A QUEER COMRADE; OR, IN SPITE OF ALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 181, 1 August 1892, Page 3

A QUEER COMRADE; OR, IN SPITE OF ALL.

BY ANNIE ASSMOBE.

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CHAPTER ill,

It was true. Behind the rose - shaped window of the second storey hall a fierce flare rose and fell ; Stanmore House wa 8 burning. The boys made a simultaneous leap for the road, but the driver of the cart flung himself in fronb of Eric and seized him by the arm. Cliff shob on his way down bill, throwing back these words, 'Let him go, you fool! Eric, knock him down !'

* No ye don't, young man, snarled the ruffian,"trying to drag the astonished Eric back to the waggon, where the horses stood quiet as statues now. I've got ye and I mean ter keep ye—ha! would ye. The interruption to his speech came in the form of a sudden wrench on Eric's parb which got one arm free. Nexb instant his fist took his assailant fair in bhe face with such effect that he leb go of him, staggered backward and fell down, while Eric dashed afber his comrade ab the top of his speed. His thoughts were agonising. Had,, he acted a good son's parb, this horrible thing would nob have happened. If nis dear mobher and little Mabel perished in these flames, bheir blood would be upon his head. Oh ! bhab he had submibted patiently to bu father's accusation—it was a mistake, he knew it all the time—thab he had striven bo win his father's belief by earnest, affectionate reasoning, instead of setting up his miserable little bit of pride and defying him in his anger—his just anger, for his father had been made to believe thab it was his son he saw in his strong room. Bub he had fled in his senseless rage, and this was the result. For had he not struck a match in Mabel's room, and flung it heedlessly, he knew not where ? ' Oh, father, I deserve all your anger now! thought the lad despairingly. And then darker suspicions flashed across his troubled mind. What did that man mean back there by trying to force him to _o with him ? Was there a conspiracy on foot to rob his fabher and to carry him off . Yeb how could the man have known that he would be running away from home to-night? As he ran Eric's brain reeled under the rush of sinister yet formless suspicions. He could seeno solution anywhere. He gave it up, and just then turned into the avenue which swept up to his father's mansion. It was darker than ever under the majestic row oi trees, and he could see nothing. But he heard a struggle going on farther beyond, and Cliffs imperious voice raised above the smothered exclamations of an assailant; before Eric could come near them, Cliff seemed to break away, for lie heard his taunting laugh and the light beat of his flying steps continuing towards the house. I "'Another enemy 1' thought Eric in dismay. ' There is a plot. They musb be robbing the house.' To evade the unseen scoub he climbed bhe wall inbo bhe gardens beyond and ran bhrough bhe flowers bo bhe side of bhe house. Jusb then the clouds cleared enough to allow a faint star-light to shine forth, und pausing to reconnoitre, he saw two or three crape masked ruffians guarding the fronb of the house. How had CM eluded bhem ? Remembering they had lefb bhe key of the rear door, Eric cautiously wenb round to the back. And now he was in full view of the flame 3 which glimmered behind three or four of the second storey windows; by the lurid light he also saw Cliff boldly confronting bwo more. of tbe crape-masked ruffians, who were busily employed at the window of tho butler's .pantry, one inside, handing out the Stanmore silverware to the one outside, who dropped it into a sack. Cliff's words were inaudible, butbyhis fierce and passionate gestures he seemed to defy or reproach the robbers, who answered with a burst of coarse laughter. Suddenly a wild scream rang oub. One of the fire-lib windows was flung open, and Mabel's lovely frightened face and whiteclad figure leaned oub, her golden tresses floating wide on the hot air. 4Oh Cliff, Cliff, save me !' she cried, recognising him and stretching her little hands towards him. 'Somebody has lockod me in, and I can't make papa or mamma hear. Come quickly Cliff, for oh, it is so dreadful here !'

Eric sprang forward, shouting encouragement to her, and instantly the man by the window dropped the bag and seized him by the throat. But Eric fought like a young tiger to throw him off, fought till everything turned black before his eyes and his blood seemed bursting from his temples, when all ab once bhe man flung him free with a panic smitten yell. Eric's firsb giddy look around showed him an amazing change in bhe face of affairs. Cliff Warren sbood inside bhe panbry window, levelling a revolver ab the man who had half strangled him, who sbood rigid, nob daring to stir a finger, while the obher man who had been inside was now outside bhe window, and in bhe acb of lifbing up bhe bag of booby and tumbling it back into the pantry. ' Just jumr. in here, Eric,' said Cliff, quietly, and' Eric did so rather shakily, lighting beside his companion and a burglar's lantern, which was set on the floor. 'How in the world did you turn the tables like this ?' asked he. ' Snatched the fellow's revolver who was busy choking you. The argument seemed effective, eh ?' returned the Bermudean grimly. But run and lock the back door now ; I'll keep them covered.' Eric obeyed, and whon he came back they drew down the pantry window, bolted and shuttered ib, while the baffled burglars relieved bheir feelings by deep and earnest threats. ' Now to save the ladies,' said Cliff.

