The Mysterious Masquerade

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 262, 4 November 1932, Page 13

The Mysterious Masquerade

by . • # J. R. WILMOT

CHAPTER XV.—(Continued.) As for Molly, the excitement displayed by the Silvers was contagious. She felt herself trembling in every limb. She was sure that now that the climax pf their plot had arrived they were as nervous as she was herself, and for the first time she realised how helpful her assumed loss of memory would be for her. Yet all the time she hated herself for the deception that had been thrust upon her and which she was perpetuating. But it was little use thinking such thoughts now. She must go through with it—continue the pretence until such time as she was able to find the real Molly Carstairs.

Molly had not thought too much about that as yet. Had she done so she might have realised how difficult- such a task might he. From all accounts, the girl had run away eight years ago, and in eight years a great deal could happen. Inwardly, she shuddered when she thought that Molly Carstairs might be dead. The household had breakfasted early, and at nine-thirty the car was drawn up at the door, with the implacable Judson at the wheel. The journey down to Tilbury was accomplished in three-quarters of an hour, and as they arrived at the docks they were just in time to sec the grey hull of tlie Invorsnaide drawing in to the wharf-side, while shrill whistles screamed and an officer at the bow shouted his instructions to the men on the quayside through a megaphone. There were quite a number of people doyn to greet the vessel, and Molly saw the decks crowded with passengers fluttering White handkerchiefs and calling imperfectly heard greetings to those Who awaited them.

Molly was beside Flora Silver in the crowd that pressed around her waiting for the gangway to be run up, and the: landing formalities to be proceeded with. Flora Silver's hand clutched the girl's arm in a firm grip. Her face was still flushed. Beside her stood Paul Silver gazing eagerly towards the vessel in an effort to locate a figure-whom he knew must be there, but whom he felt he might not easily recognise. This was the worst moment Silver had ever experienced in the long length of a chequered career; a moment he had long dreaded, and now that it had arrived he was less pleased with his emotions. But Paul Silver was a born gambler, and he tried to reassure himself with the thought that the odds were slightly on his side as yet. "Can you see him, Paul?" Molly heard the woman whisper, in a cracked voice, to her husband. He shook his head. "Not yet." The boat was safely moored by now. One heavy hawser at the bow was straining taut, and dripping great beads of dock water. Molly could hear it creaking. Then a space was cleared on the quayside. A mysterious gap appeared in the side of the ship; a derrick swung outwards; came a rattle of block and pulley, and a rope ending with a stout hook ran down. Molly watched one of the men grab it and hook it under a sling on the waiting gangway. A man raised his arm and then lowered it again, and with another creak of the pulley above the gangway soared precipitously, drawn upwards and inwards until one end entered the black gap in the ship's hull.

A moment later a number of blue uniformed officials climbed aboard, followed by several men from the steamship offices. The boat was now so close that those on shore who had recognised their friends and relatives could conduct shouted conversations, but though Molly strained her eyes she could see no one among the people on deck who might correspond with Major Carstairs.

Paul Silver had, the day previously, gone down to the steamship company's offices and secured permits to board the vessel before the passengers came ashore. He had considered this to be the wisest course; better, in fact, than that the meeting should take place on the crowded quayside. Motioning to his wife and Molly to follow him, he elbowed his way through the crowd, to tho foot of the gangway, where a dock official stood. The man consulted the slips of paper which Silver held in his hand, and, after satisfying himself that they were in order, the trio were permitted to ascend to the deck.

Molly's heart was beating wildly as she followed Flora Silver. Yesterday this moment had not seemed nearly so formidable as it was now. At the head of the gangway Silver waylaid a whitecoated steward and inquired for Major Carstairs' stateroom. A coin passed between them, and the steward led the way along a narrow iron-bound alleyway between decks until he halted before a 'door numbered 75. He knocked upon the cedar wood panel, and, receiving no reply, turned the handle. "Major Carstairs is probably in the lounge," he told them. "The passport officer's there examining their papers. If you'll stay here a few minutes I'll tell the Major you're here." The next moment the man had closed the door, and they found themselves alone in the compact, comfortably-fur-nished little apartment. Paul Silver laid a hind on the girl's arm and looked up into her eyes.

