THE BROKEN THREAD

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 193, 14 August 1915, Page 20

THE BROKEN THREAD

BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX. | A.u-I'or -if '-The Bouse of Whisper*,* i ■The Day of Temptation" etc | CHAITKi: XXV. j ?;;: raife ukmin<;t«i\. baronet , AN 1. I'.t tti. I.Alt. The :ty da-" of \ .Tea.lies and all tho ] vv,..- ..-'•.- on- ;.i:i.r wh.-h • -1.,. ...mj '.' -'I- -i nomeiitous is-ciu-lon. 11: ■'.- :.i.. - "ii il - - ill. ■!-- v '" v belli.'. \wi- : . '.is. le iead.r.g part in t-ie v: ■• Th. . were -iC.in-.' in the ri.u in the Rue v.a- readm-' s'tl.e l'.ng.i->h nevv-paners. Maisjf.ii w.i- iireset.t a:: 1 Uenolr o<. 1Ptei ~ eh.i.r. 'To-morrow wa.- the day. .: rather the night, tha; ha-1 been de morrow Raife wa.- to descend to t.ie den ho: complete cr:me. It was idiotic. he was impel:,-: by a s r.v--.!"tn.nanl v it: v hich -o' '. : -■-! t• a 1 -un thai '.? io :!■: not avoid 1 :■ . talked togoth-r an.: ..>c:is-,si all t >.. details of the • itfair"." C:i,i.i left the p...n0 and sat i. ,■ |v :n a <na., \\< k 7 nt'iid wac not ),^ r own. .-imply obedient t" tbe v\Pi <>i Mil-ano, she there and looked at ! XUtie. '■■■ "i'c person w~o . .uhi tarry hcr'r.'Ti the th:•■.■*• ■ ' her pr-.-ent s.tua , a*;.-,c. Katie wa- inert. He .a : i.■n.i.s .naUim-rd !'} the env-iroamei.t that; l.a-l i-utrfil him .i..*:i from i ..-'h po-. tion t < hat • ■:' .i eotirn n ■ r.mina*. Ma! aajio t-jnib-l w.th I Tiden.e of a pra. i'sed . miiiu! !•" -ii 1 l>''!i" r iia I ira-ie ther -om:, :. »h,-h K-i.t- Had miThear 1 at the " - lorY room.- in the j'.ue MaJtnaUon. W.th the c .mpUv.eness •hat .:." ompan.c.: a.l his plan.-. Ka.ic IU-ni.:i_-t."n- sacr :i. •• was assured. A tsir.wrraph in t.ie newspaper arrested h.s aiientioa. It r- id -Tie m;> --•■:- disappearance of SL- llaic ' P.emintnon Hart, about ... -ear ago. na.* • i !■• • »■' ..us ,-Wi.at.oris U will '"' r.'li.otv .'-eeiJ- It Iro rl'l .1 IHK ket Wis sl letter, a-pparent v «r: ten ... the .:■ that -- P-a::"-' Itere.urr.on ha! commute! Mil. ..ie. \ paragraph apt.--ared ,n t.i "Par..- i iiUiO-t'ot tin ' New York '.bral..:' -am.- .mc ai"> t-' tii" etT- : tti.it -ir Ka :'.- had b :'. Mar- dies for the I uited >iat,es. 1). '..••-..\e-lnspe>tor Hern..;, a.er'.alne.j that 'hi- pirn-raph iia.l been ■nse-te.t ':•'. a meruteT • ! a 2-i::2 oi '"on doubt that either the Ma.-..n-t ha- •■•m: "n."-t--'i suicide or n male aw.iv w;te. "lli- esrate-s are <\;eu.-,ve and t:i.-re ar- ■ ~tir bcati.ins as !■• t :.•• .1 <-po-.t ion ('■ aft.:::- I: is rumoured t.-.at Aldboroagh w'e.i.-h has b.-.-n t...- r i™- "t rfte Kemin-i-.0n.-, " m'-nstouiies - - ,„,, -he days •■: t:.e ludor,. will be Vii. ■■■i on t.ie market for sa .- as t ie anlincient 'stronet-me :- mt.* rv-.tt,t ».tu ::,.. death o: Mr Ka::- rb-mj-toi:. ' to .- lil.nd. ar.vl he reaii-ed. ' r a w a:l». -~. madness of hi.- prose, ta. I: to.. M^l -i:i'- presence .va.- - .ll'i. r"' to alter t.:-- , a 1 •.:' his nut..-., and the r.-.bt aas a - . H,. face." ii" . -o—-1 ; •■■ roorr. ami •ik ;." .i ::JTi'<'- "f i, :,i.-iir "■!.•.--■•-- and a. d-i-aV.er from a sale ».ard he li.ied til-.las-e.. Ilai.ne .i«r...led one to ea h »-r-on. he .Iraiik :n .1 dehonair manner. - - : ;o the crime t., i>e eomm.tf.-i'" M,„no sm.ie..!, !■• n -:: sneered, and i i-i.i i a meed. iere were tour ring? of an ebvtru ;,. ; ■■, the r 'o-n ::. wh,. i tlie.v s.lt. 'I ..' '■ w.-. .- :.htrn. sharp and :n ra;.»l -v- • — , ■■-. The tun- au-u .■ apt to hetr :•-- ---... .; n,., ;,. for i o e\tra e\ t "I tin- tlal

