THE GRIP OF GOLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3591, 2 August 1912, Page 3

THE GRIP OF GOLD.

By ROBERT HALIFAX.

(Author of “The Drums of Fate,” “The House of Horror,” “A Woman in Their Web,” “Law Society,” ect., etc.) (Copyright—All Rights Reserved.) •**, CHAPTER XXXII!. A VOICE FROM THE DEAD. “Hark! he called me ‘Judith!’ That was a voice from the dead—a voice that I knew years ago. ‘Judith!’ ” _ “Will you go!” He flung up a shaking arm. “If you wish to ruin me here, knowing that that bell might ring at any moment—” “Bah! You would recover your nerve m one second! Answer my question ! This other woman—this wonderful woman —I want to know all about it!”

“ITer name!” lie said, with a desperate effort to be eool. “I don’t fear your jealousy. If you can name any woman, do. so!” “Her picture is. there, Gilbert, in your waiting-room. Mine is not.” “Ah, I see!” He paced a step or two, and stood with bis back to the light. “I thought as much. And a dozen other, pictures of ladies are there. What if Miss St. John never gave me that photograph? What if I got- it indirectly, and paid for an enlargement—as a mere work ol art? Does that satisfy you?” Foot by foot Judith crept forward, and laid her hand upon his arm. “Will vou tell me to-night, as you have told me before, that you have never once asked that woman to become your wife?” Ho could not. His dry lips parted several times, hut no word came. Not to-night! “At last!”, she whispered. “At last I have nailed clown your living j lie. And now your heart is to he wrung, as mine was wrung! f know! I knew: although you thought you had blinded me throughout. 1 heard it from her own lips a week ago. I heard it from the same lips two days later, when I:or mind wandered in delirious dreams. And 1 had known it in my own heart from the first. Why did I keen silent? Because, like a weak fool, 1 still had one lingering hope that I could hold you to your promise of years ago. I was alone in the world, shunned for my silence, misunderstood by all. I would have taken your name even then, love or no love—if only to spite the world that- points and sneers at the. woman passed hv! And—and something had happened that same night. Something that you know nothing, of!—something that had left me trembling and lightheadc-d—some-thing that made me long for once for a man’s strength and brain. You stare? Ay, you will live to wonder yet at your own blindness that night. I made yon wait for me in the plantation. I asked you once more if you were working in the dark to win another woman. And once more you calmly lied to me. You were putting a rope around your own neck. told you that J had found out something —that the man just arrived in Fedcote. was to be rich. And what was your inspiration—your answer? ‘Marry him! There is your life-chance! Gain his heart before be finds out—before another woman forestalls you!’ And I took you at your word—never mind why! I sank myself utterly, and lied and schemed. It was my last supreme bid for a position in life —for revenge upon the world. And it failed. And now—” “And now.— ?” he echoed in an unconscious whisper, in that thick pause while her hand felt at her throat. “Never mind! I was a changed woman from that moment; I keep my own counsel now. dust this! Ton j don’t believe it yet, but, unless something happens, you have lost your Sheba. How I can feel for you, coward as you are!” Her voice, low and lifeless again now, carried conviction. He could no longer meet her eyes; he was looking around, as if for a way of escape. She was driving home a (’old truth that he. had determined -upt to realise. All concealment was at an end now. The veneer had cracked. “And I owe it to you !” he got out, his voice thin with passion. “That is your revenge. I owe to you every word that has been used to poison heragainst me!” “Oh no! Small need' of that, -frienu i You had never even made an impression upon her woman’s thoughts, True, many a woman has ended loving the very man she loathed at first sight, and quite possibly the persistence of a, man like Gilbert Lancing might have —hush, listen!” She put up her hand slowly. ‘through the silence of the nightjiutside came the sound of a muffled heating of drums — a volunteer company passing along the Fcloote Road. “The drums!” Judith said, as to herself, “Tin. drums of fate. —your fate'a j id mine! The'sound died. She roused as from •a reverie. “Yes', your last hope is goipg down on the scales. The sudden fear of it showed in your face, in your voice, when you impressed upon Mrs Saxon the vital necessity, that Miss Sfc. John should be kept t-o her room for a week. A week! Yogi did it cleverly— you saw your chance in a flash. By that time the funeral would bo over, and a certain person would have gone back to his own business—for a time at any l'ate. And every minute that saved your

hap© of Sheba was precious beyond words!” •- For a. moment he stared at her in real amazement- , Then wave after wave of crimson surged rip into hi* delicately-cut face. That soft irony of hers had gone to the deepest depth.”, in him.

“You’re not a woman — you’re a spy,” rattled in his throat. “You have been that from first to last in t hat house—a paid spy ! I wish to God at this, moment that I had never breathed your name as a nurse to Mr Loder!” “I quit© believe it. It was a cheap, a tactical, kindness on your own part; and maybe it has helped to make Fclcoto history. Lot that pass now. Enough that I intentionally overheard your instructions, .and read their inner meaning. Yes, you’re deep; you scented the possibility of new danger at once. You hope to get her away from Felccte, do you not? In any case, you contrived to keep her as long as possible from contact with the man who is ia man, and therefore dangerous—Wilfrid Spurr!” (To be Continued Daily).