GENTLEMEN OP THE SEA

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 232, 29 September 1915, Page 10

GENTLEMEN OP THE SEA

Ey PAUL TRENT. Author o< -Right Aynxnsl Might." "1 Commercial JJante Cnsto," "The Voir," etc., dc.

A Stirring Romance of the British Nary.

CH.UTKK \.— iContinual.) fi in «a- thinkinp rapidly, and r.mcmbennc th.- warning that \ »lda ha,l gm-n him. Wh> had the Haron in*ii>tp.l upon e«-i»m|*ii.M«K "» m - " " mlld almost >c.-m ~« though h'.- «..».«! to prevent th.-in from talk in.' top-ther •'lone Vn.| y.-t what rea-.n could there be for it* Vltop-Uier he l>ll ditiartl; uncomfortable, and *•» relieved when" I tit- rah pull.'d up «t th.- hotel. •' i „ ,il . ..in.- mtr. tlin hall In- announced. •■ IVrhaps Stella ha* not vet cent- 10 1..-.1.' The Ha run followed them after hi- had paid I lie cJriMT. - >i.iv I liav tiirp leasure of s.rinu , iliw Camen.ii." ho asked pohtch • >he went to l«-d More 1 loll." \ ahsa answered. -Mi,, lilynn. have you Mintethinc to, s.i: ;.. mc: ' If »o. 1 will com? up to the srtlinc r»jm." liui a-k.-.i. quietly. I am so tins! an.l my head ache* to badly.- she .-ai.l. wearily" "Why not poet pone your rhat until the morninp* After a nipht'*. rest you probably won't be *o anxious to make a fool of yourself."' tti<- Paron said, col.lly. "I am coming to nee Stella in the roorninj:.™ Wiiy broke in. for he thought there r.iul,i be no harm in post|n>nin{r thrir talk for a few hours. •>,. Ih' it." Valdn Mid. an.l »ishrd dwply. Thru hh,- ralli-d a lui»ly "Good niphi." j an>l If ft ilicin tojrpthr-r. ■Poor ihild: I'm xory wirr> U.r hrr. I helierp you ar. htayinz in St. .litm.-s'.-.. Shßl! wr walk Lark toother! Th* t-X----ere.,.' «ill be »wkl for us." tJui was ron.-irioiu that his dislike for the iiaron was becoming more pronounced, -till, he ronM not I><- rudo. -I if coiir*.'. you know "hat is tlf matter with \li>s (ilynT -, "1 suppoar hrr mother's ileath— —" " It.- not altogether that. Haven't I fow ever Misi"rrted that . i tird it difficult to cxprees myself. You are very the sort of man who appeals to a woman. Need 1 say any more!"" "Please ."peak plainly." I Jut said. coMh. "To put it Miintlv. tho girl's in lovo ■with you." " That's nonsen.-o. T hardly know hrr" "As. if tliat matters! Like her mother. f-hr i» of s temperamrnt. To sutli a one )ovi" romra very quickly. Besides. s.]ie intimated to mc that " "Br silent'" Hsllam said, sternly. " Yon Knplish are so very curious. 1 frhotiki be proud to have won the heart of so beautiful a woman. But you are in love with Misa Cameron. Therefore. ] warn yoa to be careful of the other. That's why I didn't wish you to i»peak to her to-night, and remained to chaperon you." " 1 tion'l believe you." " >ir. do you wish to insult mc?" the Baron isaid. angrily. - Not at all. I will put it in another way. 1 will cay that you are mistaken." "Time will siiow. The cleverest man t> a fool where women are concerned. ! Please don't be anpry w:th mc. 1 take j an inten-st in yon. end oil 1 do and say . i> for your £ood " \ u'j arc \erv kind." Gut remarked riryh. ' j They were in t!i? majle of Recent i 6trect. and Hallam suddenly felt that j he Jiad had enough (.f this man's company, m, he hailed tU- driver of a passing cab. " Good nijrht. llaron." "W:i ,*ha]J hear from tomorrow.' Guo.l Mr Hailam." li;iy -are the address of hie father - .* chembern, and. leaning hark, lighted a! cigarette. He oppressed by a feeling of coming evil that -.ras stranac ami I unusual. ,At I'iccadiily Circu s they were! pulled up by the traflfc. anj he notired with idle curiosity that in a car that had mc; with the tame fate « a< the man he' had seen at the C'arlton. After a minute or two they proceeded, and it wa* with a feeling of relief that he arri\ed at hi* destination. His key was in tiie front door when another nr came up. and there aliphted from it the «a.-ne individual whom he had just seen at lie Circa*. "Mr. HallamT he queried. i "I should like n few word.-* with you.' 1 **Who are j on?" "I'm an ohVial from tlic Admiralty. Suppose ne talk rtben we in!n : l<""' "Reailv ~'.r. I .i.,n't kno« y O ii from Adam. You s«v you arc an official from the Admiralty?" "That i~*r.o. 1 iiere is ray authority." (Juy read the rard which had in-en given to him. "The turret Porvice." he whypered to himself. "Shall w/e insule?" the ofTK'ial said, politely. ' CHAPTER XI. Hallam led the "ay upstairs to hi~ father"* sitting room, nnd was followed very closely by the secrt-t ajent. "What ran I do for yoa?" (Jtiy asked quietly, as he took off hU orerroat which he t'irew on to a chair. " First o: all yon might tell mc your name." "Sylveeter My business i» ratb-i unpleasant, but I must impress on you that I ary only doing my duty. 1 must mak.- a search." "A searchV Ciuy repeated in amazoBent. " Yes. and I will commence with your Overrent." • I object. You have no ri-ht to " '' You are an omVer, ami oupht to understand. You only injure yourself by objecting." Sylvester said, as he took up the coat. i.uv Lhoupht quickly. Naturally iie had been disturbed li_> this visit, and i demand to make a search nae astoun-i----inp Hut. aitr-r all. lie hail nothing to ronrcal So he sat down. and. with a lau_'!i. told Sylvester to proceed. Hut when tlie official drew some papers from the breast pocket of hu» overcoat, he jump<vi to bis feet. " Those papers do not belong to mc Tve never been them before," he cried, excitedly. Sylvester looked throujrh the papers carefully and then placed them m bis own pocket. •' I must search you," he Faid quietly. •" 111 save you the trouble," Guy anrwered. and plared his money, watch, and cigarette-case on the table. This done, he turned all his pocket* inside out. and glared defiantly at Syl rcjter. "Are you satiofled?' , he uknl. I

