The White Lie.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 153, 29 June 1914, Page 10

The White Lie.

x% Story of Love, Blackmail and Revenue. By WECLIAM I.E QUEUX. 'Juthor of "Kitgland's Peril." "IZcrr.loUons of the Secret Xermcc,'' "Hushed Up," etc., etc. CiIAI'TKR \ IT. — I Continued. I Tv .lean, who had lielieveil Ralph to \,, : ~.,.,,: f-scd oi" amph' moans, all Ihw came as a gradual disillusionment, llur hu-hand began quickly to neglect h.-r. to -pcii-1 hi- day., in the caf«-. often in \d.i:pin'"i- oom]iany, wiiilo the men lie broiighl I.i thfir room.- wen-, though -.vell-die-scil. of il very different class 1,, i (i,i-.> .'.ith -.(hom t-be nad been ill ihe habit, oi associating in London. ll'.u the girl never complained. She ).)\cd Ralph with a foml, silenl passion, and c\ in the poo'- ■ in-umstam-i-s in H-llich already, aft' r ten months ot jiiM-rii'd Hie. -he now found hcri-eif did not trouble her a- long a.s her hilbband i/eaU-d her with connideration. A- -i-gards Adolphe ..In" rather avoided than encouraged him. Her woman* keminilis of observation showed aor that he sympathised willi her and admired her "iv fact. I hat le- n.> deeply in love wiih h.-r. though ho r-in-nuotttdy endiait'ourcd not lo betray his airc-fion-. Thus, \ritliin a year of Ibe tragi.- ("id ..: Hick llarborne. dean found her-cii l-v-iiig in a uivond-lloor Hit in a -eclude.l hou.-c in the Boulogne quarter, not la: from the xiiiie. a poor working-clasr, iieighbourlnio<l. The rooms, four in niunher, were furnished in the usual ciieap and paudy l-'rciich style, ilie floor «.f bare varnished boards" siw where sirips of .laponeof malting were placed. On that warm Augtl.-t. evening .lean. in a plain, n<-atJy-made blaf-k dr.»ss, with a little white collar nf Swiss embroidery, and wearing a little apron of -potted print— for their circumstance.- did not permit the keeping oi a. "bonne" —she "..is seated in he- small living-room, E-wing. and awaiting the return of icr husband. She bad, aias. met with -.a\\ disillusionment. Instead of the happy, afllucnt J-rciimstaruv- which sin- ' lv.l fondly imagined would be hers*, she had found herself -inking lower and lower. Her pan-iits were now both dead, and oho had no one in v-iium to coniide her suspicion* <ir fear.-. Besides, day after day. Ralph went out in ihe morning ni'icr his cafe-au-lait. and only returned at eight o'clock to cat the dinner which she prepared —alat--! often to grumble at it. Slow'li —uh! so very slowly—the i':deo:i.-ni'ss and mockery of her mar-ri.-igc wns being forei-d upon her. l.radually. a- t,he sat at the open window waiting his coming, and annoyed b. »-..'-.. tin-evening meal which she had ci larcfuliy cooked 'v,-us >.poiil by iiis tji-d : :nv--. lh- fad-d -and darkness -■• i.-it stitiied. end longed ;urain for l irc.-:i air of tie country. Before ur. .•- .-b.- sal wibh her lian-.ii- idle in '" r lip. Iheie aro-e memories of that >' i -in al'lornoon when, in that charming '■' " lillilg" in l-higland, -he had met b'-; ...ol iriond Ui-c.imrd llarborne. the "'■■*'' ' '" tin t very nami- evening fell ; H-r ilionghN '.yore ---in-cd from the ■'■' ' -'-ii. iihile out lliat morning. .Mine. <.ar.;:,-;-. of i\-l,„„, s iie ;r.:n-lia-ed !" " V'-gctabieo daily, had given her a marguerite. Thie she wore i„ the ul" her gown, and its sight cau-ed her to reflect that on that never-to-bt-forgotten afternoon at Mundcslev, -.'.hen (She had walk,il with aiarixrrne he roo._ had ihi r a «.-iu!a. r Ibw.-r. ''•"iTiunes am! Hoovers -ah\»av.- siir ~ur ur.-.;m<>riQj <j- tin; past. -She sat gazing oat into the liLUc mossfironvn teiow. iwa,cchino- for dialph's etrmiiig. Tlcrt. .pmrUT uf'l'aj-bs utas a poor one. iabaJaij-d; mainly by auiisaiK, yet the house, was somewhat tseclnd-ed. siluuxett as it, v.as in -a be «pia-n.> cmrrtyard away from the "main rLburoug-hfare. -Ll-.trans.- it. was <priia IKaiiph -had taken i.. and further because iitntti Hrouet. the ct>iu-.ierge, a ishar')-il3i-«t. woman, .wife of a ,«lf>u!er. rtiiiu InibiwaJly- -wore a small, knifct<-d sihawL 'bap]xinxt to be silt aojiEiiniaau-e <tf hit. (But, alasJ the plncc «as iLama.! en'I'Jie -upou a high. 