GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 9, 14 May 1920, Page 5

GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

The EVlost Amazing Story E ver ;L 8$ Penned. W Kf & — V# - V/ J . S* ^ - -X — . r> , ,-v/o ^ x ,-^x ^-_x ^x/"J y-Si X ^ - O ^O. x-x/O ^ . ^A> /T^. fTST) /^4 OP /^-A r^O /C^ &rsS\ -

FOR NEW READERS. SIR JOHN MILLBANK, a success f oi, ■Bf but gtern judge, quarrels with his onI Jy son, • JACK, who leaves his father's house to ?i fight his own w»ty in tho world ; and whilst aerving with the Australian f contingent, under tho name of Dick l Foster, he rneets, and falls in love jf with KITT Y, the adopted daughter of Sir j John. However, Sir John has arranged for her marriage with iORD HAVERHAM. In a raoment oi j dospair, Kitty writes to Dick, asking 1 j hira to rneet her in the Blue Room at / : ' Rivercourt Mansions. At the appointed hour, Lord Haverham goes to the Bluo Room to write some letters, and, j unbeknown to the guests, Sir John meets him thero. An aitercation I ll ari"rtea between the two men, resulting ' in the accidental death of Lord HavI erham. Later, Dick arrives in the | Blue Room, is caught and aecused of ■ murder, and found guilty. Wliilst f passing the sentence of death, Sir John recognises the prisoner as his own sori Jack! A few days later, !W : " Sir John interviews the prisoner at his private residence under escort of i the vvarders, and tells him he will have to serve at least three years' im- j j prisonment. Just as they are leavmg, Dick with the assistance of Kitty if* makos his eseape, and that night they f decide to drive into Winnerleigh; hut - tho car breaks down, and they are forced to accept the hospitality of BEAUMONT CIIASE, a millionaire. The following moming, Dick's host informs him that Sir John had called ' during the night and taken his daughter away. Dick, believing this story, leaves that morning for Winnerleigh. Kitty goes down to breakfast, and is cross-examined hy Mr Chase, but on his promise of assist- j anca tells him the whole story. At a tabulous price Mr Chase engages the services of M R FELHAM WEBB, a clever but unscrupolous detective, to find Dick Foster, and extracts a promise from Kitty not to attempt to see or write to her lover until a year has elapsed. Dick arrives at the residence of CLARA CLARKE, a clever actrees and n friend of Kitty's. With the aid of j grease-paints she transforms Dick to u lifc-li k.e representation of her father. Just at this monwnt Pelham Webb arrives and insists upon interviewing Dick alone. Dick realises that ^ the detective has discovered his idenItity, and decides to make a fight for it, However, the detective explains that lie has come to befriend him, and Dick, believing his story, accompanies him to the residence of Beaumont Chase, where he is installed as a garduer. lifl I • A BIT OF TWISTED PAPER. Sir John Millbank sat alone in the great dlning-room of Beaumont Hall. He had aged greatly ; his figure was bowed, d and the ra werc deep lines on his intellectual face, but tho cold grey eyes jf wero still clear and keen. jjff His recent illness had make him the wreek of his former self, but his willpower was unbroken, and he seemed to be fighting proudly and defiantly against his jji physical weakness. He was gla-d to be the rbf 8uest of his new friend Beaumont Chase, |(,d||the. millionaire. He had never had inany friends, and

since his breakdown in health they had been fewer than ever. It had puzzled him at first that Beaumont Chase should want to know him, but now he began to understand, and a cynical smile curved the old xnan's lips. "If he has taken a fancy to Kitty, so much the better," he muttered. "He is rich, and money is power, and power is everything. Yes, Tie will teach her to forget. She is young, and the young soon forget." An involuntary sigh escaped him, and he stared gloomily straight in front of him. *Sir John Millbank did not find it so easy to forget. On the contrary, old memories crowdod thick upon him tonight. Perhaps it was b.ecause he knew instinctively that his physical health was failing, and that tho future held little worth fighting for. Certain it was that since his illness his mind went persistently to the past. - And in every picture of the past that rose before him he saw one face more prominent than any other — the face of his son. "I have no son," he mutterea again and again. "What is that worthlesa ne'er-do-well to me? Why should I give him a moment's thought? I owe him nothing. He has wrecked his life by his own folly and his base ingratitude. Let him lie on the bed he has made for himself. He had no right to come back into my life. And now I will banish hira for ever from my mind!" But it was easier said than done. Before his mental vision rose scene after scene in which his boy was the central figure. Ha saw him as a tiny toddler; he saw him as a schoolboy ; and, above all, he saw him as a grown man, a prisoner, standing in the dock. That last picture seemed indelibly printed on the old rnan's brain. It would not be dismissed. He now raised his unstcady hand to his eyes as though to shut . out the sight. i "Why did he come back?" he muttered j hoarsely. "Was it not enough that he so utterly disappointed me? Why should he come back and spoil my life again? Bah! I will think of him no more. I have still work to do. 1 have won success and fame, and now my race is nearly run. But before I go I will see that Kitty — dearer to me than a child of my own fiesh — shall be firmly established in a position of wealth and power. Happiness I have been unable to win for myself ; I will win it for her." Outside the room, on the moonlit terrace, two figures were moving slowly side by side. One was Beaumont Chase, and the other was Kitty Millbank. "It was kind of you to invite us down here, Mr Chase," said the girl. "I am sure it will do father good." "I believe that, too," answered the man. "He is better already, and I think he likes me." "He does very much. It has surprised me the way he has taken to you," said Kitty simply. The man laughed softly. "It surprises you that anyone should like me very much, Miss Kitty?" he said, in a low, significant tone. "Oh, no ; I did not mean that." "All the same, you know someone who does not like me over well," suggested the man. "If you mean me, Mr Crase, you are wrong," said Kitty quietly. "I like you, and I am very grateful to you." "Grateful?" "Yes." Beaumont Chase sighed ostentatiously. "I am afraid I am not the kind of man

