THE BLACK BETRAYAL

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 6 July 1926, Page 18

THE BLACK BETRAYAL

By MADGE BARLOW,

CHAPTER 111.-- i ~i!tiiiii.".l.i ''Thinks were I'OoTjs. putting a bluff over us like that.' , lie hisscV. And to Sharman: "Seem; you ln-lievc in her bona fide? , :" "'l'm inclined to. I've never seen the Brant heiress, and according to report she's in love with a teUow !!•■: her equal. Might not Jefff-r-'in In; t'no chap, and that girl the genuine Sophie:' , "I stick to what I said ;it the start, rho isn't Sophie Brunt. 1 Innriit ;<ny knowledge of the real Mis- Brant either except that she's a funit t he aire <>' our ; impostor, newly graduated from college, and whisked oil to the Adriondacks by JJatthew to cure, her of an undesirable love attachment. She's an only child, ihe guarded apple of his eye. J)o you : suppose he'd let lu-r travel u> Ireland j unattended': What would she want to do it for? To be near Jefferson? It's ncnse:»se to talk that way. -No, Harper: the girl who has just left us is Jefferson's sweetheart, and she has assumed the name of Brnnt to keep us in the dark, for flic is nothing else but ■Caldicott's agent sent to outbid us." "A girl hardly turned twenty Cnldicott's agent I' , "A sharp and clever twenty, nuko no mistake. Elmer employs no other kind, and lie's partial to women: thinks them smarter than men. He'll reward her generously if -he -necei'ds. and she and Jefferson will marry on the strength of their double profits. You saw she was immensely relieved when we pretended we thought Wally was on the job." "You are ripht. and I'm an ass," said Sharman. his jaw elongating. "She fooled mc some, here on tin: road. Of course. Jefferson did fit in with the yarn about Miss Brant's lover, and the frirl can act. She has assumed a safe disguise. We can't prove her a fraud. Xone of tile boat's passengers could say he or she had laid eyes on Matthew's daughter .till her counterfeit stepped aboard. I'd bet the idea of the personation was Elmers. He fancied we'd move slowly, thinking we had no opponent, and the pseiido -Miss Brant would get the goods on us while we were idly napping. ' He can outbid us. Otto." "Sure thing. Ijlnier doesn't know what he's worth.-" "She's doing herself prooid on his cash and letters of credit. I' daresay having those Farmings on. the;spot, to advise her influenced him in his choice, and Fanning being a legal luminary would weigh with him.. Still, she has gained no advantage so far as we are aware. We found no trace of her'preliminary activities in Dublin, and. according to Mrs. Lanigan. she cuts no ice with Bessemer. lie avoids her. That's a point scored for us." "If we can rely on chatter, and. De confident, Miss Sophie has wasted a fortnight allowing herself to be avoided. As for the preliminaries, I' m not fretting my gizzard. Ours have won us a considerable amount of local favour, and promised support; and while- our allies in the capital are working on our behalf we'll rftjsh ahead here and foster our rival's quaint belief that she has hoodwinked us." They strolled in the, direction of the Court. Above the greenness of a wooded hill its weatherbeaten pile shone golden in the mellow glow of the summer evening. The hill sloped gently to a valley of lush grass and fern through which meandered a limpid stream spanned by rustic bridges. The stream formed a natural waterfall .at the valley's eastward boundary where it dashed over rocky boulders into a deep pool sunk in a smother of undergrowth, and kept in perpetual gloom by over-arching bouo-hs of hoary trees clustering round it. The pool had an underground outlet to the sea. Entering the valley they struck alon<* its winding path, crossed" a bridge, and halted on the hill's lower slopes. Odours of honeysuckle, sweetbriar. and verbena mingled in their nostrils with the faint salt tang of the distant sea; the valley was athrob with bird-songs. They voiced animated appreciation of the beauty of the place, and Hirst said pointing towards the secluded pool: . "\onder the tragedy happened several years ago. They say the stains are on tlie rocks yet." He rubbed his chin reflectively, and went on. "Harper, you mind the night we dined with Powell and Rice, the retired bankers, and they told us the tale They were mightily afraid it would blunt the edge of our keenness to possess the court, mightily relieved when I said we'd count ,t an added attraction if they could guarantee that a -host walked In the circumstances I shouldn't wonder if a ghost did. Strange none .but Powell and Rice spuke of it. They wouldn't have it they hadn't thought we'd hear the story after the deal was completed and cry off our bargain on the plea of unfair reservations." "They hinted that the tragic occurrence might make Bessemer loth to sell to us once we disclosed our purpose in buying." Pooh! Dannie a substantial cheque in front of a man in poverty's last ditch and he'll forget scruples. 'Why should he have any? The late Charles Bessemer, his father, left him financially crippled to such an extent that he has had to sell the very furniture to procure bread. The final act of paternal prodigality would take some beating , . McCarthy, the pawnbroker and ex-herd, didn't open his mouth to mc about that or the affair of the pool. Loyalty to the family wouldn't let him. lie'just spoke gone-rally of extravagance which led to begsrarv. When T asked you to partner mo in this seheinp. Harper. I mentioned that Denis McCarthy was the source of its inspiration." "You didn't po into particulars. Otto." "The particulars are scanty. A fluke of- , chance seated mo next him at a club supper, and a reference of mine to the new Irish Free State tapped his store of rpminiseent-ps. In his heart Denis, the big noi«e in the pawnbrokimr linn! remains a simple peasant. He made no secret of hU former nipninl position as the Besppiners' herd, talked affectionately ahd respectfully of his late master, and expressed a loneing to see his master's Ron. Mr. Luke, twenty years afro, the finest bnv that ever wore shopleather. His slavish attitude tickled mo. and T pumped him for the fun of listeiiinc" "Ho has the name of hpinif v sound biißinphs man," Rharman remarked. "Oh, yes. Mc-Cartliv'e hrnrl isn't as »nft as his heart or h<> couldn't have risen to his present position."

