Silas Dennington's Money,

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10665, 21 June 1912, Page 2

Silas Dennington's Money,

'OUR SERIAL.)

BY F. L DACRE,

Author of "Held in Bondage,' 5 ' ; A Phantom of the Paso," "Sir John's Heiress," "The Shadow of Shame," "A Daughter of Mystery," etc.

CHAPTER Vl.—-Continned

Jack was stunned. The police could j easily track his movements to Nevada, ' hut after that he had mingled with . strangers, and (there had hecn no reason to use- his name. "It's black enough in all conscience," he said, "and I must face the music, Brown. I wonder what Grantfcy has been doing in it? He, at least, knows that I am incapable of such a dastardly crime." Then his blood turned to ice; he remembered Grantley's feverish mumblings. "I must surrender to the police, Brown, but I should like to see my brother first. Wild West shows are made up of desperadoes, and my cousin was a bad man in that way. These bad men hold life cheap, and revenge is part of their creed." Brown shook his head. "That very suspicion was thresh.ed out. He hadn't a single enemy "in the show. A man coming into million wasn't likely to have one. Wait a bit until the excitement has cooled. Public opinion is inflamed against you now, and jurymen are only human beings like the rest of 'em. See your brother—see him here. Don't leave my house, or likely as not you'll wall? into the arms of the police. Where's your luggage? Give me authority to get it, and I will go in a > cab now. I can complete your disguise—dye your hair, beard and eyebrows black—touch the temples with grey, and you'll look forty-five. There is an actor living next door, and we are pretty friendly. He's got all the needful stuff. Do this for your own sake. Why, man. you are already tried and condemned, and they only want to hang yon! With time you don't know what might turn up." "I am innocent, Brown." "I am certain of that now, sir. You must see your brother, and for his sake, dont' he rash. He was married last week.. Look here, Mr Dennington, I've been-putting-two and two together, and what your brother does not know about that job is not of any importance. You don't want to put the rope round his neck, do you?" Jack jumped up in a blaze of wrath. "My God, Brown-" he began, but Brown did not quail

"I have only your own thoughts, sir." • "Horrible thoughts, and only worthy of an outcast such <is T. Grantley and Madge married. That wedding day was to Jiave been a wonderful day for all of us. I feel like a creature apart from th£ nv'ng world, deprived of everything I lv.'e; and life itf-Mf hn° become intangible and Ho dropped back limply ''.'.o hh cW.i, ana passy.l i hand <»""r h : s lamp br'-w. "I wonder if J d?d shofv* my cg-jsit ? There c -vp clever men uhr believe ir- fl Mib-cm-scious other solf, wfaV 1- btctrves active when il.c ie*l seif :-ies ,1-vmant." "i[ere, T ! «<*->iad enough of Uiis," interr' fted Teddy Brown indignai.U ly. 'You're j.ust the sort of fool to sacrifice yourself for Damn it, sir, I know yon to be a simple, honest, trustworthy gentleman. Gi?d rne your authority to get your .uggage from the Euston Road Hotel. We'll put a different complexion on things to-morrow morning."

CHAPTER VII. TAKING RISKS. Grant-ley Bennington toiled painfully up the stairs to his chambers on the first floor. He occupied a fine 4 suite of rooms, reserving to himself the largest, with one spacious win- \ dow looking out upon the Temple Gardens. The room was luxuriously ■ furnished; Turkish carpets and rugs; lounges, easy chairs, pictures, hooks, j and ornaments. Everything suggested massiveness —even splendour. He j took off his hat, gloves, and heavy coat, and warmed his hands at the cheerful fire. He glanced at a little pile of letters lying on the table in front of his business chair, and as he turned a ray of sunlight was concentrated tipon him. Couild this thin, pale face, belong to the Grantley of only a few months ago? The hair was streaked with grey; the tired, dark eyes were heavy lidded, and he- moved with the actions of an old man. The fever had sapped at his vitals, and left him with a weak heart and trembling limbs. , He sat down at the big centre table, and opened his letters. Lawyers asking for appointments —all trivial cases from his point of view, and he was glad of it. Stupid people would litigate over the simplest matters, and the very rich were the most obstinate of all. Tresspass here, ruthlessly ignoring the obligations of a contract there, .and so on. But it was good for the legal profession; the lawyers, the court. Grantley made a memorandum in the corner of each letter, and was relieved to know that there was nothing to take him out of the comfortable office that day. He could advise on the cases before him, and one of his juniors could do the real work. If there was the promise of spring in the March sunshine, in the patches of blue sky. it was treacherous and delusive. There was a tap on the door, and a gentleman walked in unannounced. He was a biggish man, apparently about the same age as Grantley Dennington. He wore a close cropped beard and moustache; his face was bronzed, his hair and eyebrows were almost black.

