A Fight with Fate.

Mataura Ensign, 27 September 1913, Page 8

A Fight with Fate.

[Published by Special Arrangement.]

MADGE BARLOW, Author of "The Cairn of the Badger,' "Secret of the Black Bog," "Love Finds a Way," "Flynno'the Hall," Eto.

CHAPTER XVll.—(Continued). A sharpness in Solly's roice nipped Waring's expostulations in tlie bud. What grounds have you for believing Bouehier guilty beyond that eagerness to be rid of Mary?" he asked. "Can't say I have any reason wortl gassin' about. I just believe it'a a thing he'd do same as he'd poison a dog w'hose bark annoyed him. Would you think it odd of 'him not to look at her after she died, or attend the funeral, and to get -drunk the night she was buried, and have me sitting up with him till morning, giving me the creeps'? There was a. full moon, and he was con>tinually peeping round the corner of the blind, watching the seat beside the fountain, with his eves glazing in his head." "The incarnate fiend!"

'.'Prove that he did it, sky-pilot, and then call him all the names you want to, and I'll teach you a few nice new ones."

"He is guilty," Waring said, firmly. "Dunno. Paul was a coward where his skin was concerned, and perhaps fright made him act queer. He knew he'd be in an ugly fix if the facts leaked out. And when he met you he'd begun to climTa. so he lied himself black in the face to save his portion, too." "Can you tell me something of the inquest, Mr Gollinger?" Solly went to a bookcase, groped behind a low <n volumes, and produced a newspaper. He blew the dust off it, and opened it at the middle page. Waring brought the paper to the centre of the room, and read the brief account under the light of the electrolier. Ho wheeler round 1 , his expression bitter and determined.

"I will bring <hiin to judgment foi; this, SO' help me-j heaven." "Going to cut up rough?" grinned Solly. "To-day's Wednesday. Hope you will do nothing till Friday. I'll bo clear of the English coast then, and I'd feel obliged. I'd prefer not to have Bouchier coming round here raising Hades." "I will wait as patiently as I ean." "Good! I'll trust you. And while you're filling the judgment seat, givo our dear Paul an extra rap on. the knuckles for the way he's hounding that pretty wife of his. He's not fit to have a wife." "I thought he was indulgent to Mrs Bouchier."

"Thought!" derisively. "If your thoughts weren't so much on the dead you'd have eyes.for the living." "I should have taken more care of Mrs Bouchier," said the padre, in deep agitation. "She appeared to be tranquil and content. J took it for granted that all was well. Her future shall he my special charge. She should never have been sent back to him. I see that now. I fear that in sending her I was actu.;:ed by malice towards him. and very little consideration for her." "Hear, hear," Solly murmured, drily. "But that mistake, at least, I can remedy." "Please yourself. I'm no squire of dames. Mrs Kitty isn't a friend of yours truly. Are you thinking it measly of me to peach on Paul ? I assure you he'd serve me the same if he got half a chance." "I've no doubt he would."

"Bet your life he would. Mr Waring, I'm'sorry to see yew so 'broken up. I don't like your chalky color, and blue lips ain't becoming to you. Does it strike you that a, vital part of your internal machinery may stop working suddenly in some moment of excitement? Oa' canny, man, as the Scotch "I'm a trifle weak, but it will pass. Ag the padre spoke he swerved ami clutched the rim of the table.

"Humph!" said Solly, dubiously. J "Save your strength; you're up against a tough proposition when you sail in to tacklo Paul. What do you mean to do to him?" "Offer him his choice of death or disgrace." , "Sky-ipilot, you don't mean death by your hand?" "No. By his own hand." Solly laughed consuuiedly. "Suicide 1 Excuse me,, it's rather funny." "Or .arrest on a charge of murder. Which will he choose?" "Neither. He'll snap his fiingors and challenge you to show cause for his arrest."

"I can suggest a powerful motive as evidenced by you." "First you'll have to catch mo," said Mr Gollinger, inwardly. And aloud, "He'll diddle you whichever way you turn. Lug him to the scaffold's foot, and deliver him over to Jack Ketch, and he'll contrive to diddle you. There's something guarding him, something not good. Unless I'm mighty spry, it'll circumvent even me s and I was born old and 'cut©.'" He escorted Waring to the door, and detained him while he himself isfeppod ut on the landing and assumed a listening attitude. "It is possible that between the third floor and the street you may oncounter a young man of swarthy hue, with a remarkable development of the nasal organ." ho whispered'. "Herbert Levinski, to wit, an empioyoo of the Anglo-Oalifornian, etc. Ho and 1 I h;wl a scrap last night, a question of and I am-lying up. you savvy, nursing an injured leg." "Is the hurt severe?" Waring inquired, politely. "Excruciatingly painful, replied Solly, endeavoring to suppress a broad <mn. "If Her by asks for me, tell him you were administering religious conisolation and the physician in attendance is of opinion that mortification a ill supervene." _ "I couldn't when it isn't the xruta, said the padre, sternly. "That's awkward. Do you carry a breviary?" "No." "You could have gone down reading, and pretending you didn't hear. How would it suit you to be absorbed in meditation? You could fix hrm with a glassy stare and walk past." _ "I'll manage to give-Mr Levinski no information if I meet him." "Right-o! Shake hands, .sky-piloi,. and say you hear no ill-mil." With a smile of infinite weariness the ■padre took the proffered hand "i bear vou no ill-will, Mr Gollinger * "One of the best you are,- Solly muttered, "And you'll be worsted on !'pday. Paul don't care a fig tor you 11., star's on the wane, the -boots ho ] !C have kicked him, aad that * all he Uv«a in dread of. I just wrung tho ten l-bun. from him in the nick ot time. (To bo continued.)