AFTER RELEASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10626, 3 May 1912, Page 2

AFTER RELEASE.

OUR SERIAL.

By VIOLET M. FLINN, Author of "The Master Passion, "What Shall It Profit?" "Ver<m-." "By Devious Paths," Eto.

CHAPTK.H XXVII [—Continued, j "Like ii rabbit-warren, iy.'t it?" | said a fa miliar voice that bad a .nocking riii»-. "Not one of 'on: ;•■ uild be | much loss if they liad go>.e to «shcs j with the bouses." j He turned to find Stanton Neal was standing behind him, Ins mocking glance fixed on the houso that had just been emptied, and on which a score of jots were playing trying to .-top the progress of tJio flames. "That's whero I have been bringing out of late. It will burn like tinder if a spark catches it." "It is to be hoped you loft nothing of value in it:," Ludworth said. It did not seem strange in tho excitement of the scene, that he ami X.nl should bo talking together almost with friendliness. Xeal touched his chesfc. "I carry my valuables with me," he said with a short laugh. There was a sudden stir in. tho crowd —a thrill that went over the gathered crowd huddled together in a mass that allowed no distinction between peer and commoner, policeman and thief. A long line of fire- had suddenly ran. a- i long the guttering of tho roof, and in the window, silhouetted against the sudden brilliance, had appeared the figure of a little child, with arms outstretched beseechingly. "There's a child in that room'" Trcsidder exclaimed. Neal looked down and struck his foot against the curb ' of tho street. "Only a human rat!" be sud cynically. "A bit of humanity who had no business to come into life, and who, for all it can give or premise him, would do well to get quLkiy out of it." "You know him!' ' Ludworth exclaimed. Ho could seo the gleam of Neal's eyes and teeth as he looked up at the window from which the child had disappeared. Xeal shrugged his shouldo.'s. "Ho was such a foolish rat as to bo rathed fond of me. He's only a la by, and he spends the most o. his days and nights locked in that ro. in. You see, he is a burden to his mother, who J didn't want him." 1 Ludworth looked at hbu, fascinated, j yet repelled. Tho cold, unblushing eyn- J icism was appalling. And yet trio "little rat," peering with wide, terrified eyes above the window sill of. tho burning house had been "raili f, .r fc n.d" of him. Thero was a cheer ftoir. the big crowd. A fireman had entered the house. Neal laughed again.. j "He will not find the d"or; it is pa-

pered with wall paper. V»ell, rats are vermin, aren't they, cousin Marcham You did nob know shut;, ch?" He laughed at the young man's -astonishment. "You won't find mo or my mother in the family records, but if I had beon,undoubtedly you would never iiavft been Duke of Ludworth!" The crowd swayed and surged, and hoarse voices rose in a Jisappoi-Hed raw. «<«. fireman em rg d again, and a.vt.. When Luiworth tur «-j , again >'ca. had gone, ind lis eiivj.t.v. place had idready been filled j,4Lut .ui.hope tbe p?or ; „iiap is.past feeling'" iresidder said slowi? "Ludworth, I don't think I can stay any longer." "I have had enough, too," paid tho young man, drawing in a deep breath. "Let us seo if -" There was another roar, a cheer that I roso above theo rackling of the firb, the hissing of the steam, the crash of axes and falling masonry. A tall, thin figure had broken tho cot don. had fled quickly across the open sj. ace, and disappeared within tho burniig house. A long deep sigh, the burden of overcharged hearts went up from the hundreds of watchers, and then a silence, strangely deep, strangely .n. pre salve, fell as every eye turned toward the window where the child had been. It was the work of a few seconds, jet it seemed to Ludvvorth to be centuries before a wave of feeling flashed over the waiting crowd, and after cheer broke out, as Neal appeared at tho window, with the child in his t>rms, wrapped in'his coat. They saw him look over his shoulder into the burning room ; ho shouted out something to the crowd of firemen who were running up ladders and holding out sheets. There was a longdrawn "Ah!" as ho flung out tho little i bundle of humanity into the .urns of 1 safety. Once more he looked back into the room; the fire was evidently gaining fast. For an instant ho stood on tho window sill, with outstretched hands holding the wall on either side, a figuuo crucified, it seemed to the ones who held their breaths with inarticulate prayers on their lips. There was a roar, a crash and a simultaneous shriek went up as ho suddenly toppled over headlong into the street-, missing the sheet by a hairbreadth. . Ludworth never knew how he broho through the crowd, how he reached the little crowd bending over tho bruised, battered form. "Is ho dead?' 'and tho officer m charge pressed his lips. "It's a hospital case, anyway. iSow, sir, if you please, we can't have you blocking up tho road." "I know him!" ho answered, and Neal's eyes opened. Ho looked with •rlasv stare into tho young man's face. ° "Tho duchess! My wife!' he gasped. * "I must see them!" CHAPTER XXIX. All the resource that wealth could command were called up in the dark hours of that March night. Special

I messengers and special trains wore : sent to Northport, and were returning i with those they had summoned, and at the hospital gate a brougham, one whoscservants wore tho Ludworth livery, had drawn up. The footmen were helping Ludworth to assist an o!d woman to aligbt. ''How is he?" Ludworth asked eagerly of Tresidder, as he came into the hall. "Flo is alive, but is suffering horribly, and ho won't have opiates. They say it is just force of will that is keeping him alive." He looked with interest at the Duchess as Ludworth introduced him to her. It was many, many years since ho had last seen her. He could remember now the contemptuous scorn of her voice, the pride in face and bearing, tho bearing concealed intolerance of "all that crossed her. She had altered little, he thought,, yet there was a now expression in her face. It was the face of one to whom a dreaded, longanticipated moment had come, yet who would fight, to the end. Was it indeed, as they had surmised? Had she, tho proudest, haughtiest woman, stooped to her own downfall, and ■ was it that expected revelation that had hung, like the sword of Damocles, above her head for so many years? Yet she showed no sign, of flinching —she Would "die game," and her hold j on Ludworth's arm was a concession to her dignity rather than an admission of weakness. With all her .ancient pride and lofty bearing, she stood beside the small bed of the man who had been the evil genius of her family, the man she had loved with a. mad passion that had turned to the bitterest hate. Tho well-remembered gleam came into Seal's tortured face as he looked at "her What voiceless memories passed between them in that look? Ludworth wondered. , ~„•>> a„,i "So wo meet again, duchess! Ana at the sound of the faint, necking voice a shudder passed over her And after all, I hold the winning card—tor Charles' son brought up by my wite, is Duke of Ludworth." "It is a lie!' tho duchess said. The dying man's eyes gleamed.^ I (To be continued.)