The Storyteller.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 437, 20 May 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Storyteller.

THE BROAD ARROW.

Dusk had fallen upon the lonely sfcretclips of Dartmoor. Grey mists swept round the summits of the tors and lay thick and impenetrable in the valleys below, and little by little the landmarks were blotted from view.

Something as grey as the shadows crawled from a cleft in one of the tors and, as if with every nerve quickened, stood upright to listen. Not a sound broke the stillness , in the whole of that vast solitude not a creature seemed to stir, and the man in grey, as he lookel around him, drew a long breath of relief. All day, from his eyrie in the furrowed side of the rock, he had seen men scouring the moor, beating about as if for game, and passing within a few yards of their quarry's hiding-place. So close, indeed, that once he cowered back with a sick apprehension that sent great drops of moisture coursing down his face, enduring the torture of the eternally lost at the thought of recipture.

The searchers had gone, but the convict knew that, for a certainty, the kingdom must be ringing with his miraculous escape, and that far and near he would be looked for. Better a thousand times to die here in the open than be retaken. He glanced round him desperately. The wide road that traversed the moor was hardly distinguishable in the gloom. He must keep away from the beaten track and trust in Providence.

Providence! Ho smiled at the word; but it was easier to believe hero in the open, with the keen, pure atmosphere setting his senses quivering with the joy of living, than there. His eyes turned in the direction of Princetown, not many miles away, and ho shuddered. To th 9 luxurious man of the world, twelre months of a convict's life seemed a century, and there would be many and many and many a year to follow. His hand sought mechanically in his breast, for the fragment of rope he had picked up near his hiding-place. There were other means of escape after all. To rid himself of his tell-tale apparel was the problem. He crept down tha rugged side of the tor half fearfully, every rustle of the heather against his foot making him start. The hunger which all day had been so acute as to be painful had now become an aching sensation that did not greatly trouble him.

He felt almost gay by the time he had tramped a few miles, and with difficulty kept from breaking into a whistle. He was young and strong, and the shame and degradation kept away from him. He kept as close as he could to the road, and presently, seeing a fairly wide footpath he passed down it and came to a large iron gate. He pressed his face against the bars and looked in, making out the form of a long, low house against the lighter glimmer of the sky. Coming towards him was the light of carriage-lamps. He crouched among the braken ;a groom got down, and the gate swung open. In the momentary pause the watcher heard a pleasant, cultivated man's voice, either that of the driver or his companion, say: ' Then the little chap doesn't mind being left to his own devices ? It's rather dull for him, isn't it?' ' I suppose so,' replied another voice irritably ; ' but he's used to it, poor lit le beggar. After all, a man must dine out now and then.' The mare plunged forward and the gate swung to with a click. The listener'a pulses beat at lightning speed. Here was his opportunity. He made his way rapidly up the drive, listening at interval?. As he neared the house he saw a light glimmering from a long window at the left of the hall door. The blind was only partly drawn, and he looked in. A little boy was the sole occupant of the room. He stood in the middle of the floor, his face puckered into a perplexed frown, He was dressed in the most incongruous fashion, like a miniature clown. Though time - pressed, Geoffrey Borradaile could not refrain from looking at the child, his behaviour was so funny. He bowed to an imaginary audience, then, giving a sudden twirl, endeavoured to stand on his head. Again and again he tried, only to fail as many times, and the onlooker grew quite excited over the performance. Bo much so, indeed, that forgetting where he was, he leant too heavily against the long French window, and it suddenly opened inward and precipitated him into the room. He found himself confronting the astonished acrobat, from whom he momentarily expected to hear a cry of alarm. If former days Geoffrey had been beloved of animals and children, and this characteristic stood him in good stead now. The hoy looked at him gravely, then his little face broke into a smile. ' Why, you're dressed up, too,' he said, thrusting his hands into his bafgy trousers as he surveyed the man in grey ; ' what fun 1 Now there'll be two to pretend. It's so dull by myself, though I make up a good deal as I go along.' The visitor book the cue at once. ' So it is,' he replied, at the sime time looking round cautiously ; ' but

