BETRAYAL OF JOHN FORDHAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10154, 10 June 1896, Page 3

BETRAYAL OF JOHN FORDHAM.

NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.

BY B. L. FABJKON, Author of "No. 119, Great Porter Square," " Grlf," i '"The Match of Fate," "For the Defence," " Aaron the Jew," etc. [All Eights Reserved.; PART IV. CHAPTER XXXV. f. PAUL GODFREY, PRIVATE. DETECTIVE, COS- iOLUSBS HIS NARRATIVE. ' ;.! Whenever a .summons of this kind is answered quickly it' betokens either that the inmates are ; in a nervous state or are in dread or expectation of important news. A peaceful household takes things more calmly, and is oontenb to let the telegraph messenger cool bis heels on the doorstep. I did,nob expect this household to beat peace with itself, nor did I wish it, for such a state of things would have augured ill for the success of my expedition. I was, therefore, pleased to hear a rush of footsteps in the passage, followed by the swift opening of the street door.

The woman who answered the summons held a candle in her hand, and there was nothing particularly clever in my jumping at the conclusion that Louis', mother stood before me. Until this night I had never seen her or hereon, nor,'so far as lam aware, had they seen me. I had counted upon this as of importance in the move I was about to take. We being in the dark, and Mrs. Fordham in the light, we had the advantage of her. As she peered forward and held out her hand for the telegram three of us darted into the passage, Wheeler, Bob Garlicb, and myself. Jack was on the watch outside, .to be called in by a whistle when he was required. Mrs. Fordham fell back with a shriek of alarm, and a man ran out of the. nearest room, crying : 1 - " What's the matter ?" This man had a scar on his forehead. " Mr. Louis Fordhatn, I believe," I said, advancing, while Mrs. Fordham continued to retreat.

"Yes." "No." Tho two answers came simultaneously from the man and the woman, the man acknowledging his name, the woman denying it. YVe were moving slowly towards the room from which Louis had emerged, and now reached the door. Mrs. Fordliam flung herself against it, and crying, " You can't come in hero—this is a private house," actually had the boldness to blow but the candle. I could not but admire hor for it, for she must have seen that there were three of us; and pluck, especially in a woman, always commands my admiration. But she reckoned without her host, for two bull'seye lanterns instantly flashed their light upon her face. "Hare you come to rob us?" she demanded. "I will call the police." " Save yourself the trouble," I repliod. " We are officors, and I warn you not to resist. Here is a police whistle, if you would like to use it."

She did not take it, and, driving her and Louis before us, we entered the room. The gas was lighted there, and it was clear to see what was going on. Trunks and bags were open, and the floor was littered with clothing and travelling requirements, on the point of being packed away. " Preparing for a journey," J remarked. "That doesn't concern you," Mrs. Fordbam retorted. » " No, it concerns you more than us," I said. "I am afraid your journey will have to be postponed." I motionod to Wheeler, and pointed to an inner door which communicated with another apartmenb. See who is in there." "Ib is my bedroom," screamed Mrs. Fordham. "You ruffians—how dare you ?" " See who is in there," I repeated. " There is nobody there," she said. We did not take her word for ib. Wheeler examined the aparbmenb, and, returning, said it was empty. "Whom did you expect to find?" demanded Mrs. Fordham. " Shall I give him a name ?" " You can do as you please about that." " Oh, I thought you wanted to know:''a " You shall suffer for this," she said, but curiosity was too much for her. "Give him a name, then." v " What do you say to a party of the name of Maxwell ?" ■

She made no answer; and J observed that her face grew suddenly white, as had been the case with Madame Loubert when I made a good shot. In dealing with selfwilled women this is always a satisfactory sign. My observation of the tender sex leads me to another conclusion : the most obstinate of them, when the barriers are broken down, show the most fear, and are the most subservient and submissive, though I am bound to say this was not exactly the case with Mrs. Fordham. But then she was an exceptional woman, and pho hated John Fordham as only a woman can hate. " Who is in the house besides yourselves !" I asked. " You wouldn't have dared to molesb us," she answered, " if we had protectors." " Answer tho question," I said sternly. " You know that we are alone in the house." " Go and see," I said to my two assistants, can take caroof these." They departed on their errand, and until their return, when they informed me that the house was emptv except for those who were in this room, not a word was oxchanged between mo and Mrs. Fordham. As for Louis, he had taken no part in the conversation. He was evidently ruled by his mother, for he kept/his eyes upon her, and took his cue for Bilen ce from her. •

