse Warham. And then a wet handkerchief was pressed roughly, almost brutally, over her nose and mouth, and .she remembered no more. She awakened to tin 1 !•■ rself lying on a bed in what appeared to be a vault, having neither door or window, no possible mode of egress save a trapdoor high up in the roof, dimly visible by the light of the one lamp faintly illuminating her prison.

Was it a tomb ? Was she to bo left here in this clamp, close air to die a lingering death ? 33ut the fumes of the cloroform still lingered, and she lay dozing and dreaming. And in her dream, the trapdoor in (he roof opened, and a ladder was lowered, down which descended a man •—a man with kind voice, and pity in his eyes. And in hvr dream h-j looked strangely like some oni f,h.> had seen before. She struggled hard to remember, but (h.; drug still hild her 'n lead.-n chain:-. She could not move —she was dreaming, of course—and Ih n a .magic voice b:o-o spell. "Barbara ! Barbara, my dearest ! You are free ! Your troubles are at an end."

And then Barbara, with on hysterical cry and a burst of sobbing, found herself lifted up in strong arms, and held closely to the breast of Keith Heriot !

CHAPTER XXXIII. +

THE UNRAVELLING OF A' TANGLED SKEIN. There was a curiously-assorted as,somblagc of guests at Lady Blair's house inllegent's Park, one afternoon a few days after Barbara's release from Carbcrry Grange. Keith's big sister was (here, of course, also Keith, and Sir John Templecombe, and Barbara.

Barbara, with pale face, and shadows, redolent of suffering, under her beautiful eyes ; but the eyes were fast losing their expression of horror, for now her identity was restored to her and she was surrounded by loving friends, and had no longer the dread of being compelled to return to her unworthy husband, who could no longer hope to dispute the fact that his wife still lived.

More arrivals. "Poppa"- Vansittart who apologized to Lady Blair for his daughter's unavoidable absence. "She's been spoilt, I believe,'* he said, "for she don't lake kindly to disappointment. And for fear she's still got a hankering to be Lady Hester, I reckon d I'd better come and hear the rights oi the case." Then came Hermann and Selina looking scarcely less palo than Barb&ra, and feeling' very guilty, and in her own estimation "real mean."* For she had never found courage to confess her share in removing "cousin. Alison," nor had Hermann the leas* inkling of the truth. Keith, in searching among Det-; mold's papers, had found the signed "authorization," by means of which that individual would have satisfied the inspector of asylums, and with a chivalrous understanding of the little woman's jealousy had returned it to Selina with the advice that it was now unnecessary to disturb her husband's peace of mind respecting the transaction.;

With them, came Bimbo, very shy and nervous, but very proud when Barbara presented him to Lady Blair, and eulogized his services in preserving her reason, and no doubt ultimately her life.

But the heroine of the afternoon was a small spare woman, with dark hair, neatly banded across her fore~ head and a careworn, earnest face, which now and then bore a striking resemblance to thai of the juggler.

Monica Stanniforth ! Her own eyes were dryer than those of her listeners as in terse, nervous sentences she-detailed the story of her sister 'Alison's •voyage across the Atlantic, and its object. And then feh'e suffered her tears to flow as Barbara took up the thread of the narrative, and told what happened on her wedding' day, and the circumstances throwing her on the protection of; (Alison's cousin, Hermann.

"You can never forgive me,"' she concluded, mournfully, I sent her to her death —a poor return for all she had done, for inc. Had I taken 1115- lawful place in the carriage"— "It was her place—Alison's—not jours, madam," returned Monica. "You were doing what was just and right, even if unconsciously. The ac* cident was just the Almighty's will, and it seemed as though -'twas His will Alison should end her troubled life that way.- But even she, poor girl, would rather have risked her own life, than your honour.'' ?'My ■ I dotfU understand,'-' faltered Barbara. -"My sister died in her lawful place, beside her husband, Miss Moray." -'i' Miss Moray'! But she told tu« that''-'

"She told you what he cruelly, her, that her marriage to him.

sham," burst out Monica, sternly. "He lied ; it was a legal union. At the time, we-had no means of disproving his statement, and as I was fearful of raising false hopes I kept silent. Hnt I have never ceased making iniuiries for the man who married tliem, and only recently have I found him. "My sister at her death was Lady Hester, and her son is the lawful heir to his father's title."

