SERIAL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 348, 26 March 1910, Page 6

SERIAL STORY

A ROYAL WARD. By PERCY BREBNER. (Published by Special Arrangement.) CHAPTER XVII. (continued). . Captain Hyde was silent. Sir Rupert was showing him a diii'erent side of hi* character, and the seaman hardly found it satisfying. The words by which to express himself would not come easily, and while he hesitated the servant entered and .spoke in a low, tone to his master. , '•Bring him here in five minutes, not before," Sir Rupert said; and then turned to Hyde as the door closed. ''Here is the man I was thinking of— Finley Baxter—do you know him?" "Not Ly name. I may recognise him when 1 see the cut of his jib." "lie is likely to know where Dubuisson lias hidden himself," said Sir Rupert, "but he's a good man at keeping a secret. However, we shall see. It might be worth while following him presently. Step into this room, Hyde. I will leave the door a little way open. If you get tired of listening, that door leads into the passage, and you can make your escape."

Sir Rupert was sitting at a table, intent upon some papers, when Finley Baxter was shown in. He rose to welcome his visitor.

"Well, it's courteous of you to receive me so pleasantly," said Baxter, "but it 'would, perhaps, be better to hear what I've got to say before you waste any kind phrases. The two or three times on which we have met have ibeen friendly interviews. So far as I am personally concerned, that friendly sentiment remains. However, just now I am oif another man's business. Maybe you can guess who that man is?" "You puzzle me, Mr. Baxter. I was not aware we had mutual frirui.'.s."

"This man has been very foully used He was kidnapped by a set of ruffians, set upon and well-night killed; would have been quietly disposed of, no doubt, had he not escaped. He is at present lying close, because of the Bow Street officers. Do you recognise him now ?"

''Can you mean Victor Dubuisson?" Sir Rupert asked.

"No other." Sir Rupert stared across the table at his visitor.

/'You have nothing to say?" said Baxter. "I did not think you had finished," was the answer. "Xor have I; only I thought I would give you the chance of making an explanation." "About what?" Baxter took a letter from his pocket. "The case stands thus," he said, using the letter to mark off the points upon his fingers. "Mr. Dubuisson came to town in your company, and you advised him to go to the Brazen Serpent for a lodsrinu. The result--—-" "Pardon me," Mr. Baxter, but an explanation of that affair has already been sriven to Mr. Dubuisson. T believe, indeed, that he has used the Brazen Serpent since then." "Certainlv he has on one occasion, at least." Baxter returned. "On the nteht he was kidnapped he wak taken tliero, although thev were careful to hide the fae* from him." * . . "Ta it possible?" "Are you sure you didn't know it?" Mr. Baxter. I "We needn't argue the matter to a fine noint. I'll just state plainly that Mr. Dubuisson would like to havp a clearer understanding than he has at present of your reason for rerommeiv' ing him to that particular tavern and him the password to a soeietv which no man could possibly be proud of knowing." ""Mr. Ra.xter's wishes clothed in Mr. Baxter's 'words?"

"Exactly; but that' l ? not the enrl. The officer' from Bow Street are at present spm-chins for Mr. Dnbuissou. Someone has put thpm on his triple." "Dpps bo accuse mo?" asked Sir Rupert. "Is this crime also to bo laid on jnv brnarl shoulders?" '

' i TliP r » i? pl=o n matter concerning a ladv upon whom suspicion has fai'er.. Yr,,. w ;n find the. details in this letter, which, nerhaps. von will rend."

There was a certain eagerness a'oout Sir Rupert as he unfolded rpad thp rathpr Ipnethv euistle. He read it through twice carofullv. v "Do von 1.-tiow the contents of this. Mr. Baxter-?"

"T do. The letter was read to me and enti.-elv met with mv approval.'"

"T am not onlv accused of setting Bow Street uwm voun? T)ubuis=op. but of slandering this Lady Betty Walmislev."

"Tbflt is so." said Baxter. "And it is demanded that 1 at otk>o contradict the statements I h«vp pt"lp. .-iri give Mr. Dubui'sson sati'fapf'on. TTe does not oven ask me whptn ov Tam oii'" i - of making the statements." ■. "TTp had ■> "ood rleal to vri+p. ; '- Rnrprt., nnrl didn't think it worth to wa=te space over useless questions." '•'Yonv friend is a young fool. Mr Baxtpr." "That will wobablv not prevent tout putting me into communication with some fr'pnd of touts," replied the imperturbable American. ■ I "T am expecting a friend to call." said Sir Rimed;, raising bis voice so that . Hvdc might take the hint. "You are ! in no particular hurrv, Mr. Baxter?" ' "No."

"Hnrl Dulmisson arranged to see me himself, 'we mi<rht have come to an liirlerstanflincr." Sir Rupert went on, after a pause.

"There is the lady," said Baxter. "Ah, I see, that's the kernel of' the whole affair."

"And a quiet little word to Bow Street concerning the arrangement might have made matters unpleasant," Baxter remarked airily. "Good Lord, man, do you want to quarrel with me, too?" "I am stating my friend's case, and 1 have heard no indignant outburst of denial to that letter."

