HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10520, 8 January 1912, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUR SERIAL.

BY L. F. DACRE. Author of "Sinbad'fi Vaßey," A Phaatom of the Past," "The Shadow of Sham©," "Sir John's Heaiiesa," "A Daughter of Mystery," etc.

CHAPTER XX—Continued. 1 "How did you make ibis acquaint- , ice?" . | "I advertised for an engineer with ipital to construct my first aeroplane. [o was, in my opinion, itihe most capWe among those who answered. lie j rote from Birmingham, and we at I no 'struck up a wanm friendship." \ "Give me all itihe particulars you oau j all to mind." , j Banks was rapidly writing in his otebook. "His past life, his references, and no n." Ward shook his head. "I was not very business-like in hose days, and oven if I had been I id not like to offend tfhe man whoso loney and abilities as a constructive ngineer mant everything to me. He ad recently come to England from 'iittsburg, in the United States, where . e had been the 'brains of <a ihuge steel . orporation; ho had bought a small ron works at Birmingham, and was ntent upon making a huge concern of b. In that he as succeeded." "And,he has succeeded in overreachng you, too, I take it!" "Rather!" Ward said dryly. "Nothing more, sir?" "No," hesitated Ward. "I see. Well, you don't think it s ripe to —well, this is purely a famIy .affair." He lowered his voice and whispered apidly in Patrick Ward's astonished ;ar.

write to him, and if he accepts your kind offer, I will repay you if he is anaible to do so." "That's all right. Don't you worry yourself, my dear girl. Now let me sea —what was I going to say? Olh, lam off to London in a couple of hours, and I want to warn you without frightening you." "Warn me?"

"There you go, effervescing like a bottle of ginger beer l>efore I can say a word. You are making me as nervous as you are yourself. While lam away I want you to beep your eyes open, and not be caught.napping by Lootah. I cabled to her, relations m India that she was being'', sent horn-?, and I intend to book Iher passage -tomorrow. When I told iher the expresion on Iher face would Ihave made envyon the face of Angel Gabriel. Candidly I .am afraid of. the woman, not for myself on- Mrs Ward or Dolly—'but for you. There may 'be nothing in it, but watch her. She Aa-ll be packed off, bag and baggage, during the week." "Thank you, but I Ihave no fear," said Margaret scornfully. "The creature has put a dozen lidian curses into me already. I simply ignore her. If that poor woman- were my only enemy I should he the happiest in the world to-day 1" Patrick Ward's face -became almost luminous, then he .turned hastily away, only overcoming himself by % supreme ! effort.

"Great God!" exclaimed the invent)r. He threw up botlh arms in vague sonfusion, stamped his right foot twice md glanced at the dining-room door, >ha* was standing sliglhtly ajar. "What you tell me is almost past belief, hut I have.been away from England for years, and have heard nothing —nothing. What date was the paper ? rwenty-seventh of May. Thank you. t .will get one." "And now," concluded Danks, has-: idly.looking at the hall, clock,."l will tell you who and what George Aston is —a clever and unscrupulous swindler named John Farmiloe. He was born at Newcast-le-on-Tyne, and -at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to a. large Sran of engineers and ironmasters there. It was a business he was well fitted for, physically and mentally. He soon showed remarkable aptitude, not only as a workman, but as an orgainiser. At the age of twenty-five he was the most trusted man in the concern. About tills time he first secured a, big con-tract to erect some big rolling mills in Russia. John Farmiloe . was

