The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8296, 27 November 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Author of "Clyda's Love Dream," "Nina's Repentance," "Her Soldier Lover,'' '-The Mystery of Woodcroft," " For Love ofMarjorie," etc. 1 (""The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October"l7th.]

CHAPTER XXlV.—Continued

"It is you and mo," he said, "and Hilda. The others are drones. Hilda will admit us to the works, Hilda will dose the watchman, and Hilda will fire the time-fuse. I shall try and blow up that elaborate range of offices, too. We'll," he jumped up, "I have an appointment with one of my lieutenants. Mr Isaacs, write a cheque for a hundred. I'm in low water." The Jew looked up, agonised. "What for, Mr Deverell ? " "What for ?" Duke Deverell raised his eyebrows, and spoke impatiently. "For preaching rapine and murder, sir." Isaacs filled in the cheque with a trembling hand. He felt that J)everell's baleful eyes were piercing tig Yery soul. X)qke Peverell pocketed, the cheque, M No further general meetings are necessary," he said coolly. "I am winning a beautiful wife and a fortune, and the word 'fail' is struck out of my lexicon.* Go on with your engagements, Isaacs; pump the lies into the people. Don't let your heart fail you, old man. Dick Tressidy won't be in the field much longer. Bah! You make a very paltry sort of villian when the pinch conies." He laughed at Chris Stanley. "By Jove! I don't believe any one of us has the nerve, and the cleverness of Hilda—eh, Chris?" ••I'm sure of it," Chris answered, emphatically. "Without my girl the scheme could never have been matured. She's got 'em all on a bit of string."

CHAPTER XXV.

MR BENSON'S FAITH,

The funeral was over, and the guests were gone. In accordance •with the wishes of the dead man, the ceremony had been simple, quiet; no show, no ' vulgar and senseless ostentation. His son, too, held it to be an insult to the dead to make of the burial a season and festival; to invite "mourners" who could not possibly mourn, and whose chief interest was curiosity and the certainty of good wine and food. There was a strange hush about the house. The bells were muffled; the servants tiptoed, and spoke in whispers. Pauline Reitz and Enys Tressidy were together in one of the sittingrooms. Both were watching the red sun, as it sank to rest; both were sad and preoccupied. At last Pauline broke the silence. "You need' a change, Enys—change of air, change of scene. Your face is absolutely colourless." Enys smiled faintly. i "And what of yourself, Pauline? You are white and worried-looking. Where is your sparkling vivacity." Pauline's eyes darkened for a moment. She turned to a newspaper, and searched the shipping reports, a weary sigh passing her lips, c: l''expected a letter yesterday," "And there won't be another delivery from New York until Monday. If nothing comes, then I must go for what I want. Will you come, too, Enys?" "And leave Dick ?" "It may be for Dick's good, as well as mine " . "Oh, you are so enigmatical. I wish you would tell,me the trouble between you. I can see that my brother is getting more wretched every day." "Come with me to New York, Enys, and I will tell yon—l will tell you " She ended with a little gasp, for Dick was passing the window. He was just saying*goodbye to the vicar, and he smiled and waved his hand to the girls. When Mr Delamere was gone, he came back to the window, which was open, and spoke: "My chief clerk is in the library—brought a few important letters. I shall be engaged for an hour." Enys ran to the window. "Don't bo longer. You know how concerned Charlie is about you. Give me a little kiss before you go, Dick. You haven't kissed me for days and days." ™ "Haven't I ?" He touched her face with her lips. "Kissing is out of favour for a while, isn't it, Pauline?" "You are two silly things," said Enys. "Oh, Dick, Pauline wishes me to go to New York with her. Do you mind?" "Permit me to get through with Benson, and then we will talk about it," he answered gravely. He entered the library through the French window, and shook Charles Benson warmly by the hand. "Only two private letters, sir, and feeling in need of a little fresh air I thought that I would bring them." Ho referred to his note-book. "The chilled dies casUrom the crucibles have been tested," and found a hundred per cent better than those from a cupel. You were rather anxious about this test, Mr Tressidy." "Yes." Dick's eyes were fixed upon one of the unopened letters- It Avas postmarked New York. "I shall be back at the office in aday or two; I'm not feeling very

fit yet, however." He passed a hand wearily over his hot face. "You look ill, sir," Benson said, with deep concern. "Fortunately, everything is Al. I shall be glad when the election is over. A man named Deverell is sailing pretty close to the wind, and his speeches are delivered against us. Bill Hebden broke up one of his meetings last night," he added with a laugh. Dick looked rather grave. "I forgot one thing Benson, I hope that you are keeping a strict watch upon Miss Craven. I intended dismissing her summarily." The chief clerk turned cold. "Sir what I mean, I thought that you had complete confidence in Miss Craven. I understood that she worked late at your request, and always upptt confidential matters." "YfiS, yes— until I discovered that she was a visitor at a certain house where Deverell also goes.. He may live there." Mr Benson whitened, and his knees shook. He remembered Duke Deverell's face at the office window. '•I can vouch for Miss Craven, sir," he said stoutly. "What, again ? " [to be continued.]