GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 5

GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

The sVfost Amazing Story Ever Penned,

FOR NEW READERS. Jolm Millbank, a struggling barrister, fighting hard to make a position for himsoli". Just when success comes to hirn his wife dies, leaving him with an infant son named Jack. The blow shakes him, but does not turn him from his path, and makes Lim more determined to fight his way to the front. He decides that his son shall follow his prcfession and ultimately enter Parliament, but Jack refuges. In a fit of ungovernable rage at his son's disobedienco, John Miilbank strikes him across the face with a whip. That night Jack secretly lcaves his iather's house. Severai years roll by and John Millbank is now Sir John, the great criniinal judge. In his loneliness, he adopts a friendless child, named Kitty, who ig now eighteen years of age. Si» Jolm tells her that it is his wish that she should marry Lord Haverham, bit the girl explains that she is in love with an Australian soldier, Dick Foster. Sir John is angry, and forbids her to see her lover again. That night Kitty writes to Dick, asking hini to meet her in the Blue Room at i Rivercourt, where thoy are staying as the ' guests of Lord Haverham.

Just before the appointed hour Lord Haverham goes to the Blue Room to write some letters, and, unbeknown to the guests, Sir John visits him there. An altercation arises between the two men, which results in the accidental death of Lord Haverham. AI1 unwittingly, Dick Foster arrives in th: Blue Room, where the body is sti.il lying, and is caught and accused of murder. He is tried before Sir Justice Millbank, and the jury return the verdict of "Guilty." Just as the judge is passing the death sentence, he recognises the prisoner as his own son Jack. After a few days an official announcernent is made that the death sentence has been revoked, and the prisoner will be def&jned during his Majesty's pleasure. Mr Jacob Jole, a shady and unscrupulcus character, conducts the defence of the Australian soldier. Sir Justice Millbank interviews the plisoner, under escort of the warders, at his private resklence, and tells him he will have to serve at least three years imprisonment. Just as Dick is leaving the house the light suddenly goes out. Both the warder;; make a grab at him and hustle him outside, when they discover, to their lismay that the man they are holding is pot Dick Foster but George Peters, a foolman, FLIGHT— THE BREAKDOWN. While George Peters, the second footman was being sternly questioned by the bewildered officials at the police-station, things were happening in the judge's house in Kensington Park Gardens. When Diek Foster left his father's room j with a warder siriding in front of him, | and another behind, he had 110 notion ' whatever of making any attempt to j escape. He was thinking of Kitty, and telling himself that, in all probability, he would never see her again. And tlien, suddenly, as they were passing tkrough the long, narrow ante-room, j the lights went out, and he found himself in perfect darkness. At tlia same moment a hand clutched him by the arm and dragged him sideways. He was about to protest, when he felt * warm arm circle his neck, and a softer i

hand than that which had just seized hira close over his month. "Don't speak or move!" The words were breathed into his ear, and a woman's hair brushed lightly against his cheek. Amazed he held his breath and waited. Quite near him he heard what sounded like a scuffle, Then a door opened and shut. ' ' Quick ! Thi3 way ! " He recognised the voice now, and his heart gave a great jump. "Kitty!" he gasped. "Hush ! Not a sound. But quick ! Oh, do be quick!" He was dragged headlong through the darkness, hearing only the swish of skirts at his side. Then a door opened and he found himself in a lighted room. Before he could recover from his surprise, his impetuous guide tumed and flung herself, laughing and sobbing, in his arms. "Oh, Dick! I've — I've got you!" was all she could say. "But, Kitty, what — what does it mean '!" oxclaiined the young man, utterlv bewildered.

