THREE MEN AND A MAID.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9033, 26 February 1908, Page 2

THREE MEN AND A MAID.

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■.':iAP.rEi'i XIX. Continued. i it nown I p bounced i n i I t 1 ! Li'. Like c luwli lu be ;an his i i i i it where i n 11 <. i \ nen last i i jon in the i i it tx i i!t my corni u jjiu u hi i h\ wl \ 11 uehaved i ii s i t i u ' \ \\ It is n d io-mul i Lii catching fish. But am I wrong in H ilnl yoj i to the nt' ) \ou am ucrlit ' l t vn n mi\ I i<-k ' i- Sin::e we were imprisoned in the lower." 'An! Engaged to one man, yet ngling for the other. One hears of a xh things, but they are not quite—iir,. shall I say?" No answer, though Marjorie mystiijd many by smiling radiantly at 'hilip, whose serene face showed no trace of annoyance at Walker's personalities. "Come now, Miss Neyland," insisted the lawyer. "If this is to revive itself into an analysis of motive, and supposing your preposterous story be true, why did you, on your own showing, uselessly encourage Mr James Courthope's attentions?" "In the effort to obtain evidence which should clear Mr Warren of any shadow of guilt." "Guilt! Of Robert Courthope's murder you mean?" "Yes."

"Good gracious! A lady detective, it would seem. And were you successful?" "I cannot tell, yet." "I want a plainer answer, please." "It is not for me to give a verdict. That is a matter fur judge and jury."

Mr Walker had not earned'a great reputation by blunderingly helping an opponent's case. He suddenly became conscious of an unseen pit, and drew himself up v/ith an artistic display of indifference. "1 ask leave to adjourn the further cross-examination of this witness," he said, adding magnanimously that Marjorie might remain in Court.

The Vicar followed. He had not much to say, and none of the lawyers pestered him. Then James Courthope was called, and, as he entered the witness-box, the audience again betrayed its interest by a closer humping of shoulders and a new adjustment of eyes and ears. James was self-collected, cool and seemingly quite oblivious of the scrutiny he attracted. He went through the story of the day of Robert's death without varying a syllable from the version he put before the coroner. It was noted by all that Mr Whitaker did not adopt the slightly hostile tone he had used at the inquest. He took James' account of Robert's comings and goings, together with Robert's reputed statement that it was he who locked the door of Fennell's Tower, without endeavouring to find discrepancies in the narrative. In fact, James emerged from his exemination-in-chief very creditably, and, if anything, he was even calmer and more urbane in manner when Mr Hardinge rose to cross-examine. Yet the first question appeared to surprise him greatly. "Miss Marjorie Neyland has told the court that you have proposed marriage to her more than once since your cousin's death. Is that true, Mr Courthope?" Up went James' hand to his beard. He gave Marjorie a quick glance, but her face was hidden. "Am I compelled to deal with such an unwarrantable probing into my private affairs?" he asked, after a pause. "I do not press it if you refuse to answer," said Hardinge biandly. "Let it pass, then." was the ininstant retort. "Have you also promised to marry Miss Hannah Neyland?" "Again I demand " j "Shall we let that pass, too?" said Hardinge. I '"Yes." I

"Very well. We come now to matters which cannot be dealt with so tenderly. Why did ycu ride in furious haste to Nutworth on that morning, Mr Courthope?" "Did I?" "I want you to tell me." '"But 'furious riding' lays me open (to a line, you know." The reply tickled a sporting community. Courthope, who smiled at the amused crowd, did not fail to note that Hardinge's gravity was not lessoned. The solicitor seemed to be choosing his words with exceeding care. But the witness' eyes encountered those of inspector Winter, who, nibbling his moustache, eaz3d at James with frank admiration. "You rode so fast that, in seven mil"\, .you overtook and passed a groom sent in hot hasto by your cousin to summon Mr Bennett, the solicitor, though the man had nearly a gaiter of an hour's start of you," on Hardinge. "I am not exactly a slow person where a horse is concerned," said James lightly. "I remember now I alid ride to Nutworth, though I can■not recall the other eircurrstance .you mention. I was going to a hunt (ball that night, and found that I ihad run short of dress ties." "Djd you buy them at Mr Bennett's?" "/in absurd suggestion. I bought them at a shop in High street." "But you went straight to Mr "Bennett's office?" "That might have been a mere chance." ~, mn "Did you go there?"

y liUJbJcjJ.iT MIAbM*.

[Published By Special Arrangement.]

"I may have done so. I really cannot be certain."

"I will refresh your memory. Had not your cousin announced his intention of making a fresh will, and was it not vital to your interests that yon should see his solicitor?"

"liut why?" "So that, with his aid, you might prepare for eventualities in the event of Robert Courthope's death." "Would yr;u mind putting that more clearly?" asked James, whose right hand travelled halfway up from the rail of the witness box towards his beard but went quickly back again. Perhaps he needed its aid to steady himself, and he certainly was a shade paler. "I mean that it would be a very serious thing for you if your cousin disinherited you, which it was in his power to do," said Harding*. "Even so, I fail to see any reason why I should ride furiously to Bennett's, as you put it." "Well, then, have you any knowledge that Robert Courthope made a will that afternoon?" "None whatever."

"You will be exceedingly surprised, therefore, if a properly drawn up and attested will is produced, a will whereby he left nearly everything he possessed to Miss Marjorie Neyland."

"I shall—be- exceedingly— surprised," echoed James, with a gallant attempt to treat the affair offhandedly.

Again Mr Walker sprang to his feet.

"What earthly bearing on the present charge have Robert Courthope's testamentary dispositions, which, I understand, were arranged years ago?" he roared. "My case is that Robert Courthope was safe in Mr Warren's hands, but that others conspired to secure his death.," said Mr Hardinge. "Then you must try those undiscovered shadows on the capital indictment, and not seek to obtain evidence in this amazing and underhanded way," cried Walker.

"If I may be allowed to intervene, I want to say that I have nothing to conceal," put in James, and, though Winter favoured him with another appreciative glance, he did not appear to notice it.

Hardinge waved aside the interrupt tion.

"At any rate, you know that'Bennett visited Edenhurst Court that afternoon, as it is in evidence that your cousin signed a transfer of land then?" he said. "Yes."

"The deed was witnessed by Bennett's clerk, Jeffry, and by Miss Hannah Neyland. Did you regard the latter as a peculiar witness, peculiar in the sense that she was brought from the village, whereas there were dozens of servants available at the Court?"

"Robert may have w'shed to keep the affair private?" "But it was you who asked Miss Neyland to attend there?"

James hesitated a fraction of a second.

"I believe so," he said. "Probably that was in Robert's mind when he wished her to be present."

"You mentioned none of these circumstances at the inquest?" "Why should I? They are irrelevant."

"We shall see. Coming now to the hour fixed for the alleged duel —about 8.30 p.m. it has been stated—where were you then?" "In the Courts preparing for the hunt ball at Ailonby." "Are you sure?"

"Quite positive.' ' "But you dressed in the Queen's Hotel at Ailonby at 10.15, having sent your man there with your clothes at eight o'clock?" "I fancy you are all wrong as to the time, but I really forget." "Surely that is impossible. You rode up at 10.15 on a horse which bore every token of hard riding " (To be continued.)