THE DAUGHTER OF A PRODIGAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3225, 23 May 1911, Page 3

THE DAUGHTER OF A PRODIGAL

BY BERTHA M. CLAY, Authoress of “The Ironmaster’s Daughter,” Etc. CHAPTER XIV. A TIME OIF QUESTIONING AND FEAR. Vera.- crouched back.in her chajr, silent and still. There was a sickening oppression at her, heart, and the booming of water in her ears. It- seemed that she was to find’peace nowhere. What was 'this story about Mr Tredcroft ? And wliay had it shocked her so much when she heard every word of it already from- his own lips? So the truth had been ferreted out, and his confidence was in reality no confidence at all. Barker was Mr TrecTcroit’s enemy, and Barker’s views . were of little coiisequence. She felt that she, hated nun —a common detective, a human sleuth blood of his fellow men. At -last a kind of -madness took possession of her —a fermentation of t u -e senses, which surged through her brain into furious insistence. She . jumped up and walked the floor, one moment despairing, the next tragically resolute. If the hour of the thunderbolt was near she would face it unflinchingly. When Barker l’C-entered the room she was outwardly calm. He spoke quickly, and with and 1 air of relief.

‘‘l got rid of Mr Tenby without much trouble. He had business in Wellingham, and took it into his head to "run over here. He came in a station fly, and went away ditto.” His brows crinkled. “At least, that’s what he told me, and I don’t know that he could gain anything by lying; but one never knows.”

His manner was pleasant now, almost deferential, and Vera waited for him to continue until her throbbing brain could shape connected thought. “Miss Hope, we were half way to an understanding-—more than half way—and I want you to be candid with me.” He outspread his hands deprecatingly. “All this may be humiliating in your eyes but I am not the low-born loon you imagine me to be. If it is any satisfaction to you to know that I am something of a gentleman by birth and education —” “Your antecedents do not interest me, Mr Barker. - I know by your manner, and the words that you have let fall, that you have learned many things about me.” She paused reflectively. “And I am not sure that I wished to avoid Mr Tenby.” “And I am quite sure that you did. Now permit pie to satisfy you upon the point. Mr Tenby has no knowledge of myreal mission here. He believes me to be Mr Tredcroft’s secretary, pure, and simple, although it was upon his recommendation that I got into the house. As for having learned much about you,, it is the business of the Secret Service Agency, which I represent, to know everything and everybody.” He paused to note the girl’s whitening lips, and the growing terror in her eyes. “Then- ” 'she began, hut he interrupted her with a motion of his hand, and spoke m his hateful, purring tones : “I know that you are the daughter of the late Hon. Harry Lynn, the niece of Earl Gawdthorpe, and. the fiancee of Jabez Corston’s brainy young partner — John Russell. When you arrived here my amazement was stupendous, and the situation became acutely interesting. I immediately concluded that you had. wormed yourself into the house to play the game, and get a line on Tredcroft's hand. Your lover had the chance of his lifetime to make a fortune —lie had spent years in perfecting a bit of maefiinery—which might- be wrecked in a twinkling by Tredcroft,'unless Tredcroft was checkmated. That was my theory and I admired your part in the-play; 1 determined to help you.” There was a long minute of silence. Barker stared at the crackling fire, ran his fingers through his -hair, and then glanced sharply at Miss Hope. j “I was wrong,” lie said, irritably, “Quite. I came here to earn a living.” “So I have found. And become an accomplice of one of the greatest rogues unhung!” He whistled softly. “For, this man ; you turn your back upan bighearted John Russell, and connive at his ruin. Do you knoiv,” he went on, “that Tredcroft helped to assassinate the Grand'Duke Stephen of Russia? Do you know that lie murdered several priests in India and robbed one of their temples ? But I will spare you a listof his crimes. And now the tiger nature of the man is venting itself in another way. He is master of a colossal fortune, and is employing it to the ruin of the weak, with the cruelty and wantonness of a despot.” “Oh, rubbish; and you call yourself a smart detective.”

Barker glanced at the girl in angry then lie spoke with bland contempt, and with a shrug of. the shoulders. „ 1 ’ “ '

' “1 have sounded tlxe depths of your folly, anyway, Miss Hope., Whether one becomes a criminal,or. a hero depends very much upon circumstances.” He checked himself, as Vera, with a scathing glance, rose and'left.the room. Mr Barker’s teeth clicked together viciously. He seated himself at the big library table, and aimlessly turned • over a pile of letters of very ancient date. He had disarranged and rearranged the same letters times without '’number, and wondered why Mr'Tredcroft preserved ;them., There, wasn’t a scrap of writing, of importance anywhere. ■ He had ransacked the drawers and cupboards of his room enough. He

pushed the letters back into their usual place, and began to scribble in cypher on a writing pad. In his pale eyes there was a look of stein determination —about his lips a hard and cruel smile. He had half covered the first sheet when the door opened, and Vera came into the room. He rose immediatelj and apologised. “Pardon me. I forgot that I was intruding.” He was surprised, and strove not to show it, his features working strangely the while. He assumed his usual placidity, although conscious that his heart ivas leaping. The sensation was new to him. ,

“Don’t go, Mr Barker,” Vera said. Her smile was almost seductive. “I passed from one storm into another.” She made a wry face. “Mrs Tredcroft is in the parlour.”