J "Where are the men? I'm a prisoner. I " "No, you are free!" interrupted the | girl, looking up into his face with glow- | ing eyes. "Fve rescued you." j "But how, dear?" a.sked Dick. I In a torrent- of words the young lady • oxplained. "1 planned it all, but Peters helped. We hid in the alcove, and when you were ' going by we put out the lights, and j Peters changed places with you. But | there's no time to waste. They'll soon ! fui i out. You must hide, and then get : away." I Dick looked admiringly, and yet sadly, ' at the eager, pretty face. | "My darling," he said unsteadily, as j hiv arms tightened about her slender, I graceful form, ' 'you are wonderful ! And it is splendid to have these few minutes together. 1 thought I should never see \ you again. But in a little while we shall be j separated, dear, and it will be for a long, j /ong time. They are sending me to pnson— for years. Oh, my darling! I kno-.v what I ought to say, but it is so hard to say it. She gazed at him wonderingly. "Yrou want to tell me something?" she asked. "Yes, dear; it is this," he said desperately. "You must not rain your life i for ino. You must not wait for me. '• When I come out I shall be a broken gac.lbird, and you will be a beautiful woman with all the world at your feet. Ah, dear! Don't you understand?" She shook her hcad vigorously. "No, I don't. You are not going to pr.'son. And if you were, I would marry you just the same. Oh, please don't aiuge, Dick. Not now. There's no time. i ve arranged everything. You've just i got to do as I tell you." I She released herself from his embrace, j darted to the door, opened it a few ir-.ches, and stood listenmg. "It's all rigkt!" she declared. "They've gone. The cab has driven away and they haven't found out yet. They won't now till they get lo Brixham. That gives us splendid time." Dick Foster, who was still in a state of men tui confusion, stared stupidly around the dainty little boudoir, with all its pretty ferninine fripperies, and wondered if, by any chance, he was dreaming. With an effort, he pulled himself together, and stepping to the girl's side, held her firmly by the shoulders, and lcoked ahnost sternly into her animated face

"Look here, Kitty," he said gravely "What mad notion have you got int your liead? You must tell me in plair words, and you must tell me now." "Yes, Dick," said the girl meekly, "but you must agree to do as I tell you. When we are married I will obey you : but until then Oh, Dick, we are wasting time ! Go into that room and change. You'll find a suit of clothes on a chair. They belong to Monty, but they will fit you pretty well, I think." "But, my dear girl, escape is utterly out of the question!" exclaimed the man. "Where could I go to? Where could I hide?" "It's all settled," replied Ivitty promptly. "Ever heard of Clara Clarke?" "The actress?" Kitty ncdded. "She's a friend of mine. She's got a cottage'at- Winnerleigh, a little place on the Essex coast. That's where you're going to-night. Can you drive a car?" "Y'es." "Good. There's one waiting in the mews at the back of the house." "But — " "Oh, please, dear, dear Dick, don't talk any more!" implored Kitty, and as she spoke she fairly pushed him through the doorway into the adjoining room. On the threshold, however, he stood firm and detained her as she was about to leave hirn. A new light was in his eyes. W as there, indeed, a chance of liberty? It seemed too wild a notion to be entertained for a moment, and yet something in Kitty's buoyant confident demeanour inspired him with a crazy hope. Ax, any rate, there would be a mad, furious drive along the country roads by night. That, at least, was worth while, and. his heart leaped at the thought. "Kitty," he said breathlessly, "I shall j see you again." "Rather! But don't keep me now. I've g >t to change, too. "You?" "Of course! I'm coming with you." ' 'Kitty ! ' ' "To show you the way. It's all arranged. Be quick!" She darted away and left him staring blankly after her. In the room into which he had bcen so unceremoniously thrust he found a With an unpleasant feeling at the back of his mind that he was taking part 111 a rather ridicnlous game he undressed and attired himself in Mr Frank Montague's . beso suit of tweeds. j When he returned again to the otber j room he found awaiting him there a rather seared-face maid. "This way, sir," she said nervo.isly. "Your hat and coat are in the car." He follow ed her ofcediently along severa. passages, down stairs, and finally out into the small garden at the back of the house. The impression of unreality remain'fi with him until he was out in the open aiv : but when the soft night breeze blew >n his face a feeling of exhilaration seized him. Suppose, after all, Kitty's mad plot succeedsd. Dick had been all through ths war, and he had seen things in France ' nat made him hesitate to say anything was impossibla. More than once he had seen an appsrenily hopeless situation retrieved by skeer audaciiy and blind, reckless courage. The girl led him down the garden and into a dark stablo. She pointed to a small open door on the other side, and then rau back into the house. Dick passed through the door, and found himself in a very dimly-lighted mews. A few feet away stood a big motor-oar, unattended. Dick examined it and found it to !ik> liking. It was a pre-war model, but agood make, and seemed to be in perfect condition. "All right?" Dick, who was bending over the engmc, looked up sharply. A slim, dark-haired youth was standing by his side. "Eh? Oh, yes, it's all right; but — " "Then we had better be off. What do you think of my wig?" [ "Kitty! Good heavens!" Kitty laughed. ! "I've got a disguise for you, too, in the car, but we won't bother about that now. Put on the goggles, and you'll be all right till we get out of London." She moved out of the circle of light cm by the head lamp, and Dick stared (Continued on Page 6.)

