The Mine Master's Heir OR THE REAL JOHN SMITH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 266, 8 June 1910, Page 4

The Mine Master's Heir OR THE REAL JOHN SMITH.

(All Rights Reserved.)

By I-lEDLEY RICHARDS,

Author of "Out of Darkness," " A Day of Reckoning," Etc. TAUT 5. A couple of hours later as Betty crossod the hall she saw that some luggage was being ' brought in; and John Smith came towards her. "-You see, I'vo come,, Cousin Betty," ho said. "Yes ; you've boon oxpeditlous. But I don't wish you to call mo your cousin, because I don't believe in the kinship," she answered, shortly. It was a puzzle to her that she felt such a dislike for the man. He' smiled. "Even if I am not your father's nephew, I am still related," he said. "A fourth cousin doesn't count," she replied; disdainfully. "I see you don't like me. That's a pity, as I understand you have to marry the real John Smith." Betty did not reply, but turned away with a disdainful air, inwardly raging that her father's plans should have become town gossip, as she knew that this stranger could not have got his information from any other source. Then as she went slowly upstairs the sound of voices made her look round, and she saw that Jack was speaking to the newcomer, and as she - looked the contrast between the two faces struck her —the one open, honest, with a merry light in his bright blue eyes, that seemed to look on the best side of life, yet the face of a man who would make his mark in the world ; the other grim, determined, a cruel mouth, dark brown eyes that looked furtively at you—a man to shun, Betty decided. And her dislike was accentuated by the fact that the likeness -to her father was unmistakable, yet marred by the eyes and mouth. Passing on, she thought it was just like Jack, to be kind to the man who was trying to supplant him. Meanwhile the two men had passed into the billiard-room, Jack leading the way. Then as he closed the door he said :

"I thought we'd better have a chat. It struck me you didn't seem inclined to be friendly, and as we may have to live in the same house a little while, it would be better to be on good terms." John Smith gazed at him, wondering if there was any ulterior motive for his rival's evident desire to be friendly. "I suppose it would ; but you cannot wonder if I don't take kindly to a feilow who has appropriated my shoes," he said, with a slight sneer. Jack smiled. "You have to prove they are your shoes, if you mean that I am trying to occupy the position of Mr. Thompson's heir." "Yes, and I will prove it, then you'll have to march ; but I've no objection to being friends ■ in the meantime, though it may be a little difficult, as we shall both be suitors for Betty's hand." Jack's face flushed. All friendly feelings for John Smith took wing. He would have liked to knock bim down for the free and easy ( , tone in which he spoke of Betty. "I don't understand you," he said, stiffly.

"Oh, yes, you do. I suppose you think I haven't heard that the lady's hand goes with the heirship, and until that's settled, we shall both be in the running." "I think you'll find she will have something to say as to the man she marries."

"'Will she? I should have thought the old boy a difficult yone to override. Anyway, now you know we are to be rivals, you don't seem quite so keen about having me for a friend," said John Smith. ' Jack looked at him, and felt that he certainly did not want to be Iriendly with him ; but it would be foolish to quarrel, so he said : "We may not be friends, but we can be on good terms while we both remain, here, and I hope that won't be long." "It seems , to me it's likely to be a long ijob finding out ' who's who;' meantime, there are chances," he said ; and he shot a quick glance at Jack, who moved q.uickly to the window that opened like a door, and passed out. The other man smiled.

" Yes, there are chances. The biggest is that I may secure Miss Betty, whatever comes of the inquiries, though I'm afraid I'm a little late in the day, but I've made an impression on her. She'll think about me, and when a woman thinks about a man she's not indifferent to hiln. Far better to be regarded with hate than indifference. The one you may overcome, the other you cannot change," he thought. Then lighting a cigar, lie passed into the garden, and after looking round a moment, crossed towards a big double door in an ivy-covered wall, and opening one half, he entered a big courtyard, then stood quite still gazing about him. At the further side were the stables, and beyond them the coachhouse, and at the very end a cottage, the hack of which looked into the courtyard, and over the stables were what looked to be bedrooms.