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

'They say he's that Tara avis, an honest business man." "1 grant that too. He'd be top of the tree if he were less honest. But to get on with my narrative. Denisdescribed the court as an earthly paradise, said the house would billet a regiment, and bewailed Mr. Luke's poverty, which might render necessary the sale of his ancestral home. I inquired how Mr. Luke got into the mess, and Denis attributed it to the father's wastefulness, but he went warily there, didn't tell all he knew. it seems he has had letters regularly from the Ould Country, and is informed of everything that goes on. His talk set my brains working, j When he stopped I had my plan shaped and was mutt enough to broach it to him. 1 was the prince of mutts." "Why?" "McCarthy gasped like a dying fish, and then went plumb off the deep end. shook his fist in my face, and consigned my soul to a region spelt in polite literature with a couple of letters and a dash. He called mc rogue and vagabond, said that seething a kid in its mother's milk would be a tender Christian deed compared with the one I contemplated. I didn't get the hang , of the scriptural allusion at the time, but I do now. He was thinking of the tragedy; I was ifinoraiu of. it. Anyhow, I wouldn't have sacrificed business to sentiment. We've had sentiment pretty well whacked out of us in a recent worldcrisis." "We have sure. Otto." "They had to drag McCarthy away and sit on him to subdue him. An associate of Caldicott'3 was drinking in our conversation at close range, and carried an account of it and the scrap to Elmer, and Elmer got busy. He had been toying with my idea since whispers of a Free State began to circulate. The instant he scented rivalry he moved. Denis heard of our activities, and remorse prostrated him.. The sumph blamed himself for setting the ball rolling, , and knew he couldn't hinder its .rolling, for I was merely , an acquaintance of an hour, • and Elmer not even that." : . - • CHAPTER IT. "Apparently the ex-herd is a droll mixture of shrewdness and simplicity," said Sharman. I "He is, and dogged as a mule," Hirst .snarled. "Half doubting the simplicity I went to his office to invite him to stand in with mc as-partner and principal shareholder, and he bounced mc on to • the side-walk in a heap; kicked mc violently. 1 threatened a lawsuit "as soon as I had bested Caldicott and got i the Court. Said he, white as chalk, 'You'll never get it. I feel in my bones you never will.' I told him pawnbroking and the gift of prophecy seldom went together, and advised him to concentrate on keeping the moths but of his stock of rags and rubbish." • "You had a nerve, Otto. Say, let's go up to the house -and establish a friendly footing. No use delaying with that girl skirmishing around. We'll interview Bessemer." ; ; ■ ~ They ascended a flight of stone stgps leading to a broad'sweep of • gravelled terrace. The size and dignity of the age-worn building impressed ,them. In bygone years it had been "fa'mofis'for its rose-gardens and_ the. grqttojee and Florentine fountains. McCarthy's vivid description of' the gardens" and ' the Court's interior "had fired Hirst's sensuous imagination, and-to-him 'riot the least of its recommendations .was , its trifling distance from tbe-'capital .-'by car or rail. They had. to pull the'antique bell twice before the door opened.. Luke stared at the . faultlessly groomed strangers, and they at him. He was coatless, his" shirt-sleeves 'rolled "to his I elbows, .a scratch:on his right forearm rising in a whitish-red w.eal - - m - "We wished-to see Mr.- Bessemer,"Hirst said hesitatingly. "You see " him,"- said ' Luke, and they inclined their heads. "Proud to meet you, sir. Mr. Sharman and 1 are holidaying in the village and have been admiring-the externals.. Would it be permissible to view .the inside? 1 We'd esteem it a favour." "I'm sorry. This is a private residence." *■ - ■ ■■- '-".'■•' "So we- are aware, but we have been through castles and abbeys in the vicinity, and thought you'd have no objection." . . "Wer-e the castless and abbeys untenanted, or ruins?" "To-be frank, they were both," Hirst -eplied genially. . , - • "When the Court is a ruin I'll give the public free access." A slight.nasal twang-in-Hirst's pleas-; ing accents had aroused Luke's amused suspicion, and suspicion crystallised to certainty, as Sherman's -more pronounced twang joined in. "It would be a pity were your historic mansion to become a ruin. Elizabethan, isn't it? And splendidly preserved. Have we trespassed. under a misapprehension ': We were -assured of access to the grounds, and perhaps to the house if Mr. Bessemer were at home." . "Your informant was partially correct. I erect no barrier to the grounds, but draw the line beneath my roof-tree." "Will you acquaint us should you alter your decision ?" "If I-should; It's, a promise,: gentlemen," showing his teeth in a smile that lit up his face. "Where are you:to be found?" "In furnished apartments at .. Lanican's. We arrived only a. few hours" ago. and sit tight for some weeks. Look us up any time you are'inclined and we'll feel complimented. My name is Otto Hirst, and my companion's Harper P. Sharman, New, York speculators in real estate, and straightforward, solid business men of unblemished credentials Accept our cards." Luke read the bold lettering on the strips of pasteboard., his veiled eyes mirthful. "A. lady from New York, a Miss Brant, is doing us the'honour'of living in our village," he said. "We've just been conversing -with her at the cross-roads," murmured Hirst, passing a furtive wink to Sherman. "She was a fellow-voyager, beUe of the liner, and very popular. She travelled in the care of her fiancee, a Sir. Walter Jefferson, who was the envy of the bachelor passengers. At any rate, he was believed to be engaged to her. for she called him Wallv. and she was teaching him to call her Sophie, and had him word-perfect on the fourth day at sea. Charming, girl, Miss Brant. You must know her, ac she is your tenant."

