A Fight with Fate.

Mataura Ensign, 18 October 1913, Page 8

A Fight with Fate.

[Published by Special Arrangement.]

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

CHAPTER. XXI. Boueliier glared tigerishly, purplo with rage. "The Ranee's ruby—yes—that's it," he shouted. "And if you're curious to hear how I got it, I picked it up right where you dropped it, on the grass outside the arbor. I was behind the arbor listening to you and Fitzgerald billing and cooing, and tittering at me, so when I saw a chance to be even 1 took it. Do you think I'd let you out of my sight for long with a fortune on your person, you fool? 1 would no more trust you and your lover than I would the rest of Derrybawn's gentry, There's the truth for you whether you like it or not." Kitty moved a stop nearer. "And when you found the ruby you planned to have Dick or me accused of theft in order to force me to marry you?" "That's correct, madam. It was a bit of strategy, and successful, but you must have been mighty vain to belfevo I'd bear my loss and say nothing in return for the honor of your hand. Tho woman I'd pay such a fancy price for doesn't live." "Did Aunt Goring know you had it?" "Not she! The old harridan and you were at daggers drawn, and she was ready enough to brand you." "And 1, for weeks, doubted Dick," Kitty almost shrieked, her eyes wild and full of loathing. "Paul Ifrmchier, you are a fiend!" "Don't you sauce me, or you'll repent if," he shrilled. "A liend!" she repeated, clncching her throat as if fihe suffocated. "But now I know, now I've fathomed the mystery, I will go. I am no longer bound to lulfi 1 the letter of our agreement, to degrade myself by eatingyoui bread. I wiil not spend another night under your roof." "Will yon not? Will you go back to the Jover you have just left? Kh, will you?" He caught her arm, his bitter face thrust close to hers. "By all that's holy I'll stretch you dead if you talk like that to me."' Kitty's anger boiled over. "Who told you 1 was with him ? I suppose i you wrote the, message that sent me, and it was you Dick bad in his mind when lie made me wait to see whether tho writer would follow and confront us. 1 wish you had—l wish you had. A man was ready for you, you villain!" "I wrote it to discover where, von have been meeting him on the slv, since decent people shut their doors on you and him." "A lie!" she cried. "A foul lie, I swear! We met only twice.—at Mrs Lossing's and Mrs Winthrop's." "Then how did tho stories circulate? Ha! It surprises you that hulking : Paul ivas not as bat-blind as you thought! I've heard everything, and • 1 believe everything. Mrs Lessing had ' to cut you—siie couldn't stand tho pair : of you, though she has the name of i being a lax sort of person, (jet upstairs arid don't provoke me, for I'm halfmad! Take that smile off your lips, curse you!" He flung her from him so violently that she staggered and reeled against the •wall. "I will not go upstairs!" she said, i pale but undaunted. "I think you'll havo to," he sneered. "The servants are dismissed, the house is empty, and you and I are alone together. I won't have any nonsense! • I've had enough. This is my day—the day I've waited and hungered for all ; these months, with misfortune after i misfortune raining on iny head through you. You scorned my love; bettor vou < had tnken it, for you are going to taste '< the other thing—hot bate—Mrs Bou- ' chier, my wife!" Tho light in his evil eyes struck a chill t-o her heart. "Never your wife—l would rather die!" "I'll sec that you don't die. I've a big score to settle, and I mean to settle it promptly. There'll be no Padre War- J ing to interfere. He's sick in hospital. < I'm your master at last, my pretty spit- < fire, and I tell you again to get out of 1 my sight and stop provoking me!" < "How brave of you to threaten a de- \ fenceless girl!" she replied, in ringing i tones of contempt. "I despise you now 1 more than ever, and you liave roused 1 something in my spirit that has killed ; fear. I defy you. I will leave you at f tho first opportunity. Wife to you!" I She, laughed a little. "If you dare to j touch me, to offer me such pollution, I'll show you what desperation can 1 do."

