SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9692, 17 January 1910, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTER XX. A SHOCKING MISAPPREHEN- • SION. i Mr Growcott arrived a few minutes m advance of the men; and, whatever he may have thought when he viewed "Bill Dodgson," his shrewd face betrayed nothing. 'A man in whom you are interested, Mr Linton. That is enough for me; I will fiod him something to do. I would suggest a light job if he has been long out of work. You have borrowed a set of my overalls, too?' He laughed. 'Dodgson, go to.the tool-shed and get a shovel. A gang of men are going to level those mounds to-day, preparatory to laying a short line of rails; and you can woik with them.' 'Who is he?' Mr Growcott asked when "Dodgson" was gone. 'Miss Carrington's father,' Victor promptly answered. 'Great heavens!' The manager of the mine was visibly agitated. *1 wilJ look after him, Linton ! I owe my chance in life to Miss Carrington! I have pood news,' he continued cheerfully, leaving Victor to make what he could of his enigmatical last remark. 'The chief has more men coming to-day, and we shall positively exploi'e the mine within a week! I long to see the colliers go down in a cage, to see the rope reeling off trie drum, to hear the buzzing of the machinery! Fortunately, we have no water in the shait to cope.with. It is perfectly dry. Had it been sunk half a mile nearer to Llanberis, your father would have been a millionaire now. I know just where the great seam lies.' The workmen began to arrive—engine fitters, carpenters and labourers —but little or no notice was taken of "Bill Dodgson." Victor Linton, seated in the office with his partner, was feverish and ill at ease. '1 had no intention of staying at the works so long,' he said at last. His eyes were turned in the direction of "Bill Dodgson," who had joined a gang of labourers- 'I came early to tell,,you that I had news ot my father, and to write him a cheerful letter concerning our prospects, if you advised it.' 'I do advise it, Linton—strongly, strongly 1' He did not A raise his eyes from the plans on which he was working. 'And, if you are riding over to .Woodcroft, you relieve Miss Carrington's mind; for, of course, the murder is out before now!' Victor rose suddenly, his face paling. 'The police are here!' he said. 'A couple of mounted men!' 'The dickens they are! Well, let 'em come! Go on writing your letter, Linton. 'BillDodgson* is a coul hand; he's speaking to one of them now.' Tne officers walked their horses up to the office door, dismounted, and tied the animals up. 'What are you after?'cried Growcott. 'You don't mind ui having a look round the works, sir?' 'Oh, no - certainy not!' The officers wandered about among the workmen for awh'le, then they returned to the office and drank some of Growcott's ale and lighted two of Victor Linton's cigars. 'What are you after, if it is not an impertinent question?' the manager of the mine asked blandly. 'Surely you must have heard, sir? The papers are full of it!' 'I have heard nothing. Mr Linton and I were up here, at sunrise, and you can't buy papers in Nant Glaslyn Valley.' 'We were informed that Mr Linton had ridden over here at an early hour,' the senior officer said significantly; 'but it is pretty certain that our men has not come this way. The fact is, gentiemen, Captain Carrington managed to evade the detectives and get clear away from Woodcroft Castle last night. How he got wind of the proceedings is a mystery! Well, we must be off I And thanK you for your kindness, gentlemen!' After conversing together for a few moments, the policemen mounted their horses and galloped off. 'So far, Carrington is safe,' said Reuben Growcott. 'You have evidently been under observation, Linton. Material for the novel you are writing—eh? Take my advice, and don't acknowledge 'Dodgson' either by word or look. I will see after his requirements, and, if you have finished your letter, you had better take the black mare back to Woodcroft. It will soon be known.' Victor rose slowly from his chair. 'I feel half dazed, Growcott! The worst is over, however, and so I will be off. I may not see you again until to morrow. Then we can talk about this matter." He jerked his hand toward "Bill Dodgson." 'And, meanwhile, you might find him a lighter job. I believe that his shoulder is hurt, and he had a nasty knock on the head last night. His pluck and determination are marvellous! Well, good morning. I'm off!' 'So long!' Victor left the office and went to the stables and saddled Black Bess, and a minute later galloped away without so much as glancing at