•What can ib all mean? Mabel's door locked—fire upstairs and robbers below?' exclaimed Eric as they sprang up side by side. ' It means black treachery, and I'll kill the wretch that planned it!' cried Cliff, in a sudden burst of violenb excitement. He instantly suppressed it. * I'll stand by you through this, Eric, as if they were my own mother and sister,' said he, fervently.

Not till they reached the second storey did they encounter the fire, bub then a glanco showed conclusive evidence that incendiaries had been ab work _ half consumed combustibles littered the richly carpeted floor, and a choking smell of parafine mingled with the smoke. The doors of Mrs Stanmore's bedroom and of Mabel's were on lire ; while the lads paused to gather breath they heard Mrs Stanmore's voice faintly calling for help. The keys could be seen in the locks of their doors; but tha way to them was a lane of fire. The two friends turned and gazed in each other's faces ; both were pale as death, but resolute ; but even in that moment of excitement Eric caught the mingled rage and anguish of Cliff's expression, and wondered what it meant.

' I must save mother,' said Eric. 'Will you ' ' Save Mabel ? Ye., I will,' broke in Cliff. But he did nob seem to see his chum's outstretched hand or to hear his muttered thanks. Cliff would have darted off at once, but Eric detained him for a moment while he ran inbo a small room ab the head of the

stairs and reappeared with a thick tapestry table-cloth and a heavy knitted afghan. dragged off the sofa; one of these he flung to Cliff, and together they ran aloDg the blazing hall, muffling their faces in tho thick folds. Cliff stopped at Mabel's door, Eric dashed farther on to his mother's.

One wrench at the red-hot key.which scorched the fingers in spite of the cloth through which he grasped it, and the burning door flew wide open; Eric peered through the blinding flare and smoke and saw his mother on her knees by the bed, her face buried in the coverlet. To drag one of bhe ample English blankets off tbe bed and wrap her in it from head to foot) was the work of a moment. She waa half senseless and past thinking or acting foJf herself; then Eric found her slippers and pub bhem on her, and bhen sprang bo the window and tried bo bhrow ib open; bib here again the incedeniaries had been a. work, bhe lock had been tampered with and would not turn. It had not suited their plans thab Mrs Stanmore should escape from her burning room to the balcony which ran outside her burning window, because from it she could witness the burglars ab work below. Eric seized a chair and smashed oub a window frame, then almost carried his mother out on the balcony, where a few momentis breathing of the fresh air revived her consciousness.

•Who is ib ? Eric ?' said she, gazing confusedly at him. * Yes, it is my bravo boy. Oh, my dear ! I thought my children had perished. No voice—no help. Bub where, merciful God ! Where is your father ?' she asked, with a suppressed shriek, as fuller consciousness cleared her comprehension. ' Don'b be frightened aboub bim yeb ; I believe he is in the bank,' soothed Eric, and be assisted the agitated lady along tbe balcony to a small octagonal parlour which was builb over the back porch, and laid her tenderly on the sofa.

'And Mabel? Where is Mabel?' demanded she, looking wildly around. «Safe, I hope—l'm sure,' said Eric, bub his heart was quailing within him ab Cliff's continued absence, and he was jußt rushing inbo the hall when Cliff staggered in with the muffled form of Mabel in his arms.

' Here she is, nob harmed, I think, bub half choked by the smoke,' panted he, laying her in the outstretched arms of her moAner, and then throwing himself on the floor to recover his breath.

An.xiously they unwound the wraps, to see hor aweeb face and golden hairl unscathed, while her eyes were just unclosing as she recovered her senses.

* Where is he ?' were her firsb words. ' He saved my life ! Oh, how brave—how good he is !' Cliff stumbled to his feet full of sudden impatience fio be off, 4 Come on, Eric, we've more to do,' exclaimed he, making for the door. Eric smothered a shocked cry as he saw him more distinctly in the lighb of bhe gas which he had turned on. Cliff had been obliged to bring Mabel througb the burning hall, and 'his hands were blistered, hia hair crisped and his clothes singed and smoking ; only his face was safe, as be had pressed it against his burden while running through the flames. Bub he laughed away bheir concern, took a deep draught of ice water which was always kept there and declared himself all right again.

(Tohe Continued.)