" Now," said I, " we are hore upon very serious business, and I don't want you to incriminate yourselves. I have had an interview with one lady to-day—a friend of yours, Madame Loubert, provision dealer, Soho— and after some stupid reluctance on her part, I put ib to her whether she would treat me as a friend or an enemy. If it had been as an enemy she would have been in prison by this time. I should have had her arrested. But she acted like a sensible woman, and accepted me as her friend, recognising that ib was her only chance of being kept out of the criminal dock. The consequence is, she is free— safe." I repeated the last two words, "and safe." I offer you the same chance. If, without) incriminating yourselves, you can do as she did, I advise you to follow her load. If it is to be the other way, blame yourselvw for the course I shall take." Louis made a motion, as though about to speak, but his mother restrained him. "Be silent," she said. "Pray what course do you propose to take ?" "I shall arrest you, Mrs. Fordham, and you, Louis Fordham, on the charge of complicity in the murder of a man known as Morgan over a year ago in Liverpool." Louis staggered, and caught ab the mantelpiece for support, and Mrs. Fordham rushed to his side. I remember what John Fordham wrote in bis Confession aboub the love she bore her son, and I now had evidence of it. "You are not very strong," I said, stating a palpable fact. " Probably you still feel the effects of the wound you received on the night Morgan was murdered." And now Louis was nob to be restrained. "What do you know of it?" ho screamed, " What do you know of it?" Up to a certain point," I replied, "I know everything. Of. the company you kept in Liverpool and elsewhere, of the way you spent your days and nights,, of the gambling that was going on, of your accusing Maxwell thab he cheated you. at cards, of your being stabbod by him"—l stopped here. I had given them an inkling of what I did know, but had no intention of telling them what I did not know; so I branched off on another tack. "You are both aware thab John Fordham is in prison for a murder ho did not commit. Your presence alone In a criminal court will ■ prove him to be innocent. But wo nnb need that to set him free ; ib can be accomplished withoub your aid. And for the rest-well, ib is in your hands. I shall not (jive you long to decide." "My boh was a victim," said Mrs. Fordbam. "Heis no murderer." " You can prove thab to a judge and jury instead of to me, if you prefer it. I have a conveyance waiting for you, Be advised, Don't trifle With me." i' ' > i

"You mentioned an alternative, bub have nob explained it," "•'* ti .v .'V ' v . " Ah, you are growing sensible. I musb have plain answers to plain questions, and a plain statement of Ma," ■

: " May I speak privately to my son !"''-■' . "I have do objection, but ib must be in this room. We shall nob let you ; out of our sight. ' You can talk in the corner there, and we will remain here by the door. If you speak low we'shall npb overhear you." She dragged Louis into the corner, and there they held a whispered conference. I did not seek to overhear them,'bub I saw that Louis, overcome by fear, was ready, even eager, to unbosom himself. Such opposition as was apparent to me came from her. She was the kind of woman that hates to give in— and Madame Loubert would have made a pretty pair— in the end she allowed herself to be persuaded. "We will answer your questions, such as we ; think fit to be answered," she said, "under compulsion. Understand that— under compulsion." I shook my head and smiled. " That will not'. do. , You will answer all my questions of your own free will, or you will answer none; and your desire is to assist the course of justice." She shut her mouth with a snap, and I think she would hare liked to bite mo.

"Ifyou don't answer,"cried Louis, "I will." . " Pub your questions," she said, frowning at him and us. " You wish me to do so?" I asked, knowing I had her in my power, and she was forced to answer, "Yes." She did not exactly love me at that moment. 1 pointed to the litter of clothing and open trunks. " You are packing up to go away ?" Jfes— have a right to go where we please." ' ' > '.'To Paris!" "Yes."; And from there?" "It is not decided." "lb was your intention to travel by the night train ?" "Yes." " Who was to go with you ?" "A friend." "He is nob a friend," Louis exclaimed. " I don't care for your dark looks, mother ; I will speak ! He has never been my friend. Didn't he rob me—didn't be nearly murder me ? .''And you stand up for him because— because—" " Hold your tongue 1" she cried, But though he did not finish tho sentence I did, in my mind. She stood up for Maxwell because there was a tie between them; he had obtained a bold upon her through her affections—for even such women as she can love. Conjeotures, of course, but I afterwards learned that they went straight to the bull's-eye. I continued. "Maxwell was to be your companion!" " Yes."

. " He,is coming for you ? You expect him here to-night?" • : It needed but the slightest hesitation on her parti to cause me to turn to Louis, and when he answered, " Yes, he is coming for us," I thoughUhe would have struck him. " Quarrel away," thought I," it all makes for us." " It made for us, also, that she was torn two ways at once—by her undoubted love for Louis, and by what had taken place between her and Maxwell. " At what time do you expect him ?" " At ten." I looked ab my watch ; there was nearly an hour to spare. " When was it arranged that tho three of you were to go together to the Continent ?" "Yesterday.' 1 " Lasb night you mean J" " Well, last night. That is yesterday." " It was Maxwell who suggested it!" " Yes." " After he had followed a certain person home from Madame Loubart'a shop " You are well informed," said Mrs. Fordham, bitterly. "There is very little in this rascally affair," I responded, " upon which I am not woll informed, but it is always satisfactory to receive confirmation. I have no further question to ask at prosont. V.'lim, I require now is a plain statement ot fuctj. Relate what occurred after Maxwell stabbed you." (To be continued on Saturday next. On Saturday, June 20, the opening chapters of a now and brilliant story, by John Strange Winter, entitled "THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER." will be commenced in the New aland Herald, and will bo continued on Wednesdays and Saturdays following. This author has won a very high reputation as a writer of light and pleasant reading, and the new story is quito equal to anything that has previously come from the same pen.