DEEDS AND DIAMONDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxviii, Issue 7032, 21 November 1906, Page 4

DEEDS AND DIAMONDS.

(By i&ophie Osmond.)

CHAPTER XLIV (Continued.)

Sir Philip stood with his bauk to ths mantelpiece; but Gertrude, aiear-e,r the door, saw the whole incident and trembled. The very room seemed to quiver with the warring emotions that were let loose.

Between Cassiter and Gertrude only a glance passed; but in. that instant their eyes seemed to flash a- challenge to their struggling souls, and draw' them a little nearer*

.There was no ot)he.r recognition. The commonplao&s. of life were forgotten. Gertrude felt, rather than heard, Sir Philip was speaking.

"Your presence is opportune, Mr Casfiiter. I hay& a very painful duty before me, and nothing shall deter me from carrying it. out."

"Excuse me, Sir Philip, there is some mistake. I have no wish, to intrude on family matters. I request the favour of a private interview, not with, you at all, but with Miss Sheldon." Gertrude started .in bewilderment. ; "I sent my card to Miss Shell don. Your footnia.n said she was with you, thence the j mistake."

"Mias Sheldon is alt liberty to do as> she pleases 'wham this interview is over. But as she has come heiie, at my express wish, I must ask-you to .defer what you have to say iuiiti-1 Jater. If you will be 60 good asjo remain hare during our conversation I s'liall be obliged"." "No! No!" gasped Bernice, stretching out her hands to her husband. "Philip!—l "

"Allow me to manage my own affairs !" was the sharp answer, lanidi she sank inito the 1 nearest chair, her eye's fixed appetalingly on her sist^er. ■ - With a swift movement Cassiter toriiftd to Gertrude. / "Shalt I stay or not? lam guided by your wishes- iinj- this matter." Tor another hri&f second they dooked into each other's eyes, (hungering for each other's love, and yet 'lacking comprehension of the innermost working of their hearts. "As you please!" answered Gertrude in a. low voice. "Then I will stay!" It was the finst time they had met, the first time they ihad spoken isiinoe the bitter hour of (their -farewell, and though his eye>s rested on her' wistfully, she could not bear to look ort him.

"I wish it!" broke in Sir Philip with a snarl. "Surely I may expect som« deference mi my own house.! Gertrude I have already explained why I wish to ccc you —to learn the caiise of the contunual qiiaiTeliling between, you and your sist-er durimg 1 the (last daysi of your residence at The Crest."

"It concerned -mo one but "ourselves." Her voice :w*s. low, but here words were clear and incisive. "I intend to know !" A deep silence -feil'l on. the; group. Gertrude only saw her sister's •eye.s dilated amd staring. "Will you answer?" : "No ! It -is sufficient- that ■tihe- misunderstanding is. over. Bernice and I are friends again*. I acted ihaetily -in leaving The Crest, Bernice kid nothing to do with it." . .

"That's not true!" snapped Sir Philip. "During tha quarrel Captain Dax's name was irepeatedilj■.mentioned:—why?" But 'hero Gassiter Iriteraupted in considerable iheat. "May I ask 'how you ha vie acquired information as to what passed in my house, Sir Philip?" " The baronet disdained Ito I'-eply. "It'® false!' falsa!" .cried Bermice. "I was mot'addressing you!" was. the cutting rejoinder. "Gertrude will you be goad enough to say why Dax's name came into the quarred V

,Bernice's terrified eye,si held, her sister's with an, almost magnetic ispell. "Bei'niice caimie to eixpostulate with me about Captain Dax."

"Expostulate with you! In Heaven's name, why?" "She had heard my name associated with, ihis, amd was. angry." Sir Philip gazed at jliea" a- moment or two- in amazement, them burnt out: •

"Don't try to- impose oa ,me> with siucb a stupid taJe! How coiuld your name be associaited with Jhjis?"

