RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8392, 11 April 1907, Page 2

RIVEN ASUNDER. OR, BERYL GRAYSON'S ORDEAL.

By EsUwardis, 'W/ie/ of " '.'•■;■ /.;//,'(■ 11/V/o;r," "ixulia, the livxei-itf'." "!ietu«t cf All,' •'Stella Sterling,'" "l.aurx Hrai/tva," «'''■•

A IiOMANOE OF THE SAM t'R\NCISCO i>!BASTE*

CH/w'TKi: xxxni. -yoi; :-!:a 4 -.-: ■..»>;■:•:!> withOUT HK!" '.i'oni'.i. 'lr.iWi. i;\.o i: ! :i!i wch of de- | ceii. i>i ....-:• - i ■.'.!■•):-lii;< for jj.'ryl. had no :xk)l;(..i' nitei. .1 'the ■>>t.<\n '..0 w:iii.-/i she was dire. J'.i l>y Mann Kinney than she v; ■■:■■< ■,uie:-; : y ,-:ei:;od by Gorslino find H;.r:':iv :v;:s. While Oiie | a VUf ' c "'•' ovev {lel ' teml/ -' l ' lips to prevent cutciy, the other, grasped tier handr; r-o tiuit they could .mn help ht't* in h?.c Then she wad dragged co a, chair, covin wore brought, and iiee delicate limbs wt-re tirmty se.ii.reii to the i'vameThe out,-ageo'.iy r.ct w.-u quickly doaa; so quickly thsit Tonita -was taken at a disau.-ar-.tago from pure bewil.terment. Then it flashed over her that_again hr<d Beryl been lured into the'power of her foes. Tonita •waa wild with rage and indignation, yet thinking move of her hapless friend than she did of herself.-; While a cloth waa being bound over her lips she managed to give vent to the scream which Beryl had heard. When all was done, and the two scoundrels drew away, she was entirely helpless. Yet daggers leaped from her black eyes. If looks could kill, Gorsline and Hargreaves would have dropped chad be Lore her. '

"She's a rare one for a greaser," remarked Gorsline, shooting a look of bold admiration at the captive., "So help me, if I had any idea of gittin' spliced, I reckon I could go a good ways further an' fare a heap worse.". "What's the use of tormenting her?" spoke up Hargreaves. "We've got her where she can't do any harm, and that's enough." The valet rok<ht have been an honest man hau ue served a different master. He was not in love with the work that had fallen to him, but he was in the grip of Berdyne. and it was to his interest to do his master's bidding. "I'll not muzzle myself to please you, or any man!" flared Gorsline. "If I want to make remarks about the gal's good looks, I'll doit; and if I want to make love to her, I'll do that, too. Keep your remarks to yourself, Hargreaves. You size up a good deal like Trenwyck; an* I'll have a bone to pick with him one o' these days." There was a bottle of whisky on the table, set out for Gorsline's use by Marm Kinney when she served Berdyne the evening before. Gorsline poured himself a drink tu.l tossed it off at a gulp. Hargreaves,),a daring to have a clash with his other confederate, withdrew himself to the couch at the other side of the room. While he sat there he kept a vigilant watch on Gorsline's actions. Tonita, unable to implore, or threaten, or question the • two men, had to bear her apprehensions on Beryl's account as best she could. What a bitter, bitter disappointment this would prove to poor Beryl! As she sat in the chair to which she had been secured, she strained her ears to hear as much as possible of what was taking ( place above. The grating of a key came to her, and she heard Berdyne call out: "This way, Marm Kinney. The girl has swooned 1" Then the door Was closed again, and Tonita's heart sank with its weight of fear. The slow minutes dragged by. Gorsline took, a chair, tilted it against the wall behind him, and sat there his head bowed. Occasionally he Would lift his head to throw a leering glance of admiration at the helpless girl, or a look of anger at Hargreave3. Instinctively, the girl knew that Hargreaves would prevent any insulting treatment on the part of uorsline. Although a prisoner, yet Tonita felt that she was comparatively safe. It was about Beryl that this net had been woven; she was the one for whom alarm andanxiety must be felt. Presently voices were 'once more heard from the second floor; Beryl's voice and the old woman's. This much Tonita knew, although it was impossible to distinguish what was said. Then, in a little while, came the voice of Berdyne. The door opened and closed again, 'and Marm Kinney descended the stairs and entered the room. "A purty vixen!" mumbled Marm Kinney, with a jerk of he head in the direction of the upper floor; "but. she's found her match in Preston, or Berdyne, or whatever ye call him. He'll tame her! Trust him to make her see things as he wants them!" . She drew close, and stood surveying Tonita. "Another fine bird!" the hag cackled. "They seem to be fly in' in pairs about the eagle's nest. Did she fight much?" and Marm Kinney turned to Gorsline. "She hadn't time," scowled Gorsline; "we was too quick for her. Before she fairly knewtyhat had happened, we had her in the chair with a rope about her pretty ankles and another around her small wrists. To my thinkin'," he added, "she's a fairer prize than t'other one." ",Oh, you men, you men!" muttered the hag, moving off to a chair, and beginning to roll a cigarette. Tonita paid little heed to these remarks. She was straining her ears to hear what wan going on overhead. Beryl's voice was borne to her ears, calm, even defiant. The Mexicana's heart leaped in her bosom. Beryl was meeting her trying ordeal with courage, and how Tonita longed to be at her side, to cheer and strengthen her. J, The minutes yassed, and Berdyne, scowling blackly, descended the stairs and entered the room. He was about to speak, but before a word could pass his lips, a loud rap fell on the door. » Every one |in the room, with the exception, of course, of Tonita, gave

