THE STUDENT'S SECRET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8458, 7 June 1907, Page 2

THE STUDENT'S SECRET.

CHAPfEII Xlll.—Continued. There was something in his direct, absorbed manner which caused Charteris to proceed with his explanation in the same vein. "She was traced," he said, "by a detective, to the house where Malcolm Drake —the man I referred to — had secreted her, to guard her, as he thought, from peril." "Did you institute the search" "Partly. Her father's sudden death made it very important to find the heiress of his property." The visitor was silent. Mr Charteris began to feel that there was a degree of rudeness in his preoccupied manner. He said: "The affairs of this young lady appear to concern you very deeply, Mr . ,"I believe Sutra is your name." The young man assented with a glootuy bow. "I am concerned," he replied, solemnly, "to save my soul." Charteris stared at his visitor with surprise and perplexity. "Is your conscience so sensitive as to reproach you for performing a secret marriage ceremony?" he asked, with a slight sneer. Sutra loosened hi 3 neck band spasmodically, as if it constrained him. JJ "I wish you," he said, authoritatively, "to go with me to this young girl, at once." < ' "That is- impossible," replied Charteris, with decision. Sutra looked irritated. , "I have something to communicate, of great importance, to you and to her."

"I will listen to what you have to say—here." "That will not do. I must see you together." He jumped up excitedjy. "There is no time to lose," he said. "Come! I beseech you to come. In the name of a lost soul, I beseech you!" Again Charteris examined his agitated visitor with deep concern. Sutra had the appearance of a religious enthusiast. He looked extremely ill and miserably poor. But Charteris could hardly doubt that he was rational.

It might be that he had something of importance to disclose. "I will give up an hour to you, Mr Sutra," he said. "You will be kind enough to make your story explicit, and not to detain me longer. I will mention that my interview with—the young lady we are about to see, will be strictly formal •" "Come," said the young man, feverishly; "come. If you are merciful you may obtain mercy." The words struck Charteris with almost superstitious force. * ' * * * Julian Grey's grand house was dark and silent. The curtains were drawn. The drawing room was closed. A silent servant showed Max Charteris and Mr Sutra into the library and carried their cards to Rosalie. '

Rosalie was occupying the chamber that had belonged to Sybil Grey. An open, fire made the room cheerful. and a, great geranium ablaze with cluster of scarlet blossoms filled a window.

Rosalie, restricted for the present to privacy, amused herself in devising splendid toilets which should bear as little resembknca as possible to the mourning she was obliged to assume. She was dressed in a robe of white serge, heavily embroidered with black silk. Her wrists were clasped with silver and onyx bracelets, and pearl ' pendants adorned her pretty ears. . She gave a tittle start as Max Charteris' card was handed to her. Things had changed since they last met. 1 Rosalie, in the excitement of the few past weeks, had not yet determined on the course to pursue toward the man she had married. But, at all events, she still wished to dazzle him with her beauty. This white and black dress,these dull silver ornaments were unbecoming. Rosalie knew that, in spite of her efforts, she looked ill. t A sudden thought came to her. She stepped to the geranium bush, broke off flaming masses of the scarlet flowers and stuck them in her bosom and belt. The effect was magical. "There," she said to'Serpolette, who entered from the adjoining dressing room, "you needn't look horrified. Max Charteris is downstairs." Serpolette shrugged her shoulders. "Who else?' "Your spiritual adviser—Ernest Sutra!" "Sutra!" exclaimed Serpolette; "that is strange!" Rosalie descended to the library. Charteris. who was standing, bowed, and immediately said: "I am here at the request of this gentleman, Mr Sutra. He claims to have a communication of importance which could not be delayed." Rosalie had returned Charteris' haughty bow as haughtily. How dared he look at her with such spuldepressing indifference She did not speak. She felt that she should hate this man, unless she could make him love her. Young Sutra stared at the pair whom he had united in marriagestared with an expression combined of wonder and terror. He was think ing, however, more of himself than of them. "I want you," he began, "before I tell you my secret, to try to think of situations where a man has to choose between starvation and sin." His weak voice sank to a whisper. "I was mentally harassed, while my boly was starving," he went on, huskily. "I think I was insane when I did it. And the temptation was so gieat!" His large eyes were burning like living coals. His gaunt hands clinched the arms of his chair.

By MRS W. H. PALMER.

"I have come here, Mr Sutra, to listen to facts," interposed Charteris, sternly. "Let us come to them, if you please, and terminate the interview." "Facts!" repeated the miserable young man. "Yes, facts! We will presently come to them." He stretched his hand spasmodically to Rosalie. "A glass of water—wine. I„I " anfl, with the sentence incomplete, he fell from his chair and rolled upon the floor in a convulsion terrible to witness. Rosalie flew to the electric bell, and Charteris bent over the afflicted man.

Sutra's rolling eyes came back to Max Charteris' face. Between his spasms he clasped his hands as though imploring a favour. Again and again he sought to articulate. 'His struggles were pitiful. At last, as though with a final effort, he formulated with his quiverfng lips the word he sought. With terrible writhings it came from him. Half leaping into the air, he cried out:

"Stay!" Two doctors arrived, they having been hurriedly summoned. They ordered a hot bath, and took charge of the young man. Left alone in the library, Max Charteris' thoughts returned to Sybil. He thought of her passing through the crisis of her trial alone, without him. He must go to her. Why should he yield to the prayer of this man whose secret, be it what it might, could hardly concern him? From time to time he started to go. And each time he was held back by the remembrance of this word Sutra had uttered in his agony. Under an influence he could hardly explain, he waited. The moments wore on. Every time a step approached he expected to receive .a summons from Sutra. But none came. He remembered, as he paced the floor in his. impatience, that he was near the room in which Luke Jastrum had been shot. He suddenly determined to enter it. With peculiar feelings he approached the curtain which hung before the door. He pushed it aside and turned the knob. He stood within the room.. Nothing had been disturbed. The stained carpet remained upon the floor. The curtain frayed by the ball hung tt the window. Fascinated, as it were, by his surroundings, Charteris seated himself within this room. His eyes mentally photographed the details.

An hour or more must have elapsed. He was unconscious of the flight of time. He heard the voice of Serpolette in the library speaking his name. Sutra was calm and desired to see him. He sprang to his feet, and, as he did so, something caught his eye. It was a dent in the dark dado that surrounded the wall! He silently approached the spot. Holding his breath, he thrust his finger within the ,dent. • A cry rose to his lips. Imhedded in this depression he felt a leaden ball. The touch was like a revelation. It flashed through his mind that he had found a clue. He crossed the room swiftly and paused before the window. It will be remembered that a smooth, round hole had been cut in the pane by the passage of the ball. Charteria raised the sash and examined this hole with searching care. The theory that the ball which killed Luke Jastrum had been fired from within the room, and had passed outward, had not hitherto been questioned. Charteria detected that the ball had penetrated the pane from without, and not from within. Therefore, if the shot had come from without, Sybil Grey could not have fired it,, Charteris forgot Sutra and his secret. Without communicating with anyone, he rushed from the house. At the police headquarters he found Giles Winans —the same officer who had arrested Sybil. With him he returned to the house, and, having given him the points of his discovery, and left him to make observations on his on account, he proceeded to the courtroom. Upon hearing his statement, the judge immediately ruled in favour of re-openirigjjthe case, to admit this new and important evidence. (To be Continued.) Bheumo cures rheumatism and kindred complaints. It eliminates the excess r.ric acid and purifies the blood. All chemists and stores, 2/6 and 4/6. Try it.