THE BLACK BETRAYAL

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 5 July 1926, Page 15

THE BLACK BETRAYAL

By MADGE BARLOW.

-v Ni u> is. M ,« <,!...in »MHI. .J:1"..-!l|.T -f MoltlK-W P:.,,,,, „,, Aiii.-ri :in nil iu:iiii>:itf. routs » ",,","„ ;,„ ,:,. c,.;rt estate. n<«av Uuiili",. T!i.- ■.■ti:<-'< mix r..nu.Tl.r no-iipjea '!» n i,. ■! rl i, :ii 1:1 i-i V' - V-γ;. i-i.plilo i> ;l fri.ii.l ~f ;,|. .iavj;...;.-. M........ M';'-'''';^- - •]■>,, II s-. :n- ;• •■-: it.' i- ■•:«' i..» ■..•■•'- i- , ' ! - .„„] i;s i-wii.-r yniiiia l.ukv γ-msji hut. is a ;n: : "nf'i:ir' n-■ "itr-i'Ai V.v'l>hrr." lil* '~„- in H-..:.11i.. .hi :n •>■'■- Sμ; a!.-. lie .!■"■* ■„, :,„: p.vu -r |~.r mi ;.i ;"ii.~ »hj>. Sop'Jle : | ir ,.'i;i,ii.-p.-l nir.'iliis! I.uU" 'V .-. miMjdles'HiiP . 1.:., ~,| ,j.. 1,,-is ;i-i t.li.i.-'-t !:■ innklnp; bis ii!.,|i:V.i":i::iii-''. :in-I ""I :::v- •- (I >so TUP Ihi'ir iir«i inniiJia f:i• I ■> aluio-t in a ijnnrrcl. I HAPTFR 11. l.iiU • |>tuiF«l a iiinniPtit. ppoeclilcss. and v ■■■,•) i-iin;--! , ' iiunitli strode- homewards. Supliii , (lung tlir i-ipirrttc nasi , into a i-iiiT.i-r. :inil '.''■" iinTkiiig pnipty fled her i HCC 'I'vi' iln::ir it now." ?lic n.nurnod. IminN suiting t!ic air. "Hγ hated mc. Hp'H lialP in'- wiirei*. I've sjioilod rverytliinf:, a lid J 'lid mean to bn honoyed and swei-t lifter Til cna.xi'd him to Pit down tind talk. I slinul'lu't liH\-f> lot him prnvnki , hip iiii'i paying i-utlinir tilings and prctciidinp t" In , tin. , l<i"'l "f ;:irl I'm not. Why diil I d<i ii ': I'm sin idiot, heaping misery nil my sell." \Vi(l<"w Mflgop'i» pntranrc mlcrruptcil the lanioni. The widow's piiincd-up skirt dragged the dust in a tail at tin , back. Her clonn i-alii'n apron voilod thp pxjinsiiri' nf a hhort flannel petticoat. A bonnet flaunting ;i rapced jiurplo fpnthor wiis perched rnkislily mi the lmsi , of her skull, mid how flic enntrived to kpep it there was a fascinating puzzle to Sophie who vowed that it was glued to her hair, and that she slept in it. Folding her arms mi her indeterminate waist-line. Mrs. Magee squinted inquisitively at the evidence tif tea for two, and in a speculative tone remarked: — "ile lord Luke is batin' the road as if the divil was afther him. He looks Lopping mad, I dunno why." "Digesting the venom of his spleen," muttered Sophie. "Chewin , the etid of a vile timper, Miss, if ye ax mc. v "Which means tha same thing. Widdy avick. i>our individual, isn't he?" ''Limons arn't in it wid him, Miss; no, nor vinegar.' . Seizing a brush, the widow sent the hearth ashes flying. She had done charing at the Court until Luke discovered her attempting to pick a lock with, a hairpin in a forbidden portion of the building, and summarily dismissed her. In revenge she lost no opportunity of vilifying him, and as scandal always secures an audience, she had believing and fawning hangers-on, greedy for the entertainment she provided. "Arrttli, who'd be wastin' words on the likes of him whin news is brisk?" she ejaculated peevishly. ''Ye haven't heard the latest. Two countrymin of yours have landed into Ann Lanigan's. grand mashers wid piles of luggage. They've tuk lodgin's, and the style of thiln is a cure for sore eyes. Not in all mc born (lavs did I see slch style.''

