RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 92, 18 April 1913, Page 10

RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT

IHE DRAMATIC- -XOVE STORY; OF. - JOHN-STRAND, M.P. '{-' £ By PAIIL TRENT, 'Author of "The Vow," "The Some Secretary," "A Wife by Purchase ,"' etc., etc. CHAPTER XXXII. -~ £' Long into the night John thought out ids position. Southwold's motive was clear, but he could not imagine why Mason had betrayed, him. The -millionaire. h_4^hown-Win nothing TVut~kmd-'" ness until he had got ihold-of the mad idea that Sylvia cared for him. Could that be the reason of his .joining; in this .plot ? .It seemed incredible, and yet . John could think of nothing else. ; . Id was evident that they were,in a position of great strength. In the first . place, Mason had takeii up Strand for no apparent reason that would satisfy the public. Hard-headed millionaires are not wont to satisfy their daughters' whims to such an extent. Therefore, it would be presumed that Strand was in . Mason's confidence, as he was a partner in his financial schemes. In the second place, .there were the documents signed by himself in existence, and it was impossible for John to.deny that the signa- ' tures were his. Would it be credited that he had attached his name without first reading the contents of t_te,paper3? ; . There could be no doubt that if Southwold carried out his threat Strand's character would be irretrievably ruined. And the public is as quick to destroy as it is to raise a popular idol. It was" Strand's dogged honesty that had raised him to his pedestal. And then John began to think of Joyce, and he had not a doubt that she would implicitly believe in bis innocence. But now..he regretted that he ihad told her of his. love, for he knew how greatly she would grieve at his trouble. After careful consideration he decided that it was his duty to tell her at once. And so, when breakfast was over, he told Cranston to go upstairs and ask 'her to come down to him." '■ I should like to be alone with her for an hour. Wil yon go on to Grosvenor Square and tell Mason that I will be there at eleven o'clock? But you must say no word of what has happened. Don't even' tell him that you are not going to .him." '' 1 understand, sir," Cranston said, quietly, but he did not go. "' What is it?" John asked impatiently. " I don't know how- to say it. I'm so sorry—and —I'd like to break Southwold's neck—the blackguard!" " That wouldn't do much good," John answered, with a. grave smile. "If I can do anything to .help—l don't care what it is—you'll let mc do it." " It is good to have a "friend.- -It was a lucky day when we met." " Lucky for mc, sir. I should like to tell Sylvia. She'd bring the old man to reason." ■'"' You mustn't- say-a word. Now get along." _ - - - -- A few minutes later Joyce came in, and when she saw John's face with its lines of suffering she uttered a cry and threw her arms around his neck. " What is it. dear?" she asked breathlessly. " I am in trouble. At first I thought of hiding it from-you, but " " You must, never, hide—anything from . ic. dear. Who but mc should help you? Together, trouble will half its bitterness," s>he said, gently. John proceeded to explain in detail exactly what had happened, and she understood. He saw the look that he had dreaded come into her eyes. But her manner breathed sympathy, and she was not dismayed—the woman he loved was no coward. When he had finished she drew his head to her breast, and smoothed back the hair from his forehead. . " God has sent this trouble to try you, dearest, but you will do what is right. You will let them carry out their base threats, and, if you are not believed, you will be conscious of your innocence. But truth must prevail eventually." " I thought to make you happy and, I've only brought you misery." "Misery with you, John, is better than happiness alone. I love you, dearest.-" She turned his face towards her and kissed him tenderly. There was something of a mother's love in the caress, and he felt strangely comforted. " You bare given mc courage. I feel a, different man, and capable of fighting anyone. Now for Mason," he wound up, grimly. / " What will Sylvia say when .she knows?" she asked, in a low whisper. John had not told her of his suspicions as to the motive which actuated the millionaire, and he still refrained from doing so. " You will come back to mc after you have seen him?" she asked, wistfully. "Y 7 es. But I have to be in the House in the afternoon to speak on the Bill." " You will get mc a pass to the Ladies' Gallery?" His eyes rested on her, aud it. seemed to him that in this one short hour she had ceased to be a child and had become a woman. " John," -she said, suddenly, "I should like to marry you at once." Rut he shook his head decidedly. "My wife's "husband must have a name that is above suspicion." " And so is the name of John Strand," she said, proudly. " Let us bo married at once. -Then I can always be with, and comfort you," she added, pleadingly. John was sorely tempted to do as she asked, but had the strength to refuse. .. .len their happiness became complete there must be no cloud on the horizon. '•' You are a generous soul, but I can't do it." She sighed, for she knew he had made up his mind, and it would be useless to persist further. "Shall I tell uncle?" she asked. '• No. I think I'll -tell him when I come back from Mason, but I'm not sure. I'm afraid he. might take a reckless step that would do mc no good, and only a great deal of harm to someone else." "Good-bye, dearest," she whispered, but she still clung to him. At last he got away, and set out for Grosv. nor Square, full of courage. Y r es, Mr. Mason was at home, and expecting him —so the millionaire did not intend to flinch from the consequences of theaction. A few .minutes later the two men faced one another, an accusing look on John's face. "' Well, what have you to say?" Mason asked, dryly. Strand's breath came quickly as he strove to control himself. He could not doubt that Mason ihad betrayed him, and yet he would not judge him without first hearing his.defence: ... : • "I have seen the Prime Minister, and he has shown mc copies of certain documents, which he tells me'l have eigned," be said, calmly. .'. . —.

