A MINT OF MONEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 3 (Supplement)

A MINT OF MONEY.

BY GEO. MANVILMS FENN, Author of " The Master of Ceremonies," * Black Blood, or, the Lass that Loved a Soldier," " Hard to Win," etc.

[An, Bights Reserved.)

CHAPTER XXVI.

GLYDDYR SEES THE GOLDEN CAVE. Faithful to his time of tryst with Gartram, Glyddyr made his way up to the Fort that morning, thinking deeply of his position, and wondering whether Gartram had good news to report. He reached the frowning gateway, went along the granite-paved passage, and was passing the end of the terrace walk winch ran along the front of the house, when he caught sight of a dress just as the wearer passed round the corner of the house to the garden formed at the end. . "Claude or Mary," he said to himself. "Shall I' The old man likes me to make myself at homo, and it may mean a tete-a-(eh there overlooking the sea. I will. With i sinister smile he turned off to the left, instead of going up to the door, and ,\ ed the other window by the diningroom and was in the act of passing that of (.••irtr'am's study when the robin flew out of the feathery tamarisk, and as he was lookine at. the (light of the bird, he turned sharply, for a curious gasping cry came from the room on the right. lie ran into the room, instinctively feeling what was wrong, and in nowise surprised to find that Gartram was struggling in a fib upon the carpet. His lirst act was to drag away the chairs nearest to the suffering man, and then to try and place him in a position so that ho was not likely to sutler from strangulation. It's very "horrid," he muttered, "and will frighten the poor girl almost to death ; but 1 must ring—no ; I'll go for help." He stopped short, for his eyes lit upon the bags and loose coin upon the table, and then upon the open safe, towards which he seemed drawn, as if fascinated. "By George '." he muttered, after glanc- , ing back at where Gartrnm lay perfectly . insensible to what went on around him.

"Monte Christo, anil—" He paused ami looked stealthily about, feeling giddy the while, as a great temptation assailed him, making him turn pule. Hut lie mastered the feeling directly, anil after a moment's thought swept the money back into the receptacle and carried it ami the book to the safe. " I'oor old chap!" he thought. "I needn't, stoop to steal when he is so ready to give it all." lie closed the door quickly and locked it, then drew buck and grasped the id?a of how it was hidden directly, turning the great panel of the bookcase on its pivot and closing in the iron door. He had just finished this and relockxl the place, which he was able to do after a little puzzling, when he saw that the fit was growing more severe, una at the same time noted the open drawer in the table. " Keeps the keys there/' he said to himself as he replaced them and closed the drawer. There, that's what, he "would have wished his son-in-law elect to c.o for >

him, so now for help." He bent ovev Uartram for a moment, and shrank slightly from the distorted face and rolling eve-«. Then going to the door he turned the handle.

" Locked !" he exclaimed, "to keep out interruption and prying eyes. Well, old fellow, I am in your secret, and know the open sesame of the golden cave, so we shall see.'' He turned the key, threw open the door, and hurried into the hall, but ran back directly, and glancing at Gartram ad he did so, pulled the bell sharply. Almost as he reached the door, Sarah Woodham and one of the servants entered the hall. " Here you," he said, quickly, to the dark stern-looking woman, '"send at once for the doctor ; your master is in a fit." Sarah turned to her fellow-servant, gave her the required instructions, and followed Glyddyr back into the study. " Where are the young ladies he said. " Don't let them come."

" They must know, sir," said the woman, goiny down on one knee to place Gar tram's head in a more natural position. "Miss Claude would not forgive me if she was not told."

Almost at the same moment a step was heard on the terrace outside. Mary came by, humming a tune to herself, glanced in, and seeing what was wrong, darted away. The next, minute she and Claude were there aiding in every possible way till the doctor's step was heard in the hall. He came in directly, and gave two or three short quick orders, almost the first being to dismiss everyone bub Sarah Woodham,

"(Jo into the drawing-room," he said. "I'll call if J want any help. He'll soon come round now. What has been the

matter ; some fresh excitement?"

