Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 187, 12 August 1904, Page 4

Literature.

I THE SCHEMING OF BASIL p THORNTON, <* (Continued.) Xh» next day, indeed, old Mayne draw up his will, which, with the ex- ? Wpticu ol providing for Muriel, left •verjthing to Basil Tlbtornton. i Muriel was very unhappy, and she " tried repeatedly to change the de- * termination of Richard Mayne, ' '''lt's not true about Mr Summers," she told him. I But llk-bard Mayne shook his old I fcead. I ' I don't know, my deal'. But his cousin Iws worked up a business, • *nd he tells mo it's paying well. He " is the inan for me." Muriel begged a few days of her uncle, and went to stay with some friends in London. In that ttime she learnt a good many things concerning Basil Thornton. But in spite of her sympathy with Jack Summers, the did not wish to be underhanded, and she said nothing to her uncle when she returned.

Soon afterwards old Mayne became Seriously ill, and both his nephews came down to Woodcote. And Basil . Thornton came to her smiling with .triumph, and said scornfully r* "I win tho game, Miss Muriel." Both the cousins stayed at Wood cote till their uncle was well enough to get up and be about. In the lame room where he had offered her marriage that mornir, : Basil Thorn,.ton said good-bye to Muriel. And now he honestly desired to marry her, nnd asked her for the second time. When she again refused he became very angry. "I gave you your answer then," replied Muriel. "I give you the same , ; ianswer now. I shall never alter my mind about you. 1 have learnt all about you—l know you are a liar and a scoundrel !•" "What do you mean ?" shouted Basil. "You have poisoned Mr Mayne's mind against your cousin ; you have lied to him about your prosperity. You know that has all been lies—l hfevc found out. You know that you are really in debt,, and borrowing money on the strength of being Jklr Mayne's heir: " "Is this true ?" Once again old Mayne stood in the doorway, Reaming against "the side, weak from his illness. His voice was, strong as ever. -Is this true, Basil ?" he thundered.

Unable to equivocate in face of las uncle's ■stern look, Basil nodded sullenly, "AS," said old Mayne. The "Excitement was too mdchfor him, and he fell to the ground. Muriel rushed to his side. "You have ruined me ■!■" hissed Basil Thornton, and rushed from the room. That night it was known that the Master of- WooUcote would not live. But, near to death as he was, and learning the truth about Basil, and how unfairly ho had treated Jack Summers, he drew up another will in Wrt.latter'B favour t of which only |iurt<i : -and another witness knew, And Basil Thornton looked up at the shuttered room of death, and •:-ttflW'' that he Was ruined. Alone in )ter room Muriel watched, dressed and sleepless, for the dawn. Thare was a desperate chance for ©steil. Ho guessed why old Mayne Jkgd seat for Muriel before he died. U be could 1 get into the dead man's •flpom and steal that roughly drawn vrp will, the former one, the one in .his fayeur, rwould- stamd. There would be no chance of his disputing the hurriedly drawn will, Because there had ia*t,tesj» time to "send for a lawyer. Richard Mayne .was too sharp and keen, oven though death was at hand, to leave any loophole for mistake in, his purpose. He crept through the cold, unfriendly corridors, noiseless as a cat. It was long after midnight, aid the dawn was'not far off. A creaking stair terrified him ; the silent room jvhere the dead man lay, and which he reached at last, was greater terror still. He shaded the match so that he could not see the grim silent figure on the bad. Once he could not help but see it, and he fancied (that the dead face wa9 laughing at him. '•'

He staggered back, and in that moment lie saw "the will oil a little table by the dead man's side. It had been made out on' ordinary large paper, an'd it was tied wit* red ribbon. Ho groped for it with trembling hand ; the match burnt his fingers as he stooped. It was light when he retraced his tremWling steps'. He would go away at once and hide it in a safe place, then return as if nothing had happened. But his fumbling with the bolts of the door of the house reached the ears of Muriel James, who .was watching, silent and sleepless, through the hours of the night. She went to the window in timo to see Uasil just getting clear of the house. He had no hat, and she could just see that there was something in his hand. What did it mean? Bareheaded, too, she slipped quickly after him,.and out into the keen morning air: The dew of the morning soaked through her thin shoes; she was tired with her sleeplessness. But a feeling that something was •wrong, and that she must get t 0 the bottom of it, kept her sharp and strong. She was, in fact, gaining on him 'when lie looked back over his shoulder and saw her.' He began to run, and she ran too, gaining on him still more, .

Looking 'back again, Basil Thornton saw how close she was. They passed a hi ßh wall ; a dog within barked loudly at the sound of their steps. In desperation Thornton flungi tho thing in his hand high to the right of the wall. Slue would never \>» able to get it there, and he could pomo back afterwards for it. He •ould soon out-distance her, surely. But Muriel (did not attempt to follow him. She had seen the touch of ged in the thing he had thrown over, and die had noticed as she flew past • littlv iron gate set in the bottom tt th« wall. Sh» want back. To her joy she foUMd the little gate yield to her touch, It clanged as she shut it behind her. Immediately she was assailed and terrified by a ferocious barking the moment that she recognised that the thing which Basil Thornton had thrown over the wall was the will of old Richard Mayne, ti'ne will that she had witnessed, leaving the property to Jack Summers. It had fallen away from the wail. And to a staple in the wall a chain was fastened, awl at the end of the chain an enormous bloodhound danced and pawed in rage at sight of her. The will was under Ws very paws. Oh, heavens ! if the dog should seize it and destroy it ! She was afraid to reach it, for the dm; was so threatening. Yet she must dare. With a new idea she flung a stone against the wall, and, as the dog swerved towards the sound, she made a dash for the precious packet, But the bloodhound's distraction was only for half a scrond ; he swung back again, growling horribly. She fled out of his reach, screaming and more afraid than before. Ah, why could she not be brave ? She wduid get that packet and prevent it from being destroyed, at any risk or injury. She went forward and bent resolutely down. Tho hot breath of the bloodhound was upon her ; his claws drew blood from her face and twisted in her hair, giving her a pain not to be borne. She stout her eyes and groped blindly for the packet; she felt the touch of it with a little cry of thankfulness. The next minute she bad rolled away. Tho blood was steaming from her deathly face, and she had fainted,: If * * * It was Jack Summers, her lover, who found her there not long after. She was clasping tightly the red ribboned packet that meant so mucH and might so easily have been destroyed. .... It was after all a happy couplg who went back hand in hand through the morning to the house of death. .. And Basil Thornton, the schemer, -never saw either again.