RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL,

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 9 April 1907, Page 2

RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL,

By Julia Edwards, Author of "The Little Mdmr," "Stulla, the liwehut," -Prettiest of All,' 1 "Stella Sterling," "Laura, Brayton," etc.

,\ ROMANCE OF THE SAN FRAKCIHOO iJISASTEft,

CHAPTER XXX. —Continued

"I seen amm rush b-.cl-:." he went on, "but the smoke v;:i,; thick, and I couldn't make him out. Wher. the smoke blowcd nway I saw him plain. He was tin bis kives anions,' the papers, and seemed to be looking- over them. It was Noil Preston, sir." Berdyne's heavy face purpled with anger and chagrin. ' "Preston!" he gasped. What devilish chance brought him there at that time?" "I don't know, sir; but while he was looking at the papers, a soldier who took him for a looter, fired at A faint hope struggled into Berdyne's black eyes. "Was he killed?" he eagerly asked. "I think not, but I didn't see him after that." "Are you telling me the truth.' hissed Berdyne, striding up to the man and glaring into his eyes, "or have you sold out to Preston?" *I wouldn't be here, sir," returned the valet,"if I had taken money from Mr Preston for anything; that was in the trunk. I'm' giving you the truth. I did all that a man could to save the trunk, but it was of no use." With a final searching glance at his valet, Berdyne turned away and began striding up and down the room. "Go downn-stairs, Hargreaves, said he finally, "and tell the woman to give you a place to sleep. Send Gorsline here." Hargreaves, glad to get off so easily, went away, and in a little time Gorsline once more presented himself. "You owe Neil Preston a debt of vengeance, I believe?" said Berdyne, tentatively, a murderous ring in his calm, even tones. "I could kill him on sight!" gritted Gorsline. "He had me going in that Sutter Street house—and a curse on that lawyer of yours because of it." Berdyne leaned toward his confederate, his evil face filled with a deadly hate. "Will you turn the trick?" he breathed hoarsely. "If that mar lives, it is more than likely it will spell my ruin!" "Ha!" returned Gorsline, with a significant look. "If the gal's a widow, you can still play your cards to win her. Is that it?" "Have it is you will," returned lu:rdyne. "Do the work, and if Preston has any papers in his possession turn them over to me. If the law interferes, I will stand behind you with my last dollar." "Where am I goin' to get my him?" asked the ruffian, after a period of reflection. "Must Igo back to 'Frisco and try to run afoul of his course?" "We will wait for awhile and see what those notices amount to. If nothing comes of them, your business will be to find Neil Preston and sweep him from my path. That will be all. I think we understand each other." Gorsline, with a final leer at Berdyne, slunk from the room. There was no more sleep for Berdyne that night. He coveted the pure, sweet loveliness of the helpless girl he had so persistently persecuted; but it was not his evil passion alone that goaded him on. Only by making her his could he save himself from financial wreck. "Ruin! Ruin!" a mocking voice screeched in his ears. And for once his dark soul cowered before the thought of what the future might hold in store. CHAPTER XXXI. IN THE MIDST OF FOES. Fortunately for . the stream of refugees flowing out of the stricken city, the great ferry building at the front of Market Street was saved from earthquake and flames. The clock in the high tower had been stilled by the shock, it hands mutley indicating the hour of the catastrophe. Boats were running across the bay as rapidly as theey could receive and discharge passengers and make the trip. On the outward journey the boats were packed, but on the return trip the passengers were limited to various officials connected with the 'maintenance , of order, the distributing of supplies and the giving of relief. It was easy enough to leave the city, but ironclad rules governed a return to it. Beryl and Tonita, overjoyed with the thought that Neil was waiting at the end of their journey, clung to each other in the terrific press of humanity that surged through the ferry building, and were swept upon the decks of the heavily laden boat. Steadily they drew away from the blazing metropolis, overhung by its black pall of smoke. They did not look long at this, the scene of sc much sorrow, but turned their jjeyes toward the fairer shores to the eastward. In due course they reached the Oakland wharf. Here they were halted by an official of one of the many relief committees, who wishec to know whether they desired to reach friends at a distance, or to find shelter in one of the refugee camps. Railroad transportation was free to any who desired to take the trains for distant parts. Tonita showed the officer the typewritten scrap which had brought sc much hope and joy to her heart oi her friend. The officer wrinkled his brows thoughtfully as he looked at it. "J Street," he muttered, looking at the two girls perplexedly. He could not reconcile the character oi the place with the loveliness of the two young refugees. "You are quite sure this is for you?" he asked. "Oh, yes!" cried Beryl, confidently. "And the one who signs the notice is "

