GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 27, 17 September 1920, Page 5

GRAND SERIAL STORY. JUDGMENT.

H f& ( fl Th@ Most Amazm-g Story Ewer PenrsecL s &

H FOR NEW READER8. ^Ei;J ,|.' e't! ^ JOHN MILLBANK, a successful, 51111 1 ; stern judge, quarrels with his onBon, K, who leaves his father's house to Piljj;hfc his own way in the world; and iilst serving with the Australian otingent, under the name of Dick ; :r ister, he meets, and falls in lovo j TY, the adopted daughter of Sir lilifuB However, Sir John has ar- j nged for her marriage with ctD HAVERHAM. In a moment oi espair, Kitty writes to Dick, asking to meet her in the Blue Room at ; tiverconrt Mansions. At the appoint- 1 f . d hour, Lord Haverham goes to the 31ue Room to write some letters, and, jjonbeknown to the guests, Sir John I "meets him there. An altercation arises between the two men, resulting in the accidental death of Lord Haverham. Later, Dick arrives in the j., Blue Room, is caught and accused of ' murder, and found guilty. Whilst passing the sentence of death, Sir •John recognises the prisoner &n his own son Jack! A few days later, ■Sir John interviews the prisoner at his private residenc'e under escort of :the warders, and tells him he will have to serve at least three years' imprisonment. Just as they are leaving, Dick with the assistance of Kitty makes his escape, and that night they decide to drive into Winnerleigh but the car breaks down, and they are forced to accept the hospitality of EAUMONT CHASE, a millionaire. The lollowing morning, Dtick's hostinforms him that Sir John had called during the night and taken his daughter away. Dick, believing this story, leaves that morning for Winnerleigh. Kitty goeg down to breakfaat, and is cross-eiamined by Mr Chase, but on his promise of assistance tells him the whole slory. At a fabulous price Mr Chase engages the services of ' PELHAM WEBB, a ciever but unscrupulous 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. Pelham Webb diseovera Dick, and unbeknown to Beaumont Chase, takes him to the latter's residence where he is installed as gardener. Sir John and Kitty arrive at Beaumont Hall, and Beaumont Chase loses no time in asking Sir John for the hand of his daughter. Sir John consents. That afternoon Kitty receives news that the gardener is priously injured. The^oncluding paragraphs of last week's ttalment, reprinted to refresh readers' lemories It is a lie," cried Chase vehemently. 1 11 business has he with you ? He is ggojfbird, a. worthless vagabond of no count. Why should he come to see u?" Tudge Millbank seemed to gather his hng strength by one desperate effort. emaciated figure became erect, his '. eyes seemed momentarily to regain sir anoient fire, and his voice rang out iudly : Because he is my fcon!"

ON THE TELEPHONE." Upon two of those present the effect of the judge's quietly spoken words was one of absolute consternation. Both Kitty and Beaumont Chase stared incredulously. at the gaunt, haggard and yet majestic face of the old man. He had gone mad ! That was the thought which occurred simultaneously to ] ■ both of them. ( And then, as though moved by a com- j mon impulse, they turned and faced Dick Foster. They stood gazing at him expectantly, awaiting his denial. But it did not come. The young man stood with" bowed head. his hands tightly cla'sped before him, the muscles of his face working as though he was trying to control some powerful emotion. 1 » It was Beaumont Chase who spoke first, addressing Dick. | "Of course, Sir John is suffering from a clelusion, caused no doubt by his illness," he said. But there was doubt in his voice, the words" were spoken without conviction. | Dick looked up- then and met the miliionaire's eyes with a frank steady gaze. | "I do not know what business it is of ! yours," he said coldly. "But my father . has thought fit to make this revelation in | your presence, and I do not consider it I my duty any longer to .conceal the truth. i I am his son." j j A little cry escaped Kitty's lips and for | a moment a mad impulse seized her to • rush forward and (ling her arms about the young man's neck. Then she rememhered ! , Her gaze met that of her husband and , she stood motionless like a figure turned ; to stone. Beaumont Chase's brow was knitted in a frown. I "It may be true," he said, speaking aloud, but addressing no one in particular. "It explains many things. Yes, by Jove, it explains everything!" • He turned abruptly to the judge. "I am greatly obliged to you, Sir John, for giving me this information," he said. , "It relieves my mind of a suspicion whieh ! was causing me great distress. Knowing the friendly relations which formerly existed between this young man and the lady who is now my wife and seeing him enter this house after he had told me he interxd. ed never to see her again, I was not unreasonable, I think, in suspecting his motives. However, your statement clears everything up. Mr Foster — I suppose he will still prefer me to call him by that name — came to see his father and not his old sweetheart. I am satisfied, and I apolo. gise to all concerned, and to you, Kitty, especially." Smiling he advanced towards the girl. The action seemed to awaken her to life. "Her lips moved and sbe made a desperate effort to speak colleotedly. "I— I do not blame you, Mr Chase—you have been very kind, very considerate — I understand Uow vihy Sir John was so anxious to see Mr Eoster. He will get better now, I think, but he is still very ill. Please — oh, pleasef persuade him to go back to bed." "That is true, Sir John," said Chase turning to the judge. "You ought not to be out of bed. I sliall never forgive my- ; self if I am the -cause of your coming to ' any harm. Get back to bed, and as you i now have your son to comfort you, you | will, I am sure, forgive me if I rob you ! of your daughter. Kitty and I will leave j the house at once." The words were spoken smoothly, but | with an undercurrent of grim determination.

