A CONSPIRACY of SILENCE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 270, 11 November 1908, Page 10

A CONSPIRACY of SILENCE

BT SIDNFf WARWICK,

eaitJior of "In Xa-ttre Qaly," "Leflertfs Dilemma," "The Eons of TTiiiiiuadi." "A Perilous ■tryst," etc.

' And without another wonl <-ros?ed ! iin.steadi]y alonjr the gangway to dry ! land. The red-lxyirded man grot back I into hi? boat alone. I '"Now. if that wasn't a.H curious a I tliinjr as I n-meinbpr!" t.Be latter mutter- ! i'il t<i himself. "How did that rin<i get or. the dead man'? finger? For if it w;in there when we drawer! it. out o' • the water, liow did 1 come to miss it?" - be iucdJUM.ed as he rowed. "I must a-k ih&l'Z. !stniii<rer-hldkc a . qacation - Vriifp. I «''f liitn next!" • P.iit iliat que>ti"on was never asked. For £Bp stranger vrirh the white hands irlin had visited "The Three Cranes" ,<n frequently of late quite as abruptly iiitcontinued his visit-s. The landlord never saw him again. i lIAPTEB XXXIII. i SOMETHING IN THE PAPER.N i Tliroujrbout lhat JJondav of the third I week ol the to"ur that had brought Den- ; nis llarth to the inland lnanufucturingi lowu oi Lendal, much to C'elia's suri pri<e no ti-lejrrarn enine from lier home, I nur did her father put in an appearance. as had more than half-expected, to interpose the weipbt of parp.nta.l au--thorirj- against her playing at the theatre that nijrht. But on Tuesday morninp the landlady brought in a letter for Celia. At, the glance she ree.ogniso.d the handwriting. 1l was that of th<- second Mr?. Ferrol. Apprehensively C«lia, o]>ened it. The letter from her stepmother could nnt. have been colder or more unsyrapathetii-. It said in studiedly curt tones that Celia's lather was away from j home, and lhat she had forwarded the I letter to him.

; i IUPTKfir XXXII. TflK HARVKST OF TjrE-RIVER. *■ Hie Throe t r.ine.-" was its Darnell:!- o'i inn by ill ,, rivi-r-idi- at lireenv ic-ii ih.it tor the la.-L twenty j_cars <>i more had looked .-v derripit j)nil tinnbV down s- I" jrivi' r>llo the profound cunmiction that th" !ir-t real capful of wind ■uirald wak-c w-,-y .-mal! hunk, of if indeed and blo-» the crazy "structure, that had in<m- worjn;eau'ii Soori.jid .pla-tei about ii tsan irfak.'.bn?fflr into thcTryer His customer.* wauTd jjll the lani'lord so sometime?, and pn'mt intht bulging v,-al!r! whorr' thr fonndiition oi fiiK- .-.iflp r.f the. liou.~p had r-uuk. nr to the dilapidated roof that =oiyiMw,y >foiv oil to >ct all arrhitiv-lural-principles :H defiance. But the landlord miiy huisbfO with optimistic miitii at th*"^ , .U»li"s com forwr-. :ina w.u1.1. *:i.y that he wikhthl he hail an i-quully »t»nl chance of with' standing \and and weather for the iu'xi fifty reajs. "The Three Crane> v thf usual lior.~e of call uf 'h<j person known a≤ Jack iht- ii.~hornian: and. betiiuse .laci •tra.- something of a celebrity, one special Feat wae-. by an unwritten law, alwayr for him in the corner oi tht semi-circular settee nearest to the fire. This reeL-bearded- giani_w-a3 undoubt; ed!y a ■"dTaw-"' whir brought cui-tom to Tip. Three Crane?'"—rf" fa>x thai was refieeted in the lanriioro'a manner toward thi= valued customer: and it was not «Jaek""= calling alone, and a Eome.vrhat prim faiu-y that "he ■would let j>!ay about it in momeriTs of relaxation that, made him a centre of interest; iv hi? o\i/B Tvay he was a character with an individuality of his own. r'rom the sobriquet one might have jumped to a. mistaken conclusion about ■Jack the Fisherman; he was a lisher ol mfD —d-i'ad men : and. that he only got five shillings :or each body that he recovered and sent particulars of the recovery - tn —rite Tiia-aies -Peiiee, it \taisoruewhat how mutrii money he was able to at "The Three • Cranes." i Kven. iicpellerl by a merbid curiosity, somctiuivr, cume to thi- old river side inn to get a plinap>e of the r>-d ftshermaD. There was one stranger in particular who had lately fallen kito the habit of dropping in. who seemed to like to listen J,o_tte jather yrisly- professional reminiscences thai %I;tck toSil with such relish, though he-would* shudder at them. A man in a =eafaring j?arb. whose hands someho-v looked too white and delicate to have done much roufrh work with them | of the kind one would have expected from i his clothes, and hfe voice sometinu-s drop- |

ped into a softer and more reiihitl accent than \va7~u7uaDvTea rcFTn 'The Three Cranes."