a start'sd jump. . glances were exchanged. "Co," raid Bet-dyne sharply to M;irm KiniK'j, "and see who is there."' He turned to Gorsline as the old won';':: shuffled out of the room. "If ir'ii .!''i'i!::to!:," he his:-:d, '"e ready I'.>r him, i-oth of you !" ■ ".I'll be ready for him, rover fenr!" growled (iorxiine, between his to;h. Presently Marei Kinney returned. "It's a wormm," said she, "an' she asked for Ivlr Preston." "A woman!" A puzzled look cro.'-sed 'ii eniyno's angry face. "What woman could be coming here to find Pre.uoii i-'id she give any name? " Mo," " What; dot;.; she look like?" "She wears a heavy veil, a;i' I couldn't see. Shall 1 bring her in?" iYlarm Kinney half-started back toward the hall. "I'll go to the door myself!" growled Berdyne, "Stay here, all of you!" He whirled on his heel and passed out into the hall. Opening the door, | he beheld the strange caller, just as described by Marm Kinney. Her face was covered with a black veil, so that it could not be seen. "Do you want to see Mr Preston?" asked Berdyne. "Are you Neil Preston?" came the response, in a voice that was plainly disguised. "Yes," Berdyne answered. The woman -pushed through the doorway. Berdyne fell back before her, but barred" her path to the room where Tonita was held captive. "I felt positive there was something wrong with that notice 1 saw posted up in Golden Gats Park,"' came the woman's ringing voice, this time with no attempt at disguise. "You are up to your old tricks, Nicholas Berdyne, but you have reckoned without me!" The veil was torn aside. An imprecation of dismay fell from Berdyne and he recoiled. "Irma!" he cried. "Aye, Irma!" mocked the woman. In a twinkling, Berdyne's hand was thrust under his coat. When it showed again there was a revolver gripped in his tense fingers.

CHAPTER XXXIV. "YOU BELONG TO ME!" "The wildest ills that darken life Are rapture to the bosom's strife; The tempest, in its blackest form, Is beauty to the bosom's storm; The ocean, lashed to fury loud, Its high wave mingling with the cloud, ' Is"peaceful, sweet, serenity, To anger's dark and stormy sea." Berdyne had, indeed, reckoned without Irma Lee! A bolt from a clear sky could not have surprised him more than her sudden appearance on the scene. Throughout all her persistent interference with Berdyne's plans, the woman had so skilfully concealed her movements, that not the slightest breath of suspicion had reached him. Now, as by the sudden lifting of a curtain, he understood many things that had before been dark. Who was it that could have implanted the seed of mistrust in Beryl Grayson's mind, if not Irma? Who was it that had manoeuvred to let Preston know that Beryl was hidden away at Sunset Ranch, if not Irma? Who'was it that had managed to help the girl out of the Sutter Street house, if not Irma? Here, then, was the one person had constantly marred Berdyne's plans and all but brought them to nought. Here, too, in the very climax of his efforts, she had come to him. His love —if the term may be used in connection with such a man—and his fortune hung upon his power over Beryl, and the success or failure of his designs. These things meant more to Berdyne than life itself, more than Preston's life, or Irma's. The far-reaching effect of those slips which he had caused to be posted in the various refugee camps was coming home to the cunning and reckless plotter. As he stood gazing at Irma, her power to vex and turn aside his schemes loomed large in his eyes. Guile and trickery flew to his aid; although he inwardly raged, yet he forced a smile of seeming pleasure, and put away the weapon which, on the impulse of the moment, he had drawn from his pocket. (To be Continued).