“A FATAL VENGEANCE”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 145, 22 June 1936, Page 9

“A FATAL VENGEANCE”

(By JOHN THANET)

CHAPTER XXXV.

CHAPTER XXXV. . Anyone unacquainted with him might have thought Mr Purvis to bo a land, (surveyor, Ifor (re carried a measuring 'tape, anti under his arm three or four short sticks. Having arrived at the cluster of trees* overshadowing the black pool which he had shown Dick, he thrust one of the sticks into the ground. Unrolling his land surveying tape, he measured tho distance to a point where another stick was planted, doing this with the precision of an expert. “ It’s pretty clear to my "mind,” he muttered. “The distance proves It," and ho returned to where Mr Frost’s trap was waiting to take him back to his comfortable quarters in the ‘Fisher’s Inn,’ before darkness olosed down over the dreary countryside. The disappearance of Mr Frost’s visitor had a largo share in the conversation of the inhabitants, and Mrs Frost was convinced that Mr Phillipson was never coming back to his room, so she had cleaned it out in readiness for another; occupant. In doing this she had found a partly destroyed letter, written in a foreign language that sho gave to Mr Purvis, who being unable to read it, placed the frayed pieco of paper In his pocketbook. “ There's a bit of name left," said Mrs Frost, pointing to it as she handed the discoloured fragment to him. 'He. wrote to Dick that night hinting at a discovery he should like to discuss with him, and asking him to come to Foulness. Dick reluotantly decided to do so. The next morning saw him at Wakering. “ I’m more .than half decided to let the matter drop,” he told Purvis. CHAPTER XXXVI. Homehurst looked brighter than usual when Dick came to the house after his protracted visit to Mr Purvis that day. Mrs Bellalrs was somewhat distant, hut Mrs Pargener’s reception made amends for her friend’s coldness. “Are you staying at. Wakering, Richard?" asked Mrs Bellairs. ’’ I have something to do there which will detain me for some hours," he answered, and after some trivial conversation he took his leave, Adelaide going with him to the house door. “ I’m very glad you came here this evening, Dick," he said. “More glad than you can understand, because we •seemed to be drifting apart boforc this." , “What reason had you for that?" “I’ve thought it would be for youi happiness if you didn’t marry me.” “ If you have doubted for one moment that I should keep my promise you did me an injustice, Adelaide. 1 was not able to fulfil H at tho time settled for our wedding." “ I’m not complaining of that—l! was better that you did not write that letter —much better." “ You must have some reason foi saying this," he said. " If you knew what It costs me tc say it, you would pity me." “ I can only say this, Adelaide," and he spoke resolutely, “that oome whal may, whatever your fancy may lead you to imagine, I shall never go bad) on my word." “ I am thinking of you—only o 1 you." * “ Is that enough to make you wist our engagement to come to an end?’ “I've been mad to talk like that Dick,” and her tone Was almost a cry " There is no reason for what I said.’ He gave her a keen look whloh wai returned unflinchingly. “ I’m not going to distress you,” hi said, “and when I see you again , . .’ Tho words he would have spokei had died away on his lips, it had beei as though a voice within him ha( silenced them. "I am going hack to-morrow," hi continued after a brief pause, “so thli must be our good-bye for a time," an< he bent down kissing her white lips “ Only adieu,” she whispered. ’"Onl; that, my beloved. Only adieu." CHAPTER XXXVII. There was a stir In WakerJng sue! os it had not known for many a lonj day; a whispering in the air and a littl throng had gathered by the deep poo where Mr Purvis, with two assist ants, was Ashing. Backward and 'forward from eithe end of the pool, his assistants ha dragged the thickest line ever flshe with, rewarded only by weeds, and s the sport went on until tho shadow lengthened and dusk began creepln over the troubled water. “Ah ! ” It was as though a deep sigh passe through the crowd of spectators, fo Mr Purvis had suddenly bent forwari raising his hand and the fishing lin tightened. " Steady," his voice came. “Pu gently." The line was being drawn up s cautiously that an age seemed to hav gone by before It lay coiled on the edg of tlie pool, and the spectators, tens with excitement, watched as highe and higher rose the ugliest fish eve caught, making its upward passag through the weeds with a little move meat of them that added a shame less horror to those looking on as came to the surface, an unspeakabl ghastly thing, having a whiteness lik a human face but otherwise a mas of blackness that had been a livin man. Two hours later and Mrs Pargene; sitting chatting with Mrs Bellairs b the dining-room fire, was interrupte by the entrance of a- maid-servar eager with news, told. with the elc quence of an unrestrainable excite ment. “I’ve Just heard it, ■‘ma’am," sh panted. “ The whole town is talkin of nothing else.” “Talking of what, Weston?” en quired Mrs Pargener. “ You’re quit out of breath. What is it all about? “ They’ve been dragging the Fon Acre pool, ma’am, and found somebod who’s been drowned in it." The next instant Adelaide entered th room, glancing at the maid-servant. What is the matter?" she askec “ You’re quite pale, Weston.” “ I've been telling the mistress abou tho man they’ve found in the poo miss," replied the girl. “ People ar saying it’s a murder." Adelaide shrugged her shoulders bu every vestige of colour had fled fror her face, and she gave a quick 100 at Mrs Pargener. > “ How does anyone know that?” sh

Instalment 19.

