The Colonel's Enemy.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3165, 16 April 1909, Page 2

The Colonel's Enemy.

CHAPTER XXXlV.—Continued. "I onlv know you as my father's benefactor," Athol said, "a generous and disinterested friend to me and many others. If Dallas Crombie were allowed to tell his own story, he would not be so black as the world had painted him; and if ycif were Dallas Crombie himself, I would still go with you." " W hat if I held you to your word 1" "Try me," was the prompt reply, "and you will find me ready." "I had almost determined to remain and die here," Dacre said; "but if I can live for a time I -nay •win the forgiveness of those I have most wronged, and not go unlamented and dishonoured to my grave. If you go with me, Athol, you will give that packet to Major Lugard, and tell him to use it as you would have done." "I will do anything you ask of me," said Athol, "and I would leave England without a regret if I were sura of Col. St. Hilary's safety." "You may be as sure of that as you are of your own." Mr Dacre said, "surer than you are of mine. Whenever the truth is told, Athol, you will find that the colonel's enemy has been more merciful to him than he would have been to his e.iemy." CHAPTER XXXV.' KETURtfED 70 LIFE, tX/hen Mr Dacre had" made that veiled confession to De Vigne, he passed an anxious day, haunted by the presentiment that something would happen before he was able to ake the step he had decided on, ana place the between himself and enemies and friends alike. It was remembered afterward how singularly gentle he wad to those about him; he had a kind word for everyone, even for his hitter Hannah, who generally had an initaling effect upon him,' and for the first time in many months, he kissed her when they said good-nicht. Tiu trouble .on his mind was net lightened 0., the conduct of his confidjnt and confederate. For the first time during their long association, Captain Crauliss had disappointed him. The whole afternoon passed, and Mr Dacre's agent did not put in an appearance. The night came, and still he made no sign; but with the morning Dacre knew the wrost —a letter came with the Calais j postmark. "I am en route for Mexico," Cranliss wrote, "i.nu 1 wi:uht advise .jou to follow as soon as possiule. I ! found that f was watched, and a I trap ia set for you; in fact, I- be- i lieve that ail is knows, but for some veasou or other they are work-ing-quietly. I have the monty all right, and yoj will finn me at the ' old place, under tnt eld name, but yuu had better come,soon, for you know what an inveterate, gambler I am, and I am not always a .lucky one." Mr Dacre knew what this meant. 8 ■ He was quite et the mercy of the man he had trusted; with the exception of a lew odd thousands, the whole of his vase income was in the captain hands, am if he chose to .be disnunest, ftjr Dacre dared not have ium'.airesteq; .he could .only hope for the bet>t, but his faith 'hau been shaken by Dr. De • Vigne's opinion that .Crauliss was a shallow-minded ' traitor, not deep enough to make his own opportunities, but treacherous -enough to take advantage of thsm when they wen* made for him. "I do not believe I shall ever see him or my money again," he said to De Vigne, when that gentleman made his u&ual early call. "You have always been fatally correct in your judgment of people, Athol. but I did think. I could trust him; I took him frwn the gutter with the tiint of the jail upon him, and he seemed so "faithful and so grateful that 'by degiees he won my entire confidence; . and now, should he play me false, I am a rained man." "Does that mean entirely ruined?" "Except for about three thousand pounds at my bankers." "Draw that out to-day., leaving in a hundred or two so that they may not think you are closing the account, and w*e will say farewell to England to-morrow. I will f.-d Captain CrauJiss, and make him gjve up his plunder, for there is a certain kind of honour among the outlaws of civilisation, and his life would not be worth a moment's purchase, if they knew he had tried to betray such a generous friend as you have been. Can you be ready to-morrow?" "If you think it best" "I do. The more I think of it, the more convinced I am that Major Lugard is working out some plan of .his own; his man has been watching Captain Crauliss, and that is how he came by his in juries; and now Lugard has engaged another man in whom I am sure there is danger; for yesterday, when I called at Lugard's rooms, I heard him make a remark which proves that he has been a keeper in some asylum, and in the conversation I had with the major he said Jie wondered that I had not advised you to leave England; he spoke of the cruel treachery that had been practised; told me he would not mention any name, and said that for the eake of many we both hold in regard, he w<ould do bis best to prevent an exposure, but whatever is to be done must be done within six or seven days." "Did he say anything else?" "'Yes; that he intended to take Miss St. Hilary to Ravenskerne, with Mrs Walton and his Cousin Mary, and that you in your present condition might not be able to meet the colonel without a display of emotion, which would be. bad for you.".. ft "Bad for me." Mr Dacre muttered; "it would be death to,-me or 1 him. Heaven only knows what I might have done, had I seen how the cetwas drawing rounds me. v^But'l

By WINTHROP B. HARLAND. Author of "Lady Elgin's eeci'ta," "A Harvest of Shame," " The Eldor Bod," "Lord Ashtoii's Heir," Etc.

am glad I have been spared that, strong as the temptation was. I will go to-morrow, Athol. Yet why should you attach yourself to my broken fortunes?" "If they an; broken, we can mend them," said the doctor kindly. "A ship near the breakers might often be saved if the pilot stood to his post instead of joining the frightened crew in their cowardly hurry to escape. We are going for a holiday, not into exile, and we shall come back when our friends send for us, as thsy will." t Mr Dacre grasped the young man s hand, and his features worked with an expression Ue Vigne had never before seen in <* human face remorse, pain, love and wistfu! yearnii.g were all blended with a terrible longing for a great revenge; and there was deep pathos in his broken voice, as he said: "You have saved me from myself, Athol. You have saved others from' me. If ever a guardian angel came to one stricken man in the shape of another man, you bave come to me. We will go to-morrow. You will leave that packet with Major Lugard. He has shunned me lately, perhaps because of what he suspects or knows. He would not trust himself in mv presence, and it may be better so." He will be able to understand me when I am gone." He told Dora and Mary Walton than the he and the doctor were going out gf town, for a. holiday on the hioiTowT and as he seemed to like them to be with him, they gave him their company for many hours, De Vigne had arranged to travel by tha boat express in the evening. He would have gone earlier but his own arrangement had to be made before he ttey started. The doctor called at Half-Moon Street in tha morning. It wa? not much past eleven, but the major was already out, as Joseph Ditton, with a silk-smoking cap over his bandaged head, informed him. "Gone for his usual stroll, I suppose?" the doctor said. "No, sir," said Ditton with a . smile.' "He has gone for a drive with the carriage and pair, and he ] particularly said that if you wiled he ] would like you to wait for him." i "I may as well," the doctor said; "for lam rather tired, and a vest I will do me no harm. I dare say he will not be long; but a carriage and pair. At is so unlike the major, who prefers the use of bis own legs." _ "He is going to call on a friend out Fulham way—a place called Korselingbarri, I *hink—a gentleman who may return with him. What shall I get you, sir—brandy, hock, sherry, soda or seltzer? And you will find these cigars worth trying." "Thanks. I will have a cigar, and the sherry will do; but you need not trouble to wait upon me, Ditto . You ought to be very quiet with that head of yours." [TO 815 CONTINUED.]