CHAPTER XXIII. (Continued). AN OMINOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 321, 1 December 1888, Page 5

CHAPTER XXIII. (Continued). AN OMINOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

Lami: Bill had hurried in quest of the new 'master' of the Hall, and had como uponhim in the manner we have statedjjj Hidden there behind the tree, he continued to survey and study the countenanco of the Lady Kathleen's husband, without positive suspicion as to his identity, and yet vaguely reminded ot his rosemblance to the escaped convict whom he had formerly known, and now hated with all the bitterness of a revengeful nature. As it was his habit to do nothing in a straightforward manner, but to move secretly and furtively, in obedience to his catlike instincts, Lame Bill crouched in the shadow, watching every turn of Bassantyne's head, every movement of his big, bulky figure, with a gaze that had in it something of fascination, ' A regular swell !' he thought. ' A nob of the first water ! Queer how he remindod me of Gentleman Bob ! I must havo boon clean crazy to have thought that a great lady would have married a, convict ! How am* I going to ask this high-flying chap ! about his vally ? Perhaps the best way would be to appiy for the situation ' At this moment Bassantyne lazily turned his head in tho opposite direction. Something in the outlines of hid features, or his movements, brought an eager glow to Lame Bill's cheeks and a strange light to his eyes. ' That thore flip of his fingers alongside his nose was Gentleman Bob's trick all over,' he thought, peering at the recumbent figure with the gaze of a ferret. 'It can't be, in course ; but if I could only hear him speak I'd know certain. If it's Gentleman Bob— and it an'r, iv course — he'd know me at the first look, and would betray himself. What a blessed streak of luck it would be if this here nob should turn out to be Gentleman Bob ! My fortune would bo made ! It's all gammon this swell's being a fugitive convict, but I mean to try him.' Quitting his concealment boldly, ho stepped into the dell. • Who's there ">'' asked Bassantyne, leisurely looking round. The next moment, with an ejaculation of terror and honor, he leaped to his feat and glared around him, as if uncertain v/hich way to escape. A strange, exultant smile glowed on Lame Bill's face. ' It is Gentleman Bob, sure enough !' he cried. ' Gentleman Bob, the escaped convict, in disguise ! The two men — Bassantyne and Lame Bill — faced each other ; the one horrified, maddened, desperate, with a hunted expression in his black eyes ; the other smiling, and glowing with sinister exultation. It was a strange scene. The lonely, shaded dell of Connor Park, the sunlight drifting down between the leaves and brandies in little dancing showeis, the twitter ot birds?, the mubic of miming water, and, so incongruous with these innocent sights and sounds, these two murderous faces glaring through the shadows at each other ! Slowly and steathily, with the motion of a cat), the hand ot Bassantyne crept to the breast pocket in which were hidden bis pistols. As his hand came in contact with the cold, ivory-mounted weapons, he seemed to feel that he had not yet lost control of his future. His self - possession came back to him. He remembered that he had not yet betrayed his identity to his enemy, and he began to think it possible that he might yet carry matters with a. high hand and put to route Lame Bill's suspicions. The reflection brought with ib a thrill of hope. The colour came back to his callow cheeks, and he assumed a haughty, supercilious manner, such as he deemed appropriate to the lord of Connor Hall. ' Stand back, fellow !' he ejaculated hoarsely and menacingly. ' How dare you intrude like this into private groimds ? This is no place for footpads, as you will find to your cost.' This address, and the domineering air with which ib was delivered, albei the recent evident panic of Bassantyne, was like a blow in the face to the intruder. He gave a great gasp of astonishment, and opened his small eyes to their fullest extent, Avhile an expression of utter bowildeiment convulsed his vi?age. Then he forced a hoarse laugh, and exclaimed : ' Ha, ha ! Pretty well done, Gentleman Bob ! You always was good at acting, but this here was good enough for the Theayter Royal !' ' Gentleman Bob !' repeated Bassantyne hoarsely. ' What do you mean, fellow ? But it is evident what you mean. Leave my grounds, thief, or 1 will have you scourged from them !' Lame Bill crept a few paces nearer, his keen eyes fixed in puzled scrutiny upon tho dark and sinister face of the Lady Kathleen's husband. ' Your grounds !' he sneered. ' You need not pub on none of your airs to me, Gentleman Bob ! All your highfaluting don't impose on me. I didn't pass so long a time ) with you out in Ausbraly for nothing. No crinkly beard can deceive me, Your disguise ain'b good enough — ' I Scoundrel ! Do you know to whom you are talking ? lam JNficol Bassantyne, the husband of the Lady Kathleen Connor—' 'Of Ballyconnor and so on ! I know all that. And I know, too, that you are my o'd pal, Gentleman Bob, and that I can make my fortune a-giving on you up. You've been everything by turns, Gentleman Bob —count, lord, genbleman of leisure, gambler, forger, thief, convict and fugitive. And fugitive you are now, although you have fooled one of the noblest ladies in Ireland to make a runaway match with you ! There will be a fine come-down to the pride of my lady when tho beaks lag yon. You've been keen to get yourself into this fine nest, but when you come to find yourself in a prison the change will be too great to be agreeable !' The expression of Bassantyne's face changed slightly, yet enough to be perceptible to his enemy. 'That sho'-/ told !' observed Lame Bill, with a gleam of satisfaction in his sullen eyes. * You won't go on to deny that you are my old pal, Genbleman Bob, will you ?' I 1 will no longer parley words with you, wretch. Begono ! cried Bassantyne, threateningly. ' Not yet. I called hero to" inquire after your vally, Newville, or Mnrple, or whatever he call himself this year. He hasn't got home yeb, I understand ?' Bassantyne was nearly choking with rage and fury. He longed to throttle the impudenb wretch who dared to linger in his grounds when he had bidden him be gone, !