is there no one here to play with you V As he spoke he lowered the Mind, an action which Teddy did not notice. The child shook his head. * Father's gone to dinner, and so has Uncle Jack—Uncle Jack only came the day before yesterday. Nurse and cook are in the kitchen : Kate—that's the housemaid —Ins gone to see her mother at Post Bridge ; and Courlman's out with the dog-cart. Courtman's really nicer than any of them.' ' Perhaps you are accustomed to pitying by yourself 1' Tears suddenly roso in Teddy's eyes, but he tried to blink them away before the visitor could see them. ' There—there used to be mother, you know. Fathers are different somehow, aren't they 1 They haven't time, I suppose V looking with wistful eyes at his visitor for conGrmation of the fact. 'Quite different; there's nothing in the whole world like a mother.' Geoffrey was thinking of his own boyhood's days. A tear fell from Ted ly's do .valient face on the carpet at the speaker's feet, but as it soaked in at once, Teddy hoped it had not been noticed. He rumpled his curly pate and heived a sigh. • I say, what shall we play at ?' 1 You choose,' replied the man in grey, his hearing always painfully on the alert for surprises. ' I must say that I'm rather tired of thi3 gel-up —yours is so much better than mine.' 1 Well, yours is rather hideous,' said Teddy, endeavouring to mingle candour with politeness ; ' but then I suppose it's more untjommon than mine. I had it for a fancy dress ball, and I'm going to another soon, when they make a new mayor, you know, and I do so want to be able to turn a somersault.' ' It would be useful.' 'I shall have to manage to learn somehow,' said Teddy, with portentous gravity. ' Bob Smith can turn beauties. • T say,' his eyes travelling afresh over the other's costume, ' what are those things ? Something like the tops of toastingforks.' He broke into an infectious splutter of laughter, aud Borradaile smiled in response, despite the torture of inaction. 'I can't imagine why I chose this rig-out,' he replied, keeping up the farce. ' I wish I'd something else to put on.' Teddy suddenly sprang into the air, his face red with excitement. I Why, there are heaps and heaps of things upstairs ; let's go and get some; and then perhaps you'd teach me to turn a somersault ?' I can nearly do it—you'd only have to give me a shove at tha right time. Do come along, only very quietly, or nurse will come, and I don't want her to.' Nor did Borradaile; and they, stole across the hall and up the staircase, he taking off his heavy boots and carrying them under his arm, upon which Teddy, with a silent burglarious chuckle of enjoyment, sat on the bottom stair and removed his little patent leather house shoes, tucking them under his capacious scarlet and white sleeve. They had reached the top of the flight, when a voice from the hall below sent a sickening wave of terror over Borradaile. 'Master Theodore, where are you !' Teddy held up his finger, warningly, and advanced to the top of the stairs. ' I'm here, nurse j I've only come to get something out of my father's room; he said I could hare it.' ' It's getting on for your bedtime, so don't be long up there. I'll put your supper in the study, unless you'd like to have it with cook and me in the kitchen.' ' I'm just not going to have it in the kitchen; put it in the study, and father said I could have some chicken if I liked.' The steps retreated again, to the accompaniment of muttered remarks, and Teddy, having routod the enemy led the way triumphantly to hij father's room. 'JSurse is so cross,' he explained, trying at the same time to drag a heavy box forward. ' I'm too old for a nurse now. Bob Smith says it's rediclus. When we go home I shall be eitjht, and then I'll ask father if I can do without one.' ' Isn't this your home V asked Borradaile his eyes glancing quickly round the dimly lighted, untidy room. ' One of 'em,' replied Teddy ; ' the other's ever so much bigger; but I had fever, and the doctor said I was to come here for change. Hasn't my hair grown ? You look as if you'd had fever, yours is &o short. Borradaile reddened and pressed his hand over his close-cropped head. I I like short hair, Theodore.' Teddy began to laugh again, but fortunately, both in his utterances and his mirth, he kept up the role of burglar, and was rery mysterious and silent. 1 So does father and Uncle Jack. Uncle Jack wears his nearly as short as you. But, I say, everybody except the sers'ants, and even some of them, call me Teddy.' Ho had opened the trunk and now displayed its contents, a heterogenous collections of costumes for Teddy's father was great at theatricals, and in his time had

played many parts. There was a box of cosmetics, at sight of which Borradaile's face brightened. Luck seemed superlatively good, so far; surely it would not desert him now. Teddy, *h j had been watching his face, chuckled .silently with pleasure.

'Choose whatever you like,'he said, smoothing a laced satin coat that lay uppermoit, ' thai, when you're ready, We'll pretend.' Borradaile had already made his choice. ' Go down and wait for me, Teddy you see I want to surprise you,' as the boy's face lengthened. ' Don't say a word to anyone, and I will bo with you in no time.' Teddy nodded, and ran oIF cheer fully enough, his parti coloured raiment flapping round him as he ran.

In that other life which seemed so fir away, Geoffrey Borradaile had also taken part in amateur theatricals. He changed characters now with a celerity he had never attained to in those days, donning the entire costume of a country gentleman which he found lying upon the bed just as his host had flung it, and leaving in exchange under the raiment in the trunk a suit of grey adorned with the broad arrow. There was a loaded revolver lying upon a side-table; he looked at it longingly, hesitated, then put it in his pocket. Tuen he stole to the head of the stairs and listened. The house was very quiet. He could hear Teddy humming softly to himself.