1n - danger -i -ma ' ad !.•■• n v. ■ 1 ;.'. ir .ne.i '.- Ma-lino • r ■ m.-riren :■■-. ,v a I details ..1 tic r a. tion- I ad o'-.-n r tn.m a beaiitil'ul. -niartlv dad (fir! mt an j-I'd ■ r.,ir. w. ar :.z the him <•••«■ -..- ', and white apron o: female s"iw • ~j. She had her-'y rumpleted tr t-an-formation when tiie outside be _~__. .•.-,.,. tunes. Miat. h.ng up a broo -•... .vent 10 the ~oor. I -mc wa- there, hreathles-. 1 i"-'r.-ed accents he ?asped: "Arc fm -. r.-. er have they i?,,,,,.': That !>Mo' !terr-...n. the Kualish del.-t \e. of >.o in I \.n,l. !u- cha.-ed mc. 1.-t n t:,:ou.'h and away quickly Mam'sell I ~o:••- 1 h.:.e not fr./hten.d you, but i, Ida hud <-los«l the door qiiiekTy. ai ~. .•(■••ipan-d la-igne to tin- -it I e\i A- iie v.ent out. ie.,v in _' <,:hia aim a-.'. :n "t« f.n .• the ni'isic." he h.»w< j_'ra.. m ; :.'. an i. with his hand or, ': heart, winspered: "Mam'-ellc. v , ..ur di.-irui.se is perfe. l-',.-:i ,-o you -t.ii look iieautiful —e'nart ante!" "i .va? tha.» mat Cibln fa.-c.nated a ■a i.urn -in- met. \loiie :i the fi.it. a' ■-i.il .1.i.-iL'er tbreati-ncil anl inin'men

- ■• remained < *jl. gui-kly -he dis liiroed the furniture, are! made it cvi .:-nit that -i:c was swivpin ■ and dnMin_»' th. roo-i;. \\ it .un a minute there via- a tit'U "i lie ii.!! I' wa.- the r;n_.'she had . \-pc-ted and pr.-r.ared f„r. The "old ."on. ripe:ie| th" duor and v.as coniront",; ~_v Detect,-,,- In-peetor Herrion' .md ar.o'her mar. J'he other nun an ! am an a.-,..,, ~, r , Vn:l iunr a mm In re-a man ~.: ! I, >i? .„, N .. v ,. r l'i:'.d -v i.at ii.- other name- are. I ruu-t • nier. Wh. n- i- he? Tell „,e al om-e. or ,t will :." tc" v or-.- for you. V"un.lerstar.d in-. :■■- ; ,,,u'" (iilda tremi.-ii | ,-, iih », :i .--'.mulated anprehension, -tammi ring. "Mais noli. Monsieur. There is no one here. -r. 'J'his i- the flat, tiie apartment of Monsier WnaeUc. I a:n alone cleaning ihinir-i up. Uut et:t'-r. sir. and you shall The two police officer.- entered, and ,-"ar iif 1 e.ieh ruo.-n. Tn the front room Herrion notice.! the four liqueur jfla-sse-. an! the decanter of cognac. Approacain<2 the table on which they stood, he h.-ld one oi the gla-ses ir. his hand and remarked: ">■ . sol Monsieur Ya.belle has had eompanv. Who has been visiting .Mon-si-tir \aMielh-? Tell mc." Hilda prutp.-tej. "Indeed, sir, 1 do no! know. Monsieur Vachelle lc:t early this m .ruing. 1 think he has gone to ta< country, but I do not know- for certain Why should he tell me'.' 1 . Jm on ] y ken to ..ban and tidy his rooms. Monsieu. is a gentleman. I am only a servant." I Herrion stared bard at her, saying "Ho Monsieur Vachelle is a gentleman is he. and you are only a servant." (Jilda felt tho force of that penctrnUn; glunee and stooped to dust a chair. Thtwo police officers were eventually satis lied tbat Lesi_jne was not there, and a for Monsieur Vachelle, they' knew no

thing of him, good or e%il. So they de- ■ parteiL When they were _e, n e Gilda t collapsed aud wept bitterly. i ■ The pleasures of Paris continue a through the day aud nijiht. London is a almost a silent city at nijjht. except tor | ' the traffic of l-'leet Street, the Post, " dlliee. and the market-. Paris .s the;'' idea-sure cite of the world, and it does, not atliact notice that people should be. •_ wanderine- about in the small hours of - 1 the morn as. There are not many dark I 1 hours in a June n"_-ht in Paris. The J i Avenue or the I liamps is wide.. . and well lit. <»M the llii'lit ot the fun-j i template.! burylary there seemed to be ' : more th..n the u-ual number ,>f p.