THE COLONEL'S ENEMY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3172, 24 April 1909, Page 2

THE COLONEL'S ENEMY.

CHAPTER XXXlX.—Continued, "It would kill him," said De Vigne; "even now his life hangs by a thread." "That does not make the slightest difference regarding our duty, sir. When there is a warrant out against a man and, he is found, he must be taken or remain in custody. I have had, before now, to sio for days in the accident ward of a hospital, or a workhouse infirmary, wbi e the inan I had to keep in sight was dying before my eyes. "Must it be done in this instance?" St. Hilary asked. "Well, sir, as you are the one most aggrieved, you might try what your personal influence would do with the Home Secretary. He is rather aninflexible sort of a gentleman, very fond of making an example, and more_likely 4 to have mercy on a poor man than a rich one; but he may listen to you." "Is hi accessible?" "Very easily to you, 1 should think, colonel; your card would be your passport anywhere. Anyhow, it is worth trying. You could not do better than go this afternoon; the House is sitting, and you would find him at his offices." "Would that be a better way than going to Scotland Yard," Lugard asked, "and placing the matter before the chief commissioner of police?" "I think so, major. In my experience I have always found it best to go to the fountainhead, and Col. St. Hilary's distinguished name would obtain a hearing for him. If you do not take actionj betore the chief commissioner ha 3 tbe report, you will have no end of trouble and delay." "I will go at once." the colonel said; "and, Mr Darlington, I should take it as a favour if you would remain on duty, as it were, and so obviate the necessity of having a subordinate here."

4 'l am only too proud to be of service to yr<u, sir." The gentlemanly inspector was more del'ghted by the colonel shaking bands with him that he would have been if the same hand had written him a cheque for the full amount of the reward, of which, by the rules of the service, he would not be allowed to touch a penny. "If you have an interview, as I have no doubt you will," Darlington said, "put the whole matter before him in as few words as you can. It will save a lot of correspondence and rtd tape. Of course you are not certain of success, still you can but try." The trial was made, and not without success. The major went with his friend, determined never to lose sight of him again till he had him settled safely at Ravenskernc. St. Hilary's card proved an open sesame, though not ao promptly as the inspector had anticipated. They had to run a gauntlet of a great many subordinates before they reached the chief secretary's secretary a highly important personage, who had to be diplomatically dealt with before St. Hilary and his companion were admitted into the presence of the unpretending gentleman, in whose hand some people think too much power ia vested. The interview was not unsuccessful, but in results it fell far short of what the colonel wanted, as it was pointed cut kindly and firmly, the law could not deal with the criminal apart from his crime.

"I will accept your guarantee for his appearance, and he may remain in custody where he is at present instead of being removed to prison," was the decision; "but when he is' sufficiently recovered he will have to take'his trial in the usual way. His sentence would not be a light one, though it might be modified by his own conduct." ' ""In prison?" Lu<rard sai'd. "Yes, in prison." "Bat," the colonel suggested, "is it not in your power to stop further proceedings, or give him a free pardon? I am the principal suilerer, and I have forgiven him " "The law cannot, accept sentimental views and make precedents of them, Col. St. Hilary. Here we have a man against whom conspiracy and have been pr< ed to the hilt, and after a long course of deception and skilful evasion, he commits a grave outrage on the liberty of the subject by" forcibly incarcerating you. There are certain extenuating circumstances, but none ' such as would justify me in recommending him for a pardon." "But he is a dying man," tho colonel said, pleading for his enemy as he v'ould never have pleaded for hirhself; "and then there is the pain to hii; friends of knowing that he is under arrest." "That need not be known. Mr Darlington, a very excellent officer, will send a man on whose discretion you may rely. At the same time, it is hardly lair to expect ths law to respect the feelings of they lawbreaker's friend:-;, lit; '.'ontcnt, Col. St. Hilary. But for your intercession this man would have gone in a police ambulance to the prison infirmary, f;nd remained there till hi.s trial took place." "He would not have lived," I.,ugard said, The reply to this was an almost imperceptible shrug, which said as ];!: aa v.'orda that he would have dkd in prison, as better men ha:l done. Trie interview was over, and the arbiter of Mr fiacre's fate „;\vaa comtcous to the : last, but he had no' more to Kay. J, ■. ■ ..J The secretary had not done what St. Hilar/ expected, but on reflection he/ saw that he bad every reason to be satisfied. Exposure find disgrace were avoided, for, as the inspector said, the reason kept secret long, and the news would have s.pr.;ad like wildfire. "As for sending a man on whose

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

discretion you may rely," Darlington "I am afra.d, sir, there will be no occasion for it. Dr. De Vigne has been up stairs for the last hour, and though he thought at first there was a change for the better, there has been a relapse. It's a sad thing altogether, but if he were a friend of mine I am not sure I should be sorry.' The words so exactly expressed their own opinion that tney silently agreed with liim, and thinking of such an end to such a life they could not help thin icing of, the solemn warning in which men are told how hard is the way of the transgressor. CHAPTER XL. BK HIS OWN HAND. Had Major Luagrd been of a cynical turn he would have found plenty of food for observation in what took place daily at the elegant estabish* mcnt in Canon Street. It some mysterious way the news of Mr Dacre's serious illness had spread, and from morning till night the muffled bell was rung gently or the padded knocker lifted softly by anxious and sympathetic inquirers. Not a few high dignitaries of the church, including a bishop, an archdeacon, and a dean, drove up in their carriages, or sent their servants. Men of rank and titled ladies left their cards; eminent bankers, great financiers, and stock-brokers of unblemished reputation, called and went a way in deep concern, and a legion of strangers, to whom the death of this good man, as they knew him, would mean a loss of a disinterested friend and generous benefactor, hovered near the house, praying inwardly for his recovery, while all the time an agent of the law was waiting to arrest him as a criminal should he ever be able to leave his bed. That last indignity, however, was never put upon him. The agent of the law, in the person of Mr Darlington, exercised his duty so thoughtfully, that not one of the servants suspected his mission; he was supposed to be an old friend of the family, and the supposition was favoured by the fact that he took lunch and dinner with the other gentlemen. He had asked for, and obtained special leave that he might render this service to St. Hilary, for whom he had conceived an unbounded admiration. Mr Dacre lingered for three long weeks, helpless, except for rare intervals, when he was able to speak a few words, and make certain ftigns, by which they knew he understood what they said to him, though he could not reply. He was not deserted for an instant by any of those who had loved him; but grateful as he was to Dora and Mary Walton, yearning eyes never left the fuce of his wife. [to be continued.]