CHAPTER XVII.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 206, 11 June 1887, Page 7

CHAPTER XVII.

IN THE TRAIL. A limit, closo carriage was in readiness, with the best pnir of horses attachedMorna wont in and drank a cup of coffee, took a piece of cake in her hand, and, haA ing taken an affectionate leavo of the old servants, she went out with Helen and entered the conveyance. She saw that Man in, the head groom, with a brace of heavy pistols in his pockets, was to go outside with George, whilo Robert, also armed, cra\ ed permission to ride inside with herseh and Helen. It lacked exactly half an hour of midnight when they started ; and at ten minutes after midnight Morna stood in Doctor Laybrook's study, where he had been sitting since his return from the _\bbey, being in no mood for sleep. '• 1 knew it ! I knew it !" ho exclaimed, holding the dear girl off and (razing rapturously into her face, after he had heard an outline of her story. " I knew something was keeping me up. Twice I started for bed, when something seemed to pull me back. It was a forewarning, you blessed child. ' '• O, dear Doctor, you won't let him take me from you ?" ' ' He ! - take you ! Bless your dear soul, no power of enrth shall take you till the law of tho land pay so ; and that, I believe, will be— nover !" At this juncture the good wife, who had been aroused by the unusual noise, came into the room ; and with her we may leave the escaped orphan, at least for the present. Ac just about the self-same moment that saw Morna Dale clasped to the bosom of Mrs Laybrook, Captain Tom Crandal rode into tho court of tho Abbey, and having dismounted and thrown the rein to a waiting groom, he aecended the granite steps ami entered the building. His father, who had been napping in his chair in the library, had been aroused by the clang of the ironshod hoofs on the hard pavement, and had come forth to meet him. " Tom !" "All right, old un! The • lugger is ready ; her canvas hangs in the braids ; she swings by her buoy ; and all hands are aboard ; and, above and beyond that, a fair fresh breeze will just serve us. Let's have tho girl out. We've no time to waste. You'll go with me as far as the Cove— l want you to help lac get her there." ! Of course— the father had expected to do that. I " You'd better let me have some money, right hero, old man. I must have the locker well supplied." They went into the library, where Jonas unlocked an old oaken cabinet »nd took thence a canvas bag, very heavy, from which ho bade hie 6on to help himself. "Egad! old gent — we can spare it!" the hopeful heir exclaimed, as he plunged his hand in and brought it forth full of shining gold. "WLen that beauty is my wife— bloss me if I can quite grasp it! — I'll be roaster of thie old coop and all its belongings, and of the Grange ; and — heavens ! how much else ?" "Enough, Tom !— Enough ! But let us not waste time over that now. Fill your pockets." And as the young rascal put the gold away into hie pockets without counting it, the old one was paying to himself — " Alia ! Do not forget, my boy, that the heiress is still my ward. There'll be a division of spoils before you claim her for your wife !" It could be read in hi* face, but he was too wi-^e to speak it yet in words. He needed the boy's help. When Tom had gathered in as much gold as he could well carry, the bag was restored to its place, and tho twain went out into the hall. " Did you bring anybody with you, Tom, to help ?" "I think Downer and Alf PHmpell arc here by thiß time ; but we don't want 'em in tho house. You and I ought to be good for the capture of that weight of metal." 1 • All right. Let me speak with the grooms, and have the coach ready. I'll be back in a moment." In a very short time Jonas returned with a lighted lantern in his hand, and together the pair ascended to the floor above. A chamber-girl had been despatched to go and call Xancy to come and help the lady to drec c ; but they felt no shame, no compunction, in the thought of entering tho chamber of the defenceless maiden, and ordering her to arise and make ready for a midnight journey. They reached the door of the outer room — the ante-room - and opened it. Then the inner door was unlocked, and opened with more care. "Come, my lady. Hallo ! Excuse me— • but-" With a convulsive start and a sense of sudden faintness, Jonas Crandal advanced to the bed and threw down the clothing. Then both he and Tom looked under the bed, looked into the other rooms — looked everywhere - and, finally, in dumb amazement, one of them at least horror-stricken, they gazed into each other's faces. Father and son seeing the necessity for instant action, went down into the servants' quarters, where they found Nancy Downer in a dead drunken stupor. Tom pulled her to her feet. Enough to say the poor creature could tell them nothing, for she remembered nothing. The keys were found in her pocket all right. And then Jonas Crandal opened the phials of his wrath. Tom, marking the expression that was growing on Nancy's bloated face, stood back expectantly ; and pretty soon what he had anticipated came to pass. Nancy listened to the cursing — horrible cursing— of the master of the Abbey for a time, and then she opened in turn. The volley of oatliß with which Bhe initiated her onset caused even Jonas Crandal himself to wonder at the profundity and profanity of her vocabulary. And then she went on : "Ye nigger-stealin', throat-cuttin' gal'us bird ! Ye black-hearted, black-visaged, blood-lettin' pirate 1 Who be you ter cuss me for a bit o' drink ? What for d' ye hire me ter help ye rob the dear, sweet-faced angel of her liberty for ? Drat yer old pirate face ! If ye gi' me any more o* yer lip, I'll blow yer secret to the whole world 1 rmdash'difldon'fe!"

