BROKEN BONDS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 291, 3 September 1910, Page 7

BROKEN BONDS.

(Copyright.)'

A THRILLING ROMANCE OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE, By MAURICE SCOTT, Author of "The Mark of the Broad Arrow," "Tracked by Fate," Etc., Etc. TART 4. "Bah ! You are talking like a child!" retorted his wife. "1 did what any sane person would have c'on i in my place. you realise th.it it lay in the power of Felix V;i n c to raze this old chaniel house to the ground, to turn us out, to sell \o::r precious land" "No," thundered Alec, as she cowered in terror at his voice. " Thai danger is past. Fool, miserable foot —for you are either fool or knave —that you coul-d not have waited ! Thank Cod, f can now rescue my ho.:sc and lands from the usurer's clutches. Through the death of a d'slant relative I have inherited sud'eieat money to remove all encumbrances." AKc the possessor of a fortune! Flise made a pacificatory gesture ; she must appease him if possible, 'i here were so nuinv anil more agreeable ways of spending money than "n buying out mortgages, for which ihere was no need, seeing that Vane had gained Anna for his wife as the price of his forbearance. "How splendid !" she exclaimed. "I congratulate you, Alec, darling. the more especially as now you can n : Ov'yoflr inheritance. Mr. Vane ii-omistd to replenish all claim to Abbolsva'e on the day Anna became his wife." And now Alec, for the first time since their marriage, thrust her away. " And you believed him —T wonder !" he said, bitterly. "What use my sneaking over three thousand miles of ocean to rescue my fore''alh'rs' home from his clutches, when you—my wife—have delivered my sister into a bondage from which 1 would have died at the stake to save her ? Where are they ?" The question was abrupt, almost brutal"They were to have stayed a few days at the Crichton Hotel, in London," faltered Klise, "but—but I have not heard" Neither, apparently, did Alec hear the conclusion of the sentence, for he had left the room, and she dared not follow. Then arose a commotion in the hall as of orders being rapidly given and rapidly executed, followed by a rumble of wheels, and Mrs. Strathcanon, looking fr o m the windows, saw her husband, with tense, set face driving away, a s in the direction of the railway junction, through the ;:ouring. pitiless rain. CHAPTER V. "A FRIEND IN NEED" To the fortunate possessor of a neayv bankrng account a cheuqe is the magic wand with which difti:u!f'es are overcome and awkward inquiries silenced. Con-equeut ly the management of the hotel at which Mr. and Mrs. Felix Vane were to have passed the initial stages of their honeymoon, receiving" an intimation that the rooms, owing to alteration in arrangements, would not be needed, accept id the proffered payment, in default, an.l thought no more of the matter ; so that "Alec Strathcarron. travelling hot foot to London, his impetuous Highland temperament aflame with the determination to s-ce for himself if Anna had been coerced into a marriage with Van l ? utd to take her away from him were such the case, could obtain no information regarding either his sister or the man whom a brief inspection of the Blairgowrie church register had assured Alec was Anna's husband. Yes, a suite of rooms had been engaged on the date mentioned iov a ady and gentleman named Vane, but the arrangement had • been subsequently cancelled. The hotel people knew no more. Disappointed, but rot discouraged. Alec turned his steps towards the Temple. The la.wvers at least would have Vane's aildress, and until he found his sister Alec could know no rest. Crossing Trafalgar-square, his progress was .irresli d by a voice. "Strathcarron ! Whoever would have thought of meeting you in the heart of modern Babylon ? 1 pictured you surrounded by your family, if not your clan, in the land of :he mountain and the flood. But ■ ou are in trouble ?" 'J he two men, who in the ten days' •assage from Montreal to Liverpool had 'found in each other a mutual ittraction and laid the foundation of ,i lifelong friendship, gripped each other iv the hand, and -John Arbtithr.ot ' felt that of the young Scotchman trembling with suppressed agitation. "You h'ok as though you've been ;oiuty the pace since we landed. Alec".'" he said, gravely. "I suppose T have, if travelling express to Scotland and back to 1 ondon counts for anything," replied Alee, wearily. "You know London. Jack. Where can we sit down quietly? 