He made his way to the study, and held up his hand just in time to prevent the boy's exclamation. ' You're so like Uncle Jack,' he said, walking round his guest, ' and he just has that browny look. But why did you choose such a stupid get-up 1 Let's have some supper though, and then you'll teach me the somersault, won't you ? Nurse is all right, because one of Farmer Gtle's men has come in. The one she likes. Do be quick.' There was chicken on the table, and bread-and-butter and new milk. Teddy was too excited to eat, and at no time had he a large appetite, yet to this day nurse tells how a little boy of seven disposed of half a chicken and unlimited bread-and-butter at one meal. Geoffrey Borradaile ato hastily. There was the somersalt instruction to be given, and he had a code of honour still which made it difficult to disappoint ar>d break faith with a child. Yet it was madness to stay. He rose, went to the door, and listened. A subdued chatter, broken by a shout of laughter, came from the kitchen. He returned to Toddy, who had watched his movements with interest. ' I believe you're afraid of her yourself 1' he remarked, trying to balance a salt-spoon on the tip of his nose ; ' she's a beast to me, but then she couldn't do you any harm.' Borrodaile made a sudden resolve. He placed the spoon, on the table, and sitting down drew the boy to his knee. He seemed to have taken another character with his tweeds and immaculate linen, and something in his expression reduced Teddy to preternatural gravity. ' See here, Teddy, one man ought to help another out of a fix V Teddy nodded, his eyes fastened on the handsome, haggard face near his own. ' That's what father said one d.iy to Uncle Jack, only he said a tight place. It's the samo as fix, perhaps V 'Exactly the same. Well, I'm in a tight place, a very tight place, my boy, and you're the man to help mo out of it.' Teddy's grey eyes darkened with pride; he nodded. 4 Now,' resumed Borradaile,, ' I don't want anyone to know I've been here, not even your father if you can help it, for a few days. I'm afraid he'll have to, though, on account of his clothes. However, in a few hours I hope to be with friends. It is nothing that can harm your father, Teddy, or it wouldn't he fair to ask you—but I'm in danger. What is your father's name, by the way V ' Brooke, Oaptain Brooke.' 'Roland Brooke, of tho—th?' ' Yes, he's not in the Army now. Do you know him Y Borradaile's face bad grown rigid a*d stern, He had put the boy away from him. ' I met him—once,' he said, in a strained hard voice that made Teddy tremble; ' what was your mother's name ?'

1 Theodora,' Teddy spoke almost timidly ; ' isn't it pretty V But the listener was listening no longer. He thoughts had flown back over the space of a decade, to the time when his life had been bounded by a Theodora, the only girl he ever loved. She would have been faithful enough to the youns lover whoso wild oats were so plentiful a crop, but llouald Brooke was rich and steady, even though he had the temper of a devil, and Theodora's constancy was overruled. He broke in upon his own thoughts by taking Teddy's face between his hands and searching with hungry, longing eyes for a trace of resemblance. Teddy wriggled himself free. Borradiale rose to his feet hurriedly. ' I must go Teddy. Do you mind postponing the somersalt? I'm sorry, but I have so far to go tonight.' ' I don't mind a bit about the someraaull,' said Teddy, ' but I

wish you hadn't to go. We've had such fun, haven't we ?' Borradaile forced a smile, After all, what hid been fun to the boy might mean death to him, and he could not agree very heartily. Me opened the window quietly. ' Good-bye, Teddy,' he said ; ' I shall never forg.it.' But Teddy was fumbling in a who corner of the cupboird only nodded over his shoulder in response. Borradaile made his way rapidly down the drive, and had reached the gate when he hoard quick, pattering footsteps hastening after him. It was Teddy, out of breath. He thrust something into Borradvile's hand. •Here—l want you—to take this—you might be short. When Uncle Jack's in a tight place—he means he hasn't any money —and I thought —you mightn't either. It's all mine—every bit, to do as I like with.' Teddy felt himself swung up into a pair of strong arms and literally hugged, and in his surprise at finding something wet upon his cheek forgot to wish that his visitor's face had been less prickly. He was glad he had remembered what a tight place meant, but he stood for a moment somewhat forlornly in the drive swallowing a lump in his thr>ot before turning to face nurse's probable scolding. What did he care for a scolding, when he had oelped another man out of -i tight pUoe with his pillarpost money-box. Geoffrey Borradaile had said he would not forget, and he never did. Each year there comes to Teddy on a certiin date a red pillar-post money box containing a remembrance, trifling at fiiMt, but growing in value year by year. . And in the sanctum of one the richest Australian sheep farmers, on a bracket above his easy chair, stands the original red pillar-post, the founder of his fortunes.