The Scales of Justice.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8519, 27 August 1907, Page 2

The Scales of Justice.

By FRED 81. WHITF, [Published By Special Arrangement.] [All Piights Eeserved.]

CHAPTER XIX. —Continued

"This is amazing - ," she exclaimed. "I am glad now that I hit upon a way of getting you free from Greystone. The' scheme came to me directly Mary told me about your faithful servant, Juan Garcia. 'He is going to be very useful to us later." "But you have not told me yet why rnv presence was so vital at this particular moment," Gilbert urged. "Garcia broughc me the letter, remember. And after reading it, I decided to make a dash for freedom at once. Why?" "That will have to keep till tomorrow," Flora said. "Mr Doyle, I fancy I have made a most stupendous discovery. It only occurred to me after reading your trial and studying the features of the principal witnesses in the drama which, as I said before, were published in the woman's papsr I spoke of. If tell I you what I have discovered it may only bias your mind. I want you to confirm it without any hint from me. And you are going to do so to-morrow night." Gilbert shrugged his shoulders and asked no further questions. "Very well," he said; "I will possess my soul in patience and leave everything in your hands. Of your goodness to me, I cannot speak in j words. You come out on a night like this; you venture alone in these desolate woods. Let me come with you." "No, no," Flora cried. "I am only doing what seems to me my plain duty. I may be wrong in my methods, but I have acted for the best. And Jam not afraid. You and I are going farther yet to-night. And to-morrow I shall return to you and tell you of my little scheme. I ■warn you that it will require strength and resolution on your part." "I dare do anything," said Doyle passionately—"anything to clear my name and save the dear girl who is being done to death by that scoundrel Beard." * "There you are quite wrong," Flora said quietly. "Rest assured that Bernard Beard is not in the least likely to injure Winifred Cawdor. If lam correct, he has the best reasons for making her well and strong again. And he is passionately fond of the child. lam certain that Dr. Beard is doing all he can for Winifred's sake." "Perhaps he is," Gilbert said wearily. "I will take your word for it. Meanwhile, would you mind telling me what we are going to do next. 1 am afraid that there is no room for me here, and is) my own case it would be dangerous to stay. My host's character is not of the kind to avert suspicion. He is just the sort of man to harbour an escaped convict." "I have thought of that," Flora said. "Put on your coat and come with me."

CHAPTER XX.

A STARTLING RECOGNITION. Miss Cameron and Gilbert passed into the darkness together, Flora leading the way with the air of one who knows exactly where she is going. It was very dark now, but the girl's step did not hesitate for a moment. Gilbert was struck with admiration. "Angel of goodness and mercy," he said hurriedly, ''why do you do all this for me? What have I done that you should protect me? It is all so very wrong, too." '"Yes, I am afraid it is very wrong in the eyes of the law and the world," Flora said. "But it was the only way. I feel that lam doing right; on my knees I have asked advice. And after that the way became clear and my eyes saw more distinctly. lam going to take you to the cottage of an old nurse of Miss Drummond's. Old Anna would do anything for Miss Drummond, <md she will probably remember you. She has a secluded cottage that will make an ideal hiding-place for the present. And I have told Anna part of your story. You will not find her the less kind and thoughtful for that." "You overwhelm me," George said brusquely. "I cannot think of anything to say." "Then please say nothing. The happiness of moi*e than one person is at stake, and I must do the best I can to complete it. To-morrow I will come and see you again, and tell you what are my plans for the evening. Ycu see, I can safely come to Anna's cottage, as nobody will have the least surpicion. But here we are." There was no light in the cottage window, but Flora opened the door and entered as if she .had been expected. But the light was there all rij>ht, though its rays were excluded by the shutters. A very old woman, with a clear face, rose and made a bow to Gilbert. "I am not going to stay a moment," Flora said. "Anna, you will please make this gentleman as comfortable as possible, and see that he keeps to his room. I know that you are not a gossip, and that very few people come to your cottage, but one cynnot be too careful. I shall come round to-morrow after luncheon, Mr Doyle. Good-night!" And Flora vanished before Gilbert could stammer out any word of thanks. He became conscious presently that the old dame was talking to him, but he hardly knew what she said other than that she asked if he wanted anything before he went to bed. "Nothing whatever, thank you," Gilbert replied. "Show me my room, please. Bed is the one thing that I long for more than anything in the world just now." In a dreamy way Gilbert was conscious of the fact that he was undres-