So rapidly had she spoken that Jonas had bad no power to stop hor ; and not until he saw her ready to commence a new attack did ho speak. Then he begged of her, for Heaven's sake, to hold her tongue. Ho would pay her all he had promised, and would blame her no more. And finally, after giving hor a cup of rum, she became quiet. The noxt move was to look over tho places of exit from the courD ; but they told nothing. However, that did not matter. If tho girls had got away from their room, help from the Grange had probably been at hand to let them out from the court. If any of his own people had been engaged, it would not pay to investigate. He must put a bold face on the matter, and claim his legal right. And that he meant to do. Next, both father and son took horses, and rode down to the Grange, where they at length succeeded in arousing, and bringing to the door, John Barker, the porter. He had boon instructed by his mistress before she left to answer 'promptly and truthfully, all ho know, if Mr Crandal should call and lnquire;for she had been well assured that he could not- come before she would have readied a placo of safety. So John did. Honestly, and with seeming frankness, he answered : "Why, bless ye, tho youn# mistress has gono back to Wallingham — to Doctor Laybrook's, I suppose. At any rate, that's where I understood her to say she was going.' 1 " Who came hero with her from the Abbey ?" " Helen camo with her ; and, I think, her groom, Latham. I wasn't here when they came in : but I so understood it." The battled man was tempted to go in by virtue of his authority as steward, and search tho house; but at the suggestion of Tom they went to the stable, where [ they found the light coach and a pair of horses absent. That wnt; enough. Tho elder man cursed and swore until he was tired; then re-mounted, ami rode back to tho Abbey, where Tom proposed that they should soften their grief by a bowl of hot punch. The punch was brought and drunk ; and another bowl wan browed for Bert Downer and Alf Plimpell, who had arrived while they were away at the Grange, and who had been informed that their services would not be required. The punch was given them in lieu of futther information. . Jonas did not remore hie clothing. When his lids would hold up no longer, he lay down upon a large lounge in the library, and slept, while Tom joined the two smugglers, and over another bowl of punch — a big bowl, and a pack of cards, they passed away the hours in a ga.me of hazard for money. Tom paid them for the work which they wero not to do, nnd then won back every shilling, with many more added. On the following morning, having gained a few hours of sound slocp on tho lonngc, Jonas took a bath, drank « Rtrong glass of brandy, clear, then ato a hasty breakfast, and then having persuaded Tom to remain behind, he called a carriage, and rodo to Wallingham. Another still" glass of brandy *t hie hotel, and ho proceeded to tho residence of Dr. Laybrook, where a servant answered his Bummons. He was foolish enough to ask if Miss Dale was in. The servant could not tell him, but said she would inquire if ho would wait. "I will come in," he said, smiling benignantly ; and he was upon the point of 1 lifting hie foot to the threshold, when the , door slammed in his face. What could ho do ? Ho knew very well what he would have liked to do ; but would it be the policy for him to lay himself liable to an action for trespass ? Ho thought not. But he resolved to wait. Presently the door v,*as again opened, this time by Mrs Laybrook in person ; and Jonas knew there was a man close at hand, just out from the hall, in a small reception-room. i " I have called to see if Mi6s Dale — my ward«~is here," he said, keeping down his temper — his fury — by a tremendous effort. " If Miss Dale were in, sir, you could not be permitted to see her," was the calm, ! dignified reply. " May I ask why not ?" "You may ask, sir, but I shall not pain myself by recounting the late treatment at your hands, which would render your presenco an agony to her, if not a danger." "Pah ! You " At that moment Arthur Morley stepped out into the hall and approached the door. He touched the lady on the arm, and motioned for her to retire ; and when she was gone, he faced the visitor with a smile that would have been considered dangerous by those who knew him well. "Crandal," he said, very quietly, "lot me give you a piece of really friendly advice. This, I take it, is your first, effort this morning in the way of business ?" " Well," doggedly and sullenly, " what of that ?" 