"The Shadow of Verneside”

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 67, 20 March 1937, Page 7

"The Shadow of Verneside”

“ But no. sir. She gone in the country. She not come back. I do not know when she come back.” “ She left a message for me perhaps?” asked Verne trying to adjust himself. “She has no message, sir. Miss Hartington she very sudden went one half of hour. yes. sir.” “Where has she gone?” asked Verne, hating himself for the question. The ibov threw out his hands in an expressive gesture and shrugged his shoulders. “Do not know. A telegram come. She fly away.” There was a mist before Verne’s eyes as he stepped again to the sunlight of Bond Street. His copimon sense was struggling with his Jealousy. At Beppo’s simple announcement he walked away his brain swirling with suspicions. In his agony of mind he went over every details of that other sudden departure and reflected that it had never been explained. He recalled too her appearance on that Monday when he had found her at the gallery with dark shadows under her eyes and the strange air of listlessness and mystery that had surrounded her on their first meeting. He remembered Virginia’s words. Most of all he battled with the name Bertram Lang. Beppo had said there was a telegram. It mi£>t have been from this man Lang. Had she not gone away with the same haste and forgetfulness as before? After all their happy times together she could, when this man raised his finger, fly off at a moment’s notice, leaving no word or sign that she remembered Verne’s existence. There was a dark frown on his brow as he let himeslf Into his flat. He was beset by all the devils of Jealousy and the train of doubts and suspicions that follow in the wake of this monster had reduced his sane reasoning powers to a minimum. She would never be able to explain this last breach to him, he declared to himself bitterly. The girl’s freshness and beauty rose like a lash to sting him into a frenzy of vituperation. “I have been a fool ... a fool I” he said over and over again. “ I’ye let this girl come into my inmost life ind have given her my whole heart and soul, and til the time she has been thinking of that . . of that . His goaded imagination rose to a high pitch of improbability. He pictured Bertram Lang as a smooth villain whose wiles would be easily calculated to ensnare a trusting nature like Joy’s. For the thousandth time the remembrance of the drug he had detected came over him and he bowed hie head in his hands add groaned. He tried to put Joy out of his mind. But the vision was too persistent. Al-w-ays he could see her appealing eyes snd her musical laugh and gay speech came back to taunt him. “And this is the girl I had thought to ask to be my wife!” he said with a mirthless laugh. “Probably I shall come to regard the broken appointment as a blessing.” But It was a forlorn comfort. Underneath all the misery there was still love. A month ago 'he had never felt the least stirring of love. Now it engulfed him in a maelstrom of wretchedness. While he told himself that he hated Joy for her deception his heart cried out for the sight of her and for the feel of her cool little hand tn his. When finally he slept it was to dream of her coming towards him with love shining in her eyes till they looked like bluebells under water, then. Just as he was about to take her in his arms he found he clutched a telegram signed Bertram Lang. Sunday brought no relief from his thronging worries. At seven he set out thoroughly depressed for the little cafe in 6oho where he and Joy had last dined together. Thought of food revolted him as he made his way to the familiar table. He looked about at the happy parties assembling and cursed his loneliness. The girl at the next table attracted his attention. He noted with an appraising eye the soft contour of her cheeks and her delicate colouring. He was thinking how like Joy she was when he caught her eye upon him In an instant she smiled sweetly. ** Monsieur was lonely?” she said with a pretty French accent. Verne was about to reply when hie eye fell on the small dark man in the far corner who had so persistent!' disturbed him of late. The man was taking his dinner hurriedly with nc

eyes for anyone round him. Verm watched a moment, then saw the mar rise and pick up his coat. The nex: moment he brushed past the table where Verne sat and disappeared intc the street. A gleam of white caught Verne’i eye and he stooped and picked up * piece of paper. All thought of the little French lad) !?•*. swc Pt from his mind. With eye* tnat seemed to start from his head h* read: " » Portmouth Street. Bays nd hls el citement at thii H ,“i rn , ed ,0 horrar when h. hlero.lv!!!! * d n palns,;, ' tll 'K chemists oar.? °? the *Me of the flwd ! *??«>** which hls pracr!!f lold him was the subtle Enalanrt v'TfTi,' Vhose Import lntt stranae drug whose 6 " elusive ‘ bib <- X n xp?ana l 'tion OU w l ™ wort S£r= What did it all mean? Had Jov tnM him & deliberate lie’ Dirt eh. * d know this sinister 'lookin* y from a<r * Ho remembered how

(By Fenton Yorke) Instalment 9.

