The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8307, 10 December 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Avtltr of "Clyda's Love Bream," "Nina's Repentance," "Her Soldier Lover," "The Mystery of Woodcroft," " For Love of Marjorie," etc, '

(""The Ikonmasteb's Dauoiitek" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAPTER XXXl.—Continued. It was his landlady, anct she regarded him mournfully. He was usually so quiet and polite. She felt aggrieved, but bore his snappiness with fortitude, because Mr Benson was a real gent—"what never picked flies out of his weekly bill." "Now, then, what are you chattering about, Mrs Dewdrop?" "Chatterin'," thought the good lady resentfully; "not but what I could say something nasty if I liked! I'll put down a shilling extra for sundries next week." "It's a big wickod-lcoking man, askin' for you ai the ffont door, an' he won't go away. He says it's business, ar>' I says. \\x Benson, being a Christian gentleman ", "What's his name?" •'He says as how " "What's he like?" ' cried Benson frantically. He's got a black eye, and his nose " "Show him up here. It's Bill Hebden our horsekeeper." Mrs Dewdrop retired and soothed her feelings by applying her lips to a small, flat bottle. "These lodgers 'u'd drive "a saint to drink," she murmured. "And I couldn't sustain them if it wom't for a drop : o' do-me-good, now and then. I'll put down a couple o' "shillings for extras on his bill." She opened the front door, and faced the impatient Bill Hebden, '.'Taking your time, eh, old lady," he growled, "I,don't hurry for fellers what ook like burglars. And I don't thank you for your personality. Wipe your feet on the mat, and don't rub your paws: on the print." Bill said no more. * "She'd 'out' me in a round of chin music," he thought. Bill went into Mr Benson's room, and told his story without waste of words. : 'lt's like this, sir. There's going to be a smash at the works if we 'don't stop it. I saw the wheeze right through. The enemy have got a gang in the crowd dressed like working men. If a few hundreds of them brutes are let loose, everything will be old iron and matchwood afore they can be stopped." "Good heavens. It's incredible." "No, it ain't, sir. It's been done ] -afore, many a time, in every part of the country. Perhaps you don't remember the Tipton riots? By Jingo, I do, all the police were downed. I've been in a lot of 'em sir." Mr Benson was terrified. "What are we to do, Bill?" "Insist on having two hundred police to guard the works. We must see the inspector at once. Most of the police will have to be drafted from Birmingham—at least, as many as can be spared. They'll make up the number from Wolverhampton, Stafford, and other towns." "Yes, yes! Good' Lord, this is ■ awful! If the works should be destroyed " "They sha'n't!"' roared Bill. "Can't you see that this is Isaacs' scheme? And I don't believe we'll be able to fix it on to him, neither. Come along, sir." Mr Benson followed, his mind "And look here," continued Bill, i when they were in the street. "I've got something unpleasant to say to you, sir—not but what you'll take it like a man. I saw Miss Craven your young lady, with Christopher Stanley—l saw her kiss him." Mr Benson wagged his head negatively. "You don't believe me!" cried Bill. "I saw it with my [own eyes. If Polly Morris did such a thing, which is against all decency and sence to think of, I'd never look at her again." "You don't understand," Benson groaned. ' < "That's the truth,"Bill's eyes narrowed. „ "Good Lord, sir, you've, playing into the hands of the other side —you." "No! no!" He pulled up short and faced Hebden, "Bill," he whispered hoarsely, "Chris Stanley is her father. But she's all right—she's with us, body and soul. Don't you sneer and doubt her, or I'll knock jou down!" There he stood, with angry eyes and clenched fists, lank, thin, trembling, a mere straight line j against llebden's huge frame. Bill laughed and patted him on the back. The blow knocked him yards forward, and he nearly collapsed. "You'll do, sir," Bill said admiringiy, "I like a man that sticks up for a woman. Let anybody say a thing against Polly! Here we are, sir." They walked right into the inspector's office, and the sergeant in charge nodded familiarly. "Something, up?" "We want two hundred men," said Bill. "Have a thousand," ithe sergeant answered jocularly. ' "We ain't funnin'. There's to be a mob let loose on Tressidy's newworks to-night." The sergeant became serious. "I'm not surprised. The storm's been brewing for weeks—but twenty to one it will fizzle out. Still, I'll

seethe inspector,""and you may be assured we will send what men we can spare." "Spare!" snorted Bill. "I tell you that the mob won't be short of five thousand desperate devils. They'll march from Tipton, West Bromwich, Oldbury, and all round. They've been incited by Isaacs' agents." n "I'll telephone to headquarters, decided the sergeant. "I won't Avait for the inspector. If our men get to the works first " 'He nodded significantly, and shook hands with his visitors. "You can expect a present," Bill said. "You know what Dick Tressidy is. The murdering j thieves have learned that he is laid up, and mean to strike, now that he cannot interfere." "We will be ready for them," the seargeant said determinedly. * Both men breathed a sigh of relief when they quitted the police station. Mr Benson was picking up wonderfully, and he had unlimited confidence'in Bill Hebden. [to be continued.]