UNDER A STRANGE MASK.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 336, 3 September 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

UNDER A STRANGE MASK.

BY FRAMv BARRETT.

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CHAPTER XII. —A FINK FELLOW. I candidly confess I was completely by the revelation of this man. I did not know what to do —that's the fact; and, as he had prognosticated, I heartily wished that I had not compelled him to make his disclosure. Instead of being -guided by the axiom that ' honesty is the best policy,' I might have trusted to another, ' where ignorance is bliss, ' tis folly to be wise,' with considerable advantage. While these reflections were passing through my mind I sat silent enough, 1 Well Mr Lestrange,' said I at length. ' you cannot expect me to do anything in this matter without mature consideration.'

• I can't give you long,' ho replied. • Delay is dangerous, especially in a case of this kind. The associations make that house unfit for the old man to stop in. If any accident should happen to me it would be all up with him, and me too, so far as my fortune is concerned. The servants are inquisitive ; one never knows what may take place. Supposing this affair should be blown and the old man were convicted, the Redlands family mighb contest his claim to an estate that he got through a fraud, as you may say. 'No ' —shaking his head —' I can't give you long—a couple of days or so, not more. ' I shan't be easy until I get him out of the country. If you cannot decide sharp, I must try some other means.'

I You shall have ray answer the day after to-morrow, said I; 'in the meantime you will, of course, say nothing to anybody of what has passed between us T ' I'rr not a fool,' said he with a knowing look, ' and I don't think you can accuse me of being a rogue, either. I have acted straightforward with you, and as fairly as any man, with a due regard to his own interest might. Good day.' For a long while after his departure I sat turning the thing over in my mind, looking at it on this side and that with the hope of seeing my way out of the difficulty, yet for the life of me I knew not what to do. One thing I certainly could not do ; I could not tell poor little Marian that her grandfather was —the worst of criminals (I could not even bring myself to call him by the name with which the world would brand him, if all were known). I felt sure it would go near to break her heart, and I was morally certain that with this stain on her family she would never consent to be the wife of young Redlands. This certitude put me on a new traiu of thought, and I asked myself if I ought, in common honesty, to let Redlands marry her in ignorance of this family disgrace 1 The answer to that was so clearly • No !' that I sent round at once for my gig, clapped on my hat, and drove off to find Redlands, and let him know the state of affairs. I knew where to find my lord, and instead of going down the breakneck path to the Gap, 1 kept on along the road to the point where it was intersected by the new cut to Red Rift. It was traced out, the wild growth of furze and bramble had been cleared off. making it already practicable for my gig, and dozens of men were hard at it with pick and shovel, making a cutting through a rise in the Combe. It did me good to see these signs of activity on this land, which no foot but the poacher's had traversed for years and years, and to observe the cheerful good-will with which all of these men, who had so long stood in despondent idleness for want of work, now lent himself to labour. I was known to them as Lord Redlands' lawyer, and, as I passed along the cherry ' Good afternoon, Mr Keene.' with a touch of the cap, was a testimony to their respect and gratitude towards their new master. I I suppose I shall find the governor at the head of the rift?' said I. • Aye, sur, he's bound to be there som'eres,' was the reply. * A wooden shanty had been knocked up at the lower end of the Combe, and here I found Redlands seated at a deal table, on which were writing materials and a pile of letters under a paper-weight. A shelf of books hung against the wall, and all sorts of plans, sections, and that kind of thing, were roughly nailed on the deal planks for reference. The only ornament in the place was a richly carved oak frame that he must have bought at Coneyford, in which was set a pen-and-ink tracing from the Ordnance map—that as I learnt afterwards, which Marian hpd given him. I had opportunity to make these observations, for Redlands who rose on my corning, was now concluding an interview with a man who seemed loth to go away. I knew the man by sight. His name was Coneybeare, a speculator, and one of the wealthiest men in Coneyford. He had for year 3 been hunkering after the Soecliff estate, intending, it was rumoured, if he

could only get it, to run a rail there from Coneyford, build a big hotel, make it a fashionable wateringplace, and realise cent, per cent, on the investment.