'HWank-. dirty voiß. wiri-h- below, among W.h;- «i-->iK-». aimir rant weuds grcrw ' nn-erywlwTe. The ."n -which the girl sat '«'«« f>oor uant thoiajh r,he 'iirdußcrioUiily kepi. tSw» .place- clean. It ■swus yitncTi-d gaonDh" -\tith broad stripos. (while tiie ftu-ttikrre consisted oi a. cheap iJjtale -usahrat s-klet«oa.rd upon wbith -is-sood a ■photograph m a frjim<'. a dea chiua <?uga3--ihow.l. and mam -f>iTit»», -wlcMo -turjr it -was a paanted movAkljfc enpbon.Tti on Trbwh stood a patrailin vriit grpen cardiboaird ehadp. arnd a ? I «wintl : m.ney .iva« -oirt- of -oiripT and had stopped. Tn- ■ihe. cpniTrc of the room, wan a itum.l ;-nri>k* upon vchinb was a whk-e <-loth iR-ifih -bhr- .bnrdtT and places bdd for two, psrnd frmr riKh-botiomed ohalra placed Ttrpoti thn sipia-re of .la:panfKe mattin" uhe cetßiro of the tcoih <:ojnt'ln- picture. ■ lean laid -aside hex nee-H,»work — ■•CTi.imfing one .if "Ralph's sihtras—and e.iglre.l <wor nhe migh'^have-iiej-n. "1 wumlrtr ivbat if. ell meansl" she •s>kod li-enself. aloiirf. "I wonder wh.u •n-.vKtori-ous btisinesß .Raiph has so eon-.sia-trth- with AdolpJic'.' 'Attd why does tM-me. ißronnt inquire anxjouelv after [Ralph every day?" lor -he p:u-i>t. fortnjgiit. her husband. t. hose clorhoß trad now become very nhaiUby. had given her only a few- frames facli day. just sufficient -with which to •buy food. Hitherto hv had taken her ou-.. lor -walks after dusk, and someracy had gone to a cinema, or •to one of ihe cheaper nnisk-halJs. But. nhißl tiu-.vu.'.vs ho neve- invited her to pi> -wi'.'.i him. I'suaily Ire r.Ke at noon. after r--m;o!oing irmny oigurein.es in bed, .-lie his l-utK-noun. and went out. re-1-iming at any time between six and pigir.. ate 'lis dinner, often sulkiiy, and a; Tune Curlier would call for him. •c: c, the pgir would l be our till miditighL .~-ht* Ijitl- guessed -in -what a queer. set the ya.t- moved, and that h-r h'jyband was knmvn in ihe Monttntnre as *"lliv 'Aaieriean." .She •■i.-.s in ig-ivoranee, too. how Ralph, ihid- «'; • iiimself .without fnnds. iiad gone T-. :>.-• H.-lgi-in -Baron—the secret agont c' (ier.'iiany -and offered h.V '"unher s--v.-.-. \rtiieh hud. hirwcver. been deoiin^i!. \' i-s- Ansell had hoer, defiant and th-i-.i'r-.-iir.g. declaring t'n.w. he would e\i'W :h- Tla'roti t-n :. •• poii-o as a for.-tgn spy. R-r, ;ir stont. fair--nan who lived in the tine '-'-:(■•• itar-l-ng .:■. .is ~ivi! spacious tz-o-i'-d- .... it v-iiil!.-. ..-i the other K-ie ie ' ie IVes ,!■■ rt-,-::..g:i... hid moT--"iis threat.

'i'Do so, my friend," he laughed, "and you -will quickly find yonrse?f arrested' and extradited to with murder. Fo if you value your neck, it will. I think. )>e bcr-t for you to keep a stiil tongue. There is the door. Jion tsoir." And h-p had shown his visitor nut. At first Ansell. who took a walk -alone in tin- Hois, vowed vengeance, but a few hours Inter, after reflecting upon the whole of the grim eircumsTanci.-s, had conn- to the conclusion that-silence-would be host. ! Though he had endeavoured not to : vhow it. in- war. already regretting doo.ply that hi- had married. Had he been in better circumstances, .lean might, he thought, have been induced lo assist him in >ome of hi- swindling operations, just us the '-.viviH of other men he knew had .lone. A woman c.in -o often succeed where a man fails. 'Hut as he was. al-iiin'-t without a soil, iv--i.it. could he do? Truth in tell. Until !i» and Carljor were in dosporafce t--;rak-. .loan hid .been c|uick to notice the change in l»olh men. but she bad P'ruainid in patience, making no remark. though | tiie whole circumstances (puzzled her - .mil often she recollected how happy she ! trad -been ai th» Mais-on t'-ollettc when -he h.ul lived ai- home., and Ralph, so sinari anil gentlemanly, h.i.l called tv -(•(• lie- e.ieii evening. The-: .in,] similar thoughts were twswiriii through :kt mind, when suddenly .--he was recalled tv ln-r present surround. ing- by Ralph's sudden entrance. "Halloa !*' he cried, ronghlv. "Oinner re-jdyi" "It h.i- been ready more than an hour, dear." she replied, in l-'rcnch. jumping to her feet and pa--in.' at onve into la" liny kitchen beyond. ciiAiTKi: viir. ItKVI-I.M.S Tlln rtl'.lM 'I KITH. Though Ralph Anscll'a clean-stmven face wa- siron-;. an.l hi- eyes keen and searching, iv the dress he wore he presented anything Inn the appearand o! the yenllemaii he .ii.l when, twciv.. months before, he h-.irl lived in the ,0.