HER HEARTS DESIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10575, 16 October 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

HER HEARTS DESIRE.

BY CHARLES OAEVIOB, Author of "By Devious Ways," "Just a aid," "Queen Kate," "la Cupid's Chains," flThis Outcast of the Family," etc., eto. CHAPTER XXX.-fGoHinwd.) About an hour after Trevor had stolen from Prince's Mansions, the parlourmaid glanced up at the clock in the kitchen. "I suppose his lordship isn't coming back to-night or he'd have told me to get a room ready," she remarked to the cook, who yawned in sympathy; "and yet he left his coat." " Perhaps ho's come back and gob it," suggested the cook. " No, or I should have beard him, for I've been listening. I wonder when Mrs. Walton left ? I didn't see her go, and his lordship didn't ring. She and Mr. Deane's sister must have gone together, I suppose. Now, there's a pretty girl, if you like, cook, and the image of her brother. We'd had

quite a lot of visitors to-night," and she laughed.

"Perhaps they're in the drawing-room now," said the cook. Jane shook her head.

" No; it's all quiet. I went and listened at the door just now, and not hearing anyone, I knocked and looked in. There was no one there. I got a Start though," she added, with a smile. " How do you mean ?" " Well, his lordship had thrown his fur coat on the sofa, and ib looked for all the world as if somebody was lying there," replied Jane. She yawned again. " Well, I think we'd better go to bed; it's no use sitting up for Mr. Weane; 1 expect he's ab Cardigan Terrace, and if bo, he won't be home till the small hours," "Better see to the drawing-room fire, hadn't you?" said the cook, as she turned down the page of her novel; bub Jane shook her head. " Oh, it don't matter. Mr. Deane always goes straighb to bed when he cqmes in—l hear his door shut." Tho two women went to bed after a little

more talk, and the place was wrapped in silence. "Bobby was nob an early riser-few young persons are. It is the middle-aged and the old who find it easier to get up than to lie thinking, and if Bobby got his breakfast by ten o'clock, he was quite suited and satisfied. Lord Gaunt's servants had an easy time of it in that respect. It was past nine when Jane wont into the drawing-room to light the fire. The electric lamp was still burning, and she looked over her shoulder and called the cook.

"Mr. Deane hasn't come in yet," she said. "I wonder where he is."

| The cook grumbled incoherently: " I suppose I had better get breakfast all the same," she said. "If I don't, he'll come rushing in and want ib all of a hurry. It always happens like that." Jane laughed, turned out the lamp and drow back tho curtains. As she did so, Bhe was conscious of a faint perfume. She knew it very well, for ib was the scent which always hung about Mr. Deane's clothes when he bad been to Cardigan Terrace. Bub it was stronger than usual in the room this morning. She opened the window and laid and lighted the fire, then began to sweep the room ; bub her eyes fell on the costly coat on the sofa.

"I'd better take it into the bedroom," Bhe said to herself, " or it will be smothered with dust. Lor', how careless gentlofolks are of their things I" A moment afterward a shriek rang through the place, and the cook, rushing into the room whence the cry had proceeded, found her fellow-servant leaning against tho table with the coat ab her feet, and her eyes staring at something on the sofa. "Good heavens, Jane I what ever is the matter?" Thon she, too, screamed, and the two women stood, clinging to each other, and staring ab the motionless figure with terror in their eyes. Their cries, repeated again and again, brought the porter and the page into the room, followed by two or three occupants of the other flats. Amongst the latter was a retired army dootor, who, taking in the situation at a glance, pushed his way to the couch and examined the body. " She is dead," he said, gravely. " Who are the servants here? Ah! Do you know the lady? Who is she?" Jane, half fainting, gasped out the name: "It's Mrs, Dalton-Mr. Thorpe's sister I She came here last night I" She broke into terrified sobs.

