A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10569, 27 February 1912, Page 2

A DEEP GAME. OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

OUR SERIAIi,

By Mrs Da Winter Bafcsr, Author of "The Sin of Oarine," "Sir Blandford'* Protean" 'For Weal or .Woo," ©to.

CHAPTER XLlV—Contin nod. "Terriblo .news"—unconsciously she repeated her lover's words. Aye—terriblo news no doubt -to a man of Eric's proud stamp, to whom family honour whs a 'precious jewel to be handed down unsullied from father to son — terriblo news to Mm that ho should find a bar sinister, in the shape of this girl, Margaret, had arisen to mar the Trevellan escutcheon.

But Lett ice asked herself—was it such terrible news to her? No — no —a hundred times no—because she loved Eric for himself, net for what had gone before.

What cared she for lover's father or what sort of .man he had been? It was nought to her. Eric—Eric—the •best and dearest in all the world —he was the only one she could think of or oaro for.

Well— she thought, ttfter much persuasion by the motherly Mrs Parfitt, she-settled her soft, downy head upon the pillow and closed her eyes—tomoxrow Ml' €oile would take her to Eric, and she would say to him : "Eric, darling, it's you and you alone I want. I pity you, dear, from the bottom of my heart for this trouble that has fallen upon you and for the. ■burden you have to bear—but I Jove you the more for it —it makes you more precious to me than ever." Then—ah the joy of it— he would take her in his arms, and together they woukl go to some quiet, out-of-the-way spot, fair from the gossiping tongues and scandalous tittle-tattlers. She would l)e his little wife—looking after Mm—oh—so tenderly and carefully. They would live in some rose-embower-ed cottage—just >a little, tiny place for two—a blue sky overhead, green fields all around—and—and Mrs Parfitt leaned over and listened to her little patient's deep, regular •breathing for a moment; then she blew oat the candle 'and crept fro n the room, leaving Lettice to the sweet dreams of her future bliss. But, after all, Lettice was not destined to hear .the story of the Trevellan scandal from the lips of the old dow-

ager. Rising eagerly as soon as she was called she sent Mrs Tarfitt bustling to see whether Lady Trevellan would see her. The housekeeper returned with the news that the old dowager was in a fit state to see no one. She was lying in bed, exhausted, wan and speechless—utterly overcome by the--expos-ure that had been forced upon lit;*. "Did you see Lady Trevellan herself?" Lettice asked of Mrs Parfitt with some impatience. - > "Yes, miss. There was no one up there, and I went right into her bedroom. She looks very ill, and it is a good thing the doctor is calling tins morning to see you. I can ask him to step up and see the poor old soul.' Lettice was rather upset at this clistairbance of her plans. "Then the only tMng to be done is to trv and see Mrs Omer," she commented half aloud and half to her sett. J The mention of Omer's .name gave Mrs Parfitt the cue, she had 'been waiting for. Shotook.it .with avidity. . f "Begging your pardon, miss—J have not asked before because I was ■.va.img for you to get quite well again—but ! I'm 'curious to know all about how you came to bo shut up down below in the dungeon," she began, but stopped as Lettice shuddered. "Oh, forgive me Im so sorry. It -hurts you to remember about it—l shouldn't have asked you about it so soon/ she went 1 on, in tones of deepest mortification. ! ''lt's just a hideous nightmare,and I am trying to forget all about at! i Lettice sighed deeply. "But you have been so good and kmd to me—you shall hear all about it,' ' Sitting on the edge of her bed, Lettice began to recite the gruesome taie of her terrible experience down m t;ic bowels of the earth. Mrs rarhtt listened with mouth agape and many o-asp.s of fright. *" "Surely you'll have the law on Mrs Omer and Mr Jason," she said when Lettice had finished. "Such deuls work I never heard of till to-night. And that t.:gnal of yours, miss—why, ' a thing-like that would never have entered mv old noddle." . "I think I am just too happy ana grateful for being above ground and safe to really trouble about the law, replied Lettice with a .wistful smile. ' "And in any case, it would hardly be " much use,'to Jason has ninaray, so Mr Cole says. So, Mrs Parfitt, 1 shall bo going to meet Eric to-day, and will take his advice. Whatever ho tells mo to do I shall do-because— you know why?" . ~ , ' The sparkle of love in .her lovelv eves told its own story. * "I haven't congratulated you yet, miss, 'because I really have not had a chance. I'm sure I never knew a better matched or handsomer pair than you and Sir Eric ,and—and— it is so hard to find words, miss; but if I might?" Mrs Parfitt's attitude was unmistakeablo as she bent forward. Lettice sprung to her feet and flung her arans round the kind-hearted woman's neck with hearty zest. "Thank you, thank you, Mrs Parfitt!" she cried, kissing her warmly on both apple-red cheeks. The housekeeper brushed away a tear of happiness. "I'll get vour boxes all packed as you will bo going away,' she said, turiiuvr away to hide her emotion. Mr Colo and Sir Eric brought them up from that awfuil- place after they rescued you. 1 hope everything is quite safe?" Lettice ate an excellent breakfast that morning, and then sat down to a-

