A DEEP GAME OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10571, 29 February 1912, Page 2

A DEEP GAME OR THE HONOUR OF THE TREVELLANS.

OUR SEBIAIi.

By Mr* Do Winter Bak»r, Author of "The Sin of OariW' "Sir Blandford't Protege*,"- Tor ]W©»l OT - "O©, ©to.

CHAPTER XLVl—Contiii'icd "I shan't show them. They arc pri--vats letters written, to mo. I don't lei. inquisitive strangers road my correspondence." "But you offered to let -ne se>* them," 'interrupted Lettiee for first time. "J didn't expect to he tricked like this.' Omer turned to face the girl. Instantly Cole's hand shot out and snatched the letters. Utterly taken back at this unexpected move, Onu-.r resorted to vulgar abuse. "Cad!" she shouted. "You are no {ren.tle.mmi to do a, thing like that!" " "I reserve my gentlemanly behaviour for ladies, Mrs Omer," without lifting his eyes from the letters that he was already reading. "I suppose you think that's sn'art.'' she retorted. '"Oh, goon, then,. Read the letters and enjoy them. They are not forgeries, if that is what you are thinking." "I will read them aloud." Miss LascoUes might like to hear." Slowly Colo .began to read, addressing a few explanatory remarks to Lettico before doing so. "There arc four letters in 'all Miss LasceLles--all written from the Carlton Club, London, and dated Variously from Jan.ua.ry'to October in the year 1892—eighteen years ago. As they had evidently satisfied Lady Treveibm. we may take them to be genuine "letters written 'by the late Sir Thomas Trevellan. They *vro all quite short. I will read them in the order in which they are dated. "January 3. 180*. "Dear Miss Jason: I am pleased to hear-that vou are getting on so well in the country.' You must certainly call and seo me when you are in town. That is if I am up hero then. Yours sincerely, ) . "THOMAS TREVELLAiV"

January 16. 1892. f'DcanvMiss Jason.: Many tharks t'cr ' I excellent 'likeness: Of wurse yini "".shall have one' of mine. I will tell my photographer to send you some to select from. Yours sincerely, "THOMAS tfR£VELLAN" 'February 12, 1892. "Dear Miss Jason: I am afraid. T cannot have you here as you suggest.. You must remember that you left mc of your own freo will. Yours truly, ' 'THOMAS TIIEV ELLA N." "October 27, 1802. "Sir Thomas. Trove-Han desires to inform Mrs Grace Omer that he cannot receive any more begging letters from her. He encloses a ten-pound note. Any further \ comiminieatior.s from Mrs Grace Omer will be ignored." Colo ceased reading and handed the letters back to Omer. He was debating inwardly how ho would -proceed. What questions should he ask this dangerous woman? What questions shod .1 ho avoid? Anything in tlie - nature of a leading question would be worse than useless, ho was perfectly awive. 0iner was an. adept liar. She smiled sneorii.gly. The .letters had evidently made- a deep imprcs3iou ■ on him, according to his face. "Why does Sir Thomas refer to yoa as Mrs Graco Omer, in the last letter, pray?' ho asked sharply. "I was known, as Mrs Omer then," came the ready response.

"What made you choose the name of Mrs Omer!'" "I had taken a fancy to it—l think I saw it in a book," she said sullenly. "That's all I want to ask. You certainly have played your game well " "What do you mean?'' Outer's eyi-s glanced shiftily from Cole to Lettice who was listening attentively. ■ "Exactly what I say. .Don't you agree with me? You brought these letters and your child to Lady Tievellan immediately after Sir Thomas's death, and you have lived hero in comfort evei - since. Am J not right ?' : "Wasn't it natural that her ladyship should help me?' 'snarled the woman.

"We won't discuss the scandal any further. You hold the trump cards, Mrs Omer. Please open the door ; Miss Lascelles."

Lettice turned the key and held tiio door open. She was very white of face, but she had stood up pluckily durii g ■the .strain of hearing those letters being read. Omer tossed her head and laughed scornfully. "So you'vo realised that at last, have you?" sho sneered. With unparalleled effrontery she flicked her fingers in Lettice's face as she .seti out. "Hope you enjoyed those letters, my dear!" shut the door with a 'bang •and. fanned, herself with her handkerchief.

"A bit poisonous, isn't'she?' as'sed Cole with a smile.

"Yes. But those letters! They are terrible, aren't they?" "Terrible? Yes, in the use that has been made of them. But in themselves they are absolutely harmless." v "But —'aren't they true theni"' "I let Mrs Omer believe T. thoiy.;'iit so, because I don't want her to suspect." "Oh, you have found out something! Oli, tell''mo please, Mr Cole." Lottico spoke imploringly with outstretched lunula.