* Well, my lord,' said he, going slowly towards the door, ' you'll think it over, won't you ?' «I have thought it over,' said Redlands, with good humour, ' and I have resolved to work the thing myself. If I knew the exact value of the property, and you were to offer me double that sum, I would not sell.'

< I can understand that, my lord,' said Coneybeare, I dare say there is no one who has a keener sense of enjoyment in working a thing to advantage than I have. To see one's hopes realised, to see ones exertions richly rewarded, is the greatest pleasure in the world to my mind. And this delight takes a wonderful hold on a young bQginner, I know. But it's only an old soldier like me who can stand reverses; you're bound in the natural course of things, be your good luck as good as it may, to experience some disappointment and I don't think you will keep up your spirits to the present level when things go wrong, in conjunction with a spell of bad weather and, say, a sluggish liver. Then you'll say to yourself, ' why should I be bunging about here in the slush and mud, making so much a day, when old Coneybeare would give me twice the amount to go away and enjoy myself in the society I've been used to!' I don't say you won't be well paid, my lord, for all your work here. ' You're bound to make money ; but I can make more. I've got the working plant ready to set down, whereas you have to buy yours, and set up everything new, I shan't take ' no' for an answer to-day, I believe sooner or later you will ask me to buy ; all I shall trouble you with, for the present is to remember my address—Coneybeare, Coneyford—it's easy to remember, and I hope soon to hear from you.' With this he shook hands, nodded to me, and went off. Redlands came back to me, his face beaming with happiness. 'Well,' he asked, ' what have you found out about the teacher at the school? Have you found out her name ?'

• Yes, I know her name, and so do you now. I know all about it.'

He was so light-hearted and joyful that I felt sick to think of the part I was about to play, and the bitter disappointment that must soon overcloud all his hopes, Seeing me so laden and down in the mouth, he concluded that I was displeased with the errand he had sent me on the day before, for he laughed outright at me. 'You're sure her name is not Jigger, eh V he asked. ' Certainly, it's no compliment to her better qualities to say she's as good as she looks! After all, you have more right to laugh at me than I at you. But you're not surprised now that I fell in love with her before I knew her name even.' ' No,' said I. ' I am not surprised at that. There's not a lady in the world more deserving of a good and honest gentleman's love.' He grasped my hand in eloquent silence : I couldn't look up in his face, but sat there jogging the paper weight to and fro idly with my left hand, as miserable at heart as if the young fellow were my own brother.

After a brief pause, in which he must have been studying my face, he said, with sudden conviction, 1 Keene, you have come here to bring me bad news.' 'Yes,' said I, 'it is bad news that has brought me here.' ' Nothing has happened to her ?' he said, with quickened breath. 'No, thank God. She knows nothing about it, and she mustn't. I shouldn't let you or any one else know but for her sake.' 'Out with it, Keene; I am a man,' said he with fierceness in his voice.' ' Well, a quick step is best on miry ground, so you shall have the truth in a couple of words—Old Sylvester is a scoundrel, a thief—and worse !' ' A thief !' he exclaimed incredulously. ' And worse,' I repeated, He seated himself without a word, and I then told him the whole wretched story from beginning to end. When he had heard all—l was careful to omit nothing, and, indeed, said considerably more than I have written in narrating my interview with Lestrange—he said with decision — ' Miss Sylvester must never hear a word of this ghastly business. We must get that awful old sinner out of the way at once. Can you set about this immediately V ' Yes ; but lawyer as I am, I have not the slightest notion what is to be clone.' ' I kuow what is to be done,' said lie decisively, and without a moment's reflection 'Will you follow my directions V ' With all my heart, and at once,' said I, rising from my chair. ' You must find Lestrange.' 'He is at the Court, without doulit.' ' See him, and exact his pronr'se to leave the country, to-morrow, and take that horrible old rascal with him.' ' He won't go without money, and he'll not bo satisfied without a lump sum.

