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

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 274, 6 July 1910, Page 4

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

(All Rights Reserved.)

. -f, ' , - By "HEDLEY RICHARDS, r

Autliotf of "Out of Darkness," "A Day. of Reckoning," -Etc. - PART IJI. At that- jnoment the door opened : end Br. Barnes entered, his -quick .eye talcing in the fact that the young people were evidently- absorbed in what they were talking about. '•Miss Betty, I've come to tell you that your father is suffering from severe concussion of the brain,, aid I should; like Dr. Biorbes from London* I suppose it will be right if I tele*, graph to him, and for a couple of uurses fpcm London. I would rather have them from there than a local Until they arrive the housekfeeper can stay with him." - .n , " Cannot I help to nurse him?"Betty asked, springing-to her feet. "I think it would be better to leave "aim with the housekeeper ; and there is really nothing to tlo. I shall return 7 . in. an hour or so. Meanwhile, ['ll send for - Dr. Forbes." "Do. -You don't think my father will" die ?" - she ~ asked, in a voice scarcely above a whisper. "I -hope not ; but it is a very ser.tous: :ca'ssi" -he - answered as he left -the room. ; ..-Beitty burst into tears. ' ( ' • "Oh, Jack, father ! ,And'l felt" so angry with him when he left the house! And —and ,he was brought .iome like, this,'' she said, with a" sob. . , He . took her hands, and his voice betrayed his feelings as he said : . " Betty, I Stfish I could comfort fou. I love you with all my heart." "Your love is the only comfort I have got now," she sobbed. Jack's face lighted up. He couldn't help feeling happy, though upstairs Thompson, whom he liked and respected, lay at death's door ; but he had won the woman he loved, and his heart beat joyously as he drew her into his arms. "My darling !" he said as he kissed her. Just then the door opened, and Squire Geider entered, by the lawyer. ' Betty drew herself aviay from Jack, but not before the two men had realised that they were -lovers, and : Knowing they must have seen, him kiss her, Jack took Betty's hand in his as he said : - '•'Mr. Geider, you may. think this is a strange time to have asked' Betty to be my wife,, but somehow it camfe about naturally, and she's said 'Yes' this time, though when I asked herbefore she sent me about my business." "And Miss Betty must do the same again. If she marries you she'll be penniless,"' said the lawyer, / in .a quick, decisive toiie. ,i "Then my father made . his will;" ' exclaimed Betty. • r "Yes. I suppose I have no right to acquaint any one with fts contents, but, squire, I must save Miss Betty from. doing what she may afterwards regret." "I shall never regret promising to marry Jack, and —and if my father lives, he will alter his will," she said.. "I believe he will. I .have faith enough in you, Mr. Jack, to fee) assured that you will be able, tc explain the circumstances which have roused Mr. Thompson's anger. Meanawhile, I think I am justified in; telling you that he has left everything to Mr. John Smith but .fifty tliou- • sand pounds which you, inherit, Miss Betty ; but there is a clause to the "effect that if you marry Mr. Jack not one penny is yours." "What a wicked thing to do?! It is not like my father to be so unjust, "said she. . Then she burst intc tears, exclaiming : 'I don't mean to blame him now he is ill, but I —l shall not give up Jack and Betty left the room, going slowly upstairs to her father's room, where the sight of the white death-!ike face that lay so still or the pillow, made her feel almost tro'sen-hearted. He had "* never shown her much affection, but sht knew he ha,d loved her, not as he had loved her brother. Still, sh< had been of value to him, and she loved him. Kneeling.by the bedsideBetty prayed . ' silently or his recovery. When; the door; closed aftei Betty, the lawyer turnedto Jack saying: - . '"Has Miss Betty told you wjtjat. ( vexed her father ?" " ' *' s ; "Yes ; it is'absolutely false. 1 never wrote the letter. I believe 3 spoke to the girl once and Jack told, about meeting her on the quarry path, then shortly afterwards meeting Smith. .» "Shouldn't wonder if he's at the tottbm of it. He's a fellow I don't trust," gaid Squire .Geider., "It would meanjthat..he's an adept at" imitating writing. I didn!t see the letter, but Mr. Thompson hadn't a doubt about it being your writing, I wish he'd never signed the. draft of the will. I happened to see Lord as he was driving through Middietiam; and he told me about" the accident ;; then when he knew I wanted to come to WittoD House, he. made his cousin, Lady Mary Sheen, go by train to Houston r and he drove me here in his car. I'm thankful Mr. Thompson wasn't killed, because, as Barnes said wher we, met him, ' While there's life there'_s hope,' and. if he recovers, 1 believe we shall be able to discover who is 'really responsible- for that "poor girl's disappearance.". " Perhaps you'll explain to . me, Coates. This is-the about it. I was just riding through mSSSSSSS^SBBSmmSBSSBSSBBm

