The Swoop of the Vulture.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10711, 17 September 1912, Page 2

The Swoop of the Vulture.

'GUP SERIAL.)

CHAPTER XIII. (Continued.) ]}y this moans ho secured many luxuries and privileges which a ro nou mentioned in the prison regulation:;. The miserable diet was supplemented by such portable delicacies as potted meats, sardines, and anchovies, with now and then a half pint of wine or brandy, and, perhaps best of all, a newspapo.'. It was in one of those that be read an account of the action which Harold Enstono had taken to set aside the will, and idwlish the trusteeship. Ho had never read anything more anxiously in his life than he read that half column, inch by inch, as opportunity offered, but when be had realised all the facts, be smiled as he hid the paper away until lie could return it to his henchman, and said to himself. "That is all very good. The million is ours, and Imli will keep faith with me, even to death, and who knows but that between us wo may somo day find a way to open this living tomb." What he had actually learned was that Harold's action had bee:' successful so far as the actual estate and personal property were concerned. His own trusteeship, and that of IzahIlamal, had been declared null and void, on the ground of improper Influence; and the court had given every thing back to Harold, as Sir Godfreys sole lawful heir. But over' a million that had already been drawn out of the estate the court had no nowe.". It is :me of the peculiarities of English law that while it can punish the thief it cannot compel hint to disgorge his plunder. No further penalty can be inflicted on a man already scntenc-, ed to penal servitude for life, and. so Harold En stone had to submit to the lo«s of the million with what grace he could; 'and TzWßamal. guarded- it safely, and watched interest- being piled' upon interest, until the day that he honed for should come. One day, about a week before Halkino's probation came to an endlie was to be transferred to the great convict prison at Nethermoor, within whose granite walls he was to pass the rest of his days—a serious mischance befel.him. Warder Jackson was struck down by typhoid fever, and in his delirium he raved about , convicts with awful eyes that saw into bis brain, and waving hands which blinded himj and a voice that lie coiild. not disobey, which commanded"him to forsake his duty, and do all maimer of unlawful things.

ft so happened that both the governor and the doctor of the prison wero men of considerable enlightenment and intelligence, and they Arrived at the conclusion that Warder Jackson's story—which he told in connected form" after he recovered his reason—tallied so completely with the strange allegations which had been made at Halkine's trial, that the matter was worthy of careful investigation. , Without-saying anything to Halkine, the governor had Denyer before him'in his private,room, and told him that if .'he would speak plainly and honestly about the supposed ;occult powers of .his late accomplice, the marks which he'would lose for receiving his letter would be restored to him, and nothing more-be said of the .matter. Denver spoke freely, and ho also took the opportunity of asking leave to petition the Home Office for protection against Doctor ]zah-Ramal and Ram Dass. The leave was granted, not so much for his sake as for the reason that the authorities .were not sorry to have a specific excuse for keeping an eye on Halkine's associates, who were probably also his confederates, since the vanished million was undoubtedly in their possession..

His story of the strange powers which ho had seen Halkinc exercise on Jiqth Sir Godfrey and his niece, bej'ore her marriage, tallied exactly .with Warder Jason's confession; hut when the interview was over, the doctor said :.

"In my opinion'; "this is distinctly a case that it will ho well worth while, both for us and the Xethennoor people,*to watch carefully and, if possible without the man's suspicions. I know Doctor Saunderson, of Ncthermoor, very well, and if you agree 1 will write him a description of the cas-e as far as I, can." . ' "Yes," replied the governor, "you might do that at once, doctor; and I will pay a little surprise visit to our friend with the wonderful eyes, and see .if I can make anything of him. "Take care that he doesn't make something of you that you don't want him to." replied the doctor seriously. "It's only plain truth that when a man d«es possess this mysterious power, whatever it is, there's scarcely any limit to it. For instance, I've seen a man in the infirmary at Saltpetriere, singing a comic song while his leg was being amputated .without anaesthetics, simply under hypnotic suggestion."