« He shall have as much as he demands,' I scratched my chin. ' Money can be raised, certainly,' said I, ' though it will be sharp work to get any in twenty-four hours; and how I'm to get the mortgage afterwards without awaking Miss Sylvester's suspicions, I don't know.

He had been hastily writing while he spoke, and now blotting the saeet and folding it, he said cheerfully—- ' This will do it!' He stuck the folded sheet in an envelope, andas he addressed it, said, still in the same brisk tone —

' When you have settled that blackguard Lestrange, take this over to Coneyford, and deliver it yourself—won't you Keene 1 I feel that I am not asking a favour/ he added, with a softened tone as he rose and put the letter in my hands, ' because it is for her sake.'

I glanced at the envelope and read the address—' Mr Coneybeare, Coneyford.' I knew what that meant. Redlands had accepted the contractor's offer. With one stroke of the pen he had given up his fortune to save Marian from the shame of knowing her grandfather's crime. The heroism of our age lies in the exercise of moral courage which surely surpasses mere physical hardihood as much as our reason excels the instinct of brutes ; and I say that in this generous act my young Lord Redlands showed more fortitude than any of his ancestors who fell in battle. For certainly—though I have never fought anyone save in a court of law —it is ten times easier for a man to risk his life in the heat and passion of battle, than in cool blood relinquish with good and cheerful heart the fortune he has won, and can scarcely hope to recover. With these thoughts in my mind I grasped the young man's hand. ' You are a fine fellow,' said I, ' and worthy of the name you bear. I know what is in this letter—'

' Then off you go,' . said he cheerily. ' You are wasting time Keene, and there's none to spare : I'll change these muddy things for others, and go over *,o cbe Court presently, so that Miss Sylvester may have no suspicion. Meanwhile, you see Lestrange and Coneybeare, and arrange matters, so that we get the old man out of the country by to-morrow night.' •It shall be done,' said I, and jumping into my gig—for he had taken me by the arm and got me out of the shed while he was talking —I drove off as fast as my nag would go. 1 Now, as I could not have gone up to the house without being seen by Marian, and exciting her curiosity, I pulled up when I came near the park gates, and sent a hoy, who chanced to be there, with a note written on a leaf of my notebook, addressed to Lestrange, and telling him to come to me at once. After waiting some time, I got his answer by the boy saying he would come immediately, While I waited I settled in my mind how I would manage my man, little doubting that I could induce him to accept something on account, and go with an agreement that the rest of the money he demanded should be sent to him j by which arrangement we might avoid parting with the Redlands estate to Coneybeare, and so keep it in our own hands. If we only had time, we could get all the money that was needed on a mortgage, without cramping Redlands greatly for present funds. I was getting this neatly arranged in my thoughts when Lestrange came to me with an expression of anger and bitter disappointment in his face. ' I have been thinking your offer over,' said I, as he came up. ' It's all right; I-' ' No, it isn't all right,' he said moodily, interrupting me. ' It's all wrong.' ' What do you mean ?' I asked. ' It's all over,' said he, throwing up his hands. The cat's out of the bag.' < What ?' ' Just what I feared,' he explained. ■ While I was away the old man got loose somehow, and Miss Sylvester knows everything !' CHAPTER XII. —MARIAN LEARNS THE SECRET' Marian knew all. Now what was to be dome? —Lestrange looked hopeless. ' Where is the old man now 1 I asked. ' Oh, he's asleep. You can understand the effect of these attacks upon a man of his age , and this has been worse than usual—because I was not there to check it. He seems to have run on until he stopped from sheer physical exhaustion. Enough to kill him.' He said these latter words in an injured tone, as if he felt it very hard on himself that the attack had not killed the old man. 1 From the look of the servants,' he went on. ' I should say they all knew. If the worst should happen Mr Keene, what would become of tho old man's property V 'lt would go to the Crown—every penny,' I replied without hesitation, though I was not very certain on this point. ' But the worst mustn't happen. You must get the old man away before the servants can spread the report. Yuu must take him out of the

country to-morrow your own interests are concerned, remember.'