Claude's countenance was full of trouble, but she made no reply. Still she could not help glancing at Glyddyr, and to her shame anil annoyance found that ho was looking at her "in an eager imploring way, as he held open the door for her to pass out. and then followed.

" He's coming in the drawing-room, Mary, she whispered. "I cannot speak. I'ray say something to send him away." There was no need for Mary to speak. Glyddyr came up to Claude at once, and took her hand.

CHAPTER XXVII. ON" THE B A LANG E.

" I cannot tell you how grieved I am, Miss Gartram," said Glyddyr, in a voice full of sympathy. " Your father invite Ime to call upon him this morning, and when I came I found him lying in his room as you saw."

He did not explain which way he entered, and for the time no one thought it strange.

Then there was silence, and Claude, after a vain attempt to control her emotion and speech, tried to withdraw her hand, but it was held last.

" 1 am on the horns of a dilemma," continued Glyddyr — " puzzled ; I want to show my sympathy and to be of help, but I cannot see in which may I can be of most service—by staying to help, or by leaving at once."

"By going, Mr. Glyddyr. Pray leave us now. You can indeed do nothing." " I will obey your lightest wish," he said, eagerly. "You have only to speak." "Then pray go." He raised the hand he held to his lips, and pressed it long and tenderly, till it was hastily withdrawn, and then bowing only to Mary, went quickly from the room. _ "Bless the lit:" he said to himself. Brought me a bit nearer to her haughty ladyship. Bah ! it's only a question of time."

ilien, as he walked slowly away towards ' '"-■ descent leading to the rocky shore, he denied to see again the interior of the study with the cash upon the table, and the open

. , l : v George !*' lie said to himsejf. "No T' ,k h"' account! Well, it's an ill wind with C' 3 "° ° ne a "-' K°° d " M intimacy "',' i "*peetctl family "as increased See t' lay ' : "" 1 IMnin m y 'ord'a confiaware of " ' **. tent tlla " he is Then, is nt) 7 o '"', thlng ,S certain. though "w n aiL n ab h 0 " fc , f the .P r °P ''Nowletn"w" I,fcbeore1 ,fcbeore - , L Htaricr'.r- "t ' e '|l COntinU^ as .he women-tl e mere aro two 7 of treating women—the centlc t,..n .1 ! u y'.£ and the bold" tuT V , submissive, wants to know ,1 e kind T* '' bUC °"? whom one has to (leal Vhl W ° man *' lth missive seems to take lest j rf S * S " ,J ' what a nice little hand ! "By Geo1 ° C ' The smoke from the ci"rr rrvu „ , . , grey clouds, wreathing his o °* n ?'" P& ' which a smile had dawned V ?VP on not a pleasant smile. On the ,3,. "1 Claude had seen that puckering up of his countenance she would have shrunk from it with a feeling of WL i"g as something which repelled her and ; made the breach between them more wide As the door closed upon him the two girls stood for awhile listening to his departing steps, and then with a marvellously clever imitation of his manner and tori/ Alary Dillon exclaimed : "I will obey your lightest wish. You jave only to speak !- Ob, Claude, what a delicious lover." —" *^--^?' (lear ' * 8 this a time for joking ?"

have n» f I , ""' , ,','"'' ofthß NEWZKAI.AND Hkkai.d in th.. wiVTi th , s '; ! ri " to publish this story ww Aoith Island of New Zealand. '

