"THE RING"

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 16

"THE RING"

By MAY WYNNE

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

(AuthoT of "The Golden Hour," "If Riche« Increase," "Other Men's Shoes," etc., etc.)

MAISIE GARNELIj is the eldest cliild of the Vicar oH Darton-NViiileigh. She is atlianced to MURRAY MALLERTON, a young doctor. Une day Maisie is able to assist a lady who has fallen down the side of a disused pit. The rescued lady is so grateful that she gives Maisie, as hostage of her gratitude, a ring o* great brilliance, but peculiar appearance, the setting of the stones forming a strange hieroglyphic. The woman. Mrs. Banberry, tells Maisie to keep the ring for two months, then bring it to Keydell Court, when she will have the pleasure of giving her the reward it is her liriu purpose to bestow. She obtains Maisie's promise that she will not wear the ring or show it to anyone until the day she returns it to Reydell Court. A MR. RODNEY GLASHIER comes to stay at tlie village inn with his servant, FO CHUSGA —a <'liinaiiiau. Maisie and Murray take an instant dislike to these two. Ulashicr calls on the Vicar, and Fo Cluing amuses Maisie's younger brothers and sisters by showing them conjuring tricks. He says he could show them the best trick of all if only he had a ring. The Vicar is seriously pressed with bills, and Glasliier obliges him with a small loan, and says he will not consider this a debt if he can have a small gift as compensation. He would prefer a ring, if Maisie had an old one of any sort to give him. Can Fo Chung and Glashier possibly have anything to do with Mrs. Itun berry and the mysterious ring? Glusliier is not convinced when Maisie says she has no ring, and threatens her. Later Fo Chung, by artful means, contrives to lock himself in Maisie's bedroom, and make a frantic search for the ring. He is not successful, however, and escapes by the window. Maisie is now thoroughly alarmed, and determines to take the ring back to Mrs. Banberry, although the stipulated time is not yet • ■>. At Ueydell Court Maisie is conipelle. tn stay the night, owing to fog. During t.io night she hears someone trying to enter the house. She seeks out Mrs. Banberry's room, only to find it empty, the bed not slept in, and all the evidence of a hasty packing. CHAPTER IX. Maisie blew out her light- The action was involuntary, and no sooner had she done it than she regretted it. For she had not a match in her pocket. As she stood still, listening, she heard the creaking of a window being forced open. It whs difficult to determine as to which window it could be, but it was evident hat une person was attempting to break into the house. Her thoughts flew to Fo Chung. Was it possible the Chinaman—not previously knowing her destination—could have tracked her down? But it was 110 case fcr argument. Already Maisie w;:s aware that the fear with which the evil-eyed Chinese inspired her was knocking at her heart. Ilis silent, creeping h;i \ s. Ins menacing I eyes, told of a purpose which would not stop short at murder. .Should she try to lind the staircase and her room"; There were matches and light there. Setting the useless candlestick down on the floor, Maisie began to grope her way, spreading out her arms before her as a swimmer does. The darkness was so intense as to give her the impression that she was confronted by an obstruction. Every now and then she paused, listening- Not a sound. "Sana!" she whispered; then louder: "Sana!" No answer. Was she alone in this horrible house? And if so, why had she been thus deserted ? It almost seemed impossible that those three people should have lied out into the foggy night. How cold it was. How Her heart gave a bound. As she stood still, wondering how she could recover her bearings, she was sure she had heard a sound. Maisie caught her breath, straining her cars. Yes, there could be no doubt of it. A light foottall sounded on the uncarpetcd boards. She was :iot alone. But the#knowlcdge gave her no relief. I he thought of to t hung too completely dominated her- She was haunted bv the memory of the man's face au he had peered in at her bedroom window. She fell she should swoon, yet still stronger was her intent to escape. "Sana! Mito! Mrs. Banberry!" she called in sudden loud tones. Her voice rang oddly, weirdly into the darkness, but no answer was returned. Only—for a few seconds —there followed silence. Then once again the footstep sounded, falling softly on the boards. The sensation was somewhat akin to being pursued by a ghost. A ghost filled by so malign and menacing a purpose as to strike terror to the bravest. Again Maisie spread out her arms. Her hand touched something—the folds of a curtain- She dragged it aside, and groped down the passage. Then she stumbled against a stair. She would go upstairs—yes, yes—and lock the door of some room against the silent intruder.

She liaif crawled up tlie stairs—not lie wide and shallow ones up which Sana had led her. She readied a landing. -Again she paused, regretful. What a foolish girl she had been not to try and find a door leading out into the night. The black mist of the fog would have been her surest refuge.

Too late! Though at first silence seemed t o fill the house, she presently heard the creaking of a stair. Very softly, with creeping, catlike steps, her enemy pursued. It must be Fo Chung. And if he found her, what would he do?

