A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10544, 29 January 1912, Page 2

A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

OUR SERIAL.

By Mrs De Winter Baker, Author of "The Sin of Carine," "Sir Blaudford'a Protegee," "For Weal or Wee," etc.

CHAPTER Xl—Oontinud. 'lf we were all silent when we had nothing to say this would be a pleasanter world to live," put in Sir Eric good-humouredly. It was not intended us a. snub, hut the chaplain fitted tlie cap t,o his own head. Beneath the ; tablecloth ins hands were very tightly clenched. He maintained control of Jhimself however, until the butler left j the room. Bhen or.ee more ihe turned to Let- j tice. j "About Bickleigh Abbey—- are you free to come with me this afternoon, Miss Lascelles?" "Miss Lascelles is not free!" Thern was an audible ring of paxgec in Sir Eric's voice. His retont way 'snapped out with compressed lips, "Ok', indeed!" Mane Jason's retort •was softly spoken, hut .tlie sarcasm in ihis voice made Sir Eric's Mood boil. "Tthought I heard you say only this morning .that Mis liascelles had a perfectly free will. I must .have been mistaken." "You were not mistaken, Mr Jiason!' 'Lett-ice fbroke in upon the duel with vehemence. "Sir Eric was per--1 feotly right. I have a free will. I've chosen to accept another invitation for this afternoon. I must, therefore, refuse yours.'' Lettice was sensible and straightforward enough to omit any reference to a regret she did not feel at being unable to accept t!he chaplain's invitation. It wias the snub direct-diolny deserved, but taken with the• worst possible grace. With open defiance now - upon his lowering ibrow, Mark Jason glared malignantly across the table. ° "Really, Miss Lascelles, I was under the impression tlhait you were Lady Trevolkn's secretary, and not a. guest at Treveian Castle!" _ j The biting taunt of .the chaplain's words was unihiistakeaible. Sir Eric sliarted from his chair and half rose to his feet. There was a terrible look on 'his stern face, 'and his hands were even clenched. Suddenly, however, he remembered where he was, for, with a .glance of shame and deepest apology "at the trembling 'girl, he sat down again. •''Jason!' he said, and there was* world of anger and warning in his very quietness, "you will to Miss Lascelles a-t once for those words or I'll take you by *he neck and pitch you out of the window! Go on, mia*i+" His voice rose ever so slightly, and liel .trembled witlh emotion. 'I can't keep .myself in imueh longer. Apologise—do you hear?" Mark Jason's cowardly heart ifroze within him beneath, the icy bias* of Sir Eric's command. He' fingered his •iiapkin nervously, and crinkled it and straightened it out again .with trembling ■•fingers. Sir Eric never removed I'Siis eyes from the chaplain—terrible. eyes they were now, witlh distended .pupils. j .-■ ' '■ ; A cold shudder passed over. Lettice —she felt instinctively tlhart Sir Eric's self -control was at thesnapping point and anything might happen. It seem- < ed an age. to her (before 'the tense, al-most.-tangible silence was broken. She put hen hand to her eyes. "X —i_er —of course, I apologise if J have .said anything to hurt Miss Lascelles." It wias a staimimered, obviosly reluctant apology, but it came in time to save the. situation. Sir Eric now went quietly oh with his dinner, as though nothing had liappened. But for the rest of the he ignored Jason as though, the man was snot there, addressing 'himself entirely to Lettice, and succeeded ia-t last in putting her at.her ease. She rose when lunch was over and passed out- of the room, but not before she had caugM an expressive "flash from Sir Eric's brown eyes —a flash that plainly said "Two o'clock?" Inclining her prety head in response, left the two men and .began to mount the stairs to her own room. At that instant the dining-room door was again opened, and Mark Jasson emerged with hurried footsteps and disappeared in the direction of the chapel. H deemed it safer not to be alone with Sir Eric just a't presenthe was right. Sir Eric paused in the act of lighting a cigarette as the door closed on Mark Jason. With an angry laugh he throw the match on his plate. ' 'Cowardly skunk!' Hie murmured to ■himself. "I think I'd have thrashed him within on, inch of 'his life if sne had not been present. Buir-after tftvis afternoon' my way will be clear. If dhe gives me tilie right to protect her, —by heavens," Mark Jason, you look out" for yourself!" Then, he rose and -went to' the stables and ordered the dogcart to be got out. Lettice went slowly down the corridor toward her bedroom. Entering quietly, she was astonished to find a woman, leaning out of her window, apparently gazing down tfhe Lime Tree Walk. Lettice closed the door with a bang, and 1G woman- hurriedly drew her head in and turned round. It was