-opl. ' about, and the lour person.- nho .-ami . tered up and down, ir.vaitin- oppor • I tunity. w -re kept on i:ie tenterlne-k----ot expectancy rather longer than they had expected. At lenslth mere; .vas a lull ii I i.c t-railic. and Kaii'e entered the lia-ement. and prepared a' sea'.inir ladder thai was to lake him to] the window immediately over the great Iron: door o;' the man-ion. I; was. a ,-orner hoa-c. and Raife's objfCtivc point; ,-oilld only be reached by means ot a gutter-pipe nhuh w.md lead him to al IV end window > mud the corner. It, was a jeopardous undertaking, and vailed for ail those quali'.ic- tha: Dotor Mait-ano had liatierinjy'.y endowed Haife w.th. Hand ..ver hand he .-retit. swavin? to and fro from the insecure aml creaking pipe -vncii threatened tol ■_'ive way under 'n- weight «»f twelve I : -tone of lithe and living humanit.v. As he progressed bit by b.t. foot by foot. hi- nnn-1 reverted to (ill.la's dexterous I by ;h.-si.k rope from the h.ir.irv a: Aldborou-h Park ;ul ■ :he -uadow ..:' , tne r :..,: ..!. ii Iron 1.u.-h.-- 11.-ui-atii him were -piked r...:.n'_'- and s one pave ; niriit. The thoug-.i: of Hilda, at mat, gri'-'i '.::..■' pip<- loos-ne,!. He -m I round, and. aero-, the road, he descried lilhla. with hand- . lasped and a look >. mrror which was plain to him under t he rt.ekermg le.'ht. in .-pi - ~i the disjfuis-, >;ie wore. Almost a: hi- fc: were Ma! . -lino and Den...r. aU'i the expression on t.i.ir -.ipturnel faces was even more manifest. It was ma'.-voh-nt. a cynical -n.-er. With a tinal elTof K.iil'e reaihfd the window, nnd lowered h.:ii-e.t to thbalconv oit.-ule. I.v a we'i-con-hler.d :irr.in-"e:-.,en: the window yielded ea-..v The b ill -'. 1 -l-i 1' and he enter ■!. H-ida and 'he 1V.,1."': I.adv I'.eni injrt-n sat on .lie terra., of Park on a warm, sunny at'tern mil. early ,:i June. The beauty "of tin -ue that eonirontei them w.i~ only saddened by the recollection of Itaite's itievp... able ' ;ne -cent >t mjriad b:.».--onis. v. I:tea emanate! from a ». i tii of colour 1.-uig ' rows of lose tree-, ii v.l r.i ngea ' .m.i.i, Sreraniurrrs. misnione::.-. ar. 1 a * -...-•• oi -.veet perfumed tlower-. :n:ntr:-l in the aromatic wave that ii iatej ...i the -■:; with an as.-s;.in; la 1. mowed the lawn t.ia: i-I t'. the lake with the fountain ! ,:i the centre. The -undia! '"1 t!:< 1 time ■■: -lay as it hi 1 s p „ken with ..- - in -had...' to :'.ic previous genera f..n> ' The _rree. russet, r-d of •h- h.aw • d ' *al'.-. •!:.!.- • I w,:h the . v that har J bourn i a multitude •■• bird-'. < lemati '■and v.i-.ena bler.dcl blo—om, liul :1 .v.,-. i have '.i-n.-i it painte I. v-» lu.r '• ::: .nise iin ::i:- - . :o- o! _•'. -ri.u;- na' ire Tin- v..ck ,n the . opp.-r i apped turret " in the -,a.i> '..ii ! strii.N four, and KJx » son. tae ... I i>:i- '.■:-. : ■;. ,we ibv a maul. '■ brotii'ht te... l: ufe's mother ha 1 .ije I. J and iter :.a:r wa- eo-upieteiv white. Her " :a c -jj. pa'" ip. J ;hin. a': 1 her :ianl- "_ tremble 1. Hilda, the briffhi. .-ourage oti* American -_'ir : . w:-.,. had i.:.-:■■ : ••:.-. , domain a year a ; . with all .te- happi •j tie-- in frun - ii.' tier. «:i ' mjintaine] her ■ .urn-. . but •:,. - re.s ~f ti- inaoiub'e , ' iny.-tery. »hich had r .one 1 her of her hu-ban i. told even on her l're. _ \.>jri" .' :■••. I n. two -.vomer, had U-'oiii- ~-, . —parabie '11,,- zreat di--ra-e h.,d .v.- I '.!-I tiu-ir natures ::■■ .an in lis-o.uble