sent out there and the opportunities for a man of his unbounded resources induced him to stay out there. He found employment with a. Count 2obrenski, who was ambitious to foe a builder of ironclads, and. the Russian government encouraged him. The count died, but the work was continued by his wife. Our friend Aston now became the autocrat of the works, and wias soon paying flattering attentions to his kite employer's widow. I say flattering because the lady was as ugly as sin. She was old enough to be his mother. He made love to her, and a marriage was arranged. Aston, or Farmiloe, never intended to marry the | countess. H was too fond of young and pretty women to tie himself up to an ancient fright. In the end he succeeded in. getting away with something like thirty thousand pounds, anid all trace of him was lost. Perhaps he went to America, but if .so he stayed there l for a very short time, .because he ap- j peared at Birmingham as George Aston within twelve months from the time of bolting from Russia. It is just ( twenty years since he left Neweastle-on-Tyno, and Ms appearance has changed much, hut he has been recognised by a. young brother who unsuccessfully tried'to blackmail him. Plenty of these unnatural brothers about. And I'm going to Russia to bring the countess Zobrenski and others to identify my gentleman. I'm going." He shot out his right hand and gripped Patrick Ward's fingers, then he crammed on his hat and sped away. V Ward stood still for several moments ; then ho raised one hand to his burning head, and paced the hall in-, steadily. His eys were alight with a great many changing fires; his moving lips spoke a. dozen low-toned exclamations—'half wondering, half incredulous, wholly amazing. Dolly's, chatter broke in upon his thoughts, and he went back to the din-ing-room. Margaret and Dolly were playing with a 'ball. l ; . ' "Good news, little lady," he cried, snatching up the child, and tossing her in the air. "Good news for all of us! A gentleman has just left me, gone flying away in a toxical) —to Dover, and thence to France, to bring back evidence that will crush George Aston into absolute impotence. Splendid, isn't it. Dolly?" | The news was meant for Margaret, and his far-seeing eyes saw the swift, exultant flush spring into her cheeks. i "It is quite true, Miss Thornton,"j He put Dolly on her feet again, and | spoke quietly and convincingly. j "And if I do not'to-morrow win my victory—our victory is certain in the ! long.run. If your father would let ine help him against the man I would be so pleased." "'I don't quite understand it. T. believe it is about some borrowed money, and he has sent poor old dad a bankruptcy notice. At leash that is what dad calls it." "Then the money must l)e paid. I will lend it to Mr ThorntoM, and he can return it at his leisure." "Oh, how good of you, Mr Ward!" Margaret's eyes were SAvimming in tears. "My (father is an old man. and so few people are good to him. I will

"Still you must -take care," lie said impressively. "These Indians are as unlike Anglo-iSaxons inwardly as outwardly. They have no difficulty in masking their intentions and desires, and are as cunning and ruthless as the Evil One. Now, I will say good-bye mtil to-morrow evening. I will go to fight the common enemy. Wish, me Tuck."-. "I stall know no rest till I get your telegram!, Mb Ward." He tool? her hand .and pressed it with a warmth that brought the hot colour to' her face. She thought of Edith's taunting caution, the colour blazing into fire, until she tingled with hoiToi* and shame. The man was her God, but wha.t ■a tin god if (he,' were leading Iher purposely astray!

CHAPTER XXI. I _ . I MARGARET'S PERIL, There was a storm that night, .and | Margaret's threat not to sleep at all was completely .fulfilled. The wind blew!; a gale, and lashed the sea into majestic grandeur; the giant waves /broke orev the Black Tor, and fell, baffled but not beaten, into the inferno bedew. Ail night long the 'lightning flamed and flared, and the thunder, rolled from crag to crag, or burst with nerve-rend-ing crashes over Cliff House. Margaret switched on the light and cowered in a corner of the room. Ordinarily'she wa.s not afraid of a, thunderstorm, but her thoughts were filled with the story of the awful fate of Patrick Ward's sister, and she half-believ-ed that she could hear her screams in the wind. She pressed her hands over her ears, but failed to shut out the noise of the thunder. One crash louder than any before, seemed to shake the house to its very foundations, and while under the impression that it was actually rocking in the grip of wind and sea,her door opened and Mrs Ward ran into her room, her eyes wide with fearj hea- hair streaming behind like a child's. She dropped upon her knees 1 at Margaret's feet, gasping: "Lootah —Lootah and my child, my Dolly!" ''Well? What's wrong?"

(To be Contiaued.)

Margaret sprang up, an awful [re- I monition turning flier blood to water. "I wake up and they are gone. What, have you done with any dhild, you interloper ? Find ber or I will kill you!" 11 One look into Jier eyes told Margaret that one of ilier mad fits was upon-her. For a brief moment her heart quailed ; then slhe spoke in soothing tones : "Stay 'here, Mrs Ward, 'and I will fetch Dolly. She is playing about somewhere," > With <a swift- movement s'he left lihe room, turning the key iii tOie door, and stepped from the landing downstairs. She paused in the main toll to listen, and collect ihor scattered wits. Was Dolly really gone? Should she alarm the sen-ants, 'and Ihave a tfhorough search made? Now all around was as light as day wliile the lightning played around the glass dome, The thunder was nearly exluausted, and grumbled complahvingly after the fierce tumult of the night.