"Nor are you likely to," said Sir Rupert hotly. "Am I to trouble about every lie sny fool chooses to utter conserum"' me? Why, my own father would not have commanded me with impunity 1.0 crawl as this young Frenchman 'does in this letter. He' must be taught manners, to begin with; afterwards, he may be brought to listen to reason."

"We settle our quarrel like gentlemen," said Baxter, quite unmoved by Sir Rupert's outburst, "and if we find out there is no reason for quarrel afterwards, why so much the better. 1 try to look at the affair from an outside point of view, and, personally, mi sentiments are friendly."

"Friendly sentiments are pleasant to come upon suddenly." said Hyde, entering the room. "I did not suppose there was any reason for the servant to announce me. and I understood you were alone, Sir Rupert." "You are welcome. Let me present you, Captain Hyde—Mr. Finley Baxter." "An lid salt, sir," said the captain, "though not yet towed up the river to rot at mv- ease and display minting on ■birthdays." "You come at an opportune moment, Hyde. I want you to arrange matters with this <rentleman."

"A fight!" exclaimed Hyde. "Yes; a y°ung fool " "Sir Rupert, really this is indecent. That room beyond; is it at liberty? That's good. Pfay, Mr—Mr. Baxter, don't blame my excellent friend, Sir Rupert—hot tempered, sir— nothing more. Come, Mr. Baxter, we shall arrange matters quite satisfactorily together. I've usually been the principal in these affairs, but for once, no Uou. l,i I can fill the \e.a, honorable position .passably," and he followed Baxter into the little room, and closed the door.

Captain Hyde, 'by his questions, had almost succeeded in making Sir Rupert lose his temper; for a moment it seemed as though Dubuisson's letter had entirely done so,- but, when the door had closed, his mood became thoughtful rather than angry. He walked slowly up and down the room, pausing each time to stare at the wall before turning, as if he expected to see written there some solution of his difficulties. There was some reason in Hyde's questions. Sir Rupert was not the mata to 'oe entirely open with anyone. He had been a schemer for years,, but h)is ultimate aims he had not revealed. Hyde had possibly heard more of them than any man had done before, and perhaps the captain was a little disappointed. They were har.lly wide enough for his liking, and he was sometimes disposed to think there was more honesty in himself than in Sir Rupert Ashton. The opinion of neither of them for the other would lie .without prejudice. Sir Rupert used men as his tools, his must be the master hand, and his own aims were all that he really cared about. That others might reap the benefit neither pleased nor displeased him—he was indifferent." At the present time, Hyde was valuable: it was necessary to.confiflo r 1 h-'m to some extent, but it was not lilHv that Sir Rupert had said more than he ■was obliged. Had Hyde known all. h> would possibly have considered Sir Rupert's schemes were too wide.

"This is a troublesome busmen." ]n> muttered presently, re-seatinc himself at the table, "a. dangerous business. This fellow Dubuisson i« in dearth- earnest, and nay put a .bullet through rn T head. There'? grit in him. 'Tit that jnai* be used. Tf T can escape I.l= bnlVt. nothincr oou'd he more fortunate t"mn this affair. The sharpest of weapons is literally thiustjinto my hands. Tf T am killed—well, there's an end of it. A dead man can afford to be magnanimous."

He drew some paper towards liim, and began to 'write rapidly. He had no need to think ever what he said. If other eyes were destined to read this stor\, his own would he closed for ever. A man who has finished with the world, no matter what he has done in it, can afford to be generous and may make confession without fear.

Presently Captain Hyde cams into the room.

"Mr. Baxter gone?" Sir Rupert asked. "Yes. It is to-morrow morning, in a field out by Chalk Farm." Sir Rupert nodded.

"This Mr. Dubuisson is young at the game, better with the sword than the pistol, I should say; but we fight with pistols," said Hvde. "I have undertaken to provide a surgeon. Shall you kill the young fool?" "Perhaps."

"It would be safest; and we can slin into Devonshire afterwards. The killing of a French spy is of small conseqence."

"There is a possibility that he might kill me. Hvde." ' The cantain laughed. He had too much faith in his principal to think that probable. "If a man goes out often enough, there must be a last time," said Sii Rupert. "You had. better come back presently and stay here the night, for we must start earlv."

"I was eoing to suggest it," returned Hyde. "We must get clear ior action to-night." "I have begun already," was Sir Rupert's answer . "T am writing a letter to Victor Dubuisson. Should T be killed to-morrow, you are to <>ive it to him; otherwise, it is to be returned to me and m mention made of it." "What's come to you?" Hvde exclaimed. 'Tour courage can't have sprung a

leak. The talas one has heard of you never mention this kind of sentiment." "Half of them are exaggerated, and the other half untrue," said Sir Rupert; "besides, I have never fought this Victor Dubuisson before, and there is no telling what kind of an antagonist he may be." Captain Hyde was rather puzzled as he left Bury Street to complete his arrangements; and Sir Rupert resumed hit letter. (To be continued on Wednesday).