He nodded. I did net care twopence for his interests: my sole purpose was to avoid the terrible consequences of publicity upon poor Marian.

' It's not such an easy job,' said Lestrange, drawing his finger and thumb down his long nose reflectively. 1 He is as obstatiate and hard to move as a mule in such things, and this last affair looks as if he were absolutely resolved on putting an end to the torment of remorse by an open confession. While he feared the consequenses of such a confession. I had a hold on him, but if he defies them I'm powerless. I dare not use force —or I would —for, you see, he might at any moment throw the will he has made in my favour into the fire, and then where shall I be Y

* Could you get him away anyhow to-morrow if I make it worth your while V

' How are you going to make it worth my while 1 That's the question.'

' You demanded fifty thousand pounds ; if it is necessary you shall have it:

■ By to-morrow Y 'By to-morjow,' It was no time to make a bargain ; anything must be sacrifiad rather than old Sylvester should be put on trial for that, crime.

' You said it would take you a week at least to realise on the estate. I don't doubt your honesty, of course. But you are a lawyer, and many think I deserve no better than a little sharp practice, I can't jeopardise my fortune by setting myself against the old man's will without assurance that the money will be paid up.'

I told him that Redlands was prepared to sell his estate to save Miss Sylvester from shame. ' Oh, I can't believe that,' said he with a knowing leer. Then I showed him the letter addressed to Coneybeare, and explained who he was and all about him, That was a false move. I ought not to have done it; but I thought only of getting the old man away, and shielding my dear little friend Marian. ' Well, said he, giving, me back

the letter which he had been turning over and over and regarding while I spoke. ' Fll go and see what I can do. I shall liko to get over it the way you suggest, but I. see the difficulties I have to steer through. I must make Miss Sylvester believe the old man is out of his mind on this subject—and for that reason you must keep clear of the place, that she may not suspect collusion. Then I'll try and work the old man. But I warn you, Mr Keene, that I'm doubtful so success ; and so you had better not deliver that letter until you hear from me, 'l'll run «ver to night, and lee you know how it is to be decided, It's no use Redlands selling his estate for less than its worth, if I can't accept the money when it is realised. You see, I'm perfectly straightforward, and deal honestly with you.'" As he said this he held up his head an! nodded a ' goo 1 -bye,' looking up into my face almost for the first time. It is difficult to assume an expression on suddenly lifting the head at an unusual angle, I think : at any rate, the look I saw in his eye 3 misgave me, for it belied his assertion of straight-forward and honest dealing. I turned round, and walked mj nag slowly down the hiil, at the foot I met Redlands, no longer in his stained working clothes but neat, spick snd span, from top to toe. I pulled up and told him all that had taken place, ,' Poor girl! poor girl V he said, with a tender inflexion of voice ! then quietly and more hopefully. ' I will go up there and sec if I can do any good. I said I would be there at five, and it is now.' looking at his watch, ' a quarter to, so that she will suspect nothing by my visit. You would do well, Iveene, to prepare Ooneybeare, though you do not give him that letter till you have heard from Lestrange, that ho may have the ready money if it is likely to be needed. j promised him this, and we separated. Arrived at Coney ford, I went straight to Coneybeare's office and found him there alone—his clerks having struck work before their master. I told him that my client, Lord Redlands might bo prepared to make terms with him the very next morning if he could depend upon receiving fifty thousand pounds down on the spot. He thought a moment, and then said —■ 'By twelve o'clock to-morrow morning I shall be prepared to put down on this desk a cheque or notes for that amount.' I told him notes would be preferable and then went home, feeling I could do no more for the present. (To be con tinned.)