LADY KILDARE; OR, The Rival Claimants.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 281, 28 November 1888, Page 6

LADY KILDARE; OR, The Rival Claimants.

By MRS. HARRIET LEWIS,

Author of " The Sundered Heart.'-." «• The Bailiffs Scheme,''' " The Double

Life," die,

CHAPTER XXIII. {Continued)

AN OMINOUS DISAPPEARANCE,

Lame Bili, had hurried in quest of the new'master' of the Hall, and had come

upon him in the manner we have stated,

Hidden there behind the tree, he continued to survey and study the countenance of the Lady Kathleen's husband, without

positive suspicion as to his identity, and yet vaguely reminded of his resemblance to the escaped convict whom he had formerly known, and now hated with all the bitterness of a revengeful nature.

As it was his habit to do nothing in a straightforward manner, but to move secretly and furtively, in obedience to his catlike instincis, Lame Bill crouched in the shadow, watching every turn of Bassantyne's head, every movement of his big, bulky fi.uro. with a gaze that h„d in it something of i-feciuation, ' A regular swell !' he thought. ' A nob of the lira j wu-er ! Queer howiie reminded me of Gentleman Bob! I must ha-e been clean eraxy to have thought that a great lady would have married a convict ! How am I going to ask this high-flying chap about his vally? Perhaps the beat way would be to appiy for the situation.' At this moment Bassantyne lazily turned his head in the opposite direction. Something in the outlines of his features, or his movements, brought an eager glow to Lame Bill's cheeks and a strange light to his eyes. * That there flip of his fingers alongside his nose was Gentleman Bob's trick all over,' he thought, peering at the recumbent figure with the gaze of a ferret. 'it can't be, in course ; but if I could only hear him speak I'd know certain. If it's Gentleman Bob—and itan't, in course—he'd know me at the first look, and would betray himself. What a blessed streak of luck it would be if this here nob should turn out to be Gentleman Bob! My foitune would be made! It's all gammon this swell's being a fugitive convict, but I mean to try him.' Quitting his concealment boldly, he stepped into the dell. ' Who's there .' asked Bassantyne, leisurely looking round. The next moment, with an ejaculation of terror and horror, he leaped to his feat and glared around him, as if uncertain which way to escape.

A strange, exultant smile glowed •on Lame Bill's face.

' It is Gentleman Bob, sure enough !' he Dried. ' Gentleman Bob, the escaped convict, in disguise ! _ The two men—Bassantyne and Lame Bill •—faced each other ; the one horrified, maddened, desperate, with a hunted expression in his black eyes ; the other smiling, and glowing with sinister exultation. 'It was a strange scene. The lonely, shaded dell of Connor Park, .the sunlight drifting down between the leaves and branches in little dancing showers, the twitter of birds, the music of running water, and, so incongruous with these innocent sights and sounds, these two murderous faces glaring through the shadows at each other !

' Slowly and steathily, with the morion of a cat, the hand ot Bassauiyne crept to the breast pocket in which were hidden his pistols. As his hand came in contact with the cold, ivory-mounted weapons, he seemed to feel that he had not yet lost control of his future. His self - possession came back to him. He remembered that he had not yet betrayed his identity to his enemy, and he began to think it possible that he naiyht yet carry matters with a high hand and put to route Lame Bill's suspicions.

The reflection brought with it a thrill of hope. The colour came back to his sallow cheeks, and he assumed a haughty, supercilious manner, such as he deemed appropriate to the lord of Connor Hall. ' Stand back, fellow !' he ejaculated hoarsely and menacingly. 'How dare you intrude like this into private grounds ? This is no piace for footpads, as you will find to your cost.' This address, and the domineering air with which ib was delivered, after the recent evident panic of Bassantyne, was like a blow in the face to the intruder. He gave a great gasp of astonishment, and opened his small eyes to their fullest extent, while an expression of utter bewilderment convulsed his visage Then he forced a hoarse laugh, and exclaimed :

