Silas Dennington's Money,

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10666, 22 June 1912, Page 2

Silas Dennington's Money,

OUR SERIAL.)

BY F. L. DACRE, Author of "Hold in Bondage," ' A Phantom of the Past," "Sir John's Heiress," "The Shadow of Shame," "A 'Daughter of M.y.siery," ot-j..

CHAPTER VII. —Continued

"Mr Delmaine," Grantley explained to Jack, "does odd jo I is- for tne — —quite yoim <x, hut the coming man. He shall have the post of honour hero to-day, and do any work [or mo. I couldn't for the life of me do anything now, Wo are going io have a little lunch together somewhere, Jack —a happy little lunch, like we used to have in the old days. And 1 want to .see your prospective office, and hear some of your plans. 1 don't like being quite out of it." „ "Will it he .safe, Grant?" "Kor you. or for mo?" "My fears are for you.*' He .started and listened. "Was that a step on the stairs?" "Hundreds of steps on the stairs. Jack. Who is quaking now? If you are recognised, then J face the music. It's got to come, sooner or later." Re gathered up the morning's letters and left the room. T-1c was not long gone, and ,seemed to he quite pleased over something. His movements were more alert, and there was a pink Hush 011 his face. He put on his overcoat and picked up his hat. "Gome along, Jack; it's my honeymoon, and I'm going to have an idle day. Delmaine can do everything .*u the office. T asked Madge if she avouk! like a month away, anywhere, though really want to go. hut she preferred to go 'home at once. T was so confoundedly queer. Now T'LI have a day ofF with you. Jack; we'll take the risk, and if anything comes of it 1 shall he the hotter for the fight. Silence, Jack,; I'll take no denial." They went downstairs together, .and through the cloistered temple. A man who knew the brothers called out a cheery good morning to Grantley, but he took no notice of Jack. "Lot's go to Baker's, in Change Alley, and have a chop. The walk will kill time, and settle my nerves a hit. Then you shall show nic your office; afterwards we'll go to the theatre. Thorn's <1 matinee at the Gaiety— I musical comedy." I "The road to ruin," Jack said j grimly. "I'll fall in with all your honours, hut .your hlood be upon your j own head!" They walked along Fleet Street, and. up Lud'gate Hill. Right in the shadow of St. Paul's a dark, middleaged man acknowledged Grantley's nod ; then his bright eyes Hashed 'on Jack, and lie passed on. Grantley I novel- stopped his flow of small talk, but his face became absolutely blood- j less., ' "Did you know that ciiap?" he asked, at last. c "A policeman in plain clothes." "My good Jack, that was Inspector Brock, who- has charge of the ease against you. The instant you are located, that man will start out to arrest you, even if he has to go to Timj lmktu. If he isn't following us now, j you may rest easy that the ordeal of j your life is over.", )' They lunched in Change Alley, and over a bottle of port and some good cigars there was a lot of talk—affection and business. From the city they drove in a cab to the Gaiety, and thoroughly enjoyed the music, and the colour and the tomfoolery. Tragedy and comedy usually go hand in hand. After the theatre there was tea at Gatti's, wbere Jack had been wellknown to the waiters. There was no sign of recognition. "It's nearly six o'clock, Grant," Jack said. "You don't want to disappoint Madee." • ',l shall go homo by my usual train, the. six-forty. There's time to look ovei; your (Office, Jack. Come along: you shan't deprive me of my final pleasure." They left Gatti's, and, jumping into a cab,' were taken to Nether Street, ~'u the Strand. The cab stopped at the door of an old curiosity shop, and the empty office was directly opposite. The key was in the care of the dealer in antiques, and he came smiling to the door of his shop, twirling it round on his forefinger. He'was a '.quaint figure in a velvet jacket and cap; his trousers were baggy at the knees; his slipners two sizes too big, i and he shuffled as he walked to keen them from being left behind. His face, though, was good to look upon; a generous nose; bright, genial eyes, and a high, intellectual brow. A bushy, snow-white beard and mous--3 tache hit his mouth.

