THE BROKEN THREAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 145, 19 June 1915, Page 20

THE BROKEN THREAD.

BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX.

Author of "The Rouse of Whispers," " The Day of Temptation," eto.

SYNOPSIS W CHATTERS I. TO VIII. "A barrier lies between ns. Vie must | never n I njmln aCier t.-.lnj-- never." Thes,. strange wor.ls are spoken liy Hilda Tempest, a _!rl whom Knife llt-iiiini;ton hits 1 in -t l.v ::,'. i.lenl at Sniiturolt. where he is I n.i.iii.- .villi his fri.n.l, llilwarrt Miitltner. Sle.rtiv afterwards ltaife i.s sii'.nmone.l _r t :eiil]v te his honie. ivlucli has t a oi'iereii hy an armed luirjrlar, win. has shut I an.l kill.-.1 Lis father, Sir Henry llemiiiiri..ii. T hi man has. however -hoi ihe Imrglnr before pnssui).- away, and also nientimicl to the oIJ butler. Liiin...n. that iliere was a secret he oti.ht lo h.-.ve eon.nuini.-ateU lo his s..n. H.ilfe ceni.e.-ts this sccrci with the .lead burglar, ami .leteriulnes tv solve the mystery. On the luirclar'w hiHly Half.' discovers a strange petulant, which he slips into his pochci. 1.....1,iii_ ever his fathers papers, he rin.ls ;i letter Ironi (leor.e Mountjoy. an Intiumte lri.-i. I of Sir Hear... that refer*, to soiue sc-r.-t peril which concerns himself. A few nionihs later Unite learns that Hilda Tempest, with whom he has fallen in love, is staying ai a certain hotel in .Nice. He sees there, hut she repel- him when he trio t" speak to her Thin niche a note la given In him askin_ him lo f..|)..w Vie hearer. 1; -as from ..iii.la. wh... ivl.cn they have renewed llieir frieiul'-hip. asks hini if _c .-au (he iio.lv of hi- father's murderer. 11.- uli.. >s her Hie pendant, and she .--aks aim if she may hair i! llaife _ivcs i- ;,. her lilhla. win. is ,„■;■ ■ lently ini'lcr the influence of her llii'lc. It. Malsaano. ohtaiiis Knife's l.cvs l.v nie.in.s of a r.isc. an.l ;!.c .1"-fr ' lakes was Impression- of then;.

t HAI'TKK IX. FOILED BT THR TV.HtK OK A Mill'K.K.N | I.I.Tt.TIVh. The sunlit day thai followed the br.v.hf.isi at the little table laid for three, was full ~f happiness for l.iife. He rapidly planned n motor-car ride. There were many detail- to he arranged. Uuly Remington mu-t be propitiaied. The conventionalities of tiie South are IcsS cv acting than those of the North, hut some of them inii-i he observed, Ui.ly Remington a. copied the sjs-cious cireuiustances invented by Knife, and Pot-tor -tal-ano and his nice. Hilda Tenipv-l. were duly intro.itiii .1 to her ladyship. Tlie presentation wns a. chara. leia-t ie presentment of ditliculties ..vercoine hv -in astuteness that youth cm u-'-unie when love V the guide of the o.vusion. 11 dot tore displayed a su.iviiy lh.l was charming t" Lady Remington, and Hail, snatched the opportunity lor tho=e -mull sittcntions tha. a.voinpanv- a v.ulhliil icourtship. All that hud "savoured ot mystery disappeared wli-eu the .-ar

b mnd-cd over the white roads that .lain l>er over the hi'l and mountain sides oi the sunny Mediterranean shore. To those two young hearts it was Kly-iuni. A discreet Italian ch-.uilTcur paid those Jew attentions neevs-ary to the well o'dcred mechanism of a inoJern motorcar, and smiled once or twice when ll occurred to him thai ,-v much happiness <ould not exist without a tragedy—sotne--w'.ere —sometime. A beno! in the steep road, a precipitous declivity with a |.> .<_ .tone w__ on either -i.ie. and a glorious prospect of blue sea, nnd n< li coloured landscape, brought the happy pany to one of those meeting grounds, wbere perfectly trained waiter- an.l . atercts for human comfort assort themselves.