"Because I knew him before;l ca-jme tc live at the Dale. Aurit Sheldon, knew his. people, and tried to .bring about a-n wiga.geme'nt." /

The baronet, utterly bewildered now, could scarcely put the Tuext question.'. "And was there am engagement?" "No. But aoint wished it to be, fhougiht there.was." ■■ Sir Philip turned abruptly to Cassiter. "Do'you know-anythingi of this?" "I 'have already told you, .Six PJiilip, I ani not hea'e ,to a-Tisw&r quesitmns, or in : commection. with your affairs at iaH." "But this matter, concerns you !" "Pardon me, I aim the best judge- of my own. affairs !" An angry s't-a.mp attested the. rising tendency of the bai<on>et'.s itempeir. "Continue!" was ihis next command: but once again Gertrude amd Caeaiter had sought' each other's eyes', and something sh« iread in his impelled her to greatea' daring.

"Bernice expostmlateid with m©. Ire sented .her inte.nference; I wernt to Captain' Dax's cottage to ask smi explanation.; M.r Cas&iter followed me!"

It was, now Cassiter's tui-.n. to sfaH and turn- red. From diis mot/hear a.t tha station he had learnt th)& treason of Gertrude's return to the Dale, and .rushed over fto plea.d hie> own cause, but he did not anticipate being swept into the Garrington troub'leK to save Bamioe.

"Xs p this time?" Sir Philip rapped the table violently^ Cassiter was about to make a. wra'thf nl reply, vvhera am appealing look from Gertrude quieted hiim, amd in--dicating her with a wave of his Jraiud, he answered: "You are questioning Miss Sheldon, raotme>." . : "Answer—this.—one—question—'' Geirtrude said slowly to Cassiter. "Did^ you not follow me to Captain Dax's cottage-; was .not tiliat the begininamg of the qtiar*el?" Cassiter turned a deepeir crimison. "That is sol" 'he ssiid aftea 1 a unoment that might have spun .itself into an hour, and at hiis words the atmosphere of the room seemed to clear.

"You hav'G the full explanation iwnv, Sir Philip," said Gertrude, unaMo to repress a little Until I of delight tha^t she had tih« power to be,nd. Catesiter toi then 1 will in ieven so small a, thing. "I have told you I actad hastily in leaving The C<rest', and tlhere is worthing more .to say. You cannot possibly wish to 'go. 'into the quarreil between Mr Cassiteii 1 a-nd my self."

"Was this the cause of the broken en gagemeait?" "Ym."

Sir Philip's face wore ta, mystified expression, -as he glanced from one ito tlhle other. Then (he brought his 'haad> suddenly down on ithe table. ' "Why was not I .'told (the truth about it? You Ihad been living, in my tons©, and wore 'in <a aemse my watfd. Why diid yeu not write to 1 me?" > "I thouybt of m pu» # (to ffwtf but j

myself. I rag-retted, whem 'too ila.te; but [ I was so .strung up: to a- due Regard for I my own independence aJid liberty of ac- I lion, that I did not think of others." j

"There is something I cannot fathom in all 'this." He remembered the woman detective's statement .about some article of jewellery that had been, Host at The Greet, hub the expression .on Cassiter's face deterred him irom seeking inform*tiion on this point.

"I am not .satisfied," he burst out again He was interrupted (by a violent thumping at the .door.

"Sir Pheeileep ! Sir Pheeleep !" came in high Firenoh ihead notes, and >Ckrette burst into the room ilike some crazy womaa escaped from wa asyilum. From hei extended hand dangled a glittering, flashstring of .gems.

"Sir Pheeleep ! Se,e ! I have .diiscowe ze .necklace! I have 'found ze Gairringtoi) diamomids! I claim ze reward!"

The baronet snatched tlh& necklace to examine it, Eagerly scrutinising ithe momsted 1 getm in the centre, ivom which, it gained its fame,' and the succession of dill-cut and unevenly matched stones in the old'-fashiomed setting. H© could' scarcely 'breathe with excitement. "Where did you (find it?" "In ze groove of ze ipldtiwe 'ledge in mi'ladi's bedroom !"

A wild shriek '.rant the a.ir, as .Bem.'ioe, staggering 'forward, fell 'heavily to the ground. (To be continued in next issue.)