And yeb there was a dangerous fascination in Lame Bill's presence, and he desired to prolong the interview until his enemy should be dispossessed of the conviction of his identity with ' Gontleman Bob.' He forced himself to say calmly : 'My valet.? I discharged him in Dublin. He was an impudent fellow, whom I had had in my service but a few weeks, and whom I did not care to bring down to Ballyconnor. If you want him, you will probably find him in Dublin. 5 ' ' A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,' ' said Lame Bill. 'I don't care so much about the vally now. Excuse the annoyance I've made you, Mr Bassantyne. And good morning.' He raised his worn hat in a mockinsr bow, and sidled away, as if bent on instant retreat. Bassantyne took alarm. 'Stay,' he said, in a conciliating tone. 'It 13 evident, my good fellow, that you have mistaken me for someone else. These resomblances are frequent, and merely accidental. ' _ 'Oh, yes,' said Lame Bill. 'Merely accidental, of course. Excise my impudence, sir. Ciood morning.'' Again he made a movement to depart. Bassantyne's alarm increased. The man's apologies and haslo to got away were more menacing than the loudest threats. He believed all his blustering to have been of no efi'ect. Evidently the man knew him beyond the shadow of a doubt. i And then a sickening sensation assailed Bassantyne's heart. How long had Lame Bill been hidden in the shadows surrounding the little dell? Had ho been there during the interview with Laeiy Kathleen ? Had he studied Bassantyno's features when < the latter was alono and unguarded ? Was all this disguiso of beard and stained complexion, changed narao and high posi- ■■ tion, bub the meiest ilimsy veil of this ancient enemy, and had he already looked beneath them and scon under them all his old comrade and fellow-convict ? It must bo so. The cold sweat started on Bassantyne's dark forehead. A eonvulshe trembling seized him. ' Don't be in such a hurry, my erood man,' he said, in a husky voice. l There's no harm done by your singular conduct. I took you for a footpad at firbb, but your abrupt appearance will account for that. No doubb you are a worthy fellow. But about my valet. Were you about to apply for his situation ?' Lame Bill grinned. ' Well, no,' he said. ' I have no call to be' vally. My talent lies in the way of being master. I've got my eye on a prize that's offered for reward for the recovery of a great criminal — the one I took you for, begging your pardon, Mr Bassantyne ; and if I should get that, or them — lor there's two men wanted, and two rewards — I should be a rich man.' ' Yes ; but you might make more 'by holding your tongue,' suggested Bassantyne, dubiously. A quick gleam lib up the eyes o£ Lame Bill. A scheming look appeared on his face. Appealed to in his weak point, his desire for gain, even his revengetulness sank into the background. Greed first, revenge afterward, was his motto. He nevei' allowed his personal feelings to stand in the way of his making money. 'If you've got anything to say,' he exclaimed, abruptly, ' we won'b beat around the bush. You know you are Gentleman Bob, and I know it ! I've been looking out of the shade here at you until 1 knew you beyond the shadow of a doubt. If you want to play off, you will deceive no one but yourself. If you come on I Hat-footed we may come to an understanding.' Bassantyne's face paled to a sickly yellow. He looked about him with glaring eyes. ' You aie alone ?' he said. ' This time, yes. Yet not alone, for lam armed.' ' Well, what will you take to keep silent?' A «wift srlow reddened Lame Bill's face, A swift gleam shot into his eyes. ' You own up, then?' he demanded. ' I own nothing in so many words,' &aid Bassantyne, doggedly. ' 1 merely a<k, what i.s your price ?' Lame Bill reflected, sending sidelong glances around him, into the park and at the burly figure of hid enemy. Evidently he was estimating Bassanbyne's resources. ' Let me see,' he mused. ' You are a rich man, the husband of fin heiress. Her ladyship loves you to distraction, or &ho would ne\erhavc eloped to Scotland with you. Romantic, proud as Lucifer, highbred an« dainty, sho would sacrifice all ohe had rather than to live under the shadow of a terrible disgrace. The reward offered by government and the colonial authorities tor your capture is three thousand pounds. I bear you no love, Gentleman Bob, and my revenge is \\ orch at least as much mure. To forego it I (jhoul/i want at least thiee thousand pounds. And then, Ly way of premium and so on — well, we can call the whole amount ten thousand pounds. Give me that sum down and a thousand a year, and I'll be as dumb as the clligy on the Lord Lioutenant'?3 tomb.' 