Gracs Omer! If she felt any nervousness at being in a room that she had no light to bo in, sh© successfully concealed it, for, with mi effrontery that quite overpowered Lot/tiieo. did .advanced toward the wondering p;irl . "What are you doing in .my room ?" asked Letitco, and Grace Omer smiled scornfuly. "Your room lias been changed from here, miss," she answered shortly. "Changed? What do you mean 3 '' 'What I say! Her ladyship has given orders for this room to be closed The walls are cracking, and they are to be .repaired at once. You will occoupy a room in, the east wing. Mrs Parfitt has orders l to remove your things for you." Lettice looked around her witih bewildered gaze as though she expected to sea great cracks in the walls. As a matter of fact the walls were in a perfect stiate.'of .preservation... They. - were composed of god granoite blocks I more than a foot thick. But she, of course, knew nothing of .this, and it was obviously impossible for her, in her .position as secretary , to question >her employer's orders. "Oh, Il'im sorry," she said in tones of disappointment. "This is such a lovely room, hut of course, if it is +o , be repaired, I must go elsewhere. I •will go and find MrsParfitt and get her to show me my new room," and with these words she went out into the corridor again. A sagnifican* .smile of triumph distorted Grace Qmer's .sallow face as she heard Letbtice's soft footsteps die away in the distance. •No. more prying down at the Limo Tree-Walk by -moonlight, my dear!" she hissed bet wen her teeth. A few moments later, when the coast was clear, she went down into the chapel (to Mark Jason, and presently their low, sibilant whispers filled the vaiilt'cd arches as tlhough with some ap- ! preaching storm. j "I.can't'make her out," Omer was saying.../'lf'she saw anything %>rn her window last night, she is keeping jit .to herself. Anyhow, I have shiftd ' j her into another room where she won't i have the opportunity to spy. I am sorry now.that we ever put her into the room over, Lime Tree Walk. We ought to. have fastened the shutters first." Mark Jason stamped with impatient foot upon the tesselated aisle. 'ltjs not that worries me so much, '. he replied . "It's. 1 that handkerchief. I-have had three searches this morning for it, but can't find a trace <|f ifc.v Why was the little idiot so stupid as to drop it?"

CHAPTER XII; AT SMUGGLERS' GOVE. j Witih quickly beating heart and her | pulses tlirobbing, Lettice oaone down ! into the hall at two o'clock. Sir Eric ) rose to meet her with a delighted smile j rf ■. welcome. ■ ; - '"Punctual to tfhe minute!' ho declared. "The carriage is writing at the door, and I have secured all the rugs and enshoions I could lay hands oh*! 1 ' 1 The coachman obsequiously led the radiant .girl to the carriage, and assisted .her to embark. Springing up beside her, Sir Eric saw that, she was comfortably ' settled and wrapped before he picked up tfhe reins. I Then with a light flick of ilho wihip he sent tilie bay mare along the winding drive, a small stable boy running on ahead to open the gate at the end. ! Evidently Sir Brio had been precise, •fOr" tlie man stood aside and raised his hat as tilie-vehicle passed otit into the rood. "I told Stevens we would not,want him," explained Sir Eric. Lettice made no reply but the brightnes of »pr eyes seemed to indicate that sue thought the explanation quite unnecessary. ! Tlie nuare now began to make the stones fly in real earnest as she settled down to work, and Sir Eric was ' too much occupied for the first quarter of an hour to make .more than a few casual remarks. 1 As a -matter of fact the hearts of botih man and maid were too full iust ' (then, and their thoughts were very busy indeed—so busy that they were quite iinconscious of a dark, senv-cle-rica.l figure, belabouring vigorously along half a mile behind them, [ his crooked figure bent low over the , handle bars of the bicycle. J (To be Continued.)