Silas Dennington's Money.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10686, 13 July 1912, Page 2

Silas Dennington's Money.

BY F. LvDACRE. Author al "Held in Bondage," "A Phasiwr of the !:*.•;:,.• -'': •• John's Heiress," "l'fce Shadow of Shaa&. r = "L L'auphter ci My if try," etc.

OUR SLRiAL.)

CHAPTER XlX.—Continued. Scon a four-wheeled cab came trundling along from the Strand, and when the driver shouted "Whoa!" it pulled up at the door of the curiosity shop. Then the luggage was hoisted up by the man with tho red, perspiring face, piece by piece?, until it was astonishing where the driver had stowed it away. The small packages were put inside the carriage, two big trunks accompanied the cabman on the front seat, and the remainder went on top. Theodore Grant and his daughter now emerged from tho passage, and while her father locked up, Rosamund got into the cab. She sat down on the side next to Jack's office, and Jack threw a kiss down to her. At the : same moment the carriage door slammed to, and the vehicle rolled away. Jack jerked up the window blind, and for some minutes gazed moodily at the house opposite. It seemed that n black cloud had suddenly obscured the sun. He was in no pleasant frnm? of mind when Tom Wayman was amru"ced, and when the artist waltzed smilingly into the room he was met with a savage scowl. His outstretched hand was ignored. "I hope tlier's nothing amiss, sir," he said, with sudden apprehension. "There's a good deal amiss, Wayman."

Tom paled, and cudgled his memory. "Has someone been inquiring after me?" he asked faintly. "Or telling tales? Girls are so venomous when they think they are slighted. I love 'em all, but I can't be tied to one." "You needn't give yourself away; You are on the wrong tack altogether. What's the meaning of this thing?" Jack threw down the "caution" ho had received that morning, and Way-, man stared at it aghast. He opened eyes and mouth, and ran his fingers through his hair, in hopeless fashion. "Oh, good Lord, Mr Castlemaine this wasn't meant for you! What | have I done, snorting lunatic that I l

am!" He pranced up and down the room. "Governor, we are mined!—l have given the whole show away to the 'captain.' This was meant for her, and s*he has cot your letter. I mixed up the envelopes." * "'Given the show away?' What do you mean, you jackanapes?" "The new paper—'Wedding Bells.' I wrote a lot of stuff to you about it, mentioning names and titles, and new lady writers, and no end of private affairs." His face was now ghastly, and Jack burst out laughing. "I'mi one of those people loaded with good intentions who are continually bringing disaster on their friends," proceeded the artist. "Can't you see what I've done? The 'captain' is now in full posession of our tvMe —our date of publication, and she hates you, Caslemaine, because you won't take her to the theatre —or even to a simple lunch. What's to-day?" he added suddenly. "Friday, and we publish the first number on Tuesday. Can't you issue it sooner?"

\ "Imposibsle. We've already rushed the printers to their utmost capacity. We're all right, Wayman. The presentation plates won't ho delivered until Monday. They're being printed at Nottingham. The last of the advertising matter goes out to-day. If the Jinks woman is as had as you make out I'll pay her off."

"Bad? She's a female Judas! She's in the pay of the 'Paragon' people, and is now faking old stories especially for you. I'll give her fits yet! I captured a beautiful big, slimy, firespitting toad yesterday in the cellar, and I'm going to slip it into her pocket or reticule. There'll be hysterics forty miles long. By Jingo"! there's trouble ahead. You'll have her along soon, wearing a .fringe net and smile, and it will be curious to watch her tactics. Look here, Castlemaine, why not make a fuss of her fora day or two. Give her a champagne lunch and tickle her powdered cheek with two days' growth of beard ? It'll save the situation."

"No —no —no!" said Jack, smilingly shaking: his head. "As a matter of fact, Wayman, she was written to yesterday, to finish her story in a few instalments. Mr Brown suggested it, as we were being imposed upon. In future nothing will be accepted except in its complete form, and after two independent readings. Oh, that reminds me that there will be same extra work for you. Miss Grant lias gone away for a holiday." "I noticed that the windows were in mourning," grinned the artist. "So you've bought the old man. out? There'll be gnashing of teeth in the camp of the suffragettes, and you'll have them here, mobbing the office, until they find out the truth." "Get out now," Jack said good humouredly. "I am glad that you have been able to explain. If the 'captain' calls I must refuse to see her; I am too busy to waste more time on her or you." But Captain Be Vere did not call, and the day was one of stir and bustle in every department. Jack scarcely allowed himself time for a decent meal. He took care, though, to cable to Madge Bennington just these few words: "Letter received. Delighted. Cash next week." And where the cash was coming from he had not the haziest notion. He might have to call in a broker and sell the bedroom furniture, and a few of the luxuries of the sitting room. He had no use for them