triend-hip. Tie-re ,v...- a .-.::,;.'.■ -v-u . urrvi-v. th.v faced „■ pr .i.e-m '■!::', . ha I vvrc ke I the r live-. \\ h-r- wa- ' Ka.''. ' \\ ha- mv.terio.;. ~_;,.„. v 1,., | i.ucel a !••■. ma mot ier of her - .-. ,' " bride o.- h.-r liii-h.ui I, an I AM....- m-li ' : , I'..rk o: :'- iuiiij ma-t.-r lhe -, mda. wis I .r";..::..), in (.nnd n " where -. .■,,(,,; ni.i-t he hotly -erved .iav I hv J.i v :arou_jh the medium of a ne-.vs '' paper, or fociefy journal, hut :: was II not for_iot:cu in thi Tunhri.k'".- i'•:■■ ii daily talk anion- the tenant.- and r--li. un.rs ..: Aldui.r.»;i_.'h -v-ra - of Raife'n disappearance, and speculation was rife v as to the fu;ur.-. Kdiison. the old n- ._■ t.nn-r. vv.i- a sufferer vi a -omevviiut , -imilar sense t , tha- which atl'ected |P Hilda and Kaiie- p...ther. Hi- pride p had been severely hurt. and the f.-r lt van:-' hail was no longer ruled with his j rremal. but unswerving, .-'ay. ri l Mr. T,vi-se«o,,d. ot the Blue Roar, -lis-.'.i-.-.-.I the -itua'ion with hi- customers ' a: iiiL'Nt liiiie over "tots" of rum and , whisky. and fiaminj; muss of Kentish .' a'". He was faithful to :l nl. and did Hot iliv-luse any confldeuee< as to r tii- old White Room. Tin-, then, was tin- situation. The '": owp.r of AldlmroiiL'h Park and £20.0(K) ~ ■•■ year iiad entered the mansion in the •' Avenu- .1— f'ha nips Kly-ees. in the dead

of nitfiit. a.-i a coniinon burglar. Impelled hy the fascination of a woman who rverci-.-d a mysterious and baneful influence over hi- career. Always in the ha'-kground wai the malevolen- fipu.-e of Doctor Malsano, thai evil omened person, who thrived on' villainy anl lived on crime. fHAPTER X\vr. t't.iN'i'U HON. MaUar.Vs reven_r.. wa- n"irlv com- j r.'.ete. Raife .vat- no.v hopi-le--|v eom-|.'oni.r-ei|. i reepinp f-tealtinly alon„r a corridor, he entered the library, and. | •ith all tiie skill oi a practised hand. ;.r,.cee,lel to rill, a imreau. from v hi. Il \tra.t"! note- and jrold. Kevplliiij,' in the weird e\,-it"ment of the deliasinj,' ■ i. In- ascended the staircase, and i opened the door of a bedroom. It was a room, and he was confronted hv a subtle p.-rfume which was familiar ,t, him. Where ha I he met that perfume heron . lie stood on the thcshold i.nd bi-.itateii to perpetrate a. further nustariily ,1 l i,y enterins the room. It was evidently a woman'- room. Raife ■was not aeiiu_r „• |~s ,-,,,.„ uilition. A stran-e impulse .-untrnllH him. and he I was not ma t.-r of hy actions. There ! was a soft light diffused, revealing a .large, four-potter 1,,-d. r;irtaini-.| in pale t.nted dimity, .lie would have thrashed I another man to the po.nt of death for iisueh an action a.s he wa- now "uHtv ;| o;'. He approac.h«d the bed. and. puliin"' .aside tha rurtain. wa« stricken with . horror to behold his wife—Hilda—sleep. r.inr: peacefully. He stood spellbound, unable to move. A ghastly look of terror l.'and rtmorse spread ov*r his face. H'.s features were distorted, and [•his athletic frame convulsed with emojrjtion. The event* of the last vcar ci crowded hie mind in a tornado of shame. .I Each second was an eternity of mental s suffering. Hilda lay there sleeping, her .[beautiful cheeks suffused with a delicate