"I guessed what yon wanted, Mr Castlemaine," he remarked. "The key—Lore it is.. Be thoroughly satisfied before you sign a lease. No use grumli'liftg afterwards.'' "What a \tiice looking old man," said Grantley, while .Jack was unlocking the door. "■Yes, isn't he? Can give me pointe. in Greek and Latin. T mit mv s foot. into it this morning, Here we are!" Ho threw open the front door, and they rambled over the building. It Lad been originally planned for a dwelling house, but was eminently suitable for business •purposes. There were three spacious floors, and a private entrance to the upper part. . shall convert the first floor into a flat, and live here," Jack. said. "There are lots of charwomen about, and if one comes in for n couoTe of hours every morning, I shall be reasonably clean and comfortable. I call it a desirable place." "What will be your first venture?" Grantley asked. "Not settled yet. Brown advises

(To be Continued).

boniesthin/j; that won't cost too much in advertising—something of the ephemera"! sort that is likely to lit 1 snapped up liy the chance reader." Tlio.y left tin; building, and went oyer tn the curiosity shop with tho key. Instead of {lie o!d dealer's shuffling stops there was a woman's light footfall, and a girl of between three and four and twenty appeared from behind an upright glass ease. "My father lias just gone to mail his letters," she said. "He won't bo manv minutes." "It's only tho key of tho place, opposite," Jack said. "Sorry to trouble you." Ho laid it on tho oomitor before her, said good evening, and walked out or tho shop at his brother's heels. "Well, it's good-live, Grantley, and you'll have to make a dash Tor your train. I think we have had a jolly day." "Twenty minutes, yet," Grantley said, looking at. his -watch. "T like this officio —1 like the scheme, too—almost'better than the big one. You'll settle on this?" "I have already done so in my own mind, Grant." "T am glad—very glad. Here comes tho antique dealer. What a lovely young woman his daughter is." "T don't think I looked at her," Jafck said indifferently. Ho gripped his brother's hand. There was another heart-searching and the ta.\ical> bore Grantley to Waterloo station.

CHAPTER VIII. SUNDAY AT NETHER STREET. Tfc 'is pleasant 'in the springtime v when tlio cuckoo's here. The sparrow's twitter everywhere; the thrushes and other song birds make music in the greening trees; the skylark flings down his melody from the middle lieavens, and robin redbreast chirps as merrily as any of them, scornful of the fact that he is losing caste now that the winter is over. Spring, hopeful spring! Blue skies and green fields enamelled with buttercups and daisies; wilful winds and unceasing music; cowslips and primroses and other wild flowers, whose name alone would make a garland of sweet thought; spring—spring, and sighing maids! Old men sniff the air, ana dream of a new lease of life; young men with new aspirations rush into the battle of life -with' the strength of ten. Spring breathes golden promises to every living thing—delusive spring! Jack Bennington secured the premises in Nether Street, but the,, owners 1 insisted upon, a seven years' lease. And they required two satisfactory references. Grant ley Bennington was j l one, and Mr Brown, who represented. the Burleigh Bank, was the other,_ 1 Oastlemaine and Co. was to be the style of the new firm, and in that name Jack had paid one thousand ! eight 'hundred pounds into the Burleigh Bank. The painters, .carpenters, and cleaners were soon busy. It was a rush job, and within a month Jack was settled in the building. The mam ( floor had been cut up, or divided, in- ; to all the offices that would be needed for some time to come; the second i floor made a very nice four-roomed flat, with a big sitting room at the front, and the top floor awaited . developments. Grantley and Jack 'had quite enjoyed the business of selecting the furnishings and carpets, and at last the place was occupied by the new tenant. Familiarity with danger had hardened him to the situation, and he mixed with his fellows in the immediate neighbourhood as freely as though he had no more to fear than the, best of them. Then tho signwriter came, and painted up over tho window, "Oastlemaine and Co., Publishers," and up to this hour Jack had not the faintest idea of what he was gping to publish. The sign created a certain amount of curiosity. A few news agents caught sight of it, and carried the information 1 to the publishers. Printers and pa.permakers' travellers \ deteiv mined to keep an eye on the. house with a view to 'added commissions. Who were Oastlemaine and Co., anyway? Safe to trade at the start unless it was some old bird dressed in new 1 - plumage . They made inquiries of the office fitter, and when he told them that he had been paid a hundred pounds cash on the nail for his work, Castlenwiine and Co.'s stock went up with a bound. Thereupon tbey slipped j their business cards into the letter i box of the locked door.