Sobbing in a terror which no amount of argument could subdue, Maisie ran on, striking violently against a door. She opened and closed it behind her. Was there—was there a key in the lock? Yes! Yes! Oil, liow good! She locked the door. Then, strength failing her, she sank down.

The floor of the room was carpeted. Her searching hands presently came in contact with a chair—then a bed. But it was not tlie room Sana had taken her to. It seemed to be larger. A peculiarly fragrant perfume hung in the atmosphere. Maisie stood leaning against the bed. She was still trembling. If only sliec ould have a light. If only she were not alone. Listen, what was that? Had a heavy curtain been drawn aside? Was she 110 longer alone? A light Hare, a long ray of white flame from an electric torch pierced the intense darkness, moved swiftly round the room, and finally settled upon her face. She Mas discovered, and as she stood, cold and faint in tlie horror of the moment, she saw behind the hand which held the torch the sinister face of Fo Chung. A piercing scream broke from Maisie's lips. She turned to escape; but there was 110 escape. With a quick spring the Chinaman had. leapt forward and caught her wrist in his left hand whilst once again he turned the torch full upon her.

•Hiiiitiiiiniuuiiiuiiiniiu 5

A low laugh of exultation broke from the man's lips as he saw sparkling on his victim's middle linger the talisman

ring. Maisie had forgotten that she had placed the ring on her .hand, but she did not attempt to withdraw it. What did she care now aj to whether this talisman were lost or 110 ? Mrs. Banberry's heartless desertion, the cruel trick she had played upon her, filled her with lierce indignation. The woman had deliberately planned to desert her. And yet, if this were so, why had she given the ring to her care? It was with the greatest relief that Maisie felt the ill-fated jewel dragged from her linger. As Fo Chung took the ring the curtain opposite the door by which she had entered was again raised, and to her surprise Rodney Glashier entered.

Maisie disliked the American. She feared him, too, but not to the same extent as she feared Fo Chung. His coming now was a distinct relief. The poor girl had expected little less than murder at the hands of her foe.

Now she saw herself forgotten Clasliier hardly glanced at her.

'"The ring," he exclaimed, speaking to his accomplice. "You have it?"

The Chinaman held out his hand. In the palm lay the ring. Glashier laughed aloud. "Good. And Madaml"

"She has gone," said Fo Chung doubtfully. "It is very extremely regrettable. Also those traitors, Mito and his Sana. They all sec red fear. Run away, leaving this, thinking safer with English girl."

Glashier turned to Maisie. "Guess you see 1 was about right," he drawled. "It

Mould have been better if you had given me the ring when I asked. Then you'd have had some cash prize. Now—" He smiled—not verv nieelv.

Maisie claspel her hands. '"f—l don't understand any of it," she moaned. "1 did what seemed right. I kept my promise. Mrs. Banberry is a cruel, cruel woman. I—l eau hardly believe she has really gone." Uio American laughed contemptuously. "She's gone, 1 guess," he said; "but not too far, as she has left this behind her. Come, Miss Maisie. Wc weren't interested in you, you know, •and 1 guess we don't want to eat you now. lint it II be a deal better for you if you re sensible. Tell us the whole yarn of your coining here." Maisie looked Iroin one to the other of those strange persecutors. She was no less afraid (it ho t'hiinu. who-e glittering orbs were li.\ed or. her with the same subtle menace. She would not have dared to refuse the American's re<|ue.-t. 'I hat tracking in the dark, that eerie feeding of silent pursuit, had broken her courage. She only thought of escape. So, as well as she could, she told the story. Both men listened intently. When she canic to relate how Sana had brought the note and ring to her room, Glashier caught the Chinaman by the shoulder and whispered in his ear. Fo Chung snarled, clenching bis lists. Thcv both turned to Maisie. she finished her story in low, uncertain tones, -jwurc that somo new development had come to threaten her. What could it be? Glashier walked across the room and unlocked the door, taki.ig out the key. "Come, Fo Chung," he said, "wc shall have to see into this. For the present the girl had better stay where she is." He glanced at Maisie. "Sleep well, my dear," lie added, jerking his thumb towards the bed; "wc shall t disturb you, and you wouldn't be wanting to leave such true and tried friends at this hour of the night. Tomorrow morning you shall ln. it r our plans. That's .-il-out the size of it." Maisie did not reply, she dared not ciiticat or aigue. At anv rate, it. would be a relief to be alone. Surely she would lind some way of escape. I*o Chung tollowed his companion out of the room. lie was breathing heavily, and his face was clouded gloom. Maisie felt she would never forget the haticd in his scowl as he looked back towards her from the doorway. Ihe next second the key turned in the lock outside. (To be continued, daily.)