JoyflOsly tliev alighted, and R.nfo prnce led to plan the arrangements for an al fresco entertainment. Ilappine-s was tlie keynote of the pleasure jauit. and the stately Lady Remington seemed pleased vitli the eompnnioitship of the rligmbel Doctor. Tlie di tail- of an entertainment

are rendered easy in a land where men. women and children are trained through tin- centuries to the relinementa of plea-

I'gife and Hilda found them-,-Ives wan- | deruig alone in a grove of trees, those dark-hucl .dncs with 1-af an 1 b.-.in.h in .-iliiouerte against a cerulean -ky. T.u • wa- the first o,e.i-.on when opportune v bad -en-od for the di-plnv of a pent-up passion. Willi a rier.ene-.s that bel.ngs to the niadr-ss of ,i |~ye that ha. U-eii ...ntrolled. uliimsi di .cnmforted. by eir<un --lances. Raife ciugh! Hilda m Inarm-. Dove may he blind, but love laleit. v"rumpling leave- and a foot-tcp brought Raife t,, his more complete sens". Turning, iie saw the uncanny form of the Apa.be person, the iorbi.idintr creature who hud spoken to linn out-idc the cafe on the night when (Vila had sent the little Italian girl t.. fetch him to ber. With :i gesture nf impatience, thai expre-ed thwarted opportunity, he said: "Who i- that fellow. Hilda-: Win i- he here': l|,,w did he _et here'" Hilda trembled, and held her head l.etween her hands. -| dnn'l know." she -tammered. -Don'; a-k inc. I don't know."

Brief is Hi.- life of gohb'ti oppiitunil \ and Raife*- happiness had lieen broken l.v this phantom per.-on of ihe forhidiling aspect. A .--axon .an love, hut a Saxon can sulk. All that wa- Saxon in Sir Raife Remington inducer! him to sulk at this moment. 'Ihey returned to where ihe tables were laid with that tempting display of napory and polished silver which is go well understood by the Continental caterers. Duly Remington and Doctor Malsunu were conversing agreenl.lv. Cilda w.i- evidently distressed, and' Riife remain.-.1 sulky. As they met again the Doctor wa.- saying: "'Your son was (piling inc. J.adv I'cmingt in. that, the Bi.ru'.rss yon Sassniltz is a. friend of votirs. She is -ta.vii... I understand, at the .same hotel with us':" "'lh. yes. Doctor Malsano. 1 know the Baioncrs. She visits ns at Aldboroiigh Park, mv son's place, you know, near Tunbridge Wells.'' "How very interesting. I have often f"lt 1 would" like lo meet the Bar.nie.-s. They tell mc she is a very brilliant lady." This vvas said witn much unction. The day that had opened so brightly, and with ho much pleasure to Raife, was no longer pb-a.-ing to him. He was haunted by that Apache-looking fellow, whose hateful appearance in the olivegrove had robbed him of the gratification I ha: be fell should have been his. The Course nf true love i- rarely smooth, lt i- oil.vi very rough. Ihe weird happenings, since Raife and Hilda had met and talked at Southport had crowded their lives with mixed joy and sorrow. In ithc-e charming al fresco surroundings, •where the daintiness of human service ".ended with nature's choicest gifts, there should have been pence and quietude of spirit. It was not to be. The haunt ill- I bought of his falher's dying words recurred again and again. "The trap—Shi—that woman." HV whole lige's h'-noi" should go out tn tliis woman, win. he loved with a passion that belonged to a tierce nature. Yet nt every pace or revolution in the prnn;rp,ss of their intimacy there was a dark passage, a. sinister obstaelc. The dignified uncle Tc.pellcd him, although he, apparently, was fascinating his stately nnd severely exclusive mother. The forbidding ligure of the Apache had completed for a while, his sense of depression. The happiest people were, apj__e__y, Lady Kemingtofl, the. Doctor—

and (he eluiulTenr, who had found companionship villi a sofl-cyeil, brainless, .ark-skinned ni.ii!, of the type thai serves, mid i.s happy in serving.