Jften Joy had seemed on the verge oi ;onfldlng in him yet had each_ time j changed the conversation instead. For some days he worked fevci.sMy it the new explouve. He knew j success was almost within sight yet j he could not banish from hls mind tr.e i vision of a pair of hyacinth coloured eyes looking pleadingly into his own. CHAPTER XVIII. The Plotters Confer. A few days after Joy’s latest mysterious visit to the country, Sir Flfric Verne received a wire from Kerring which filled him with dire forebodings. He Journeyed to London at once. There was uneasiness on (Herring's usually lmperturalble face as he followed* Sir Elfric Into the sitting room of the Clarges Street flat. “Well?” asked the latter. “What has happened? I left Immediately on getting your wire: deuced awkward too with the Hall full of people I” “ I think we’ve waited long enough,” said Herring slowly. There was an underlying meaning in the words. “What?” cried the baronet, "are they . . . are they . . ?” “ No, they are not married, not yet. Since I saw you that Sunday evening after I had watched them at Legano’s I have seen a lot of them. The young cub doesn’t even know I’m dogging him. I took care of that. My training on the Continent ...” “ Don’t rake up the past, for Heaven’s sake I” snapped Sir Elfric. “ It will be more than disagreeable for you If this little afTalr drags on much longer," threatened Sir Elfric. “ I have confidence in you but this Is a game for high stakes and I’m infernally anxious to see It finished.” “Well,” said the man, “it is only for you to say the word and Maurice Verne's disappearance, which is already a matter of comment in Somerset, will develop into a reality ” “Tell me, why did you wire for me so urgently? Be lucid.” " I have not seen them together for some days and that is why I think we should act at once.” “What on earth are you getting at?” “I have not seen them together but I have seen them apart. The girl looks the ploture of misery and Maurice I feel sure has learnt some if not all of that girl’s secret and is determined to‘sift the matter to the bottom. If he does he will learn more than will be comfortable for you I” He paused as If to watch the effect of his words. Sir Elfric raised hls hand to hls brow, covering his eyes as If to shut out some harassing picture that crossed his mind. “ And,” the slow voice .went on mercilessly, “ if Maurice Verne starts Investigating the past . . Joy Hartington’s part and . . yours . . . well, you remember what that old professor in Paris said about him; that he had genius for getting to the bottom of things. It is like having to live with a detective.” The speaker paused. He had taken a diabolical delight in playing on the overwrought nerves of his listener. “ I think,” said the baronet shakily, “ after what you tell me that perhaps ... If they do not meet again during the next 'week you had better do as you suggest. I can trust you. Herring? There will be no risk of discovery?” He put his hand on the man’s arm but it was shaken off brusquely. “A week I” jeered Herring. “Why, you hesitant fool, In a week we may not be free to do anything.” “ What 1 Speak, man. What do you mean?” “ I mean that I have lost a paper which, If found by anyone with an ounce of legal knowledge will ruin us both. On one side I had scribbled that girl’s address, on the other, part of the prescription for the drug.” “Well?” said Sir Elfrio visibly relieved. “ It’s damnably careless of you, Herring, but the only person likely to be taken into custody for having to do with it is the girl herself and with her out of the way half pur troubles would be at an end.” A short laugh Interrupted him. “ Not so fast. I have not mentioned Ahat on the top of the . sheet is the name 4 Joseph Brown’, chemist, 37 Redding Road, East, .That is the name under which I practise as a respectable pharmacist when not otherwise engaged.”

! CHVPTER XIX. The reconciliation. e e It Has now more than a week since Maurlos Verne ha.t left Makama's with 1 i bitter disappointment rankling In his s soul and in that tine ho had made nc attempt to ree the girl who had beet ! the cause of ft all. Enthusiasm foi ! Ills work filled his days but alone in i the fat at night the vision of her was persistent. There were moments when he knew i that for one hour with her—one hour i in which to hold her close and feel the warmth of her arms about hls neck 1 —he would give up everything else. The memory of hfr red lips haunted ! his dreams. He felt that there could be nothing more wonderful In all lifethan to feel their yielding sweetness against hls own. Perhaps, he thought, he was unfair not to go to her and hear what she had to say. But pride and suspicion after finding the tell-tale prescription and above all the rankling lealousy in hls mind prevented hls making trie first move. If she would some to him. now, how tenderly he jvould receive her I He pictured himself taking her in hls arms. 'Occupied with these thoughts as is walked slowly home from work on i sultry afternoon Tie failed to see the >bject of hls musing approaching unill she stood almost before him. A •ather pathetic little smile was hov!cing at the corners of her month. (To be continued.)