"You're not feeling nervous, my dear?" he inquired. "Don't worry, everything will be all right. I'm just stepping outside for a moment." Paul Silver opened the door and moved out into the alleyway, glancing nervously about him. He had not long to wait before the .tall, erect figure of'- Major Carstairs appeared from around the first angle. He saw Silver, and a smile came to his lips. His hand shot out in greeting. "Dear old Silver," cried the Major heartily. "I never expected you'd come aboard. Have you brought Molly with you!" Paul Silver grasped the outstretched hand and nodded.

"She's inside with Flora," he said, a trifle unsteadily. "I came out here, Aldous, old man, to warn you." "Warn me? Why, what's wrong?" The smile was still on the Major's face, for life waß very good to him at that moment. "It's about Molly," whispered Silver. "I want you to be very careful with her; you see . . ." he paused, uncertainly, "she's suffering from a temporary lose of memory. The doctor says she'll be all right again soon, but that we mu.st be careful of her.. There are sonic things she can remember and others she can't." Major Carstairs' face had grown sudd«mly«criq<ua,

"Why wasn't I told about this?" he asked quietly. "Has the poor child been like this for long?" "Only for a fortnight, Aldous. It is most distressing—especially now." "I'm glad you warned me, Paul, old man," smiled the Major. "Perhape the sight of me will effect a cure. I've heard of euch cases before —sudden emotional shock, you know." "Let's hope so," said Silver. "And now we'll go inside." CHAPTER XVI. Major Carstairs' Secret. Molly Carstairs watched that stateroom door open as though hypnotised.

Paul Silver entered first. He was smiling brightly; the first time she had seen him smiling for many days. But it was not Paul Silver she really noticed, it was the tall, bronzed-faced man with the grey hair and small grey moustache who followed closely on his heels. For a moment he stood there, his eyes smiling if not his lips. "Molly; My child!" he exclaimed, holding out both his hands towards her as he advanced a pace. For many years afterwards the memory of that moment remained with Molly. Despite the hatefulness of it all, there was something about that reunion of the father and the girl he believed to be his daughter that affected her deeply. It Was one of thope few moments in life that leave an almost indelible impression on the subconscious mind. She re-, mcmbered the look in those blue eyes as lie held her close to him and bent down and kissed her very tenderly. It was the look of a man who had achieved the dearest wish that life holds for him. The apex of years of hoping'the fulfilment of a dream.

When he released her after what seemed an eternity of mental anguish her eyes were wet with tears and she noted that his own were by no means dry. Even Flora Silver dabbed at her make-up with a small pink handkerchief which she had abstracted from her handbag. Then Major Carstairs spoke again. "I think you look lovely, Molly," lie smiled, and there was a ring of sincerity in his tones. "You're far lovelier than ever I've pictured you. You know, I'm rather glad now that you never sent me your photograph. If you had done, I should have known just what to expect and that would have taken all the thrill from this joyous moment." "I think that's awfully nice of you," answered Molly, a trifle breathlessly. "And it's rather like that for me. I've always had my dream-picture of you, don't forget." "But what about the one I sent . The major broke off in obvious confusion. . Of course, he wtui forgetting what Silver had told him. Still there was plenty of time for talking. He'd found her now and that was all he wanted. He turned to Flora Silver. "My sincere apologies, Flora, for not greeting you before, but I think you understand. And you're not looking any older, either, is she Paul t" he added, gallantly. ' ! Flora Silver took the proffered hand and simpered rather foolishly. "And you haven't forgotten how to flatter the ladies, Aldoue," she reminded him. "And even though I don't believe you, it's nice to hear you say so. Paul never passes me any compliments nowadays." "Ungrateful fellow," chided the major, taking hold of Molly's arm and squeezing it gently. "And now I'd better be toddling along to see about my baggage. Coming, Paul, and you, too, Flora?" _ Together Molly and the major went up on deck, followed by the Silvers. "It's been a glorious trip, my drar, he told her, "and it's had an even more wonderful ending. Feeling hapyy, darling?" ~ Molly nodded and smiled up at him. "I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life," she told him, sincerely, and the girl meant it, every word. Masquerade or not it had been worth while to see the sheer joy of life in this man s face, and when she wondered what that homecoming would have been if there had been no Molly Carstairs there to greet him, her self-assurance grew by leaps and bounds. She had placated a guilty conscience —at least to some exte'wiien Major Carstairs had gone to find out what had happened to his baggage, Molly found Flora Silver once again beside her. "There my dear," elie murmured, "what did I tell you? Isn't he a charming man? I think you're a very, very lucky girl." The drive back to Hampstead was a rather wonderful thing for Molly. Paul Silver gat in front beside Judson, and Major Carstairs sat between herself and Flora Silver at the back. Most of the way he commented on the' amazingly changed face of London since last he had seen it, and his \l remember the time when —" and "Goodness me, what have they done with that?" sounded quite quaint. Molly laughed happily. "I'll have to take you on a tour of London," she promised him, "and then perhaps you will rediscover it." "We'll start to-night," he whispered, "just we two. We'll have dinner together somewhere —anywhere you like. The Ritz, shall it be, or the jolly old Savoy? And then we'll go to a show. It's years since I've seen a decent play." "Then you're going to be horribly disappointed," laughed Molly, "because all the best plays nowadays are supposed to be ever so slightly indecent." "You've got that idea from Paris," he told her, wagging an accusing finger in front of her nose. "I don't believe it. What do you say, Flora?" The mention of Paris had sent a frozen tremor down her spine. "Oh, they're not as bad as all that, Aldous. You'll soon get acclimatised." They all laughed, and Paul iSlver from his seat on the other side of the glass partition pricked up his ears and wished he could hear more clearly.