When the hired car bowled merrily around and fetched up at the hotel, and a smiling group ot' servants agisted tlieni in their entrance to the hotel, the Kuroncfs 101 l S,tsts.iilit- greeted l-w!y llcmiii.ton. The opportunity iin.l all the cm-umstaiiccs were of such a nature that it w.ia almost neccs.-ary that 1.a.1y Kemington .should make the' presentation. Tim. !>r. Mal.-ano and Hilda Tempest met the Baront-. yon .Nissnillz. ll i- neces-ary to talk of the Karon.'-* yon Sassniltz. She is rich and of ancient linen... but not of that, old-world type which belonged to middle and "-"astern Klirope. when the most exalted lady -was little more than an ordinary frail or hoiicfwife. The Burouc.-s. is brilliant and aceompliflied. and she is endowed with a commanding privcnce. She is hand seme, rather than beautiful, and its for her age -what does it matter so long a- -he remains attractive, an.l command* llic admiration of most, .and the J.'io-

tion of many men. Modern I ravel is r-o ea-y and it is Ire [iient that there is a .lomt nit

course to the -ociely of nation-. Switzerland and the Kivieni are the tukuiilodged playground- where by interiiation.il accord, tiie crook may .jostle the noble, and the conventions vi tlie c.i\>, l-ls "I the world are allowed a licence and freed...'in undreamt of a decade ago. Ui.lv Kemin.ton lirst met tin- Karon■ ,vs at'l'lie Angst Hotel. llordighcia. The frigid Lous which arc grudgingly given: 1..\ the hip ily born iv Mich circuuintauces, l melted .-ouieuh.it when, next sca-on. mutual recognition was forced on them l.v an untimely jostle .11 the gamine tables of Monte I ail... Of curse thus.' tables are never really fashionable, mil they have alvvav.-. been fa-ciiiating. Tli.-\ pos-.es,' lie re.|ii!-:le diablerie lo annus.' the most. exclusive and bored an.to.r.iev of the countries oi lairupo. A further chance meeting at -*san Moriu completed the .'-rent':. lis necessary to break down the hide bound conventions thai surround women's introductions to .mc another. l.udv Remington and the Baroness yon .-as.sii.lt/ thus became friends. The ll.inun's.-, so liiii.h younger thin Uidv Remington, possessed a viv.icity and «'n«' of initiative in the nuittcr of mj.-i.il en tertainnieiit. which were very pleasing 1,. her ladyship. Tae arduous nature of llic late Sir Henry's political hie had been responsible for nnn-h that was almost A rait in his wife', career, which bad been beautifully devoted to her bus band. The Uaronivs' jewels ivcrc a frequent topic of conversation in most "i the capitals oi Europe. The joy of possesion is very great to the woman wh" owns jewellery, and the joy seems lo increase Willi the r'sk that Us attached tn travel. The hair-bread:h escapes, the thrills, and tie states of panic attend ing the conveyance «.f the Rarunes.-' jewels from ..no Spa t" another, was worth more than the cost of these expensive baubles. Her maid lived in a constant suite of dread and a].prehension

