A GIRL TO LOVE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9098, 26 May 1908, Page 2

A GIRL TO LOVE.

By BERTHA M. CLAY. Author Of " Thrown on the World," " Her Mother's Sin," Beyond Pardon," , " The Lost Lady of Haddon," " Dora Thome," " An Ideal Love," etc.

CHAPTER XXlX.—Continued. He stopped at the bank, and strode inside. "You got my telegram?" he said briefly, to the cashier. "Yes, Mr Trenwith. The cheque has not been presented. If it cornea in, v/e will take care that it isn't paid." "That's your affair now. Ive stopped payment," he half laughed. "No news, 1 suppobe?" The cashier hesitated. Another customer had walked up the the counter. He signalled to a clerk to attend to him, and motioned Trenwith to a door leading to the manager's office. "The manager is out," he explained; then he went on haltingly. "You have heard nothing, sir?" "I have only this moment arrived from Birmingham," Trenwith answered impatiently. "Well, Mr Trenwith, there are strange rumours flying about, and I rather fancy you will find the police at your place when you get home. You were the last person seen with Mr Pelham, and they want to know all about it, cf course." Trenwith smiled.

"Of course," he repeated. "Quite natural, too. That phase of the case has never struck me. How very stupid! Let me think. I drove Pelham to Dudley just before midnight. I waited at the Station Hotel until one a.m., then I went out for an hour or so, to see if he was at the lodgings of his manager." He ticked off each iteVn, rather amused than otherwise. "I don't think that I had time to dispose of a /igorous young fellow like Victor Pelham. Next comes the motive. The motive, my dear Nettlefold. Don't be afraid to j speak, man, if police charges and police deductions are floating in the air. You have known me for twenty years, Nettlefold:' Has a warrant been applied for?" "I don't know, Mr Trenwith, but

a strong casa is being made out j against you. It's common talk." | He shrugged hi 3 shoulders deprecat- j ingly. "You and Mr Pflham were | ( paying court to the same lady, and 1 he was the favoured suitor; your | j business interests clased in the Dudley mines; you have offered large ( bribes to Pelham's employees to j ( work against their employer." "And have you believed this, Nettlefold?" Jasper Trenwith asked bitterly. *'l haven't bothered about it,_ sir. I know that you are capable of defending yourself." Without another word, Trenwith , tarn 3d and quitted the bank. j 'Good heavens"! he thought. "My ; record must be black indeed, when, men who have known me half of my life believe me capable of murder. | John Ireland is making himself busy! j There was a momentary eleam of j hatred in his blue eyes; then a deep j sigh passed his lips. He was humiliated beyond expression. The bank j cashier had no belief in the existence ! of the cheque for thirty thousand ( piunds, and payable to Victor Pelh im. ' I He climbed into the automobile, and drove away at a mokrate pace. If it came to a battle of wits between himself and John Ireland—his lip curled, contemptuously. The man's -intellect was of a low type, but his monkey-cunning wasn't to be d?- , spised. He had deliberately placed j himself, in Ireland's power, and he | must bear the consequences. The automobile dashed away from the town, and into one of the delightful country lanes for which Worcestershire is so famous. The fragrant hedgerows were higher than a tall man, and the grassy-banks which lined the way were twinkling with inany-:oloured flowers. The air was sweet with the pungency of growing hops, and happy birds made vocal music everywhere. Jasper Trenwith brought the automobile to a halt, and pointed to the. chimneys and gables of a fine old j house, peeping above a forest of wav-, ing trees. "Yonder is the Chase, Miss Craig, ' Victor Pelham's home." tola's heart leaped ir.t> her throat, and then seemed to be still. She saw the house but dimly, and through a mist of tears. "Pelbam did not spetk of it to you, perhaps, because he leared that he would lose it. I know that he was preparing for the worst." The automobile swept on again, until it plunged into Trenwith's own drive, and came to a standstill at the door of his house. He sprang to the ground with the nervous energy of a young man, and assisted the ladies tu alight. Servants were in prompt attendance, and his orders werj short and sharp. Then he turne:! to Mrs Craig and her daughter. '• the housekeeper has instructions to p'/epare your rcoms, but in the mjantimc you had better rest and refresh yourselves in my sitting-room. There are easy chairs and couches galore, and all ports of creature comforts, 'for I am a luxurious man. Come!" Hid face as pale, and tricre was a Li,,., of abstraction in his eye?. He s -i. medio have become tired all at once, and, after helping his guesk) to aorr.e wine and biscuits, sank upon a chair to refit. "There do3.?n't appear to be any fresh news," he remarked, "but we shall not be in doubt much longer. You.will excuse mo now." Hj left the room, and walked into the library. His secretary was busy at his desk, and a young nr-m sat near the door, hat in hand. He rose respectfully when the financier entered the room. "You are Mr Barrows, I think i Jasper Trenwith said, with his kind am.la.

"Yes, sir; you telegraphed to ne." "Quite right. No news, I suppose ?" "No, sir; that is, nothing frosh. Che creditors have decided to file a ictition in bankruptcy against Mr Pel ham." "H'm ! You have brought a complete list of the firm's liabilities?' "Yes, sir." "Good! Every shilling shali be paid to-day, Mr Barrows. Your master is not a willing defaulter. He is a rich man yet, to my personal knowledge. lam beginning to suspect foul play." Barrwos looked up with a peculiar »leam in his eyes. "That's what, I'rr. afraid of, sir. There's no believing a word that Mr Ireland says, he's so contradictory. But it's wonderful how two big men could utterly vanish. "Wonderful, indeed. If you have nothing better to do, Mr Barrows, you can continue at the colliery in my employ." "Thank you, sir." He coughed, and waited. "Is that all, sir?" "Yes, but keep your eyes and ears open, and be discreet. I know that your record is a good one. I have here"--he touched a mass of typewritten papers—"a very exhaustive report from a detective who rarely makes a mistake. The man has not been moving in secret, and you and others, doubtless, know of his mission. I sent him from Birmingham yesterday morning. Now he scofi's at the idea of either Pelham's or Owen's flight. There were no trains available at midnight. Neither possessed an automobile, and two policemen were on duty near the colliery. The watchman was sent away by Owen. Pelham went to the colliery, and neither Pelham nor Owen has since been seen. Jf any man can cle.ir up the mystery, that man is the ground-bailiff." "The colliery is in the hands of the po'L'e now, sir," Barrows said. "So 1 understand. Good morning." Jasper Tremvith turned to his secretary, a hard, cold light in his blue eyes, his forehead frowning. | "Somebody is busy," he remarked. ' "Which enemy ra i it be, Mr Walker? , Make shorthand notes of every word ' uttered in this room." "Yes, sir," the secretary answered sorrowfully and gloomily; then he ' rrlanced furtively towards the big j French window at the end of the loom. "The police superintendent is waiting to see you, sir. He has been talking to Price for half an hour. You must warn Price; he'll swear he disposed of Mr Pelham himself to shield you."

I "Shield me!" ejaculated his masI ter, in a maze. "Ah, inspectur, come ' in. Sorry to have kept you waiting. I What can I do for you?" A big official, in uniform, walked ' into the room, confident and selfj satisfied. An ordinary policeman ! followed his chief, and stood atattenI tion. The chief produced a fat notei book and a pencil. He proceeded j to wet the point of the pencil with his tongue, and then stared dcutti fully at the secretary. I "My confidential man, inspector," ! Jasper Trenwith blandly remarked. "Go ahead." "Yes, sir, certainly. I have to ask you some fifty questions, and I want them answered very carefully." "As my replies may be used in evidence against me, eh?" j (To be continued.)