WHOSO FINDETH A WIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10410, 7 April 1897, Page 3

WHOSO FINDETH A WIFE.

BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX, Author of" The Great War in England In 1897," "Zoraida," "Stolen Souls," " Guilty Bonds," " A Secret Service," etc., etc. [Copyright. SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapter I and It—Deedes, a confidential clerk in Government office, receives despatch from Berlin, and his chief, the Earl of Warnham, Her Majesty's Principal Foreign Secretory, directs him to seal it up. lie does so. and places it in his pocket. He lunches with Dudley Ogle, an old college chum, and afterwards delivers the despatch to the earl. In the evening they dine at the Nook with Mrs. Laiiijj, to whose daughter Deedes is engaged. He is somewhat jealous of the attentions of an old man named Andrew Beck. A telegram in cipher alarms Deedes, and he is about to leave for London when he stumbles over the dead body of his friend, Dudley Ogle, lying in the path. Chapters 111 and IV.-Leaving the dead body of his friend to await an inquest, Deedes hurries home to learn the startling news that he is accused as a spy by his chief, who informs him that the document entrusted to him has been stolen, the envelope handed back to the earl containing nothing but blank piper. At the same time a telegraphic despatch informs them that Russia is on the point of declaring war against England in consequence of the secret despatch being kuown to the Russian Government.

Chatter Lord Warnham persists in accusing Deedes with being a spy, and renders him almost; speechless by producing the original of a telegram apparently in nettles' handwriting which had been handed in at the Strand Post Office, and which contained the full text of the secret document. His lordship also stated that to make the document still safer he removed it to his own bouse, and afterwards restored it to the safe. Lord Warnham dismisses him from his presence. CHAPTER VI. THE VEIL. Leaving the earl's presence, I refused old Stanford's invitation to take some refreshment, and walking along the corridor on my way out came face to face with Frayling, who was being conducted to the library.

"Going?"ho inquired.

" Yes," I answered, and passing on engrosied in bitter thoughts that overwhelmed me, strode out into the park, wandering aimlessly across the grass to where a wellkept footpath wound away among the trees. Taking it, heedless of my destination, I walked on mechanically, regardless of the brilliant sunshine and thodßngsof the birds, thinking only of the unjust accusation againstme and of my inability toclearmyself. I saw that the stigma upon me meant ruin, both social and financial. Branded as a spy, I should be spurned by Ella, sneered at by Mrs. Lain", and avoided by Beck. Friends who had trusted me would no longer place any confidence in a man who had, according to their belief, sold his country into tho hands of her enemies, while it was apparent from the carl's words that ho had 110 further faith in my words or actions.

Yet the only man who could havo cleared me, who could have corroborated my statement as to how I spont my time during ray absence at lunch and shown plainly that I had never entered the Strand nor visited the branch post office next to Exoter Hall, was dead. His lips wore for over sealed. I went forward, plunged deeply in thought, until passing a small gate I loft tho park and found myself in Warnhain Churchyard. For a moment I stood on the peaceful spot whero 1 had often stood before, admiring the quaint old church, with its square, squat, ivy-covered tower, its gilded clock face, and its ancient doors that, standing open, admitted air and sunshino. Before me were the plain white tombs of the departed earls, the most recent being that in memory of the countess, one of the leaders of London society, who had died during her husband's absence on his official duties; while across the well - kept lawn stood a quaint old' sun dial that had in silenco marked the time for a century or so. From within tho church the organ sounded softly, and I could see the vicar's daughter— protty girl still in her teens— at tho instrument prac-

tising. Warnham was a quiet Sussex village unknown to the world outside, unspoiled by modem progress, untouched by tho hand of the vandal. As presently I passed the lych gato and entered its peaceful street it wore a distinctly old-world air. At tho end of the churchyard wall stood the typical villaga blacksmith, brown-faced and brawny, swinging his hammer with musical clang upon his anvil, sot benoath a great chestnut tree in full bloom; further along stood the schools, from the playground of which came the joyous sound of children's voices; and across the road was the only inn, the Sussex Arms, where on more than 0110 occasion I had spent an hour in the baro and boery taproom chatting with the garrulous village gossips, the burly landlord, and his pleasant spouse. Tho air was heavy with the sconb of June roses and tho old-fashioned flowers growing in tho cottage gardens, whilst the lilacs sent forth a perfume that in my perturbed state of mind brought mo back to a realisation of my bitterness. Lilac was Ella's favourite scent, and it stirred within me thoughts of hor. How, 1 wondered, had she borne the nows of Dudley's tragic and mysterious end ? How, I wonderod, would alio greet me when noxt we met?" Vet somehow I distrusted her, and as I walked on through the village towards the Ockley Road, nodding mechanically to a man I know, I was seriously contemplating the advisability of never again seeing her. But I loved her, and though I strove to reason with myself that some secret tie oxistod between her and Beck, I found myself unable to break off my engagement, for I was held in her toils by the fascination of her eyes. For fully an hour I walked on, ascending the hill swept by the fresh breeze from the Channel, only turning back on finding myself at the littlo hamlet at Kingsfold. In that walk I tried to form resolutions; to devise some means to regain tho confidence of the earl and to conjecture tho cause of Dudley's death, but all to no purpose. Tho blows that had fallen in such swift succession had paralysed me. I could not think, neither could I see.