in her ellorts to protect the prc-ioti* ! trinket-. Tin re was n"t a er.~*k in J Kurope who was not t-trivni_ to outwit j that poor woman and r'!. the IU rones* ; at the same time Kvery variety of human emotion f-.110.ed in their train.; and the alert little Irani.on -Schneider wa.s the custodian of Hie price',.--baubles, and cut on her guard to con jiit,' the common enemy. Humanity i" frail, and the most austere have a weak - ; .et. l-'raiilein >.-hnei.ler's \ i.il ince-had ' become s.. much a part "f her character lll.lt there were very few who d.-loctod the we ;l k point in her armour. roil."! in a shvpeless bunch a t the back of her | head there were long plaited strands of vcT.vv In.r. No one ever knew just how much "i tint hair there wa-. but lh" low air was the one weak spot through which she could be approached. It wa, combed and pomaded, and plaited with scrupulous care. Everything about I-'raiib'in Schneider was characterised by extreme care, from the guarding of the Baroness' jewels to the setting of th" miniature black and white bonnet that surrounded the mighty monument of yellow hair. •What beautiful hair. Fraiilein!" was siillicient to extract a gratified smile, which was the first step towards relaxed vigiiunee. Dr. Ma.l-.-no knew this weakn.ls. and lie watched and waited for the opportunity to apply the knowledge for In- A polished criminal U liable to lake lung chances when, a big haul of b.,.,tv appears probable. The doctor bad shown him-clf rather indiscreet these last lew days. Crossing the foyer <>f the. hotel, after a. long chat with the charm ing 1.a.1y Remington, he stumbled an.l alniost f.-ll into the arm.-- of a little Englishwoman, who proai-sted in such v Indie-rone voice, that the incident rai-c.i

a titter among the guest- at the hotel. There was no desire for laughter on tlie doctor's part. In that brief, short while he bad recognised Detective Inspector Herrion. of Scotland Yard. This inimacirlate little gentleman, "with his fair hair parted ill the middle, and a waxed little moustache. was none other than the famous Herrion. A detective today, to be successful on the Continent of KiiTopc. must combine the qualities of an Admirable t'ricbton. with the cunning of a stoat. Detective Inspector Herrion excelled these attributes. and. under alternating masks! that varied from ...he superficial inanity of a Scarlet Pimpernel to thr repellanee of a viper, be did society much daring service. The apparent young sprig of aristocracy, with the delicnously insipid drawl and the grote-quo monocle, was none other than Herrion.

the one man of all others whom Dr. I Mal-ano dreaded. This dainty little I gentleiman prcscntcu a very different ap-l peara-nce a few minutes later as be strip- | pel before the miTror of the hotel wash- j stand, and revealed to himself the sinewy I and fibrous muscles of the well trained : athlete. j Herrion was an athlete trained in that I lithe school that embodies every active j form of sport, from football to fencing,! from la savato to the modern savage form of fighting and boxing. Equally deadly with a Browning revolver, a. rifle at 800 yards, or a. right and left among the .birds in stubble or turnips, he suggested the alert and rhythmic power of Hurry Vardon in bis youthful prime, widen a golf club in his hands was wielded with tlie power of a .panther and the precision of a rifle bullet. This was tilio form and frame hidden behind such a mask of bored manner and faultless attire as could only ho. assumed hy a Scarlet Pimpernel in his leisure moments. Be --a_ truly a man to to

feared, and Dr. Malsano had learnt, -J" I •bitter experience,' to run when Ins little astute enemy loomed on the horizon. The j recognition had'been mu.ual at the time of the stumble, and Herrion knew the doctor 'Was not staving in the Hotel , Royal for the cause of philanthropy. When Hie incident that produced the re-1 cognition had ceased to ..tract atten-1 lion, he dodged through a service door' Used by the stall', an.l. making bin way along corridors, knocked at an oilier- door. Kc-pondiiig to ihe imitation to enter, Ihe 5.1 i.l to the TO till.-, bald headed, lit'ili* j man. ensconced in a big .hair and fiir- } rout-led by ;i maze of'books and-impels j "IV.rgiic mc. signor, lor my brusque illI I ril-i-n. Have you the Harmics- V'.n I Sassniltz staying in your hotel':"

