SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9693, 18 January 1910, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

V Author of "A Jbo-reless Marriage," "A Change of Heart," If *} Etc, etc. /

CHAPTER XXX. -Continued

On his way to the station he met Mi.ss Morgan, and she greeted him with a most malicious smile. Was the news of Hilda's flight already out? Everybody in Llaaberis was in a state of excitement. Never before in the history of the ancient town had there been such a sensation among the inhabitants. At last he took his seat in the train, and his journey was rebegun.

CHAPTER XXXI.

VICTOR WORRIED AND ANNOYED. It was twenty minutes to four o'clock in the morning when Victor Linton arrived at Eudton Station. He went to his mother's house in Euston Square, and had a bath and a change cf cluthes, which cured his "seedmess." .Sleep was quite out of the question. Mrs Linton herself came downstairs to learn wiiat had brought her son to London. She was brighter, and more cheerful than she had been for weeks. 'I did not think you would go to bed, Victor,' she said. 'You were always such a boy fur sleeing in railway trains! So I had the library fire made up, and there is a glorious blaze for you. And I have prepared for you a cup of tea and some toast' Victor drew his chair near to the table. 'What a kind, thoughtful mother you are!' he tenderly answered. 'Yes, I will have a cup of tea. But you must not lose your rest; I shall be all right now/ Still Mrs Linton lingered. 'And you won't tell me why you have come to London so unexpectedly? You look pale and worried, Victor! I hope that nothing has gone wrong at the mine? I have felt so happy since learning that your father was all right! i suppose Harry has written suggesting that he should go to Stavanger to your father, and bring him home?' 'Yes, 1 had the letter to-day; and I heartily approve of the plan. lam too busy myself—he poured out a second cup ox tea —'and I've 'got a lot of bother besides, with Hilda's people. sfou have heard a good deal about her rackety father, but not all —there is more to come out. The mine? Oh, yes: it is going on splendidly, and Growcott is sure of a small fortune! Both shafts will be in operation within a week, and the principal element of doubt is gone. The greatest enemy to be fought m a coal mine is water, but our pit is as dry as the surface.' Mrs Linton returned to her room, and Victor endeavoured to read, but found it impossible. Lighting a pipe, he paced up and down in his slippers. Where was Hilda at that moment? Somewhere in London—not \ery far away perhaps In any case it would not be very difficult to find her. How mistaken she had been' But, in the circumstances, he could not blame her for the course she had taken. And she had not believed hira to be wilfully guilty—that was one comfort. Her relief when he told her that her father lived ana was free from the clutches of the law, and that his assailant had been the treacherous Oriental and not himself, would be glorious. The morning gradually became gray; then there was a gleam of sunlight. Victor went out into the square to breath the cool air. How the hours dragged! It would be of no use going to Mr Molson's office until ten o'clock. He had half hoped that the lawyer would send him some satisfactory reply to Euston Square, but a bitter rivalry had existed for years between the firms of Linton, Son and Linton and Charles Molson. Indeed, Victor suspected that Mr Molson gloried in the downfall of the older house. His animosity ought not, however, to be carried into private life. He heard the postman's sharp "rat-tat" at one of the doors in the square, and he returned to the house. There were no letters for him. With a keen sense of disappointment, not unmingled with apprehension, he started for Bedford Row—where Mr Molson's office was. How many times had he run up the same dusty, creaking stairs with copies of affidavits and other legal documents! It was barely nine o'clock yet. 'Mr Molson, sir?' said rhe caretaker, who appeared, sweeping brush in hand, to answer bis inquiry. 'He doesn't come early without leavin' me a message a-saying so; an' I ain'.t got no word about it.' Victor went out again and uaced up and down [the street. He met everal men whom he knew, some of them connected with the legal profession. One of these stopped and held out hia hand. 'Haven't seen you tor months, Linton! But I hear that you are doing great things. No dreams of legal advancement row, eh?'

'My dreams never soared in that direction, Rivers. Oh, yes —I am doing great things! Look at me! Did you ever see a more perfect picture of succeess and happiness?' Rivers became grave. 'You are used up, old man! Come and have a pick-me-up! I have been reading hard lately, and don't feel particularly bright myself. Want to see Molson? Oh, he is a fcig fellow now. and drives to the office in his carriage at ten —never earlier! Nothing like being in with a good set! Coming?" 'I don't mind if I do. Anything to kill time!' Thay went to a cafe in a quiet court, patronised mainly by the legal profession, and there they each partook of a cup of black coffee with a dash of cognac in it. 'A delightful tonic after a hard night!' Rivers said. 'Now try a cigarette and ar.other coffee; then you will be as fit as a fiddle. I've got a complicated case before the judge in chambers, this morning. You were wise to get out of the law, Linton; it isn't what it used to be. The public fight shy of us, and the big merchants are settling disputes by arbitration. When is vour governor coming home? Queer his being taken so ill and having_ to go abroad! He was a fine lawyer!' Victor stared hard at his companion. 'You know why he went away, and why I have sold trie old practice/ he said quietly. Rivers flushed. 'Well, I do not really know, but I have heard that he was in hot water, and that you were bearing the brunt of it. Don't get angry! You and I were always chums, and 1 take a personal interest in your welfare; indeed, I have shut up the mouths of the gossips more than once. Y.ou know how malicious people are!' •And the 'great things' that you alluded to. Rivers'? asked Victor. 'I hope that was not sarcasm/ The young lawyer looked uncomfortable. He had a sincere regard for Victor Linton, and had once fancied himself in Jove with Victor's sister. He was well-meaning and most generous, but was a sad blunderer. 'Well, here it is, old man!' he blurted out. 'The men are all talking about your luck. They say that you've picked up an heiress somewhere —an ugly woman, double your age —who has paid your governor's debts, or provided you with the means of doing so!' 'And you call that 'great things?" cried Victor. 'My father's debts will be paid, but not with any one else's money. The sale of a portion of his own property—a share in the Welsh mine—has provided the means to reopen the coal pits, and to work them effectively. I have never had a shilling from any one except for value received. You may tell that to my kind friends; and, if they want confirmation of the statements, let them go to Mr Molson. One of his clients is the purchaser of, the half share in the mine, and is now my partner. Bad friends as Molson and I have been, he has done this turn for me/ Rivers stared in open-mouthed amazement. 'Why, good heavens, Molson i» the man who has set the other story afloat!" 'lmpossible! He knows that it is absolutely false/ 'l'm sorry I spoke—by Jove, I am ! I brought you here because you looked so used up, and intended to cheer you a bit. Just my luck to make a mess of it! Kut you take my hint, and watch Molson! There the old fox goes!' pointing through the window. 'Then good morning, Rivers!'said Victor. 'He is the man I am after.' They parted at the door of the cafe, and Linton followed Mr Molson's carriage. He went upstairs almost on the heels of the lawyer, and a clerk showed him immediately into the lawyer's room. It was then that the interview took place in which the lawyer declined to give Linton any information about Miss Carrington beyond the bare fact that she was in London, and at which he expressed his opinion that the heiress was 'evidently repenting! of her choice/ and told him that she had been financing that coal mine, that Growcott had never had a shilling in his life, and was a visionary. He informed the young man further that he himself had heartily approved of the plan, because ht knew that the money put into the mine would be lost, and that thus a wide gulf would be created between Victor and Miss Carrington. Linton's first impulse, as the interview closed, was to knock the lawyer down; indeed, he wondered if it would really be a crime to kill such a man. The impulse was mastered, however, and, turning, Victor walked out of the office, and back to Euston Square. TO BE CONTINUED