Repassing the Sussex Arms I burned in, dusty and thirsty. In tlio bare taproom, deported at that hour, old Doninan, a call, tight)-trousered, splayfooted, grey-haired man, who drove the village fly and acted as ostler and handy man about the hostelry, was busy cleaning some pewters, and as I entered looked op and touched his hut. "Well, Denman," I said, "you don't seem to grow very much older, eh 2" The man, whose hair and beard were closely cropped and whose furrowed face had a habit of twitching when he spoke, grinned as he answered : " No, sir. People tolls mo 1 bear my age wonderful well. But won't you come into the parlour, sir?" Declining, I told him to get me something to drink, and when he brought it questioned him as to the latest news in the village. Denman was an inveterate gossip, and in his constant drives in the rickotty and antiquated vehicle known as "the fly" to villages and towns in the vicinity, had a knack of picking up all the news and scandal, which he detailed at night for the delectation of customers at the Sussex Arm*. " I dunno as anything very startling has happened lately in Warnhain, The jumble sale came off at the schools last Tuesday fortnight, and there's a cricket match up at the lodge next Saturday. Some gentlemen are coming down from London to play." " Anything else ?" Denman removed Ilia hat and scratched his head. " Oh, yes," he said, suddenly. " Yon knows Mr. Macandrew, what's steward for Mr. Thornbury? Well, last Monday week an old gentleman called at his house up street and asked to see him. His wife asked him into the parlour, and Mr. Macandrew went in. • 'Are you Mr. Macandrew 2' said the old gent. 'I am,' says Mr. Macandrew. ' Well, I shouldn't 'are known you,' says the old man. And it turned out afterwards that this old man was actually Mr. Macandrew's father, who's lived ever so many years in America, and hasn't seen Mr. Macandrew since he wor a boy. I did laugh when 1 heeiud it." "Extraordinary. Have you had any visitors down from London I inquired, for sometimes people took the houses of the better-class villagers furnished for the season. " We had a lively young gent staying here in the inn for four days last week. He was & friend of somebody up at the hall, I think, for he was there a good deal. : He came from London. I' wonder whether you'd know him?" , »' What was hit name!"' » • ?'

"Funny name," Denman said, grinning. Ogle—Mr, Ogle." " Ogle I gasped. " What was his Christian name ?"

" Dudley, I fancy it was." " Dudley Ogle," I repeated, remembering that lie had been absent from Shepperton for four days, and had told me he had been in Ipswich visiting some friends. " And ha has been here ?'' "Yes, sir. We made him as comfortable as wo could, and I think he enjoyed hisself." "But what did he do? Why was he down hero?" I inquired, eagerly. "Do you know him, sir? Jolly gentleman, isn't h« ? Up to all manners o' tricks, and always chaffing the girls." " Yes, I knew him, Denman," I answered gravely. " Tell me, as far as you know, Ilia object in coming to Warn ham. I'm very interested in his doings." "As far as I know, sir, he came to see somebody up at the hall. I drove him about a good deal—over to Ockley, to Cowfold, and out to Handcross, and I took him into Horsham every day." " Do you know who was his friend at the hall?" " No, I don't, sir. He never spoke about it, but I did have my suspicions," he answered, smiling. "Oh! What were they I asked. "I fancy ho came to see Lucy Brydeil, the housekeeper's daughter. She's a goodlooking girl, you know," and the old man winked knowingly. " What made you think that, eh?" " Well, from somethine I was told," he replied mysteriously. "He was seen walking with a young lady across the park one night, and I 'eard as 'ow it was Mrs. Bryden's daughter. Bub next) day I 'ad a surprise. A young lady called here for him, and she was dressed exactly as the young woman who had been in the park with him was. But it wasn't Mrs. Bryden's daughter." " Then who was it 1"