' Ha, ha ! Pretty well done, Gent'oman Bob ! You always was good at acting, but this here was good enough for the Theayter Royal!' 'Gentleman Bob!' repeated Bassantyne hoarsely. ' What do you mean, fellow ? Bub it is evident what you mean. Leave my grounds, thief, or I will have you scourged from them !' Lame Bill crept a few paces nearer, his keen eyes fixed in pu/Jed scrutiny upon the dark and sinister face of ihe Lady Kathleen's husband. ' Your v > ounds !' he sneered. ' You need not pub on none of your airs to me, Gentleman Bob ! All your high fainting don't impose on me. I didn't pass so long a time with you out in Australy for nothing. No crinkly,beard can deceive me, Your disguise ain't good enough--' ■ «Scoundrel ! Do you know to whom you are talking ? lam JNicol Bassantyne, the husband of the Lady Kathleen Connor—' 'Of Ballyconnor and so on ! I know all 'that. And I know, too, that you arc my old pal, Gentleman Bob, and that I can maki; mv fortune a giving on you up. You've been everything by turns, Gentleman Bob count, lord, gentleman of leisure, gambler, forger, thief, convict and fugitive. And fugitive' you are now, although yon have fooled one of the noblest ladies in Ireland to make a runaway match with you ! There will be a fine come-down to the pride of my lady when the beaks lag yon. You've been keen to get yourself into this fine nest, but when you come to find yourself in a prison the change will be too great to be agreeable !' The expression of Bassantyne s face changed slightly, yet enough to be perceptible to his enemy. 'That sho told !' observed Lame Bill, with a gleam of satisfaction in his sullen eyes. 'You won't go on to deny that you are my old pal, Gentleman Bob, will you ?' ' I will no longer parley words with you, wretch. Begone r oried Bassantyne, threateningly. * Not yet. I called here to inquire after your vally, Newville, or Murple, or what ever he call himself this year. He hasn't got home yet, I understand ?' Bassantyne was nearly choking with rage and fury. He longed to throttle the impudent wretch who dared to linger in his grounds when he had bidden him be gone. And yet there was a dangerous fascination in Lame Bill's presence, and he desired to prolong the interview until his enemy should be dispossessed of the convic.tion of his identity with ' Gentleman Bob.' He forced himself to say calmly : 'My valet ? I discharged him in Dublin. He was an impudent fellow, whom I had had in my service bub a few weeks, and whom I did not care bo bring down to

Ballyconnor. If you want him, you will probably find him in Dublin.' '' A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," said Lame Bill. 'I don't care so much about the vally now. Excuse ihe annoyance I've made you, Mr Bassantyne. And good morning.' He raised his "worn hat in a mocking bow, and sidled away, as if bent on instant retreat.

Bassantytie took alarm,

' Stay,' lie said, in a conciliating tone. 'It is evident, my good fellow, that you have mistaken me for someone else. These resemblances are frequent, and 'merely accidental.'

'Oh, yes,' said Lame Bill. ' Merely accidental, of course Excuse my impudence, sir. Good morning.' Agrtun he made a movement to depart.

Bassantyne's alarm increased. The man's apologies and haste to get away weie more menacing than the loudest threats. He believed all his blustering to have been of no effect. Evidently the man knew him beyond the shadow of a d.aibt.

And then a sickening sensation assailed Bassantyne's heart. How long had Lame Bill been hidden in the shadows surrounding the little dell ? Had he been there during- the interview with La«iv Kathleen 9

Had he studied Bassanfcyne's features when the latter was alone and unguarded ? Was all this disguise of beard and stained complexion, changed name and high position, but the merest flimsy veil of this ancient enemy, and had he already looked beneath them and seen under them all his old comrade and fellow-convict ? It must be so.

The cold sweat started on Bassantync's dark forehead. A convulsive trembling seized him.

' Don't be in such a hurry, my .rood man,' he said, in a husky voice. ' There's no harm done by your singular conduct. I took you for a footpad at first, but your abrupt appearance will account for that. No doubt you are a worthy fellow. But about my valet. Were you. about to apply for his situation ?'

Lame Bid grinned

' Well, no,' he said. ' I have no call to be vally. My talent li<-s in the wav of being mister. I've srot my eye on a prize that's offered tor reward for the recovery of a grea' criminal the one I took you for, begging your pardon, Mr Bassantyne.; and if I should get that, or them—for there's two men wanted, and two rewards — I should be a rich man.'

' Yes ; but you might make more by holding your tongue,' suggested Bassantyne, ciutiously. A quick gleam lib up the e>es of Lame Bill. A scheming look appeared on his face. Appealed to in his weak point, his desire for gain, even his revongefulness sank into the background. Greed first, revenge afterward, was his motto. He never allowed his personal feelings to stand in the way of hi. making money. 'If you've got anything to say,' he exclaimed, abruptly, ' we won't beat around the bush. You know you are Gentleman Bob, and I know it! I've been looking out of the shade here at you until I knew you beyond the shadow of a doubt. If you want to play off, you will deceive no one but yourself. If you come out flat-footed we may come to an understanding.' Bassantyne's face paled to a sickly yellow, lie looked about him with glaring eyes. ' You are alone ?' he said. ' This time, yes. Yet not alone, for lam armed.'

'Well, what will you take to keep silent ?'