"Alone!" asked the doctor. "But stop —better not answer. Let someone go for the gentleman, Mr. Thorpe. Here, boy, take a cab and bring him." He thrust the page-boy from the room, and turned to the porter us he did so. "And you go for the police." In a very short time two policemen were on the scene. They cleared the room and mounted guard beside the body, " We've sent, to Scotland Yard for a de-

tective officer," one said to the dootor,. He arrived before Morgan Thorpe, and ab once, with the sang-froid of experience, took possession of "the case;" and with notebook in hand, he was questioning the servants, when Morgan Thorpe burst in. He was white as death, but the pallor increased to lividity as he bent over the body and gazed at the beautiful face, now placid with the rest and peace of death. "You know her, identify her?" asked the detective. "Of course, I warn you that anything you say—you understand "Yes, she is—is my sister I" said Thorpe, leaning against the table and staring at the dead woman. "My sister; yes 1" , , "You knew she bad come here f . Thorpe nodded. "Why did she come here? Who did she come to see?" " Deane," replied Thorpe. . In that moment falsehood, evasion were impossible. , "Deane—who is he!" " He lives here—in these rooms,'.' said Thorpe. " My God, I thought she was at home—in her room 1 I came back late last night— the club—it was, early this morning. Her door was closed.' I— thought she ..was in 'bed, I went to. my room 'and—and I was in bed when they fetched me. Who-who has done it?, She has been murdered!" '.'',"',','.' ".'.,' , "I'm afraid so," said, the , detective, grimly. '' He looked at the Persian dagger which lay on the floor, as it, had dropped from Trevor's hand, " That did it; don't touch it, please," he added, though any of those' present Would have died rather .'than 'do so. " Why did she cope here to see Mr, Deane— know?" ' ,'; , '; 'Thorpe moistened his parched lips. ,;, „ '■'■'''fot God's'sake',' ; give ' me , something^ 'The detective nodded, and.the 'doctor* poured out a'glw.of ,braud|forThorpe, Hedrank it at> draught, 'km i^, ""I'll tell you all I know. - Sht T lh« B -hr • snuddertd-"ihe' came m&Mffl&m tome money from him.",;, • • 4 , ; r9 ' v - ;> r „ I The detect!*made »Mffi tffafan ■1 "Go on," he said, gravely,. toreaten'him?" ; '; :i L ~;'/,,•. ™>„ «v*j '"No, no; >ly-i»niy ( ,perßMde, , l Mid iloipfl! I'°*''.WW f I*ur»l M '•"'

The detective turned to the trembling, shrinking servants. * " Where ii Mr. Deane Asked. "I—l don't kqptr, eir," mid Jane, with a terrified sob. " He—he hasn't been home •11 night.'

" How do you know that?" demanded the detective, quietly. .' The girl looked round with a bewildered air. "He far as Ik'now." ! '- i 0 ' The detective nodded. Bis sharp eyes had caught the shattered portrait frame where Jane, all unsuspectingly— that it bad been accidentally knocked 'off the mantelpiece—bad placed it on the table. He took it up. " Portrait of the deceased. Whose is it ?" " Mr.— Deane's, sir," sobbed Jane. " He put it on the mantelshelf the other day." "' ' ''" It all seemed so plain to the' Ihrewd detective. The woman had come to threaten or cajole this Mr. Deane, a quarrel had ensued,, the broken portrait, the dagger—it was all quite plain. " Givo me a description of Mr. Deane, will you?" he said. Thorpe, with hie hand to bis heart, tried to describe Bobby, and the detective took notes.

"You can go into the kitchen," he said to the servants, " but don't leave the place, E lease. It's quit* evident who's to blame ere," he said to the army doctor, who stood grave and attentive. "I'll get a warrant for this Mr. Deans." \ '■ Thorpe overheard, and looked up with a bewildered expression. 1 " Deane—Deane did not do it," he said, feebly. "He-he isn't capable of it. Ob, my God, why did I let her come ! It isn't Deane I" ~.' : But the detective • smiled, a superior smile. ' His experience had convinced bim that, as a rule, there was very little mystery about a murder. It was only in novels that there was any doubt a) to the criminal who had committed the deed. ' He went to the door of the inner room and tried it. -—— «—*-». "Locked," he said, to one of the, con " stables. "Go round and see :if the' key's inside." The man went round and unlocked the door, and the detective passed through the suite of rooms, noting everything with his sharp eyes, and re entered the drawingroom by the passage. "He got off through those rooms," he said to the doctor.

" The— scoundrel 1" he gasped in response. " You— will be able to get him?" The detective smiled confidently. " Oh, yes; crime's too recent for him to escape. I'll have him under the hue and cry in half an hour." Leaving the policeman in Charge, he went back to Scotland Yard, and in a few minutes a fairly accurate description of Bobby was being flashed over the country. Then tho detective, with two officials, returned to the Mansions two hours later. Morgan Thorpe was still there, seated in a chair, his head in his hands. He had finished the decanter of brandy, and was looking half-stupefied. As they entered, he looked up in a bewildered fashion.