"My husband!" she answered. "Ah!" This official, like all the others, way overworked. He could not give one moment longer than was absolutely necessary to any particular case. "Very well," he said, hand-ing-back the typewritten slip; "we have some vehicles here for the use of 'Frisco people, and I will send you to your destination in one of them."

Five minutes later the girls were being whirled away in a carriage. Beryl was trembling with impatience and anticipation. Tonita, while she had her own worries on her lover's account, was so unselfish that she could forget them, for the time, in her delight over her friend's good fortune. "Why, dearest," she gaily murmured, placing her arm about Beryl's waist and drawing her close, "you are shakng Ike a leaf." "I could cry for joy, Tonita!" an- | swered Beryl softly. "How long it seems since I have seen Neil! Itjis as though years and • years have passed since we stood before the minister and sealed our love with the tie there is no breaking." "You have suffered a cruel ordeal, darling," answered Tonita. "A whole lifetime of events has been crowded into the bitter hours since you and your sweetheart were riven asunder. Then, too, you know," she added, with a tender smile: "Love reckons hours for months, and days for years. And every little absence is an age!" j Beryl, by a sudden impulse, pressed her ripe, red lips lovingly to her friend's.

"I think of only myself!" she exclaimed in a burst of self-reproach. "You are also separated from your lover " "Still," interrupted Tonita, a flash of sorrow crossing her face, "I can hope on, keep my trust in Heaven, and be happy with you. You have found your heart's love; and so, in time, I shall find mine." In a,little while the carriage came to a stop, and the-diiver swung down from his seat and opened the door. He looked curiously at the girls as he assisted them to alight. "You got friends here, ain't you?" he asked, staring toward the gloomy barrier of trees with something like suspicion. "Yes," said Beryl, scarcely hearing what he said because of her impatience. "Then I reckon it's all right," returned the driver. "There are so many refugees comin' to Oakland that they have to be put in all sorts of places." He started to mount to his seat, but paused with one foot on the step. "Want me to go in with you?" he asked.

"You are very kind," Beryl called to him, "but it will not be necessary." Then she hurried on along the weedgrown gravel walk, keeping several paces ahead of Tonita in her eagerness.

' Like all the rest of the overworked people engaged in helping the refugees, the driver of the carriage had not a moment to waste. So he, like the relief officer, dismissed the girls from his mind. Mounting to his seat, he drove off, and thus the last one who could have prevented the helpless victims from entering the serpent's lair vanished from the scene.

• Tonita was sufficiently collected to take note of the unsavoury surroundings, but her suspicions of treachery were not aroused. She merely wondered how it could have chanced that Senor Preston had come to take shelter in that squalid place. Beryl's little hand was rapping excitedly at the door before Tonita had passed the fringe of trees; and by the time the Mexicaha had reached her friend's side, the door opened and the sharp-featured, repulsive face of Marm Kinney was revealed. The old hag wore a smile intended to be ingratiating, but which only succeeded in making her the more hideous. Tonita drew back in alarm, but poor, deceived Beryl's agitated spirit left no room for doubts or fears.

"Ha, my little beauties!" exclaimed Marm Kinney, taking note of the girl's loveliness with a sordid eye; "what can I do for ye?" "My husband!" returned Beryl, breathlessly; "I understand that he is here waiting for me." "What is yer husband's name, my purty one?" "Mr Neil Preston " The door was thrown wide open. "He is here, sure enough," said the ill-omened hag, stepping back, "an' almost crazy he is with the long wait for you to come. Your friend,'' she added, nodding toward Tonita, "can step into the back room an' find a chair. I'll take you upstairs to Mr Preston." (To be Continued.)