"I heard a< that blokn with the white hands like a woman's went out with Jack the. Fir-bemuiu tost -night/ , the landlord remarked one day. -- — It was not the only occasion that this man of the white, womanish hands, and apparently morbid taste, went out with Jack the Fisherman. Sight after uiglit lip accompanied the red-bearded man <n thes*rgTiin expeditions :-5« could not have been very good company for .tack, for jhe •»&» strangely-silent-itnd taciturn; lie sat in the stern, bcaFceTy spea-king". The tide was running swiftly under the arches -of the bridges 'toward the ; sea; its-low*-incessant lapping-about the the stone es of tondbti SHdge,~tawering:aboye.thern, blotting -ou£ the iky,-could be heard like the querukiu* 'voice .of-a sick man breaking deathlike" stillness. ~ A boat of Che Thames Police, patrolling their •'beat" 46r liver thieves,".shot out from darkness and hailed Uu-ni;. then, rpcognisinsr Jack the Fisherman, glided past; it was-curious_hftw_ startled the. man with the Iwnite JiandS seempd as the police-boat approached' them. _Vn e-xcts.ma.tjon suddpnlybroke from the man with the oars. He took a couple of powerful strokes, antl ttre boat's • nose Suddenly -shot, out. toward _mid-sfrream. "Get your "tincTeady.* mate - !""he cried. "Quick!" And h- pointed. _

It was a coil of rope with a grap-pling-hook that the man iv theistern had charge of. As'thn- ~]ru;iied' - cominajjti reached him he furabied helplessly, hk ryes rryetK-ti in horror on-the thin? that had once been a man that-was-spinning round and round in horrible fashion in a Fivirling eddy of the river. ■ — — "Quick, man!" , Th<>n impatiently .Jack; hastily shipped an oar. and-snatched line" and hook from the others trembling hands and flung it out. Missed his object, and •with an (imprecation drew in, vhen fluujr xhr line -f»tt- RgaiHi---The other man .-hut bis eyes tightly. "■You ain't usexi to this, mate," 3augiied the red-fisherman-to his whiteifaced companion. He was-4rawing the line in steadily, with that nameless thing at thceniJ. ~- —-" " ".'lt upset mc for. a.-minute.*'-faltered ■ the other, lie took a stiff pall at | » fkfik he "carried. "I shsll be all I right in a minute"—but the quavering Foi.?<? belied the words. ■TV—is it *"

"•\Va? a man onus" said tlio fisherman briefly. The dreadful thing at the end of the line earae to the side of the Duaf. "Been in tile Ivator.a.g.QDd spell. too." h< -, added. The other man took one brief, shuddprjr.g glarn-p, tbt-u turned .-nvsy Jookinpr sick dud faint. The fare wa.- barely reeogTiiioabk- sucli. The fisherman laughed. •Jack had already made examination of the pockets where the dead man might have carried money. - - - He turned the boat and- pulled swiftly towanl one of the' floating Ftatinn? of the Thames Police to a:iaonnce'hi? find and "r-lain: ihe reward. "You'll have t o lend us a hand with it. mate,' the iisliennan said, as they (railed alongside -"Take a uip of wbiiky first if you are squeamish." But this the other man seemed incapable of doing, and the red-bearded giant made a little pleasantry about it to the inspector on "board —a joke that broke off abruptly, as Fishennau Tell on Rn-nefhing- thit ai»t"ti«d to take ""War Tltd-rlv TSV" surprise. It wa? the gleam of a gold ring on the dead man's hand. "I could have swore - "positively he hadn'i a ring on his fingtr wlie:i I sot him o.irt.'of tb.e-.vra.ter/ , ire-muttered to hiraoeli.-and a chagrined look came i.-.'.0 his face. It went against all his principals to have let that prize slip. And he suddenly glanced suspiciously at his companion, as though an odd **Ecy had suddenly crossed his mfnd. Tke_man. with the white hands seemed 2S*" 1 - *"* as he stood" en the -fte: floating polii^station. i-"* "**? to bfc fcvte C£mlpaa^.