"Have— you found him?" he demanded, hoarsely. "No," said the deteotive; "but we shall have him presently, without a doubt, He can't have got far." At this moment the door was flung open, and Bobby and an elderly man entered in hot haste, Morgan Thorpe sprung to his feet. " Deane !" he exclaimed. The detective stepped behind Bobby and shut the door.

" Mr. Deane, I think," he said, politely. "I arrest you." But Bobby had sprung to tlje sofa, and stood, white and shuddering, before the white sheet with which they had reverently covered the dead woman.

" It— is not true 1" he cried. "Oh, it oan't-it can't be! Thorpe"—he flung his hands out in appeal—"tell ma it isn't true!" Thorpe stared at him. '.' She's dead—murdered i" he .gasped, with hanging under lip. " Murdered here —last night—in your rooms I" '• '»My God!" cried Bobby. The detective laid a hand on his.shoulder. " Mr. Deane, I arrest you on a charge of wilful murder." Bobby turned his eyes upon him, too stunned to speak; but the elderly gentleman beside him said, with agitation: "There is some mistake." If the "poor creature was murdered last night, Mr. Deane is certainly not the criminal; for ho spent ail last evening at my house at Putney. He came to dine with two other gentleman—also pupils of mine—and re* mained the night. I—the other gucsSs, the servants—can prove this." The detective was staggered. " She came to see him. She was found covered by your coat." He indicated the fur coat." "Mine? No 1" said Bobby. The detective looked round sharply at the servants. " Whose coat is this?" he asked, sternly. Jane gasped for breath, "My master's— — Lord Gaunt's," she said at last. The detective frowned. "Whendid you see Lord Gaunt last!" he asked, quickly, "Last night— ten—he passed me in the corridor." " He waß here, then?" . She nodded spasmodically. "Yes; I let him in." "Did he woar that coat?" She nodded, and fell sobbing. " Yes; he came in it. He left without it; but—but if you think that his lordship did it, you're wrong — wrong. He couldn't The detective turned swiftly upon Morgan Thorpe, .'i . " Did your sister know Lord Gaunt 7" he asked, Morgan Thorpe got up and steadied himself by the back of the chair. "My God! it's no use keeping it back 1" he said, as if to himself. " Gentlemen, my poor sister was—was Lord Gaunt's wife 1" "His wife? You described her as Mrs. Daltonl"

" She was his wife I" said Morgan Thorpe, with a kind of dogged sullenneas. " They —they were separated. He left her. They must have met by accident here but night.' One of the Scotland Yard officials drew the detective aside.

" You've made a mistake this time," he said in a low voice. " The man you want is this Lord Gaunt. Hurry up I You've lost a lot of time as it is I"

CHAPTER XXXI.. The detective was staggered, and looked round rather eallenly. His professional reputation was a high one, and he felb his mistake acutely. " What hotel does Lord Gaunt use!", he asked of the servant. ' ■'! " He always goes to Mortal's, when the rooms are being done up or he can't sleet) here for any reason," Bait) Jane, weeping. "But it>isn't) his lordship." The detective left the room and got into a cab. '...... ' "Lord Gaunt in?" be inquired carelessly Of Wilklns, •' J v '~ " His lordship left us early this morning, sir," was the reply. . The detective bad quite expected this answer. , . ";. : ,.'X,.. ■[', "Do you know where I can find himr he inquired as carelessly. ■ . Wilkins looked surprised, ':'",''. "Hi? lordship, sailed ~>qr Africa this morning," he said, "the vessel must have started by this time—we S6nt his lordship's luggage on yesterday-to the/Peverisey Castle." . " ..,',' :':{,'.'■ ,in.ll mi .The detective nodded and bit his lip. Then he stood for a moment pondering. Surely Lord Gaunt would not have been such a fool as to shut himself up in a vessel which could be stopped by .table"at Madeira!,;, ■■■"■' I'M >t InWfibli l.i't ■Ufa Madeirai. .. , :i . ~ t)) ~l - < , „ ,• M ,. f ,•,.., ;,;•' Went in a cab, I suppose fiVjie said.;, • ' "Yes, air— hansom. /flit lordship only had a bag." "Just so. : Did you happen to hear what direction: he gave the cabman? I've got important) business '.with Z his lordship,'and want to oaten him before he start*, if can." - "fit said Charing Cross Station/!said Wilkins. "I happened to hear him.'! *£ ] The detective's face, cleared. Of course, Gaunt would leave his luggage to go by the Cap* vowel, and' make for the Continent, The detective thought be saw th,o move in ■nihs»|rit,;,v:.v; ; ';,i' '^ii. 1 u-tii■/ i .■..■'/ ':■■• "Thanks," he said; and be jumped into his cab and was driven to, Charing Cross. There he wired a of Lord Gaunt to the polios at Sooths* -ead -Dover, and inetrnoted them to stop Ma. A eon; > tinwtal train happened to bo doe, and the

