OUR SERIAL STORY HER DEAREST WISH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 110, 24 April 1911, Page 9

OUR SERIAL STORY HER DEAREST WISH.

(Continued.)

La-lv Pauline :•<•><. The man's vulgarity and meanness simply amazed her. Why, why had Deeima promised to marry a person who was not even a gentleman ? “1 will tell my niece what you say, certainly,” she said; "but it may be some time before site ;s well enough to revive your message, and 1 think I may .assure you that it will not have the effect upon her which you expect and desire. She will not marry you, Mr Mershon.” H plucked at his gloves.

"She—she was off her head—she didn’t know- what she was saying when she told you she wanted to break off the engagement,” he stammered.

"On the contrary, she was quite conscious, and her words were perfectly lucid and final,” replied Lady Pauline. "I fear 1 cannot remain away from her any longer, Mr Mershon.”

She rose, and Mershon, almost too furious to mutter the conventional adieu, left tlie house. Had there been anything between Decitna and Gaunt? he asked himself. His jealousy arose and tore at him, vulture fashion, - as he thought of Gaunt’s and Decima’s friendship, of the way in which she had helped to restore' the Hall and carry out Bright’s plans. And then she had come up to London all of a sudden ami had gone to Gaunt’s rooms! A fierce hatred and suspicion of Gaunt took possession of him. He went straight to his lawyer, a sharp City attorney who had acted for Mershon in many risky eases. "Terrible affair this, Mr Mershon,” he began, for he knew of Mershon’s engagement to Miss Deane who was mixed up in the "murder in Prince s Mansions.” and he suspected that Mershon liad come to consult him; and ho was right.

"Yes,” said Mershon abruptly. “Ixiok here, Gilsby ;l’m in this, after a fashion. I want you to act for me. Of course this fellow, Lord Gaunt, is th© murderer.”

Mr Gilsby looked rather startled. "Well, the evidence—” " —ls enough to hang any man,” broke in Mershon. “When’s the inquest?” "To-morrow, I should imagine; I can ascertain.”

"Do so. And, see here, brief one of the sharpest common-law barristers. Get the best Old Bailey man you can, and let him represent me at tho inquest.” Mr Gilsby nodd«>d and waited. "It that man Gaunt did it, lie ought not to get off,” continued Mershon, avoiding the lawyer’s eyes. “He’s a swell, a 'noble lord,’ and all move heaven and earth to get him off. Now, I say that it would be a miscarriage iff justice if—they Succeeded. A man who’d stab a womau in cold blood is—er—er —ought to be hung.” “Certainly, certainly,” assented Mt Gilsbv. "But you need have no tear, Mr Mershon. The Treasury will prosecute —” . , “I know all that, d—n it!” broke in Mershon, fiercely. “But I want to help. Get the best man you can, and let him appear at the inquest, and — and see that there’s no attempt to hoodwink and bamboozle the jury. See?”

The sharp City attorney did see. He nodded and rang a bell. “Boskett is our man, Mr Mershon,” he said, quietly. "I brief him. And you think Lord Gaunt is guilty?” "I’m sure of it,” snapped Mershon. “I’m staying at the Grand,” he added, as he flung on his hat and left the office.

Mr Gilsby looked at the closed thoughtfully. It opened again suddenly, and Mr Mershon entered. "You’ve got all those bills of Mr Deane’s, haven’t you?” he inquired. "Yes.”

■ Right. I may want to recover on them. May want to do so all in a hurry. If I wire ‘act,’ you’ll 'drop down on Deane. See?” CHAPTER XXXIII.

The inquest was hold on the following day. Ihe room was crowded with lawyer, reporters, and as many of the curious public as could sqwx-zo their way iu. Not for many years had so sensational and “interesting” a murder been committed, and the world was watching tho development of events-, and waiting for every detail with an eagerness which even the most enterprising of the newspapers could not satisfy. And some of them, it must be admitted, had done their best. Short, and charmingly inaccurate biographies of Lord Gaunt had appeared, together with portraits hideously unlike him. Some of the sket< Iv-s of his life represented liini as a man who had spent most of his days in the society ot savagi >. and hinted that he was therefore inst the man t<> commit a peculiarly ferocious murder.

Bobby and Bright- had almost t<: tight their way into the room, and it was sonu- minutes before they could reach the solicitor’s table, when- Air Belford, the hear! of the firm of Gaunt’s lawyers, was sitting b -side the famous lawyer, Sir James Leston, whom Belford and Lang had retained. Mr Belford nodded to Bright. (To be Continued.;