CHAPTER XXIV. (Continued.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 323, 8 December 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXIV. (Continued.)

Tm not so good as yon think,' Fogarty said, roughly, ' I don't mean to kill you, my lady. But I'm a poor man, and I can't "afford to loso by you. I want to make raY fortune out of you. The girl retreated a few paces. ' I am poor and friendless,' she «aid. • My jewels are in Michael Kiidare's house. They are valuable, but they are beyond my reach.'. , ' ' Juso so,' said Fogarty, coolly. 'And you've got no money V ' Only a little in my pocket.' * You've got a rich lover, maybe V ' No,' replied Lady Norah, her face as pale as the dead. "My lover is poor — poorer* than I, because ho is in debt. 5 * Sir Rnssel Ryan i3 rich, perhaps V ' No ; and he has a lai'ge family dependent on him. He has nothing to spend on me.' * Then there's only one way you can pay me for letting you live. You must tell me this secret of Miuhael Kiidare's. He has got money, and I will get a share of it by trading on his secret. ' ' And if I tell you ?' 'You may live.' * And you will take me to England f ' Yes. I will land you at Sou tli port." The girl hastened, spurred on by her terrible fears, to teli her enemy of the s«cret\s she had learned — how, when she was hidden in the little alcove off Michael KilrUro'* library, he had come in with Redmond Lord Kildare— how the two had talked, and how the lawyer had fcpld the new earl that lie knew of a flaw in the claims of the latter, by virtue .of which the earldom and estates might be wrestled from him and restored to tne Lady Nora. ' * What is that flaw ?' demanded Fogarby. 'I don't know. But my guardian, Sir Russel Ryan, will use every exertion to discover it and to restore to me my rights !' 'Hum ! Your knowledge cau only benefit you and not me/ said Fogarty. 'The secret don't amount to much, after all, to an outsider. Michael Kildare would laugh in my face if I went to him trying to borrow money on the ground of a flaw in Lord * Kiidare's claims. ' What's Kildare to me t he would ask. ' And if there's a flaw find it — prove it T Is this all the secret there is?' ( Yes, it is all !' 'That lawyer didn't mean to kill you for overheating that ! He's got other reasons. Or' else there's something behind all this I can't understand. But, my lady, I can't take you to -England !' 'Not take me to England? You pro ised— ' * What's a promise ? A breath of air. I am not such a fool as to let loose a witness who could set upon me the hounds of the law ! Besides^ I have other plans. I can make more money by keeping you in my possession. Michael Kildare, so long as he knows you are alive and in my keeping, will be under my thumb ! Your secret is not merchantable, but you are, my lady ! 1 may make a big thing out of this business by simply keening you my prisoner. And I will do it!' * He set his lips together firmly. The Lady Jura's heart — brave though it was — sank to the depths of an awful despair !