1 “One of the old lady’s cheerful surprises.” He looked at the girl keenly 'und saw in. here some subtle change. Her mariner was no longer resentful or scornful, and every vestige of fear seemed to be gone. Ho\ nerved himself, and smiled inwardly. He must tight fire with fire, and so lie waited.

“I ann sorry if I was rude to you, Mr Barker, and I left you with the understanding that should exist between us still incomplete.” He bowed uncompromisingly. “You have told me a lot of things aoout myself, and I am disposed ’to think that you are my friend.” “Certainly.” ’ liis face softened, and he passed liis fingers through his hair. “Won’t you be seated,' Miss Hope? I am a fool in your hands. Let me tell you why. In the past two years fate has ordered me to cross your. path , half a dozen times, and a great deal of your history is familiar to me. You are an aristocrat, and I have learnings that way ; you are a beautiful woman—and am ill-used woman, and my sympathies go out to yon.” He, stammered and even reddened; then his lips tightened. He saw a gleam in the girl’s eyes, and, added, “You, see that T am a fool.”

She looked at him with swift apprehension, them smiled rather mournfully. . “No, but I see that you arc my friend.”

“.God helping me, I am. I don’t wonder now that you hated me for just a little while —my manner was coarse—didactic' —wholly inexcusable. But my anxiety for your welfare —my knowledge of the ruthless character of Tredcroft, who appears to have completely fascinated you ——” He paused, and she spoke. “Go on; I shall not be offended.” “Then l will be blunt, Miss Hope. Are you in love with this man?”

She laughed at the mere absurdity of the suggestion, and his face lightened up.

‘He is in love with you.” “Oh what utter nonsense, Mr Barker. ’And I have been crediting you with all sorts of remarkable powers of divination. Mr Tredcroft has been very kind to me, and we have certain common sympathies. I had to face the world knowing nothing of it, and Mr Tredcroft gave me a helping baud, and his confidence Do you wish me to be ungrateful ?” Barker- smiled pityingly. “After what I have told you? But perhaps you do not believe me?” “Oh, yes; it was no news.” He stared at her iricredulousiv. “Mr Tredcroft has already told me what it has taken you and your agency months to discover. He is not the evil man you would make out. There are circumstances —extenuating circumstances, I think you would call them. You have yet a great deal to learn, MiBarker.”

“So I should imagine,” the detective said drily. ’ “My evidence is far from complete, I’ll admit. I’ve got a photograph of Mr Tredcroft at the time of Ziis conviction —liis name was Frank Marchpane then —and for the life of me. I can’t reconcile it with.—Bali !” he broke off. “I can wait now that I know you are in no danger at his hands. My chief is at work in America.” He regarded her rather moodily. “I find it hard to believe that one so beautiful, so young, so good as yourself, Miss Hope, can harbour feelings of revenge. I know something of the Corston story and therein lies the sympathy between you and our employer. lam immensely relieved, but I shall keep a watchful eye for your, safety.” “I loathe Mr Corston!” she flashed. “From your point of view Judas was a gentleman compared with Jabez Cor* Hon, but what of your sweetheart— John Russefl?” “John‘Russell is nothing to me.” “But he has been.’’'

“Oh, that was all a mistake. You are asking a great many questions, Mr Barker.” She spoke chokingly, and her heart palpitated in her throat.

He saw her emotion and turned away.

This has been a morning of surprises, Mi£s Hope, and although I’ve been taken down a peg or two, I am in a pleasanter, frame of mind than I was 'an ,hour ago.” His eyes were shining now, and! liis voice was vibrant. “It will be my pleasure to work for you.”

With a ceremonious bow he turned and left the library for his own workroom. Then, with eager fingers, he

took the cypher covered paper from his pocket, and carefully destroyed it.

“It would be a false move to precipitate matters” 5 he frowned, “and I dare not lose sight of—■ —”

He glanced at the -door which communicated with the library and sighed. And at that very moment A era was thinking—“l wonder if I dare trust that man?” CTo be continued.)