asked sharply. “It’s what everybody la saying, Miss. 'There was a .dreadful . . ." ! “ That will do, Weston," interrupted 3 Mrs Pargener. "We don’t want to 1 hear any more." 5 Wakcrlng was ringing with the news ‘and in his hotel Dick was hearing Mr 3 Purvis’ account of his fishing excur--3 sion at the Four Aero pool. 3 “ The inquest can’t be held until 3 the day after to-morrow," he ex--5 plained. - “ Tell me what you think, Purvis.” "Mr Phlllipson didn’t got into the 3 water by accident. What was he do- ’ ing at a place like that? Why did he 3 go there, unless it was for some 3 reason?" Dick’s face was grey. He was be--1 set by an unspeakable dread which grew stronger by his effort to combat s it. That awful dread loomed up blacker ■ and deeper as he pondered, refusing 5 to give credence to what he dare not ■ give a name. B “ You may as well speak out, Pur--3 vis," he said at last. 3 “ Look at tho facts, Mr Ingram," ■ and Purvis lowered his voice. “ Miss - Bellairs was seen speaking to Mr Phil1, Upson on two occasions, which show 3 1 they weren’t strangers. The last time - was the night when he didn’t go back to Frost’s." 1 Dick looked at his watch. There 1 was time for him to go to Homehurst before the house was locked up for S the night, although what purpose • would be gained by his going, or what e he should say in explanation of his J untimely visit be could not have said, but anything was better than inaction. “ I’ll see you presently, Purvis," ha said getting up from his chair. “ I t can’t sit here doing nothing," he added. “ It’s a rough night," replied Purvis and he roused the lire Into a blaze as if to emphasise the remark. . A very rough night—the roughest r-Wakering had known for months, but t Dick was insensible to the blustering wind and driving rain as he battled ; t through them on his way to Homee hurst. The fierce blasts seemed to clear his brain from his maddening • t thoughts, and as ho approached the ’’house, he saw a light shining from the h dining-room window. The curtains e had not been drawn, and coming to _it he saw Adelaide sitting by tho lire. e She was alone and for a few minutes he remained looking at her. s Then the recollection of his errand jjoame, and going to tho hall door ho e rang tho bell. e He was in the room and she was standing before him, a look of wonder i. In her face, but the smile died away r as she met his anguished eyes. “Why have you come so late?” she .asked, “and on such a night as this?" 3i " I had to come," ho answered j harshly. “ I have to ask you somea thing. For God's sake tell me the truth, Adelaide.” It ■t CHAPTER XXXVIII. ir The manifold requirements of Mrs Sylvester before starting on her o voyage to South Africa needed Esther’s constant attention, d "There’s a telegram come for you, it Miss, while you were out,” said tho d old landlady one morning. “I put It k on your mantel." It was not like an ordinary tele>f gram, which is usually economically wordod, and it had the sender’s Chrish tian and surname in lull. " “I want you down at Homehurst, t, Esther, and so come back at once. ?• Come by the first train," and the mes- " sage was signed, “Stephana Pargener." is “Whatever am Ito do?" she asked herself. “Mrs Pargener wants me. 10 I’m to go down at once. Yes, I could ■" do that. It only means being away for in half a day. So tho best thing to do is 31 to show Mrs Sylvester this telegram. d I hope sho won’t bo angry." With this Intention sho returned to 19 tho Grosvenor Hotel, finding Mrs Sylvester stonily majestic and haughty. “Who Is Mrs Pargener, Miss Deane?" 3 she inquired, without a word of pro‘J face. “I have received a telegram from her. I think you had better read It," and she handed the message to her with a regal grace. “Mrs Pargencr is an American, I believe." sh “To Mrs Sylvester, tho Grosvenor ig Hotel, London, —Certain events have le made it out of tho question for Esther O' to leave England, and in consequence t- she will return to my house. I will write an explanation if you wish to er hear more, but at present I am too id upset for writing. Please do not sd hinder Esther. —Stephana .Pargener." so “A most oxtravagant waste of vs words, I consider; but as she is an 3 S American woman I ought not to be surprised,” remarked Mrs Sylvester as Esther returned the telegram to her. 3 d “That, however, lias nothing to do or with me, but I ask you, Miss Deane, (1 * what you think of this unheard of 30 conduct of Mrs Pargener? Is she sane?” "She i 3 as sensible and straightforward as anybody in this world," 50 exclaimed Esther warmly. "A good ve woman, who could not do anything 5e wrong." se “I have my own opinon," retorted er Mrs Sylvester. “Can yoiu account for er this telegram of hers?” "I cannot. 1 have had a telegram, e 'but it only says what your’s does, Mrs e " Sylvester." “ “I do not wish to see it. Mrs Par- ’ 0 gener refers to being upsel. She is Ke not the’only one to bo so, Have you conception as .to the cause of her 1 ° telegraphing in this ridiculous fashion?” “I know no more than you, do," t answered Esther. "And I am as surprised as you arc.” 0 _ “I am not only surprised, but very Q ~ seriously annoyed," and Mrs Sylvester suddenly descended from her [j e pedestal, becoming air every-day woman, spitefully, angry. “I am not b going to put up with being treated in n _ this manner. I do not complain of [ e you, but after receiving an insuiting j. message, such as this”—and she flicked the telegram as an ordinary jy irritated person' might have done—"it 1 is not possible for our arrangements to continue, and there is only one thing for me to say. I shall not refj,quire you to return to me,",,. “You speak as If I Were to blame," u t exclaimed Esther, and although she 3 i, felt hurt her gladness was so great at re being suddenly given ‘her freedom that she could not- be angry. “Will you ut shake hands?” she said. “I shouldn’t m like to go without doing that." sk It was said with a humble sincerity that touched Mrs Sylvester, who held fa jut her hand.