"After first openiujr and reading it!"' said Celia vindictively, -'although it was a private letter to father!"

ills. JTerrol went on to say that her husband liail been very anxious, mak- ■ ing impiirios everywhere, and that, since all hi- inquiries had been fruitless, he- had been on the eve of putting the manor into tfi>' hands of a private detective agency —-though she (Mrs. Ferrol) felt it was almost superfluous to rpfer to the distress Olia-'s heartless conduct had occasioned her father since she had shown herself quite, indifferent as to how much pain and anxiety she cansed. '"Read that. Olive." cried (.'elia. indignantly, throwing the letter over to her friend. "After that, do you wonder J hate Mrs. Ferrol? Whatever happens, I won't go back to father's house while she is under the roof—l won't!" An indicant flush had mounted in Olive's checks on her friend's account as she read the letter. The curt, contemptuous tone of it might have been deliberately designed further to alienate her stepdaughter, when a different type of woman would have seen and seized the opportunity of winning Celia over by a touch of sympathy that would have bridged the gult, instead of irrevocably widening it. But Olive was scarcely surprised, rememberinjf how she had noticed in the house in Sloane-street that Mrs. Ferrol's eyes never seemed to rest on the girl without a furtive gleam of bitter, jealoiis dislike. Olive had felt repelled almost instinctively by Zoe Ferrol at their first meeting. And that curious incident had lingered in her mind, of the photograph of Ailwyn and the murdered chorus-girl which she had come across so strangely in the secret drawer of Mrs. Ferrol's bureau; the look of fear that had been in Zoe Ferrol's eyes, as she tried to snatch back the photograph, had puzzled Olive, puzzled her still—and the more after what Dennis had told her of his mention in Mrs. Ferrol's hearing) of Duchasne's accident. For Arrnand Duchesne was indirectly connected with the mystery surrounding the death of the woman of that photograph. - She could not wonder at Celia's feelings of bitterness. The thought suddenly came to Olive that, if she had been happily married, she could have asked Celia to* share her home—but she thrust a.side the thought with a little frown. She was the wife of a man in hiding, wanted on a criminal charge by "the police; and the man with whom she had once built so many sweet. Tndiant-hued castles in the air about the future, they had -thought then to share —it was her duty, to think of him only as her loyal friend now. Jt, is always sad to look back at the grare of one's buried dreams.

I . About L-leveu o'clock that morning pirn Carrutlrers ca-ine and took Celia for a stroll. "I'm glad you've come. Jim. I've had a disagreeable letter that has made mc feel~horribly bad tempered,' , she told him frankly: "Thai's all right," responded Jim cheerfully, iv no -way alarmed. "Who's the letter from? Any one whose head I can punch? Sure to be a woman, though. Never mind, we'll reprove her solemnly for the first five minutes of our walk, and then forg-e.t that she exists—as she doesn't- deserve to do. Come along." Celia was already smiling, as if she found it rather difficult to keep her threat of ill humour, for the sun was shining, and a pleasant wind met them a? they turned into the street: and TFi'mV company was not conducive to depression. It was comparatively easy to relegate the second Mrs. Ferrol in a far comer of her thoughts before the stipulated five minutes was up.

J I was scan-ply more than a quarter of an hour after Olia had gone out that Mr. Herbert Burgovue called and asked for Miss Hurst.

Burgoyne had seen C'elia go past the hotel bar-room, where he was having an parly drink, ami had determnieil to seize the opportunity of catching Olive alone. He was feeling in a desperate-mood. The show had frene worse than ever the previous nighr. and the local manager had talked of closing the theatre in disgust for the remaining nights of the week. Since Garth's news about AUtryn Trent showed him that hp need not look for further linancial help from that quarter, he made up his mind to go to Trent'? wife. Olive wa? rather surprised and not pleasantly, when the landlady knocked at ber door and ushered in the actormanager. "Good-moming. Miss Hurst—or. I ■suppose, to give you your proper title. I should say Lady Trent." he began. Olive checked him with an abruptness that rather disconcerted him. is no occasion for you to call mc anything but Miss Hurst." she said coldly. '■'But. you cannot deny that yon are Lady Trent." he cried quickly. She did sot speak. "I little thought "that I hcd.

the botfojir of nnmbadngr in nry company the wife of my friend and bucket/ , he went oa wrtii coTt&d*Jui»L.