"I had a brief chat with her this afternoon; my first," J.uke said curtly. Something in the reference to Waliy had ruffled him. Hirst ventured a probing fib. "We gathered that you had granted her the privilege you "deny to us," " he said smoothly. "You gathered what is untrue," came the sharp rejoinder. "Miss Brant did ask 5 to tee the court and I refuse* her." ■ ' '•'Probably we mistook what she said in .the hurry of a snatched renewal oi acquaintance," * Sharman interposed. "Whether or not, ■Vβ -couldn't expect to succeed, where a lady failed." "And we arc obliged for your courtesy," said Hirst, maintaining his position of leading spokesman. "We are, I repeat, proud to know you, and hope you'll'drop into our rooms one ot these evenings. Mr. Sharmau and -I would enjoy your society. Our country and yours" are united in many ways. We may discover interests in common." '"You are too good," gravely. "T6 ourselves, sir. The ultimate gain would be ours." Luke read a double entendre, into [that, and again his teeth clashed. The display of ivories was threefold. They extended hands to be shaken, and he shook, and said it was too bad to disappoint them, but it needn't mar friendly relations, and when he happened to be in the vicinity of Lanigan'9 he-might call. "And I trust you'll have a rattling jolly holiday amongst us," he concluded, turning indoors, and waving a response to their effueive farewells. They went arm- j in-arm down the steps. j "Well begun is half done," quoth Sharman. "Miss Sophie's cake is dough. He was cordial to us and not to her. She got a snub and we an agreeable reception." "Paving the road to future developments," chuckled Hirst. "His afliability amazed mc. Mrs. Lanigan prepared us for surliness, and" he was quite pleasant, although wa didn't get over the Hireshold.' The Brant girl started clumsily and struck a snag. Her pretty face wasn't a passport to Bessemer's good graces. He's a man's man, our man for a cinch. We've broken ice neatly, Harper, and now to carry on warily and humour and capture him. He'e a taking fellow, don't you think?" In the hall Luke was discussing them with his elderly servant, Roberts. "Bobs, those strangers are Americans, speculators in real estate, from li'l old Nbo York, and straightforwardly and financially IT, if. we can believe them. They wanted to inspect our quarters, and took my repulse in excellent part. They are well-dressed and well-spoken, and the aroma they exhale testifies to a taste de luxe in cigars. I'm confident they are here in connection with the Caldicott letter I received a couple of months ago and didn't reply to, the letter asking mc if I'd care to sell and requesting a statement of the Court's size and condition, furniture, fittings, amount of land comprising-the grounds, bedrock price for immediate transfer, etc." "That Caldicott seemed to know you were in difficulties, and to imagine you'd jump out of your skin in your greed to grab his dollars," Roberts said, hotly. "The tone of his letter riled mc." ■ "It shouldn't have. It was courteoue and to the point. He has tired'*waiting for a-reply, and has sent Mr. Hirst and Mr. Sharman to negotiate on the spot. They didn't admit it, nor did I appear.to savvy, ■ but .