SERIAL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 307, 5 February 1910, Page 6

SERIAL STORY

A ROYAL WARD. By Percy Brebner. (Published by Special Arrangement.) CHAPTER VI. (continued). Finley Baxter poured wine into his glass, perhaps to excuse himself from offering sympathy. He was a bad hand in such matters. ".My father seemed to dry up and wither after her death. I ; could not leave him then. I was all that he had." "And you fretted like an eagle m a narrow cage." '•Something like that, Mr. Baxter. 1 was impatient and complained. How could it be otherwise, when the great •world was so full of enterprise and 1 had 110 part in it? My father became worse, and their 1 learnt the truth. He had taken a solemn oath to this Englishman that neither he nor his would I 'bear arms against England. For himself, I can understand the oath. He owed much to this Englishman; ho hated the Corsican and the Revolution which had made Napoleon possible; but for me ? All, I complained bitterly." "I don't remember a father, and I never had a s'on," said Baxter. "My opinion on such a situation is hardly worth the breath necessary to utter nv' "He sought to bring me to patience by recounting what he and my mother had suffered, how much they owed to this man,'' Dubuisson went on. "lie bound me to respect the oath he had made. I promised, on one condition, that he would let me travel to England i and ask to be absolved by this man, and to this my father agreed. He told me that this Englishman was a power in the country, an aristocrat, in the best society, and he went to write a letter for me to carry to England." ' "And who is this Englishman?" "The letter was never written," Dubuisson answered. "I was called to my father barely an hour afterwards, and found him speechless, and with limbs that refus'ed to do his bidding. He had had a stroke, and all lie could do was to indicate a certain drawer in his ■writing-table, in which I found this," and Dubuisson took from his pocket a broken silver cross. It had been severed down the middle of the upright piece, and had, therefore, just half this and one arm. "My father could just show that this was what he meant me to have, and in two days' he was dead." "Were there no papers?" "Only a few sheets relating to my mother, but they contain no names but those of her family in America." "This looks a fairly hopeless quest," said Barker, examining the broken cross. "But consider, the man I seek is a well-known man," said Dubui.vson. taking the cross and replacing it carefully >.n his pocket. "It should not be so difficult, after all. I came to England seeretly, and I already have a promise of help." "From the man who told you of the Brazen Serpent?" asked Baxter. "Yes: and haven't you promised me help, too?" ■"lt will be no easy matter fitting that half-cross to its fellow, I might find out some who had been active in helping Frenchmen, but they don't speak of such. things easily nowadays. As for tirs other friend—Tlusli!" Baxter held

: a warn in." finder as a heavy tread sounded on the rickety stairs, and then ' n knnok came at the door. | ''Come in." j "I fear T< am late, my friend, but " i Sir Rupert Ashton stopped suddenly and ' remained in the doorway. "Pardon, I ] did not know you were engaged." A iotor Dubuisson was about to speak. : but seeing that Sir Rupert made no ; s:jrn of recognition he remained silent. "We have just completed our bus'isiid Baxter, and then turning to Dnhuisson, lie went on: "To-night, at the Golden Cross, we will dine together. 1 grant yon, a pretty woman is always worth the hunting, but not on an empty stomach." The closing door cut short Baxter's h'uirh as Victor Dubuisson went thoughtfully down the s'tairs. CHAPTER VII. DUBUISSON" FINDS ANOTHER STRANGE FRIEND. 'lo go back over the ,past aad to recount the circumstances in it which have meant so much to us often serves to give a certain unreality to the present. As a rule, such a retrospect does not happen unless we chance unon a friend who is in sympathy with us. I here is a sense of sharing our burdens, or hopes,_ whichever they may be; and .-o, although we may probe old wounds in the recital, we are usually the gainers. We are richer 'by the acquisition of a friend.

In that crooked room looking out toward (lie r-ver Victor Dnhuisson believed that lie had found a friend. Finlev Baxter had appealed to him irresistibly. True, he had also been impressed by Sir Rupert Asliton as tlicy journeyed to London together, had acted upon his advice, had told him that he was in quest of a man who was powerful at Court, whose name lie did not actually know, but who would be certain to recognise him as soon as they were brought in contact. Dubuisson had explained his position as purely a family matter, had told nothing of his history, and bad not shown the broken eros's to Sir Rupert. He had, in fact, chanced upon a man who had helped Aim, and who might he useful to him in the future, but lie did not feel tljat

