THE COLONEL'S ENEMY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3124, 26 February 1909, Page 2

THE COLONEL'S ENEMY.

BY WINTKROP B. HARLAND. Author of "Lady Elgin's Secret," "A Harvest of Shame," "The Elder Son," "Lord Ashton's Heir," Etc.

CHAPTER Vll.—Continued. j He was gone without waiting for the major's polite remonstrance, and the inspector noticed how singularly active he was for a man of his years. "And so that is the celebrated Mr Dacre, the great philanthropist," he said. "Is he an Englishman?" "I believe so; but he made his money abroad." "In what part abroad?" "South America, chiefly, and other places, Chili, Peru and Buenos Ayres. He has been a darinor speculator though he does not look like it." "He looks a remarkable man to me," the inspector said, "and any hint from him would be worth attending to. It was a clever suggestion of his that the offer uf a large reward might lead to desperate measures being taken, and we had better do it only as a last resource. What arrangements have you made with him?"

"He will send me a telegram as soon as he reaches home, to tell me whether the colonel is there or not. As we have timed it, I shall have his message by or before seven; that ■will enable me to take the train at ten minutes past." "And if you do not hear trom him by or before seven?" " I shall take the next train." "You had better take the seventen.," the inspector suggested. "Esery hour is of value, and a man of energy and action is wanted on the spot. Do you stay with Mr Dacre when you are in Londo.l ?"

"Yes." "Have you any other address?" "My club, the Army and Navy." "You had better look in there early in the morning," said the inspector; "early every morning so long as there is any occasion for it, and 1 will send a man with a message; the man will wait til! you see him." "But why not send to Mr Dacre's house? Surely you do not suspect him—it would be too terrible—and he has been kindness itself to Miss St. Hilary." "We nevtr suspect anybody's guilt or believe in anybody's innocence," the inspector said, sententiously; "with us it is a matter ot proof. We can only take results. If 1 make an exception it is most certainly in Mr Dare's favour; but on the supposition that foul play has taken place, the inference is clear that the information which enabled them to act must have emanated from Mr Dacre — information innocently given, of course; but he is engaged in business, and evidently some interested party knows that he is in confidential communication with Col. St. Hilary. You follow me?"

"I am listening to every word." "Then every syllable he maj let. fall ia gathered in by some member of the gang, for it clearly is a gang at work; that is to say, if we are to assume there has been foul play, and every step you may take in his house would be watched closely. Will you let me give you a little advice 7 " "Take the eaily train; if the colonel is not at Mr Dacre's house, you will go straight to Fletcher and Wyman's; they have an office in Sheriffs' Court, near Charing Cross, ana not far from Scotland Yard. If the man who took the colonel away is their accredited agent, well and good"; you may put it down that they are really in chase of Crombie, who in ay have given the slip. Then you can afford to wait. If the man is not an accredited agent, there has been foul play, and you will send to me at once—lnspector Darlington. This would be a Liverpool case, and we are rather jealous of our reputation here." "I will do that; ana is there anything else I can do?" "Yes: you must take an entirely independent course of action; never mind what Mr Dacre may be doing—act with him in his way—but go your own way in secret, and you may depend upon us—we shall be working for you day and night."

CHAPTER IX. THE MAJOR'S NEW SERVANT. Maj. Lugard was not sorry to have Mr Darlington's company for an hour or so after the midnight train had started for London. The Liverpool inspector evidently took a deep interest in the case, and was personally inclined to be friendly. The genial soldier never discouraged a tendency of that kind, though he never encouraged it, from motives of policy; but h ; s habitual kindness and thoughtful courtesy had won him many a friend whose services had been useful just when they were most required and least expected. Mr Darlington had disavowed anything like a suspicion of Dacre, but he was very curious in all things which concerned that gentleman's present circumstances and previous history, and he seemed parricularJy struck by the major's account of Miss Dacre's behaviour at the time of his departure fcr Ravenskerne. '"lt was a singular thing fcr her to say." he observed. "Did you attach no importance to it?" "Very little at tho time. "I have thought of it since, row and then, but not to give it any special weight. The lady has always been somewhat eccentric-in a harmless way. She has often startled me, when \va have been in the midst of an interesting conversation, by making some remark totally irrelevant to the subject." "But she must have had something in her mind to make her appeal s' pointedly to you?" I "She had heard me speak of St. Hilary's health—his tendency to heart disease, and the sunstroke he had some years ago—and she knew j Jhow anxious Miss St. Hilary was. <

It was simply Miss Dacre's odd way of expressing a wish that the colonel should be met by an old friend who understood him and could take proper care of him.''

"But she knew that her brother, Mr Dacre, intended to come down?" "Yes. He, however, as I have already told you, is personally quite a stranger to St. Hilary; never^ has seen him and never expected to." "Never expected to?" Darlington repeated. the medical men gave their consent for the colonel to travel. They were afraid that the voyage and the change of climate would be too much for him."

"And Miss St. Hibry is engaged to Mr Dacre's nephew?" Maj. Lugard replied in the affirmative, thoughtfully and slowly. "And with the colonel's sanction?" "Yes. He would not have hindered or opposed the marriage in any way. He only wished it deferred till he came over."

"I* it a desirable u-atch tj Mr Dacre?"

"In every way. He is tenderly fond of Miss St. Hilary, and loves young Dacre as if he were his own son."

"And if anything happened to the colonel, the marriage would be delayed?" "It would be postponed indefinitely, as a matter of course." "Then Mr Dacre stands absolved from any complicity," the inspector said. "Not that I ever suspected him, but we are obliged to study every clue." "Nothing could have been more idle and unjust than to suspect him," the major said, "when but for him we could hardly have had a clue to work upon. The colonel's note was written to him. He was not obliged to produce it, or reveal its contents. We might have been wandering in the dark till now if he had not placed that most important piece of evidence at our disposal." "I do not suspect him," Mr Darlington said. "At the same time it is clear that the man who called for the colonel 13 well acquainted with his private history and, if not an accredited agent of Fletcher and Wyman's, must have been carefully coached by some one in full possession of the necessary knowledge. Now, Mr Dacre knew nothing of Col. St. Hilary's intentions regarding Crorabie till you told him?" "That is so."

"Very well, then. It is clear then that the information must have been obtained from Mr Dacre. He is, to a certain extent, a business man, and we know how rapidly news of any kiud spreads in business localities. Now, the kind of people you meet would not be likely to be affected by the colonel's return?" "They would be pleasantly affected. His old comrades at the clubs have been on he 'qui vive' ever since I told them he was coming home." "That I can understand," the inspector said; "but we have to look for those who would be unpleasantly affected, and there can be no doubt that the news of his expected arrival, and his intentions concerning Crombie, would create a scare." [t« be continued.]