The Nemesis of a Crime

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20822, 5 June 1939, Page 4

The Nemesis of a Crime

By AGEITUNA THURLOW

NEW SERIAL

Synopsis of Instalment I. —Primrose Catticait, lust tie.scemlant or the Cutheart family, suddenly rendered penniless, and furced to seek tlie shelter offered hy Mr and Mrs Larramy, her uncle and aunt. Mrs Larramy tell 3 Primrose tbe story of their neighbour, Mr Gellender’s matrimonial romance. On leaving tbe Diplomatic Service Horace Gellender bad married and brought his wire home to his country seat in Clayshire (where the opening scenes of the story take place). It was reported that Mrs Gellender was a countess In her own right, and divinely beautiTul, but to the surprise of all, she proved to be a sma'l, plain woman. She, however, possessed wonder lui eyes that were fascinating to in uncanny degree. Odd rumours soon got alloat of strange doings at HadstcoK llall, and Horace and his wire cpjarrelied. The reconciliation was signalised by a county ball, at which Mrs Larramy overhead a conversation between Horace and his wife, showing, apparently, that the reconciliation was complete. Shortly afterwards »ne heard the sound of running footsteps, and was surprised to see a woman with a bundle running towards the road, where she was driven oil in a trap, 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 of his wile once after that - through a friend. Primrose Cathcart and Horace meet again, and he invites her to the Hail to see his jewels, which are kept in a strong room specially barricaded. Their friendship grows stronger, and Primrose wishes that she could help hint 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 Lemaire’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 Leinalre’s. One day. Primrose mentions Mr Gellender’s romance, when Mrs Lemaire takes the part or 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 smuking room, which Primrose has been forbidden 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 lor a long drive. They stay at a hotel for the night, and when dressing fur dinner, primrose puts on the brooch given her by Horace Gellender, which unaccountably startles Mrs Lemaire when she sees it. After retiring Tor 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 Huute», she asks him to take care of her brooch, and lie agrees to lock it up in his rash box. CHAPTER XVIII. While Maurice limped off to explore, and at the same time to see if he could by any chance get something to eat, 1 sat down and dispassionately reviewed the situation. A doubt so strong that it had almost amounted to certainty bad convinced me of tlie fact that our abandonment was the result of design, not accident. 1 knew too much, and Mrs Lemaire had taken the simplest and safest way of stopping any incautious chattering about her affairs. One by one 1 called to mind the events of the past weeks. Gradually my suspicions became certainties, and I realised that she was an unscrupulous adventuress, who would not hesitate to employ any means for removing an obstacle in her path. Under the circumstances I felt perfectly justified in telling everything to Maurice, including the incident at Stalheim and the discovery of the portrait in the brooch. It is not easy to tse t a seagull without a gun, or fish without fishing tackle. Maurice returned dispirited and unsuccessful. Tie stood by my side gazing at the far-away mountains, and his first words decided me to speak. “Can you think of anything that may account for this?” he asked. “Could Mrs Lemaire have had a grudge against us?” I began my tale, and told it accurately, not omitting the smallest details. Maurice listened attentively, and did not make any comment till 1 had quite finished. “There can be no doubt in my mind he said at last, “that her story about the picture was a lie. I don’t know' if I am right, but I strongly susp-ect. that Gellender’s runaway wife and our charming - hostess are one and the same person.” The Runaway Wife “Maurice!” I cried, aghast, “it is perfectly impossible.”

A story of Thrilling Romance and Exciting Adventure

“Why Impossible? If I remember right, you told me that Mrs Gellender had completely disappeared, and the name of her companion remained unknown. Let us fill in the blank and call him Lemaire. Then there is Molly. The child is, I grant you, unlike her mother, but she has not one point in common with her supposed father. Two years ago the Leinaires came to London —from where? Everyone was asking—no one knew 7 . They got their introductions through Prince Letrowski, who had met Madame on the Continent and fallen a victim to her charms. Mrs Lemaire is an incomparable actress, and her story was ingenious enough to convince you at the time, but when you think it over quietly I expect you will see it as 1 do. Her attempt to chloroform you at Stalheim is an additional proof that our presence here at this moment is the result of a plot. It is my belief that she goes in bodily fear of her husband, Gellender, who, as far as 1 can gather, is an awKwird customer to have to deal with, and is quite capable of carrying out his threat to set lie all accounts with his charming wife should Fate ordain a meeting between them. Sho knew that if you wrote and told Gellender of your discovery of the portrait she was practically ruined. ‘lie would probably have met the Lily at Newcastle.” V “How can you speak so confidently?” 1 asked, shivering with terror. “Because there is an absence of motive for her crime, supposing she is, as she says, only Mrs Gellender’s sister. People do a great deal to suppress the revival of a family scandal, but they don’t commit murder. There are many disagreeables attendant on such an extreme measure, including a who’esome fear of the gallows. After all, if you had gone home and noised the fact abroad it couldn't have done her great harm. Mrs Lemaire has managed her affairs uncommonly well, and by admitting so few to her gambling saloons she has contrived to keep things pretty quiet. But, in spite of all precautions, there is always a whispering rumour about that sort of business. When she first came to London she had a great success. A good many women called on her, and as rich people alone were admitted, and the wealthy acquire an easy celebrity in these days, the house was supposed to be a smart place to go to. When rumours arose and the female portion of her acquaintance began to drop her, she had some hard things to bear. Because she has been through the mill, 1 don’t think one scandal more or less would affect her much, especially when the heroine was not herself, but a relation. The Brooch Recognised “If she is Mrs Gellender the first sight of the brooch must have given her a considerable shock. Her physical fear drove her to extremities. She probably understood as well as you or 1 that to try and chloroform you at Stalheim was a madly risky thing to do, hut she was actuated by the e >urI age of despair. She realised that you I did not know of the existence of a spring (by the way, I should imagine your friend Mr Gellender can t have known of it either, or he would not have given it to you), and when her attempt at Stalheim failed she trusted to luck that you wouldn’t discover it. Then yesterday she happened to come in and find you with it open in your hand, so invented the story to throw you off the scent for the moment, and then thought out a careful plan for removing you. 1 fully believe that she is alive to the dangers of ner present plot, and regrets having to take such desperate measures to ensure her own safety. You see, look at it what way you will, once you reached home her game was about played out. Even if

