The Nemesis of a Crime

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20819, 1 June 1939, Page 7

The Nemesis of a Crime

By ACEITUNA THURLOW

NEW SERIAL

Synopsis of Instalment I. —Primrose Cathcart. last descendant or the Cathcart family, suddenly rendered penniless, and forced to seek the shelter offered by Mr and Mrs Larramy, her uncle and aunt. Mrs Larramy tells Primrose the story of their neighbour. Mr Gellender’s matrimonial romance. On leaving the Diplomatic Service Horace Gellender had married and brought his wire home to his country seat In Clayshlre (where the opening scenes or the story take place). It was reported that Mrs Gellender was a countess in her own right, and divinely beautiful, but to the surprise of all. she proved to be a small, plain woman. She, however, possessed wonderful eyes that were fascinating to -n uncanny degree. Odd rumours soon got aUoat of strange doings at lladstcok Hall, and Horace and his wife quarrelled. The reconciliation signalised by a county ball, at which Mrs Larramy overhead a conversation between Horace and his wire, showing, apparently, that the reconciliation was complete. Shortly afterwards she heard the sound of running footsteps, and was surprised to see a woman with a bundle running towards the road, where she was driven off In a trap, in the darkness there was a sound like a child’s cry. Three months later Horace received from his wire a heartless letter, bearing a foreign post mark. He only heard ol his wire once arter that — through a friend. Primrose Cathcart and Horace meet again, and he invites her to the Hall to see his jewels, which are kept In a strong room specially barricaded. Their friendship grows stronger, and Primrose wishes that she could help him to discover the whereabouts of his lost child. Primrose obtains an appointment as governess with a Mrs Lemaire, who is about to start on a yachting cruise to Norway, her charge being Mrs Lemalre’s daughter Molly. Before she leaves her aunt’s Horace Gellender comes to bid her good-bye, and gives her a brooch set with diamonds. Primrose finds her charge to be an “uncanny-looking child,’’ who is being brough up on a curious system of Mr Lemaire’s. One day, Primrose mentions Mr Gellender’s romance, when Mrs Lemaire takes the part of Mrs Gellender with some vigour. Every evening, Mrs Lemaire and the men, who all seem to be in love with their hostess, retire to the smoking room, which Primrose has been Torbidden to enter under any circumstances. What goes on in that room is kept a profound secret. Primrose nearly fathoms the mystery one evening, but Mrs Lemaire puts the subject aside by discussing plans of a shore excursion. Next day the men start out on a sporting expedition and Mrs Lemaire and Primrose go Tor a long drive. They stay at a hotel for the night, and when dressing for dinner, primrose puts on the brooch given her by Horace Gellender, which unaccountably startles Mrs Lemaire when she sees It. After retiring for the night primrose is awakened by the feeling that somebody Is in her room, and jumping up she discovered it to be Mrs Lemaire. She Is horrified to find the bed-clothes reeking of chloroform. Mrs Lemaire retires, excusing on the plea of neuralgia, and then Primrose notices that her jewel case In which she keeps Horace Gellender’s present is open. Next day she hesitates whether to stay or return home, but decides to stay. Meeting Mr lluntei, she asks hlin to take care of her brooch, and he agrees to lock it up in bis cash box.

CHAPTER XVI. (continued) There was a note of interrogation in her voice as she made this as3rtion, and, of course, I hastened to reassure her. “ After all,” she continued, in a broken tone, “ I cannot altogether blame my sister. During her girlhood she had been in constant attendance on my father, who, in spite of 'being an invalid. was the gayest man alive. He could not endure to be bored. In consequence he gathered round him the most cheerful people wherever he went. Bohemian as they mostly were, and many would have said doubtful companions for a young girl, they were nevertheless extremely amusing. Imagine the contrast when Bertha married! Shut up in the country, her friends forbidden her, and the only available society composed of a few fosilised neighbours—'failing them a jealous, exacting husband.” Mr Gellender's grief-worn face rose before me.

An Unhappy Love

“ Remember how he loved her,” I said deprecatingly.

*• My dear child, what is the use of a love which makes its object unhappy? Surely his -affection should have made him tolerant. He knew the circumstances of her upbringing. But he was like the dog in the manger—too morose himself to make his wife’s life pleasant, he could not support the idea of anyone else attempting to do so. In my opinion Horace Gellender has no one but himself to thank for any blank in his present existence.”

“ He must have changed very much,” I mused. “He never seemed like that when I saw him.”

“ Perhaps his wife was the sole witness of his charming qualities,” said Mrs Lemaire with a sneer. She spoke with so much virulence that 1 began to grow indignant for my absent friend.