1 was going to the Temple, though." "Too iarl\- to do any business yet. and Fni open to bet you haven't breakfasted. ll'in, travelling all night ! 1 guessed as much ;" and Jack Arbuthnot hailed a hansom, and after what appeared no more than a few seconds' drive, had setFed Alec faring him in a private sitting-room in an adjacent hotel. A ta'l. spare figure, square alike of shoulder a iid of jaw, the calm yet dominant personality of "handsome ■ Jack." as his college mates had designated him, had at this critical juncture a most boneficient effect on the excitable nature of Alec Strathcarron. "I absolutely decline to listen to a word until you have breakfasted, and breakfasted well," he said, densively. "You can'C burn the candle at both ends without incurring the danger of collapse when the two flames meet, you know, lad.'' Alec, in whom the fires of anxietycoupled with disappointment had burned so fiercely as to be well-nigh spent, resigned himself almost gladly to the stronger will. .Yet his relieJ

at finding a rock on which to lean ,vas tempered by a sen ;e of crushing defeat, coupled with betrayal. How often during his voyage, while day by dav the sterling qualities of Jack Arbuthnot became more apparent as their intimacy grew, had not Alec nursed the secret hope that a visit to Abbotsvale might inspire love for Anna —that Arbuthnot and himself might become brothers ; that even though his own marriage had been hasty and ill-considered. Anna would win the love of this man. to whom, of all others, Alec would gladly give the "little sister" whom lie so dearly loved ! An.l then when tlie grim spectre of foreclosure had been warded off. when the future loomed bright and hopefid, to hear that Anna had married Felix Vane ! But for the moment he resigned himself to his friend's dictation and advice. ■'Svver let anything interfere with your grub, Alec," declared tiled young man. sagely. "Tin-re's no n'ed to meet trouble half-way. and by the same rule when the jade Misfortune rides at you full tiib you want all your nerve and muscle to enable you to sit tight under the shock." With apparent unconcern Arbuthnot smoked a cigarette and looked at the morning paper, nevertheless Watching Alec furtively from time to time. At last, when convinced that his guest had don • ju.-iiee to the food set before him. in- pushed over his cigarette case, and Alee smoked silently with l.nittid brows for some minutes. Tin n he looked up, and Arbuthnot. responding, threw away the newspaper and settled himself into an attitude of attent ion. "Thanks, old man." said Alec, a little hoarsely. "I —l've had rather a bad knock-out since we parted at Liverpool. T—no. the money's all right. There was no blundering, but —you told me on the voyage you had some knowledge of a man named Felix Vane, who held a deed 0/ mortgage on my estates." Arbtithnot's dark eyes dashed. "I know nothing that is good ot him," he said. "So I understood from you on shipboard," replied Alec, clenching his hands in an effort to keep down his emotion ; "and on m.v arrival at Abbotsvale my wife met me with the information th;. 1 three days ago my sister became his wife." "What !" John Arbuthnot was noted for calmness amounting sometimes to indifference, especially on occasions wh'-n the minds of most men would be. disturbed, as und r circumstances calling '.'or en" liusiasin, anger, or excitement ; but Abe Strathcarron's news had momentarily shaken even his self-posses.' ion. The exclamation rang through the room like a report from a firearm, and then ho listened with hreat hh-ss interest a-« Alec, neither shielding nor extenuating the action of his wife, told the story as far as he knew it. "They—Mr. and Mrs. Vane—have not been to the Crichton at a!!. Do 1 understand you correctly ?" he asked, as Aire paused. "Not at all. so I was informed, though tlvy—the ollicia's— declined to furnish the address from whieh th' letter countermanding the first order was dated." "Naturally. It would be .