In The Flashlight

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 612, 14 March 1929, Page 5

In The Flashlight

By

Bernard Rowthorne

Author of “The Jewels of Sin,” “The Shcidow of the Yamen,” Etc., Etc.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTERS I. AND ll.—Carston and 1 Melford are seated in the saloon of a yacht. Carston is threatening Melford with the fact that Otto Freedlam is still alive, and is anxious to learn the whereabouts of his old-time partner. Owen Oldstairs. Melford, driven into a corner admits tacitly that lie is Owen Oldstairs Margaret, his daughter, comes for a book, and departs almost immediately. Carston makes it plain that, as the price of keeping Melford’s real identity secret, he must be allowed to marry Margaret. The girl s father tells Carston about Noel and Donald Mayhew. How that both brothers loved Margaret, but she loved Noel. He went to German East Africa, and three months later was reported missing. They are in a rough sea, and while the men are talking there is a violent lurching of the vessel. The second officer comes to say that the propeller shaft has snapped. There is great danger of driving into Corrievreehan Race, with Jura ahead. The men take to the boats. Melford is terrified, but Carston shows a manly front, procuring lifebelts. Carston and Margaret get away in the first boat. This us wrecked. Carston, a strong swimmer, saves both Margaret and himself. They are thrown on to the wet sand of an inlet. CHAPTERS 111. AND TV.—Carston carries the unconscious Margaret Melford as he tries to find a place of shelter. When she returns to consciousness he still insists on carrying her. They crouch tor a rest behind a stone wall. Then they resume their journey, Margaret still being carried Tliev are hospitably received bv an old highlander and his wife. The old farmer goes to the shore to investigate, but onlv comes across the bodies of three sailor lads, and a boat, battered to pieces. Margaret makes her appearance after a night’s rest somewhat refreshed. She is about to bear a proposal from Carston when the guid wife enters with the breakfast tray. Carston, looking out of a window, tells Margaret that her father is coming across the fields. She rushes to meet him, with Carston at her lieels. CHAPTER V.—Continued “Well, I hope there'll be no need now; but if there is, I shall depend on you. I’m off now to see if I can find a car anywhere in this forsaken wilderness, or get in touch with the coast guard and the telephone. There’s no good in lingering here when we might be getting home, and Marler will see to all that matters.” Shrouded in the oilskins in which he had come ashore the previous night, he marched off through the rain, a tall, broad figure of a man. whose very walk betrayed the imperiousness of his nature. The man was rich, enormously so, but his fortune had been won in wild places of the world, where mere brute strength was itself an asset; and as Ylr. Melford thought of the life that Carston must have lived, and having Margaret’s happiness in mind, he was by no means sure that he wanted the millionaire for his son-in-law. The next moment, however, he remembered Freedlam, and a little groan escaped him. “I suppose it’ll have to be I he said. unconsciously uttering his thought aloud. "What will have to be, dad?’

His daughter’s hand slid in the crook of his arm, as she asked the question, and in spite of himself he started violently. Then he laughed confusedly. "Oh, nothing. Margaret." he said, in an embarrassed voice. "I was just thinking aloud.

"About what —whom?” persisted the girl. “Really, Margaret—” he began, protestingly. Her eyes fell on Carston’s tall form receding across the sodden fields, and a sudden suspicion assailed her. “Ah!” she said, with a catch in her voice. “You were thinking of Mr. Carston. Your words had to do with him.” “I have not said so, Margaret.” “No, but I can guess. He has been talking to you about me.” “Now why should you ” “You do not deny it?” interrupted the girl, quickly. “You cannot, father! I suppose he has been telling you that he would like to marry me?” Mr. Melford looked at his daughter in some amazement, wondering if Carston had already put his fate to the test, without telling him; then he said, feebly: “How did you guess, my dear? Has John Carston already asked you?” “No,” answered Margaret, “but he would have if we had not been interrupted. She broke off and gave a little troubled laugh. “I am very glad that we were. It would not be nice to have to reject a man who has just saved one’s life. “To reject ” stammered Mr. Melford, seeing a precipice opening in front of him. “To reject?” “Yes!" said Margaret, with decision. “I am sure I could not marry Mr. Carston on any account.” Rut but have you considered, my dear, that John Carston is—is—” “Yes?” demanded Margaret. “I was about to say that he—is—e>—very rich!” “Father!” The shocked tone in which the word was spoken, told Mr. Melford that he had made a bad mistake, and at the same time threw him into a panic. “Do not mistake me, Margaret,” he said hurriedly. “Not for a moment would I suggest that that consideration would weigh with you. I knew that it would not, and I ought not to have even let you get the idea that I thought it might. But I am more worldly minded than you. I know the value of money. I know how vast wealth, such as John Carston has, can enrich life; make it more comfortable, beautiful, even more useful, and I should not object to seeing you mistress of The Hermitage. It ” “Father!” cried the girl, the n'-te ot protest again in her voice, “are you sr-gesting that I shall marry Mr. Carston if he asks me?” Mr. Melford felt that he had advanced too far to draw back; and also he was afraid lest Margaret should turn from the idea altogether and the menace r 'dham was in his mind as he spoke. “Why not?” he asked quietly. “I am sure that he loves you. and he has a beautiful home, and the means to indulge your every whim —” “I shall never marry him —or any other man,” interrupted Margaret

quickly. “You know why, father.’* Her father nodded. “I know that you loved Noel Mayhew, but—well, you are not yet twenty-one, too young to contemplate life-long spinsterhood in fidelity to a lost love.” He broke off, and before she could answer, spoke again. “But why should we discuss this now? Ido not wish to press John Carston on you. I am content to let him plead for himself.” “But ” “This rain will do neither of us any good,” broke in her father quickly, “and I at any rate, must return to the house or I shall be racked with rheumatism.” He turned and began to walk toward the farmstead. Margaret accompanied him, but she did not attempt to renew the discussion. She knew that for the moment any attempt to do so would be hopeless, and she was in no way deceived by her father’s last

words. Tier father wished her to listen to John Carston, to accept him when he should propose, and that was a wish to which she could never accede.

When they entered the house, her father seated himself by the fire; while Margaret made her way to the inner room, which the motherly hostess had placed at her disposal. It was spartanlv furnished, and, since there was no chair, she seated herself on the bed. Then her hand went to the tiny gold chain round her neck, and she dragged forth a flat gold locket with intertwined initials upon it. Opening it, she sat looking at the miniature it contained, which was that of a handsome boy in regulation khaki. Laughing brown eyes, looking straight out from the portrait, met her gaze, and suddenly her own beautiful eyes filled with tears.

“Oh. my beloved!” she whispered, “if I only knew ” Then she lifted the miniature to her lips, and a mo