A HERITAGE OF HATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 70, 23 March 1910, Page 10

A HERITAGE OF HATE.

BY

'Author of "The Marquis," "Lome,- , "A CHAPTER XXXVIII.— (Continued.) The inaction of lying there and waiting, -waiting for something to happen became -well-nigh intolerable to him; bill some instinct warned him to remaii quiet, and after he had taken the shirt ! and coat—now quite dry -from jundei th coverlid and thrown them on a chair, he got into bed again and renewed ths egony of suspense. - Parkins usually called him at nine; but it was barely half-past eight when the valet knocked at the door. Ralph jrrad-e no answer, and simulated sleep, and Parkins entered softly, and quietly •began-to collect the clothes and arrange the slaving things. At last, unable to remain quiescent .any longer, Ralph open©d ~Tiie eyes an 3. "varwuGO. "What "time is 'it, Parkins?" he said. "Half-past eight, my lord," replied Picrkins. in a. subdued voice. "What the devil did you wake mc so earrr for!" demanded _ Ralph, angrily, but. "wondering' whether- 'the. .dread tha c shook him -was discernlßTc- 2n.:3us _voice, "I must hare" had 7 too many cigars' last night, Parkins, for I've got a deuce of a head on this morning," he added; and he turned over with the groan and yawn (vciiicli emanates from the man -who has "indulged" overnight. •■ITU sorry to disturb you, my lord, said Parkins. "I am rather earlier than ■usual; but— something has happened, and— I was "half a mind-to call your lordship up in the nigirt." "Something happened? "What is itr esfced Kalphvssdtiout turning. _ _ "There's been." an accident — no; nay lord: it's a murder — in the_ wood." replied Parkins,, standing beside the bed •With the very coat in his hands -which SJalph bad worn. Ralph turned and sat up. "What?" he demanded. "Murder! faliat are you talking about? Ah! poachers. 1 suppose? Is it one of the gamekeepers? I knew there would be trouble with those d d poachers sooner or later." '-— - - Parkins, pale and excited, shook his lead. "It isn't -a-gamekeeper, my lord; it's it's_a "woman, poor soul." "A woman!" echoed Ralph, sitting up and staring in front of him with bloodshot eves and gaping mouth; with the expression of a man awakened, by awful news, from a drunken sleep... "Yes, my lord," replied .Parkins, who saw nothing extraordinary, .considering the circumstances, in' His "master's ap-; pearance. "The poor creature has been! stabbed—ever so many times". Grey, the keeper, say-s, and was "quite 2lea.d."i_- - i "Who—what was-iG :"v£tai.t war;she J doing in the wood?" asked Ralph, feeling as if his parched tongue were too thick for his mouth. ""TJon't know, my lord; nobody knows. At least, they didn't when they brought the news. Grey and some of the older men came straight up here, thinking yon ought to know." '•"Why didn't you wake me— mc? I might have been of some use," said Kalp_h,_with a fine show of impatience and reivak-e." - _ - — - - '- ~S~. Z _ 1 ".. hisiiaiedrfbf_a 3n.oment, then; lie said, evasively: "I knew your lordship —tireii "when you went to bed last night, and, thinking that you couldn't dp anything at that" hour, ventured to leave your lordship undisturbed. Ralph nodded and drew an inaudible breath of relief. He was quick to seize the point and emphasise it. ""Yes; I understand. well, I'm srf»^d-.1-d^fik_tcßonuch.lastTiight ) Parkins. T can't" "stand much- liquor, and I'd rather more than my allowance. Perhaps you noticed it?" ""Yes, my lord/ admitted Parkins, ■with respectful -reluctance; "that was ■why I did not disturb- you." - - £■ "Very thoughtful of you," said Ralph, "Yes; I fell asleep the moment I got into bed. directly after_l left you, you remember V~ — — - ~ — ' '""Yes, my; lonL a "_ — "~ "And Fve-been; asleep ever since^-un-til you woke mc. I was asleep wlen you came in, wasn't I-? "Yes, my jprd/^ r::r: _ "All the- same, I wish you had woke mc when' the men came \. I might have rendered some assistance in finding the scoundrel who-—who did it." ■ "Yes, my lord; hut there was not any need. They have got the man,""" " * "" JEtalph started. . _!