•-. line state of affairs if private business and private addresses were pt-' ed at the disposal of any one who .might choose to en'er an hotel am! ad. questions. Neither would (he lawyer —Felix Vane's lawyer—to see whom you -.w/re lushing off in such terrific haste. a'Tord you any cine to V,v. Vane's whereabouts if instructed otherwise." Alec looked blank. His early training, his simple outdoor life, his single honesty of outlook, had left him stranu'dy unconscious of 'he '.:s.>.•;■'■ of the business world, of which he knew little or noMrng. Hut possessed of keen intelligence, it began to dawn on him that if Y;e e chose to cut off commmeea! ions between Ann a and her oid home, it might, not irove so easy to ! ra: e him as Anna's brother had supposed. Tie looked almost Ivdidessly a t the friend whom Providence had sent to nim in his straits, the while le/locting grimly on the irony of bate driving him. in his antagonism to Anna's husband. to S"ek assistance from the man on whom, of all others :ie would so thankfully have bestowed Anna's hand in marriage, "What is your object in seeking v'ane, Stralhca'rroti '.'" asked Arbuthtot, who had seemingly regained his composure. "To see my sister. Jack. To ascertain by what means she has been .•oerced" "Are you sure she has been coerced ? Men of indifferent, character have been known to exercise a lowerful fascination over undeniably .>,nd women. What if she loves him ?" '"I want to see her." replied Abe. doggedly. "If she has married him of )-,rr own free will, and he is kind to her. f have nothing to say-. li "And if not" —— "I shall take hor from him, of course." "You cannot. She is his wife." "Yes, 1 quite understand. We will (ale v'our natural inclination to make ' mincemeat of Wane for granted." broke in Arbuthnot, quietly. "I'.ut making due allowances for the Celtic temperament, even a Strathcarron of Abbotsvale would be held accountable to the law. and this is a case in which I may be able to put. mv hand on the man in question io the course of the morning." "You ?" It was now Alec's turn to start up in agitation. "Sit down, old fellow." proceeded the other, calmly. "You will repicmlvr 1 told you that prior. to accepting vour kind invitation to visit you in Scotland t had business with ny lawyers that would detain me fur a'day or two in town ?" "Yes, yes ; but" "Steady, lad ! There's nothingdone well in a hurry. Hailing a hansom a t Middle Temple-lane yesterday afternoon, I found another man had hailed it simultaneously, and as the two of us advanced to wards each other as if to see who would first give way, 1 found myself looking into the eyes of Felix Vane. a nd "reading therein an expression of hate dating from a thrashing 1 had felt obliged to Rive him in our college days. We both drew back, and then the arrival of a second hftfispMfi settled the difficulty.

"Well—-you did not let him go ?" "Why, yes. Why not? But when f dismounted at Charing Cross station 1 saw Vane abo alight and turn down a street higher up. 1 cannot tell you what, impulse h'd me to standi at the corner and waidi him enter one of the sinalh r hotels, but 1 did so," concluded Arbuthnot ""I he impulse was heaven-sent . mst, as was o:r meeting this morn tig, Jack." cried Alec."fervent ly. "My thoueh's. my troubles travelled towards you, enabling yum to help me : but is he" "Yes. 1 believe he is st ay ing t here. You would like to call on him. Would you have any objection to my accompany ing you ? 1 hardly like Lo trust yon a'one." John Arbuthnot was profoundly in teres led in Alec, and who shall sac. Ie also had not looked oag-'rly forivanl to making the ao jiiaini aiv " of !he bonnle Seobh lassie described :>y Alec in such flowing terms. lie ■iiit on his hat. now. scarce)- waiiDe for Si rat hcarron's grateful ac■eptan e of his offer. At, the same lime. 100. h • felt pUC/ded ; ,1 ill- e.,;,iluct ,-,;' a wealthy man in ;\bar.d;.nng ro.mis taken at the Crichton. on 1 subjecting his young bride to :he inferior accommodation the small establishment, to wh.ch they were now procis-'di ng. Ibui. The g -ivral factotum, the hall porter, "wasn't sure if Mr. Yaic would rarest (i Pe di.