sing, and that the sheets had a smell of wild thyme. He' breathed a heartfelt prayer, snuggled down between the sheets, and almost immediately a deep sleep fell upon him. When he woke a brilliant sun was shining, and a little tray outside the door contained a tempting breakfast. Somewhat restlessly Gilbert passed the time till Flora appeared again. "I am not going to stay long," she said —"only just long enough to give you your orders for this evening. Of course, you know that the young Duchess of Mantorby lives close by, at Tower Royal. To-night she is giving a charity ball at her residence. It is a new idea to hold a charity ball in a ducal manor, but the duchess thought that the cottage hospitals would greatly benefit, and sure enough, the five hundred three-guinea tickets have sold to the last one. I daresay you will wonder what all this has to do with you, but that is what I am coming to. It is some time since I attended any function of the kind, and I should not have gone to-night only that I have a special reason for so doing. My mother knew the duchess as a girl, and she called and made a point of our going. 0? course, my mother refused, but she did not see why I should stay away. "And, as I had a scheme in my mind, I shall take the single-horse brougham and drive to the house. As it is a fine night I shall ask my coach man to wait for me at the lodge gates at half-past one. My excuse will be that I want to avoid the crush of carriages. As I possess a sort of reputation for independence people will think nothing of my walking to the lodge gates to find my brougham. All this sounds trivial, but it is of the greatest importance. At 1.30 the footman with my wraps will be waiting on the terrace of Tower Royal for me. It will look as if he had run up from the carriage with them. There will not be any footman really, because you are going to take his place." "1 don't quite follow you," Gilbert said, a little confused by the rapid way in which Flora sketched out her programme. "Where do I come in please?" "In this way. A parcel will come here fcr you presently, and Jessie Max'ston will bring it. Inside you will find the dress of a footman —hat, and big coat and all. I hart to guess at the fit, but that will pass well enough in the dark. You will don that dress and make your way in the direction of Tower Royal soon after midnight. Nobody will notice you. You will be mistaken for a servant who is trying to see as much of the festivities as possible. A little after one o'clock you will approach my brougham by the lodge gates." "That is all very well; but how am 1 to know my man?" "Well, every other carriage will be within the gates," Flora explained. "Besides, you can ask. My coachman will be told that one of the ducal footmen will come to fetch my wraps, and he will give them to you, as a matter of course. Then you come up the drive and wait for me on the terrace where the great oriel window is. I will join you there. After that, you can see me to my brougham, and there will be an end of the matter. There will be a great surprise in store for you to-night." "You are marvellously clever and thoughtful," Gilbert said, admiringly. "And so good to us all." "It is all in the interests of goodness and mercy," Flora declared. "And I have had many dark and weary hours to plan in. I daresay that all this may strike you as being a little cheap and sensational, but we have clever and unscrupulous people to deal with. I have tried and tried, but I cannot find a better way." "There could be no better way," Gilbert declared. "Now, please tell me all over again, so that there will be no mistake. You will find me an apt pupil." i.he thing was settled at length, and Flora went her way. Faithful to her promise, Jessie came over a little time later, staggering under a big parcel. She was much better to-day, she said, though her ankle still gave her considerable pain. She was all alone, too, for her father had gone to Castleford on business. Gilbert could not altogether repress the feeling that in some way that business was connected with him. The hours crept slowly by until it was time to dress and set forth on the mysterious errand. Flora had provided a bottle of stain, so that when Gilbert was dressed, and his face stained a deep hue,he flatterd himself he would pass under the very eyes of the police without being recognised. A few directions given by old Anna sufficed to discover the way to Tower Royal, and Gilbert set out on his five mile walk. (To be continued.)