JUDGMEMT.

(Continued from Page 5). after her in the darkness. The next fecw minutes were a period oi tense excitement, and neither spoke again xiniil they were eeated side by side and the car glided out of the mews into a wide, deserted road. "Turn to the right, then first to the lelt We'e got to eross London. Go quietiy till we leave the houses behind," said Kitty in a tone of suppressed excitement. Dick obeyed submissively. His reason tohi him that escape was impossible. The teiephones would soon. be busy with the news of his flight — and very soon their car would be stopped by the police. But for the moment he was free, and Kitty was here by his side. In spite of the dictates of reason, he could not help feeling wildly, deliriously happy. , They passed through the City and the East End of London at a very moderate pare and without adventure. As the long rows of houses were left behind them and the hedgerows began to appear a distant cloek struck the hour of eleven. ] • was a fine clear night, and the moon was nearly at the full. Kitty breathed a deep sigh of relief, and at the sound of it Dick turned his heao and glanced at her. Her sweet face looked very pale in the moonlight, and he realised how gTeat had been the strain of the events through which she had passed. "You are tired," he said anxiously. "Will you get in behind and. try to get somo sleep?" "Ko, no," she replied, snuggling closer to him; "in a couple of hours we shall be at Winnerleigh, and there you'll be safe. Remember, Dick, your name is Richmond — Tom Richmond, and I am your young brother Kenneth. Clara — Miss Clarke, I mean — knows the truth, but nobody else. She is going to get you out of the country as her agent, and I shall follow. We have arranged everything." Dick's left arm was about her. He drew her closer to him. "What a wonderful little woman you *r > Kitty!" he said in a voice charged ■witi emotion, "you almost make me hope. Ifc is madness to think that we can set at defiance the whole law of England, but you are so clever and so brave you mahe me feel there is a eh&ace." "If we only get to Winnerleigh before daybreak there is more than a chance, there is certainty," replied Kitty eagerly. "All the people who have helped me can be trusted. The police will think you are hiding in London. They will never guess the truth. Oh, Dick, I've saved you ! I know I have ! All the hard part is over. Nothing can spoil it now. In another hour " She stopped abruptly, for at that moment something went wrong with the car. The engine misfired, the pace glackened, and then the car came to a sudden halt, Dick sprang out and endeavoured to discover the source of the trouhle. The minutes passed, and he was still busy. Suddenly he stepped back and stood at the side of the road wiping his hands. Kitty rose in her seat. "Dick!" It is serious?" There was fear in her voice. "Afraid so," replied Dick gloomily, "Hard lines! Our luck has failed us just ■when we wanted it most, It's a complete breakdown. We shall have to wait until something comes along that can tug us into the next town." For a few moments they faced one another in silence in the moonlight, and then suddenly Kitty burst into tears. Dick sprang to her side and took her in h'n arms. "My dear, my dear," he said tenderly. "Don't cry. There is still a chance, Someone may come along soon. Who knows? We won't give up hope." Holding her close, he kissed her tearstained face. With many whispered words he strove to console her, and finally she fell asieep in his arms. Dick kept vgry still, so as not to disturb her, and gazed out moodily over tlie deserted landscape. It was a very lonely spot. On one side of the road a dark wood rose gloomily and on the other cornfields xustling mysteriously in the night breeze stretched away into the distance. There was no building — not even a barn— in siglit, and Dick knew by the map that they were several miles from the nearest town and a good twenty miles from their destination. So this was the end of their mad enterprise ! He knew he could do nothing. In the morning the local police would fiod him. No doubt they had akeady been warned of his escape, He would be sc,:zed and taken back iguominiously to gaol. And Kitty? Ah! she would be taken

