SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9684, 7 January 1910, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTER XXlll.—Continued

"You have had me entrapped simply because you wished to be sure of my permanent removal from Woodcroft Castle—my rightful home! Oh, don't deny it, after your treatment of me yesterday ! The friend who accompanied you here this afternoon is a German detective; I know him well by sight. And no doubt there ae others posted about."

"Yes, you and your master, the | rajah, are completely hemmed in," , Victor answered quietly, though his | voice quavered. "But you wrong me by imagining that I have had any hand in this. I had an inkling of it yesterday, and I warned you as far as I dared. It was useless, though, for the police were at Woodcroft before you came, and they lured you here." "Liar! It was your doing! He dropped into a chair, and covered his face with his hands. Once Victor approached him, but he waved him off with a furious gesture. "I want none cf your infernal homilies! At your age my hands were much cleaner than yours; I was not naturally vicious—l was too generous and yielding. The worst that people ci uld say of me then was that I was a fool. You are silent, both of you—thinking of my dead brother's maudlin tale of my treachery ! Is it wrong for two men to love the same woman? Never —so long as two men and a maid exist! And for this 1 have been made to suffer a lifetime ol misery! John's implacable hatred has followed me everywhere, even setting my own child against me with his dying breath! He said that I caused the death of Lady Mary Idwal, that she was drowned in that very lake. Ah, well, her restless spirit must be satisfied now, for at last I am done! He rose from the chair from the room, muttering wild words. Victor stood irresolute. Hilda's eyes were fixed upon him with an expression of agonised entreaty in them. He took one of her hands, gripping it tightly. "You see how utterly unreasonable your father is!" Victor said. "He deliberately accuses me of the basest of meanness, I am positive that he is mad! Hilda, lam almost afraid to leave you. I could find it in my heart to wish that the captain and Prince Ali Naram were already formally arrested! I can't imagine why Perrin wishes to delay until to-morrow." There was a silence more eloquent than words; then a long-drawn, quivering sigh came from Hilda's lips. "I will speak to Perrin before I leave," Victor continued presently. "But it is only two against half a dozen strong men. If, however, they became desperate, and were armed, some lives might be lost. Hilda, will you promise to lock yourself in

your room?" "I have no fear for myself; my father's hatred is directed against yon, Victor. I shall naver forget the awful glare in his eyes! And—and I saw something shining m'his hand. I am sure that he is mad!" "You need not worry about me," he answered almost carelessly. Yet the idea of being shot at from behind a wall or tree was not a pleasant one; and he had just seen Captain Carrington steal across th e courty?rd in the faint moonlight. 1 He. changed the subject, though he felt that it was useless to talk of brighter things to Hilda in her present agitated state of mind." "Dear one," he said, "this is the gloomiest meeting we have ever had. Have you any heart to listen to goop news?"

"If it will please vou to tell me, Victor, though my heart is very heavy. Ah, I am learning to hate Woodcroft Castle! I am sure that the place is accursed! Why did my ancle send for me here? Why did lie leave me this money? We were happy, until then; but we have known no happiness since." Victor spoke hopefully of the mine. L'he new machinery, he told her, was already on its way from a great midland centre, and a gang of workers would be at Nant Glaslyn within a few days. "I have faith now in the result," he said cheerfully; "and I shall be able to restore my father's good name. Have I told you that he has been discovered? Yes; he is at Rtavenger, lying il! and delirious with bra'in fever. The papers he I had with him were examined by a doctor there, who communicated with me to-dav."

Again Carrington passed in the moonlight, and this time they both saw him.

Hilda began to tremble violently, for her father's manner was wild in thtj extreme.

Victor rose with sudden resolution

"It is eight o'clock, and I have a long walk before me," he said straighening himself. "Kiss me, darling—in trie old way!" She clung to him almost frantically, and sobbed on his breast.

BY F. L. BACRE, Author of "A Loveless Marriage," "A Change of Heart," •'Trenholme's Trust," "A Case for the Court," Etc, etc.

"You will lock yourself in your rooms, and not leave it until the morning? Promise me, uilda! "I promise." "And I will speak to Perrin before I leave; a madman at large with a loaded pistol, is a trifle beyond ones calculations. Darling little woman, what a shame that you should have to bear the burden of another's sin, and that other your natural protector!" He turned to a bowl of white camelias. "Give me one of these, Hilda —a button-hole prepared hy your own dear hands and pressed by your lips!'* The clocks chimed the half-hour afterlight, and still he lingered—he would not have a horse. The night was periect, and he had so much to think about; and he could always think most clearly while walking in the opsn country on a calm night. "I wisn that I had arranged to remain at the castle," he said reluctantly, ''until the danger was past! But it is impossible; Reuben Growcott is coming to my lodgings at six o'clock in the morning, and we shall fiave to do several hours' work before we go to Nant Glaslyn. However, I shall be in constant communication with Perrin; and] you know where to send any iressage!" As he took his hat and cane, Hilda glanced fearfully from the window. "One more kiss, little woman; keep a brave heart! I want to see you enter your bedroom and hear the click of the lock, then I shall feel that you are safe." They went out into the corridor to gether, and Linton saw the figure of a man slip iiito a doorway at the far ther end. This game of- hide-and-seek was becoming unbearable.

"Good-night, my darling!" he murmured. "I will watch you enter your room and when I hear the door locked shall be satisfied that you are safe. You shall hear from me in the morning by an early mesoenger, and I will follow later to help you to bear your trouble." Tremblingly Hilda obeyed, with a promise on her lips, which she had no intention of keeping.

"Good-night, dear!" she whispered. "Kiss your hand to me at my window as you pass through the courtyard." A minute later h 3 was walking along the corridor toward the great staircase. How death-like the silence seemed! Soon, however, all would be strife and turmoil. The very man he wanted to see was standing in the hall. "You are going back to Llanberia, Mr Linton?" ; "Yes." Victor glanced at the detectve significantly. "Captain Garrington has recognised a conferee of yours—a foreigner. The captain is in a dangerous state of mind." For once the detective was amazed and vexed. J "You surprise me, for I had regarded the disguise as perfect!'' He shrugged his shoulders. "But it can make no difference." "I am afarid for Miss Carringtonj Why this delay if the bolt must fall?" He scorned to speak of the threat against himself. Perrin frowned and pursed up his lips. "I cannot explain; it is a blunder of officialdom—or officialism. But I shall take the affair into my own nands after your information. I have been ordered to wait, but I can wait no longer. You may rest assured that Miss Carrington will be spared as much as possible, and I will keep you posted as regards matters here. Good-night, sir!" Cleary the detective was disturbed.

Victor hestiiated for a moment; but, Perrin having moved away further speech was impossible without attracting notice. In the courtyard Linton looked up at Hilda's window and waved his hand, and for a moment her face was pressed to the glass. He was satisfied. The gatekeeper peered at him as he strode under the battlemented archway. A cloud passed over the face of the moon, and a chill wind swept from the hills. Victor regretted that he had refused to horse; for the night was not so fine as he had imagined it would be —fleecy clouds were flying before a strong wind. Did this betoken a storm of rain? A great drop splashed down upon his upturned face. It would be folly to walk to Llariberis, he decided. He changed bis course, turning in the direction of the stables. Oru of the grooms met him in the yard. "Saddle Black Bess, Timmins,' he said. "I intended walking toLlanberis, but there is every prospect of a bad right."

"Would you prefer a carriage, sir?" the groom asked. "No; I don't want to give too much trouble ; and I can have the mare stabled at Llanberis until the morning, when I shall want to use her again." "Very good, sir!" TO EE CONTINUED.