The Mystery Road

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 247, 18 October 1928, Page 22

The Mystery Road

k J E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

{The young Englishmen, CHRISTOPHER BENT and GERALD DOMBEY (or Lord r; Downe, eldest son of the Earl of Hlttterleya), motoring to Monte Carlo, were delayed by a burst tyre, and while the chauffeur repaired the damage, strolled ;along the road to look at the countryside, i. There they encountered Myrtile, a lovely little peasant girl, in evident distress. . pressed to confide in the two young men Ghe explained that her mother had been' the village schoolmistress. She married for the second time a bad man) and died, . and Myrtile had been forced to live with the stepfather and care for tbe three small half-brothers and sisters. That evening her stepfather had announced his approaching marriage to the Widow Dumay, and told Myrtile that she was to be betrothed to Leschamps; .the.innkeeper. ''He Is fat and old and he drinks," cried Myrtile, "and I would rather die than have; him come near ri7e. Take me with yon as far as you are going—somewhere where I can hide." "Agreed!" said Gerald Impulsively. "We will start yo.u off on the great adventure. It seem's't.o me there can SPoilP iT 1 . 8 Worse for you- than what you So Myrtile, who had never vllla ge, was carried off to #>?.««»?*.S a ? < i,. by the two young men, who u m .& elv , eß her J° lnt guardians i°* n £«. bciils ' an<r Promised to find Tirou e h the kind offices of the tbei * botel they found <rfri sei5 e i„ ne , a^ y i and there began tot wm hr time - Christopher Z*X- wh ,°, 7 on her heartf and i ™ her eyes he could do no wrong MARY DOM BUY, Gerald's sister when consulted about Myrtile. was disapproving, but eventually promised to-heln them find work for her in England M J».P While Gerald, in a burst of enthSsiaVin it tin girl's beauty, took her ti a famoSs dressmaker, and bought her an outfit that showed her natural grace and charm to prefection. Gerald's thoughts, however were soon elsewhere, tn the Cnnino he caught sight of; a, beautiful girl, who, in company with a very haughty great lady, was arousing general curiosity and admiration. They themselves Madame and Mademoiselle de Poniere, and lived in a villa next to that by Lord. Hinterleys, where they received ho guests. After a great deal of. difficulty Gerald managed to gain the acquaintance of the Slrl, but Pauline still treated him with royal hauteur, and forbade , bim to call upon her aunt. The mystery sun-bunding the two ladies was heightened one eVent,lß '-'asino when a Russian named mmi?i. 0 * eata sensation by winning two Srnr ti.t a ?^ B ' Geru) «l- however, standing .this stranger when he was dispatch- £ 'i® • noticed tie addreia. lt tif tn Madame de poniere"

CHAPTER XIII. A New Experience. During their short walk to the Sporting Club, where the two young men had arranged to spend the rest of the evening, Christopher endeavoured to bring the conversation round to the subject of Myrtile. "It is time," he insisted, "that we did something a. little more definite about Myrtile. "What can we do ?" Gerald replied, carelessly; "She'll find a job presently." "She won't unless we help her," Christopher replied, "and meanwhile this life is horribly bad for her. She is all the time unsettled and uneasy, and I don't wonder at it. You don't take her seriously enough, Gerald." "In what way?" . "She told me this afternoon that you had promised to take her to one'of your supper parties." Gerald Was not;.altogether at his ease. "It was rather a rash promise," he admitted, "hilt, after all, why not? She'd create a sensation." : " ' 1 •

"That child's immediate future is a charge upon our honour," "Christopher said, sternly. "You and I know the class of • young women you invite to your parties. They're smart enough— the best of their sort,'without, a. doubt. At the same time, they're not fit companions for Myrtile. She's full of hysterical impressions, as it is. She mustn't come near them. She mustn't breathe the same atmospliere-" ... "Are you-in love with Myrtile Gerald asked curiousrj Christopher; loathed the. question, but lie remained outwardly unperturbed. "Myrtile is a child," lie said. "It will - ie time enough to think of such things en • ®he has; become a. woman. The, one deadly and pernicious certainty isv that she-is in love with you. Be caretl.e floor of hSI." d?n>t WaDt t0 Walk ° n Snorti^„ J eac^ ed the steps of the j Club. Gerald ran lightly up. "My dear Chris," he said +„rn?T around as he prepared to divest himself » , W V " Wat, a don ' t a melodramatic ass We rc ,ri the wrong atmosphere for that soit of thing . . . Jupiter" Her.,is the family!*' , . v . " ™ rL , Wen, you might appear a littite more pleased to see us," Mary declared. "Dad