"low. Her soft brown liair fell in clu-3- T tor.*, enhancing the charm erf this picture] t; of exquisite innocence-. liailVs mind y was in -a state of hideous torture. Slowly and softly lie withdrew from the room, f, and descended the staircase to the lib-, „ ran. He approached the bureau - his j : wire's bureau I hat he had ransacked. L and restored lhe stolen money. Withi c howed "Head lie crossed the hif» hail.l dazed and scarcely realism- In- actions.], Softly he opened the iruni door, ami' passed out into lhe niflht. j Before Mr Re-iinald I'onieroy Muir- j: head returned to I lie I'nited States he' v fultiiled ins compact, and endowed Hilda a with a substantial fortune, 'lhe stress j,, iri events had told heavily on her and| Knife's mother, and. yieldin? to Hilda'-. | persuasion, she had rented the furnished j mansion in the Avenue ties Chump* ~ Klvsees. She had hoped by mean- of ', sic h a .li-tr:ic:i..;i to Ulrr- the:: minds oil the -reai trouble. j i t Pete-the hispe.-'or Herrion was n. _. forceful man. and he had set himself t he j , ta-,k of finding Sir Haife. the missing . baronet, and he had determined to run . .Mal-ano u> earth. < )n the day -when lie ■ , had let Lesigne -slip through his ringers i a: Kane.- ilat in the Hue l>afayette. • Herrion had a suspicion that he had . been tricked by the innocent-looking old lady, who appeared t-> be so busy du.-,t- , ii:sr out the apartment, 'lhe flat of Mon -s.i -ir Henri \ a.-he.ie was therefore kept under observation, but Malsano -was far 100 wily a criminal to be trapped easily. and the ilat was deserted, and the pan_» found fresh ,_uariers. Herrion was -it line; m h:s r,., :n __... the obscure litt:.hot, 1 ma; ),e affected, when the telephone bel! rune, and. removing :h- re .elver, he took .1 ll|.-.,ij-r to rhe elTe, t that ■■ he »oul 1 . ii) uj tn- pref.-,-: -ire. t.ieie a.ij, important ne.v-. awaititij: him.' Ha-tiiv sei/inz ln» li.it Iv started off "•' wa, met a- ti n-.rao.-.. by a ,er -•■.in. who said -- ; •\mi.-k. Mr Hen-ion. T think ue have found your missing •Baron.' Will you I come w.-h Tile to the Avenue "dcs <ha nip- Ry-efi!" \ t'\; »jr in w.i ; tii,_i .irtj they e U ler.-.i to_Jeth, -, \, the ar -l.ci ».,w ; i.-;„ tic famous Aye...,,, v,,. ~ r/eant told i Herrion. "Ue ha.,- received an anorr. :n- ;j„ letter -a;, ing that a buryUry w'l he ei.mmitte.i to ii. 'lit. 'lhe hou.se ."•, mi: rounded and it a- L.-I ->.-] fiat .t i» :!,. '_-.in,- of thai old .-.,,,,,:!:.•! Mal.jii' lhe iran-j .c .11 :' ir .-. and the cunning old -eprobate h.i- . :ioi»-n li:'' innate oi lai.:' lb minrftoti. who 1, the vi ife .■:' v ,v: t. .-e.n,' Mar.;::.' " Herr'.on ..is a« ut.-.|, ;,- s. Mr as th. a-tute dftivt.\e rapectur e\.-r allowed h.:r.seif to in rm h we-jkm *s ; W.th a Mn.ie of -ati-l'ai-te.n. tti. i t *I .- man remarked "I: that man, Malsanv. s in this affair f.r Ileair-n - , r-ai.. don't !• t him c-i-upe It looks a- if .Ye j> li for a ireezv time 1 have no po*cr i-er. aud I can only I ..,, .r. \!.:, i • men of .Malsan ■• (.'an_' >: . not ::.v. late t . sho ,t. - ~,.,t . n the !ea--.t sua p■• ''ii v 'io t tir.-t not t > k.ii. on \to lhe .'.-ndarn-.e I e.ke-1 a! Herri on. raj iff lij. ey.Srow- a- he .-aid "Munairt r Id-::.on. we shall n>t he unprepared. .ml .-. c a.-.- not so tender with our i. n.:.- .1- yoi "vn'.ltmen a, -.-,» the • hannel U. t ... have a «.,- re • j >-• tie ,i ,t , tin, M.i »ano. Vit I there ,» tat nt,o.t.-r *.>n:an »ho .-.-■ m- t., all ii c.- ! :..)»■ at t ie sa.r.e time. I have », .-n he: M,i :.. ' -h. ~ icver ml lieu r.if.il I ..." H m n r-pl:ed. i.s that is the w.., ; mi. vi.o 's re.p,. n s,b|e ;,,: -ir Ma ie K. - njt ■„, .:.,*i:tall. Mi ■.- .'..mj.--„ ... ..ut -he i- the lieeui an I til. t .id .-:' , that do, t. : >l|ow. Malr-auo ' 1 :.- t.i\: *t. ;.:..-d .it a corner of a . st:ee| i,,, : th.-. al ( /-.te j | yon ..: . ' u-.d the -r.-e-int ,i. pro.i -ii.-.J ea :i on- ,-■ ,i: .i t. 1.. and :.-1 . ■ tlieai *hi«j» - re>i ;| : :•■ uiiolli. n .. it I. - p.._ ilar t;. v it'i I . mil to . p .'-.'iii .in i lo parr ii iit■