from him and he would never see her again. He looked down at the sweet, pathetic face, and in spite of himself the hot tears came into his eyes. Then with get teeth he stared out again at the desolate, moonlit landscape, and awaited the coming dawn. THE MASTER OF BEAUMONT HALL. Beaumont Chase was thirty-five, a bachelor, and if he had given away half his fortune he would still have been a millionaire. mllioniahhefik.stp'o.oo- vbg vbgk bqjjj, He came into his wealth before he was twenty, and at once set about seeing life. He saw a good deal in fifteen years, ancl at the end of that period he was utterly weary of the whole dreary business. Now at the age of thirty-five he had buried himself in his country mansion in Essex thoroughly disgusted with himself, with the world, and with all it had to offer. One sultry summer 's night he stood on the terrace of Beaumont Hail and gazed out over his lands, which looked ghostly aonc dreary in the moonlight. He had just lit a cigar. He took it from his mouth, stared at it for a moment, and then flung it away. "Cigars are not what they used to be," he gTowled, and swinging round, stepped back into the handsome, lighied room behind him. A man having the appearance of a superior servant was moving softly about tne apartment. "Underwood," said Mr Chase abnptly, "what do you get out of lifef "The satisfaction of serving you, sir," replied the man smoothly. The millionaire laughed grimly, "I'm thirty-five," he said, "Yes, sir." "I am fit and well with a good constitution." "Yes, sir." "I may live another fifty years." "Very possibly, sir." "Good lord! what am I to do with half a ceaitury V ' "As a beginning, sir, I would suggest matrimony." "Don't be a fool, women bore me." The servant stroked hi|; chin thoughtfully and made another suggestion. "Fretworlc is an egccellent hobby, sir. I'm told it's most soothing to the nerves," he remarked. Beaumont Chase made a gesture of impatience. "I don't want to be soothed. I want to be excited, or, at least, to be interested. What's more, I want to do something. What's tbe time?" "Nenrly twelve, sir." "We'd, I can't go to bed, I dmuldn't sleep. Get out the car, 1*11 have a spin round." "By yeurself, sir?" "Yes,, yes. You can go to bed. I don't suppose I shall be back till the morning." Beamont Chase went for his moonlight spin, but he returned in less than an hour, and he came dr&gging behind him another car, in which a man was seated, holding in his arms a sleeping boy. MR GHASE AMUSES HIMSELF. Beaumont Chase insisted on his two unexpected visitors remauning his guests for the nighi, After they had been eonducied to their rooms.ti 3© millionaire sai up aloae for a consjderable tkue. He thinking, and as he thought there was a smile upon his lips and a distant gleam of interest in his weary eyes. He was & geod -looking man, with strong features ; the kind of man who would surety have carved a way for hiin-se'-f in life had he not had the ill-luck to be born rich, "Queer," he muttered. "I wonder what is behind it all? A girl dressed as a boy! — a gallant boy she makes, too. They are not criminals, I'll swear. Romantio lcvers I suppose. Young fools! Now, I wonder" — tbe smile broadened on his cjnical face — "I wonder if I can get a b:c of amusement out of .this business?" He arose, and going to a writing-table, began to write. For ten minutes or so he wrote steadily, and then enclosing the double-shec-t of notepaper in an envelope, he addressed it to Mr Underwood. Everyone but himself had gone to bed, but he placed the envelope in a prominont position cm the table, where it would be seen the first thing in the morning. Then with the smile still upon his lips he put out the lights, and at length retired to rest. Dick Foster was awakened eariy the next morning, With. the sleep still in his eyes he looked up drowsily at the servant standing by his bedside. "My master has to leave home early, (Continued on Page 10 j. (

