The Dark House at Highgate

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10675, 23 July 1912, Page 2

The Dark House at Highgate

OUR SERIAL.)

BY DERWENT MIALL,

"The Strange Case of Yincent Hume," "In

the Web

CHAPTER I

THE MAN WITH THE FRIGHTEN-

' Etc. Etc

ED EYES

"Delightful," said Mr Betsworth, "entirely delightful." We were standing in front of v, easel, upon which rested a framed water-colour landscape, which ho had been studying through his goldrimmed spectacles, now stepp ing back from tho easel with screwed up eyes, now taking a step 'forward again to note some detail with closer attention. "It has atmosphere. Mr Rycroft," he continued, his fresh-coloured, benevolent old face beaming with satisfaction, "and a breadth of handling that shows it to bo the work of a, man who has put his 'prentice days far behind him. It's a little masterpiece, in short —it really is." I may as well confess that as I stood taking stock of the many art treasures of the pleasant room T listened to this appreciation of the picture on the ease! with some degree of equanimity. For it was signed in tho corner with my own name, "Peter Rycroft," and I felt sure now that Mr Betsworth did not regret having signed his name in the corner "f a certain slip of paper—a very handsome cheque, in fact —that I had recently received from him. "The best thing of yours that I have seen," ho continued, "and it was very good of you to bring it to me in . person." "Oh, not at all," replied, conventionally; "it was no trouble whatever. I have engaged rooms," I went on, "for a few weeks at Lone Cross Farm —you may know the place —but on going there from the (station I found that I had made a mistake in the date, and arrived a day too soon. The people there are not ready for me, and recommended me to put up for the night at the Jolly Farmer Inn. As the hack driver told me I should pass your house, I resolved to be my own light porter and see my picture to its [ destination. And, to tell you the I truth, I am always a little curious about my patrons, and pleased to make their acquaintance." "I am veVy glad your curiosity prompted you to turn in at :ny gate," said Mr Betswoith, with «. smilei"and i I hope I shall see something of\ you ; during your stay among us. I am a very quiet old fellow, fond of antiques, good pictures, good wine, and also of good company when I can get it. • I hope you will give me the pleasure of dining with me soon, and of hearing j your opinion of some of my treasures." "Very willingly," I said, for I wias much taken by the genial manner of this modest old man: "but, for the present, I must get oh ray way. Many thanke for your appreciation of my littles picture." Wo shook hands at his gate, and 1 then I got into the ramshackle hack tlilnt had brought me from the station, and was bowled along between hawthorn hedges an*! overarching beeches, now in the full beauty of their soring dress, towtird the inn, where T lioppd as speedily as possible, to find mvself i" front of snnrethinsr that would satisfy an appetite born of railway travel nnd chantse of air. Thorp was thumW .nlwuifc. a"d the '< "venin.g was very «till mid sultry . A fnVhtened hush had fallen mvi birds, with exception of the thrush., who welcomed the coining tempest with a loud, clear whistle, ns if he could see good beyond threatening evil, and knew that rain on the wa relied ground meant a full crop for „ him. Outside Hie Jolly Farmer. Lv. which, together with a few scattered cottages, stands near the spot whor-. fmv roads meet, alighted from tin? hack, paid the driver, and stood for a minute with my ba<rs in ray hand con--templating the white-washed front »ind thatched roc-f of the one-stnrv hostelry. The air was musky with the soP'iit of the hawthorn and privet, and I drew in a deen breath of it with the profound satisfaction of one who is a little weary of the smell of baked i pavements. "Very olea.s.'mtlv rustic," T thought >« I admired with the 'appreciative eve of a landscape painter the noble groups of tvee<! that the Jolly Fanner. The latter is by no means a palatial establishment, and the road, deeply scored with motor-car tracks, showed that wealthier wayfarers ignored its modest comfort and passed on. But at thirty years of age I was • too old a traveller not to know that pretentiousness and foreign waiters are not essential to happiness. There was an inscription over the inn door to the effect that Thomas Mott was "licensed to sell beer, foreign wines and spirits, tobacco and cigars.", . , "Come," I said to myself, "if Thomas Mott can also supply lamb chops and a bed. I shan't do at jdl badly for on« night." / Then I bared my head to ,mop a heated brow, smoothed by moustache, and pushed open the door. A few naces down a cool nagged and I arrived at a kind of glass ciase. furnished inside with shelves holding bottles, pewter measures, a serried array of cut glass and earthenware muss. Out of this glass case stepped Mr . 'Thomas Mott. who had an impassive, stuffed sort of look, very proper to one who spent much of his time in-