I' '•' a II .' (•'' tii- an .nx ••.; i.-is lettet to t ii r»>h ■ *»- Ho.-t..r \t.ib>unu lit .:• li i iv .r i . I.| I w.i- . -if': t ll,_ v nil th" ilo-lorV ; . in-, an i Iv m.it be -■i . •'...' Murder *.i- ..nl.v r-f.-rl- i to ■ ■■ i h..- '.m n.il - ■•■in \:e\ a hi n all . Imrailed. It A-.u : !■•• n tr.umph to secure Knife's conviction .ml sentence ti .1 10r,.: '.i-ra I-"' imprisonment. Tin - term- of thi viniPtta won! 1 he carried out when th:- hate! Rriti<h aristocrat ua- a cm ■...ted Mon. In a .|i.-c I staf Raise h "t tin- man ►■■in and walk"! irtlo ti:.- mjjht. I ..Ma tr. m h.-r point of vantmzf ha.l watched an.- wait.-1 .ii ii i-tati- ■■•' :m\:.li from tti.- tinir when h.-r lover liail n:.i 1.- hi* pcriloti.s .-liT.t. alon" I He "fatter j.irw 1., the window tlinmjih ah li In- lud flli-.-trd In- intrv. ~he li.il felt, .(ur in? tii" lor;? wu:t until In- reappeared, tl-at -h" uoiii.l willinjrly have ihanjred pla.-e-=. vii> was accustomed to tlo-M----hazardous undertakings, and wa- inured •o the ii Horace of :t. Mnlsano and Men .ir watched at a .1:" tan.-", oa. i malie;mint'y confident ot their revenue. \ ? -.-en light flu krrr-.i in the Avenue. ami two cunt from oppo-tlc ilin "tiondashed uj> to tin- ho.a-.- thai. R.nf" ha.l just left. Four jr.ndanne* alighted from i>a-h car. At tin- same tirni' the front ,h,or of tin- man-ion wa.- opened, and tw> m> n bervants on dpslubillc apjiea-ed. Raife wa; called to h* M-ns-s. alert after the dazed condition which followed the sij/ht of his wife. '. v itl_» asleep on the hed in the room which I." had en tered at* a common burglar. Iv.o "on damn* made a da-hut him. II" drew j hi- revolver but hesitated to li c. lb , v.a» a burjjlai. hut some ->-n-c that re mained in him prevented him frorr [shooting a gendarme who was oniv .loin;! ha- duty. A pirn-ins *hri«*k rane througl ! the night. Th" gendarme, who felt In iwas threatened and in danger, tired at Knife. From n doorway where llilds ; had watched the commotion. s>he nisbn-.: with an astounding nwiftnes*. and wa> I in front of Raifr liefore that shot wa, 11ml. Two jrendarmes had thrown them Lfiv.-s upon Kail", but. with a violent ' effort, he threw them off and flung hirevolver far into the doorway. Hi dashed to l.llda. and causht her in lie arms. Idling her with a tierce passion "Oildal Speak to mc. Hilda. Why di< you try to pave mc! My life Ls of m awoun't, aii.l voiir- in so prc-ions." The ixilien stood around inert, as th. dviii" girl, in -hurt sentence*., •rus.pei her la-t measure. She told him of th[Doctor's treachery. H.-.v he had be j travel Raife to the police, she told 0 Deiioir's villainy, and that sli" had o . i learnt of their plot when it wis to late In stave oIT tho disaster. "Tliev did not tell mc until yon hat entered the house. It was then to late." Hilda's last words were. "Haiti I—l wan not altogether had. I love. \ou dearlx, I-U.it". Your father Killf. my father. Then; was the feil.'l. th vendetta, and we were mad" ti sillTei I should have mad' yo-.i a piod an hone-' wiio ii we could have 0.-capo the evil influence. God has willed i otherwise. Good-bye, dearest. Kiss mi