Sophie spun round, face colourless, ! body tensely alert. "Urand washers entirely," the widow emphasised, "but nayther of thim purty. Wan is tall and thin; the other's short, and puffy with fat, and have a nose the (lead spit of a parrot's baik. Ann Lanigan bragged about our Miss Brant, and they axed a dale of questions, and said ye wor a passenger on their boat." "Otto Hirst and Harper P. Sharman," said Sophie to herself. "I dhln't expect them for a while, but they are live wires. They were busy in Dublin when I left. I wish they" hadn't followed mc so quickly. It's awkward for me.'' Aloud she said nonchalantly: "The gentlemen you describe were on my boat, the Mauritania. I hadn't met them hefore. and they have no right to ask questions about mc. If they ;>*k you any, gee that you aren't talkative." "Far be it from mc," piously. "Ftein" in yer pay. I wudn't spake of ye unless wid prayers and praises. That puffy lad is a disrespectful yahoo. I was passin , as they vriiifc in, and s'ez he, 'Gee!' sez lie, 'who's the damaged Aunt Sally:" "Of course, I shouldn't mind their questions, and I don't," Sophie stated With emphasis. "What I really mean is that I want no familiarity, no calling at the cabin. X O w, I'll have to run. I've to he at Violet Lodge at five o'clock, and Miss Kathleen will wonder why I'm late." that. Clane cracked over ye -Miss Kathleen is. By the same token, J dunno ■ the raison her mother would traipse to London and lave her. Tisn't Tileta has her there, and 'tisn't a holiday. Mc lord Duke don't go near the Lodge while she's away. He's terrible proper for a man said to be engaged." "Is he?" absently. " T s lie!" the widow derided. "He's a 'ply terror for properness, and niver a K 'ss or a cuddle or a ketch roun' the waist does she pet from him. To be s »re. Miss Kathleen's noways tinitin'. "•« couldn't he shut his cowld eves and prctind slie was?" IjVou might suggest that to him." J- wouldn't deniane meself talkin' to «s likes." "'But even the devil you are fond of n?*"'??. t0 isn,t as black a * h «' s Painted.- ch ided Sophie, nettled, and oadly inclined to defend Luke. "You are uncharitable. Begin to check stories instead of h e i ; ,i ng them on for the Z\ aml p '"- 01 "-ag P r of stories are both orally guilty, and will have to wswer for their pii lt some day." ■ V.' c no nature in him," Mrs. JUgte cavilled. "A frintleman that tuk "» bite out of a poor woman's mouth I dr. i f ace t0 thp rd,ne of gintleman. otl !ST h ° hils * m «n on hia hch , at-counte for his dark wav, and n I 0 * 6 - 1 room ahoVf, at th e Court, and tl,e kay in hi, fI M aeleep or awake ; turn yl ,fi!- talM ln the Vil!ag ° that " d PereJ s r- s fr Se^ r ■ ,hoi,ld turn wh^' •mS-' 1 •' er ? elf -on. the & iVl e of him detViahe?. 1 " g h ' S | vm P" tc abused ° n t,,fi ?i,|p of all wrongly theVid'oT llboUt milled in g β-ain at rt * Bes «mer. and squint to beloo cJ I tea CU P S - " Jt don 't suit Minute lf^Z n l d ' aVick ' Whist a ' can't be uL \T t0 mo - Ererybodj "°nhl£t!L &n V{ doesn't get i. *** v published to th(

Author of " Married in May." " Flower of the Bog," " A Fool For Love's Sake," Etc.

•■The secret lie and his servant, old null?), guard jealously?"' "Ye may mock, and twist yer purty mouth, but a saycret there is." "So you've told mc often, goodness knows." And the whole winter that room miumg this crows' nests was lit from dark to dawn, and Mr. .Bessemer* a shiulow kept plinking across the blinds as if he was dodging something. And out , niiiht your own brother's son, Hilly Magce, paw him hanging out of the window." pulling hideous faces. And young Hilly tore home yelling millo murilher, 0 and "spun a thumping yarn, and was rewarded with pennies to induce him to sou more, which lie naturally did. I've an idea Hilly will grow up to be a writer of thrilling romances." -Ycr qunrc to-day." the widow reproached her. "The saints grant Bessemer hasn't hin this way, castin' spells. Thu i-nnie-hithei , is in his eye, and the fferriJ he puts that glance on would lose her sivin sinses for love of him. Don't ye look him in the eye. Missie. He's hunt in' money. Mise Kathleen has a prospect of a bit, but prospects are chanppy, and ye are here wid beauty and a fortune. lie'wouldn't think twice afore jilt in* Miss Kathleen to win ye and gra-b the. fortune." Sophie Piiatehed her juniper away, and hhi/.ed cmt angrily. "You are too silly for words. Mr. Bessemer isn't waging a thought on mo and my fortune.' , "Tinie will show," was the doggel reply. "I'm weary of stories and tittle-tattle. I blame myself for allowing you to slander Mr. .Bessemer to mc. Your tongue will be your ruin, Mrs. MageCi I'll part you and mc, I warn you, if you repeat another slander or dare to associate my. name with Mr. Bessemer's again.'* Mrs. Magee retreated, her apron to her eyes. "I beg pardon. Mi9s. I disremimbered mc place, but as the dacint mother of five dead and two in the navy, I did think meself qualified to caution wan that hasn't long left hoUldin' to her mother's skirt. I won't offind again if so be yell let it pass." "I will if you are in earnest about it." "To part wid ye would kill mc," the widow moaned.

