The Swoop of the Vulture.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10711, 3 September 1912, Page 2

The Swoop of the Vulture.

'GUP SERIAL.)

UI \ A PTKR V.—Cont in uoil

As soon as they got outside into tho held pafcii tiist led to tho manor house t.he .processor's manner altered entire'iv. lie ceased to be the genial, reopectabbboit, and l>ccamo, as...it were, the mental director of the man wlioi'ii 1 his .x':i"nce .had, for the time. being, placed completely at .his mercy. He began io .lalk in a. masterful tom>, which "wsis in .strange contrast. with tho quiet, refined voice that he used in his daily intercourse with the world and hi--- coniinixl himself strictly to one subject— -buMiiess. ' •- Sir Godfrey appeared to take it all | quite as a matter of course. Ho ag-. rued with everything'.that "'as said, and did not take the .slightest notice of his singularly changed manner. When they reached the .side door of the manor, which admitted directly to i.ho rooms which Sir Godfrey . reserved .for himself,, ho opened it with Iris latchkey, .and turned on the electric light, the professor following him . to the library: then he turned and said, | .'"Have a drink. Halkine; there is the -spirit stand, and you will -find some soda and a cigarette. That [ wine nf yours fiiis made me feel so good that I guess 1 won't spoil it with anythmg else."

HaLkino helped himself very spar- ! high'. If ever ho wanted a clear head ami"sWkl.v }j-aiid ho wanted them now. ■for this was the crucial .hour of.the, experiment; which was to prove if his theory as to tho disease of a divided personality was correct or not. 'Ho sat <lo\vn opposite his host at j the corner of the table, and went on | talking a limit his niece's marriage', arranfoments for' the settlements, and sn en.and gradually and subtly led up to tho question of Sir Godfrey's will. , . "Oh. Lhat will be all right." he mtorrupcod, almost the will some years ago. The estate is nueuiailed. I have left everything to Harold, with tho exception or a few legacies to servants, and one or two- bequests to (scientific research, j So Grace wiH be quite safe. Don't j you worry a-lwut the settlements, o.d man; they'll be all right." "No, I'-clout nropose.to." said Halkine, still in his cold, masterful tone, keeping his eyes fixed on Sir Godfrey's ; "but I do not think that I could accept such a will on her behalf as entirely satisfactory. You see, I am her guardian. She owes practus ailv everything to me; and although I don't suppose such a thing probable for a moment, still, you .know it-is possible for man and wife, however much they may love each other at first, to come to loggerheads afterI ward. So T propose that you shall 1 oxecute another will in place of that j one." "But why on earth should T do that?" exclaimed, Sir Gndfrpy, in a I curiously wavering tone, trying ,in \ vain to move his gaze from those piti- ! less ami compelling eyes. ! "Because I think if the right and

proper thing to do. Sir Godfrey," was the reply. "Just wait a, moment. I'll show you what I raonn." He arose, fetch pel the blotting pad ■and a. shoot of foolscap' from the writing table. He put those on the other table by Sir Godfrey's right band, and then he did a very extraordinary thing, which, strangely enough, did not .strike Sir Godfrey as being at a,ll out of tho common.

There was a light Japanese folding screen .standing beside the door. He brought this up to the table, and stood it flat against the edge in such a way that one of the leaves stood between Sir Godfrey's body and his right arm, as he sat at the corner of the table. It was so placed that, while Sir Godfrey's right hand and arm were lying on the table, ho was not able to see them without looking round the edge of 4 the screen. Halkine then went behind his chair, placed the paper and the blotting pod in position, took out his sonographic pen, uncovered the nib, and put it into Sir Godfrey's hand. Then he went round the screen again, sat down in front of hint, and as soon as he got his eyes enchained, ho began: "Now, Sir Godfrey, on the subject

of this will. What I propose that you should do is this: You and I, although we have known each, other personally for very long, are still old

friends and fellow workers in the most

sacred of all causes. Therefore I think yotj can trust me, if you can trust any one."

"Oh, yes," replied Sir Godfrey, in the game wavering voice. "What is that you propose?" "Simply this," he replied, slowly and very distinctly. That you should as soon as convenient, draw up" instructions to your lawyers to prepare a new "will."