4 ' Only this. Before you make another move, do you go and consult a good, reliable lawyer. It will be Bafer for you, and vastly to your advantage, believe me." The man looked up into the superintendent's face— he was standing on a step lower down— looked up like one bewildered, yet angry. " Consult an attorney," pursued Morley, ({ and follow his advice. In short, let him act for you. It will be best for you in every way. Jonas Crandal, I mean what I say." Gradually the passion died out from the man's face, but not from his heart. He bent his head, and thought. The advice was good ; and after a time he looked up again, bit hia lips, looked beyond the superintendent into the hall, and towards the door where the lady of the house had disappeared, and then, evidently crushing back a speech that had framed itself for utterance, he bowed, spoke a word of thanks, shut his teeth with a snap, looked the curses he dared not speak, and turned down the steps and strode away. Back to his hotel, and another glass of brandy. Then a few minutes of thought, and he turned him towards tho old chambers, where ho had aforetime met and employed Darnley Werter. There, in the same office, and in the self-same chair which Mortimer Rivers had formerly occupied, he found Albert Blackmore. Had his visitor been the prince royal, the attorney could not have received him more affably. A few words of greeting, and Mr Crandal eat down in the chair to which he had been politely pointed. " Now, my dear sir, what can I do for you ?" The lawyer had put his pen over his ear, and leaned back in his seat to win some grace and ease. The visitor looked first at the floor, then around upon the dingy old wails, and the smoke-stained maps, and railway diagrams and time-tables that hung thereon, and, finally, he looked into the face of the attorney. "Mr Blackmore," he burst forth, desperately, like on© who had staked hia all upon the hazard of a die, u you are a lawyer. It is your business to serve those who seek your aid and can pay your price. Sir, you know something of my case ; you know the justice of my claim; you have seen my credentials; and the attending circumstances must be fresh jn your mind. Will

you take up my causo ? Will you bo my lawyer ? Sir, you are my first choice ; to you I have first come. I hope you will not deny me." The attorney inclined his magnificent head slightly forward, and the smile upon his handsome face gave place to an expression of calm and dignified regret. 11 My dear sir," he said, his tone in keeping with his look, " I can answer you very quickly. No matter what might bo my inclination to help you or otherwise, I am estopped. I have been retained by the other side." A single second -perhaps two— Jonas Crandal sat, and stared blankly into the lawyer's faco ; then, with a fearful oath, he sprang to his feet, adding as he did so : " Mr Blaclcmoro, do you hope to find any court on God's footstool that can be induced to set aside that deed of guardianship ? You know it cannot be done. " "I will not dispute you, Mr Crandal," ' the attorney replied, as mildly as it could have been possible for man to speak. "I : have only to say I have accepted a proposition from tho otliev party — we will call it the defence, as I suppose you will forthwith enter a claim or demand for the body of the child you call your ward. " " Gall my ward ! I'd have you understand — ayo and you do understand— that she i~> my ward, made so by her father's own free act and deed. Yes, sir ! I shall make my demand ; and I give you fair warning that I will push you to the uttermost extremity. I will pour out more gold than your side can ever borrow. Oho ! look to it, my man, that your client does not leave you in tho lurch. She shall never have one penny from me. And you know I hold the strings of her purse. As for the money standing in her name at the bank, I shall forbid the bankers to pay another pound to her order without an indorsement by me. If they do it then, they will do it at their peril. Do you understand ?" "Perfectly, sir. Your language is very plain. Have you anything fuxther to oiler ?"' Jonas gasped and choked. The lawyer's smiling equanimity was too much for him ; he arose, put on his hat and departed. Out of doors, the exasperated man became cool and collected, though it required a long walk through the bracing air and two or three glasses of brandy to perfect the condition. In his chamber at his ! hotel he sat over his third glass and a pipe, and considered. By and by it occurred to him that there was in Plymouth a lawyer Avho had onco defended the smugglers of Walling Cove— Horace Amberly by name — and accounted one of the shrewdest and smartest of the profession. " Aha ! Just the man ! The lawyer who brought Jack Armstrong and his men out from that weighty charge, is just tho man for me." He consulted his watch, sprang to his feet, and was at the station just in time for the train. At Plymouth he obtained two glasses of brandy (his wondrous excitement and travail of spirit was using up the alcohol rapidly), and then sought the law1 yer, whom ho found in his office, and, naturally, glad to see so important a client. Horace Amheiiy was a, man of fifty, small, wiry, and compact, with a handsomo head, and a sharp, shrewd face. His eyes were grey, but in certain lights and under certain conditions they shone like black diamonds. Jonas Crandal made a grand mistake in the outset. When Amberly had taken up Captain Jack's cause, ho had been told the exact truth, even to the quantity the smuggler had surreptitiously landed, and the manner in which it had been accomplished. But Jonas began by telling a big lie. He swore that the deed which he placed in tho attorney's hand was genuine in every respect. Dr Dale had freely and voluntarily given it. " It unfortunately happened," explained tho client, in his most earnest and honest manner, " that the kind-hearted old father was so afraid of hie daughter's tongue that ho did it unknown to her ; and I have no doubt that he told her he would not do it. But he had already made me guardian and sole keeper of every atom of nis property, and his