who derivfis much satisfaction from gratitude. All the same, I am pleased that I have been able to do you even a small service." "It was a not a small service," said Kitty gravely. "It was you who helped Dick to escape. But for you he would be even now in a prison cell. I shall nevcr be able to thank you enough for that." "You have not heard from him?" "No, not yet." "You expect to?" "Oh, ycs, he will write as soon as he can." "Suppose he doesn't?" "Oh, hut he will!" There was a note of quiet confidence in the ghi's voice which someliow irritated the man. "You remember your promise to me? ' he said, almost sharply. "Oh, yes, I remember," she said sadly. "And I — I will keep it." Her , voice faltered, and it was some minutes before she could on, but, when at last she spoke again she had recovered complete control of hcrseif. ' "You have promised to save Dick, Mr Chase, and if no harm comes to him within the next year I have given you my word I will rnarry any man you select. I do not know what your purpose is in making such a eondition, hut if you keep your part of the hargain I will keep mine. 1 am content if I can save Dick. It is not likely that he and I will ever meet again, but I will not forget him and he will not forget me." "You are young, Miss Millbank," said the man quietly, "and ^even before this year is out many thing3 may happen which will help you to forget." She gave him a quick look of inquiry, but he made no fnrther explanation. There was, however, a hard and resolute expression on his face which somehow frightened her. She had the old uncomfortable feeling that this man had taken her life in his hands, and that he meant to shape it according to his fancy. Hitherto her concern for Dick's safety had prevented her from giving even a thought to herself or to her own future. But now she conternplated the man who had saved Dick with a certain anxiety and a certain fear. Her gratitude began to be mixed with a touch of resentment. However, she was still prepared to keep her word. Rornantic | and unselfish as she was by nature, it | seemed a glorious thing to gacrifice herself i to save Dick. ) A little later they returned into the j house, and Kitty, after kissing her father j good-night, retired, leaving the two men together. 1 "You are better, Sir John?" said the millionaire, looking at his guea.t. The judge glanced up and smiled ]y"I am as well as I am ever likely to he now," he said. "Any way, I am quite well enough to hear what you have to say. You want to talk to me, I think?" The milionaire nodded. "You have a gilt for reading other men's thoughts, Sir John," he said. "Yes, there is something I want to say — and I can say it in a very few words. I am in love with your adopted daughter. I want you to help me win her for my wife." "You think you will need my help " "Yes. The young ladv has a prior attachment. ' ' The old man gave a contemptuous wave of the hand. "It is nothing. Utterly absurd! A private soklier. I believe. , Romantic nonsense. He lias disappeared. You need not trouble about that." j "She takes it seriously." "Does she? She only spoke to me about the fellow once. I thought sbe had for- ! gotten him. I don't even know his name. t Sne will soon forget that girlish folly. You are wealthy and in every way desirable. i I gladly give my consent." | "That is not enough," said Beaumont Cliaso quietly. j The other gave a quick look. "What more do you want?" j The millionaire hesitated, and then replied firmly : j "I want you to use your authoritv, Sir | John. I believe I can make Kitty bappy. I want you to insist that she shall accept me when I offer her my hand." j The eyes of the two men met, and in [ the judge's face came the old look of | authority which had hronght him so much , success and so much suftering. (Continned on page 6.)

JUDGIV9ENT. (Continued from Page 5.)

"Have no fear," he said, almost stern]y. "Kitty will do as I tell lier. You can give her a great position. It is my wish that she marries such a man as you. When do you wish the marriage to take place?" "I meant to postpone it for a year, but I cannot wait," replied the millionaire. "I shall to~morrow ask her to be my -wife." "Very well, I will speak to her in the moming. In the evening she will give you the answer you desire." Beaumont Chase held out his hand impulsively. "Thank you, sir," he gaid gravely. "Thank you for your help, If I mistake not I shall need it!" Meanwhile Kitty was in her own room. A feeling of great depression had fallen on her to-night, and she, sat for a long time tliinking, her hands folded in her lap. She closed her eyes and prayed, and her prayers were all for Diek. In spite of herself the tears began to liow. She tried to convince herself that she only wanted to be sure he was safe and yet it was hard that she shouM never see his dear face again, never hear his beloved voiee. With a sigh she rose from a chair, and then stood motionless, listening. An unusual sound came from outside the open window. She looked towards it, and as she did so a bit of paper llew in and fell at her feet. Her heart almost stood still. Then she stooped and picked up the paper and smoothed it out. It contained but a few words. With staring eyes she read : "Be brave. I cannot speak, but I am watching over you. God bless you!" (To be continued.)