Grantley looked up in swift aston-

ishmcnt; then he held out Loth hands and quavered: "Jack! —Jack, my dear fe.llow!" Jack rushed to his brother, and they embraced each other like affectionate children. "So you knew me, Grant. I avoided the clerk, half afraid." "I seemed to know that you were near, by dear lad; I sensed it after the fashion of the telepathic supermen of whom wo sometimes hear." He did not let go of Jack's hand, and was searching his faco with loving, anxious eyes. "Where have you been all this long time? My heart has been sick with the desire to hear from you." He averted his eyes for a moment. "I cannot bear to see you like this. Why should you bo afraid to face your fcilow-men? It's infamous —infamous the drivelling fools! When there is a mysterious killing of a man, a scapegoat must be found, to salve the public conscience, and prove the omnipotence of the law. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Some unfortunate wretch must suffer, and then they-tell you that imirder will out, and justice is satisfied."

"I haven't been hiding from that, Grant," Jack said gently. "I knew nothing of it until last night; I went to see Brown, and he told roe, and advised this disguise until we could see light." Grantley shuddered. "You know how ill I've been, Jack —how ill I am still, but you shan't suffer for my mistake. I was waiting for you in the drive the night before you left for America, and Murdock came blustering along. I told him to go away, and he threatened me with a pistol. I closed with him, and in the struggle he shot himself. That is the truth, before heaven- Then J everything was a blank as far as I am concerned for days and days. I wish, to God I had died! They kept , things from me for a while, and as I I lay abed I half convinced myself I that the meeting with Murdock was only a dream. Then came the finding of the body, and I was frightenedfrightened ! My cowardly heart I quaked within, me. I determined to hold my peace, and the affair would blow over; only a showman., a cowboy, a drunken desperado. He had misesd his footing and stumbled into the Driftway; his pistol had exploded and there was an end to it. I forgot that he was a man of importance in the moneyed sense; I forgot yoiir peril; I should have known this—l, Grantley Deirnington, the famous lawyer." , _ He sneered; ho clenched his hands;

he sobbed. _ I "Wash off that dye, Jack, and we will settle the matter offhand. It weans that I must take my trial instead of vou, but the chances of an, acquittal will be in my favour, though the silence avi.i weigh against me." "Not yet, old < t..u —not yet. Wa: J . rn'i; you are v> and strong agai". V'-urSnind > wcakei.ed; your couragt n-id pow*r •:- only fitful. You see that T .nin r,il r.ght for a time. Remember Madge.- ■' "There you onch my unarmourcd spot. It was thinking of Madge that made a coward of me." "We'll wait. don'it mind in the least. I'm going into business in a small way, and Brown is to be my risM-hand man. I shall call myself Jack Castlemainc until I can claim my own. Just jot it down, will you. I I've been to look at an office this morning in a side-street/ just off the Strand—a snug little place with living rooms above. I rather enjoy the adventure, and we ■ shall be close neighbours. You must drop in and see me, Grant, and you must tell Madge that you have heard from me. Now tell me' about yourself. Brown told me that you and Madge were married. That was the one thine that hurt me a bit. I wanted to be there, too. You remember the plans wc made?"

Grant-ley nodded gloomily. "It was a quiet affair, nnd we're living at the Court. I couldn't leave the place, after all. It breathes of your presence and father's. I've cut things down pretty fine—half the servants gone, and we're just occupying a. corner of the house. Sir Peter has let the Grange for a year to a South African; a big price, cash down, and has gone abroad. I advised him to do it. He received a cheque for ten thousand, and part of it paid the interest due to the mortgagees. A thousand he gave to Madge, and the remainder he's losing at the baccarat tables on the Continent. Mrfdge and I are not doing so badly." The door opened, and a clerk walk-. Ed in before seeing that Mr Bennington had any one with him. He reddened, and apologised. "What is it, Wilks?' Grantley asked. "Mr Delmaine, sir.'* , t "The very man ; I'll see him in- one minute. Show him into No. 4.". (To he Continued).