Then, then —50 to Hilda. Forjjet mc. I leo-jjo to Hilda and' be happy. If, yon think of mc. Raife—pitv nn!"' i.ilda Tempest, .the mysterious, beauti- j fill jrirl. trained to crime, with the] nature of an anTel. collapsed and died i in the nrnm of the man into whose lif**. she h-ad entered with such disastrous effect. . 1 In lhe presence if this, pathetic scene . the ue;. nt.- of _Kllii-e st.lml in silence. and vvilh what appear.-.l to be rewpect. At leiurth the upproaeheJ Raife. say 111 j{. -This is indeed a tragedy, monsieur, but il remains my duty to arrest you. Mou-ie.ir \a h-»lle. yon are under arrest." Three "/enda-rrnes approached. Uaife bowed. A silent figure had been an onlooker at this scene until now. De/tevtivcInspector Herrion approae'ned tne irroup and. speaking 10 the sergeant, .-.aid: "I'iiic (rentleman is >ir Raife K<.min™ton. lhe mUoing baronet of whom I have spoken to you. Thie is the house of bin wile. Lad_v- J don't tinnk there can be any charge. A man is not a burtrlar in his own house. J.ady Rem in_rton will make the noeeesary explanations.'' Tiie scared menaervflnts were still there, and. acting on Herr.un's instructions, they carried the lifeless form of • blda Tempest into tiie hall, that wa-s now brilliantly lit. Raife re-entered the house where, a short, while before, he had stealthily cnt-red a.s a burglar. The crowd of people which had collected oiitftide in answer to the revolver s'::ot and general commotion w.r.. disperse.:. .i:i.l the Avenue deri i liamps Klvsees re .-an:. I ,1 inur"' nnrm.il aspo. t. I).'|..;ne In.-pe-i r 11.-rr: in anproa. he 1 Ii- .-•■.-.'ealit and whispered. "1 v 1! he p re-j..ii:.-ii>le lor ,-:r Raife Rem:n_rton. Voj ma iru.-: mc. Don't |.-t that fi.lln'.iMaUan.i c-afe ; nu. lie 1- not i-ai 'j) ay. \mi in.l \ tie -:ir. ." Th.- r-ere-eant smote ii.- .-he.-t, n.-. That will X- all n-jht. Mr Her r-.-ri I h.iv-e arranLi-.i for that. You rn.t; be Mire he ls .-.11 • • I_v with Us 1} The arrest ~f !)„etor Malsan 1 m not ciiectci without trouble. He an. lien er. w.in they heard the rev .:\e sn-,: and 1.1 I -j'., ';.:■ -m - sdre-h. mad. I'leir »H\ .li'.VU t"i Side str.'.'t lo '.hi re..t..r -ar that » ; i.- viaitm-.' i..r ti.-.-m Th.-, ,c.,. _,„ :. tI . !,,»,!,.• for th--1». lor v..,-. ,„ ~ „.,,„•, I„ >lrl ..„., :,.,, »v 11 ;.' lard. In >.. :inxiet\ 1.1 . .111, h-t ti" ■. ■. w:, •'.»' 1~; lU'fe and secure !:: 1 arte-:. ;,•■ Jul ■; \.n tiie p ,_. ■~ f , w \ ■ -.ir.ii:.- i: ,- th. , r plans :iad 1 11 skil I .b> :.l d .' :t I ,1 v;e„ [~ .- 1; .;;, r ..,- , ;a'i.'. not an inO'Vidiul. There v.ao . ..urel. an I t - ~: I man :;- .1 .v t f'.e IU"; Of .1 '■' • I 11' I en '~' Wa m..re .urili ..ut. ue. \:a!-an.. *R.i» a last se.-u-,. 1. Un ii.- res., ir.-e ihnoserM I him to t er I IVimlii. :-.- ---: h.ai re n-iriv ~ 1 ; .:, .wail .v:- '•* ■•nnl.-nt. •■: r ■ \ ~.!„ k. v v.ir hi iw i-ent it il.m- ;., ;.• ~r. I: le t'. 1 ~-i iie m in. Want.-.i in ..a : 1 ei!n> ut X m.,.i h - .-..vv i, ts„n -.• .1- 1.----i -urel. lie del 11..th n.» r.inr.i- P.. , a !'•••> n: ut . ':■ w ~ .!.., ! _•,-. ...,-.;,, a er.niiiul. lie hi!, \.t;i-: all ':.- t j .:■• , in |"c dire. !..,!, ~> _•-., . ,____, I. , ... _ : ever one ,v.!;i VV'lriin h .all- 111 ciilll.l cr.n.e oj sa- ; ;ti, t- c- :.'.■ ..;' j [ .. a :t !: '.-iv...-! .|i»;.<n.itionei j rl to h - crm i ■; ■- re :,ii- ,il ...itteti -.u:i. K.|uall.. e.-u, . aa- th. i.al jnii:' .-; irit :. whi, Ili :' ; earned n th. lirtr ,1 vendetta a.'a 11- ---, and ii- not lorn ..t the t.oii v h.-n I. cra/y . i-.e was male. 1111-la had been ,;.,-t:;rj,.| hv the eon ■ .!r-s«iri2 ;n.i!i. and d ~ -ciii- I th. -ta. ■ ( ■a-e v. t:, ah ;:..- . ~u,a •>■ ~1 h, r h .!.;■ ' strunr; s.-l:'.-e'.i.mt i.at.ire I h. -c.-i ' that .-..nf-ont-d c- j.i. , ,', u'at : I