and I looked in here on our way back from the dinner-party. Dad met an old friend there—Sir William Greatwood — and 'he insisted upon our coming. It seemed so ridiculously early to go home. They've hurried in to make sure of places at the first roulette table."

"Let's find a corner in the bar and have some coffee," Christopher suggested.. "Gerald is too electric to-night for a man of my staid temperament." "I'm not so sure of your staid temperament as I was," Mary rejoined. "However, I'd like some coffee. We'll take those two easy-chairs." Gerald soon drifted away and the two Vere left alone. Mary leaned back in her corner and studied her companion thoughtfully. "Christopher," she began, "I'm not at all sure that you two young men are behaving nicely in Monte Carlo. Father was saying t?iis afternoon that w'e scarcely saw you at all except at tennis."

"Will you play golf and lunch with me to-morrow morning, Lady Mary?" he begged. "With pleasure," she replied. "And now that you have made your peace, do tell me about Gprald. He seems to have an extraordinary craze for taking the mysterious young woman next door out motoring every afternoon. Who is she?" "I haven't the faintest idea," Christopher confessed. "Neither has he. That, I think, is part of the attraction."

"Does anyone know her?" Mary asked ; a little doubtfully. "She looks all right,' but, after all, ours is such a small world tliat it seems odd no one knows anything about her.". Christopher shook his head.

"I bekeve that Madame Lenore—the woman from whom he bought the things for Myrtile—knows something about them, at any rate."

Lady Mary played with the pearls which hung from her neck. "To leave the subject of our mysterious neighbours, then, have you succeeded in finding any employment for your little protege yet ?" she inquired, looking up at her 1 companion. "Not yet," Christopher replied. "Ihave written to a cousin of mine from London, who'goes in for that sort of thing, to see if she can find her a post aa nursery governess. The housekeeper at the hotel would take her as a chambermaid, but for once I agree with Gerald — I think she is far too good for anything of that sort."

"I can't imagine what you two young men think you know about it," Mary remarked. "The girl has lived all her life as a peasant, and I am still oldfashioned enough to believe that it is exceedingly unwise to pitchfork anyone into a position to which they are unaccustomed."

"The girl is altogether unusual," Christopher pointed out. "Her father and mother; .were, both school teachers. Sometimes I feel inclined to regret that we ever discovered her, but ac long as

we did, and brought her here, we must try to start her properly." "In Monte Carlo?" his companion observed, a little dryly. "I shall send her to oEngland, if my cousin agrees to take her," Christopher declared.

"And, in the meantime, the poor little fool is hopelessly in love with Gerald. Well, you both know what you are doing, I suppose. I should be sorry to have your responsibility." "Wait one moment," Christopher begged, laying his hand upon her arm. "I want you to watch this." She looked up curiously. Gerald had just entered the crowded little room, and, at the same moment, Mademoiselle de Poniere and her aunv appeared on the other threshold. Madame was dressed in black clothes of old-fashioned but distinctive cut. A wonderful black lace shawl drooped fr<?m her shoulders. Her ears and fingers blazed with gems. She leaned, as she walked, upon an ivorytopped stick, and her eyes h'ad their usual trick of wandering around the room as though she saw no one. Pauline's wonderful figure seemed (sheathed in a black gown, which fitted her with almost magical perfection. From the curve- of her large hat, which framed her pale face and heavily-fringed eyes, to the tips of her black and white patent shoes, she seemed to represent a perfection unobtrusive and inevitable. Gerald, who had been on his way to join his sister and Christopher, paused at their approach, as though bent on challenging some recognition, however slight, from the girl. In this, however, he was disappointed. Without any appearance of avoiding him, without even turning her eyes away from his direction, she passed by as though in complete unconsciousness of his- presence, and followed her companion through the other door. Gerald stood for a moment after they had left, in silent fury; The cigarette which he had been holding between his fingers slipped on to the carpet, crushed to pieces. He set his heel upon it, and crossed the room. Lady Mary recognised the sense of disturbance in him, and welcomed him with the tactful smile of one who has noticed nothing unusual. "Tell me whether to play trente et quarante or roulette to-night, Gerald?" she said. "Or shall Igo and play baccarat? If only the people there weren't so alarming!" . Gerald looked across at Christopher. He seemed as though he had scarcely heard his sister's words.