"I heard him call her Ella. She came fiom London." " Ella ?"• I gasped. " What the deuce do you mean, Denman? What sorb of a girl was she ? A lady ?" " Yes, sir, quite a lady. She was dressed in brown, and one thing I noticed was that she had oil a splendid diamond bracelet. It was a beauty." I " A diamond bracelet!" I echoed. There was no doubt that Ella had actually been to Warnham without my knowledge, for the bracelet thab the old ostler, in reply to my eager questions, described accurately was the one I had given her. "What time in tho day did she call 1 Where did they go?" I demanded in surprise. " She came about midday, and they both went for a walk towards Broadbridge Heath. They were gone I should rockon aboub three hours, and whon they returned it was evident from her eyes that she'd been crying." " Crying ( Had Ogle been talking to her angrily, do you think ?" "Mo. I don't believe so. They remained hero and had some tea together in the parlour, and then I drove 'em to Horsham, and they caught the 6.25 to London." I was silent. There was some romarkablc unfathomable mystery in this. "Now, Denman," I said at last, "I know you'vo got a sharp pair of ears when you're perched up on that box of yours. Did you overhear their conversation while driving them to Horsham?" Again the old man removed his battered hat and calmly scratched his head. " Well, sir, to tell you the truth, I did 'ear a few words," he answered, "l'eard the young lady say as 'ow she wor powerless. He seemed to be a begging of her to do something which horrified hor. I 'eard her aalc him in a whisper whether he thought they would be discovered, and he laughedab her fear, and said, 1 If you don't do it, you know the consequences will be fatal." " Do you think they went up to the hall when they went out walking ? 1 " I don'b know, sir. Tlioy could, of course, have got into the park that way. Bub you don'b look very well, sir. I hope what I've told you isn't— very unpleasant," the old ostler added, with a look of apprehension. "No,got me some brandy, Denman," I gasped. While he was absent I rose and walked unsteadily to tho window that overlooked a comfortable-looking cornor residence surrounded by a belt of firs, a wide road, and a beautiful stretch of valley and blue Downsbeyond. The landscape was peaceful and picturesque, and I sought solace in gazing upon it. But this latest revelation had unnerved me. Dudley and Ella had met in thab quiet rural place for some purpose which I could not conceive, Their meeting had evidently boon pre-arranged, and their object, from the words the old man had overhoard, was apparently of a secret and sinister character.

The strango inquiring look I had detected in Ella's face whenever she had glanced surreptitiously at Dudley on tho previous night was, I now felt assured, an index of guilty conscience, and Mrs. Laing's dread that Ella should know clip truth of my friend's tragic end appeared to prove in a certain degree tlio oxistcnco of some secret knowledge held by all three. Yet I could nob bring myself to believe that my well-beloved had wilfully deceived me. From what Denman had said it appeared as if Ogle had held her under some mysterious thrall, and was trying to compel her to act against her better judgment. Her pure womanly conscience had perhaps revolted against his suggestion, and she had shed the tears tho old ostler had noticed; yet ho had persisted and held over her a threat that cowed her, and perhaps, for aught I knew, compelled her to submit. My thought that the man who was my friend should have thus treated the woman I adored tilled me with fiercost anger and hatred. With bitterness I told myself that) the man in whom I placed implicit) confidence, and with whom 1 bad allowed Ella to spend many idle hours punting or sculling while I woB absent at my duties in London, was actually my enemy.

With sudden resolve I determined to travel back to Staines, and by possession of the knowledge of her mysterious visit to that village worm from her its object. At that moment Denman entered, and I drank the brandy atone gulp, afterwards ordering the fly and driving back to Horsham station, whence I returned to London.

At my flat in Rossetti Mansions, Chelsea, I found a telegram from the Staines police summoning me to the inquest to be held next morning at eleven o'clock, and also one from Ella asking mo to return, The latter I felt inclined to disregard ; the former I could not. Her words and actions were indeed beyond comprehension, but in the light of this knowledge I had by mere chance acquired ib seemed plain that her declaration of her unworthiness of my love was something more than the natural outcome of highly strung nerves and a romantic disposition. Women of certain temperaments are prone to self-accusation, and I had brought myself to believe her words to be mere hysterical utterances; bub now, alas! I saw there was some deep motive underlying them. I had ' been tricked. I bad, ib seemed, been unduly jealous of Beck, and unsuspecting of my real enemy—the man whose lips were closed in death.

I now regretted his end— as a friend regrets, but merely because no effort would be availing to compel his lying tongue to speak the truth. Yet, if he weie my rival for Ella's hand, might he nob have lied when questioned regarding the events of that fateful afternoon when the sccreb defensive alliance had been so mysteriously exchanged for a dummy. Jealousy knows -neither limit) nor remorse.

(To be continued on Saturday next).