detective, pretty well assured that he was on the track of the fugitive, went down to Dover by it. The Southampton telegram arrived exactly one hour after the Pevensey Castle had sailed.' Meanwhile, th?-police at the Mansions *«fe gathering information from the servant and other persons, and very soon the fact of. Deoima's visit on (he previous evening ca,me out,. Bobby was amazed and horrified. " Yes, she. fi toy sister," he said. "She tausfc have come to see me, as Jane says. She could not have come to see Lord Gaunt," for the inspector had Ventured to suggest this. " Where should we be likely to find Miss Dearief* he asked, significantly. Bobby shook his head. He was confused and bewildered.. : " " She rnkybe'with her aunt, Lady Pauline Lascelles, or she may have gone back home. I cannot understand. I will go round to Lady Pauline's," B J The inspector nodded. "One of my men will go round with you," he said; gravely. Bobby; started. " Yoii-r-you don't think—vou don't dare to suspect my sister?" he began; and the inspector responded, quietly: "Well, the young lady was here last night, Mr. Deane. I will ask you to see that she does not leave London just yet. She will be sure to be wanted, you see." Bobby 'went round to Berkeley Square, accompanied by a detective, and Lady Pauline came down to the drawing-room to them. ,J "A terrible thing has happened, Lady Paulihe," said Bobby, whose white face and quivering lips had startled her. "A-a lady has been found murdered—in my—that is, Lord : (Jaunt's—rooms, and— and— Ue'cima here ?' " Yes, she is here," said Lady Pauline; gravely. "She is very ill with brain fever." Bobby Uttered an exclamation, "1 must; see her, Lady Pauline j I must ! They say—it is said that she was at my rooms last night, and—and—" Lady Pauline's strength of mind came to her aid. "■:■■■■' ■ ' "In the rooms where this poor lady has been found ?" she said, " Yes, I know that she went to your rooms the woman in charge of.the. house told me so. But—" She stopped, etruok silent by the expression of Bobby's face. ,"Tbl| me all yon know," she said gravely and calmly.; ■ . • > Bobby, in hurried and agitated accents,' told all that he knew. "It is dreadful to think, to suggest, that Oecima is mixed up in this I" he said. " She oannot possibly know anything about it. Oh, let me Bee her 1" You may see her," said Lady Pauline, "butyou cannot.learn anything from her. She is quite unconscious. Here is the doctor," She heard his step coming down the stairs, and called him in. "Miss Deane is ill, very ill," he said, quietly. She may remain unconscious for some tjme, possibly for days. You may see her, yes; you can do no harm." ' Bobby went up, and stood and gazed at the white face with the staring oyes, then he came down and.looked helplessly round him, " We may as well go, sir," said the detective. "Lady Pauline will let us know when Miss Doano is well enough to be asked any questions." They returned to Prince's Mansions, and the detective made his report to the inspector. Ho nodded gravely, and drew Bobby aside. "Miss Deane will be an important witness," he said. " I may as well tell you, Mr. Deane— I don't speak officially— that we do not suspect Miss Deane." '"Suspectl" exclaimed Bobby, indignantly. The inspector raised his eyebrows. " Well, she was here, you soe; and anyone present in these rooms last night might fall under suspicion; but it seems to me that this case against Lord Gaunt is as clear as noonday," "Lord Gaunt," said Bobby, chokingly. "He is incapable of it!" The inspector shrugged his shoulders. "That's what one so often thinks," he said. " However, we shall soon see. Our

man will have overtaken him by this time, I should think." They had removed the body, but Morgan Thorpe had still lingered. The shock—and the brandy he had consumed—had rendered s him a pi liable spectacle. "Come-come home with me! Don't leave me alone, Deano, for Hod's sake I" he said, clutching at Bobby's arm, and quite forgetting his reoenb plot to rob him. " I will see you home," said Bobby, passing his hand across his brow. "I don'o know what to do, where to turn. I ought to go home and tell my father of all this— not that it would be of any use— I can't leave my sister. Yes, I will go home with I you." ! ITo be continued.