"Xo danger of that unless you bring t oil yourself," said mollified Sophie, >atting her eoneolingly, and lleeing a hreatened avalanche of tears. The rossip she had encouraged \Vhile broodng resentfully over .Luke's hauteur m'lled this everting in spite of the justiication s'hc felt she bad for enrolling in he ranke of Luke's enemies, the village vasps who stung without her provoca.ion. The unwelcome arrival of the strangers it Lanigane banished from memory, she railed inwardly at Luke for exposing limself to waspish stings. Was it that ie didn't care, or that he knew the stings were merited? There was something queer in his mode of life. " At twenty-eight he should be buoyant, ambitious, sociable, not a partial recluse biding in a lonely mansion, doing nothing, allowing his talents to dry-rot. . lie must have talents. He seemed clever, seemed a man capable of fine things, big things, one wlio could go far if only lie wanted to. Youth that covets the hermit's solitude is either saintly, or sinful, or of the jellyfish species. He was no saint, and of the alternatives she would have preferred him to be a sinner, foi' sinners are often reformed, but the limp invertebrate is of use neither to God nor men. Where smoke is there is more or less fire. If he could disprove evil report, and refute Usher's opinion of him, why did hu not? Impatiently searching for ari answer to her query," she reached the cross-roads beyond the village, and had her conjectures regarding Luke rudely scattered. Messrs. Hirst and Sharman stood on t lit: grassnatch forming a diamond at the junction of the roads, smoking and conversing. They saw her, and turned to watch her advance. They were discus sing her. she was convinced. Throughout the voyage their constant espionage had frayed* her nerves. Bland though their manner had been> he-r sensitiveness had detected in it a subtle quality Which led her to suspect that they were accurately summing her up and making her and the object of her journey a theme for jests] Her innate delicacy of mind winched and shrank at the thought of these twain knowing hey errand, knowing the reception Luke hac: giv.'n her, and having double cause tc Jeer. The humiliation of being theil laughing-stock would be unendurable Her , craving for Wally's bracing support grew acute in the few momenta ol lightning-like calculation between her first glimpse of them and her own Arrival at the diamond. This would not do. She administered a mental self-shak-ing, a stern reprimand. "Sophie Brant, you worm, you have no reason to be afraid of Otto Hirst and Harper Sharman. You are not contemptating a crime, and the Free State is as free to you as to them. They can't doubt y-ou, can't have the least inkling of your plans, and you've been put wise to theirs from A to Z. Walk forward boldly, and smile for all you are worth." CHAPTER 111. Hirst and Shaimau removed their hats and cigars and bowed. Sophie beamed as though, she had lit haphazard upon esteemed and missing friends. "Fancy meeting you in Sleepy Hollow!" she exclaimed with an admirable appearance of surprise. "Where have you been since we parted on the gang.vay of the Mauretania?" '•Loafing about Dublin.' , , replied Hirst, the short and puffy one. imitating her cordiality. "And where have you been?" "In Dublin, also, staying' a month with the Farmings of Merrion; sort ot connections of my folks." "Funny we didn't see you," said Sharman. his glance oblique. "Ain't it funny. Otto?" '• I should say. Miss Brant isn't easily eclipsed in a crowd." "I was gadding here and there, and you'd hardly see mc unless you were looking for mc, which, of course, you were not," said artless Sophie, her childlike face courting .the closest scrutiny. "I've come to Sleeky Hollow to rusticate and do the sights, and when I've done them I return to the