"Listen, Miss Lascelles. I was only

] quita .a lad when Sir Thomas died, hut j I used to see him at my father's house. 1 1 fancy he must have been about iil'iy- ' one or two when he died, and as far j as I can recollect ho was a very mild benevolent person, charming and ami;able, and happily .married to La.'y Trevelkm. Ho died early in 189. I '. Tins woman's claim is perfectly preposterous! But that is not all. You heard what Mrs Omcr said about her name? That she took it from a book?"' "Yes?" "That \\a.s the He that kuoc ed the bottom out of an extremely clever story, supported by the strongest yet strangest proof "that T have ever seen." "But is there no Mr Omer ? Whore is he?" "There is the crux of the whole matter. It happens that by the mo--i fortunate chance that a certain Mr Wil--Ikm Omer is living at 10, Pigeon Alley Aldgate, London, E.G., Miss Laseelks, and I am going to pay Mr William 0mer a visit this evening. Run up and get your hat on, and have your boxes brought down. I have ordered the dogcart. Wo have hailf-an-hour to catch tho train to London." Letticc rushed excitedly out of the room, while Cole nonchalantly;; lit a cigarette. CHAPTER XLVII. "MISTER WILLIAM OMER." Before leaving the castle Lettio ran up to the dowager's room rather nervously. She did this more out of politeness than anything else. _ She was fervently hoping that. Lady '[YivjUsitwoul '• bo unable to see her. This, indeed, proved to be the case. Mrs Parfitt answered her knock at the door of the turret chamber, /".[.am off now, Mrs Parfitt. Can I say good-bye .to'her ladyship?" •:'. ; '•'the doctor is in/with her at,present, miss," Wits the housekeeper's re-' ply. "Ldon't think' she is : fit'vo s«?e -anyone,, and if I were- you, I don't fthinkvi. would worry/about.: .. gbod-TSye". t will tell her ladyship you" have gone on later on when she is' letter. I expect vou are not sorry to leave I the castle." ' j Lettice smiled at/this naive inter- [ pretation of her inmost thoughts. 1 -"H/llt W'hat are you doing up in this I part of the liousß?"'*h« askcl. "I brought the doctor np, iniss, and | as that'Omer woman is not to bo found ! anywhere I thought I had bcitot' stay [and look after her ladyship!" explained Mis Parfitt.

Having no time to Jose, Lcttics now bade the housekeeper • good-bye. i "You have been a good, Kind friend to me, Mrs Parfitt," she said., "and you 'may be sure I sha.ll not forget it." "I have on nodylhewta. f.-e artp "I have only done what any other person would have done, mi.is. However, it's beema pleasure to do even so little for one who is grateful as you, and I do hope -as how we will be meeting again some day. Good luck to you, miss, and a happy wedding when you meet. Sir Erie."

; "Somehow I fancy that we shai! meet again." Lettice fhing a bri'Jiant smile at the pleasant-faced wonauand gave«her a hearty farewell, kivs before tripping off downstairs again. Her boxes were already safely stowed away in the dogcart, and Cole was waiting for her. A moment later th&y were speeding down the drive behind the speedy mare.

Not a pang of 'regret haunted Lcttice as they swiuig- out onto the high jbad, No —the future was all that Letiico, cared for now. The past was over and dona with.' She had Heard Omer's story and had seen the proofs th-.it supported it, and her heart leaped with joy to think that this kind, clever man ait' her side might be able U, disprove it all. How glorious it woidd be to be able, to take the news to her darling—to tell him that the Trevellan honour was untarnished —that he and liis mother had ■■been'the victims of a. pair of unscrupulous - villains. ' How • she hoped that Cole would bo successful. But even if he failed, she. would still be able to comfort her lover with tender words and loving' caresses. Resolutely kept her mind fixed on that supremo moment that Mas awaiting her, when she would feel herself held tight in those arms for which she- pined. She would feci those dear lips closo to hers. Colo gave the mare her head, and they arrived at the station with five | minutes to spare. Thriving through [ the village, they were so intent on' the j business in hand that they did not noj ticc tiro Trevellan 'brougham dra.wn ' up outside the little post office. But } [ Omer, hearing the sound of wheels, > I peered out from there. She was just j then in the act -of sending «• wire, and I her face grew dark with anger as she noticed Lattice's, boxes and the ..three, 'occupants of the dogcart—Lettice, Colo and the groom. "Going off, are they? 1 must wait for the next train. I don't want thatnosey detective following inc." She was about to make an .alteration, to the telegram addressed to William Omer', when on. second' thoughts she tore it up. She walked out of the post oihee. Telling the coachman to wait for her, she walked oil up to the little station, arriving there just as the train steamed in. Furtively she watched Cole and Lettice enter .a- first-class compartment. (To be Continued.)