MYSTERY of MANOR HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 22

MYSTERY of MANOR HOUSE.

Lena, was the first to speak. "I am gong to find Ethel." , site salu resolutely. "L~na! Lena:" crifee Marjory, catching her breath. *"i:o.*j Teavenie.' - " rr.-r cry was piteous, and Lena, frightened heraelf, but fe-lin™ brave bri-ause Marjory was flightened, s.iid gciitiy. -Well. yo;i come ton." Marjory wrrm*>!tvl out of bed quickly, afraid that Lena should go lie fore she reached her. Barefooted, the/ approached the door, opened it and gained the landing just as the policeman eame along. Ready to faint with fear. Marjory uttered a terrified "Oh!" and ehing to Lena. They shrunk back together - *'but Lena, with her arms round Marjory, bravely looked to see who was eom'njr. She recognised the uniform and cried out bravely, "Why. it's the policeaun:" She knew that a polk-emah Meant protection, and she would have sprang forward had not Marjory held her oeeic* . The policeman spoke reassuringly to 4he girbV **But what has happened?" asked Lena. TWhcre i> Ethel, and who fired the gun ?" Marjory ventured a look at the policeBan. » "Xow, Mies." replied Ward, "there's aothing at all for you to be afraid of. If* just a burglar in the house, and me ■ad Mr. Dravton and your little friend caught Vm." "You! Mr. Dray ton! Ethel!" repeated Lena, aghast. "A burglar! Then ancle was—where is uncle?" she interrupted heraelf. "Ah,, mis*." Mid Ward, with a queer •mile. That'* it. It's him that is the burglar, bat we hare him safe enough, thonsh I fear that the little lady's a bit hart. Bat here 1 m a talking to you vr Vcn I should be fctchlag Jane." He started on agaia, bat Lena- called to him to stop. It wa» difficult to rcal'se what he meant, and jet—why waa she here this time of night, talking to a policeman ? Certainly something extraordinary had happened. She asked more questions and received more amazing replies, but at lart she grasped the situation. Ethel was hurt and needed assistance Lena volunteered to> fetch Jaae herself and darted away into the darkness, leaving the policeman with Marjory. She wakened Jane and poured into her Car as dear a story as she could relate, while Jane hurriedly threw, on some clothes. Then together they hastened Mfk. On the landing Ward h?d found a chair aed was now sitting with Marjory on his kaee. Close by him stood Mr. Drayton, vita Ethel, tall girl as she was, in his ■raw.. The candle waa placed on the

- . ' tm»m ; raked forward. "Oh. here you "SL J"" fcnrtt- ah* cried to Ethel, ''Wte Jw» broke i. with, -0», air, what l r <• the atattert What to the fwttert" lE' fSsLHuirf'Ti? •°" e *fc«t «*ter g* drinking .* little of the water, and now f M'•D'-yV- w.»ted to pat Wr to bed. M, A* Lena anoke to her ahe tried to smile E bat only aaeeeeded in buret- - ing 'nto tears. ' Oh. ahe is hart, then?" said Lena T while Marjory looked oa tearhdly ami £ quietly. It ni atraagc to ae« Ethel f--'.- crying. -• - . '- Ethel «hook her bead, but was amble ■Z; to speak. ■.;'..

"Cope, tkirt will nerer do," said Mr. Drayton playfully. "Xow. -Lend, which i* your bedroom t I can't carry a girl of this size aliout lonj;.**

Lena felt surprised; Mr. Dray ton was jxkiiijr a* if notlrn? hml hap|>ened. She took him into the bedroom, and .Inno, rarrrin? the candle, followed with Marjory, while Wan! went back to the burglar. Mr. Dray ton placed Ethel on the l>ed and Marjory and Lena climbed near her. while Jane lighted more candles. '•Where's Xip. father?" asked Ethel in a trembling voice. "Xip? Oh, Xip's in the other room," rej»l : ed Mr. Druvtoii, afraid to say that he might be dead. "Is he?" mid Jane. "Look he^e!" They all turned to see Xip come friskjngly in. Ward, on going back, had given him some water 7 and he had quickly revived, and waa now coming in search of tltem. "Well, I wan afraid that he waa killed!" cried Mr. Dray ton, and he described the condition in which he found the dog. The girls flatted and caressed him, and he lay on the bed, and licked their hands. "But how did you know that this man was a burglar and not otir uncle ?" asked Lena. "And how did he know that we expected our uncle!"