"No. I beg pardon. But what gooses men must think the women always are. Now, I do believe that man has gone away thinking that by kissing your hand in that theatrical way ho has made you believe he loves you very dearly." "Oh, Mary, pray bo silent." "Claude, dear, 1 must speak to relieve my pent up feelings. Now, you are a very pretty sweet girl, Claudie, but if you had no money that man would not look at you twice. Oh, it makes me feel so wild to see a man come wooing and booing, and saying soft nothings to a woman, when all the time ho is in love with someone else." "Mary! You think Mr. Glyddyr loves someone else ?" cried Claude, excitedly. "Sure of it, dear." " Oh ! if papa only knew !" " He would not believe it even if he did know, Claudie. His mind is set upon this matter." " Yes," said Claude, with a sigh. " And Mr. Glyddyr loves someone else?" " Yes, dear. Her Majesty the Queen — that is to say, her image—in sovereigns." "Oh!" ejaculated Claude, impatiently. " I'll go now and seo how ho is." " Better not, dear. Doctor Asher will not like it. And don't look so dejected, dear. V*ou know these fits are not dangerous. Uncle will be better soon." It was in Claude's heart to relate her interview with her father that morning, but alio shrank from speaking ; and their attention was taken up by the entrance of the doctor. " Better," ho said, " decidedly better." " Can I go to him !" said Claude. "It von wish it. But your entrance iii _;lit disturb him now, as ho has just sunk into a peaceful sleep. Mrs. Woodham is watching him, and will call you if there is any need. But, believe me, there will be none. He'll sleep for some hours, and then wake quite himself; but of course very irritable and strange. You will then see that he has the medicine 1 have left for him, and after an hour that which I shall send on." " Yes, doctor." "Either administer it yourself or let, that woman give it to him. Don't trustMr. Cartram. " Not trust him ?" " No ; he will neglect it and then take a double dose to make up for it, and that will not do. Regularity, and keeping himself under the influence of the drug, is what wo want." " 1 will attend to it myself," said Claude. "Ami when you are going to be away let Mrs. VVoodham administer it. Perhaps it, would he better to leave it entirely to her." " Oh. no, I would rather keep it under my own eye. You will come in again soon V

"I begin to be ashamed of coming so often,''said the doctor, smiling, "and ask myself whether my treatment is right." Oh, I have perfect faith in that," said Claude, "and so has my father." " Thank yon," he said, smiling. " Now, please tell me, Doctor Asher, the simple truth." " Why, of course." " You smile, and you say that out of mere politeness and to make me comfort-able. 1 want to know the truth."

" Now, my dear child." " But lam not a child, Dr. Asher. Once a child to yon is to be always a child. Can you not see that I am a grown woman full of a woman's troubles ?"

"I beg your pardon, Miss Gar tram. You shall not complain again." " Then tell me without any disguise—is my father's life in danger ?" " Rest assured that it is not." " Thank heaven !" "But I must tell you this—l can do nothing to arrest these tits—" " These terrible tits !" sighed Claude. " Without I have his cooperation, for so much depends upon his living a quiet peaceful life, without throwing himself into these violent fits of temper. You force me to speak plainly, but, of course, it is between us. If he knew that I said what I

do. it would have iv bad effect upon him, and send him into another passion." " But what can I do ?" said Claude, with her eyes tilling with tears. " Use your woman's wit. I can give you no better counsel. You must be the cool-

ing oil to stop the friction when you see it ! arising; and above all never thwart him in anything upon which he has set his mind." A great sob struggled for exit in Claude's breast as she hoard the doctor's words, which were more full of meaning to her than he realised, and she glanced round to see that her cousin was watching her closely. "I will do my best," she said. "That's well," said Asher, giving his white hands a soft rub together as he smiled from one to the other. " ' What

can't be cured must le endured,' young ladies ; but I do not say that this cannot be cured. We will do our best, but the patient must be made to help. Does he take his medicine regular 1" Claude shook her head.

"I thought not. Flies to it, I suppose, when he feels bad, and neglects it at other times."

"But that other medicine, doctor—the chloral which he takes—is it good for him ':' Asher shook his head. " Then why do you let him have it ?" " My dear young lady, is not that rather unreasonable? Now look here, supposing I were to say, ' Mr. Gartram, chloral is ruin-

ing your system,' what would ho reply ':' Claude shook her head.

"I appeal to you, Miss Dillon, what do yon think your uncle would say?" "'Go to the devil!' " said Mary, quietly. "Mary!" * " Well, he would, Claudie, and you know

"Miss Dillon is quite right," said the [doctor, rubbing his hands. "Strong but truthful. Chloral he will have, and if he keeps to it as I prescribe—in moderationit will not do him much harm, but tend to calm him. There, I'll look, in again. He is going on as well as can be." " Shall we go and sit with him?" "N—no. 1 hardly think it necessary. You can do no good. I have given Sarah Woodham the fullest instructions about his medicine. She will give it regularly, and I'll come in again this evening." The doctor shook hands and left, and as soon as he was gone Mary Dillon shook her head.