wait Cole's arrival from the village. He turned up spick and span, as usual, and smiled .as Lettice clasped his hand with delight. "I wired to Eric at his club and his rooms last night," said the detective, with a humourous twinkle in his eye, after inquiring as to her health. "We can catch a train ifrom Bickleigh that will get up to town .about five o'clock this evening. Will that do?" "Splendidly!" replied Lettice. "Now about this news that made him -run away. I have tried to see Lady Trevellan this morning, but unfortunately, she is too exhausted to speak. Will you tell the doctor to go and see her when ho comes ? And do you think wo could get hold cf Mrs Omer and get the story from her?"

"I am afraid it would rather prejudice your case in the event of your deciding to lay a ehargo against her,*' replied Cole. "Yes, I have thought about that, ' answered Lettice. "But" I somehow have no desire for revenge now that I am out of that dreadful dungeon. Of course, I suppose I ought to lay a charge against her and Jason ; ibut it would mean that this—er —terrible news that Eric speaks of would come out in court."

"What is the secret, Miss Lascelles?' Can't you tell me? I am groping about hi the dark at present. I feel I could give you much clearer advice if I knew everytliing." Almost (before he was finished speaking he was cursing himself for ia clumsy blunderer, for her eyes grew moist and a tear glittered on the long lashes. Ho thought she was crying because the news, whatever it was, caused her pain But Lettice's eyes .were filled with the tears at the thought of what her lover must be suffering. She wiped them away hastily. "I am dreadfully ashamed of myself," said Cole penitently. "1 ought not to havo asked that question." "Oh, no. It is I who am silly!" She gave a determined little sniff and tried to smile again. "Listen, Mr Cole. You are quite right. If I ask you to help me you should know everything.- You are Eric's friend a,s much as mine—l can trust you, lam sure. I'll read Eric's letter to you ,and you shall hear what he told me." She drew the letter from her blouse and read aloud. Cole listened intently. His expression was inscrutable.

"What doees he say about his mother? Will yoii read that part again?" he asked, making no comment on the shameful story itself. Lettice turned her back and read: "My mother has kept the secret all the time." "Ah! I thought so!'' The detective nodded gravely. "Yes, we must certainly get hold of Omer!" "But not to lay ' vm charge against her?" Lettice spoke in tones of sudden alarm. "I'd ratlier die than be the means of bringing this scandal into court."

"Well, not at present. Simply to make cautious enquiries. I may say I have some very strong .suspicions," observed Cole in a^eoly. "Suspicions'—of what?" "Blackmail of the very'blackest of types," 'answered the young man dry-. Lettioe 'blinked in alarm at Cole's wo I'd s.

"Blackmail?" she repeated with a little gasp. "Yes; let me sum up my impressions for you," replied the amateur detective rapidly. "The whole thing appears quite obvious to me. We havo this girl Margaret, in the first place. At present I can't say how long she has been kept concealed -here. But the very fact of her having been concealed at all—especially in that underground place—is, to my mind, conclusive proof to my mind that Mrs Omer must have been paid to do it. Is it likely she would keep her own cliild under look and key without some cogent reason ? Then let us pass on to Lady Trevellan, You say she Is ill in bed —completely overcome, May not her condition be directly due to the exposure of the secret that she has 'been keeping all this time, as Eric says in his letter to you?" "Yes—l see," observed Lettice thoughtfully. Eric spoke of having seen letters. What could they be?" "Letters written to Omer by the late Thomas Trevellan, of course,' replied Cole. "I should very much like to look at them. Also, I am very curious about Mark Jason. Did you know he was Omer'o brother, by the way?" "Brother? No—bow do you knov: that?" ± . "It was Margaret who gave me the bit of information by calling him Uncle Mark. I should dearly like to know what has made him run off in such a fright. I don't think it was you alono he was afraid of, Miss Lascelles." _ "Can't we get hold of Omer nowr" asked Lettice eagerly. We could get lier story and perhaps see those _etters. And then we could go after Eric. Have we time before the train starts? I am so anxious to be off." (To be Continued.)