you had not written to her husband from Norway, on your arrival in England you would, of course, have taken the first occasion of mentioning to him that you had spent your time in the employment of his sister-in-law. When, as 1 have small doubt is tbe case, he replied that such a lady did not exist, detection would be inevitable. She lelt certain that you had not mentioned your discovery to any of the others on board the yacht, but about me she was doubtful. She knew well enough that I loved you, and though she did her best to promote a quarrel between us, she was never certain that we had not had an explanation. People in love, you know, are proverbially untrustworthy. Thyn she must have remembered that you had already detected her in one deception—in fact, she had just been obliged to confess as much —I mean when she denied all knowledge of Mr Gellender. Altogether, although her powers of persuasion might impress you at the time, she could hardly hope that you would continue to believe here after you bad devoted a little thought to the matter, once you had escaped from the influence of her personality. So, you see, ali things considered, it was wiser to remove us both, and she could not have chosen a more effective way for accomplishing her purpose. Mind you. I do not for a moment suspect that Algy Lemaire or either of the others have any idea of this. One can never he certain, but 1 imagine that they would have stood by us to a man. Also I do not believe they have the brains to invent the scheme, or the necessary pluck to carry it out.” Maurice’s View His view of the case appeared terribly probable, and, listening, I realised how remote were o-ur chances of rescue. Being too cold and hungry to discuss anything further. I suggested that we should make another attempt to procure food. This time Maurice resorted to stratagem. He lav prone and motionless on the beach. Presently the gulls came swooping hy, in expectation of a meal. It took time and patience before they were willing to trust themselves in his near proximity. At. last one, holder than the rest, settled for a moment, and instantly another. and then another followed the example. For a second his body was covered with the fluttering wings of sea birds. Then arose a wild screaming, and the frightened gulls rose simultaneously as Maurice’s hand shot out and successfully grabbed one of their number. To me it was a sickening sight. How many days, how many hours would pass before we lay dying from want and exposure at the mercy of iliese pitiless scavengers. It was with a vindictive feeling of satisfaction that I watched Maurice terminate

the existence of his captive. Our cooking was naturally sketchy, but the food put new life and vigour into our frames. As the hours went by, however, our discomforts were increased by an icy wind blowing from the glaciers, and momentarily increasing in force. AYe were having a full experience of a rapid change of the Sptizbergen climate. Maurice, in spite of my remonstrances, took off his coat and wrapped it round me. and we sat with chattering teeth trying to protect ourselves from the cold blast. Maurice’s ankle was giving him great pain. I got water and bathed it. and the tried to emulate his example and repeat the feat of capturing another gull. Either 1 was clumsy or tlie birds had grown shy, for my efforts were not crowned with success. “Maurice,” I said, suddenly, “tell me the truth. It is useless trying to deceive me with false hopes. Do you think there is the slightest chance of anyone rescuing us?" • I am afraid not.” lie said gently. “You are the braves! little woman in the world, my darling, and it is better to tell VOU what I think." He wound his arm round me as I knelt b> his side. "Supposing,” 1 said softly, T was

given the choice between the life I was leading without your love, and these hardships knowing that you cared —why. I shouldn't hesitate for a moment. Ma.urice. I would choose this. After all. we are together." Looking hack on it all. I am inclined to think that our terrible experience was not without its advantages. It taught me. what 1 might never have fully realised, the best part of Maurice's nutnre. rnirlnp all Hint weary time of privation and exposure I never •heard him utter a word of complaint. I His one thought was for nv.\ my com* I for’s. and my health. I learnt then that there are times when this earthly love of our approaches the divine. , Weariness, sickness, and hunger, ran only strengthen it. “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.’’ Abandoned by the Yacht I sat with my hands in his. and so the hours passed. It was the fourth day since we had been abandoned hy the vaclit. and T could onl> pray that the end might he near. Maurice was delirious. Pain and cold had done their worst, and Nature granted unconsciousness. Worn and drowsy with • hunger, 1 sank into a condition of

[ stupor that was not sleep, yet partoni 1 in a degree of Us nature. When l i opened my eyes the gnawing pair had i left me. Raising myself with grc;.! » difficulty on my elbow, for I was terribly weak. I gazed across the water. I To rnv glazed eyes everything looked > indisMnct. vet in the distance some- [ thing was slowly approaching— *urcl> > a boat. I knew it must he mirage or . the creation of my overwrought brain, and watched it lazily. The vision was - persistent. If did not vanish —it was . heading straight in our direction. Gradually ni\ reasoning powers refurn- \ »d. it was no mirage, but a fishing . smack, seeking shelter from the wind ..in our little hay. The impossible had i happened, it only remained to attract 3 j 1 tic* attention of those on board, and » w e were saved I v To be Continued.)