Witton, .when I heard of the - acciienff, and came on. But whatever iss made Thompson leave the money -to Smith Z He's made an infernal blunder ?."-said Squire Gelder. Tihe lawyer* told the story of the tetter, and as he listened the'squire whistled, in a subdued' manner. ''lt's a deuced'mess. It wouldn't beso bad if you and Betty were not in love with- each other ; but if this wilr stands, and you marry, it means that she loses every penny," he said. "Of course, she has her mother's fortune—about five hundred a" year," he added. Jock .smiled. "I'm able to work for her. I threw up a post six hundred a year and a v -house when T came here. I hope I could do. even better than that ; and I don't * think Betty's heart fs set on riches," he said. " Bless her, no ! She's a true woman, and love counts more with her than money. And she's made a bad choice. I'll say, thatv though you have put poor Jim out of the running," said the squire. "If Mr. Thompson only pulls through, I'll find out the truth about that letter, jthen we shall know who persiaded '%he. girl to leave her home," observed Mr. Coates. i Jack looked round. 1 "Can ydft tell me where this man Thwaites lives I ajn going to see him,", said Jack. - ' <■- "It's easy to find him, but'it's a rood walk," said the squire, giving him full directions. '"Thanks ; I'm off ! "and Jack left the -room. Mr. Gelder looked after him as he said-: . -• v •» - "Pray God that obstinate 'old fool may live to set the blunder he's made right !" , The lawyer uttered an exclamation of disapproval. "It's no use looking shocked. He is.an obstinate oUTfool, or he'd have left all to his daughter,, then this | muddle wouldn't have arisen. I suppose you will ctand "and hear what the man frora London says ?" "Yes." ."All right. Either Jim or I will come over to-night. " Good day;" and the squire left the room, the lawyer following him. ■■>■ As the door closed after then a heavy curtain that was drawn over a door —that led into a smaller drawing-room, that was seldom used —was lifted, and John Smith stepped from behind' it. Then going quickly (to. a window, he sprang through into the narrow garden that ran along the front of the house. A few steps brought him to the library, the window- of which was unfastened, and, opening it;; he vaulted lightly into the room, then shutting the window, he sat down. ]'■ "I shall get everything if Thompson dies ;, if not, then the truth may be discovered. That lawyer fellow Will leave no stone unturned. Will the old man die?" CHAPTER %VIIV' FRUSTRATED. A! ino-nent later , Smith .opened the door' and passed into the-hall, and as he began ascending the. stairs, he met Jack" coming down. "Jl word with yoni/V'liß said, paus- ." "i "All right. up?" asked Smith. ■ ■"'.■ Jack didn't reply, but stepped into the morning-room, the other man following him. When the door was shut, he faced Smith, saying : "Do you know a girl named Jessie Thwaites ?" ••'No.' What the dickens do you mean ?" * . In spite of his ready answer, Jack felt assured he was lying, and thf words came sharp and clear : "I don't believe you." "Thank you. It doesn't muojb matter to me what you believe ;" and there was a : quiet'insolence; something that told: Jack the speaker felt that; his position was assured. "You know the girl, and. you- know where she is, and the letter throwing the blame on rate is your work. I fexpect, when Mr. Coates looks into your past, he'll find ,you were an expert : penman," said Jack, saying more in his rage than he had intended. Smith's face paled, and Jack realised that his Jast words had hit home, and he said : "Loos here; you'll : not carry ofl the vilD rename you've planned. Np stone will be left trnturned to find; out tffe truth, linn- when Mr. Tbompcoa recovcrs r you will te " exposed." 'l'll wait tp defend rriysolf until he- does," Smith- replied. ; There;was something covert in his words—a hint. tha£ the time would never come—and '•- feeling that he dared not trust himself, lest he took summary vengeance on the . ,man, j .he i how felt certain had>tradiieec!: ; him, : Jack left ■ the: room, and went quickly out of the house. It was a long walk to Thwaites's cottaga, and ?by■; the time ■; Jack; drßiv?,d there he was/ijef a calmer v of* aiind. His knoisk at was answer-' ed.by Mrs. Thwaiies, who «iformcd hini that her hasb'and was :at liome, and she was going' to-show him in--to big loomed in the kitchen door-* . way, Jack turned /to hiin, saying': "I- can speak to your husband here." - "Eh, step in ;" and Thwaites drew back. ■' ■<.}. jA ■■•:• ■'. ::, : He had- purpopely omitted the "sir;" He had ho respect—nothing but bitter hatred—for the man whom he believed had wronged the girl who was as dear to him as though she had been his own child. For a moment they faced cacb other, Jack realising that this stern man, with the strong, rugged face, was not one to lightly accuse another while Thwaites thought the young V man's face belied his deeds. "I've come to tell you I'm not the scoundrel you make me out to be," - said Jack ; and; the other man was