-t urbed. or even if he happen, d to be in :" but the e ; ghl .if a smaU yellow coin eiioo ed t lie the fa' l that Mr. Vane was in No. !. and if the gentlemen liked b> go iml knock. he —the porter—would lake the risk. Arbuthnot took the lead: but instead of knocling he turned tin- handle of No. •> and walked in. d" ■<•■'■ followed by Alec. Felix Van' was writing at a desk. He started iq at the unheralded interruption, am. his steely eyes bla./ed angrily a he recognised his visitor. "Oood morning." nodded deck. Casually, looking direct at his old enemy. "I might apologise for my intrusion. but m.v friend. Mr. Strathcarron. is anxious to see you an a rather urgent matter, and as I lappeiwd to know your address" —- "You mean you spied on me !" Durst out Vane, his temper for a minute getting the better of his discretion. ■Terhaps I did." returned the other still quietly, "though under the cir.'iimst antes I'm somewhat repaid for my trouble. Hut leave me outside he question—at least, at present. You are not personally acquainted with Mr. Strathcarron. T believe? Alec, this gentleman is Mr. Felix Vane." He stood back, and watched Vane's 'ace. admiring his self-control, and wondering how much of truth was contains! in his answers. Alee had bowed an acknowledgment of the introduction. The two non had hitherto never met ; also, the tran-actians which their respecLivo lawyers had negotiated had bred resentment ~n o ne side and contempt an the other. "1 am Alec Strathcarron" "!. have heard of your projected arrival in England from my lawyers, sir." broke in Vane. "A pergonal interview between us. however, s totally unnecessary. My solid.or has his instructions" '■you misunderstand me," interrupted Alee, instinctively hating die man before him, while trying :uird to keep himself well in hand. ■[ did not come here for the pur,i<>se cif seeing you. " "Indeed ! Whom, then, may 1 inquire ?" "1 came to sec my sister —your ivii'e." Yen-.' shrugged his shoulders insolently. "You might have spared yourself the trouble." he said, with a , sneer, CIIAITKU VI. riTF OAI'NTLFT THROWN DOWN". The ha/ebbrovvn—carrying, like his dster's. a dash of green —eyes of Alec Strathcarron Hashed lire, while those of belix Vane displayed sullen ■'erocily. The one 1 calm, self-possess-•d person of the trio was Arbuthnot who. while concent rat ing his keen intellect on the aspect shown by his old enemy. kept unostc-nt at iotisly ;10-e to Alec, meanwhile watching Vane like a '. '■ ■"■ The latter had been to some extent prepared for a risit from young Strathcarron. In •eeovering his arrears of corrcsponionre from the Crichton that niorn,ng Yam' had found a lengthy ti-le-fi'sin from Alec's wife, conveying 1 the diteUigvnce respecting her husband's indignation at his sister's marriage. Hid imploring Vane to conceal her jw'n part in brim-dug it about. from the wording 1 of the telegram, is abo by the demand nt tered by Strathcarron, it was evident that lis runaway wife had not returned to her sister-in-law. Where, thai lint a smart detective would ■oon unearth the lady. And now v'ane could have freely indulged in .s ' lieree quaied wit h t lie Ie ol her whose une\pic!ed a'cesshui to forLuno had frustrated his careful lyplanned schemes, only for the restraining presence of ArbuHinob \Vhat cursed chance had hn.u-..hi him niii contact with Alec St rat h arron? "I desire to see my sister." repealed Alec, firmly. "1 will be quite frank with you, Mr. Vane. Had 1 been in Scotland. Anna would never have married you with my consent." "Whether the circumstance absence proved fortunate cr otherwise for me. Mr. Strathcarron. has yet to be determined." broke in Vane, grimly. "in the meantime, may 1 suggist to you that you are wasting my time and your own?" "In what way ?" '•'For the reason that Mrs. Vane has elected—temporarily, ■ nved haidb 1 s a y—to withdraw herself from the protection of her husband. "She—she is not—with yon ?" "I a m residing here alone—that being also a temporary measure." returned Wane. "Should you doubt, my assertion you are at liberty to institute inquiries of the people who run this establishment." "Then where is she?" demanded Aire. "My sister left Edinburgh with you. 1 have evidence to that t-lTect." "Possibly 1. too. can procure evidence, if necessary, that on the. arrival at Fusion of the Scotch express at midnight 1 was asleep in the compartment . and the lady who that morning had done mc the honour to become my wife conspicuous by her absence," retorted Anna's husband. .(To be Continued),