THE PLOT THAT FAILED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1916, Page 10

THE PLOT THAT FAILED.

By EDGAR PICKERING, Author of 'The Secret Marriage," "i. Winning Hazard" etc.

CHAPTER XVI. MR SMYRK CONFESSES. 'Should you mind? That is the only cntestion, mother. I'll refuse if you only say the word."' and EUa put down a letter she had read aloud, which was from a middle-aged gentlewoman named Mis Jermvn, who had advertised for a companion, and Elsa had answered her. •'Thirty pounds salary has to be thought of, but I don't like the idea of you being left alone." "1 thall get a paying guest,'' replied her mother. "1-do not say I care about a stranger, yet I will not stand in your light. She would be company, and I shall be careful not to take any but a churchwoman. Do not think of mc for a moment, dear." "I can't help doing that." continued Elsa, thoughtfully, "and I'm thinking, too, how useful the money would be."' "And you as nearly as possible went into a shop," reminded ber mother. 'That I should not have consented to willingly. Now, M"« Jenkins—no, Mrs Jermyn, appears to be just the very uort of person you want." "I should have to go abroad with her. Don't lose sight of that. What shall I answer. I must write to-night."' , "You have seen Mrs .Ten—Jermyn, and she has seen you. Elsa." replied Mrs Armitage. 'Therefore nothing remains to be done but to go to her. I have never been abroad myself, but. as I said jast now. I will never put an obstacle in your way. - ' "They had been settled in lirockley for several weeks, and Elsa found the dull isolation of it almost unbearable. She knew nobody, and had lost her old vivacity, having no desire to make acquaintances, for the lVfht of her young life had gone when Gerald and she parted, and the hope she had entertained of regaining his trust had grown dim. Arayas Sererac had como once or twice to the house, and she had received him with an indifference that was mistaken for forgetfulness. and he had been outwardly as cold as Elsa. Yet his love for her had become an over-mastering passion that was fostered by his fierce determination to win her. He was living in chambers, and had not been near Overdene since the Squire's death, the rambling old house being closed. London and his newly-acquired fortune enabled him to indulge In luxuries he had never enjoyed before. The management of his estate was left in the hands of Mr Ferryman, who delegated John Smith to do most of the work, and paid him handsomely for so doing, which provided the humble clerk with ample means, and was laying the foundation of a fortune. So that everyone might have been said to be satisfied with the state of affairs, if Mr Smyrk were excepted. The investigation into the Squire's murder had ended a long time, and nothing had beer, discovered: the crime was in a fair way to be forgotten, but the memory of her mother's confused reference to the rumours associating Gerald with his uncle's death was always in Elsa's mind. The cruel wickedness of the slanderous talk kept her indignation active against his enemies, and there was a burning desire for an opportunity of proving her love and loyalty. Mr Crimp had reluctantly confessed that he was puzzled, for the various clues to Squire Oliver's murderer had only deepened the mystery. He had worked quietly in following them up without succeeding in throwing any light on the crime, and as yet certain suspicions he entertained were too nebulous to be acted upon. "I don't know that it proves anything, Mr Dundas," said the detective as they were chatting one day. "Ferryman's clerk can use another name if he chooses. I remember him as Samuel Pranks, who % did three months for embezzlement, but what of that?'' "He appears to have recovered his position.'' replied Philip. "Perhaps another talk with him might be useful. I questioned him myself one day, but could make nothing of him.'' "I H call at Ferryman's offire and see what comes of it. Now. between ourselves. Mr Dundas. do you think Dr. Leigh murdered the Squire?" "People hinted at it. You don't require n:e to answer you. Crimp. The tiling is absurd." 'Tm aware of that, hut other people mightn't think so." Mr Smyrk was alone in the mivate room when Mr Crimp called next day, and although he and the lawyer were on friendly terms, the latter'a face had lost every vestige of colour at seeing him. "What I've got to say, Mr Smyrk, is between you and mc. It's regarding one of your clerks." began the detective. "It is not usual to talk about the men ■we employ. Mr Crimp,"' replied Mr Smyrk. "So long as they do their duties satisfactorily we do not require to know anything more about them." That dreadful pain in his breast was gripping him again. The doctor had warned him against the slightest agitation, and Mr Crimp's unexpected visit had brought a cold sweat to 'Mr Smyrk's brow. 'I'm referring to your clerk, John Smith," said the detective. "I may as well tell you that his name isn't Smith." "I haven't seen him since I returned to the office, ,1s that all you had to say?" and Mr Smyrk said this with an unspeakable relief. "'At present," replied the detective curtly. "I believe Smith has gone for a holiday," went on the other. "The man has been useful to us, and I should be sorry if " There had come a premonition of death to Mr Smyrk—an awful sense of being about to die., and lie clutched at the desk, steadying himself. He must speak out now about something that had haunted and destroyed his peace of mind, and a wild despair confused him for a moment. Mr Crimp observed the dumb excitement showing on the pallid face and staring eyes, and for an instant or two there followed a silence, after Mr Smyrk's attempt to finish the sentence. "I might die suddenly, Crimp." he went on with a great effort, '"and fail in my duty of " and his utterance became' indistinct, whereupon the detective ran behind the desk to support him. "I'm better now—what was I about to say?" he ejaculated. "Yes, 1 remember. There's been a great wrong done—l was a party to it, and it's killing mc, Crimp— slowly sapping away my life." _ ' "I'll call someone," exclaimed Crimp. "i'pu..want h, -doctor, and I'm no use." He had. the 'door unlocked the next moment, "'" Ferryman coming through tic clerk's office. Ferryman

"Don't often see you here, Crimp," he was beginning cheerfully, when the detective interrupted him. "Mr Smyrk has been taken ill suddenly.'' he replied. "He had better see a doctor at once, Mr Ferryman." "Confound the man!" exclaimed Mr Ferryman irritably. "He's always being taken ill suddenly." and with this he rushed into the private room, to find bis partner lying back in a chair breathing heavily. Crimp had followed, aud as he raised the half-insensible man into a sitting posture he heard him mutter something indistinctly. "What's that he said?" demanded Mr Ferryman. "Speak out. Smyrk, so that I can hear you." he added, giving him a vicious look. The white lips were moving again, and Crimp bent down to them. Only he heard the whispered words—they were very few, and had ceased abruptly as Mr Smyrk became a dull, lifeless weight that the detective laid back in the chair very gently. "Great Heavens! He's dead." cried Mr Ferryman, with a start backward, as he stared at the mute figure. "[ never expected he would go like this. What did he say to you. Crimp?" "He told mc the truth, Mr ferryman," replied the detective. "That is what he said." and at that moment two of the clerks came into the room. Mr Ferryman bad given tie detective an angry look, but refrained from speaking again, and a sudden hush succeeded. A quarter of an hour later and Mr Crimp was walking across Lincoln's Lmi. He had met with -many startling events in his career, but the one which had just happened exceeded every other in interest, and it had made him profoundly thoughtful. (To be continued daily.)