"Did you see that" he asked, in a low tone.

Christopher nodded. "Personally," he admitted, "I should find it intolerable, but then, as you know, I hate all mysteries. I should feel inclined to go up to the young woman and ask her if she were tired after her motoring." "I believe I have an average amount of pluck," Gerald declared, "but I tell you honestly I couldn't face it. I believe I

should get the most colossal snub which ha? ever been inflicted upon a human being."

"The girl is extraordinarily attractive," Mary observed. "Shall I really be brave and call, Gerald. One doesn't do that sort of thing abroad, but she must be lonely. If they aren't what they should be it won't hurt me." "No good, old dear," Gerald groaned. I've suggested something of the sort already, but she only threw cold water on the idea."

Lady Mary laughed softly. "After all," she decided, "there is something humorous in the situation. I always look upon Gerald as being the most woman-spoilt man I know. Quite a new experience for you, dear, isn't it? I can't think how you ever progressed so far as you have done." "Sheer British pluck," Gerald declared "I can assure you I never shivered so much during my Jhree years in France as I did when I walked up i o the rock where the girl was standing. I don't remember, even now, how I made the plunge." "You probably asked her if her name wasn't Smith, and if you hadn't met at the Jones' ball," Mary remarked. "After all, there have been other people in the world who haven't wished to make acquaintances. They are both in halfmourning, too." "I should cheer up, old fellow," Christopher advised. "They won't hold out for ever. You will probably find that to-morrow afternoon the young lady will shyly invite you in to meet her aunt." "You don't know what you're talking about," Gerald growled. "There! Did you see that ?" Through the open doorway Madame de Poniere and her younger companion were plainly visible, making their way towards one of the roulette tables. They had come face to face for a moment with a little Frenchman, who stopped and bowed with every mark of respect. Both of the women acknowledged his salutation graciously. Gerald sprang to his feet. "That's Henri Dubois, Monsieur Blanc's representative there!" he exclaimed. "He knows them! Thank heavens, I've come across someone at last who does!"

He crossed the room in half-a-dozen strides, and accosted Monsieur Dubois in the private way leading to the Hotel de Paris. The usual civilities were exchanged. "Mqnsieur Dubois, you can do m e a favour," Gerald confided, as he drew him towards the bar and ordered two liqueur brandies.

"If it is possible, it is done," Dubois declared.

"I want you to tell me," Gerald continued, "who the two ladies in black were to whom you just bowed—Madame and Mademoiselle de Poniere, they call themselves?" •

The courteous smile faded from the lips of the little man. He was watching intently the pouring of the brandv into his glass. y

"Milord," he regretted, "I cannot tell you anything about those two ladies."

"You, tocr!" he exclaimed. "What on earth is the mystery about them'.-" * The Frenchman looked at him in bland surprise. "Mystery, milord?" he repeated. •'ls there one?" Gerald avoided a fruitless discussion. He laid his hand on his companion's shoulder in friendly fashion. "Look here, old fellow," he said, "I will ask you one question, and one question ouly. What are their real names" Monsieur Dubois smiled. His difficulties were at an end. "Milord," he declared, . "you wron" those very Respectable ladies in imagining that they would present themselves here under names to which they had no right. Both ladies, who are, as you have doubtless surmised, related, are entitled the name of De Poniere. The first Christian name of the elder lady is Anastasie, of the younger—Pauline. I am happy to be able to satisfy milord. A thousand excuses. They call me from the baccarat room." Gerald returned dejectedly to the room where his sister and Christopher were waiting expectantly. "It appears that there is no mystery at all," he announced.. "Dubois assures me that they are related and that their names are indeed De Poniere." .(To fee continued dai]jr.£