•.... ■"What*-he-exolafiiiea, with an-amaz& ment which seemed natural and reasonable enough to Parkins. ... "They—they have found him?."-"-_ "~_ "Yes,~my lord. -A- -man named"_Work—Che nan w£o, las been up at the Han-lately, my-lordT you. may remember?—found _£Ec" man. ■standing beside —bending/over it",..*Grgy says , and he was. caught red-handed, as "you may say,.any lord. .They even found "the kinie he did it with. .;•_ qwned the knife—taken oS his: guard, as .you may say, toy lord." .;. : _ - Z Ralph stared Jiefore him,- his brain lot and. whirling. 'Luck,.. Fate, Chance, xrrrp 2117 <*TQsrdiiijr to his aid! "-»"' "•.'i--i ' t ~- he most extraordinary *" '..' -'■- "'.'■ ' ' " r.?Ad, ■ hoarsely. Want— i≤ the man a name?.- -Who is Jjefi, __ .' -•-::.;.:. -- "I don't' know his- name, 'my lord. Grey catch it; but he's a friend of Mr. Edward's—Mr. Edward Bryan's iny_ lord." _ .. Ralph started and put "his- hand to ids brow. " — — "What the devil are you talking abooE?- ■ he demanded. "Why do- you bring Mr-. Bryan's name-into it? -What las he got to do with it?" "Mr. Bryan was there, my lord in the ■wood- last night; he came up -jost- as Mr" Woridey and the keeper* were gettinghold of the murderer, and Mr. Bryan "said that he was a friend of his; and ■ indeed, he said as he would be respond fc sible for him." -/-, Balph got out of bed, but staggered BO much that Parkins caught him by the-elbanr-and supported him. ::~:- --- —I must lave been""-very bad" last aught, Parkins," said Ralph, Jiolding- his lead jwiffi iisJharids. iiT-Jihall -have" "to .cut whisky. I am as giddy as an owl! §|s my 'oath -ready?" GfefTHe~dressed as ,; Boon as possible. I ought not. to be as tad as this, for I've, .slept. all .through the night What.time did I go;to bed? ' Do you remember i". . _ -j He tookednsliarjly'at.Eexkinsj and Partins, Mterna"tn?Mien±^~consideration 3 replied: _, ..._ .__..:._ i ..,. '" .\ "A little-after *en,.imy^oTiL M - l ~f ~- ißalph. nodded. . ■" ''''3'''^M^W& "I thocgii so. A —after—ifcen;"—; Se. ard^em4PE3s£scd : -anaar!e - : SgaeapfflßCißal^-j?gea^Ttd;ih^oHHJwrf;h;

Modern Juliet, By Devious Ways/ etc His head, every nerve,-aiched- when 3 came out of the .baths; -but- _ls_J>r_i_ wi clear enough to appreciate the points : ' his favour. Parkins could swear, '' need ' be, that his master went to tx 1 drunk at a little -after ten, and that ] ; had awakened ham from a. heavy sle< . in the morning. .. . When ___?_ .had _ dressed, . Ralph we] I down to', breakfast- ;He ; would ha- . given .a. thousand pounds' to have be< capable of eating a hearty -meal; bi every morsel he put in his hot mou! /seemed dry and impossible to swallow -He-drank a-couple of cups of strong te ! and with a nerveless hand turned ov his •papers and letters. As he -was d , ing so, a footman came into -the room. "lord Hatherley, my lord." "Oh, show him in!" said Ralph, bra ing- himself up for the coming ordeal. Lord Hatherley entered, _mpi_g.__g_ ly, and leaning on a stick. He was pa and agitated, and he broke out with: "You have heard —the new ' Ralph.'" _ ... I :: Ealph nodded and pointed to a chair. '- "Yes; T. you.' haye; too? And—ai J Mary?" j "Not Mary. She knows nothing ye /It is terrible— Nothing i dreadful! thing so dreadful, so ho ribie, has hitherto happened to _s! came over at once —to confer wit yon." ■ - --.-'■ - "With mc?" said Ralph, in a woode way. "Yes. The deed was . committed ; your wood, within sound of the Hall, s to speak; and you aTe a magistrate, ye know." iyour wood, within sound of the Hall, s to speak; and you aTe a magistrate, ye know." Ralph nodded, - and 'be fidgeted -wit the letters 'beside,-his plate. i Lord Hatiherley had sunk into a cha and leant his head upon his hands. "I fun dreadfully upset. lam nc well or strong, Ralph, and this— an ful business has completely knocked m over. Poor woman—poo-r woman! Yo ! know "who she is, X suppose?" j -Ralph-shook his head. He could no -speak;- the things on the table dance before his eyes; ie saw Lord Hatherle rough a mist. "She is an actress, a music-hall artist —one of the company which has bee , performing at Market Ratton," sai ' Lord Hatherley. "Her namethe nam ! she went by -professionallyis Nita." I Ralph took up his coffee-cup -with : I shaking hand, and the cup fell an I broke. j.' "I beg your pardon," he said. "I'm— j I'm. rather shaky this morning. Th I fact is, I took a glass or two too mud i last, night. I can't stand much liquoi I'm. a. 