A swift clow reddened Lame Bill's face. A swift gleam shot into his eyes. ' You own up, then ?' he demanded. ' I own nothing in so many words,' said Bassantyne, doggedly. 'I merely ask, what is your price?' Lame Bill reflected, sending sidelong glances around him, into the park and at the burly figure of his enemy. Evidently he was estimating Bassantyne's resources.

' Let me see,' he mused. ' You are a rich man, the husband of an heiress. Her ladyship loves you to distraction, or sho would •never have eloped to Scotland with you. Romantic, proud as Lucifer, highbred and dainty, she would sacrifice all she had rather than to live under the shadow of a terrible disgrace. The reward offered by government and the colonial authorities for your capture is three thousand pounds. I bear you no love, Gentleman Bob, and my revenge is worth at least as much mure. To forego it I should want at least three thousand pounds. And then, by way of premium and so on — well, we can call the whole amount ten thousand pounds. Give me that sum down and a thousand a year, and I'll be as dumb as the effigy on the Lord Lieutenant's tomb.'

'Ten thousand pounds ! Are you crazy?' 'By no means/ If you haven't gob it yourself, your romantic and ardent young bride will give it to you. Not a penny less, Gentleman Bob. If you don't like my offer you needn't accept it.' A dangerous glitter shone in Bassantyne's eyes. "«I haven't got the money,' he said. 'And I can't set it. You will have to moderate your demands—' 'Not a'farthing. A man will give a good deal rather than give up such splendour as this,' and again Lame Bill glanced around him. ' A real park, an old mansion, horses and carriages, servants, and best of all, a fine-lady bride, are not to be lightly thrown away. And a man won't swing for the sake of saving a few pounds t ' his wife. And that brings mo to the point. You must pay my demands, or swing !' Hi-' face was momentarily- averted from his enemy. Watr-hing his chance, Bassantyne sprang upon him with the leap of a tiger, uttering a hoarse cry of rage. Taken unawares, Lame Bill had not time to draw a weapon. He struck out blindly with his hands, fighting for dear life. A quick, sharp struggle between tho two succeeded.

Bassantyne was heavy, burly and powerful. He had the strength of a giant in his brawny arms. The other, albeit lame, was as quick and supple as a panther. He knew where, when bis first panic was over, to plant his blows to make them effective, and he had a way of using his bullet he:id as a battering-ram — a mode of fighting which, with the merit of novelty, was also as effective as his blows. For a littlo while only the hoarse breathing and muttered curses of the two men were heard in the little glade. But at last the conflict drew near its end, the superior strength of Bassantyne giving him the upper hand. ' You will betray me, will you ?' he muttered hoarsely. 'We'll see ! Let us ■.ettle our outstanding account, my friend ! And with the mocking sneer he dealt his enemy a blow upon the temple that felled him to the ground. The man fell limp and lifeless. His face, bruised and swollen, was stained with blood. His eyelids drooped to his cheeks. His arms fell to his side.

Bassantyne stooped over him and lifted one of his arms, letting it fall. It dropped a dead weight. Bassantyne's cheeks began to flush. He raised the battered, swollen head, and thrust his hand into the man's breast to feel if his heart still beat. ' He's dead !' Bas&antyne muttered, excitedly, rising to his feet. ' Well, that danger's over. You got more than the ten thousand pounds you asked for, Lame Bill ! If you could have foreseen this, you might not have been so bod in your demands !' He listened, with the quick start of guilt, for some sound of approaching steps. But all that he heard was the music of the birds, the rustle of the wind through the leaves, the murmur of waters. He breathed more freely. ' Dead !' he said to himself, spurning the body with his foot. ■' That rioter is dis-