'Ten thousand pounds ! Are you crazy?' 'By no means. If yon haven't got it yourself, your romantic and ardent young bride will give it to you. Not a penny less, Gentleman Bob. If you don't like my offer you needn't accept it.' A dangerous glitter shone in Basaantyno's eyes. ' I haven't got the money,' he said. ' And I can'b ereb it. You will have to moderate your demands — ' ' Not a farthing. A man will give a good deal rabher than give up such splendour as this,' and again Lame Bill glanced around him. ' Areal park, an old mansion, horses and carriages, servants, and best of all, a fine-lady bride, are not to be lightly thrown away. And a man won'b swing for the sake of saving a few pounds to his wife. And that brings me to tho point. You must pay my demands, or swing !' His face was momentarily averted from his enemy. Watching 1 his chance, Bassantyne sprang upon him with the leap of a tiger, uttering a hoarse cry of rage. Taken unawares, Lame Bill had not time to draw a weapon. He struck out blindly with his hands, fighting for dear lifo. A quick, sharp struggle between tho two succeeded. Bassantyno was heavy, burly and powerful. He had the strength of a giant in his brawny arms. The other, albeit lame, was as quick and supple as a panther. He knew where, when his first panic was over, to plant his blows to make them effective, and he had a way of using his bullet head as a battering-ram — a mode of fighting which, with the merit of novelty, was also as effective as his blows. For a little while only the hoarse breathing and muttered curses of the two men were heard in the little glade. But at last the conflict drew near its end, the superior strength of Bassantyne giving him the upper hand. ' You will betray me, will you ?' he muttered hoarsely. ' We'll see ! Let us settle our outstanding account, my friend 1 And with the mocking sneer he dealt his onomy a blow upon the templo that felled him to the ground. The man fell limp and lifeless. His face, bruised and swollen, was'stained with blood. His eyelids- drooped to his cheeks. His arms fell to his side,

[ Bassanbyne stooped over him and lifted one of his arms, letting it fall. It dropped I a dead weight. Bassantyno'B cheeks began to flash. He raised the battered, swollen head, and thrust his hand into the man's breast to feel if his heart still beat. • He's dead !' Bassantyne muttered, excitedly, rising to his feet. ' Well, that danger's over. You got more than tho ten thousand pounds you asked for, Lame Bill ! If you could have foreseen this, you might not havo been so bold in your demands !' He listened, with the quick start of guilt, for some sound of approaching steps. But all that he hoard was the music of the birds, tho rustle of the wind through tho leaves, tho murmur of waters. He breathed more freely. ' Dead !' he said to himself, spurning the body with his foot. ' That danger is disposed of. And now how to meet this one ? What am I to do with his body V There was a deep pool of water on the estate,', but it was half a mile distant. It would not be possible to drag tho body to it in broad daylight without meeting some labourer who would give the alarm. But wibhg tho body once dropped into the depths of the Black Pool, Bassantyne could feel &uro that tho secret of his crime was safely buried forever. ' I must take it there,' he thought, agitatedly. ' But how ? There are men working in the viciuity, trimming the trees. I must wait till night. Meanwhile I will hide the body in some safe spot, where it can remain till night !' He set about his search for a safe hidingplace, yet not daring to venture far from tho little dell, where the ghastly object he meant to hide was lying, with &wollen face upturned to the shower of the sunlight. Presently he found what ho sought— a little hollow, shut in and completely shadowed and darkened by a clump of thick-growing firs. It was a covert for rabbits, or other game, and the dead leaves heaped within it that had been blown from various quarters showed that the parkkeeper seldom peered into its recesses. ' The very spot !' muttered Bassantyne. ' I will hide the body hero till night, and then 1 will sink it in the Black Pool.' He hastened to drag the inert figure to the little hollow, and (lung it in, arranging the branches of the trees to hide the body. Then he sought to obliterate the traces of the recent <--onflict in the little glade, which eflort was partially successful. His task completed, he hurried from tho glade, wandering restlessly through the park until he had grown composed, paying an apparently idle visit to