Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 425, 23 December 1911, Page 2

Time, The Avenger

(All Rights Reserved.)

THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY.

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

THIRTY-FIFTH INSTALMENT. And Mona, sheltered in her lover's arms knowing that such happiness was hers as falls to the lot of few, thought of Nina Hudspith and. remembered that this day which was so joyful for her would be infinitelj sad for her friend, and a shadow fell across her happiness. It was always so—the days that are sunshiny for some are full of sadness for others, but to each and all come some sunshine and shadow. Some such thought flashed across Mona's mind, and a prayer rose from her heart that God would comfort her friend who w T as in trouble, and teach her to bear her happiness meekly. " What is it, sweetheart ? Why are you looking so sad ? " questioned Gar.

" I was thinking of Nina," she answered.

" Poor Nina ! She will feel the disgrace keenly," he said.

At that moment Mona saw her mother coming towards her and rose to meet her.

"My dear child, I am glad God has given you this happiness," she said kissing Mona and clasping Gar's hand firmly. " Will you have me for a son, Lady Dalrymple ? " asked Gar. " Gladly. Gar, if I had been blessed with a son I should have wished him to resemble you. Can I saymore ? " she asked, with a smile. " And now I will tell y-ou what brought me here. Stephen is bringing the tea out while your father has a rest and when he has rested we can go to him." Just before dinner Lord Hatton arrived. He had been present at the inquest on Marcus Hudspith and stated that the jury had brought in a verdict that the deceased shot himself in a fit of temporary insanity, " brought about by circumstances."

"It was a very merciful view to take, and it may be of some comfort

-1 to Miss Hudspith ; but the best I j thing is that he has made some rei paration by leaving a full statement jj of how he forged that cheque and I mesmerized you, so that you did not know what you were doing when you presented it at the bank. The superI intendent of police commissioned me I jto give it to you. Here it is," said I j Lord Hatton, handing the envelope I i containing the confession of Marcus I { Hudspith to Mr. Dalrymple, who de--1 , cided to leave the reading of it till I ithe next day ; then, as the dinner I [ bell rang his lordship was persuaded ito stay to dinner and though Mr. I Dalrymhle was still too much of an i invalid to join them, they were a : happy party. After dinner they re- ': turned to the drawing room and \ Lord Hatton then remembered that 1! ne had not told them that Hugh I ' Hudspith was married. 1 ; " Married ! " exclaimed Gar.

" Yes ; he has married madame's daughter. She is a fine handsome girl but quite a different type from her mother. I think she has got the whip-hand of Hugh and will keep .t."

" I remember her," said Lady Dalrymple. " Rather a hold girl ; not a gentlewoman like her mother," she added.

"It seems they were married the day before Marcus Hudspith shot himself. The girl was at the seaside with Miss Penman ; it had all been very cleverly arranged. She seems quite at home at the Hall, and I fancy w-on't like having to turn out," said the old lord. "And now I think it's about time I went home, if you don't mind ordering my carriage, Lady Dalrymple. I suppose you are quite ready, Gar ?" he said, with a gleam of mischief in his keen old Bye. "Not just yet, grandfather."

Lady Dalrymple ordered his carriage and soon afterwards Lord Hatton departed ; but as the smart brougham drove away, Mr. Penman's little trap stopped at the principal entrance and Miss Holmes got out and leisurely ascended the steps. " Can I see Mr, Dalrymple ? " she asked ; and the footman knowing that his master had been for some time an inmate of her house, asked her to step into the morning room while he inquired if his master would see her. In a minute or two he returned, and requested her to follow him ; then throwing open the drawing room door he announced her.

Lady Dalrymple came forward with outstretched hand saying how pleased they were to see her. " Oh, my lady, you are verj good, but I cannot forgive myself for losing the paper. Mr. Lionel " and she went quickly towards the sofa on which the master of the house lay —"if I'd only known, it would have been safe in your hands, instead of ;he Lord knows where. It nearly breaks my heart to think I've been unfaithful to my trust. It was a paper your father left for jou, sir, and it's been stolen. I've advertised for it but it's been no use. For a long time I've suspected that Mr. Marcus had a hand in that forged cheque, but I cannot help thinking he got to snow about the paper and stole it ; so when I heard that you were really Mr. Lionel, I thought I'd come and tell you what the master said on his leath-bed." " Don't trouble about the paper,

Mists Holmes ; it's in my hands. It was sent to me by post, and as o' belonged to me I kept it. I didn';. want any one to know who I was until my innocence was proved ; but that paper gave a clue and I put the matter in the hands of a detective."

