AURA DURAND A DETECTIVE STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 71, 25 March 1891, Page 7

AURA DURAND A DETECTIVE STORY.

Bx E; M. MURDOCH,

AUTHOR OF

•' lIIE BIVAL DETECTIVES," " THE DETEC

iive's daughter," etc.

CHAPTER XXXVI

IX THE TIGER S CLAWS,

Jason Bkadwabdine's scheme had been, to all appearances, a complete success. Lenor 8 Arinyn and Mrs Harris had taken up their abode under the roof of that sister mentioned by Senor Castro, and all wasgoingsmoothly. The houso occupied by those four was situated in a lonely quarter of the town, at the very foob of a street that Mrs Harris know Lore anything but an enviable reputation ; but much of this lady's life had been^passec , in questionable localities ; and as they were not to remain there long, it was hardly worth while to trouble Lenore by repeating 'legends of the street ;' besides, Senor Castro being a stranger, could, of course, know nothing of this. So Mr 3 Harris pave herself no trouble about the street. The house was certainly an improvement, in the matter of comfort and elegance, upon her own, and she need take no thought! for tomorrow. This house, as wo have said, stood at the foob of the street, and very near the river. It was a large houso with some pretensions to elegance, and Mr Brad wardino had taken it ready furnished. The first great step was taken ; Lenore Arniyn was in his house ; but Mr Bradwardina xvaa becoming impatient. On the morning of the second day, Mrs O'Neil left the house to visit that quarter of the city where the woman who had been rescued from Bradwardine's clutches hp.d been seen by him. She was to remain there all day. Mr Bradwardine fancied that he knew the exact block that the woman had found refuge in, and Mrs O'jSfeil must make a thorough search before she returned. Before Mr 3 O'Neil departed vipon this mission she did a queer thing, if anyone had been by to see it. Bub she chose her time with a view to solitude, so no one knew that she made a careful examination of all the locks and bolts upon all of the doors, from that opening upon the street, straight ud to the rooms overlooking the river, that had been assigned to Lenore Armyn. Ib is hardly to be supposed that Mrs O'Noil feared that burglars would visit the house in broad daylight ; but whatever she feared or thought, she certainly examined the fastenings. She had not been gone half an hour when • Senor Castro' begged for a fow words with Mrs Harris. He had just received a mossage from two young ladies living in the suburbs, he told her ; they were very eager to go to Cuba with his company. Now, he could make room for one or two more, if they were prepo3S633ing ; and he disliked very much to be obliged to interview BO many applicants, and—another thing, these ladies had been recommended by a friend whom he really did not wish to offend. Would Mrs Harris help him out of the difficulty ? If sho would go and sco those ladies, he could rely upon her judgment ; if she engaged them, ho would know they would satisfy ; and if sho declined to engage them, his friend could hardly be oflended with him.

In short, Mrs Harris was flattored into a very complacent mood, and the remark that she must go in good style, and, as her trunks had not come—Mrs Harris had excused the one valise that held all she pousessod of wardrobe, by saying , that she had sent her trunks on ahead by an expressman, and by fidgeting, whenever she thought of it, because her ' trunks did not come. . No one believed in the trunks, of course, not even Lenore; but when Senor Castro remarked that, as her trunks had not yet come, she tausb draw on him, to procure whatever she needed ; only he would wish her to go right away ; she could go straight down town, procuro what she required, then take a carriage and drive straight outi to sco these ladies—her last scruple was overcome. In a very short time, with a little roll of bills in her pocket, and exultation in her heart, Mrs Harris was speeding towards the State Street dry goods marts, and Leuore Armyn was alone with her enemy. Mrs Harris, of course, had acquainted her with her interview that had transpired between herself and the 'Senor,' but sho had not stated that Mrs O'Neil had gone out some time before ; in fact, and to do her justice, she hardly thought of ib. And lenore was auite unaware thab she was alone with ' the Cuban,' as she called Bradwarcline. Nob thab bbis knowledge would havo disturbed her particularly ; she was, as we know, no coward, and she had no suspicion that' the Cuban' was other than he seemed. • She was sitting before a comfortable tire, holding a book in her hand, but letting her thoughts wander far from the pages, whan a tap sounded on her door, and without turning her head, sho bade tho knocker enter ; no one came in her room save Mrs Harris and the'Senor's , sister. Probably tbi3 was the sister. The visitor entered promptly, closing and locking the door as he did so. At the Eound of the key turning in tho lock, the girl turned her head. Ib was Senor Castro who had entered, locked the door behind him, and he now seated himself opposite Lenore, and directly between her and the windows facing the efcreet. There was no fear in the girl's heart, only indignation, as Bhe arose to her feet, saying sternly : 'Senor Castro, you have locked thab door and taken the key. Be good enough to replace ib immediately, and to leave my room.' The man laughed scornfully. • I am nob Senor Castro,' he said, ' that is only a pleasant fiction. Don't trouble yourself to be dramatic ; keep that for the stage of the Havana theatre—when you get there. , Lsnore sat suddenly down in her chair. It was all over, sho thought. She had been trapped, and now she was to be arrested for Clarence Arfeoveldt's murder. Well, she Would show no cowardly fear. She had done her best to escape and had failed. After all, what matter, since she must be either captured or hunted ? She felt strong with courage of desperation ; sho stared at her captor so calmly, so pereisently, that he began to wonder at her coolness. • Well!' he said, finally, ' you seem reeigned." No answer. 'She took up her book with perfect outward coolness. It was the man's turn to stare. ' Misa Vohh,' he cried, c do you realise your situation ?' ' Senor Castro,' she retorted, scornfully 'I think I do.' ' What! You know thab your life is in my hands ?' 'Nob at all,' replied she, 'only my liberty. 1 ' Your liberty ! Ha ! ha ! So you think I intend to make you a prisoner. Undeceive yourself ; I am no gaoler. , ' Then I suppose you are worse.' • Whatever I am, we must cease parleying. Do you know how long you have to live V Lenore began to suspoct thab she was in the presence of a maniac. What could his words mean else ? ' No,' she said, simply to gain time; • do yeu?' 1 Yes. You are to give me some informa-

tion ; then—you may die in any way you choose.'

' You are exceedingly kind,' she said, still to gain time. 'As a rule murderers spring upon their victims in the dark, take them unprepared. Why do you deviate from this rule V

' Because I want to prepare you; you have got to answer some queetions first, he replied, grimly. Lenore now felt sure that the man was insane ; or else he might be playing a part; perhaps, after all, he was seeking to draw from her a confession. She began to feel almost angry ; this man had entrapped her, and now was he trifling with her, seeking to teat her courage ? Lenore had courage—courage that would have done credit to a strong man. She now resolved to settle for herself the doubt, to know whether she was dealing with a detective or a lunatic,

(To be Continued.)

JLo