JUDGIVSENT.

(Continued from page 6.) &ir. He will breakfast in half an hour. He wishes to know if you would care to join hira, or whether you would prefer to breakfast in bed?" "No, no ; I will join hira of course," said Dick, springing out of bed. I:. less than the half-hour he descended tbe stairs and entered the breakfast-room. He noticed by the clock in the hall tha; it was not yet eight, and the thought crosscd his mind that his host, for a civilian was an early riser. Mr Chase received hira cordially. '"You slept well, I hope?" he said with a smile. "First rate," replied Dick. 11 e noted that Kitty had not yet appeared. "You were more fortunate than the rest of us. We had a rather disturbed night, Mr Richmond." The millionaire spoke lightly, and yet with a certain significance in his tone. Dick gave hira a quick look. "Indeed !" " Yos. I'm afraid the news I have to tell you won't be very palatable. But here's breakfast. I will explain afterwards." Beaumont Chase moved to the table, l ut Dick, suddenly alarmed, stepped forward. "What do you mean? Has anything hiippened ? Please tell me at oncs." Mr Chase turned to hira gravely. :'My dcar lad, pull yourself together," he said quietly. "After all, it might have been worse. You must admit that your enterprise was a rather reckless one. " "What has happened?" he demanded hoarsely. "Kit — I mean, my brother — he ls all right?" "Oh, quite. Upset of course, but very ph.cky. And she left a message for you — " "Left a message!" repeated Dick, in biank dismay. "You mean she's gone? Sht 's -" The millionaire nodded gravely. "About an hour after you went to bed la.it night we were knocked up. It was her father." A look of consternation eame into Dick's eyes "The judge?" he exclaimed involuntarily. Beaumont Chase gave a quick look, but di 1 not betray his surprise. "Yes," he said quietly. "And he insisted upon carrying his daughter off at once. There was a scene, but in the end she was submissive. She seemed satisfied when she had seen me and given me a message for you." Dick was very pale, and it was some moments before he could speak. "What was the message?" he said at length. "She begged you to go as quickly as possible to the place you know of. She gave me the liame, but it has slipped my memory." "Winnerleigh?" suggested Dick. "Yes, that's it. She said if you would go there at once she would contrive to communicate with you. Of course, I don't want to pry into your affairs, Mr Richmond, but if I can be of any lielp, pray command me." He held out his hand, and Dick gripped it firmly. "Thanks. How can I get to Winnerleigh? My car is hopelessly Injured." "No, it has been put right. My man is a good mechanic, and he has seen to it " Dick was too delighted and grateful to be surprised. "How can I thank you?" he said. '"I'li he off at once. Kitty will wire me as soon as she gets to London. If she promised, she'll do it. I must lose no time." • "But you'll have a bit of breakfast " "No. no; thanks awfully, I won't stay." A few more words passed between them, but all tbe time Dick showed an increasing impatience to be off, and at ler.gth Beaumont Chase let liim go. They went out to the car together, a:.d the millionaire stood at the lodge gates and watched his guest drive away. As the car disappeared in a cloud of dust, Beaumont Chase retraced his steps to th© house. Entering the big lounge hall, he encountered a maidservant. "C'all Mr Kenneth Richmond," he said, "and tell liim I shall be pleased to breakfast with him at any hour that suits Iiin:."