Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10246, 24 May 1911, Page 2

Daughter of Mystery

OUR SERIAL.

BY F. L. DACRE, Author of "Was He the ManP" "A Phantom of the Past," Sir John's Heiress," "A Loveless. Marriage," "The Doctor's Secret," etc.

CHAPTER XV.—Continued. "No," answered Charlie shortly, and with that he seized the luggage, and left the train. Marchaiit's eyes followed him, and he spitefully muttered: "You rudo wretch! lam not to be hoodwinked so easily." "It must be good-by here,'' Elneth said, whci Charlie had piloted»her through the* crowd to the end of the platform. 'Til deliver tho bag at the hotel," ho answered firmly, "and I want to suggest to you that a good time for with Mr Lawrence is t eleven o'clock. Now, is there anything olse I can do for you?" "No—no, Mr Lorington. You have been extremely kind. Now you must go, and never breathe a word of this meeting or the brief friendship will prove to be a personal misfortune." "Never that," said Charlie vehemently. "Well, good-by." He surrendered the bag at the hotel, to a j porter, and shook hands with Elneth. How her poor little fingers were trembling! He held them a few seconds longer than was necessary, looked good-by. Elneth walked into the hotel giddily, and stated her requirements 10 an official in livery. Ho suavely dir-: ected her to the office, and the clerk consulted with the manager. It appeared doubtful at first whether the j 1 hotel could afford the necessary accommodation at the moment, and Elneth was in miserable suspense. Of course, there were other hotels, but — "A large room; a fire, meals' served in your apartment, and you are likely to be in the greater part of the day." The manager furtively eyed the girl from head to foot. "I will take the apartment for a week," Elneth hastened to say, "and deposit five pounds with you. I have business in London with my lawyer." "Who is your lawyer?" "Mr Arthur Lawrence, Chancery 'Lane." "I think No. 44 will suit the lady," the manager said to the clerk. "Register at the window, miss. Luggage up to 44," lie called porter. While Elneth paid her deposit, and was receiving the receipt and the key,; the porter waited at the door of the elevator, then she was whirled upward —three or four stories above the ground floor, and was soon in possession of a large and comfortable room, the window.of which looked out upon the-street. A chambermaid followed close upon her heels, and a fire was soon crackling merrily in the grate. "I think ihat's all right, miss," the chambermaid said, with a final glance around. "If you want anything, please ring."

"Thank you. I shan't want anything until late in the afternoon. I have travelled a long way, and am rather tired." The maid nodded, and left the ropm.

Elneth's, first care was to bolt and lock the door, then she took off her out door garments, and flung herself upon a couch which was drawn within comfortable distance of the fire. The relief was inexpressible, and she fell 'into a long and dreamless sleep. She was awakened at last by a lou3 and persistent knocking at the door. There were voices, too; that of a man in authority, and that cf a woman. /Elneth sprang up, her heart giving one tremendous leap, and then appearing to stand still. The fire was nearly burned out, and there were shadows on the wall.' She looked at her watch. It was past five o'clock. "What's the matter?" she asked, stepping to the door. She drew back the bolt, and opened it just in time to see the disappearing back of the manager. The chambermaid was confronting her.