“ Why did she write him such a horrid letter six months afterwards?” 1 inquired gravely. Mrs Lemaire gave a slight start. “ What you don’t know is evidently not worth knowing,” she said. “ Perhaps you can supply the name of the man who took her away.”

“ Why, no; even Mr Gellender doesn't know that.”

“ Neither do I.” Mrs Lemaire rose as she spoke. “ Now,” she continued, “ excuse me for having made a fool of myself, and for my sake try not to think too harshly of poor Bertha. I

A story of Thrilling Romance and Exciting Adventure

rely on your promise to keep what I have told* you to yourself. Don't speak of it to anyone.” ” Of course not." “ Not even to Mr Hunter,” said Mrs Lemaire, with a swift transition to acidity in her usually charming voice. And with this she left me. Early next morning we landed Mr Lemaire, Sir James, and the Count; directly after their departure Mrs > Lemaire gave directions, and we j steamed away. It took us the best 1 part of the day to get to Sassen Bay, j and the scenery through which we passed was magnificent. On we went, and anchored .fust outside Skans Bay, a sheltered inlet in the rocky mass of Cape Thordsen. In the distance we could hear the ice breaking, with a sound like the report of a cannon. The day was warm, the sun bright, and Mrs Lemaire had settled we were to land and picnic on shore. Mr Hunter’s ankle had so far recovered that he was able to limp about with the help of a stick, though of course he was precluded from taking any violent exercise. Roger, who had turned pioneer, and had gone on a voyage of discovery, came back with the news that there was a point well worth visiting a short distance from the yacht. If we cared to take our tea he would promise us a hill scramble, and a wonderful view !as our reward. The place was some way off, and was hidden from o.ur sight by the intervening cliffs, but it would be a thousand pities if we missed seeing it. Mrs Lemaire seemed delighted with the idea. We fetched our wraps, and came on deck, while the boat was made ready to row us ashore. The tea basket was lowered. “Mayn’t I come, too?” asked Molly, wistfully. "No, you are to stay with Janet,” answered her mother, decidedly. I was rather surprised to see that Roger was the only person in the boat. , I thought we should be a heavy load for one man, but Mrs Lemaire explained that she was short handed, as her husband had taken several of the men with him, and she had given others leave to go ashore before the idea of a picnic occurred to her. Mr Hunter and I had got in, and were waiting, when our hostess suddenly uttered an exclamation. “Good gracious,” she said, “I have forgotten Algy's camera, and I must change the plates. I swore by all my gods that I would take some photo{graphs; he has been asked to write and illustrate an article for the ‘Planet,’ and will have to time to take them when he returns from the shooting expedition, as we must leave Spitsbergen that day. Don’t wait for me, Roger; take Mr Hunter and Miss Cathcart, and when you have landed them come straight back for me.”

“But let us wait for you.” I exclaimed. hurriedly, half rising to mount the ladder. I seemed doomed to be left alone with Mr Hunter. A Snub Administered “Please let me make my own arrangements, Miss Cathcart,” she said, coldly. “I should feel hurried if I knew you were waiting. Will you be so good as to prepare tea, and to begin without me?” Much snubbed, I reseated myself, and she made an imperious gesture to Roger, who immediately took his oars and began to row away. Mrs Lemaire, Janet, and my dear little Molly leaned over the side watching us, making a curious picture which has never been effaced from my memory. The old woman was regarding us with a very evil expression on her wizzened face, and in Mrs Lemaire's eyes lurked something which I could not describe. The yacht looked curiously deserted. The sailors had all landed, and were wandering about on the opposite shore. A strange feeling of oppression began to steal over me, a sense of danger for which I could not account. Molly’s fluttering handkerchief was growing less distinct, and thin fog was rising and beginning to obscure the former brightness of the day. Roger went on rowing hard. He was a marvellously strong man, powerfully built, and the muscles of his arms stood out litfe bands of steel. We turned the point, and went on through the fast increasing mist. Skirting the next little bay, we continued, taking a north-east course up Klaas Billen Fiord. Fleur de Lys Point was growing small in the distance behind us. “How much farther are you going to take us?” asked Mr Hunter, impatiently. “Good heavens, man, we have been rowing for more than an hour.” “It's the mistress’ orders,” said Roger, sullenly. “Mrs Lemaire won’t be able to do much photography,” said I. “The fog's too thick.” “Myself, I can’t see the point of a picnic in a fog,” remarked Mr Hunter. "What do you say to returning and telling our hostess that we found it too thick.” "We are just there, sir,” broke in Roger, in an unusually alert, respectful tone. “Hadn't I better land you? It won’t take long getting back to the yacht, for the weight will be less, and I can come for you at once if my mistress wishes.” (To be Continued)