LINK BY LINK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 71

LINK BY LINK.

By HEAD ON HILL. ! Author of "The Kiss of the Enemy," "The Sentence of the Court," "The Ocean King Mystery," "Millions of Mischief, 1 " "The One Who Saw," etc., etc. [Copyright.] SYNOPSIS OP PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTERS I and ll.— Norraau Blythe returns to his- native village of Monkswood, and is welcomed by John Benjafield, landlord of the Blythe Arms. The eldest son of Sir Bevys Blythe, of Monkswood Chase, the -young man is heir only to the empty title, having been disinherited by his father in favour of his step-brother, Paul. Now Norman bas come home wealthy. He inquires- after Mildred Harden, his step-sister's governess. Despite the late hour and the advice of the innkeeper, he decides to visit tine Chaee that night. The scene changes to the interior of Monkswood Chase. Sir Bevys, in a state of semi-intoxication, warns his son Paul not to be too attentive to Miss Harden, as he proposes, to make her Lady Blythe ■when his second wife, who is insane, dies. Shortly afterwards Sir Bevys Blythe is found murdered. Paul says that when he came into' the room he found Miss Harden there, and the window open. CHAPTERS 111 and TV.— John Benjafield hears of the tragedy early next morning. He meets Miss Harden, who hints that Paul tried to throw suspicion on her. The innkeener informs her of Norman's return, and his visit to Monkswood Chase. They both agree to keep silence concerning Ms presence in the- neighbourhood. A new thread of the narrative i» then introduced, beginning at the Hotel Duoal in. London. Lord Croysdale and his son, the Hon. Kenrick Herriot, have- their attention "drawn, to a. couple seated 1 at another table. The lady is Mme. Gloria Carrington, a noted palmist and crystal-gazer, and the gentleman- Hector Dallas, lately returned from South Africa. 'They are strangers to begin with, but the woman arouses his interest, and then leaves him dumbfounded by telling him* that he has* an. interest in the murder of Sir Bevys Blythe. CHAPTERS V. and Vl.— Hector Dallas accompanies Gloria Carrington to. her consulting rooms in order to test her powers of crystal-gazing. She tells him that he goes about in leadly fear. They arrange to meet again at the Hotel Ducal. Going to her own rooms, she tells another visitor — no other than Caspar Sturge, Lady Blythe's mental attendant — that she has discovered Mr, now Sir, Norman Blythe. Returning- to Monkswood Chase, Sturge tells Paul that hia half-brother is in England. They both, connect his return with the murder,, but Paul begs Sturge not to inform the police. At the x inquest on the body of Sir Bevys, Paul's evidence helps to exonerate Miss Harden, from suspicion.