earnest desire was that his child should be under restraint. Numerous blood-sucking harpies stood ready to prey upon her, in case she should bo left her own mistress. " And bo he went on to the end. "But,"said Amberly, apparently puzzled, "what ground have they, in the face of this instrument, for contending ?" " It is all that old doctor's — Lay brook's — peppery ugliness. He swears he'll break it down, and kick me out. Don't you see ? Tho old rascal hopes the court will send the case up to tho Lord High Chancellor, and that he will be appointed in my place." Mr Amberly, not doubting the truth of the facts as so emphatically and solemnly stated by his client, thought he saw in the character of the man the grounds upon which the other side would contend. Truly, he himself would hardly consider Jonas Crandal a fit person to be a guardian of a young and gentle lady heiress to a very largo and valuable estate. Thus he brought the case, in his mind, to a state of clearness and comparative simplicity ; and in the end he accepted a generous retainer, and promised to be ready when called upon. Then Mr Amberly took his pen from over his ear, dipped it into the ink, and wrote down a form of demand for the person or body of the ward— an infant — unjustly, cruelly, and without cause, held from her lawful guardian, etc., etc., etc. This, he said, he should cause to be served at once. " And when will I get her into my possession ?" Jonas asked, eagerly. The lawyer explained that the demand would be issued through a proper officer, by a justice. Then the other side would be obliged to appear and if they chose to contend, they would be called upon to furnish good and sufficient security — a safe recognisance—for the producing of said ward at the next assizes, which were only two weeks away. The dark-browned client was somewhat disappointed, but he saw there was no help for it. His enemies must be permitted to keep the heiress till the superior court should sit. 0 ! if he could only get his hands once more upon the troublesome girl ! The lawyer must have read the man'B thoughts, not only in the expression of lixb evil face, but in the clenching of his hard, strong hands, and the quiver that shook hie maasive frame, for he looked up very quietly and said : "Mr Crandal, let us give you a word of caution : Don't let any whim or passion of the moment induce you to attempt any trick of abduction. Should you do so I shall throw up your cause at once. It would be, in the eyes of a jury, proof absolute against you." I And then Jonas told another big lie. He said he hadn't thought of such a thing Of course, he should know better than at. He was perfectly content that his use should be tried upon his merits. " And," added Amberley, with a suggestive nod, "if I were in your place, with your strong feelings, I would Jceep away from the opposing party. Ido not mean that you shall shun them, or put yourself out to avoid them ; but do not seek them. " "Be sure I shan't trouble 'em. There'll be no love lost, I can assure you." A few further questions on the part of the olient, with clear and concise answers from

the counsel, and Jonas took his leave, and returned to Wallingham. Ho disliked much to go home. It seemed like giving up th. game ; but he had promised Mr Amberly that he would not interfere, and he had senso enough to see that any mistake on hia part would not only greatly embarrass his counsel, but perhaps prejudice his case. So, as his safest plan, he resolved fco go home, and there remain until his lawyer ' should require his presence. The thought never occurred to him that he had given to tho lawyer a false and fraudulent cause. He had dwelt so long and so confidently upon tho simple fact of tho signature of Lawrence Dale being a hona fide, thing that he had taught himself to believe tho whole instrument partook of the same nature. At home he received tho first harsh setback ho had met ; and it came from his well-beloved son and heir. He had told to his boy the story of his interview with Mr Amberly ; and had further told how much ho hoped from that able lawyer's welldirected and earnest efforts. "Ah ! I gave him a good retainer, Tom — a cool hundred pounds." " And you told him that your cause was just and honest ? You swore to him that the paper you left in his hands, making you the girl's guardian, was honest and true ?" "Of course I did. You wouldn't have had me show that hand to him, would you ?" " Old man !" said Tom, solemnly, "it's my opinion you've overreached yourself. Tho whole thing has been a miserable mistako from tho beginning to now, and it will be to the end. You did, 1 admit, give me a strong fancy for the girl ; but what do I want of a wife ? With your stewardship of both estates, with both the owners dead, think what a chance you had ! But you must have more. You would have all, or nothing. Old man ! I'm — 'd afraid you'll get nothing. D'you know, there's a saying : ' The Evil One protects his own.' It may sound rather out of character for me to say it ; but, nevertheless, the thought occurs to me, and horo you have it : "May it not be Dossible that there's another Power can protect Its own ? Anyhow, I can fancy I hear a voice whispering it to me. " The father gazed upon his son in blank amazement. For the moment, at least, the biibject seemed beyond him. (To be, Continued.)