struck with the indignation in his . tone. "I expected you'd deny it," replied Thwaites. "'I deny it because it's a lie. I 'don't pose as a saint, but I'm not the sort to do the thing you accuse .me of." "The master said the letter was in your writing," said Thwaites, grimly-'. ■ "Let me look at it," Jack de ; manded. ■ • Thwaites crossed to. a desk at the other side of the room, and, unlocking it, he took out the letter. AsJack looked at it an cxclamar tion of surprise. and dismay escaped him ; and, watching him, the'other man; for the first time doubted whether he was to blamfe. v : ""I didn't write it, yet" I could have sworn it was my writing," he said. '' The mi&ter " had no doubt,*' said , Thwaites. Jack gave him the letter as he said : i-- '' "Mr. Coates, the: lawyer, may wish to see it.. He doesn't believe I'm fcsut, good heavens, that letter is enough to shake any one's belief .in mer man who wrote it must be a clever penman. . "Yes, |f lyou; didn't write it," said Thwaites," uneasily.. The doubt 1 that he had misjudged this man Was growing. on him. "t tell; you. I didn't write it: . I spoke to a girl once —on the quarry path. She directed- me to Witton House, i had only gone a few yards when I met Mr. Smith hurry-, ing as; though he had jan appointment. to keep. At the : time I. wondered if he was going to meet the girl. Now I feeL certain he was, and I expect that letter is his work." "Can he copy writing cleverly.!" asked Thwaites. "i don't know ; though 'we have lived in the same house since he came to Witton, we have avoided each other: He's, a man I never liked nor trust, and it was to his interest to Ijlackeri" me to Mr. Thompson," said Jack.; Thwaites did not speak. Jack's words carried jgeieht with them, and the very fact that he had sought him out looked as though he was innocent ; but the letter was a stumbling block, unless it was a forgery. "Doubt you ? Yes, that's true. Before you came I was certain you were the man who had 'ticed the lass from her home, but I'm not so sure now." "Have you tried to trace her?" asked Jack. "Tried to find , her in London ! I might as well try to find a needle in a bottle ,of hay," replied Thwaites. . Jack looked impatient. "Mi*;- Coates will have to take steps to find her. A detectivermight be able to trace her ; then we should know the truth." Thwaites raised his head and look' ed full at him as he said : "You went away the day the lass disappeared. Mr. John Smith has never left Witton. "Can you give an account of yourself during the time you've been away ?" "Yes ; I had rooms at Thackray's Hotel. I spent some of the days with a friend who had come over from New Zealand. He went back yesterday. It was to see him.. I went to London." "And you were always at- your hotel, except when you were with your friend ?" . '"No. I'd one or two little jaunts down the Thames, and, didn't get back till the next day."' Thwaites spoke sternly. Jack turned-, fiercely on him : '"You've made up your mind I'm guilty. I'll prove my innocence;" and turning on his heel, he left the cottage. .< "You've wronged him, NFathaa," said his wife. '"God only knows. If I have, I'm sorry but " the evidence against him. is damiiing." ... ■.. •'* . ! * * . • When Jack left the morning-room, John Smith sauntered to a window and stood looking'ovar the garden. Jack's words, that when the lawyer looked into his past, proof would be found that he was an expert penman, had upset him. There were men in Australia who could tell that once or twice he had been in danger of being with forgery, but it wouldn't be easy to find these men ; and if old Thompson died first,, it would make no difference. He could laugh at the lawyer's discoveries. He would o\?n the mine and the quarry, and .be master of Witton House. Even the fifty " thousand' pounds left to Betty would be his, because she and Jack were certain*to marry." When he was master of the house, he would turn them both out. And Smith's face expressed satisfaction. Betty had treated him with contempt, and have no mercy on her. K be Continued.:)