MYSTERY of MANOR HOUSE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 26

MYSTERY of MANOR HOUSE

HOLIDAY ADVENTURE

CHAPTER XL—Continued. AH was still when Ethel hurriedly opened the door. "Father," ehe commenced at once, "there's a gentleman come to the Manor House—Lena's uncle—and Marjory is somehow frightened, and she wants me to stay the night."

Mr. Drayton turned sharply round, and in doing so hi« foot slipped, the tumbler was knocked over, and fell with a crash on to the fender. Mrs. Drayton, very startled, jumped up suddenly, upsetting her work basket over the floor. Mr. and Mrs. Drayton looked at each other. "Why, what is the matter!" asked Ethel. "I think it is what is the matter?" replied Mr. Drayton sharply. "Why must von outer a room in that brusque manner. L„ok how you startled your mother." Ethel «at down. It was so unusual .u\ D / B y ton to M'eak sharply to << mat for a moment Ethel was quite :a7dTLt." rm ""* ™ther,"\he he spoke, and this time ther e P was „" reproof in hi* voice. "You see. my dear." he said, slowlr and ~uite quietly, "you took us rather by surpr.se. I had j UBt been speakina to your mother about that uncle. Strange that you should arrive with news of his arrival." "Then you know about him," asked Ethel, questioningly. "I know something about him " replied Mr. Drayton. "I have heard him spoken of down at the White Horse. See. now—what did they say his na:ne wag?" Mr. Drayton appeared to be thinking.

"His name is Lester, of course," said Ethel.

"No, it isn't Lester," said Mr. Dravton thoughtfully. "He is only a haffbrother of Lena's father." "But he calls himself Lester," Ethel urged. "He what?" cried Mr. Drayton, apparently surprised. "He calls himself Lester," repeated Ethel; "at any rate I cailcd him Mr. Lester, and he didn't say that it was wrong." "That's queer," said Mr. Drayton. "But tell me more about him, and why they wish you to stay there to-night." "It's only Marjory," Ethel began. "She doesn't like him, and, he's been talking a lot about burglars, and it has frightened her, so she asked me to stay." Mrs. Drayton, who had resumed her sewing, now dropped it again, and looked first at Ethel, and then at Mr Drayton. "Come, Ethel," said Mr. Drayton seriously, "let me have a clear account of what has happened and what the man looks like. It seems a queer thing for you to be going back at this time of night."

Ethel described the man and told all that she could remember from the time he had rung the front-door bell to the moment when he had whipped the revolver out of his pocket.

"There seems no reason for Marjory to be frightened, I know," said Ethel, but she was terrified, and I promised let mi T «° back a S al "-9o please let me. Will you, mother?" *J! W t Will .'** y°«." H was Mr. Drayton who replied, "but listen to me " He looked dreadfully serious, Ethel thought and she wondered why ' uncle/' o"'*0 "'* beli6Ve th^'tl?iß man "their "Father!" Ethel stammered, "what do you mean?" ti/T^ 8 * V ay ~ that * don,t bel«ve that he is their uncle." 1.-1?!! 1 '» Sa ' e Lel,a the waUh 'or her birthday," said Ethel.

"I don't care what he did. I am certain that he is not their uncle." "But who can he be then ?" asked Ethel. "He is a burglar, my dear,'' replied Mr. Drayton, watching Ethel closely. "And he thinks that he has an easy job in front of him, but he'll rind out his mistake. He has been teasing you all, just for the fun of it all. 1 see it [da inly." Mrs. Drayton sat quiet, and it was only by her hard breathing, and an occasional glance at Ethel that she showed any anxiety. "But, father!" Ethel began again, "why—what makes you say that? How could he know the girl's names, and that it was Lena's birthday, if he wasn't their uncle. And besides* he gave her the watch, I've seen it." Mr. Drayton smiled. "You saw him give Lena the watch?" he said. "No," replied Ethel. "He sent it by post." "What do you say, my dear?" Mr. Drayton asked his wife. "I think that you must be right,""said Mrs. Drayton quietly. 'I don't at all like Ethel's description of him." "But, mother," protested Ethel, "how do you know what the real uncle is like? You've never seen him." "Father has told me something about him. dear," replied Mrs. Drayton; i - "And how does father know?" asked Ethel, thoroughly puzzled. ! "I thought that I was noted.for learning eveiything about everybody whereever I went," said Mr. Dravton. "Here I have a brilliant chance of proving, that knowledge is power, and vou persist in believing not a word I say." He spoke good-humouredly. "Now. father!" cried Ethel. "You are only joking, after all. You have been trying to frighten me. like Mr. Lester tried to frighten Marjory." "My dear child," eaid Mr. Drayton very seriously, "if you are not frightened so much the better, for you must ,„ back to the Manor House and staV there with those girls. You will oe frightened before the night is out, I think, though there is no need for anv serious alarm Let the man alone, and he will take the things and "o awav quietly." ° "You really mean, father, that that man is a burglar?'' "I am certain of it." Ethels face lost colour. She looked at her mother, and then round at the cosy little room. A burglar* And ehe had to go back! - jgr "Well, are you ready?" Mr. Dravton junied 80 y that Ethel ne " ar,y

"Yes," she replied, and went t^.-kis* her mother good-night.

"You are not letting her go alon >. dear, are you," asked Mrs. Drayton anxiously.

"Why not?" replied Mr. Drayton. "The burglar isn't in the road, he's in tinhouse, and wherever he is, he'll hurt no one, provided he's left alone."

Mrs. Drayton sighed. She did not like the idea of Kthel going down to the Manor House, though she knew perfectly well that Mr. Drayton would not send her if there was any danger.

"It's all right, mother," said Kthel: but though she tried hard she could not stop her voice trembling a little. To fro back again—knowing the man to be a burglar—and Mr. Drayton's seriousness convinced her that he was a burglar — required a brave effort.

■ Mr. Drayton spoke again. "You do exactly as I tell you. Kthel," he sai.l "f!o back and spend the rest of the evening with them, just as if he »va* their uncle. Say nothing to anybo.lv The children needn't he frightened, aiid the servants mustn't know. A parcel of women! They'd screech the place down Oo to bed as usual, but try not to sleep You must keep a sharp look-out. and when you hear the man leave the house run into his bedroom and see if he has tampered with the wardrobe. If he has throw open a window, and call. I shall be within easy distance with Ward, the policeman, and Tiger, and we shall have the fellow safe. Do you understand?" "Yes. father," replied Kthel in a tremulous v»>ice. "But mightn't he shoot ?" Mr. Drayton shrugged his shoulders and Mrs. Drayton shuddered. It all sounded \<*y terrible. "He'll be too much surprised to shoot," replied Mr. Drayton. "Besides, he might kill someone, and that would be murder and mean certain death to him in the end. Xo, you needn't fear that. Come, you're not going to be afraid V Mr. Drayton placed a hand affectionately on Ethel's shoulder. Tears stood in Mrs. Drayton's eyes. Ethel could not speak, but she bravely shook her head. "Well, then, off you go. Take Xip. of course, but keep him quiet. If somethin? extraordinary happens Nip-is, sufficient safeguard, and. remember, I shall be close to you all the time, so don't be afraid, Fniph! Well, how do you feel now?" Mr. Drayton smiled.

"Oh, I'll go, father," replied Ethel but that was all that she <<oiild say She kissed her mother in silence, an 1 called to Xip, who followed immediately .Mr. Drayton opened the front door for her. "I'm coming down myself soon." he said, bending down to kiss her. Ethe! murmured a reply as she ran down the little garden path, an<l the next instant she had disappeared in the dark road.

(To be continued Wednesday next.)