" Poor Claudie !" she said. " Mus'n't thwart uncle in any of his wishes. And it means so much, doesn't it?"

" Oh, Mary, Mary, what shall I do?" " I can only suggest one thing, dear."

" Yes ; what is it'/" paid Claude, eagerly. "Oil, don't jump at me like that, dear.

I was only going to say, wait. A woman can hold off and refuse to name the day as long as she likes." " -Mary, dqn't talk like that." " Hut I must, dear ; it seems to help you. You see poor uncle is so dead set upon this engagement." " Yes," sighed Claude. "But we are not, I can't think what uncle can see in him. It's all his obstinacy. I suppose it's because Mr. Glyddyr's rich, and lie has taken a fancy to him. Ho you think Glyddyr really loves you, Claudie

"I hope not," said the girl, with a shudder. "It seem? too horrible. Mary, Mary, can't you help me " I don't know, dear. I've been trying all I could to fascinate him myself, but he does nob seem to admire my style of beauty." "Mary, dear, you hurt mo when you ridicule your deformity." "That's better than being hurt by you mocking me. Look here, Claude, if I could fascinate Mr. Glyddyrand make him marry mo, do you think all our children would be little hunchy punchies like mamma!" " Mary, how can you be so absurd ?" " I don't know, dear ; I feel sometimes as if I must talk nonsense, for if I did not I should say all sorts of spiteful things, such as—l hate Chris. Lisle."

" Mary 1" " Well ! I do. I think he's a dreadful coward, or else he wouldn't have allowed himself to be snuffed out as he has."

"I think Christopher Lisle has behaved uncommonly well." " Nonsense ! Why, if I had been a man, do you think I would have submitted to being ordered out of the house as he was ?" "And pray what could Mr. Lisle do more than he did ? Papa turned upon him, and in a moment set aside all our old friendship." "Old, '* said Mary, with much seriousness ; but Claude took no heed.

" Ho had no alternative bub to po." "And give you up, after teaching you how to catch salmon. Poor young man ! Very nice, but utterly wanting in manly determination, or he would nob have given you up." "And how do you know that he has given me up ?" cried Claude, flushing,

Mary softly clapped her hands. "She loves him, and poor Mr. Glyddyr has nob a chalice. I shall get him yet, Claudie. At least I could, but no Glyddyr, thank you. Claudie." " Yos I" " I .saw Chris. Lisle yesterday." " Yes ; we passed him in the town." " Yes ; but ho did not speak to us." " Did you see him to speak to, Mary ?" There was no reply. "Alary, clear, did you see Mr. Lisle to speak to ? What did he say V " How do you do !" "Oh ! how can you take so much delight in leasing me, Mary ?'' " That is not teasing, dear, and the simple truth. He asked me how 1 was, and then he asked mo how you wore." " Yes, dear." " That was about all. I told him how I ; was and how you were." " Yes ; pray, pray go on." " My dear Claude, this is most reprehensible. A young lady like you, engaged to Mr. Glyddyr, really must not take so much interest in another gentleman's welfare." Claude gave her such an appealing look that Mary nestled up to her. " J told him how you were, and that next time wo went for a walk it might bo down by the river and up the east glen ; and then he kissed my hand quite passionately, and after calling mo a dear good little thing, ho sighed very deeply and went away. Claude!''

She was evidently wrapped in thought. "Claude, dear," said Mary, with a mock ing light in her eyes. " Yes," said Claude, starting. " Do you think he meant anything?" " 1 don't understand you."

"Oh, what a dull girl you are. Well, about me as he can't got you." ".Master would like to see you, Miss Claude," said Sarah Woodham, coming to the door.

"Not worse, Sarah " No, miss ; better 1 think." " Did you give him his medicine when he woke?"

" Yes, miss."

Claude followed her into tho passage on her way to her father's room, but the woman arrested her.

