A DESPERATE GAME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10132, 1 November 1910, Page 2

A DESPERATE GAME.

(OUR SERIAL.*

CHAPTER XXXIII. —Co nti nued. Even then it was a minute or two before Constance could collect her nerves sufficiently to approach the table and take the note. When she had read it, and she had to do so two or three times before she could grasp its' meaning, she flung the Avindow wide open and peered out into the darkness. But the interval had been sufficient to allow the man whoever lie was to make good his retreat, and she saw nothing hut the shadowy forms of the trees with which the house was thickly surrounded. It took her only a moment or two to make up her mhid; indeed, she hardly paused to think or form any definite resolution; nor did it occur to her to doubt the truth and good faith of the message. Ronald was out there somewhere in the darkncs, friendless, alone, a fugitive, seeking her aid. She ran swiftly downstairs. But as she neared the cluster of trees referred to in the mysterious note, she saw not one, but two figures emerge suddenly from the gloom and take their stand, one on either side of her. "Ronald—which is Ronald?" she cried. "Where is he?" VHush! not so loud!" replied a voice. "He is safe and awaits yon. Come!" One of the men drew her forward towards the miniature copse, the other remained behind as if to cover their retreat, but beneath the trees themselves another stood, apparently awaiting them. '"is that Ronald?"-Constance asked.

"Hush! No," responded the mnn who had first spoken. "But. he is coming. We are his friends—thost who helped him to escape—and "

Instinctively Constance divined some trick, and with a quick movement turned and began walking in the direction of the house. But the.

other man who had been awaiting them, and who, so far, had not spoken, sprang towards her and laid a heavy hand on her arm. With a sudden twist, however, she avoided him, and by now thoroughly terrified, tried to run, only, however, to trip and stumble among the bushes and tree roots, and finally to come with a crash to her kneesThe second man was after ner in an instant, and this time he placed both hands upon her, dragging her to her feet. But the momentary excitement had been almost too much for her, and ere he could lead her back to the more open space in which they had been standing, he felt her a dead weight in his arms. "Here, show a light Rogerson, the little fool has fainted!" he cried. "Better get her along to the house,' 'the other responded as he took an electric torch from his pocket and Hashed a light.- "If we go in for illuminations and fireworks down here we shall probably be spotted from the house. "Good!" responded the other man, "we'll carry her across the fields to thecar. Hullo!"

cried. "Whether I did. or not," he responded with his slow smile, "I shall destroy you! Yon see," he added, resuming his former air of half-mock-ing tranquillity, "I have set my heart on a certain course and nothing can obstruct, that. Whether I murdered your father or did not, Ronald Normington will hang for it. He, too, was in nry way " "Yes," she interrupted, "you stole his money! You and my father took the Coyton jewels and he, Ronald, went to prison." The lines about Ephr'aim's mouth grew more grim and stern.

"That is noiv'known," she wont on

Just at that moment the girl opened her eyes, and they heard a voice calling "Constance! Constance!"

J seeing that she had touched him. "You may kill me, to die is a little thing, but your punishment will come. It is known that you took the Coyton jewels, and it is known that you killed mv father." j "It is, eh?" lie said, and though he was. frowning heavily, his tones were still light, half mocking, half amused. "It will turn out an unfortunate knowledge for those knowalls, whoever they may be," he went on. "They will follow you and Ronald Normington. But they can wait —it is your turn first. And even if Normington escaped hanging it would be but a short respite; I shall shoot him like a 'dog! 1 did my best to avoid that crime. I offered him much money to go abroad, but the, fool refused; and now—well, I must try the .other thing. As for you—do you know what I mean to do? I shall poison you with prussic .acid and leaye your body in the Devil's Punch Bowl, with the empty bottle clutched fast in your hand,' and a letter in your own handwriting bidding your friends a last goodbye. I shall he hack in an hour." He turned and went softly from the room, locking the door behind him, and leaving Constance a prey to hideous, indescribable terrors. A minute or two later the door of ' a large cupboard a yard or two to her left was thrust quietly open, and j a man stepped out. It was he who had been addressed as Rogerson, one of tlio.se who had helped to bring her here.