«ow, as hewas „ 01 - f , tf) j , '. -Among Ins letter, on Saturday m<n-„ "K «as one from Theodore G^n™ i oetiaved itself n , ]„ s trending hWrs J^o.etto:- nns dafod from a/] K Dover, and ran thus: ,T I "Dear Mr Castle-mnine : I left the ! of the shop at vour office, and 'hen you have removed the things |„°v U »,?:S ht I .'"y .«nf,. L) (K id and Weeks. ]„ , instructed them to call for it. The fur' niturc and the premises will then he P"t up for immediate sale. . "As regards the affair between mv impulsive daughter and yourself I must ask you to consider it at an end Wie is far too young to know her own mind; and, apart from that, you arc not acceptable to me as her future |,„s»and. I have not disguised my feelings at any time, and tho attentions you forced upon her were unmanly on your part, all things considered. ' We are going abroad immediately, and if you are a gentleman you will not attempt to cause me further annoyance. "Yours, etc., "Theodore Grant." "Damned old fool!" , vas Jack's wrathful growl.

CHAPTER XX. ABJRESTED. It was the eve of the great event—the Publishing of the first number of the 'Wedding Bells." Thirty tons of the paper were packed in parcels of all sorts and sizes . The offices, hack and front, had great piles stacked up , against the walls. There was hardly < room to move anywhere. But in an hour or two the big vans of the earners would clear the lot away, and' the next day the paper would he in every town in Great Britain. Teddy Brown was in a less despondent, frame of mind now. To hearten I him up Jack had let him have a sight . of Madge Dennington's letter, and the [effect was twofold. His pleasure was j strongly flavoured with fear. When the blow fell it might have a paralyzing effect on the business, and Brown's heart and soul \vere wrapped up in the business. But it brought the money almost withiw reach, and the liabilities "•were pilin-g-wp. He drew a big breath, j the peril was passing. The vans came, and the parcels began to melt away. Such a hurrying and scurrying; a confusion of many voices, the trampling of many feet. The publishing time was four o'clock, and everyone wanted to be served first. By five o'clock the office was empty, and the stream of vehicles had gone/ "Only twenty thousand left in the basement," Brown said. "We shan't have anything like enough. The illustration is selling it. We must try and get the country parcels off a clay ahead next week. I'm going out to'get a cup of tea, Mr Castlemaine; I won't be long." "You'll find me upstairs," said Jack. "I wan't to have a talk with you." Brown nodded and shiusrged his shoulders. Ho knew that -it was a question of "nlunder" again. Jack's mind was bothered, too. about Rosamund. Her promised letter had not reached him, and a telegram he had sent to Theodore Grant at the Dover addrpf; had been returned. Mr Grant and his daughter had only stayed there a few hours. He had merely wired to tell him that the stock had been cleared out of the shop, and the key handed to the agents. He faced the disappointment with his usual courage' and firm belief that 'things would eventually turn out all right. And there was always Brown to turn to. Poor old Brown! He was now chosing much of the reading matter for the papers. He had a. better knowledge of the wants of the public than did his master.

Jack was up in his room, standing; at the window, when Brown came hack from his tea. Some men wei'o busy opposite, fixing- a big 'blackboard above the window of Grant's shop, and on the hoard wasipainted in glaring; white letters an announcement that the freehold premises were for sale. Jack left the window, and sat down in his chair at the table. Brown was standing on the hearthrug with knitted brows. His face was a trifle paler than usual, and his eyes betrayed some powerful inward feeling. "We're up against a bit more experience, Mr Castlemaine," he said, with a short nervious laugh. "The •Paragon' people have stolen a march upon us. Look here." He unfolded a paper which he had crumbled up in his right hand, and spread it out on the trfl)le. "Another 'Wedding Bells,' and the men have been selling thorn in the streets until two o'clock.

"TVo Richmoiuls in the field!" remarked Jack -dixzily. He pressed his finders over his eyelids for a moment. "Nothing like as good as ours —cheap and nasty." He staring at the front page, and the title —his title —seemed* to dance and twist in spiteful glee. (To "bo Continued).