Miss Holmes's face brightened. " You have eased my mind, sir. I expect it was your detective who called at my house and told me a cock-and-bull story about hearing some men talk about the paper." " Very likely," he said, with a smile. " You shall hear the contents of the paper another time. Now tell me about my father's last days."

Miss Holmes then told him what she had once told madame, and she could see that he was deeply moved. " I've been blaming myself for not being sharp enough to see you were Mr. Lionel, but I hadn't the slightest suspicion. One day, a while ago, [ saw in madame's shop—it was the first time I had seen 3-011 close to fov years —and I was amazed at your likeness to the Geklers. You are the living image of the father of the late discount. There's a portrait of him in the picture gallery. It was taken when he was an elderly man," said Miss Holmes regarding the master of the house attentively-. "It is not a matter of surprise, considering my mother was a Gelder," he said, and explained the re.ationship. " Then you'll he Viscount Gelder ! That's good news, sir. It seems to me that matters are being cleared ip except about the papers. I don't relieve if Mr. Marcus had taken them he'd have sent them to you."

" Neither do I ; but I did get them. We need not trouble about the sender," he said in a weary tone that caused Lady- Dalrymple to say that he mustn't talk any more ; and Miss Holmes rose intending to depart, when her lady-ship asked if she knew how madame was.

" She's very much upset, my lady. I called on my way here and 1 thought she looked downright ill. She's troubled about Louise having married Mr. Hugh Hudspith. You see she knew how he'd treated poor Gertie Hayes," said Miss Holmes, lowering her voice, " and she says she would rather her daughter married a decent working man without a penny than him ; not that she'd much opinion of Louise, from something she said, but, all the same, it is a trouble to her." " I shall call and see her tomorrow. I may be able to comfort her," said Lady Dalrymplc, as she shook hands with Miss Holmes. On the way home Miss Penman was enlightened as to Mr. Lionel Hudspith's relationship to the Gelders, and so well pleased was the old lady with the fact that she called in to see madame, and imparted the information to her. " Viscount Gelder » " said madame in a satisfied tone. "He looks it, doesn't he, Miss Holmes ? "

CHAPTER XXXVII. MADAME'S SYMPATHY. It was the morning after the inquest, when Mr. Dalrymple—as he was still called —was informed, as soon as he came down stairs that a gentleman was waiting to see him, and in a minute or two the detective was shown into the room.

" I am glad to see you, Mr. Hughes —I began to wonder what had become of you," he said, cordially.

" I have been busy—very busy—and I think if Mrs. Hayes had not spoken of her own accord, I could have forced her to. I have been gaining information, and I have little doubt your innocence would have been proved shortly ; but events have happened very rapidly of late," the detective said. " Did you find out who sent the statement left by my father ? " asked Mr. Dalrymple. " It had been in the care of Miss Holmes, and I interviewed her with the result that I think you may as well give up all hopes of discovering the sender," replied the detective, making up his mind to pose as a fool rather than let him know that madame was his long-lost Julie. "I wonder who was the sender? That he wanted to help me I am certain," said Mr. Dalrymple, assuming the person to have been of the masculine gender. " I am afraid we shall have to leave the question unsolved. I came to ask if you don't think it would ho wise to publish in the principal papers the statements left by Mr. Marcus Hudspith and your father, with a brief reference to the crime. The case was made very public— there are many who will remember it—and the clauses out of your father's will which have had to be published have kept the crime before the public ; therefore I think the statements which clear your reputation ought to bo made widely known. But I would suggest that the one made by Mrs. Hayes be withdrawn or it might get her into trouble. Already rumours that it was through her that the truth became known, that she has been cognizant of it always, are rife, and I have heard threats used by some working people as to. what they would like to do to her," said Detective Hughes. " T think it would he wise to make the two statements public and we will leave what Mrs. Hayes has to saj out of the question. I should like it to be understood that whatever wrong she has done mc is now set. right by her telling the truth. Do you mind seeing to the statements being inserted ? But I do not wish them to appear until my cousin Marcus Hudspith is buried. And I should be obliged if you would run up to town and enlighten my late father's solicitors as to what has taken place. I expect they will be coming down to the funeral, and can then settle matters on my behalf With Mr, Hugh STtidsnith. They are