the Black Pool, and at last sauntering back to the Hall. During the remainder of the day he was uneasy and restless. He took a ride on his spirited hunter, but somehow the gaze of men was not so pleasant as usual to-day. At eveiy curious glance he trembled, fancying that there might bp some blood stain on him he had overlooked, or some token of that conflict which had resulted so disastrously to his enemy. There were a few scratches' and bruises upon him. These he magnified into gaping wounds, and finally, trembling and terrified, he returned to the Hall. He spent an hour or so in his smokingroom. He took a bath, and dressed himself carefully in a new suit ordered from Dublin, and when tho dinner-bell rang he descended to tho drawing-room scrupulously dressed, yet pale and worn and haggard. The Lady Kathleen was already in the drawing-room, and the ill-assorted pair descended to the dining-room together. There was an atmosphere of guilt about Bassantyne, fresh from his crime, that the pure instincts of the Lady Kathleen detected, but could not understand. She shrank from all contact with him, and the meal was eaten in silence. It is worthy of remark that Bassantyne, despite his perturbation, ate a hearty repast. In truth, he was sufficiently familiar with crime, and hardened by that familiarity, to feel a keen sense of relief at the tuin affairs had taken. Lame Bill removed for ever from his path, what has he to fear ? Nothing — except, perhaps, the treachery of Murple. He would meet hi? dangers one at a time, he thought, and conquer them all. After dinner he went out into the garden to resinne his smoking, and later he went into the house, and to his own room. 'I must do nothing to excite suspicion,' he thought. ' Old Dalaney has eyes like a hawk, and has set himself to watching me, 1 can see. I must not stir out until the houfe is silent for the night. I must be cautious — very cautious !' The hours crept on. The sounds died out of the house. It was growing late. Bassantyne proceeded to change his light garments for old and dark ones. Then he extinguished his light and looked out. The night was suitable for his purpose, being moonless and gloomy, yet nob intensely dark. He could Irace the objects on tho lawn distinctly — the marble urn*, a winged Mercury on a pedestal, and a rose hedge. He waited until theerent house clock had rung out the hour of midnight. Then he put on a pair of list flippers and quitted his room, locking the door behind him. All was still in the house. The servants had retired, and the hall lights were extinguished. He crept down the grand staircase like a burglar, listening, and coming to a halt now and then in a panic, fancying he heard the steps of Delaney, the steward. But no interruption occurred to his movements. He gained the front door, and softly undid its bolts and bars and complicated fastenings, and opened the door, and cx*ept out upon tho porch. Then lie glided down the steps and hurried into the shadow of tho rose hedge. But, fancying that hostile eyes might be looking out at him from the windows of the old Hall, he moved fleetly in the shadow until he had gained the edge of the park. * "Now I am safe !' he said to himself. c ISTo one has seen nje. No one will come out to watch me. I have only to carry that thing to the Black Pool, fill its pockets with stones, and sink it ! Then I shall be indeed safe !' He moved swiftly along the lonely paths into the depths of the park, making for the hollow where he had concealed the body of Lame Bill. He reached ib and knelt down in the shade of the spreading firs, and groped in the hollow with his hands. Tho hollow was empty ! Horrified and frightened, Bassantyne drew out his match-case and struck a light. Thero was a pine cone on the ground at his elbow. He lighted this and flung ib into the hollow. The body was indeed gone ! Bassantyne uttered an ejaculation of horror and terror. ' Clone !' he whispered, incredulously. , f Gone ! And where ?' With the red light of the burning cone playing on his haggard, convulsed visage, he searched the hollow for some token of the cause of Lame Bill s disappearance. Presently he uttered a hoarse cry. •He was not dead, then !' he cried. ' I had only stunned him ! He has fled to bring tho officers here. How many hours has he been gone ? Curse him ! Why did I not make sure of him ? Fool that I am ! I deserve my ruin !'

For a moment ho knelt there, with a face of a demon, Then he rose up, whispering to himself : * It's all up ! I must see Kathleen at once ! If I sink, Bhe sinks with me !' With glaring? eyes and desperate soul he hurried through the park towards the Hall.