"I quite believe it," said the governor. "I've read descriptions myself of the most extraordinary cases described by the best authorities. I'll take good care that he doesn't fix me with, his basilisk glare. A prison with a .hypnotized governor would be. rather too much like comic opera. What would our respected commisioncrs think of it?"

BY OWEN MASTERS.

Author of "His Heart's Desir g," "One Impassioned Hour," "Captain Emlyn's Bride," "The Deverell Heritage," "The Ironmaster's Daughter," etc.

t The said coinmisioners would have I ben just as much astounded as the | governor was if they could have acI companied him on his visit to Halkine |in Ids cell. It happened that the I chaplain, who, like all prison chap- [ lains, worked rather for the love of I the work than for a living, was visitI iiig the prisoner that afternoon. When the governor entered the cell, lie was amazed to iind the Reverend Edward Cartwright standing bolt upright in the corner behind the door, his arms held stiffly by his sides, and his eyes staring straight at Halkine. who was sitthig at the other end of the cell, by the little shelf that served for a. table, calmly dictating a letter., which, the chaplain was to write for bin to his friend Izah-Ramal. Tlie chaplain wa« iust repeating, in a mechanical voice, the last paragraph of the letter when the governor swung the door to behind him, and exclaimed:.

"Good heavens, Mr. Cartwright, what is the matter? And you, Halkine, why don't you stand up ? '' » his anger at the breach of discipline, he forgot the doctor's caution, and stared straight into the luminous, magnetic eyes. In an instant they had gripped his .and held them. The chaplain's eyes drooped, his voice died a\V : ay in a murmur, and he seemed to sleep, standing as rigid as a sleepwalker.

/ ; "Because I prefer to sit down," replied Halkine, in slow, musical,and yet intensely penetrating tones. "It is you who shall stand. You had better do as you are told," he went on, as the governor made a struggling movement toward him. "Confound you, you scoundrel! I'll " • • .. "Take care, sir, take care," said a voice again, as the eyes grew darker and. bigger, and seemed to come closer "You are a somewhat apoplectic subject " artd it would be very.awkwa.rd-. if you'had a fit in my cell, with the door iocked. They riiibht think I had killed you and I wouldn't like to do that Now listen. I understand from the chaplain that Bonham Denver (has made a confession about me and ' tint there is some idea of punishing me, bv reducing my diet, for causing him to break the regulations and keepinf me in solitary confinement. "You will do nothing of the kind. My probation is nearly up, and J ve had enough of this kind of thing. You will credit me with the full amount of marks, and you will write this evening to the governor at Neth-, ermoor, where I hear I am to be trans- ; ferred, informing'him that my conduct has been as good as my health has been delicate;, and that you therefore suggest that" I shall be treated ■with everv consideration. Jt >ou don't do this, and show me the letter before you mail it, I M keep ygi under my influence as 1 *d Jackwn, and compel you to do something that shall insure your dismissal. Do you promise me, on your honor as a gent'eman ? ' The .rovernor struggled hard to say ire wished, hut it was use ess. Halkine rose and came close to him. Be felt his hands grip bis temples, and saw the two large, eyes merge -into one as Warder Jackson and the .hap'nin had seen them. '1 hen be I heard W own voice -saying : . "Yes I promise, on my honor. "Vor'v well." said the voice quickly. "Now von mav unlock the door. Mr Cartwright," he went mi, passmgbis hand, upward over the chaplains forehead, "come, it's time you woke up Remember that you also have a letter to write for me. You d better o-o and do it, and lie careful not to:forget anything that I have told you. The chaplain's, eyes opened, and ho replied in a dreamy voice: "Oh, no; T shall certainly not target..! remember it perfectly:" ' " "And when you have written., and mailed it, understand that then/, and not till then, you are to forget ;L Now you may go." (To be Continued.)