" Miss Claude, my dear, may I say a word to you." " Yes, certainly. What is it?" "I've been thinking all this over, my dear, and after giving it a fair trial I want you to let me go again." " Now, Sarah—"

" Pray listen to me, miss. Master does not like mo, and I make him think of poor Woodham, and I'm a bad nurse, and 1 feel sometimes as if I couldn't bear it."

j " You are not a bad nurse," said Claude, I taking the woman's hand, " but you feel it hard work to settle down again—that is all." "No, no, miss, it isn't only that," said the woman, wildly. " But let me speak to you again, my dear ; he wants you now." Claude nodded to her smilingly, and hurried into her father's room, leaving the woman standing with knitted brow, and hands clasped together. " Was it always so?" she said, steadily. " Did those who were chosen always feel as I do ; or am la wretched, pitiful coward, unworthy to perform my duty to the dead?" Site looked fixedly at the door, with her face growing more hard and thin, as she rubbed her hands slowly one over thoother. " It is curious,'' she thought, " hate and love. It would not break her heart, for it is more obedience than love; and it would be making her happy, for she would be free then to make her own choice, and nob be driven as she is." i

The woman uttered a sigh, and went to her room, to sit thinking deeply of the duty she was called upon to perform, just as an exceeding great love for Claude was springing up, ami growing day by day.

CHAPTER XXVIII. IN TIIK SHADOW. "Don'tyou think papa .seems much better, Sarah ':" said Claude one day. , She was busy in the storeroom, playing the part of mistress at the Fort, and giving i out sundry and domestic necessaries to tht old servant, who was watching her intently, i and leaning over her with a singularly intent look hi her eyes, which seemed tc , soften her hard countenance. " Ye?, my dear; it is some timo since he has had a tit." "Let me see; you will want rice and more coffee " "And maccaroni," said Sarah, quietly. " No, don't have rice and maccaruni. Tell cook not to send up two farinaceous puddings the same day. It annoys papa." " Because they are good for him," said Sarah, drily. "Ah!" said Claude, turning upon her sharply, but with a playful manner; "you must, not censure sick people. Why, Sarah,- what makes you watch me so intently ?" There were tears in the woman's eyes, as with a hysterical catching of the breath, she took hold of the hand which was passing her a package, and pressed it passionately to her lips, kissing it again unci again. "Sarah!" " Don't be angry with me, my dear. I'm not the same as I used to be. Trouble has changed me ; I couldn't help it. When I see you grown up into such a. beautiful woman, so calm and quiet and ladylike, quite the mistress of the house, and talking as you do, it gives mo a catching in the threat." ""Von are not well." " Yes, my dear, quite well : but it makes me think of the dear little girl who used to love me so, and whose pretty little arms were thrown about my neck, and who kissed me every night when alio went, to bed." " Yes, but I whs .a little girl then." "You were, my dear; and don't you remember when I heard you say your prayers it was always ' Pray Cod bless Sarah,' as well as those whom it was your duty to pray for. Ah, my dear, you used to love me then." "And how do you know that I do not love you now ':" "Ah, that's all changed, my dear. You are no longer a little girl." "But how do you know that I do not love you now ?" " No, no, my dear ; not as you used to." " And keep still to the simple old form of prayer I was taught as a child, with a word for the poor, stricken old friend who was alwajs so tender and loving to me." " No," said the woman, sadly. " Sarah !" " Yes, yes, yes, you do, my own darling," she cried, as she sank upon her knees and pressed Claude's hand to her cheek. " You do, you must, and you have shown it to me by what you have done. I'm a wicked, ungrateful wretch." "No, no, no; bo calm, be calm," whispered Claude, soothingly. " No, my dear, there is no more happiness and rest, for me. Yon do not know—you do not know."

"I know my poor old nurse is in sad trouble, and there mast be times when she feels all the past cruelly. Bub do you forgot what wo are taught about patience under tifiliction ? Do you ever pray for help to bear all this affliction as you should?" "No, no," cried the woman, fiercely ; "I feel sometimes as if I dare nob pray." "There, there," said Claude, laying her hand tenderly upon the woman's arm. " You must nob talk like that. You are ill and upset to-day. Try and be patient. Come. You are not quite alone in the world, Sarah. lam your friend."

