The Colonel's Enemy.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3163, 14 April 1909, Page 2

The Colonel's Enemy.

CHAPTER XXXIII. —Continued.

"How can you, if he is not allowed to take exercise in the grounds?" "I ran arrange that he shall be; he has only to promise to behave himself, and they will take his word, and I shall get myself appointed to wait upon him if I can, and I dare say I shall be, as I used to take the peculiar cases. Then when you hesr from me you have only to have your carriage ready and to wait for my signal." '"Have you decided yet what your signal is to be?" "I am rather afraid it will have to be a fire," said Mr Dakin thoughtfully. "Three is an old lumber-room right at the top of the building in one corner, and that part of the house is not much used. This room is , full nf empty boxes, packing-cases, picture frames, books, papers and odds and ends of every sort; a few drops of kerosene and a match would start it gloriously, and I don't think it would spread beyond the room. There's a portable engine and plenty of buckets on the premises." "But if it were to spread?" said Lugard, looking with something like dismay at the unconcerned face of the man who suggested the setting nf a house on fire as the most likely means of distracting attention from his purpose. "There would be plenty of time, sir, for everybody to escape; and for my part I should not be sorry to see the place burned to the ground. There ought not to be any private asylums or establishments for resident patients. It stands to reason that lot of injustice must be done where the oatients are well paid for, and it's to the-interest of those who have charge of them to keep them as long as they can. The pauper lunatic in a public institution is tar better treated." "But, as a rule, no man is deprived of his liberty until an experienced physician has given his opinion." "If you had been a keeper, sir, *s long as I have, you would not think so much of a physician's opinion. A doctor can generally find whatever symptoms he likes to look for; and those he cannot find, he n make. I beg your pardon, sir." H 9 had opened the door wh le speaking, and as he turned to go he found himself face to face with Athol De Vinge. "You have come to see your patient?" ihe major said, wondering whether be had overheard Dakin's last remark. "You will not find him much worse, and you, Mr Dakin, will call again this evening, please." "If I have time, sir. If not, v/m will remember what I have said abnut to-morrow." He was perfectly respectful, though, when he considered himself on duty he had an independent manner, which, in itself, was a recommendation to ihe major. "You have engaged him, I suppose, , while your own man is 'hors de combat?' " Athol suggested. "Yes, I have taken him on for a time," Lugard said "he seems smart and useful, but, then, he has been in the.army." "And you believe in army men?" "They make the best servants in the world if you treat them properly. They sre always reliable and discreet." "Yet the fellow looKs to me like a hard drinker." "He has been; but he will be an abstainer while in my service. Have you seen Mr Dacre this morning?" "Yes, and Miss St. Hilary, too. She is much better, but Dacre is not so well; his sleeplessness is increasing and, against my advice, he has begun to take chloral." £ "Did you mention to him what took place last night over our conversation with Darlington?" "I have not done so yet. I did not think it would be wi3e in the present state of hia nervous system." "It is not for me to differ from a medical opinion," the major said gravely; "but I think it would be very wise. He is. deeply interested in the case, you see, and it would be as well to keep him informed of what is being done. 1 wonder you have not advised him to leave England A change of air would do him good." The quiet and significent emphasis with which this was said was not lost upon De Vignp. "That wpuld be your advice," he said, "if you were his doctor?" "H would, most certainly. You say he is suffering from a mental strain, and all excitement would be, - bad for him; and he had better go perhaps, before I take Dora down to Ravenskerne with Mrs Walton and Cousin Mary, and then, though he would, no doubt, be pleased to see Dora's father, the two men could not meet without some display of emotion, and you need not be surprised if you see St. Hilary here within six or seven daya." "Major," the doctor said earnestly, "you have heard something since Darlington was here?" "I have, under a pledge of secrecy, which I cannot break even to you, and I am sure I have said enough for you to act upon. Of the cruel treachery which has been practised I will not trust myself to speak. I will not mention any name, and for the sake of many we both hold in regard, I will do my best to prevent an exposure; but whatever is to be done must be done within six or seven days." CHAPTER XXXIV. A VEILED CONFESSION. L The doctor did not ask his friend another question. He knew as well as if Lugard had told him the whole story that the crisis was at hand, and that the guilty man could only save himself by leaving the country at.ouce, an it pained him to the heart to think that the guilty man was no

By WINTHROP B, HARLAND. Author of "Lady Elgin's Secret," "A Harvest of Shauie," "Tho Oder Sou," "Lord Ashton's Heir," Etc.

other than his father's benefactor and his own. Fie saw Joseph Ditton, and attended to his injuries, marvelling, with professional amazement, at the stolid endurance manifested by the valet. Sitisfivtl that he was near his master, and free from the fear that he might be sent to the hospital, Mr Ditton was composed and happy, when, by all the laws that govern surgery, he ought to have been in high fever, counterbalanced by extreme prostration, but after a right's rest there was, apparently, very little the matter with him. De Vigne was certain that the later information Maj. Lugard ha'J gained came from this man, and that while obtaining it he had been set upon by those who would be safer with such a dangerious collectnr of evidence out of the way; but the valet had nothing add to his story of the previous evening; he only repeated with grim satisfaction, that he could find his assailants when he wanted them. The doctor gave his ordinary patients but a brief visit this morning, and he went back to Canon Street when he had completed his round. He was rather surprised to find Mr Dacre at his old place in the back dining room, the cover of the massive writing-table thrown back, many of the drawers open, and a heap of boDds, coupons, and various securities before him. He was going through them with the assistance of a gentleman De Vigne had seen occasionally, but never spoken to. Mr Dacre introduced him as Captain Crauliss. ''My affairs have fallen into arrears," Dacre said, "and my friend here has voluntereed to assist me. He is my right-hand man in the city; it is not everyone I can trust in such an intricate business as mine." "That lean easily understand," the doctor said. "A confidential man must be indispensable to you, and a business so full of intricacies ought to be very profitable when the risks art&taken into consideration." |There may have been a note of warning in his voice, for both gentlemen paused—the captain with his pencil on a note-book, in which he was writing down some numbers; Mr Dacre with a sheaf of drafts out of which he was making a selection. "I was rather in a hurry when I called this morning." De Vigne on, "and gave you merely a professional visit, or I should have told you what 1 may as well tell you now, that I dined with Maj. Lugard last evening, and Mr Darlington, the Liverpool inspector, dropped in; but .you are busy, perhaps, and ihis wouid not interest your friend." "Inspector Darlington?" Dacre said; "the very intelligent gentleman who took such an active part in trying to find Col. St. Hilary? If it is anything concerning? that subject, Athol, we are never too busy; and the captain here is as deeply interested in it as I am." [to be continued.]