Farmings. I'm living in the cutest , .^i thatched cabin, a little beyond the top . «| □ f the main street." j ] £ "And we have put up at Lanigan's, ■. j so we shall meet often. Enjoying the scenery and salubrious air, I hope?" ,; J from Hirst. i ► "Immensely. Isn't the scenery en- : j chanting?" i S^ He agreed tha. it -was, and the en- J<P tire locality ideal for holiday making, jg Having taken a general survey, our «» gentlemen declared they couldn't leave g till every corner was explored, ami fc Miss Braiit ndmitted a-similar inability S to tear herself away. They con- w gratulated one another on being in the . » \;ui of the coming horde of American J J tourists, and nothing could have been <► pleasanter than their interchange ot 2 suave courtesies, but the eyee of all J J three were wary as the eyes of j » dog-* chance-met, and veiling mutual | » suspicion benenth much tail-wagging. ; * "liivcn }>cace and a progressive g President, the island will experience n gj remarkable boom," , said Hirst, the je more talkative of the twain. "(Irant g opportunities for private enterprise. S open up natural resources, let go-ahe«<t J brains and private capital have scope « and it'll fairly hum with prosperity. < What do you say, Mis.s Brant?" i \ "I'm not studying the country from J the commercial standpoint, ami can't ; say anything," a gesture of her hands . I rl'epreca.ting. ' | "You can at. least express an : ■ opinion." ' ! "To do that 1 should have to go to the bother of thinking, and 1 never think if I can help it."' ! Her reply was not particularly witty, yet Hirst laughed so immoderately that his tiny dub of black mountaeli' , ; shot right up under I lie parrot's beak and vanished from sight. "No one expects a rich and beautitnl ; young lady to cultivate a crop ot thought-formed wrinkles." he saitl, when his laughter ebbed in throaty chuckles. "Your forte 13 to he everlastingly bewitching, and not to meddlv with- the complex business interests ol mere men. Speaking of my idea. though.' , his glance needle-sharp, "we hear that the (.'aklicolt Syndicate has a scheme afloat for a big scoop over here.? i "What." asked Sophie, "is the Caldi- i eott Syndicate?" '■ A faint gasp for breath preceded Hirst's measured reply. | "It's a financial combine controlled by Elmer C'akllcott, prince of transAtlantic financiers, and out to grab the earth.' , ! "To grab the earth? But why? 1 ; don't get you." i "Otto talks above your head," said ; Sharnian, ironically. "He talks sTieh jargon." she protested, the dimplca playing at hide-and-seek in )ier cheeks as she smiled. "Then you haven't heard of a contemplated scoop?" "(Scoop in what?" eagerly. "I'm dying of curioeity." Hirst looked at Sharman, and a droop of his left eyelid expressed appreciation of Sophie's finesse. "Dry details would bore you," he murmured. "The Caldicott Syndicate's on j the move, anyhow, and I shouldn't won- j der if that Mr. Jefferson who crossed j with us were its agent." . " J "Walter Jefferson is over to boost \ typewriters. He and I are very J chummy, and I knOw." J "It doesn't matter a jot to us if he's ! Caldicott's man." < "Not in the smallest degree," chimed j in Sharnian, boring gimlet eyes into ! Sophie. "We marked him down a-bright J lad on the voyage, and as he didn't men- J tion typewriters, and we'd knowledge J of the syndicate's activities, we fancied J that was hie lay." j "You are quite mistaken. Typewriters ! are his line. He has canvassed Dublin < and gone Xorth. Hie father is managing ' director of the New York Typewriter | Supply Company, and they are trying to J capture the British nnd Irish markets. ! Wally was put on the job because he's j full of pep, and if his sates are good J he'll win promotion and be in a position \ to marry. I hope he'll sell thousands j of machines." ] Shyly she endured their penetrating ] dual gaze. i "Means a heap to you if he does?" j quizzed Sharman. ' ; She nodded, seeming bashfully un- ; willing to be drawn. "Excuse my inquisitiveness," went on , Sharman, with the bewildered face of one j suddenly confronted in a simple path of investigation by conflicting trails. "Do I understand that Matthew Brant' isn't offering the typewriter salesman the glad mitt, and you and Jefferson hit on the • notion of taking the trip in company, you for pleasure, and he on business, with the Dublin connections lending their support by inviting you over to gull , old man Brant you had no other motive i for crossing but to visit them?" Sophie drew herself erect, coldly digni- j fied. "You may understand anything you like. I decline to answer questions no casual acquaintance is privileged to I ask." "You deserve that, Harper." interposed : Hirst, who had been peculiarly silent. ! "Miss Brant has let you down gently. i There's a point where pardonable inquisitiveness becomes unpardonable imI pertinence." He turned to Sophie and changed the subject. j "Your cabin is owned by Mr. Bes- < somer of the Court, isn't it? Is Mr. , Bessemer an agreeable person?" "I have spoken with him just once, and cannot tell." "The Court, we are informed, is worth seeing inside." "I haven't seen it inside." "Pity not to when /ou are seeing everything else." ' "I may some day if I have time. ! Will you mind my going rather abruptly ? i I am on my way to pay a call." With ! the passing- of the last fear that they ] were cognisant of facts concerning herself which she wished to conceal, Sophie i was gracious again. "We shall not detain you," said Hirst. <r NTo doubt well see one another often. Village life makes for companionablei ness." i They murmured smiling adieux and separated, but Hirst's fmile faded as he ] t watched her graceful figure recede from sight. (To be continued daily.)