The woman kissed her hand again, passionately, as she moaned to herself in the agony of her spirit, for there before her she seemed to see her husband's reproachful eyes, and to hear his voice as he bade her be strong and keep down all weak feelings of love for others till she had accomplished the terrible revenge.

" Come, come, come," said Claude, gently. "I was in hopes that you were growing happier and more contented. Try to bo. Time will soften all this pain. I know how terribly you have suffered, and that my words must sound very weak and common. plaeo to you ; but you will be more patient and bear all this."

The agonising emotion seemed to choke all utterance, for a fierce battle was going on within the woman's breast. Love for

her young mistress strove with the feeling of duty to the dead and the superstitious horror of breaking that vow voluntarily ; and at last, excusing herself, she hurried away to her room to lock herself in, and throw herself upon her knees to pray for help—to pray that she might be forgiven, and spared from the terrible task placed upon her as a duty to fulfil. But no comfort came, only a hard sensation of fate drawing her on till she grew feverish and restless. Red spots burned in her sallow cheeks, and she rose from her knees at last with a heavy lowering look in her eyes, as she muttered to herself:

" Yes, ib must bo done. lb is fate. Ho cnew better than I, and saw with dying )yea what was right. Yes, I can- ot go sack now." That night Sarah Woodham lay lonp wake, suffering a menial agony such as monies to the lob of few. Her woman*! laturc rebelled against her lot, for beneath ihe hard morose shell there was an abun lance of the gentle milk of human kindness Jut her long married training in the hart ctter of the sect to which her husband be onged had placed her so-called duty so t( ;ho front that it had become an idol— stern tyrannical idol who must at all cost! Je obeyed, and she shrank with horror, as it a sin of the most terrible nature, iron laring to disobey the injunction laid upor ier by the dead. religious beliof and superstitious drear oined hand in hand to force her onward md sho lay shivering in her bed, reproach ng herself for striving to escape from tin ulfilment of her husband's last command. Night after night she suffered a martyr loom ; but upon this particular occasion II teemed to her that she was in close com nuideation with tho unseen, and with eyes vild and strained she kept trying to pierce he darkness, lying in anticipation of some severe reproof for tarrying so long. Hours had passed, bub sleep would no) :ome ; and at last, in a desponding voice >ho moaned : "It is too much. lam only a poor weal .vomnn. Isaac ! Isaac 1 husband, my bur lon is greater than I can bear !" Tho words she had uttered aloud startler ler, and she lay trembling, but they suemec .0 have relieved her over-burdened heart md a feeling of calm restfulness gradually 'tolo over her, and she slept with the tear; slowly stealing from beneath her closec lids. " Isaac, husband, for her sako don't as! me to do this thing." The words camo in a hurried whisper telling too plainly that oven in sleep tin rest had nob calmed her tortured brain, foi the task was there, and she moaned agair ami again piteously, as if continuing hoi appeal for mercy. But in her imagination there was none Her eyes had hardly closed before sin seemed to be back in the cottage listening to the dying man's utterances, fullofbigotec intolerance and hate, bidding her avenge him ; and at last she started up in hoc with a cry of horror, to sit there pressing her wet dark hair back from her brow, ant staring wildly into tho darkest corner o the room. '' Yes, I hear," she said in a hoars* whisper. "J have tried so hard, but yoi don't know. I am only a poor weal creature, and it is so hard—so hard, but J willl will try." Sho sit there for fully two hours rocking herself to and fro, weeping, praying, bul finding no relief. She threw herself dowr at last, and for a few moments the cold pil low relieved the agony of her throbbing temples ; but only for the time, and then ii was as hot as her fevered head. " If I could only sleep," she groaned, " if could only sleep and forgot." But the sleep that gathers up tho ravf