An early luncheon was waiting for them at Lawn House, and as they sat down Major Carstairs said: "This is a charming place you've got here, Paul. That lawn of yours is a real peach. It's only when you have spent half a lifetime in climates where everything's burned to a cinder that you really appreciate good, healthy green grass." "Glad you like it, Aldous," put in Mrs. Silver, as she served the meal. "I never could endure living in town, could I, Paul? The multiplication of the motor car has quite polluted the atmosphere: After a day around the shops one's clothes positively smell oi petrol fumes and oiL"

"I'll bet Molly doesn't mind that," laughed the Major heartily. "Young people need life. It keeps them from growing prematurely aged. I remember when I was young I always suspected my mother of being fifty when she couldn't have been a day older than thirty. And that was because there was so little of the gaiety that we know to-day. It's the same out in India, too. Unless you go absolutely wild occasionally you positively feel death creeping over you, and a nasty feeling it is, too."

"I think the modern age is a very nice age," supplied Molly. "Lots of people say nasty things about it, but I think that's because they're jealous—because too old to enjoy it." "Gooii for you, Molly," cried her "father." "That's the spirit. And I'm going to take jolly good care that you don't find me a wet blanket. As you said coming down, Flora, I've got to get acclimatised. Well, I've plenty of time to get that, haven't I, Molly? You and I are going to do the most absurd things together—just like kids on holiday. Except this isn't just a holiday," he added, happily. "It's for keeps." Paul Silver looked up sharply from his plate. "You mean you're not returning to India, Aldous?" he asked, keeping his voice as even as he could under the circumstances. "That's the ticket, Paul. That's my little surprise packet. I'm finished. I'm through. I'm reporting at the War Office in the morning, and after a few very necessary formalities. I'll be a free man. Nice little pension, Paul, and I hope, a long life to enjoy it. Why, Molly, what's the matter?" he added quickly, noting how suddenly pale the girl opposite him had become. Molly tried to smile. "I think it must be the excitement," she apologised, breathlessly. "You've no idea how excited I've been, really. I'll be all right in a moment." Flora Silver had risen from her chair and placed an arm around the girl's shoulders, while Carstairs dashed to the sideboard and poured out a peg of, brandy. "There, dear, take a sip at this," soothed Mrs. Silver, taking the glass from the-Major's hand, "you'll feel ever so much better." "I think I'll go upstairs," said Molly, quietly, and turning to Major Carstairs: "Please don't worry, it's nothing, really it isn't." When the two women had gone Carstairs turned to Silver. "You don't think I've been talking too much to her, do you, Paul 1" "I don't think it's that," Silver replied. "I think it's just as she said— the reaction after an exciting morning." But Paul Silver knew it was nothing of the kind. He knew exactly how the girl felt. Why the devil hadn't Carstairs mentioned that he was coming home for good? (To be continued daily.)