•'Ah, ln-.pe.-turl li is you. 1 thought j it was what you call the greased light- . ning. 1 don. know whether the Huron I e.-s yoll speak of is staying in the lintel,] luit'l will in.|iiire." and ringing a bell,] the jovial little manager continued.! 'You nee at Nice we have so many ' b.iions, count.--., the Knglish lords an.!! people with titles, and at the Royal." j .this he said with a whim-deal smile, "you j -cc. Mr. Inspector, we haw the creme de , la creme of what y.u call the haut ton, the best. society." ' | In rctspiuisc to a bell a man in livery [ entered, and will, Vac deference of an inferior. asked for in- j st ntet inn.- The manager, with an; austere manner lint c.intra.-te.l with; In- previous geniality, ordered. "Co to Ihe bureau ami ask whether the Karon ~-.- . wli.n i- ihe name, Mr Herrion':"' The mail started, and looked surrepti- ■ liou-lv at the detective. Herrion frowned, and said: "The Harone.-s sou _a«..niil.. s:_norV As the man elo.-od the dour to go on lus errand, the li*;«vt..r said. "I'm crry >ou disclosed mv identity to l ha: in.in. Who ':- he': Ha- he been lung in the -em c !,u the 11.1t.-I." I -All. I'm wry sorry. Mr Herri.m. 1 did ii'l think ii would mnt'.ct d-.wn Iptc |in this old ..Hi. I mine. .\_ain. Mr 1 11. in,ui. I -.••• iu> im-t ike. lam s .rry. ' The nio-ciigc. returned ami -.ml. "The I'.ir.inc-- you i- siniip.. m the hotel, -ignor. with her ma: 1. '.lo- Kr.uijlel.l Scllll, llcrV "Thank WUI." and, as Ihe man glared ~i th- .leN'c'V.ve a ..'inn, the manager re pi.lt... "YOU .all _ '." lleirion followed him t i th" door, and proceeded t.. talk In lie- U _!i:i_.T. Slid .lenly «b.'.lin_. he ..petir-1 1 he door and j h.iuVd from wit:..or. ihe m.- ''e'er.

"You were listening lo our t .'k . ul M.lc I),, >~v know lh:- man. -,_:....■" I ! ilon'l think Mm Hill (in 1 him a very good j -en.in: for such an ari-1... rat. • hotel j '" «!-■ ■--->«-.-" r , , I 'i he In;!'- manager rose from hi" chair and -aid iurioiL-h. "Co! l' . at oils', this I tell "y., ii. go, a.i.l 1 will .-.,■" to i! that you ,h, not slay :n Ni.v. 1 warn \.-u 1., leave the town, or 1 will .-c t. il lhat you J.in't trouble 11-." The" man :ittempted to .".plain, but the malinger of a Kiv.c-it hotel i- a. dvvpot in such riali.rs. and llic g.....l name of an hotel ir.u-t li"l be -ni:r. he 1 by an r.i feri'. r servant. When tl" man had .one Horn, n conlinnel his talk. "The ll.ir.mess yon Sa-.-niltz 1- very wealthy, .-.."i .r. and slie j.-arr;,'- v\ ill. "1..r jev.c'.l.'r.v lhat i- alnto-t j priceless. The-.- pe ipie ulio will c.mv j jew.ll-rv around with tb.lll are a great jtroubl. 'i ■ U-. lle-oie I ,minded in your nil,,,' I saw a man m th" foyer who is one 'of Ih" ni"-t accmpli-hed thieves m ! Kur-u.-. lb- i- n.t here lor a •_• 1 pur ~,se. Th..: in :i_-r v. in in 1 hauled. 15;..,- cere.i...,'... in: ■ V- '" '"- ■ - I have jr.-nsnn to believe, iv league with this ■ uher criminal. I li.iv.> -. .:. .. mill -'ilk |ing round a: nV-iil m the . ...fmie , t 'what might be the (.ttarti-r Latin ol .arm. bin he look- more Vke an \pa. lie. | nnd I strongly Mi-peel this is the «mi" I "-M.i foil Mr Herrion. but if th it h so. I and mv proprietor.- .no piofoindlv 'grateful to voi." ; -Well. :t .s. vi some .-en-c. the duty of ia I'o'icc for." lo prevent crime as well a- lo hum down n mils and hi ng then, t.. ju-ti.e. I ..'._■ im.i in N.- for jlius particular piece of work, but 1 -a w 'x chance of nipping this in-in's plans, and 1 hope 1 hi-." done il. 'Ih" re-: "f 111" I woik 1 leave to you. I bind i|..y. sig'lo: 1" i When 11 • • i-ri 11 hid 1' ft. the rotund little nun leant bae'- vi I.', "Hair, and laughed lo himself. "M.i roil Hot ivh-n i I was in London th" ero..|,s of S .ho. 1 llatlon Oardi n. and ihe ruber .platters 11H,|.|| t" 1-UL'll at the Knglish detectiv.s, I Willi their big boots, pipe, and vviiat Ihey ! .-all a skull cap. Ihit tin. man. Herrion. he'- what tliev call 'in another class.' I