, lie had found a friend. It was quite j different with Finley Baxter. Here was a man who could be relied on, and Du- ' bui3son had already begun to rejoice in his good fortune, when the tread upon the stairs had come and Sir Ruperv Asthon had entered the room. At once a double deceit faced him; Sir llupert had ignored him altogether, Baxter had dismissed him with a truinped-u-p y'-st about a woman. What could the alliance between these two men be? One had recommended the Brazen Serpent i'S a place of lodging, the other had come perilously near to losing his life there. "It is every man for himself, whilst honesty remains shut in a closet," Dubuisson said to himself. "I am forced to use the same weapons of deceit, i* it comes to playing a game of double dealing. I must learn all the tricks' as soon as I can. After all, a man is pretty much what his fellows make him." So later in the day he found his way to Bury Street, where Sir Rupert lodged, ! and where he had promised to call upon hhn. Dubiasson hardly knew whether to be surprised or not when Sir Rupert gave him a hearty welcome. "Are you quite sure you know who 1 tun?" Dubuisson asked. "I only know what you have told me." Sir Rupert, answered, "and I believed you. I do not suppose you have told me all the truth about yourself men seldom do: but I am content to take your confidence in instalments. Let me compliment you on your tact: in not knowing me this morning." "The initiative was yours, Sir Rupert." "A little by-play of that kind cannot be carried through by one person alone, and I warrant our actors have to rehearse such things well before they pass muster. We achieved it without vehearsal. even as you and Baxter flirt concerning a woman to be hunted, ion are cievcr, my young friend, and it will carry you far." "I suppose you know the history of mv acquaintance with Mr. Baxter?" "Not from him. When you know Baxter better you will understand that he has missed his true vocation; he should have been a mummer. Ho played a part, to perfection this morning. 'A young friend of mine,' says he, as soon as the door had closed upon you; 'and, .like most of my young friends, has l been fool • enough to fall in love. As he conceives' her, Hebe and Venus are but mere market women, and Trojan ITelen a lodging-house wenrii fit only for the kitchen cellars where the daylight is not too fierce. And he comes to mo—me, Finley Baxter —to help him in his conquest. And Finley Baxter will do it. The experience will serve as a. warning to the young fool's riper years.' Oh, it was excellently done," said Sir Rupert, laughing; "he is prodigious, is Baxter, when the mood is upon him. And) all the time I knew the truth, for I had waited upon you at the Brazen

Serpent previously. You should have stayed there; Jacob Pinfold would have made you very comfortable." "He seemed too undecided whether to accommodate me with a bed or a grave," said Dubuisson. "In truth, you seem to have entered at an unlucky moment." "Your friend Baxter would hardly agree with you, I fancy." "Come. come. Mr. Dubuisson, credit me with better friends than that. Baxter is an estimable person in his way, who lias a dangerous habit of dabbling in politics. He talky and acts in superlatives. If a gentleman overburdened with liquor stumbled against him in the J street after dark, you would have a j detailed account of how his life Had been attempted. I>t does not pay to look deeply into the truth of Finley Baxter's stories. As for this affair at the Brazen Serpent, it had been all arranged beforehand. They 'had no intention of doing any real harm to the mail, They were bent 011 showing t'nat he was a boaster and something of a coward, and, truth to tell, they found | a deal fuller of pluck than tliev imagined." "It seems' to me that they should be mummers, too; they playetl their parts so excellently." Dubuisson did not for a moment foel lieve that lie had assisted at a pantoi mime merelj", but if Kir Rupert chose | to think he was deceived, there was no 1 vcason why be should not let him think | so. Of course, it was possible that Sir | . Rupert himself bad been misled. j "They are rather a wild set at the - ,

Brazen Serpent," said Sir Rupert, "but I bad a definite reason for suggesting that you should go there. The}' are £ good fellows, but most of them have a grievance which they like to talk about loudly. It eases their minds and does , no one any harm, This' talk might have boon useful to you, for it, is usually f of people highly placed. There is small satisfaction in having 'little men for enemies, so they abuse well-known personages, from the Prince Regent down 5 to the latest popular member in the House of Commons. i:ou might have heard something to put you on the track of the man you are seeking, you do not know his; name, you have told me, but you know something of his history, of course?" t" "ies; I know something of his 'History." ■'Then, Mr. Dubuisson, you might waste your time very profitably in the Brazen Serpent and in becoming aequaSated with some of these men. I can tell you this: many of them know a great deal of those who from time to time have had dealings with your countrymen in recent years', dealings not too honest at times, you know. If that fact helps you to appreciate how useful .they may be, you can act upon it without giving me any further confidence." "1 can appreciate your reason for adVising me to go to the Brazen Serpent," Dubuisson answered, "and what /on tell me may prove useful."

"So I judged,' Sir Rupert returned. "A man naturally has some reason for coming into England secretly; but I ask no questions, neither will these fellows i' speak of. Let them think you are as discontented as they, and you will be taken to their heart at once. So 1 point one road which may lead you to your end. However, there are others -which may be more direct, and when I proffer my help, as I have done in your case, I hate to give it in niggardly fashion. I am seldom in London many ■day)* together; I took my fill of its pleasures years ago, and became s'atiated; but I am still thought well of by many, and I have a young relative who is at present floating on the top of the wave. I have secured his kind offices on your behalf. If I mistake not, I 'heard his voice below just now. Yes, he is coming; and one word. Mr. Du'buis'son, let me introduce you in my own fashion." "Play the mummer again?" asked Dubuisson. (To be continued in next Wednesday's issue.)