The Swoop of the Vulture.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10713, 5 September 1912, Page 2

The Swoop of the Vulture.

OUR SERIAL.)

BY OWEN MASTERS.

( riAPTEIt VI. Continued. "And jiow, T .suppose, Malkinc," said tlio lawyer. "this is tho end of Act 2 and the beginning of Act 3 oi tho tragedy?" "Yes," replied tho professor, quite impersonally. "Everything has gone off perfectly v.-oil so far, and now 1 think the time for stronger measures

has arrived." _ "Great Scott, man!" exclaimed two lawyer. "You talk about a. contemplated minder with as little concern as though it were a legal execution. Have you absolutely no heart, no compassion lor this ■man, who has been your friend and neighbour for all these months, and your intellectual friend, for years and years before . J ' "It's not a question of friendship, or companion, or anything oi that sort," said lialkine, looking with his luminous eyes far away iuto space be-

yond liim. "It's merely a matter of necessity. Sir Godfrey, with whom 1 have every personal sympathy, is an obstacle in the way. Progress and science cannot wait on the welfare of individuals, and therefore lie must bo removed. "Were it I would lay down my life with equal readiness in the same cause. 1 herefore, you can hardly expect me to have manv scruples in such a case as this." ' • .

Denyqr's private impression, was that his friend and accomplice was a little mad on this particular subject, j He kept his opinion himself, knowing that the first installment of the ten thousand pounds could not be until Sir Godfrey's will had been duly j proved. . . So ? to use the professor s cola-blo- , oded' phrase, the treatment began ] again far more vigorously than before | th e poison that had for the time being lain latent in Sir Godfrey's blood, i was roused to force and activity. Be- ! fore many days had passed his life was an alternation between the wild ecstasies of hashheesh dreams and the awful periods of depression which followed them. It was in vain that his own doctor, and the friend and neighbour strove to abate the evil. ISo matter what precautions were taken to keep all drugs out of his reach, the symtoms continued to grow worse, until'at the end of the month it was decided to telegraph for Harold and his wife to return. i The telegram reached them at Lomo and they hurried back at once; but on the morning of their arrival at the manor, the nurse found him lying in bed drenched with blood, with a iakov clenched in his right hand, and several of the large veins of the neck cut clean through.

OHAPAERVII

HAROLD SUSPECTS

The funeral of Sir Godfrey was over, and the will had been read. Neither Harold Enstone nor his wife had shown theslightest surprise at its extraordinary provisions, both accepted the changed conditions with perfect acquiescence, not a litt.e to the surprise of Doctor Halkine and his accomplice. All that Harold said when Mr liarthgato had finished reading the will was: "I presume, Mr Barthgate, that this house and everything it, for the time being, belong to me.-'" "Unquestionably," replied the lawyer. "The trust which Sir Godfrey imposed upon Doctor Halkine has reference only to moneys and securities actually realizable." "Thank you,"- said Harold, with a look across the room at the professor. "In that case, as my legal representative and adviser, I ask you to take precautions to prevent anything leaving the house until I have made a thorough examination of my j late guardian's papers." "Certainly Min Enstone," replied the lawyer. "Your wishes shall be obeyed, and I will instruct my clerk, if you like.,.to seal up all receptacles in which Sir Godfrey might have plated any papers." . "I must admit that that is a wise precaution % of *yours, Harold," said Doctor Halkine; "but X hope you will allow me, after your examination is over, to have access to the manuscripts which Sir Godfrey and I have been preparing for several months, on a certain subject of very deep interest to the scientific world in general."

"I can make mo promises,", said Harold, rather stiffly, "until I have gone through everything. When I have done that, I shall be happy to hand over to you anyhing which you say is of interest .to the scientific world. I don't think I can say anything more than that at present."

Not a little to the professor's astonishment, Harold, while hie was saving this, returned the gaze of those wonderful eyes of his unflinchingly. Grace, too, was looking at him and there was a light in her eyes that he. had never seen there before. ,lii the solitude of his study that night lie discovered the reason for this The magic of wedlock had done its work. His influence over his niece, hitherto supreme and unquestionable, was either greatly diminished or entirely destroyed. For his own purposes -lie made her believe herself in love with Harold Enstone sufficient to marry him. But there were deeper depths in the mysteries of the

Author of "fiis Heart's Desire," "One Impassioned Hour," "Captain. Emlyn's Bride," "Tho Dtvero-31 Heritage," "The Ironmaster's Daughter," etc.

marriage union than oven his philosophy had over sounded. The artificial had become the real, and what had been only lovo by suggestion was now the love of a perfect union—a union whoso strength, as he then recognised, now defied all his evil arts to break. 'Tin much obliged to you," he said, a little awkwardly, looking from one

to the other. "You will find the results of a very considerable amount of work which T should not like to ioso. As a matter of fact. I have already arranged with the "Contemporary," and two of three Continental reviews, for publication. It is a matter of deepest regret to me that my friend and colleague died almost at the time when his name was about to become famous. It is a thousand pities, for, without knowig it himself, ho was one of the greatest scholars and thinkers of the time."

Harold acknowledgeed the-tribute with an inclination cf his head, and the business 'proceeded. 1 "I wonder how tho deuce that fellow got the idea of having everything sealed, up," said Halkine to Mr Denyer, as they walked back to dower bouse. | "Perhaps his wife suggested it to him. From what I have seen of Mr , Harold En stone, I should hardly think he has originality enough to think

that out himself. Whereas, your daughter " "My niece, ff you please, for the present," interrupted Halkine sharply. "I 'have reasons for that, and it doesn't do to use phrases in private which may be used by accident in public. What do you mean?" "I mean that as a pretty close student of human nature —as a man of my profession has to be —I have noticed during the last few hours a very C Considerable change both in your neice and her .husband. He has a great deal more initiative than he liad ; more decision ; more penetration. Before her marriage, you know, you could, as it were turn her round your finger. Somehow, I don't think yoU could do it now." } "That remains to be proved," said the professor shortly. | "If I had any knowledge of such ' matters, I think you would find that you, with all your uncanny skill and deep learning, have managed to run i up against something like a brick wall of your own building, which you will find a great deal to hard for your head." - | "What do you mean?" asked Halkine. I "Simply this: That when you ar- ! ranged this marriage between youi niece and Sir Godfreys' heir, you left ,oiit one fiact-or inyour calculations,- : and that is the absolute and far-reach->; incr change which marriage produces i in the personalties af the man aiid the ' woman. There is no doubt that young . Kustone was deeply in loyewith Grace however artificial her feeling may have been for him. Now I think \ou can ; .see that love has won the day. In-' I stead of-her subjectinghim, as you intended, his love has conquered her. J believe the prayer bcok says, 'They I twain are one.' " _ | "1 must say it was a curious idea , for such a -student of human nature jas you to adopt, and I «un liult in--1 clined to think that vou are right, Denyer," replied Halkine, very quietly after he had taken a dozen strides | in' silence. "It only goes to show how science of personality really is Well, if you are right, I suppose I have 'made a bad mistake." I "I am Half afraid, that is'the case. And may I ask what it is that you pro-.-, poso to do?" continued Mr Denver. "I mean with regard to the payment ' of the first installment." | "That will be all right, only you • must see for yourself that it is quite i impassible for mo to draw such a laige I sum immediately. It will need a conj siderable amount of skillful arrangement." "The careful arrangement is your I business. Getting the money is mine. To be quite candid with you, I want it. Two or three of my ventures have gone rather badly lately, and I am short. T must have at least five thousand pounds within a week." I (To be Continueed.)