Dick took a step forward as though to defend poor Kitty from an enemy, and then, recalling the helplessness of his position, he stood motionless, his face betraying the bitter anguish of his soul. Kitty was the bravest, the clearest head. ed of them all. , "Mr Chase," she said, "you made me a promise on condition of which I became your. wife. Do you still intend to keep that promise V ' "Of course I do,". replied the millionaire warmly. "I have been called a hard man, but no ~one has ever accused me of breaking my word. Tlie secret which you and I share is perfectly safe. No power on earth could make me reveal it now. Tho evidence is destroyed, and the portion we know of, as far as I am concerned,' is absolutely secure." "I thank you," said Kitty not a little moved by the earnestness of his tones. "But you have since made another promise. You have given ms permission to remain with my father as long as he needg nae." Beaumont Chase made an impatient ges. ture. "In the first place, Sir John Millbank is not your father; and in the eecond place he no longer needs you. He has his son." "I am here to say good-bye," interposed Dick Foster eagerly." "My father sent for me and I oame, but — " "Enough! My daughter does not leave this house, Mr Chase. You shall never have her, and if you come here and molest her again, I will have you thrown into the street!" The judge's voice, strong and vibrant as of old, rang out and startled them all. "Do you think I do not know the dastardly means you "adopted to secure Kitty's consent to be your wife ?" he continued scomfully. "And do you think I care? Do you think you can- frighten me as you frightened that chivalrous girl? Make what disclosur.es you like, sir. If you think you know anything about me, publish it from- the housetops. Do your worst ! While I have breath in my body j I will fight you. Now go!" I Beaumont Chase surveyed the tall, gaunt I figure of the old- man, who seemed to I tower in his wrath. above tlie normal height and could not resist a feeling of admiratioii. Nevertheless, this feeling- did not divert him one atom from his purpose. "You alarm your self unnecessarily, Bir John," he said coolly. "Your secret is safe witn me. I have given my word to | my wife and I shall not b'reak it. At the same time, if you try to keep me and Kitty apart — •' ' ' "Well?" "I will find other means to bring you to a more reasonable frame of mind. Is it necessary for me to remind you, Sir John Millbank, that you are in my debt for a considerable sum of money?" The- judge's pale face whitened to a deeper pallor, and for a mqmerit he could not speak. Kitty moved quietly to his side and took his hand. The old man looked down at her. "It is true, my dear," he said tremulously. "All I have cared for in my life has been for fame arid distxiiction among my fellows. I was never expert in the money-grubbing game. I became fipancially embarrassed recently and the man offered his assistance. I took it with little thought. It is not much— " "Four thousand pounds, and I want it now," interposecl Beaumont Chase quietly and decisively. "You shall have it at my convenience," retorted the old man haughtily. j "I'll have it at once or I'll sell you | up," said the millionaire bruTally. "We will see then who it is that will be thrown into the street." Kitty turned on him, her eyes flashing. "Mr Chase! How can you be so cruel, so wicked?" she exclaimed. j He looked at her and smiled. j "A promise is a promise, Kitty," he said grimly. "I'll keep mine; other people must keep theirs. I get -what is mine in ■! my own way. You will leave this house with your lawful husband at once ; or, by Heaven, I'll enforce payment of that money before nightfall." At this moment Dick, who for some time had' been hardly able to contaTn himseff, strode' towards the door. Kitty, seeing him gping, lost her nerve. "Oh! Dick — Mr Foster — don't — don't leave us!" she ejaculated impulsively. He turned Tiis head. "I shall not be long. Do not, any of you, leave this room until I come back."

The next moment he was out of the room. Ile went at once to a smaTI apartment on the other side of ths hall where there was a telephone.' - Hurriedly he fumbled in his pocket for the letter-heading given to him by Harry Pinch's stran'ge client, Dixon Drake. Meanwhile, Mr Drake' s words were ringing in his ears. "If you ever want money, don't go to a money-lender. Come to mp." After some delay he- got the number on the 'phone. "Hullo! Yes. Drale? Dixon Drake?" "Spealcing." "I'm Dick Foster, you met me — " "I know. Well?" "Did you mean what you said in Pinch'g studio?" "Always mean what I say." "About money — " "Yes, I meaot it," - "But let me make it clear. You said — " "I know what I said!"" "But the amount. I want money — rather a large sum." "How much?" "Four thousxnd pounds." "Will you sign — ?" "Anything!" "All right; when do you want it?" "As soon as I can have it." "Where are you?" "Kensington Park Gardens — Judge Millbank's house." "Oh, yes, I know. All right, I'll do it. I'm coming along right away in a taxi." "But the money?" "I'm bringing it with me." "But— Hullo! Hullo!" There was no answer. Mr Dixon Drake had rung off. (To be continued.)