I ( lIAiTKR X. TISK MYSTKUY <>'•' suMr, IHS.tri'K.IIIAM Ks. The Doctor, after his encounter with Herrion. hastily a-.-en.led Ihe main st.iit .-as. . and made hi- way to his room. I Hilda was in llic foyer talking to Sir | Raife Ruling! on. ' Willi ~ -urpri-mg :i_ilitv the Doclor Hung hi- belong n-.'-s in:,, his vali-es an 1 then scribbled a note. Hinging the bell he eill.d 1* t hi- bill, at the ..mi.' time instructing ihe waiter to band the note to Ml-s Tempest, whom he would find in the foyer. ■'Call Mi-s Tct-y.-t l.v saying that I wish to -peak t,, her. Don't hand her Ihe note in >:,« pie.-em-e nf Mr Raife." 'Ihe waiter, with i.i profound bow. witl-.il"-' lo obey the ; in-l ructions, slightly elevating his eyebrow.-. ■ A few more iru-lructions, and Dr. .Malsano left the hotel, 0.-teus'ibly for a 1 wir..ll along the Promenade dot- Anglais. I lie soon doubled his tracks an.l secured ;a motor-ear. Sealed in this lie donned | motor goggles of the mask type, atj ta.-lied to a. jaunty looking cap. A _ai!y coloured silk millller from bis overcoat 1 pocket, xvith the other altera': ions he had effected in his r.Mim, completed a I transformation that had converted the I soml.-e personality into a somewhat ilia, by-looking tourist. The modest lugJ gage was easily negotiated, and a trail iuf while dust. iv. all that remained ol , the courtly old doctor. Hilda's conversation with Raife vvas

interrupted by the arrival of the discrc-. waiter, who invited Miss Tempest lo meet Dr. Malsano upstairs. Raife looked lovingly at her retreat ing figure. As -he disappeared behind a marble pillar 'he saw the waiter hand her a note, which she hastily sccri-tcd in her bodice. I His hcaTt gave a. desponding throb. What was this fresh mystery? Why was the progress of their strange courtship to he jarred by a scries of uncanny siirprisis? He rose from his seal and crossing I be foyer glanced up as her 11 -,iascending!v beautiful, 'but fragile, form swept -with a stately grace along the landing. She stood for a moment and started to read the note. Then, catching sight of Raife. she lowered- if to her side and continued her .journey upwards. More torture. Why'did she disguise the note 1 ? What c_n have 'been the cryptic, contents? Raife was enthralled with the subtle charms of this wonderful woman creature. Yet all his judgmenil. kept telling '.him that their course could only lead to I tragedy. A score of times a day he tore bis sou" in sihrcds by as-iog himself I fatuous questions, to which he could find

no answer. TTc was impelled wll_i the fascination of a will-o'-the-wisp, and dilda was the spirit that danced before bim night and day. <iilda reached the retirement of her room, and then read the note, -which said:----i "11. of .. V. is here. i have gone. | Join mc as soon as you can at < . If iwc fail to met there or at Ii , meet I 'L. in n week <ir two.