As he stood there, a dog came bounding out of the cottage, barking loudly, and* another in a kennel at the far end of the yard joined in; then as he saw the stranger, his bnrk became more savage, and he strained at the chain, that clanked ominously.

"Down,, you brute ■!" said Smith as the other dog sprang towards him, and he raised his hand threateningly. The dog growled, and would have sprung on him, but a bent but wiry old man called out :

"Down, Towser !" and at the words the dog slunk away. "He's a bit savage with strangers, sir," said the old man as he drew nearer. " Not but what he's taken to Mr. Jack, and so have all the dogs, which is right, seeing he may be master here some day." "You do well to say 'may be,' because it's just as likely I shall fill that post." The old man drew nearer, looking curiously at the stranger. '"Bog pardon, sir, you be the other Mr. John Smith ?" "Yes ; I am 'the' John Smith, and before long it will be proved." Then his tone changed as he said : "Where do you keep the Black King ?" 1669-"X-lo's in the stable over there, sir. No ono has ever been astride him since the day -he did for the young master." "Well, I'm going to ride him. Just put his saddle on." "I daren't sir, without the master's orders. It's not like any other horse." " Get me a saddle;" and in a minute or two he followed' the man to the stall where the great black horse stood, and tried to put the saddle on. At first the Black King kicked and pranced, but John Smith evidently knew how to manage a horse. He spoke a few words and patted him, and very soon Contrived to slip the saddle on, then led him out, and in another minute had vaulted into the saddle. "Throw the doors open. I'm going to give him a lesson," he said.

The old man threw the doors, that led into the lane, open, and John Smith rode down the lane. As he passed the front of Witton House, Betty, who was seated in her dress-ing-room window, uttered an exclamation of dismay, while her father, as he saw the Black King and his rider gallop muttered. "He's got pluck, anyway." The old stableman stood at the gate long after horse and rider were out of sight. There was a startled look on his face—ye might have seen a ghost—and at last, when he stepped into the yard and shut the gates, he muttered

"John Smith ! I should have given him another name ! The stunted little finger —a daredevil —a man as could ride any horse ! Like father, like son ! Oh, yes !"

CHAPTER VII. WHAT GRANNIE GELDER REMEMBERS. '''The advent of this other man complicates matters," remarked the millionaire, looking at his daughter. "I should think so," said Betty, qtiietly. "Yes, and I wish you to keep both men at a distance," he said, then paused abruptly and looked at her. "You don't wish me to be friendly with them ? That's rather hard on Jack, as we are good friends already. As for the other, I don't intend to speak to him." "That's exactly what I wish you, to understand. You must not feel that way. You must treat both men alike, but I do not wish you to become engaged to cither until I know which of them is my sister's son." "And you expect me to marry that one, irrespective of my feelings ?" said Betty. "I am warning you not to let your feelings become entangled. Steer clear of both men until we know more."

" I see ; it's to be love made to order !" she answered, in a sarcastic tone. Her father looked displeased. "It is perfectly natural that I should wish you to marry the man who will some day fill my place." Betty's thought went to the two men, and she decided that John Smith would be perfectly hateful as the master of Witton House. "Which of them do you think is your nephew ?" she asked. "How can I even guess ? The one resembles me greatly, the other is like my children. Yes, Jack is like you, as well as your brother." "Well, I hope Jack is the man. He is a good sort. I could hear to see him in Johnnie's place. But that John Smith is unbearable, and he acts as though he thought he was already master of the place —that is, when you are not there to- see. I wondered how he dare take the Black King out of the stable and ride him. Anthony said he told him no one had mounted him since poor Johnnie, but he saddled the horse himself, and rode past the house to let us see what he had done," said Betty, angrily. "He showed his pluck. I have given him the horse, as he can manage him," replied her father. '"You have given him Johnnie's horse?" she said, in accents of disgust. ' "Yes. The horse was simply eating h's head off in the Stable. No one sould exercise him, whereas John" — he hesitated for a moment over the ame —" is thoroughly master of him. He says he rode worse horses than, the Black, King when he was in Australia." "I would rather have shot the Black King than let that impostor have him !" Her father's face became stern. "He is not an impostor. The documents he brought are genuine. It is simply a question of which man is my sister's son. The other is re lated, and a John Smith." "But suppose this man knew that his mother was not your sister, then he would be an impostor?" said Betty. "Yes, if he knew," answered her father. " Well, I'm pretty sure he does, and that he is pretending to feel quite certain of his claim to throw dust in your eyes."

