Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 405, 18 October 1911, Page 2

Time, The Avenger

(An. Higms Reserved.i)

THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY,

By HEDLEY RICHARDS, Author of "The Haighs of Hillcrest," "From Mill to Mansion,," "Diana's Inheritance," Etc., Etc.

F. IXTEENTH INSTALMENT. " . o can it be? " she asked her self. That it wasn't Hugh, she was certain. While she was speculatin. about it she heard the library win dow raised and gently closed, and at once arrived at the conclusion that the man was a burglar, and had a confederate in the house who had admitted him. Nina was a brave girl, and she made up her mind to find out all she could before she called her father, who slept in an opposite wing ; so she opened her chamber door, and went noiselessly along the landing till she reached the head of the stairs. Then she heard steps ascending cautiously. Drawing back 3he hid behind a marble statue, and waited to see what the man would do, as she knew it would be foolish to try to give an alarm then.

Another moment, and she saw her father's face distinctly as he passed her, and it was only by a strong effort of will that she refrained from uttering an exclamation ; then she watched him turn along the corridor in which his room was. Wondering what it all meant, Nina returned to her room, drew down the blind, and, undressing, got into bed. But she could not sleep. Where had her father been, and why was he dressed in that manner ? She had noticed he wore a kind of shooting jacket with the collar turned up, and also that he had a soft felt hat drawn well over his face.

Puzzling about the matter, she lay awake till daylight, then fell fast asleep, and did not open her eyes till her maid appeared. The breakfastbell had rung before she entered the room, and she intended to apologise for her tardy appearance ; but her father was not in the room so she seated herself at the breakfast table and waited.

In a few minutes he appeared and Nina thought he looked pale and tired.

" You don't look well, father," she remarked, as she poured out his coffee.

"I didn't sleep well. I had a bad headache and I haven't got rid of it," he replied, as he took his cofiee from the butler.

Nina did not make any further remark until the man had left the room ; then she said : " Father, you did startle me last night. I thought it was a burglar when you opened the library window."

For a moment Mr. Hudspith was silent, then he said, quietly : " I don't know what you mean. I never opened either that or any other window after Starks shut them for the night." Nina looked at him in amazement. " Father, you were out and you came in through the library window, [t must have been nearly one o'clock. I thought you were a burglar and I came out of my room intending to see him and give the alarm ; then I heard some one come up stairs, so I hid behind the statue and I saw you." " Nina, you must be going out of your mind. I never left my room after I went to bed at half-past ten," said her father sharply. " But I saw you and you had on your shooting jacket, with the collar pulled up, and a soft hat," she said, positively. " Stop your vagaries. Nina, you ire a fool ! " said Mr. Hudspith in an angry voice.

Just then Hugh entered the room. " Hello, pater ! What's Nina been doing ? I thought I was a fool and she was Solomon's eldest daughter," ae said, glancing from one to the Dther.

" You're a pair of fools ! " replied ais father angrily.

" You don't pay yourself a compliment, pater," said Hugh with a grin; but Mr. Hudspith ignored the remark and, rising from the table, told Nina he wished her to come to the library, and she followed him. " Nina, I thought I had better caution you not to mention to Hugh that absurd fancy about my being out last night. I shouldn't care for him to think I kept such late hours, particularly as it is not true, although it would suit him to believe it, and, ot course, it, was an optical delusion," said her father. " I shall not name it to Hugh, or to any one," she replied ; but Nina knew it had not been an optical delusion, and she felt more puzzled than ever.

CHAPTER XVII. THE FINDING OF THE BODY

" Gar, I wish you would marry and settle down," said Lord Hatton. They were seated in a tent that had been placed on a lawn —at least Lord Hatton was seated in a comfortable basket-chair, while Gar lounged on the grass.

From the opening in the front of the tent there was a lovely view as the Knowle was built on the side of a hill. It was not nearly such a bio; house as Housesteads, and a little place beside Gelder Hall ; but it had a charm of its own, the situatior was perfect, and the house inside hac a most homelike look. Moreover, the sunshine seemed to peer into every nook and corner. Gar did not reply, so his grand father went on : *' " I'm a very olfl wan—turner

.eighty—and you are the only one 'to carry on the name. My father was a poor man, and I've made my position. I'm proud of the fact and I'm proud of you, Gar ; but I should like to see you married and settled down."