"Then—then—your sister being living wh-m I married . Sir Talbot—l did not see her Until after the ceremony"— "The ceremony counts for nothing, Miss Moray. You were never Sir Talbot's wife," declared Monica Stannii'orth. There was consternation in the air and a movement in the room, and then the eyes of Keith's big sister gleamed wilh joy and gratitude as she saw that Keith and Barbara had got very close together. Mr. Vansittart was the first to break the silence.

"I conclude, madam," he said to Monica, "that you hold documentary evideive to prove your assertion-;." "f do —most conclusive evidence," "Jl'm ! Then the scamp's a widower. That's awkward for me." "But surely, Mr. Vansittarl," putin Lady Blair, "your daughter would not, after these shocking disclosures, be"— "It's hard to fay, my lady. A woman that'. 1 -" h»d her own way all her life, is apt to be headstrong, and that rascal's got.the gift of the gab to an astonishing degree.' '■

"You -n"cd only let it be understood that in the event of such a marriage your wealth would go to charities, Mr. Yansittart, and I am .confident Sir Talbot will give you no further trouble," suggested Lady Blair.

"I have even a better guarantee," said Sir .John. "I hold the villainous agreement drawn up between himself and that scoundrel Detmold. Sir Talbot Hester, especially after Miss Stanniforth's evidence, can be prosecuted for conspiracy at any, time he may elect to make himself unduty prominent in a circle which has ceased to desire his acquaintance, I havo advised him to that ellect ; and as his man, Marker, has been arrested with the Detmolds, and has offered to turn King's evidence against his fellow-conspirators, I think I am safo in prophesying (hat Sir Talbot will trouljle us no more." Mr. Vansittart took his leave first, after a second time assuring Hermann that the capital to run—or even build— a variety theatre was at his disposal at any moment.

i'And what's to happen to tha younker ?" he asked. ■•''l'm booked up, sir. Mr. Stanniforth's assistant,"- replied Bimbo, proudly. Tears stood in Barbara's eyes as she stooped and kissed Monica's careworn cheek. "As far as possible, let me takn her place," she whispered ; and Monica smiled, sorrowfully, yet with grateful appreciation. There was a lump in her throat as Hermann bowed respectfully, but Barbara took his haiid and held it in both her own.

"I cannot lose my friends," sb.3 said. "You will never lose sight. 0 f me, Hermann. Promise. Bimbo, tto." "You wish it '}"

"I insist ;" and the "command note" sounded—(ho Moray blood was "in arms."- "How can you think so meanl\- of me '? You are my friends—you have been my benefactors."

They kissed her hands, and turned from her with proud, glad hearts. But Selina lingered. •"You—l wonder if you'd forgive mo if 5-0U knew ?" she began, awkwardly.

'•'l do know, and I forgive you freely." •'-You know —that I"—= i'Ycs. Hush ! There is no need to distress Hermann.''

-"He had nothing to do with it ; it .was me ; I was jealous. "■ ''Poor Selina ! No matter ; we will forget everything unpleasant, and for the sake of poor "Cousin 'Alison," whose fate has been so strangely interwoven with my own* we must remain friends, always." "I'm—l'm that sorry !" cried poor Selina, overcome by Barbara's gracious manner. "Some day, perhaps, you'll—l suppose you'll many Dr. Heriot, now that things have turned out as they are," she went on, timidly.

"I think I can answer that question/' replied a confident voice ; and as, unable to witness his more fortunate rival's happiness. Sir John Templecombe quietly followed Hermann out, Keith came to where they were standing and stole an arm around Barbara's waist. : -"You may depend on being bidden ( to our wedding in a very short time, Mrs. Stanniforth," he continued, as Barbara hid her blushes against his shoulder.

"I'm real glad," said Selina, heartily. "And then I can't help thinking you'll understand how I feel abtrtit Hcrmie." And now there was silence in the room, for the guests had all gone, and Keith's "big sister" had stolen gently away, and the lovers were alone together. "Look up, Barbara, dearest," whispered Keith, "for, 'lo ! the clouds have lifted, and joy cometb in the morning' \"« THE END.