■"I repeat —that u> yen-I- am Miss Hurst." said Olive ieDy. Sfte bad risen when lie entered, and, a." though she had no intention of prolonging the interview, she did not sit down, thus keeping her visitor standing. "Will you ti4l mc why you persist ia opposing my expressed wishes t"

His reception, the actor. Although Ailwyn Trout had fulfilled his promise in the matter of what Burgoyne had refersed to as a "loan" to the stipulated smount. thp latter had persuaded himself that he had heen shabbily treated —what was a paltry five hundred pounds to a rich mail! lie said quic-kJv: "Your husband. Sir Ail'wyn Trent——"' -I liavo n<. wish to discuss Sir Ailivvn Trent with you," interrupted Olive haughtily. In some ivay ?he felt instinctively that this man intended to trade if he could on the discovery he had made thrnujrh Dennis Garth's slip. "Rut you will be wise to , ."' cried Buvgoyne.—he had lost his head a little. "'! am not a man to be treated in this offhand way. Your husband promised mc financial support for ray tour "

"Why come to mc?" .-he asked ealn» ly. His words proved that her suspicion had been correct. Her lip had curled scorn full v.

"Because ho i< not accessible, and so I come to you to "

"I assure you th#l it was quite use less to do so."

"Oh. I'm not so ?ure of that; I'm not so sure you'll say that when you've heard mc. I don't want to threaten—"

"1 think you might find it rather unwise to threaten mc!" she flashed ont vnth a grlearu in her pyes. There was an ugly look in his face. 1 am not threatening; I am just putting a simpie question to you. Have you ever heard o f »■ Mrs. George Airwyn who was murdered? Ah. I see you-have —■! see you know what I mean!" he cried, for Olive had changed colour. "I was a friend of hers, a friend of her husband—(he missing Ailwyn. I s«v by your iare that you know as well as I who the missinjr George Ailwyu us and where he is to be found—if certain iiifonnaLioii were given to the policp."

He pause<l. Olive did not speak. . The contemptuous look on her fait* dee]>ened. Burjroyne. seeing her apparently unmoved by his threat, cried rouprhlv:

"It will save a pood donl of unpleasantness to you and t-o the missing man who now lia-- a tittf"—meaningly—"if

you make pood your husband's promise of financial help. 1 am deed broke, throu-frh relying on hi-= promise— and it is a secret worth ;i price! And since your husband has left mc in a hole I mean to exact that price!'"

It was blackmail. linked and unashamed. Burgoyne was desperate. And he fell that the very nature of the secret he held over Ailwyn Trent would prevent Trent's wife from hinting at this interview to Celia, and thus spoiling his chauces ill thai direction.

Olive did not speak. . She. -stood eyeing the man contemptuously. She had heard a familiar knock at the donr —she had been expecting Denni-i Garth that morning, ami slip felt as she heard his voice speaking to the landlady that he could not have come at a more opportune moment.

TlierC.Ai.as. a tup on the door. The landlady put her head in to say that Mr. Garth'had called. Burgoyne bit his Up. "".Show Mr. Gurtli in." saiJ Olive. And the next iustajit Dennis Gartb, his face unusually grave, entered the room. A- the landlady closed the door, Olive said to him:

"I am glad you have conic now. Dennis—this man is trying to blackmail mc." And Burgoyne's face, grew suddenly while at thr unexpected words. "He associates my husband with "George Ailwyn,' and threatens to inform the police unless I buy his silence. Please turn him out."'

As Olive was speaking, Burgoyne saw Garth's face grow darker with indignant anger, and he edged apprehensively to the door.

'"Look here, I—l1 —I don't want to have a scene before a lady, aud if you attempt to l;iy a. finger on mo "' he began hlusteringly.

Be s»w Garth's hands clench: then as the other man made a passionate movement forward, cowardice got the better of Air. Burgoyne. and he flung oj>eii the door and boltetl through. Dennis ea.ught him in the passage. A heavy hand foil on the actors collar, and he found himself being shaken in an ignominious fashion that hurt him considerably.

"Out you get. you contemptible cur!" cried Dennis passionately. And he flung open the outer door, and sent the man spinning through it into the street.

BuTgoyno only saved hrmself from falling headlong by an effort. As he recovered ni.s balance, Dennis was at his side.

"J feel tempted lo break svery bone in your body, you cur—trying to blackmail a woman!' , lip s:«id in a low, dangerous voice. "You'd better be careful." Burgoyne isaid, trying to keep his voice from quaverinjf: iie was mu<h frightened. "It would bo unpleasant for l«aay Trent, and for Trent, too, if I told what 1 know——"'

"Your threat is worthy of you," said Dennis Garth scornfully. "But yon overrate your powers. For one thing you cannot tell the police more then they already know, and the man you threaten to injure Ls beyond tout reach." '"What do you mean?" oried Burgoyne. "This," said Garth. ''Sir Ailwyn Trent's death wa= announced in the papers this morning." (To be continued next Saturday.)