The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8308, 11 December 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Avthv of 14 Clyda's Love Dream," "Nina's Repentance "Her Soldier Lover," ''The Mystery of Woodcroft" For Love of Marjorieetc.

(» The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17 th.]

CHAPTER XXXl.—Continued.

"What next, Bill?" Benson asked. "Home, sir, and a good dinner; then to the works. But I don't want to lose sight of you—nor you of me. There might be foul play. We're running against a cunnin' lot. If your old geezer could get some dinner for two—l mean the party you lodge with." "It shall be done," Mr Benson decided.

CHAPTER XXXII. AN INHUMAN MONSTER. It was the same Sunday morning. Hilda Craven usually spent Sunday at her father's house. He lived in a pretty place at Perry Barr, some miles from the works, and was generally regarded as a ous man. Breakfast was over, and Hilda followed her father into the gar,den. Both seemed to be ill at ease, and both looked into each other's eya in a doubtful, questioning manner. , Neither spoke for some minutes. "I understood that you, were going out with Benson to-day,"^ : Stanley said at last. "It is early yet," she said .qyasively. Her voice quavered. '-Father —father " "Well?" he asked irritably. "This thing cannot go on—it must not! Do you know that you 'are heading straight for the gallows!" "Rubbish! I won't listeri to you ! It's a fair fight; I only want back what I've been robbed of." "Will that be your defence in the dock?" He turned upon her furiously, a torrent of words rolling from his white lips. "Am I to be tricked and duped by you, as I have been by everybody else? I stand before you a ruined man! Isaacs deceived me. The great capitalist and money-lender was merely the tool of a speculative bank! Bah! You had better speak to Deverell, not to me." He stamped up and down, his face-livid,\his brow moist with dews. He was beginning N to realize the depth to which he had fallen. But it was only justice —the justice of ; man to man. Dick Tressidy had deliberately set himself to ruin them—and they must ruin him. A bell rang—shrill, insistent, nerye-shaking. "Who the devil— : —" Stanley began ; then he heard the voice of Duke Deverell talking to the servant. "What does he want on Sunday? Can't I have a moment's peace. "I'll go," Hilda said; "I don't Avant to see him." She flitted away, and Deverell came smilingly down the garden path. "Hello, Chris! Enjoying the charms of your rural retreat. Sunday morning meditations in the garden of roses! _ Very pretty, very poetical. I shall do the same thing myself soon. I hope to the Lord that I not upsetting.your devotions, old man.". "I've got a splitting headache," Stanley, answered. "Shall we go indoors?" "I prefer to talk and smoke in the arbour. I have no desire to be interrupted by your good lady, Chris. If I had a wife I should make her keep her place. By the way, has Hilda gone yet?" "Yes," Stanley replied. "Poor Benson," purred Deverell, rolling up his eyes. lie walked to the end of the garden, flicking the heads oil' the flowers with his cane. "Excuse me, Stanley; I was only cutting down imaginary foes. Poor little flowers. This is an ideal spot and the woods make a charming background. Sit down, old man; light up, and listen to the news." "Good, L hope," said Stanley anxiously. '•Distinctly good. Can't you appreciate my unruffled calm." "Well, go on." % Deverell inhaled deeply of his cigar, then pulled forth a volume of smoke "It's settled, Chris. 1 realized last night that the psychological moment had come, and put the whole ol' the forces at work. There'll be a mob demonstration atTressidy's to-night. Unless I have blundered the crowd will be overwhelming." Chrs Stanley looked round with wild eyes. ~ "So soon? I thought " "So did I, but I'm not going to be anticipated. This is a life-and-seath struggle." There was a long, deep silence. "And the other?" Chris asked, under his breath. "Have you abandoned it?" Ho ' spoke almost liopefulh T . "No; it's done." "Done!" Stanley almost shrieked. Duke Deverell placed a hand over Stanley's mouth and scowled. "Tell the whole world, you fool ! You're as nervous as a woman." Chris dashed the hand away; "Well, out with it. These sensational instalments are upsetting."

"I mined the works in the small hours of this very morning. The watchman was asleep the whole of the time," he laughed. "I'm not the man, to run any chances. I crossed the canal in a rowboat, and within an hour had a score of these well placed " He took from his coat pocket a metal box beautifully electro-plated and chased. In one end of it was a steel eye, "Looks like a tobacco box, eh? This is the sort of thing used by the, Red Brothers of America. One of them will demolish a house. We used to chuck them through the windows, and up went the show. If I dropped this on the seat, or on this table, our fragments would never be discovered." "For God's sake, put it away! " Chris whispered. [TO UK CONTINUED.] .