" I don't think I shall marry," re plied Gar after a pause.

" Not marry ! I thought you loved Mona DalryZapie ? " said his grandfather. " I do, but it cannot be," replied his grandson, quietly. " Why not ? Doesn't Mona care for you ? I must be very blind. I could have sworn she loved you." There was silence for a moment, then the old man said :

" Ask her again, my boy. ' Faint heart never won fair lady.' " Gar lifted his head and looked at his grandfather as he said :

" You were not mistaken —Mona does care for me, but Mr. Dalrymple won't consent to an engagement."

" What !" And the old man sat up erect, indignation and wrath in his face.

" What reason does he give ? " he asked.

" None. He simply refuses his consent, and says that must be enough :or me."

" It isn't enough £or me, if it is for you," said Lord H&tton rising angrily from his chair as he spoke. " Where are you going, grandfather ? " asked Gar, springing to ais feet, and following the old man, who was now out of the tent. " I'm going to order the carriage, and drive to Housesteads. Mr. Dalrymple will have to give me a rea-

" I don't think he will tell you any more than he has told me, and I'm afraid you will have words," said Gar.

" I am going," replied the old gentleman, imperiously. By this time they had reached the louse and Lord Hatton rang the bell and ordered the carriage to be brought round as soon as possible ; ;hen he went up stairs and his valet helped him to remove the lounge coat :hat he was wearing and very soon lie came down stands.

" Don't quarrel with Mr. Dalrymple grandfather," said Gar. as he went ,vith him to the carriage.

"I have no wish to quarrel with lim, but I'm going to ask him a plain question," said Lord Hatton.

Gar stood watching the carriage as .t went quickly down the drive ; then ae returned to the tent and tried to read, but he was unable to fis his attention.

Meanwhile Lord Hatton was speculating what Mr, Dalrymple's objection could be, and. by the time the carriage reached Housesteads he felt quite in a warlike humour.

The footman, in answer to his query, informed him that Mr. Dalrymple was at home, and ushered him to the library, where his master was reading. Of late he had spent most of his time shere, dwelling on the unfortunate turn affairs had taken. Moreover, he knew that his wife was troubled, and she had beeun to watch him in a way that disconcerted him, though he knew that it arose from loving anxiety. As the footman announced Lord Hatton he rose and came forward, holding out his hand in a friendly way.

" I am glad to see you. It is not often you pay us a visit. But let me take you into the drawing room. Lady Dalrymple will be delighted to see you," he said. " I came to see you, Mr. Dalrymple. I want to have some conversation. Perhaps I may afterwards see Lady Dalrymple," said Lord Hatton. Mr. Dalrymple pulled an easy-chair forward, and his lordship seated himself, and then looked at his host and. said :

"My grandson -ells me that you will not consent to an engagement between your daughter and him." Mr. Dalrymple's face flushed, but said, quite composedly : " Your grandson told you the truth."

" May I ask what is your obiecion ? "

Mr. Dalrymple's face flushed more iecply. " I cannot give you my reason, but E object most strongly," he replied, firmly, but his tone was courteous. " Then I must infer that you do not consider him in a good enough position, as nothing can be said against his character ; but whatever your reason I think you would do well not to let a littie pride—l know >ve are what is called new people—spoil the lives of two young folk," said Lord Katton

" I do not inteiifi to change my resolution, and yoi v?rong me in supposing that I would let a trifle such as you mention influence mc," replied Mr. Dalrymple. " Then what on earth is your objestion ? " exclaimed his lordship. " I have my reasons, and that is all I can say."

" Then, Mr. Dalrymple, I think you are acting very unfairly, and I cannot help thinking that you are putting a slight upon me and my grandson. 1 wish you good morning." Mr. Dalrymple bowed, and as his lordship rose he accompanied him to the door, and waited until he drove away in his carriage,

" Poor old man ! How little be suspects that the objection would he on bis side if he knew the truth ! he thought : then he told one of the footmen to send word to the stables that his horse was to be saddled. On his way hosie Lord Hatton thought over his interview with Mr. Dalrymple. As he was a very keen old man, in spite of his eighty odd years, and saw a great deal through his spectacles that escaped younger eyes, he came to the conclusion that the master of Housesteads bad a reason for his refusal, and a very strong one ; moreover, that he felt keenly having to stand in the way of his daughter's happiness-

" He's changed a gcod cleai. or [ate ; he looks years older ; I wonder if he's lost money, and won't let his daughter marry until he can dower her ? " thought his lordship who on arriving at the Knowles told his grandson that he had failed to learn the reason Mr. Dalrymple would not consent to the marriage, but he advised him to wait patiently. "I have a high opinion of Dalrymple ; he's a just man and a good man. I don't understand him now, but he's not doing it from any petty motive, and I'm inclined to think it will come right in the end," said Lord Hatton ; and Gar rejoiced that his grandfather had not quarrelled with Mona's father.