posed of. And now how to meet this one ? What am I to do with his body ?' There was a deep pool of water on the estate, but it was half a mile distant. It would not be possible to drag the body to it in broad daylight without meeting some labourer who would give the alarm. But with the body once dropped into the depths of the Black Pool, Bassantyne could feel sure that the secret of his crime was safely buried for ever. 'Imust take it there,' he thougnt, agitatedly. 'But how? There are men working in the vicinity, trimming the trees. I must" wait till night. Meanwhile I will hide the body in some safe spot, where it can remain till night!' He set about his search for a safe hidingplace, yet not daring to venture far from the little dell, where the ghastly object he meant to hide was lying, with swollen face upturned to the shower of the sunlight. Presently he found what he sought—a little hollow, shut in and completely shadowed and darkened by a clump of thick-growing firs. It was a covert for rabbit?, or other game, ami the dead leaves heaped within it that had been blown from various quarters showed that the parkkeeper seldom peered into its recesses. 1 The very spot!' muttered Bassantyne. ' I will hide the body here till night, and then I will sink it in the Blank Pool.' He hastened to drag the inert figure to the little hollow, and flung it in, arranging the branches of the trees to hide the body. Then he sought to obliterate the traces of the recent conflict in the little glade, which effort was partially successful. His task completed he hurried from the glade, wandering restlessly through.the park until he had grown composed, paving an apparently idle visit to the Black Pool, and at last sauntering back to the Hall. During the remainder of the day he way uneasy and restless. He took a ride on his spirited hunter, but somehow the gaze of men was not so pleasant as usual to-day. At every curious glance he trembled, fancying that there might b^some blood stain on him he had overloked, or some token of that conflict which had resulted so disastrously to his enemy. There were a few scratches and bruises upon him. Those he magnified into gaping wounds, and finally, trembling and terrified, he returned to the Hall. ° . .. He spent an hour or so in his smokingroom. He took a hath, and dressed himself carefully in a new suit ordered from Dublin, and when the dinner-bell rang he descended to the drawing-room scrupulously dressed, yet pale and worn and haggard. The Lady Kathleen was already in the drawing-room, and tho ill-assorted pair descended to the dining-room together. There was an atmosphere of guilt about Bassantyne, fresh from his crime, that the pure instincts of the Lady Kathleen detected, but could not understand. She shrank from all contact with him, and the meal was eaten in silence. It is worthy of remark that Bassantyne, despite his perturbation, ate a hearty rapast. Tn truth, he was sufficiently familiar with crime, and hardened by that familiarity, to feel a keen sense of relict at the turn affairs had taken. Lame Bill removed for ever from his path, what has he to fear "'. Nothing—except, perhaps, the treachery of Murple. Ho' would meet his dangers one at a timo, ho thought, and conquer them all. After dinner ho went out into the garden to resume his smoking, nnd later ho went into the house, and to his own room. 'I must do nothing to excite suspicion,' he thought, ' Old Dalanoy has eyes like a hawk, and has set himself to watching inn, 1 can see. I must not stir out until the house is silent for the night. I must be cautious—very cautious !' The hours crept on. The sounds died out of the house. ' It was growing late. Bassantyne proceeded to change his light garments tor old and dark ones. Then he extinguished his light and looked out.

The night was suitable for his purpose, being moonless and ..loomy, yet not intensely dark. He eon'i iraco the objects on the lawn 'distinctly—the marble urns, a winged Mercury on a pedestal, and a rose

bedfre. He waited until thereat house clock had rung out the hour of midnight. Then he put on a pair of list slippers and quitted his room, locking the door behind him.

All was still in the house. The servants had retired, and the hall lights were extinguished. He crept down tho grand staircase like a burglar, listening, and coming to a halt now-and then in a panic, fancying he hoard the steps of Delaney, the steward. .But no inbeiruption occurred to his movements, Me gained the front door, and softly undid its bolts and bars and complicated fastenings, and opened the door, and crept out upon the porch. Then he glided down the steps and hurried into the shadow of the rose hedge.

But, fancying that hostile eyes might be looking out "at him from the windows of the old Hall, he moved fleetly in the shadow until he had gained the edge of the park.

'Now I am safe!' he said to himself. INo one has seen me. No one will come out to watch me. I hn-e only to carry that thing to the Black Pool, fill its pockets with stones, and sink it! Then I shall be indeed safe !'

He moved swiftly along the lonely paths into the depths of the park, making for the hollow where he had concealed tho body of Lame Bill.

He reached it and knelt down in the shade of the spreading firs, and groped in tho hollow with his hands.

Tho hollow was empty !

Horrified and frightened, Baseantyne drew out his match-case and struck a light. There was a pine cone on tho ground at his elbow. He lighted this nnd Hung it into tho hollow.

Tho body was indeed gone ! Bassantyne uttered an ejaculation of horror and terror.

' Gone!' he whispered, incredulously, 'Gone ! And where.

With the red light of tho burning cone playing- on his hasrscavd, convulsed visage, he searched the holloa for some token of the cause of Lame Bill's disappearance.

Presently lie uttered a hoarse cry. 'He was not dead, then !' he cried. 41 had only stunned him ! Helms fled to bring the officers here. How many hours has he been gone? Curse him! Why did 1 not make sure of him ? Fool that I am ! I deserve my ruin !' For a moment he knelt there, with a face of a demon. Then he rose up, whispering to himself: 4 It's all up ! I must see Kathleen at once ! If I sink, she sinks with me !' With glaring eyes and desperate soul he hurried through the park towards the Hall.