Both men turned swiftly towards the garden. "They are soon after us," grimly said the man addressed as Rogerson. "Mnrgatroyd will see to them," responded the other in tones that sounded terribly familiar to Constance, though at the moment she could not exactly identify them. "Where is Ronald," she asked. Then glancing round in the light of the torch, which at the cry from the man in the garden the other had shut off, but which he had now relighted, she saw the face of Ephraim Turbutt. "You!" she cried shrilly. "You!" The man muttered an exclamation that was almost an oath, but the recognition quickened his movements somewht. He darted upon the girl, and clapping his hand over her mouth to stifle her cries, he threw her roughly to the .ground. "Now, Rog- ; erson," he said, "tie her legs, and AIT, Mnrgatroyd, here you are. Give us a hand with " I And this time Constance fainted In I deadly earnest. i

When she came to herself she' was seated in a high-backed, oldfashioned chair in a plainly furnished bedroom. Her legs were bound to those of a chair by means of a cord. Her hands were fastened by the same medium to the chair arms, while a handkerchief tied tightly across her mouth prevented her from crying out. There was a strong scent of vinegar and brandy, as if those liquors had been playing their parts as restoratives. And in front of her, smoking a cigarette, and lounging carelessly in a more modern and much more coirifortable seat, was Epltraim Turbutt. When he saw that she had opened her eves he rose and removed the handkerchief. "[ must apologize for the rough usage," he said, "but you will ur^

He carried in his hand an opon j clasp knife, with which in a moment he had severed her bonds. "Come, quick!" he whispered; "we have an hour, and by that time your friends will be here." "But—but who are " "A friend—you may trust me; and at all events, coming with me cannot be worse than waiting for him." He strode toward the door and bent down to peer through the keyhole. 'He arose with a grunt of satisfaction." "T was afraid he had left the key in," he whispered, 'i have one of my own, but if lie had left his in, it would have taken time." (To be Continued.)

By OWEN MASTERS, Author of "The Master of Tredcroft," "One Impassioned Hour," "The Deverel Heritage," "When Love Rules the Heart," "Captain Emlyn's Bride," etc.

derstand the necessity of it ere long. It is not essential that you should be gagged any hxiger. You and I are alone in the house, except for those who helped me to bring you here, and the place is well isolated. You would shout uselessly, even if your voice had the power and penetration of a factory buzzer." "What do you want?" Constance hoarsely asked, feeling indeed in no fit condition for any vocal exertion. "Where is Ronald? What do you want with me?" "I want," he replied slowly, "I want you to marry me." "Marry you!" she cried. "Marry you! I will die first!" "Well, curiously enough," he went on, with the same easy tranquility, "that is precisely the alternative.

-■She gazed at him with distended, terrified eyes, but did not speak. 'I mean," he wont on, "that you must marry me or you x must die. Even marriage is not an absolute safeguard. It would have been once, because, sensibly enough, they would not have allowed a wife to give evidence against her husband. Recent laws have altered that. But I am willing to speculate on that point, because it is always my endeavour to accomplish my object with a minimum of crime.' But accomplish it I always do, and I shall in this case, if not by marriage, then by murder!'* "Murder!" she hoarsely breathed. "Precisely that—it is a brutal word, but it is as well to' be open and frank. Exactly how much know I cannot say, but obviously yoll » "Ah, yes, yes," she cried. "You murdered my father. I know that— I recognized your voice!" He drew his mouth grimly down. "Is that so?" he softly remarked; "but you did not see me." "I >uu not see you, but I hoard you, and recognized your voice." He rose from his chair, and paced once or twice the whole length of i the room. "I withdraw my offer of marriage*, now," lie said at last. "The alternative is not possible." "You did murder my father .'"she