Haunted and hmitcl. deprived of all real eonip.niion.liip save 'that of this •-.inspirator criminal, who culled himscll lier uncle <i,lda's courage tailed for a brief while. Falling on fo tbe lounge, covered with daiutv dimity. which was at tbe foot ot tiie lied she 'must, soon vacate, this fragile girl, whi-fe nerves lind flood her in "iin.l stead so many times, sobbed. Yesl hunted from place 'l«> place. Hunted hy fear of - Nemesis ..at .pursued relentless! v. When 'ihe entrance ball was practically deserted and the dining halls -were crowded, a tall figure. I cloaked and shrouded in a motor veil. j crept down the stairs and entered a ear in waiting. Inio the mysterious night, 1,,.1ite s-lowdv and silently, the car forged I its way. Hilda did not krfrtw where she was going, and bad merely said to the jc!i-u!Te.r: "Drive on slowly until 1 tell 1 you to turn.'' |" The tiendi-h iruilignitv of an aoeomI plisbed criminal has formed Hie subject ■of much moralising. Criminal:* of the itvpe of Dr. Danilo Malsano are. forlun'.iiclv. Tare. Their astounding gift.. which tbev use in a distorted form. make detection ililli-'Ult, and escape 0a..-y To his mind- it did not appear brutal to involve a beautiful young girl in a nest of criminal intrigue. A day or two after the sudden die-appearance of uncle and niece, Ihe mini little town of Rordi ghera was mad.- more attractive by the ! IV'iirc of a wistful looking girl, who gated ~'cros- the deep blue sea. l'ordighcra

.').„■. not possess the fashionable and ex-j ;rai.ig.mtlv g-w m-1 appearance of Nice. There >" ; "-s "'' g':'-t'T. less of glare than i n ~,,-t of the towns, of the Riviera. Hilda bad c .mc lure hoping to attract no'attention by rex-m of the compiirat'ne ol.sciiritv of the place. In-lead of st ii ing at an hotel, she bad found lodgiii"s ,n an ..Wore ntreel. for the fust time -he felt a sense el pence i'l hex life, ai'.d. away from her uncle', baneful inuu-noc a le-t..rc.J l'rc-lin.-, was intern., ln-r very being. She .-at gii-in. a.'..— M...1 beautiful h. a nilh i'.s blue Mirfa.e necked by rippling streaks of liir.|.i"isc or purple, or deep ,'n.erald. a- it- « ilMrniK deplhs were .fleeted l.v a brillianl sun. The .iislant smoke t'.ia't trail-! in Hie wake of i*o:nr ~,,,„,,.,. , t . ;l . ~;.,..• 1,.,,,' 'train:.".l" Ihe world arc'id or of an Orient liner thai was e-.nvcv.i.g '■':"'-'' rul " l ' i ' ' t! "' far aw.iv port ion- of our l'asteru Umpire. I,i'l i i til.oi -i.t of I-itle and his mad '~,..um for b.r. She wished to t.-ll bun I ."ul—at '.-.is. -11 s'.e ki. w. she fell that L'ne .-mid h.ud'y tell how much she. knew nor did she know how much h" ~,,1.1 t,.|| she did ro.-t.s" that she had ~,„,,.,! 1,,,., '~,.■'.>. but win had he follow, d and di-c .icr.sl in.* She wa- not

to blame fur the l.nav.ri.s of ber mice. Minuld si lid it all by th.s sll-.ri. sharp road to .1.-..'h- Itou-ing herself Horn I hi.- reverie, (.'.Mi [• f: the seat with the wonderful view, and -aunler.-d along a winding |iath emb iw.red with foliage. \- -h" turned ll.e 1. ad of the pathway she «i,w in fionl of her. on a jutting headland, an elderly lady and a juun; nun. l'hev. in turn, were ga/Jtig seaward. The young man of t.wl.y is more dar ing in il'-- ro-liinie. and di-|.lny.s more in .li.iduitlitv than those ~f a generation , ... It was not hard, ev.n al this <lit,„ c. of a lew hundred yards, for l.ilda ti. I'eco-ni-e ll.lll'e lleuilll'Jlon si am ling ~:i the |littins r .ck wiili bis mother.

