The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8294, 24 November 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

CHAPTER XXIV

CHAPTER XXII. —Continued,

SCOUNDRELS ALL,

It was growing dusk, but the glow from the furnaces played, over the walls and the furniture' of the office. "I won't drop the blind, Hilda," said Mr Benson. "Some of the people know that we are here together. . My report must wait a bit. I couldn't write anything sensible now. It would be punctuated with love and kisses! I'm going to see you home, and I don't know- where you live yet." "Not to-night, Charlie. I —l don't want anyone to know for a lHtle while.". Her eyas dilated, and she clutched his arm. "I don't know what's the matter •with me to-night. I'm horribly nervous and silly." "Won't you let me walk a little ■way with you." "Please don't. I'm afraid." "Your father?" She nodded, and rose to put on her things. "I know his temper. I was in the office under him once. But he's fighting a losing game. It's downright sinful —:and idiotic, too. Mr Tressidy offered to buy back the works—offered double their valueto traitors —-yes, traitors—and they wouldn't accept. Your father might have walked out with ten thousand pounds, and now he will be utterly bankrupt.' Perhaps we can help him some day, Hilda." She was dressed now. "I'll see you to the end of the street," he said, kissing her lips. "A rough lot of characters about." "I'm safe enough, Charles. I shall have a great deal to tell you in a day or two," she said in a whisper. "We will finish early to-morrow, and meet in the park," he suggested. "Perhaps." v "And the sooner you are out of this business the better I shall like it. There's no bar to an early marriage?" "No. I despise my father now. And my mother died when I was a child. The present Mrs Stanley is a second wife." Mr Benson was half delirious with joy. "I'm comfortably off, and my position here is assured. The government understand me, and there is a bond of affection between us. Hilda, I love the young governor. Men do love one another sometimes. And now that I know you love me —the ugliest chap in Smethwick— I can hardly contain myself. " He kissed her lips again, but Hilda sprang back with a startled. • horrified cry. Her face was deadly white—her dilating eyes were" turned upon one of the windows. "What is it?" Benson cried. "Some fellow spying?" He hurried to the door and saw a tall figure flit past. He would have followed, but Hilda was clinging to his arm. "It's nothing—l was only startled. We were doing no harm,', she said. ',l must go now, Charles. Don't follow me. Go back, and write your report," Benson returned to the office, and then on a sudden impulse, he began to lock "the drawers. "I can't do any writing," he muttered. "Impossible! Oh, I think I am the happiest man alive! And she loved me all the while! Oh, my darling, what a lovely little nest I ■ will make for you, and what a perfect life ours shall be! It's lucky I've saved—saved —saved! Six nice freehold houses, and an income of three hundred pounds a year, besides perquisites and possibilities in a rising firm like this." He locked up, and m passing the office of the timekeeper spoke to him. "Did you see a man come in through the wicket gate, Wilton?" "No, sir, but I sawhim go out, I asked what be wanted, but he made no answer." "Just keep your eyes open." Beuson walked slowly homeward, intending to write his report there, and send it by special messenger in the morning. Within two hundred yards of the works he came upon a crowd of men. They were' cheering and booing to their heart's content, A tall, | dark fellow was addressing th'em. He was standing on a square box, and appeared to be an artful mob orator. "You'll know who to vote for when the time comes," he said. An assistant was distributing leaflets. "Old England for Englishmen, not foreigners. We've done without, 'em for close on two thousand years. None of 'your machinery from abroad that does the work of honest men. If I had my way, I'm smash it all up as fast as it was landed. Forty millions of people in England and twenty millions will soon be starved out of it by the foreigner, and the foreigner's devilish machines. Weed out your enemies—turn'em out! Vote for men who will find you work —no foreigners wanted! Vote for men who will pay higher wages, and cheapen rent, and food, and beer." A terrific cheer drowned the voice of the speaker, and a cold chill went down Mr Benson's spine. It was the same man who had been looking through the office window!

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Author of ** Clyda's Love Dream," t( Nina's .Repentance *'Her Soldier Lover," t,r The Mystery of iP'oodcrojt," " For Love of Marjorie," etc. P'Thb Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17th.]

"Not a word till Duke Deverell shows up," said Chris Stanley authoratively. "This is an extraordinary meeting, gentlemen, convened by myself and Mr Deverell; it is also the anniversary of my daughter's birthday, and I've got a magnum of champagne here on the strength of it. I only wish that we dare have Hilda, too. She's our mascot, gentlemen." "You're remarkably polite!" sneered Isaacs, his jetty eyes dancing. ' I hope that your daughter doesn't wish to become a member of the firm? We shall have it Stanley and C 9., Unlimited, soon ! I must know'exactly what Duke Ddvi'iell expects before I put pen to paper." ' "You've got to do what I say," bellewed Stanley, thumping his great fist on the table. He had already sampled tte champagne pretty freely. "If anyone of you kick, I'll smash the bag of tricks." [to be continued.]