thur Lawrence had a suite of rooms. There no hesitancy now m Elneth's movements. Her heels clicked along the hardwood floor of the spacious corridor, and without a tremor in her voice she asked the big liveried attendant to direct her to Mr Lawrence. ! "No 32, next floor, miss. Elevator | is just going up." 1 But Elneth preferred to walk the t one flight of stairs and a few minutes later was being ushered into Mr Lawrence's private office. He rose +o greet her—gravely—ceremoniously, albeit there was a twinkle of curiosity in his eye. He was a clean shaven, perfectly groomed man of thirty-five or so, of gentlemanly bearing, and suave manners. A well-to-do lawyer, of the modern school, his surroundings were almost luxurious. "Be seated, Miss Tyndall," he sail, adding, with a faint smile: "I received your letterj containing Mr Lorington's card, and am entirely at yourj service." He did not say that he and Lorington had spent the evening together, ,and that Lorington was,at that.moment smoking and dreaming in an adjoining room. \ \ "My business is very simple," Elneth said, a faint flush mounting to her cheeks. "I am under a cloud. 1 don't know who or what I am, and I want you to help me." The lawyer nodded encouragingly. "Tell me everything, Mis sTyndall. Be perfectly frank with me. A lawyer is a kind of father confessor." Elneth drew a long breath, and -she then told him clearly and concisely the story of her life right up to that morning. Mr Lawrence listened sympathetically ; then he put a few questions to the "girl, cleared his throat, and smiled. "You want to know who your father was —who his people are, and to 1-e rid of Paul Morosov? There is a mystery, but the difficulty of clearing it up should not be great. I have a brother in the War Office, and I will find out all abotit Captain Ralph Tyndall. Obviously that is the first move. It is quite possible that the hundred a year allowed you by Morosov should be a thousand or more. Fanatics such as he do not care whose money they use for the furtherance of their designs." Elneth's eyes we're shining hopefully, and a vivid red had sprung into her face. The lawyer could not help admiring her courage. It was apparent in every line of her graceful young form. • "How long must I wait, Mr Lawrence?" "How long? Oh, a few hours. I will go to the War Office before lunch, and a search shall be made immediately. My brother will do anything for me in that way." Elneth gave a little gasp of pleasure. "Thank you—thank you! I was afraid that it might take weeks and weeks." "Through a regular detective agency —yes. Such people have to make a pretence of earning the large fees they demand. I am going out of the ordinary course to oblige you and my friend Lorington. I think I can safely promise to send a report by this evening's mail, Miss Tyndall." Elneth rose, her face almost radi- I ant.

VOh, thank you —thank you!" she said, again. "Mr Lawrence put on his hat and escorted Elneth to her taxicab. He shook hands with her, and there was genuine warmth in his clasp. Ten minutes after she was gone, he and Charlie Lorington entered another taxicab, and were driven to the war office.

"It's all right, miss. I knocked an hour ago to see if you wanted anything. I told the manager that you were resting." "I should like some tea —just' a plain tea," Elneth said, immeasurably relieved. Vague terrors had crowded into her mind, mixed up with visions of Paul Morosov, and Roff, the Jew. She now understood that a lonely young woman was not an altogether welcome guest at an important hotel. She was an object of indefinite, suspicion. While brushing her hair she remembered, with a little pang of remorse, that she had neglected tto telegraph to Basil Cooper. But the message should be sent immediately after tea, when she mailed her letter to the lawyer. Tho long rest had strengthened and refreshed her, and she had regained much of her normal self-control. She reviewed the kindness of Charlie Lorington with mixed feelings. She ha 1 been unpardonably weak and foolish to tell him so much about herself. Her face burned. But it had been good to accept the- friendship of a chum of Ronald's. There was a tap at the door, and a waitress entered with a loaded tray. With deft hand she laid the table for tea, and if the meal of bread and butter, watercresses and cake was simple, it was satisfying.

Mindful of Charlie Lorington's advice, she went to Chancery Lane in a taxicab the next morning to keep tier appointment with the lawyer. It was so easy to be whirled from, the hotel and set down within the half hour at the door of the building where Mr A r-

CHAPTER XVI. HER FATHER. Next, morning the sky was overcast, and* the rain was falling in a steady, dismal drizzle; Elneth awoke at six o'clock, but it, was no use getting up for a long time. The rooms below were being swept and cleaned: her own was cold and untidy, and it was impossible to go for a walk in the rain. So she lay thinking and counting the minutes until the hands of her watch pointed to the half hour after seven. She jumped out of bed, and began to dress. She shivered, ~ow cold it was, and she was wondering ;f there would be a letter from Mr Lawrence. Her anxious fears sapped r.t her vitality. A few minutes before eight o'clock she left her room. , The breakfast bell rang sonorously, and she decided to go down into the breakfast room. There would be warmth and life there. At the head of the stairs a table had been placed in the centre of the spacious landing, upon which the morning's letters were alphabetically arranged. A boy in charge was responsible for their distribution's He glanced up at Elneth with the quick, alert side-look of a sparrow, and upon hearing her name, grabbed up a handful of'"TV "Miss Tyndall? No, miss, -resone." (To be continued.)