"Well, didn't you sign 'em! I've got the originals, and I guess you won't deny your own handwriting," Meson said, very quietly.

"Why have you done this 1 You've -deliyercd.Tne-into Southwold'srh'ands.-" "I wasn't thinking-so much of Southwold." ■-■ ■■■'_ - •-' " You meanr that I am in your power? " " I suppose it amounts to that. But I've no intention, of harming you, so long as you do what I want. You won't deny that I warned you." " What do you want ?" John asked, in a low-Voice. '-— """...-.:.. .._. "You've got to. marry iiiy girl Sylvia. I made up my mind she should have you, and I generally get my own way —in the end. So you had better be sensible— .right_hgy.e—sind. say_e. a.gpod .dcal_qf unpleasantness.'" " It would appear that I must serve two masters. One wants mc to make an impossible marriage, arid the other—| well, he wishes to filch mc of my. honour.," John said, bitterly. " You should not have defied mc, and, •then it .wouldn't have been necessary.to bring Southwold intothe busincss'.at all. You must make the best of the solution. Shall I send for Sylvia?" '■' If you do 1 will denounce you for the blackguard that you arer}" John cried,, hotly. " Don't you intend to marry her ?" " I am engaged to Miss Arnold, and she's the only woman I shall marry." "You defy mc?" cried Mason," and his face became purple with suppressed rage. " Our business relations terminate from now." ■_ -. "You say that, but in a few hours you'll come whining for mercy, and, by Heaven, I won't spare you. Strand, you've touched mc on the raw, and I'll make you remember it." "I shall be busy this afternoon, but to-night I'll get ready a statement as to how we stand. Probably I shall be indebted to you, but I'll pay you back at the earliest possible moment." " There won't be much to spare out of your four 'hundred a -year," jeered Mason. '•I'm not sure that I won't see Miss Mason and make her acquainted with the reason**why you are hounding mc down," John cried, vehemently, but as he spoke he knew that he would not •have the courage to bring a young girl into this sordid business. "Do you realise that if Mr. Southwold carries out his threat the publicity will ruin your precious scheme ? " "I don't think it will. But even if that does happen, I am prepared to put up with the loss." " You're mad. I tell you that Miss Mason does not care for mc. What's more, she's in love with another man." " I know my girl better than you do. Who's the man ?" Mason asked, sneeringly. "I leave you to find out. By the by. Mr. Cranston has decided to stay with mc." " A handsome salary you'll be able to pay liim out of your two thousand dollars. I guess I can get hold of the lad, and I'll do it." John thought for a few moments, and then began to speak slowly and impressively. "Mr. Mason,'since you asked"me to join you I've worked loyally for your interests. I've.never injured you in any way, and yet you've deliberately planned to ruin my career. Y'ou're an old man, and can't live for many years. I ask you to think twice before you commit thi3 terrible crime. But I'm afraid it's too late. You've already given South- [ wold the evidence you've manufactured, and .le'llrshow me.no .- V " You don't mean -to say that you're going to oppose him ? " Mason cried, in amazement. "I have already told him so. This afternoon I intend to speak against the Housing of the Poor Bill, and shall do all I can to have it thrown out." Mason looked at him with something like admiration. * " You may be a fool, but you're a plucky one. I thought Southwold had got an easy job. I must admit that I wanted you to work with him for your own sake—and Sylvia's." he added. "So you will see that you cannot harm mc. It's Southwold who will do the mischief." "'-1 could always deny the truth of what he said." "And no one would believe you. Y'ou've already done all the mischief that you can." "I could tell Southwold that, you didn't read the papers before signing them—and I'll do so, if " " Doesn't he already know ? " John demanded, quickly, and saw from Mason's face that he had guessed the truth. " So this was- a deliberate conspiracy between the two of you, and you're a bigger pair of blackguards than I thought you were. I've no more to say." John walked towards the door, but stopped when Mason called to liirii. " This S3 the turning-point of your life. Think before you act," the millionaire said, grimly. " I have already decided. But don't imagine you've won." Mason ivas troubled, for he had never John would have the courage: io'pJtand out against this pressure. Hi.s'fadmiration for. him increased, and he became all the more desirous of winning him over. "Get Southwold to adjourn the debate, and take a few hours to think it over. He'll not take any, step unless you drive him to it," he said, appealingly. '"" I'll make no compromise with either of you, but I'll fight you both with your own weapons. Y'ou'll find that T can hate, and T won't rest till I've paid you back." "Think it over, my boy—think it over. A few hour's thought will bring wisdom. Won't you have a cigar?" "Do you think your daughter will continue to care for you when she knows the manner .f man you are?" John was ashamed of the threat, and, without waiting for Mason's, answer, hastened away. {To be continued daily.)