>d sleeve of care would nob come ; and at. ist in despair she rose, bathed her burning emplos, and then hurriedly began to dress. " I cannot bear it longer," she muttered, ' I cannot bear it." Drawing the curtain aside, she saw that t was still night, and that her sleep with it? igonising dream must have been of the >riefest kind, and going to her dressing able she took her watch —the heavy silver vatch that had been her husband's—from he stand where it hum: to act as a little imepicce ; but. though she held it in various lositions close to the window, the reflection >f the moonlight which bathed the farther side of the house was not sufficient, and she >pencd the watch and trusted to her sense of ouch. Hero she was more successful, for passing ler forefinger lightly over the dial she arrived at a fairly accurate knowledge of the ,ime—half-past two. Setting her teeth hard, she went on dressng, muttering the while, a word from time :o time being perfectly audible, and telling he direction of her thoughts. " I must—fought against it. Maddenng—wrong or right— must—poor master— mist—l must." Each word was uttered in company with i jerk given to every button or string ; and it last she stood thinking by tho door, not lesitating, but making up her mind as to her :ourse. Thedrendand its accompanying trembling vote gone now. In their place was active letermination as to the course she meant o take, and with a long drawn breath she infastened her door, and passed out into the itter darkness of the passage and landing. There was something weird and spirituaised about her appearance as she passed m to the stairs, and descended, the faint ight shed by the glimmering stars, through i skylight, just making it evident that something was moving slowly down the steps, while the faint brushing sound of her Iress seemed more like the whispering of he wind than a noise made by someone massing down the hard granite flight. She paused for a few moments by the door >f Claude's room as if listening; and again i sigh escaped her as she went on silently, make to the fact that tho slightest noise night arouso her master, who would, if not jlunged in a drug contrived stupor, be ying sleepless listening to every sound. But she passed on down the last flight ol steps, across the hall, and without hesitation aid her hand upon tho handle of tho study loor. " Locked !" sho said to herself, the thought occurring directly that tho blame was hers, for she recalled fastening the loor. There was a slight grating sound and r sharp crack as she turned the key ; but :hey had no effect upon the woman, who iow that she had determined upon hoi course, seemed as if she would stop at lothing. The darkness in the study wa3 profound tot even a gleam from the stars passim through the window, which was shuttered md the curtains drawn. But as if light wove not needed in her mission, the womar went on across tho room, avoiding tin radons articles of furniture in a way thai ivas marvellous, and hardly making a sount ill she turned the key of the oak cabinet which creaked sharply as the door wai thrown open. Then came the clink of bottle against jottle, and the squeaking sound of a cork 'oliowed by the gurgling of a liquid beinj united out. Tho noise of the cork, the tar. >f the bottom of the bottle on being re placed, and then the closing and locking ol ;he door followed. Sarah Woodham was about to cross the ■oom back to the door, satisfied with tin successful issue of her mission, which would tare been thwarted had there been no key n the lock when the sound of the handle ol ■ho door being moved made her start to wards the window. Her first idea was tc ihrow one of the curtains round her, bill .here was no time, and she stood motionless n the dark, listening, under the impressior -hat Claude had heard her come down, ant lad followed. A low cough undeceived her, and a chili )f horror ran through her frame as six •ealised the fact that it was her master. Ho must have been awake and watchful tnd she stood there trying to stop tho beat ng of her heart, as she felt that she hat jecn discovered. But Garfcrara slowly crossed the room md in imagination she saw his hands out stretched as he felt his way to avoid coming n contact with tho table. Tho next mo rient her spirits began to rise, for six mderstood why he had come down. Then ,vas no doubt about it, for she heard his lands touch the cabinet, the lock snap, md then there was a sharp clicking sound md she knew that ho had knocked over i oottlo on the shelf. "Confoundedly dark!" he muttered and Sarah Woodham held her breath as six heard him move, and another sound.. She knew well enough what it meant He had gone to a side table and was feel ing for the silver match-box which alwayi stood beside the inkstand.

Sarah stretched out a hand behind her as she took a step backward. Then she paused, for a sudden silence in the room warned her that Gar tram was listening. But the next moment the rattling of the matches was heard, and crick-crick-crack, the striking of one upon a metallic box, and a line of faint sparks threw up for the moment the figure of Gartram with his back to her bending over the table —a black silhouette seen for a moment and then all profound darkness once more. [To be continued.]