The Colonel's Enemy.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3159, 10 April 1909, Page 2

The Colonel's Enemy.

CHAPTER XXXl.—Continued. "Not quite, sir-. I know that such a horse and brougham could not be seen on the same r«ad often without exciting some attention; so I made fxiends with the various policemen mi the different beats in that direction, and though they did not all tell the same story, they all agree that it belongs to a doctor nut far from Fulham; and it is a doctor who has not an Engilsh name, but it begins with Barrack. Some called it Barrack Coochey, others Barrack Cottey, and others Barrack Kotchkey. I went all over the place for miles and could see nothing like it." "It is an Italian name by the sound," the major said. "And if you were looking for it spelled as pronounced, you certainly would not see it. 'But did you see anything like this?" He took out one of his own cards and wrote on the back of it the one word: "Baracocci." "Why, you must have seen it, major," said the astonished "That is the very name." "" "And what kind of house does Dr. Baracocci live in?" the major asked in his quietest tone. <( A large old-fashioned mansion in its own garden, with drive and a lodge at the gate. And piy ' & Sir, that if - u cou i d get inside that mansion without giving Warning, you would find the colonel there." CHAPTER XXXII. "HE IS THE MAN FOR OUR PURPOSE." In those few words Joseph Ditton had spoken the very thought that was in his master's mind. There was every probability that the man they haJ been seeking far and wide had never been further away than half-an-hour's ride from where they were sitting now. By some means, and on some pretext yet to be explained, the colonel had been lured to that secluded house on the outsorts of Fulham and detained there, in spite of the law and the large reward which had been offered for his restoration to his friends. "I have only told you what I did, not how I did it." Ditton,-said. "That would take a longer time than you could give me, but I have been working day and night. I started with an idea of my own. The same idea that would have occurred to you, or anybody, if you had not been blinded."' "And what was your idea?" "it came to me like a light, sir, when I heard Capt. Crauliss speak, and found that he was the man who came in disguise for the colonel, and then found that he was Mr Dacre's right-hand man. Mr Dacre sent him down to get the colonel out of the way, and came down himself-a few hours later looking as sanctified and gentle as if he did not know what had happened." This man knew nothing as yet of the other clue Mr Darlington had found. .Still he was firm in his co i - viction that Mr Dacre was the instigator of the crime, but the major would not sdmit it while the remnant of a hope remaintd. "Nothing less than his own confession or irrefutable evidence would induce me to believe that," he said; "and I do not see why you should assent: that the colonel, is in Dr. Baracocci's house because you have seen Capt. Crauliss in Dr. Baracocci's brougham." "Here is one reason for it," Ditton saidj J touching bis injured head again. "The captain must have discovered " that I was following him, for the men who attacked me were men I have seen him with in the West End restaurants; they are betting men of the worst kind, and worse than that, and I shall find them when I want but I did not tell the police I had seen them before." "And you are sure that Crauliss instigated them?" "As sure as I can be of anything. Yesterday I was not far from the gate when I saw him go in, in the brougham as usual, and this happened to-day. Ido not know whether he remembers me at the Cornwailis, or whether it is the:, he has caught-me watching him; bat if I had not been a dozen times more strong and active than I was when you first saw me, they would have left me dead in the park to-day." "Why did you hide the truth from Dr. De Vigne? I can see that you suspeat Mr Dacre; but you do not suspect the doctor of being an accomplice?" ■ "No, sir, far from it; quite the contrary. But Mr Dacre is everything to Dr. De Vigne. I believe he would die for the gentlemanly ' old scoundrel as willingly as I would for you; and if he knew what we do he would tell Mr Dacre, N and that would be like signing the colonel's death-warrant." "Ah!" said Lugard with a long wrtfath. "You fear that, do you?" "I do, sir. This Dr. Baracocci is a curious customer;,he makes plenty of money, and one or two deaths have taken place in his house. The police have a quiet eye on it, I can tell you, but he has never given them a chance up to the present. He takes private patients, ladies and gentlemen who cannot keep away fro;i) drink; and he makes them ao comfortable that they hardly care to leave. Of course he only takes them with proper certificates or by their own consent." "And forged or spurious certificates can be obtained, like other things, for money," the major said; "and, unfortunately, the temperament would lend itself very easily ot the supposition that he is mad or suffering from excess of drink. Restraint would excite him beyond endurance, and it would be dangerous to those who have charge '

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

o(l him to venture, within his rea"b. [ must consult De Vigne. lam sura he can be trusted." "I would riot risk it, sir, if I were you." "But how is it, Ditton, that you are so well acquainted with his private life —his strong regard for Mr Dacre? To the ordinary observer, there is nothing in thenconduct toward each other to distinguish] them from the ordinary gentleman and his medical man." "I have been to the house* a great deal, sir, and," he added with a little hesitation and a change of colour, "I sometimes happen to meet Miss Lennox, Mies St. Hilary's maid; and when people are taiking of things in general, they can always picl< up useful bits of information if they only keep a sharp lookout." i "And what would be the colonel's danger, do you think, if Mr Dacre knew that we had discovered so much?" "They might do away with him in half a dzoen different ways; incite'hini to attack his keepers and 'S(S injurs him that he would die; or drug his food and then put him into a bath and let him drown, and say he had committed suicide; or leave a window open and throw hi m out, then pretend he had jumped out in tryi.o2 t<» 6scape. r If half the things I have heard of are fehe dangers I have shown you ajfe not fancy pictures, sir; and if the found the game was up, I don't believe they would let him comg out alive," "And I share you? Opinion," the major said, "Vet, what can Ido single handed? If I send for Darlington he would take prompt measures and follow up the arrest of Capt. Crauliss by going to Baracocci's house with a search warrant. But apart from the risk of such a course there would bs the terrible exposure, and that we wish to avoid, for all things. An exposure would k ; ll his nephew Leonard, and then Miss St. Hilary who, next to her own father, loves him best in all the world." "If you could only make sure of the colonel's safety," said Ditton, "you might leave the exposure to take care of itself. I should have been inside the house in less than a week if Crauliss had not got this done for me. I had a plan alreadyarranged.- I should have asked Mr Fletcher to take me there as a hopeless inebriate, and once inside I should have found a way of communicating with you, but that plan was knocked on the head when I was." "It was not a bad idea," the major said; "but, as you say, it cannot be done now, and I must get into that house by force or stratagem." [to be continued.] Chamberlain's Tablets have"proved remarkably successful in curing stomach troubles, biliousness, and constipation. One man was cured of a bad stomach trouble by these tablets after having spent many pounds for medicines and treatment, without any permanent benefit. In cases of constipation they are mild and gentle in their action, and they leave the bowels In a natural and healthy condition. They are easy to take and pleasant in effect. Try them. You will find them far superior to pills. For sale by all chemists and storekeepers. Mr L. Brennan, Mackay, Shortland Thames, N.Z , says: "There is no question about it. Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera |and Diarrhoea Remedy is the finest medicine that anyone can use for Colic, Diarrhoea, or any similar complaint. I have used it and know that it gives every satisfaction. I have recommended it to my friends and acquaintances, and have nev.r known it to fail." | For sale bv all chemists and storekeepers, ■