He paused for a few moments, and the hand behind the screen began to twite.

When the. faint scratching ceased, the professor went on '.'again :

"And I propose by this will you should leave your real personal estate to your adopted son, Harold Trevor Enstone, on condition of his marrying Miss Grace Romanes." Here the 'scratching began, keeping tim-e 'with Hjalkine's slowly spoken words.

"And that you appoint your friend,

BY OWEN MASTERS. Author of "His Heart's Desire," "One Impassioned Hour," "Captain Emlyn's Bride." "Tho Dcverdl Heritage," "Tho Ironmaster's Daughter/' etc.

CHAPTER Vr

SUICIDE OR WORSE?

(To be Continued.)

-Jouncr Halkine, as solo trustee of your v.-hole estate, with power to carry out your wishes, as indicated in writing to rr.e, lor the' furtherance of research in ilio-se special branches of .science to which yon ilnvve devoted so many years of your life."

' "These instructions are in case your adopted son, fads, from any cause under his own control, to marry MiSs Grace .Romanes, or shall be prevented from doing so by death, accident or disease.

"in that c;uso the sum of one thousand pounds shall be paid anually to the trustee for life, andthe residue of the estate shall be applied at his discretion to the purposes of study, education, and original researches in such branches of science -as ho may select in accordance with the aforementioned instructions.

"In the event of marriage between Harold.: En stone and. Grace Romanes taking place,, the money conveyed to her by the marriage settlements shall ho at 'her absolute disposal. "Harold En-stone shall enjoy the revenues of the estate to the extent of twenty thousand pounds a year, with the possession of two houses in London and the country, grouse moors salmon .streams, yachts, et cetera. The remainder of the revenues of the estate shall be held in trust by Doctor. Jenner Halkine, and used at his discretion in accordance with the testators instructions. He-shall have power to appoint two other trustees, of approved eminence in the scientific world, to, co-operate with him, and the legal advisor to such trustee or trustees shall he Bonbam Denyer, of Middle Temple Lane, London. You will 1 sign these instructions and have them put in proper form by him and your own lawyer as soon as possible." The pen went on scratching regularly until the slowly spoken speech came to an end. Then there were a few more 'rapid, decisive scratchings and it stopped. Halkine got up and went round the screen, took the pen out of Sir Godfrey's hand, and looked over the paper. The nnconcious hand hod written down the instructions word for word in the small handwriting so familiar to Sir Godfrey's many Correspondents, and at, the end was 'his .signature as usual in bold contrast with the writing. Ho put the paper and blotting pad aside, removed the screen, and said, in a totally altered voice, as though: nothing extraordinary had taken olace:

"And now. Sir Godfrey, wo have had a very intorcstinff.cli.it, but I roallv think it is about time for bed. I will look around later in the moniin'ff, when wo have both had a sleep, and finish fiiir discussion." They dicok bands, and Sir Godfrev wont out to open the side door. Halkin e fokled up the paper, put it- into his pocket, and followed him.

j Later, on the same morning the | profosi-or and Mr. Denver met at I breakfast, and almost the First thing j that the latter said, after t'ho servant i had closed the door, was:

"Well, ard how did the great 'experiment go off?" "Pcrfectlv!" replied Halkine. ".look at that'" ' , Pie t~ok tho folded -sheet from the breast pocket of his coat and went on :

! "1 suppose it is the. only example i on record of n man's signature forged by himself. ■• Sir Godfrey Enstone wrote that in the small hours of this , 4 morniug, and signed it without having the slightest notion of what he was doing, which T think is -a fairly conclusive proof that my theory as to the disease of. a divided personality is pretty correct." | "Y;m dont m&an it!" vxelaimed Dcnyer, with something like a gasp, I in his voice, after he had run his eye I over the written page. "Of course, there is not tho slightest doubt-about I it being Sir Godfrey's writing and :h'is' signature. Every handwriting I expert in England would swear to it, and yet you mean to tell me that he [WI that without knowing. Look here ! Halkine, I don't want to flatter yc but you are beginning to make me a , little afraid of you.