HELD IN BONDAGE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10525, 12 January 1912, Page 2

HELD IN BONDAGE.

OUR SERIAL.

BY L. F. DACRK Author of ••Smfead's Valey," A Phantom of the Past," "The Shadow of Shame," "Sir John's Heiress," "A Daughter of Mystery," etc.

OMAPTKR XXIV.

THE JOY OF BATTLE

'Yes. Sit'down." "Wo may as well shake hands first, It Hill cstnblisli confidence in our mutual geed feeling." "\o!" Patrick Ward snapped. "The wror.gs that I have endured cannot be v.iped out 'by a mere handshake. Sit down."

Patrick Ward came -home tlio nexi day about an hour bet'oro noon. I tuiveL-stained and tired, lie was cheer ful, and seeing Mark Jordan, at ten door of tho loose, ho pulled up U sjjeiiK to Inim. "I'vo broken tho neck of 'tlus sat business, Mark, and you can put tfa< car assay uiut.il tho day of the funeral The undertaker has chartered a motoj van to take itno .body to Walsall—then was so much fuss with the railway peo p.e, a* it had to travel over the hues of tsvo different companies How ar< they Reating on?" "•Una undertaker's mem? lney pro mised to bring tlie cottin some time to day." Ward nodded and signed. "Miss Thornton tooK Dolly awaj yesterday?" . . "Yes, sir. Left just about this tame iaaid I saw them into the train. Trunk; were addressed to a place called Lea tlherJiead." "Yes." "I've-' fetched the mail bag, sir. It's on the hall table." He hesitated. "You'll excuse me, Mr Patrick, but I'm afraid the young lady, Miss Thornton, isn't exactly what she pretendt to be. I'm not sneaking; you knofl me better than that, and I warned him that I should tell you." "Out with it, Mark." "well, sir, -woe Knows Mr Aston as well as you do. They jawed here foi some time and she was white as uulk. ■ "Here? When?" "Ward let go of the lever. He was apprehensive—furious. "Yesterday morning. 1 knew tinerc wias something wrong. They quaa-pell-ed, I think, and he-was .talking lake a parson. I never saw him so mild. ."The scoundrel didn't abuse her? "No, I think she did most of tht Ward's brow cleared, and h< half smiled, and sighed rehevedly. "They are acquaintances, Markcome from the same part of the ooun, tiT Nothing wonderful that tines should • speak, but -no good-lookinj: /woman -is safe.«jtfh -George Aston- ' curse -him!- I expected lumjiere today ; 1 suppose he misunderstood th« appointment. There may be a lettei from him." ■ , ~ ' He touched the lever, and the cai ran up the drive to the front door, Mark Jordan followed on foot to takt charge of the Jumping tc the ground, Patrick Ward stepped quickly indoors, .tossed off his motoring outfit, and took the letters from th« mail bag. There were two of burning importance to' ham-one from Margaret Thornton, and one from George Alston, and lie put the otto .back into the .bag for a while. He opened Mar- ' garet'.s letter first. It was brief and cool. She was safely at Aunt Bensons and Dollv enjoyed the change, bne , had encountered Mr Aston just before leaving Cliff House, and no doubt Mr w -ar.d would hear all about it. , m frowns »,*• ,_ - u -* m was gM id Mte «be l«terj •w? disappointed;- He read .between the lines tfitlt Margaret was angry and distrustful. ,His mind's eyo pictured her steady, unflinching gaze; the proud poise of her ihead; Ihe heard her voice, plaintive and quavering; petulant and .scornful. • ..., : . "Poor little Margaret!" lie murnwirletter. flashed into his eyes and a smile curved 111 "I?£ wise of you to sue for peace," ho had written, "and I am only too eager to accept it. We are pMtom,^£ not exactly friends. Why not be friends in the future ? H the past cannot be undone, it's dead, m> let it be buried.". . - , lin+ ."It was good of you to confess thot my wayward wife was at Chft House, hut I was sure of it before, ,and it w mai4Eus of you to ask me to como to ££ Sr Thfe alone is good augury, mere should bo no more friction bemorrow. I came to-day. I wife hist going away till aitei »irt Ward'ffuneral. ■ I talked mth her and though she repulsed me, I have h °?>T wllUome again to-morrow, Ward, and pelaps you will *en explain one TO th£ .scoundrel!" smiled a gnm. smile. ; lheie was tm IWhtof battle mhis eye.- ■ 1 Tie went up to his, room, washed am changed his clothes, then stepped int the death chamber, and fondly, lev ewntW, d **» ™»* d f " Ce + h tWead There was a smile on *< Hos Life's storm and stress were end S Peace at last. He choked back Trimir £l>. and dashed the tears fron his eyes. He clenched has hands ant day has come. I Jg™ ™*£j for it, fearing, longing, hating. INow H Ho walked slowly down to his and rang for his lunch. His gaze. rorec round the room; he went -to the dooi and listened. He missed Margaret a Dolly. The loneliness struck a euil right to his heart. _ . „ A servant brought ui his lunch, tit ate it feverishly. His mind was furiously active; his movements kept pac< with it. and the- food was devoured u bestial haste. . ■ . , He got up, lit his pipe/and paced the, carpet The tobacco smoke rolled upwards in clouds. The insatiable pipe was filled again, and again for t\v. third time, and then there oame a tap at tho door. . , , , "Mr George Aston. sir.' tho liousekecw" announced. "Will you see lum here?" "Yes." Patrick Ward opened a drawer and book out a small revolver. He pocketed '.t deftly, at .the moment that Georgo Aston waiFi walking into tho room. The two men eyed each other oueerly. As:on expectantly, speculatively; Ward ih.ouv»d great malignancy. "Wei!, T accepted ymir iin.vita.taon. foil got my letter?"