-v little bachelor Hat in ShyfUwburV ! Avenue. Ills clothe- «ft- black, striped with grey, the eo.tt edged with braid in th" foreign manic--, hi- neck was encircled hy a soft cellar tie] with a ioo.-e black cravat. Hi- waistcoat was open, displaying his soft white shin and the ieatlver hell around his waist, while on hifi iienl was a doth cap vvitli an unusually large ',iea',^. Hi- looked the true I\-iTi.-.ian loafer, as indeed lie wa.s. Vet love is blind, and as yet .Iran would believe nothing to his discredit, crushing out any suspicion that had arisen within he.-. Having discarded his cap and tossed it aero-.-s upon a chair, revestiing h-is high, square forehead, he threw oir his coat -.md in his shirt-sleeves sat down at the table, exclaiming:--"'Now. then. girl. 1 hope you've -j-ot .-ometliing eatable to-night. I "shall want something to keep mc going before tomorrow morning." "Why?" asked tire girl, nutting down the tnreen of pot-ati-feu and sealin-' herself. "I've got a liw.li- business on. that's all." he .--.-upped. taking Jiis soup, coni-myni-hrg it, and grumbling that it was badly made.. "1 do my best. R-ioul." she protested. "You know I've had no money for three days now." '•And if you had the soup would be jusi the same.'" lie d-~eLarcd. "You may he all very well to make hats. bur. you're no good as a man.- wife. I've discovered that long -ago. I " His uonl.s wore interrupted by a loud rap at tile door. lie started in -alarm, but the next second sprang up and welcomed his visitor warmly. ••Yon. Ado'iphe. old fellow!" he cried. "Why. you gave mc quite a start, t'onie iv and have -a bit of dinner. I want to talk to you. I w-as coming to iind you as soon as I"d finished, .lean, another plate for Adolphe." So the man who iiad entered laid bis hard-felt bat on tlie sideboard, as was his habit, aJid sat down at table in the chair that bus friend had placed for him. Then Ansell. having carefully closed the window, -went back to the table, and, bending towards his friend, said: — "Listen. I'm going to toll you something important. I've got a good tiling on for us boUl to-niirht. You know the Aaron's out at SeuUly": Well, to-night, it quite " -Ilus-h. Ra.mil! Madame- " his com paiiion cried, glancing at dean, apprehensively. "Oh. she may just as well know the truth at liTSt as at best."" laughed -Vn-r-ell. rougftly. Then, turning to his wife. ihe cNi-humed. with a sinister grm. "Perliafss. .lean, you may wonder how we -live —Iww 1 have got my money i" the past. Well. [ may as well tell you. for one day you will surely discover our secret. W-e are burglars." The givl started, staring blankly at box husband, and uttered a low scream. ■'"Burglars!" she gasped, astonished. "Its. And now you know the truth, ta4to care that you never blab out a word to anyone, or. by 11-eaven. it will be. the worse for you! If you cay a Iward." he added," ifienwiy. with knit (brows and glaring eyes, "if yon let drop a hint to anybody, I'll break every hone in your body." ""Eaoul:" she cried, storting up in horror. "Jlave you taken leave of your senses':" "Enough!" protested Adolphe, angrily. "1 won't stand hy and hear such threat.-. Raonl." "What. pray, is it to do with you"" aisked Ansell."fiercely. "She's my wife. and T can speak to her. I can toll her what homo truths 1 like without, your interference.*' "I should liavc deemed it more prudent to have said nothing. Ralph," answered the other, quietly. Though Carlier was dressed also in a striped jacket and waistcoat and black trouser-. he wore no collar, and looked even, a greater blackguard than his friend. Hie eyes met dean's, and in them he saw an expression of silent thanks for takitig ber part. Then she turned and. covering her face with her hand?, burst iuto hitter, .biiiKlinsr wars, and disappeared into the little kitchen. -'Sit down," Ansell urged. "Xow that little fuol has -gore we can tali." "You a perfect idiot." declared the other, in disgust. "That's my affair. .Shell have to bo brought to her senses and know the truth." ''ft has upset her." "I can't help thwat." he laughed. "She must get over it. If she want? linn drei .-.- and a eood time -he must hpip ud. And I mean thai she shall before i<Mg. !.ook al T.-i.rer:ih=.r'ci wife." •"Mil is of a different true to ma ctoie." ••Rn'ohi-h:" h" laitgheH. '-IVait and sue -wh.it !".; tin. She'll he a i liuabh asset to v.- before long." .(To ti 1 : c:>nt ; .nu>-t.i defy.)