The young man. who had .jn-t inherited i lr ,'...,i0, au 1 a handsome income in 'ira.ic circil'.iistance-. was ca.-y to ideiv

l.tv. \\ .tii a lineage dating from Henry \i| . -mil lh • later p. ri"d when Nr H.-i.rv Kevniiiigtoiine was Cliam-cllor to i inc. n l-izabeth. and men'- fashion? mallei m costliness those of the women. ~ w.is natural that Rule should pos

-,-- j.id'.-.tent in such matters. ( % i.iccii Kl:/abeth has been counted the ,no.-i extravagantly dres.-ed woman of all lime unless il 'may !»• believed that tlie I'ueeii of Sheba '.ilTecte,! a similar ex Iravagan.e. 'Ihe pictorial souvenirs ol Ihe nslmiv< of th" later t.i.ieon arc more reliable 111.111 these of tbe days ot Sheha. but it is not an important point to decide. Tin nturies ilia', haw elapsed since the brave days of Drake. Frobisher. and Hawkins, and lie' other bold admirals who founded the British Umpire, have in due.l a comparative druhncHs m men's c|,,thitl_. nnd a severity in style.

Much of this ha.- ln-en altered in these liter years by imaginative young Americans, who have learnt to deck themselves ~ul more elaborately iv cravaterie. Jio-ieiv, and general lingerie. Whilst new-papers devote columns to Ihe cut ol suiting-, and the latest form oi .-hoe siring, or the brim and iVathored tuft that should rule lh" form of an Alpine hut. Tluve despi.-cl and minor c-onsidern-t'iiuis now concern the youth of Britain and ll .nt incut of Kurupe.

Sir Unite Remington, Hart.. pos«cs«ed always the correct judgment in such matters. lie alb-wed his tailor, hatter, hosier, bootmaker, and what not just

lb,, correct latitude. They should, and did, oiilv supply him will, clothing that ~.nti>n-ed suflicicntly with the fashion ~f the moment, without displaying au

outre taste. If coloured socks were de riplenr and i, vurielv of tints in shirt and eravate were the order of tbe day. the general c'l'e.t should be cotuforni-ble to the liat of his trade-men. without being conspicuous In short, Kail'c Remington wis a will-dressed man. and bis line, athletic 'figure displayed to p-rfedion the clothes he adorned. Oilda Tempest saw lUife s form in the distanve. and tbe old spirit of dread and unrest returned to her with an added fury. ~ .. Where should she go! How could she leave Bordighcra without l*citlg discovered X l_i'»if«* or his mother? Where also "was the dreaded H. ol SY' Turning in the beautiful ivithwav, she hastened, with drooping „mi back over the dill's, and sought the seclusion of her oliscure lodgings 1.1 the buck part of the quaint and quiet I old town. 1 on" she schemed and planned for a wiv out of the difficulty. All the soothino' reflections of the afternoon had gone, ■ami in place was the renewal of trouble, unrest and danger. _ The darkest hours of night and trouble precede the dawn Hilda, in the throes of ber anxiety. Ira-cd into space. She -was awakened (mm ber li_l.f-ila.od thoughts by a discreet tap at the door. Her buxom. I beaming-faced landlady entered, and asked the young "-iocs," the sigiiorni., would she like an automobile ride, in the I beautiful evening time? Tlie signorina

looked pale and tired and it might do her food. The chauffeur of the Count, I.yonessc bad invited ber and her husband for a ride, and if the young "mees" would nceompanj- them all would be well. The Count had gone away for a week and all -was safe.

This was the streak of dawn wliich tapidly became daylight, as (lilda saw her chance to escape from Bordighera in thi guise of a peasant and accompanied, nay, safely chaperoned, by thee good, simple folks, who saw no barm in a joy ride in the automobile of the absent fount. She must persuade them to take tiie route by the <V>l di Tcnda through the long tunnel north into Italy, then to (unco. I.f she could induce them to

fetch" ('unco, how could she give them

tbe slip? She had left the bulk of her trunks nt Nice She must dispo-e of papers, but folks who live like Doctor Malsano and Hilda Tempest don't preserve incriminating documents. How could she give them tlie slip at rim.fi" "11. of S.V." would not follow her. lie would follow her UlK'lc—if he could. To be continued, Saturday next.