Astra hesitated doubtfully; then he drew a chair close to the table, so that he could rest one elbow on tne corner. There was something in the air that he could not fathom —something ugly. He watched Ward.

" I ventured to hope," ho said,"that your letter represented ithe white dove of peace, and the hope became almost a certainty when you hinted that you wished me to be reconciled to my wife, ■ who was here under your roof. You denied it the last time that I was here, but I saw her distinctly enough, aind wOiilo we were talking blib was hidden in yonder safe."

Patrick Ward nodded. The malignancy of his expression had deepened, if anything. 'lt is a remarkable thing tJwir she should have found employment with ' yon—one of those wonderful coincidences -thtait prove that the I'lscruta-ble j ways of Providence are alwav.-. good.'' "Cant!" interrupted Ward. "You wore always pat at that sort, of humbug/' "\ou are determined ty be uncivil." H>i gave Ward a qubic.noi'v-ous <:lanco. "My uifa went a-wnj* yesterday; she told me that she should ,not return till after the funeral. I suppose tdiat was a mistake? I want.a reconciliation—; I-want to withdraw allf legal proceed-' ings; I want all the law trouble between us stopped, too. lam even ready to make certain concessions to you, Ward; I know that yours is the creative brain; and instead of talcing half, I am willing, under a new agreement to take only a quarter of the i profits. I want to settle down to a peaceful, domestic life. lam getting close to fifty, and this wear and tear can't last for ever." "I should think not!" Patrick Ward grinned sardonically. "And so I you are. willing;.. to take Margaret (Thornton back;again?": •' -

: ' "Yes —ah yes:' was the eager reply. Aston started forward in. his' .chair, and'benta penetrating, glance at Ward "You look queer, somehow. What the devil has come over you? 'Now; theii, you have heard my say. You invited me bore. What is it to be?" "War!"

Aston laughed shortly—uneasily. "Oih, you are too funny for anything. Tli© comic act doesn't suit* you. War, be hanged ! I should think you'd haa enough of it. We met in tne couirts the : other day—a hundred pounds gone. The case will go to trial! and I shall win. ' You know what the law of contract is. No man can' get behind hi* own signature. Enough of that. Now what is; the first move?"

"To take you to yow wife. ®he'<s{ gdt to be got away from here." I "Is die winder this roof now?" As-| ton's face flamed and paled. He re-i ■ , bitter looks« ihd joaiilimgV ." v . « S "Ye*s up' lii heir foOiii.- ■ , "Are going to send for bottj Will ytfit leave ufc aldnfe- for acimef t may be atfe to bui'Made—"No; ehe can't come down; Veil m nt> to her." "Unwell? I told her yesterday that she looked ooorly. Throat tied up or something.* Are you .gave that ste wants to see,me. Ward? ISo foolery. 'fOome along*" . , Patrick Ward went upstairs, and George Aston was close behind him. It Was a relief to Aston to -see one of tihe girls on the lauding. A nameless fear was clutching- at his heart, kit with all) his shortcomings he was no coward. A. wild thought flashed through his brain. Had Ward's grief for his wife turned his brain? Men witih abnormal brains were easily unIbaiknced. Had something .terrible happened to Margaret? ''This is tli© room," Ward said. "Your wife is- in there—in bed. bo. I will leave you alone with, her and when you have finished with her yon ■wil find me in the study." . He turned the knob and pushed Aston before him. Astoirgroped his way'across the'room. Ihe fblnuls ti-bre down, the curtains drawn, and it was almost dark. He saw the outline of a-woman"s form on the bedhe saw the face white and staring. "Margaret," he called .softly. .He the "floor with the toe of his boot; he, coughed and spoke the nam© again. w "She's sleeping,' he thought.. He tiptoed nearer, and now that lus eyes had become accustomed to.the gloom, | ihe saw the face distinctly. His eyes started in their sockets • his i breathing was suspended and he clutched at the bedpost, or he would have reeled to the floor. Mad or dreaming? A clever illusion < Patrick Ward was up to some infernal trick. A waxen figure— a marvellous likeness. ti© laughed scoflingly; then lie bent oyer the face, and touched it with his finders. Ood in heaven!—vt was a woman—a' woman of flesh and blood —but now cold in death. , He fled from the room, raving and (cursing; down the stairs three at a lime, and burst into the study Perspiration was streammig from hiface and 'his lips were flecked with foam. He dropped into an easy chair, and lay hack gasping. "Well Gwrge' Aston, are you satisfied?" Ward_ asked. ■ <'Jugglery-jugglery. Some of the infernal work that you have learned 4n India ! That woman is not Amy—but her very counterpart. Uniei—damnably cruel. How dare you make light of the dead for the sake of torturing me. you heast! "I am glad to make you suffer at last ,George Aston, and tins is only a mild foretaste of what w to com?. The poor dead body upstairs is that of Amy Aston ..your wife, and my pn_ | fortunate sister." ! 1 (To be Continued.)