CHAPTER II

Author of "Lady Rosalie's Legacy," "Bellamy's Warning,"

A BOTTLE OF WINH.

j sido such a. structure. | "If you are Mr xMofct, I want dinner and a bed for the night," J exolain|cd. Mr Matt could not promise a bedroom without consulting the 'missus,' who was not at home just now, but, moved, perhaps, by my hungry looks' he contracted for the supply oi : dinner on his own responsibility, and presently preceded mo up the fhi-gged ipa*sajre and stood with, bis hand on the knob of the door. "You'll have company to dinner. sir," he said, "as I've only this one room. I hope you won't object." "Not in the least," I replied, "if the company doesn't object to me." The landlord opened the door, and 1 stood forthwith staring into the terrified eyes of a youngish man, who sat facing me on the other side of the table plentifully bestrewn with plates and dishes. A lamp stood, lighted, in the middle of the table. -A bulky man sat in an armchair at the head of the table.

"Rut mv attention was rioted on the face of the young man sitting opposite the door. There could be no jii.stake about it—he was frightened, horribly frihtened ; it was plain by the quick questioning glance he cast at his companion and then back at me 'asain; it was plain by the rustling of +.bo lowered nowsn.i.ner he was .holding. Most certainly there was more in his look than the natural hostility entertained by most Englishmen towards a newcomer in railway compartments or eoffceroom. The man . viewed me with visible alarm. For a. few seconds T was startled ' • • .> returning stare for Itare; then* with a camlets biw. 1 strode to the w.'\ oh pied end of the taiblo and sat down. ) If the first comers did not like me, that was no affair of mine. I meant to take my ease in my inn—the birthplace of independent men from time immemorial.

Mr Mott, evidently a man of resource, was quickly on the spot with soup—excellent soup, hot and clear, and flavoured with spring vegetables. As I awaited the next lOiirse—Mr Mott had accepted my suggestion of lamb chops with an enterprising alacrity remarkable in a country innkoener —I had leisure to study my table companions a little. The young man who had arrested my very particular attention when I entered the room was obviously a r>e?"son of social standing. I recognised that he was well tailored, and his features were goodj except that he wan woefully deficient in the matter of chin. The man atjthe far end of the table was harder to place—an American, so I supposed. He was clciaushaven, and his round, full face had r. sallow, dyspeptic look, induced, perhaps by the ravages of ice water and hot coffee. His eyes were dark, ana his appearance suggested latent-pow-er.

He it was that first broke the rather oppressive silence. "I guess wo shall have thunder before long, sis," ho said solemnly; and, no logger in doubt a« to his nations!•• ity. I - agreed with this weather forecast. The younger man darted his swift, suspicious glance at me, and silence fell again. The lamb chops came, with suitable accompaniments, including a jar of nutty country ale. But zest frr fou.! was deserting me. The a.fmosnher" of the room seemed chained with elet»-i'-icitv, wli : "h had nothi"g to do with the imnending sterns. It really .was not fair, either to me or the Jolly Farmer that a simple but excellent dinner .should be spoiled in that way; but it was impossible to feel at ease ;r the presence of a man sick-with fear, with nerves strained well-nigll to breaking point. 1 think I am. ordinarily, unruffled by trinles, but I know I fairly jumped ; when the young man suddenly put down his newspaper with a. noisy rattle, evidently finding «i]en<ee a' <•• inaction unendurable, and said, in a high, staccato, onavering voice:

"Fhall wo go for a turn outside Rimington?"

The bulky man, who was toy' ><: witih a cigar, seemed to consider the matter.

"No'." he renlied slowly. "T reckon not. Jt grows dark, and there's nam coming." \ '

As he snoke. T heard a licdit bat decisive thud under the table. Th(.> speaker had'stamped on his corn na r.l--io"'«s to enioin silence or caution. The Jolly Farmer, thoiurh built or. ,n Tnrvdest scale, is a hostelry of the right order, but T fp.lt that the £w t . men who shared the diniinsr room with mn were not us. ; n«: the inn in the right spirit: thev had brought in their cares or their villainies with. them.

Those who dwell much in cities suf for undoubtedly from a weakening of the faculty of curiosity. Your trae rustic will store a passing stranger cut of countenance, as if in sheer won tier at his existence, noting his wewy points with a grasp of detail som£ times highly disconcerting, and with a feeling of resentment asrainst hi';, 'f his business is not plainly declared by his outward .appearance. But win*; the town dweller it is otherwise, and I am, in general, as little iruquisit'" * about strangers as the townsman can be. (To be Continued.)