The Colonel's Enemy.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3139, 16 March 1909, Page 2

The Colonel's Enemy.

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued. "If money would do it," Lugard sr id, "I would give the colonel's weight in gold to have him with us to-morrow--in fact, if he does not retirn, I have resolved to offer a large reward for him." "How large" ' 'Ten thousand pounds, if necessary." "That would represent a little n-ore than his weight in gold, if he scales the average number of pounds —=ay eleven stone," the doctor said. "People who do not bring their fancies to figures are apt to dream of ? min's weight in gold as a fortune without limit. But I do not think the tjrre is yet come for the offer of a reward, and if you do offer one, five hundred pounds would be as effective si-ten thousand. You have not ascertained yet whether the man St. Hilary went away with is one of Fletcher's discarded agents." "Not yet. He may be able to tel ns now." Mr,Fletcher was able to tell them. He was on the point of leaving his office when Lugard and the doctor w«?nt in. De shook hands with him at sight, and seemed anxious to make an agreeable impression. "I have told the major that you and I are old acquaintances," he said. "We have done some work together, have we not?" "That we have, sir, and very clever you were at .it. It's a pity you did not take to it. I would give you three hundred a year any time you like to come to me" "It is worth considering," said Be Vigne, quietly, "and do not be surprised if I take you at your word. I have told the major it was a mistake not to have those two Wn detained, as you suggested." "It was, sir—it was. I have seen .Haivey, the man we discharged for blackmailing, the one we -thought it was that the colonel went away with, and he is furious; he has not set f jot iu Liverpool for over six m- nths, and the make-up was so like h ... .hat he is sure he was personated T sely. I was going to see Mr J I* ere and tell him." "Mr Dacre is too ill to see visitor-," said Dr De Vigne. "I am atttiding him now." "»Vr Wyman is in the next room, maj r, and would like to see you," Fletcher observed, as he opened the biizs door of the inner office. "He has been going very carefully thro :srh our reports, and has made a suuimary for you to look at." The major thanked him, and passed through. Fletcher closed the doar, and gazed for some moments with steady and inquiring meaning at De V gne. "I was glad of that chance, sir," he said, "for I wanted*a word on the qui" with you. You are attending Mr Oacre?" "lam." "And he told you he was badly shiken by falling out of a cab?" "Chat is so." "Did you ever know an elderly g n-leman to fall out of a cab and escape without a scratch? And then x ose marks on his throat—the marks i.r «. man's fingers. I have seen too ? ~ -n as lo how they were made." rvthol De Vigne pondered for a J• i 'lime before he replied; then he ioo'.ed up at the taller man and shooic la* heao, with a slow, reflective nrz'.le. ■•Those marks were there yester-J (>■'," he said. "Yes, sir, or I could not have s "ii them." •'I do not know what you are it rning vour head against, my good I Fletcher," said De Vigne; "but the | 't*£ilanationis perfectly natural to j r«i\ When Mr Dacre was pitched ; a. of the cab he fell against the t-ib, and but for his thick silk :ci rf the blow might have seriously i i jured him. As it was, it marked iis throat. You saw no scratch or •abrasion on his temple, because he vt s wearing a soft felt hat, which fnved him; and his gloves, lined js they are with fur, saved his 1; rides. Why should you think he vuuld give a false account of what 1 irpened to him?" "That's what Ifwant to get at," Fktcher said. "I only know there is roraebody behind the scenes that foiestalla us at every turn, either on purpose or by blundering exposure, when we ought to be as secret as the grave, and it makes me keep a sharp Uokout when I hear anything that I'oesn't sound exactly like the truth." "Keep as sharp a lookout as you cm, and I wilUhslpfyou," said De Vitrne; "but keep in the right dir«<lion. Here comes the major. Not a word oi this to him.", CHAPTER VIII. THE MAJOR FINDS HIS Z KINDRED. " " WheiTthe frank and unsuspicious s Idier came in from the sanctum inclosed by that green baize door, }>y saw nothing to indicate that a pri- \ lie understanding had been arrived ; i between the agent and De Vigne. ha was full of the brief interview ) e had just had with Mr Wyman, to wiom, much to his self-reproach, }<: had taken a strong dislike at the lust glance. The major had been known to ad- ) it in confidence that he was sub- ; tto these antipathies, and though L was sincerely ashamed of them, »'• v clung to him with a persistence w nch sadly interfered with his desire , *> judge all men without prejudice. ' "If I had seen him at the outset," he told De Vigne, when they had left the office, "I would not have placed fie case in Fletcher's hands. I may Ihj wrong, of course, but if that J'el--1 w would not tell his client or his conscience to the highest bidder, my

$ By WINTHROP B. HARLAND. 5 / Author of "Lady Elgin's Secret," "A Harvest of / C Shame," "The Elder Son," "Lord § h Ashton's Heir," Etc. 1

estimate of human nature is worth very little." "Candidly, my dear major, 1 should not care to be guided by it," said De Vigne. "You are governed by your sympathies very much as a woman is. Ask a lady why she likes or dislikes such a person, and she will say, 'because I do ; ' and think the matter settled satisfactorily beyond dispute. You, I am afraid, could give no better reason." "You may be right," the major said, with a smile, "and I am not going to defend myself; but as there is a large choice of men in every vocation, I do not see why I should employ someone I should like and believe in by instinct." "Well, there is Fletcher, who would be an excellent fellow if he had a head; but he was a policeman once, and will bs a policeman always. He turns bis thoughts in one direction just as he used to turn his bull's-eye, and then, when he has found a suspicious mark, he follows his nose until he runs against a wall; but put him on the right track and he will never leave it till he has unearthed his quarry. He will get along in this case very well, with my help." "With your help?" "Yes. I am going to see him now, and then give him a hint or two; this kind of work, as I have told you, always h3d a fascination for me, and for Mr Dacre's sake I shall do all I can to elucidate the mystery. I am certain that the colonel's disappearance is at the seat of the terrible mental strain he is suffering from; and lam too deeply in his debt to neglect any opportunity of serving him. I do not speak of his kindness to me, -though that was great; but he saved my father from bankruptcy and ruin, and for that I would lay down my life, if I were asked." "I have no doubt he takes it to heart," Lugard said, "so fond as is of Dora. I should be sorry to tell him what Wvman thinks of the matter." "What does he think?'" "That St. Hilary's conduct indicates insanity, that the voyage home, and what he calls the colonel's craze about Crombie, have upset his reason, and that he will go wandering over the face of the earth like a monomaniac, and with all the symptoms of one; hiding himself from his friends, till he has worn himself out in a vain search." "Well, it is an idea; and whether it is worth much or little, should not be entirely disregarded. You do not like the man,. because he has a certain stealthiness of manner, purrs when he talks, and it is his misfortune to have a greenish tint in his eyes which, with white eyelashes, do not make a prepossessing picture. I must say that it was an extremely odd thing for the colonel to leave the hotel with a stranger, instead of waiting for you; and so far as we have gone, I see nothing to disprrve the theory that the man who called for him although he was not Mr Harvey, may have been some one who knew of that business, and is prosecuting the search on his own account." "I wish 1 could think so." [to be continued.] Prompt Delivery. Importers requiring immediate delivery of their goods cannot do better than entrust their Customhouse and Forwarding work to J. .J. CURTIS and Co. Ltd., Customhouse Quay, Wellington. Efficient service and moderate charges ajsured