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

, "DodgEor." His brain was in a per- | feet whirl —events had been crowdj ir.g upon him so quickly of late, and j trie last one was the most bewildering of all. He had good news for Hilda, ! however, yet he had a depressing j weight at "his heart which he could not understand. Black Bess moved with long, swinging strides, but it was an hour past noon when the towers of Woodcroft oastie became visible to Linto.i above t? e tree tops. The mare trotted through the winding avenue, and when they entered the courtyard a groom was quickly at her head. Tom Perrin was standing in tha doorway, and as Victor dismounted he called him aside. 'You will tued to order a fre3h horse, Mr Lintm, if you are in quest of Aliss Carrington?' he said a little sternly. 'What are you talking about! 'Miss Carrintaion left here hours since, presumably for London!' Perrin's keen eyej were fixed on Victor's face while he spoke. 'All, I can usually read a man's thoughs when he is taken l?y surprise, and I see that this b news to you! No; there is not a scrap of writing of any description left for anybody, but I know that the young lady and Mrs Maxwell, the housekeeper, left Llanberis by the noon train for London.' Victor was dumfounded 'lt is all owing t.- the escape of Captain Carrington. You know all about that, of course, considering that you put him up to it. The detective's tone was bitter. 'I trusted to you.' 'Not until you were forced to do ao for your own protection !' 'Well, it's of no use going over that; Carrington has got the start, and I shall be called on to the carpet!' He laughed. 'From the bottom of my heart, though, I hope that he'll never be heard of again—for his daughter's sake! Don't betray my sentiments! I've scooped in all the others, however.' Linton heard only a part of what the detective said. Hilda had gone to London co consult Mr Molson -he was sure of that. But why had she not first communicated with him? Perhaps he had missed her in some way; perhaps she had telegraphed and there had been some mistake. But there would be either a letter or a telegram at his lodgings! What folly it was to be so easily disturbed—for he had turned first hot and then cold, and then a feeling of faintness had come over him! He would find a full explanation at home. He told the groom to take Black Bess to the stables forthwith, and to bring him back a fresh horse. 'lt will be all right,' he said jauntily to Perrin. Molson may have telegraphed to Miss Carrington—something up with business matters —so much red tapeism before an estate like this gets through the hands of the authorities.' Ten minutes later he was galloping back to Llanberis at a breakneck speed. There was no letter at his lodging. 'The next mail doesn't come in till about fjur o'clock, sir," his landlady told him. He stabled his horse at the town hostelry, and then walked to the railway station. The stationmaster knew Mies Carrington very well by sight, he said, in answer to Linton's inquiry, and remembered that she and an elderly lady had booked for London about noon. Victor returned to his lodgings and paced up and down in front of the house until the postman, who was fully half-an-hour later than usual, arrived. There were two letters for him and. Victor's heart seemed to leap upward and then stand still as he took them. One was from Harry Mayhew and one, from Hilda. The first he thrust into his pocket unopened, the other he read at once, and as he did so his sight became hazy and a sound *as of thunder boomed in his ears. 'Am I mad or dreaming?' he muttered. 'Hilda gone—fled from me—becauue she believes that I have killed her father! The poor child is crazy- these troubles have proved too much for her!' Then he became calmer. 'But she is in good hands,' he reflected, and the thought afforded him some satisfaction. He went to the telegraph office and dispatched this message to Molson: 'Miss Carrington has left here under a will probably call upon you. Don't lose ..ight of her. 1 am following immediately. VICTOR LINTON.' Then he got a time-table. He found that there was no train until eight o'clock; so it would be impossible to see Mr Molson until the next morning. Linton returned to his ludgings and wrote a note of explanation to Mr Growcott, telling him he was obliged to go to London that night. His absence would not, however, interfere with the operations at ihe mine—he was not the practical partner. And he could fully rely upon the sagacity of Reunen Growcott as regarded the necessary treatment oi "Bill Dodgson." TO BE CONTINUED