1-v t.i. neri... of fie .tro-o-.-M. 1 he ' del • S I. l.il !., I. -~; ,-|. „,,, 1- ~;_- „__ j <I i in.'.- n tin iint:. ~- t ~ br.il until ' :r hall. 11. : not-riii .1 fine w,. ,',f I na-hle iliiies- ;m J its >\i.:iti »a r ! :nten~:ti-d •;. an -xp----- n of perfe. t i pea-c l.'aif. . Hilda', hu-oanl kn it :..- ---• ire th- l/'.-lcss .igi:-". T.vo g.-niirmcsj -t ie: "nth ,v. 11,-rr on < -, ■...-. | the | hall, anl advanced tn re cue l.a;_, |;«-ni I ington. and addres-.-d her ' "I.ilv Herr. nirton liicr.- iij_- hern a terribl" trag.-.!.. Will you allow m. to tall, to you Mimewhc-c anl "tplain matters to you? I think I can rr.aKc a •iiffi. ul; -itn.it on mn.-e ca-x. ' Hilda wa- ipnte .aim. ami. addrcfiding on" of tbe m"ii-e-v.,nt .. -ad. "Turn on toe lights iii this r..oni. tome ;n, Mr I Herri,,n. and t. 11 n. ." With all tie- grace o' iiann"r that he 1., tins wonderful ilete-tiv., il-r '-on toll tin- ,1,,-v. ar he had urn tribe! | it. He pleaded for Hade, and told ... 1 the e-.traord nary icllucn f the man Mal-ano. He explained that Kai'e had , lint bee:-, responsible for his a.-tion-. land that a mad. uncontrollable passt-u ! had led him into to- most dan.'iroui j-.|tu itimiK. lb- added: "Uidy Kerning ton. in the interests of all. let. mc ni«k-t jcarnci-t y begot you to try and overlook I these .iistressing ocurrenecs. Sir Raife 1 has not been conscious of the happen lings of the past year. He w.ll be \er.v .ill. slowly be will recover, and let mc lliope that the sadness of these events will Ibe forpotten. If you will leave ;t to mc I think I can hush matters and smcoth thing*- over. Th.- woman. Hilda Tempest. hrave her life for Sir Raife. He mortuis nil nisi bonutn. I hope. Lady Reming- ! ton. yon will not think I exceed my ' pi'xilege. whpn I beCf of you to forget I the past." | I.adv Hemington looked at thif extraiordinarx little man. Then she held out iher haul to him. saying: | "Ycr. Mr. Herrion, 1 will do as. you 'suggest, and 1 thank you. You are a '.sterling good friend. You have done mc !,i great service and I will never forget." i Seated on the terrace at Aldborough I Park xvere two people. Raife's mother 'and 'Hilda. Playing on the lawn was a flaxen-haired little boy, with three puppy dogs. They were rolling over one another latter the manner of pupp.v dogs and I children, with that complete abandon and understanding that belong to them. IA tall, handisomc man. with white hair 'and slightly bent shoul-dVrs. surveyed the scene with a satisfied .-mile, smoking a pipe the while The events of the j terrible .«ir when Raife Remington was I dragged from his high estate to that of a common criminal xvere forgotten. The i fever that followed the last scene of] the tragedy had left him white-haired and slightly bent, but he was still a tine J ,'and aristocratic figure. The. odiild wno . | plaveti with the puppies on the lavn , 'was the heir to the baronetcy and AM i borough Park. j ,' Detective Inspector Herrion had d s 'played all his tart and devemejLfi in pro. I venting a renewal of the scandal that I followed Raifc's disappearance, and, in ■ tha moments of his leisure, be was a j . I welcome sueet at Aldbormnja i J a*k. I

Raife's mother, the Doraccr I.adv Remington, had recovered much of heal ti with the return to the normal conditions of life. The brave American girl. Hilda, who had borrie her troubles with courage and resource, was happy. When she knew the terrible conditions of liilda Tempest's life, siie leit sorry for her dead rival, but she would have I been more than human if she had not la uenee of relief that "the shadow oi I the other woman" no longer cast a 1 "loom on he: husband's life. r (Th- end.l