The Mystery of No. 13.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 292, 8 December 1900, Page 6

The Mystery of No. 13.

CHAPTER IX. I "Oh, gentle Maurice, still my bairn, .' O, still him -with the keys." j "He winna still, fair lady, i Let me do what I please." j A message from Elizabeth to Jacik was even now outside his door,! though he did not know it, and, indeed, j he seemed to come gut of a stupor, in which he had heard no sound o_ locks unbarred, to sec. a light figure all in white (save where the gold of his hair was shining) come dancing-in and flutter into his arms with an ecstatic cry of "Daddy." Jack thought himself mad at last, but here was no visionary touch, only a very real pair of loving arms throttling his neck, and soon he realized that this was indeed his own little child in the flesh, aud nestling his head into soft neck and curls, could have wept for the joy and anguish of the moment. "Daddy," said the boy, "my own, dear daddy, won't you come along 'ome with me, and see mother?" Jack did not answer, only pressed his face down closer and smoothed with hungry hand the soft head lying so close with lips warm against hi. throat. "Poor mother," said Daffy, with a catch in his voice, "she's growed quite finn, and said she was so welly tired she couldn't come out to-day." Jack's broad chest was heaving; he was struggling for the mastery of himself, and when he had got it he unloosed Daffy's arms and put him back so he might kiss him. "How do you like my new house, Daffy?" he said. "O—oh!" said Daffy, looking round with much interest, and speaking in the wise little voice he usually affected, when not quite sure that he knew his subject, "there's lots of room for bat and ball. Shall us 'aye a little game, daddy?" "Another time, my boy," said Jack, steadying his voice; "but who brought you?" "Rose. She's outside with such a funny old man —got such lots of keys! I wanted to bring the mouse," he went on. 'Tie's so full of tricks, and growed such a rediklous person." (He paused to laugh indulgentjly). ""Bub -mother Jlhbught he might get out—and she have cared for him so, and fed him every day." Daffy looked exquisitely cared for. and a very [picture of health and happiness ap he sat on his father's knee. He had been born healthy, and passed triumphantly through all the lovely gradation- of a joyous babyhood to the. sweet dignity and majesty of four years old —the most delicious agei. probably (flo (hi. mother), in a child's young life. Jack felt the soft warmth of the dear little boy like the blowing of a soft wind on a poor wretch scrammed with cold and hunger, and for a while he only held (him fast, saying no word. But presently: "Did mother send any message?" he said. "Of course!" said Daffy, holding up to his father's gaze a face upon which the very print of Elizabeth was set, "lots and lots of kissc., and thanks with cumplements!" '".thanks with cuiiipl-ments" was Daffy's invariable, formula, for extra fervid love. "Daffy," said Jack, holding the little fellow away from him, "are you quite sure? Can, you remember if it was only one kiss, or heaps _nd heaps?" Daffy knitted his soft brows, and put tlie best part of a tiny glove in his mouth to assist memory, but at last committed himself to the bold assertion that his mother had said thousands—not heaps and heaps. Jack sighed. "I've g_t a message for mother," he said. "Will you tell her Daffy?—now try and remember it—that I read ma paper the other day that some things are sold how to make people hear— and I should like her to buy some. I'll write the address down, and puti it in your bosom, and you'll be sure and give it her?" "0* course," said Daffy with, an important air. "New ears for poor mother—but she always hears me." Jack wrote the address down—just that, and no more—and pinned it against the boy's soft, warm neck. j Did he think, as he did it, of how little she would care to hear, when he would be deaf to all sound for ever? Of how her life was to go on, while his was violently cut in twain before her eyes? And possibly his message came more in cruelty than in love. , "Wene you frightened at coming! down to (this strange pl'acoi?" said Jack, presntly. , "0, no!" cried Daffy, with a burst of glee. "Me dancy down tho steps in the city!" The ignorance of the child, his unconsciousness of anything strange in his father's surroundings, brought tears to Jack's eyes. "And mother," he .said with trembling voice, "does mother play, and have games with Daffy now?" "Mother tries," said the boy, the corners of his lips falling, "but she

By HELEN B, MATHERS,

| says—mother says she don't fink she's quite so young as she used to be." | "Does she ever go out?" said poor Jack. "Not never; and it's welly lonely," j went on Daffy, shaking his head, I "and Mr Woss has goueded away; but Imy dear little white mouse is so I pretty —prettier nor ever!" A warning knock came at the door. " 'Spool that's Rose," -said Daffy, wrinkling up his nose expressively; "she always 'urrics me; she won't let me talk to Janny." "Who is Janny?" said Jack, snatching him up, ' and covering him with kisses, some of which surely must find Elizabeth. "He takes the pains out of my shoes," said Daffy, as the door opened a very, very little way, as if a kindly hand sought to gently remind him that time was up. "I wish," he added, wistfully, "he could take mother's pain away, too, she says it aches just here," and he spread his hand out expansively above his smart sash. The door opened wio.r; Jack clasped the boy in a last embrace, and set him down. "Tell your mother," he said, "your mother " In the distance was heard Rose's voice softly calling to the child. A sudden impulse seized Jack; he strode to the door, and there, just behind the gaoler, stood the. French maid, her face white in the dusk, as she cowered away at sight of her master. What did that look and attitude mean—of what was she in fear? Him? A poor wretch who might beat his own life out against his prison bars, but who had no power to harm her or any other now? "Your mistress is well, Rose?" he said. "She is as well sir, as she can be." lie did not remove his eyes from her face. "Time's up," said the gaoler not unkindly, and Daffy, recognising him intuitively as an enemy, clung round his father and hid his face in his knees. Did those little tender hands make Jack think of those others that he had so remorselessly unbound a few short weeks ago? I know not —but when Daffy was borne away sobbing bitterly by the woman whom Jack felt he could no longer trust, with a newly-added pang the husband realised how utterly alone and friendless his little Elizabeth was now. (To be continued.)