At the time that Lord Hatton war, talking to Gar, raadame was seated in the show room trimming a toque for one of the tradesmen's daughters. Her nimble fingers arranged first a bit of chiffon, then a flower or two, and out of chaos there was growing a beautiful whole, while her thoughts were busy with the man whom she had followed the previous night. That Mr. Hudspith had been deeply moved by the interview she was certain, as his face, when he passed her, had worn an expression that was a combination of fear and anger. Had the man gone away having got what he wanted from Mr. Hudspith ? Or was he lurking about intended to levy further blackmail on Mr. Dalrymple ? were the questions she asked herself.

Suddenly she was roused by a light step in the shop, and before she could rise, Louise stood in the doorway, pushing the plush curtains a little on one side, and madame noticed that she looked excited. "Ma mere, there has been a man drowned in a pool in Gelder 'Woods," she said, in a tone of excitement,. " God forbid ! " exclaimed madame on the impulse of the moment, as a dreadful possibility presented itself.

" But moii Dieu did permit it ; they say the man is quite dead. He was hanging on one tree that dipped into Dead Man's Pool. Oh, ma mere, this little town is in a ferment ; the people are standing in groups, and talking," said Louise.

" 'who told you about it, Louise ?" asked her mother. " The man who found him, it was, when I -was standing at Miss Holmes's garden saying adieu. Ellen had come back, and as we were tenderly parting, this man and one boy came up, and he said : " ' There's one man lying drowned in the Dead Man's Pool, and I'm going to tell the police.' " Miss Holmes did seem to know this man who was talking, and she said : " ' How came you io pass Demi Man's Pool ? " 'I always come the lower path, and my boy here wanted to have a look at the pool ; he's a fancy (or it. So we stepped aside and we saw the poor fellow, and, of course. I shall tell the police.' " What did Miss Holmes say ? " asked madame. "' She seemed troubled, and as I had said adieu., I came away ; but the news had been told when I got into Wittonbury. and the place was all on one go." At thai; moment Miss Penman entered the shop, and stepped into the show room as she said : " Madame, have you heard the news ? " " Yes ; Louise has just told me." " The police are going to drive out and take grappling irons. The poor fellow is hanging h;* the branch of a tree," said Miss Penman. " Have they any idea who he is ? " asked madame. " Slater, at the Vine Inn, says a man who was staying there went out late last night and never came back.

and he wore a popper-coloured suit, the same as the poor man who has been drowned. He's going to drive out with the police," replied Miss Penman. Then she continued : "It is a strange thing how he got in. as Dead Man's Pool is oil the beaten track."

"Is it ? I must go and look at the place," replied madame. " I expect all Wittonbury will be going this afternoon, as it's n halfholiday," said Miss Penman ; and after a little more conversation she took her departure.

Mr. Dalrymple mounted his horse as soon as it was brought round and set off for a ride, He had been considerably upset by his conversation with Lord Hatton, but the fresh air and exercise did him good. Quite unconsciously he took the road which years ago he had frequently traversed when, as Lionel Hudspith, he had visited at Housesteads. It was a shady winding road, and led past the gate' to Gelder Wood, then past the Hall into Wittonbury, and down the lanes back to Housesteads. After a time he slackened his pace, and thoughts of the past crowded upon him. Years had elapsed since he came along that very lane to meet the girl he had loved in the pastloved and wedded, only to find, in the time of his greatest, need, thatshe was not really his wife. It wat not often he thought of her. He hnd intended seeking her when he came out of prison, but a month before his sentence expired he had received

few lines from her beseeching him not to try to find her, as the man she lived with, whom the law sai' :

was her husband, was intolerably jen lous, and what little peace she Ivk would be lost if he knew another man was seeking her, however pure 1m motives might be. In it she had as sured him of her unaltered lo\e. but impressed upon him that it would be better for them never to meet again To be Continued.