• they come from Caldicott, and, Bobs, they can go back to him and report nothing doing. I won't sell." - '' "Where in the world could a New Yorker have got information about "you and your money troubles, sir?" ■ --"I'm blest if I've an inkling of a guess. It's a far cry to the States, and my name and fame aren't yet blazoned abroad. But-the question is of no importance. I've instructed Usher to raise a loan on mortgage, and Powell and Rice are the intending mortgagees. They will deposit the money at an early date, and it'll be an ease to my mind. I'm at a critical juncture, 'Bobs, when tranquility. .and ready cash are absolutely necessary if ruin's ' to be averted. Until Usher said Powell and Rice were thoroughly dependable , I "couldn't sleep nights for dread of having to cell to a Yankee who would .perhaps.convert the.Court into a.palatial tourist hotel. We are in the regular tourist track, and such an hotel would attract rich globe-trotters anxious to shun the mixed crowds of the popular nearby resorts. Thank heaven that fear is baniehed, but I wish Usher's methods were speedier. He's a confirmed slowcoach." ' "Mr. Powell and Mr. Rica won't lag, sir, and the mortgage will be your salvation. ' Don't heed the Americans." "Those men aren't costing mc a thought, but. another. American is determined we ehall heed her. Miss Brant, ef McCarthy's cabin, told mc to-day that she will visit us on Saturday. Tell her at the door her visit is inconvenient." "Mr. Luke, Miss Brant is a girl," said shocked Roberts*. "She is, and a peculiarly aggravating one." ' ; "It would be harsh to thrust her from the door." "No occasion to thrust. You can obey my order politely." "-•'Tian't like you to be churlish to a girl, Mr. Luke." Luke pondered that. "No; but Miss Brant irritates mc. I can't think why." "She hae a harmless look, sir." "So has a pimple, and it may cause a deal of annoyance." Roberta' face was a study in pained perplexity. . "You were civil to men seeking to buy you out," he muttered. ' "They didn't irritate. 'Nuff said. Where's the" London paper Mrs. Talbot posted to us?" "On the sideboard in the dining room." "Right. I'll skim "through it before peeling off my disreputable togs. You should have seen the'real estate speculators gape at them. ' By the way, Bobs. I've had a worrying evening upstairs and a sixth disappointment, but are we Not lißely. I'll stick in till I wring. victory from'defeat." I "God send you'll do it soon." breathed Roberts. He lingered in the hall, mournfully considering the order to exclude Sophie, and the consequent shattering of his rosy dream of Luke falling in'love with and marrying wealthy Miss Brant. He had' jeeen the 'shattering of countless illu-' eione during a lifetime's service as butler! to family, an d tears blis-1 tered h» t.red old eyes. Nothing ever came of dreams but emptiness and tearV SmV!o e a SC »«- and hif bSnr r °™ **** Luke sat on a corner, of the table cutehmg the London paper, his face Lls hair landing on end where

he had run his fingers through it. He pointed to a paragraph he had been reading, a paragraph flanked by heavily inked crosses. "Head that you, - ' he said, bis voice cracking on a high shrill note. "I can't believe, it. ... They print lies sometimes. Don't they print lies Bobs?" Affixing his spectacles, Roberts perused the item of news which was agitating his master, and his uniler-jaw dropped. "Who is this Franz Schmidt.?" he gasped. "Never heard of him. Whoever he is, he's got our secret. It isn't ours — it's Schmidt's ac well. And he's gained on mc while I have been waiting the pleasure of Powell and Rice, and sweating my brains out trying to catch something "that always eludes mc. What am I to do, Bobs'?" shaking him. "Tell we what to do." Roberts replaced his spectacles in their case, squared his bent shoulders, and spoke with authority. '"You'll eat your dinner at once, eir. Then take the train to Dublin and make Usher whip up that pair of dawdlers or this Franz Schmidt bombshell will blowall your hopes to smithereens." (To be. continued daily.)