•• For the present. But 1 haven't finished yet." Ver.V silently, vrry quickly, very thor ouphly be examined thr sitting-room. and then- was not a square inch that escaped lus eye However, lie did not apjH-ar to find anything to interest him. Next bff looked at the door of Mr. HallamV bedroom. "My father* room. llp'b probably asleep. X hope you won't disturb him," Uuy said? anxiously. ••' 1 would like to have a look at ygur Ix-droom." •Tome alone." liuv answered promptly, svlvcster seemed thoroughly to under stand his job. Nothing attracted i.U [attention until ho found the banknotes iin i.iuy*s dressing rase. ■ I must t&ki- possession of this money. ; I'll give you a receipt." ■ Very well." IJuy answered indifTei--1 ently. and Ihei went hark to the bitting room. " IVrhap* you will I* pood enough to explain the raranißg of your : visit." he said ahruptly. "I've no instruct ion* to do m>." an-su.ti-.1 <\ Ivester. I "At any rHt«- you «ill allow mc to -..•.- the- pu|x-r» \ civ took from my pocj kit " ' " Quit.- impossible. 1 daren't allow them out of my powi-snon for thr inj M.int." ■ 1 give you my word of honour they ; don't Moris ot mc The lir.-t liinr 1 | ' saw them «a« when you took them out i r.f my pocket l>on't you believe Die?" j Uui demanded peremptorily. 1 - My belief or disbelief make, no difi ference. In tins matter 1 am only an ! apent." ■■ I'm no; n fool. From what you ' haw (.aid and done I mum think I m ] under suspicion of havins: committcil j some cKime ' 1 car. t.-il vo\i you are under very prave !«uspieirn. In fart. 1 must «nrn you not to leave the place at present." " ■ I'm under r.rrr-t-" ! " Not formalli . hut it amount. , , to tlie <amc tJiinp." The rietretivr had been j writing , at the table " Here'> >our re j ceipt for the money." •Thank you." "If jou wil| take my a-Jvirr. conceal | nothing, but rnak.- a .lean Irrrant of .t I You'll find it pay Then-'., no time like | thr present. If you <ar>- t" eonfm*. I'll , takr down voiir statement.' - I've »othing t.. eonfeiw. Tell mc the natur.- ki the rhargc ap»in»t mc." "■ liamri Brnndrn— an necount of your rclatidha with that pentleman." Sylve«-| ter said, evading the question. "That's simple enouph. Hi , has asked . mc to enter a South American navy. I'm hard up. anil was wriomdy eoniidrr- j Inp the aet-eptance of his oiler." "Hard up , '" repeated "ylventer. nnd ! sipnifioantly tap[>ed the pocket where :he ha/1 plare«l the ly«nknotes. j And (ivy did not know what to say | The real evplanation would s< 'in »o J lanie. Kor !)..'lir>t time he r.ally \m- j na iii Ik- afraul that matters mipht !«■' serious. Hitherto he had thou.'ht that ' some ludicrous mistake had Ixrn made • —a mistake that could easily be put ripht. • " "Who is this Raron Brandcn?" he asked. *"I thought he was a friend of yours— \ but it's useless to talk unless you ar» pomp to eoniess." SyiTMter said dryly. as he took up his hat. At that moment the l>edroom door : op<-n<Ml. ami Mr. Hallain appeared, clotlied in a <ires»inp (jonu "I thought 1 heard voice*.' he said.' npolopetirally. " I wish you poor! lupht." Sylvester said. |>olitely. "Coo.! nnpht. "tay 1 »ill rom.- to the door with vo:i." Cuv r^elaimed. " Don't leave this house. I say it for your own poo<i." Sylvester remarked a» he Mood at the front door. \nd he I pave a sipnincant pianre at a roan tvlio j stood at the corner of the street. "To all intent.*'and purpose* 1 am under arrest*" ■•Yes. r.ood iiicht. Mr. Hallam." The door rlowd. and IJuy stoo.l mo-tionli-ss for a icw minute*. Could the visit hay Un nothing Init a i.ad . dream? His hrain was dazed and 't se«-me<l im!><*.*!l'le that he rould liave heanl anp'it Soon Iw pulled himself top'ther. and slow iy W;in to ciimli the I st«ir~. "Cood heavens!" he axelaimed: " un.der arrest—and fi>r what rrim<-?" (To bp continued daily)