"Oh, that I can't tell you. I don't know, but I shall find out. However. you know enough for to-night. The best plan is for you i>ll to go to bed and sleep till morning. I must go home and tell Mrs. Draytdn that we are all safe." "Oh father!" cried Ethel, "mint von leave u*»" "Why not, my dear? There won't be any more burglar* to-night. I'll leave Tiger if you like." "Oh yee." the <nrfa cried, "we muet have Tiger." "Very well, now jump into bed, Marjory; and you too, Lena, and don't talk longer than you can help, but go right off to sleep. Jane will sit with you, and 111 come down again in the morning." Mr. Dray ton left them. A word*to Tiger and the dog drew away from his prisoner. Ward instantly Mapped on the handcuffs and, helping the man to rise, marched him out of the room. Without a word the burglar allowed himeelf to be led away. From their bedroom the girU heard the tramp, tramp of heavy feet and recognised that the men was being taken off. They looked at each other in solemn awe. not daring to speak. The door burst open and Tiger bounded in. He was greeted with loud cries of delight.

Mr. Dray ton. looking in on hie way downstairs, eaw Marjory and Lena oittins op in their beds, listening to EtbelV recital of her adventure. Jane -at with Xip on her lap, and Tiger lav near the door. Satisfied. Mr. Drayton followed Ward. It was broad daylight when the girls wo*e. and for the moment thev could not remember what had raonened

'•I still think that it was a lovelv birthday, in spite of that horrid man/' eaid Lena.

Marjory looked at her. "You didn't think him horrid yesterday," she said.

"No, of course not. I thought that he was ever eo nice. But one would naturally think that one's uncle wae nice. "I didn't," eaid Marjory, "and I euppose I thought he was our uncle. You liked him because he told you that you were pretty." "He didn't," retorted Lena hotly. Ethel laughed. "Well if he did, Lena," «he said, "that was nothing. Everybody knows that you are pretty." "He looked a gentleman," protested Lena. "You always po by looks." Marjory replied. "That* twice you've been wrong since mother'* lieen away." "Well. MU« .Inikson"—be "an Lena. "Oh. bother Miss .Tack son." cried Ethel. '"Let'i* yo and have our breakfast father will be here soon to tell im more about the biirjrltir. I do wonder how he knew you )ia<l an uncle." v

"So do I." Lena replied. "I can scarcely believe that he wasn't our uncle. Everything seems just the eame, somehow."

They went downstairs together. Xip friskily leading the way. and Tiger lumbering down after them.

Jnne nint them in the hell, surprised to fjnd them up and She had omitted to call them on account of the disturbed night, but now she hastened in with breakfast, at th<> same time saying that there was a letter for them. "A letter." Marjory cried. "Perhaps it is from mother." "Oh. no. Marjory," said Lena, "we had one only yesterday." But Marjory, always hopeful, had rim to the table, where the letter lay near Lena's plate. "It It is!" she* cried, see Lena. the funny stamp, and mother's writing. Oh, she's coming home. I'm sure!" hastened to open the envelope. It was certainly quite unusual for them to have a letter two days together; perhaps mother was returning. "Quick. Lena!" urged Marjory. "Oh. Marjory, do be quiet a minute," said Lena. "But she's coming, isn't she?" asked Marjory, watching Lena'* face. "Vos she is. Listen, and I'll read it," but Marjory was jumping round the table, hiigsing Ti»er and Xip in her delight at the news.

"Perhaps," Lena rend, "after yesterday's letter this won't be a great surprise. We are coming, home because father is anxious to be back in case Uncle Tom arrives. I am glad to be returning, for it seem* a long time since I last saw you. We are starting almost at once, so expect us on Tuesday, and send the carriage to meet the four o'clock train." i "To-day is Tuesday," said Marjory. "Does mother mean to-day, or TueedaV next!" "Why. to-day, of course she does," replied Ethel, laughing at Marjory's excitement. - This was good news and the girla were still chatting eagerly about it as they lingered over their breakfast when Mr. Drayton came in. "Well, I know all," he said as he sat down. "Why. who told you ?" asked Marjory, thinking only of Mrs. Lester's return. "The burglar himself, of course." "What, about mother?" Marjory asked. "Mother?" asked Mr. Drayton a little puzzled. "Xo. not about mother; about! hinwelf." ' I "But mother is coming home." said | Marjory. "To-day." j "What! Is she?' , asked Mr. Drayton. "This is sudden." j Lena showed him the letter. I

"Oh! Humph! Well,", he said at last, "I suppose you've no interest left for the burglar, then!"

(To be continued next Wednesday.)