'had 'drinkist,' you know." ; Lord Hatherley nodded sadly. "Yes; I've— noticed it. You— you must be more careful, Ralph. Bet ter give it up altogether." "I will—l will;" said Ralph, meekly '"What do you say the name -wasNiba I've never heard of her, and I've knoeket about town, too." "Beyond her name, I've heard nothin< about her," -said Lord Hatherley; "but of everything -will be "-known You have-heard that they have made" ai arrest - Ralph nodded. — - ._ •_. - '"The - sf.rangest, most- "extraordinary thing! They have arrested a man, i friend of Edward Bryan's, who came t( England -with him only yesterday." - "Birds of a leather said Ralph,.wit! a sneer. Lord Hatherley flushed hotly. "Why do you say that, Ralph? ' j have never heard a word against Ed r ward" Bryan in my life, .He_is an hon est, honourable young fellow, the son o: jar., neighbour." ' ~7 "But "his. intimate friend and compan ion commits a murder," said Ralph, -witl another sneer. Lord Hatherley ... rose from his chair but sank down again. "That's—that's unfair, ungenerous!' he_said. "Edward Bryan's conduct ha: not been called in question. He cami upon the scene after the murder had --committed, and knows-- nothing about it; but I am convinced, if yoi knew-Edw-ard as well as I do, you -woulc not have made that remark." "Perhaps not," said Ralph, "i on know that -Edward Bryan is.an adven turer, and that adventurers are not care -ful in their choice of companions. I die not know he was back. How is Lad\ Mary?" . - - '\Mary is in, I am sorry to say," saie Lord Hatherley, sadly. "I am afraid she caught a chill waiting for mc at the station- last-night. I lost my train, anc she came to meet mc. But I can onlj think of this dreadful tragedy; and Ralph, I— hope you have not expressed your opinion before the servants,- You are a magistrate, you know, -and you and ,_?3 ourfellow-magistrates, wil] have-to - examine the accused." ' "He'll- gel short^shrif -•from mc," said Ralph, with a bravado -which his white face and bloodshot eyes seriously dis counted. "I've been -told- that he was found', -bending.' over-""- the body, that he admitted that was his——" ". .: — —yes! But where is the motive? Im informed that.the young man onljarrived in Rattton" with Edward Bryan last evening." - •_ -- - _ Ralph rose, dropping his serviette and nearly overturning his chair. * ""What's that got -to do with it?" he demanded, impatiently. "The evidence— the evidence, points to his guilt, and it's the evidence you and I and the other magistrates have to consider. When does the examination take place "To-morrow morning," replied Lord Hatherley,"" with a sigh. 'Tt is the first case of murder I have had to consider, andand I don't like it. As you say, the evidence is against the accused, and ? et How did. he come to be 'in "the wood,: and why did he inrder, in the cruellest of ways, a woman whom he could not, have * known?" - Ralph shrugged his shoulders. It seemed to hint that luck was flowing his' way. With Parkins to swear an alibi, with evidence to ■ prove that- this unknown man was not only found near the body, but had admitted the ownership of the knife, he——was safe. i". ghat's for a jury to- decide," he • said, with an assumed indifference. "What you and land -other magistrates have to do is bur duty. Can I see Mary if I come over?" He put the question as casually as he could, but his "voice quavered somewhat. Lord Hatherley shook his head. "She is keepingto her own room, Ralph, and I don't think she Ts -well-enough to see-yon.'*. ~ _>_;_ _'\ ;- -'- '_' Ralph:-Odded.-,-."' ' - - - + "All right,"" he-said. ' "But* just tell her ghat I am. snr-e -___. fellow who has been sKr£s_3____^^ ia;^_pne.» _r_r.r_. ;_-_-; — '-.-. ~— '—" ; . _;_" . .[(Tft.be ci_t_rae_ d-fly.jj ..; '. / :^'^ r 'ii>'- ; <v'' T