John Thompson's eyes flashed angrily. He prided himself on his discernment, and to be told by a girl that dust was being thrown in his eyes was unbearable, and he spoke sharply.

" You are a partisan. Jack came first, and you like him, so, just like a woman, you are unfair to the other

man." "You will find I am right," slie sa : d as she went towards the door. "You understand my wishes ?" he answered. " Oh, yes ; you have made them quite clear," she said as she turned the handle. Then crossing the hall she went into the garden, where she saw Jack seated under a tree, reading, and she went quickly towards him. He rose as soon, as he saw her and advanced to meet her. "Reading Carlyle ?" she said, glancing at the book in his hand. "Yes. But I'm getting tired of reading and lounging about. ' I wish to goodness your father would agree to me getting something to do until he finds out which is the man he wants," said Jack, with a smile. "Oh, he knows which lie wants. He likes you, and I don't think lie cares for John Smith; but he feels that his sister's son ought to- be . Thompson of Witton," said Betty. "His daughter ought to be Thompson of Witton, replied Jack. "You would condemn me to spinterhood ?" she answered, with a laugh. "No ; your husband could take your name." Betty did not answer ; then as she sat down she said : " Jack, I honestly believe you are my cousin, and I think that man Smith knows the truth, and that he is an impostor. What do you think?" "I don't like him, and sometimes the notion that he could set matters straight if he chose has crossed my mind." "I'm pretty sure he could. I detest the man, with his quiet assurance. Do you know my father has given him the Black King ?" "Yes, he told me." "I would rather Johnnie's horse had been shot than that he should have it. But, Jack, I've been wondering if you haven't any papers or letters that would tell you who your mother was ?" "When I came here your father put ' a similar question to me, and I told him that when my father died, among his belongings I found a small square box. It was locked, but attached to my father's old silver watch-chain there was a key that fitted it. I looked in the box, and it contained love-letters from my mother to him, and some other letters. I didn't look through them. I had a feeling that my mother's love-letters were sacred. Still, I didn't wish to destroy them, so I took the box with me. Then it happened that the old lady where I lodged removed to another house. She took the chance while I was spending a holiday in Switzerland, and on my return I found all my things had been removed safely, but the little box was missing. My landlady declared she had seen it placed on the cart with the other things, but it wasn't to be found. I thought it was sure to turn up, and didn't bother about it until I was coming here ; then there- was a hunt for it, but without any result." "What a pity it was lost ! Those letters might have made all clear," said Betty. "I expect they would ; and I wrote last week to my old landlady asking her to have another look for the box. This morning I had a letter from her saying she had hunted everywhere, but it couldn't be found." "Perhaps it will be found, after all. Ido hope it will ; then John Smith will have to clear out. By the way, it's lucky you insisted on being called Jack, or it would have had to be John No. 1 and John No. 2," said Betty, with a laugh. '•'l don't care if the fellow becomes your father's heir. What I do care about is that it may make it more difficult for me to get my heart's desire." Betty's face became scarlet, and her eyes dropped. "Betty, I think you know what that is. I'm going to tell your father that" "Is it a case of two being comyany ?" said a quiet voice close behind them ; and Jack turned with a smothered oath to see John Smith standing near, regarding them with a sneering smile. "It might happen to have been a case of listeners hearing no good of themselves," he said, sharply, as Betty sprang to her feet and went quickly towards the house. "Spoiled the tete-a-tete ! Well, all's fair in love and war," said the other man, with a laugh. "Jove ! You mean to say you don't mind, what you do to make your position more secure," said Jack as he rose. "It's as secure as yours. I've quite as strong proof that I'm old Thompson's nephew as you have." (To be Continued).