"Be off! Quick!" He [jointed to the hall. Kitty walked into it, and he mounted guard at the front door. She had no option but to climb the stairs with as much dignity as she could muster. While locking the outer door of her suite of apartments she remembered, vexedly, that she had left tihe gate key on Paul's table. "I will slip down and secure it in the middle of the night," she said to herself. "He is a heavy sleeper. I can escape if I am cautious and quiet. Where shall Igo P Lucy Winthrop would help me if she were at home. Oh! what does it matter where I go so long as I am free of ham, and my own mistress?" Fully dressed, she threw herself on hor bed, her heart bursting as she pondered over the deceptions practised to part her from Dick. She had never suspected Bouchier of intrigue, and his confession opened her eyes to his utter unscrupulousness. A loud attack on the knocker and the sound of voices made her spring up and hasten to the landing, hopeful of aid. Levinski and a burly individual were below speaking to Paul. The stranger wore a dirty, striped muffler and a cap peaked foro and aft. His gaze roved incessantly, and he spoke as if his inside were choked with fog. Kitty bent down, her ears attentive. "I'm tho cove wot's to do the chap in, guv'nor. One of us is plenty, and Levi brought me to show to you, and to convince you wou wasn't givin' five quid for nothink. Will you pay direct or through him ?" "Through him," Paul quavered. "Werry well. We've to discuss ways of nabbin' our man so Levi arst me to stay tho night. I'll snooze on the mat. No fussin' over mo, I beg and no worritin' of the servants." "Tho servants are gone," said Levinski. "Ho! Are they?" in a gratified tone. "Ain't they?" Levinski asked. Bouchier stammerod assent. "Wot's he stutterin' and wrigglin' i about?" crowled the other. "Liiinme! I does he think I'll do a burglary or bach his fat head off?" Levinski laughed and said "No." "I jus' wants a straight talk, giiT'nor, a glass of wl' : sky t«. put. mi on a sociable footir''. and sv>ni'* l::forniAtioT! respeotin' tho habits and pl.v» of residence of th.i chap Fit/ " "Sh-ihrh!" Paul struck in. "Don't mention room." He led them in, and tho voieep I wnk to a low rumble.

Kitty went to the bend of the staircase, but light streaming into the lull checked her descent. Her pulses raced excitedly. The man who was to he "'done in" could be none but Dick. Site saw a reason for the note decoying ,|mt to Curtis Row. Paul and his tools were unable to locate him until she showed them the way. Paul had vowed vengeance on them both for sins of which they were not guilty, and from her knowledge of 'her husband she knew he would stop at nothing. The key of the gate hung on a nail beside the hayrack. She noticed that lie had, in his flurry, forgotten to rclock the hall door. If she could slip past that patch, of light unseen she might gain tho safety of the road, and could warn Dick. It was worth trying. Holding her breath, she crept to the bottom step, and she had scarcely reached it when Paul's bulk darkened the light. "What are you up top" he demanded. "Can I not come downstairs without being questioned ?" she replied carelessly. "No, you can't." With a knowing leer he pocketed the two keys, and, biting her lip, Kitty turned back. "I'll wait," she muttered. "They won't stay awake all night." But Paul's fear of robbery foiled her. Twice she stole to the first landing, and his Imskv cough told her he had no notion of'sleep. The stranger—who answered to the incongruous nickname of the Tomtit—lay snoring upon a bearskin in the hall; Levinski dozed on a couolii in the room whore Paul kept vigil, dreading to close an eye lest the Hebrew and the hooligan should catch him napping. Kitty saw the uselcssness of attempting to get. out, and sat watching for the morning in a fever of impatience. In the ghostly dawn a bell clanged. Levinski jerked himself on bis elbow. "It's the gate," said Paul. "I'll attend to it." The caller was Dr. Wade. "Haven't, you been to bed either?" he asked, observing that Bouchier was completely dressed. "I bring good news that will relieve you and let you take your rest. Mrs Mollish and Father Waring's physician are with him, and they tell us he had a similar seizure once before and did not recover from r„ for forty-eight hours." "Then he is alive "

"He is. Wo can detect the feeblest action of the heart, very feeble, but cheering. He will recover this time also, I havo no doubt, and the moment consciousness returns I will send for you. The sight of you at bis bedside when he awakes ought to reunite the scattered links of his intelligence; you were the last 'he looked at previous to his collapse." Paul stared stupidly, bis face ashengrey, like the face of one dealt a mortal stroke. (To be continued.)