not the solicitors I employ ; lint a? they know all about the Gelder estate, &c, I think I shall let them continue to act for that estate. Hut my present solicitors will manage the Dalrymplc property and some investments that I have made. Have you heard when my cousin is to be buried ? " asked Mr. Dalrymplc. " The day after to-morrow, so I had better go to London this afternoon and I'll see about the statements being sent to the principal papers in the country ; and as 1 have no time to lose I'll wish you good morning," said the detective. " I wish lie had found out who sent the paper ; he seems to take his lack of success in that matter very easily. 1 suppose he thinks it d'>es not matter." thought Mr. Dalrympbg but his reflections were disturbed by the entrance of his wife dressed, for driving.

" Are you going out, my dear ?

'' Yes ; 1 waut to see madame. I am sure she will be doubly pleased that you recovered when she knows who you are, and I fancy she will know already, as Miss Holmes would be sure to tell her. Then, when I have seen madame. I shall drive to Gelder Hall and see Nina. 1 do not wish her to think our feelings towards her have changed," said Lady Dalrymple. "Tell her I feel the dee-pest sympathy for her, and remind madame to expect me as soon as I feel equal to paying visits," replied her husband.

With a farewell kiss, and a reminder that Gar and Mona. who were in the garden would come and keep him rompany, Lady Dalrymplc left the room and was soon driving towards Wittonbury, the coachman having received orders to stop at madame's shop. And when the carriage drew up in front of the door, her ladyship stepped out and entered the shop, just as madame came out of the show room to receive her. Lady Dalrymplc had seen her once since she left the Hollies, and had not observed any difference, but now she noticed a great change. There was something radiant in madame's face, mixed with a look of triumph, which caused Lady Dalrymplc to exclaim : " How wonderfully bright you look ! Surely it is not because Louise " Then she stopped conscious that she was doing madame an injustice. " Louise lias not done anything that has given me satisfaction, Lady Dalrymple. She has made what the world may call a good marriage. I call it a bad one. I would rather have laid her in her grave than known she was Hugh Hudspith's wife. He has the death of poor little Gertie Hayes at his door. Poor little girl ! He broke her heart and but that God had seen fit to let good come out of evil, I should sayit would have been well if he had never been born. Still, her death opened her grandmother's lips or she might have died with the burden of that secret. Lady Dalrymplc, 1 am glad your husband is coming into that of which he was so unjustly deprived," said madame. " I knew you would rejoice with us : I told my husband so. There are some people of whose sympathy you feel sure ; y-ou are one of those. You have a large heart, madame." "I do rejoice in your good fortune. What a burden your husband must have borne day by day ! Even you, Lady Dalrymplc, did not know that he was other than he seemed ; you did not know the horror that he must have felt when lie thought of those years spent in prison, and the torture of seeing another master of the home that should have been his. It has been a sad fate, but you ;an thank God the burden is lifted."

Lady Dalrymple wondered at the marvellous sympathy and capacity for entering into another's feelings evinced by her companion, who was almost tragic in her earnestness and at the same "time she was struck with something unusual in her manner and words. " I must not forget to tell yon that my husband intends to come and than!: you for what you did for him as soon as he is equal to paying visits." " Tell Lord Geider he docs not owe me thanks or anything. It was a pleasure to do what T did for him." Lady Dalrymple smiled.

" I see Miss Holmes has been telling you he is a Gelder. Is it not

wonderful, madame? It almost seems a fairy tale but for the sufiering." " And that is past," replied madame. " Yes ; and now I must say good bye. I am going to Geider Hall to see Miss Hudspith. Poor girl, she is suffering, I know, or I would not have gone there. You will come to Gelder Hall when we are settled there, madame ? " said Lady Dalrymple.

" I think not. I do not even know that I shall remain in Wittonbury." "We could not spare jou. Could you not arrange to live with Miss Holmes ? ' Madame shook her head. " I couldn't live without work."

she said. " Then stay here and work. It is not often we meet with friends ; but when we do they are not lightly to be parted with," said Lady Dalrym pie as she shook hands with inn dame, then left the dainty little shop and stepped into her carriage. As she drove to Gehler Hall, she asked herself why she felt so strangely drawn to madame. That she had a fascinating personality she knew ; and, more than that, siie was certain she was a sood and clever woman. Still, it puzzled her to account for the strong; influence madame had over her, and she was still pondering the matter when she readied tielder Hall. To be Oontirnied.