FOR HEART OR CONSCIENCE?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

FOR HEART OR CONSCIENCE?

if ■ • -/' ;; Wm BY GEORGE GRIFFITH, Author of "A Modern Croesus." "The fi World-Masters,- 1 "Brothers of the - K Chain." " An Ansel of the devolution." etc.. etc.

- PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ABEA>-(7EMENT.]j

iff! CHAPTER (Continued.) IP- Amu dinner they went into the drawingM room, whose open windows looked out on IP to the sea. and after coffee they had music : „nd song Both Kate and Mercia played "J\ and sang"infinitely better than the ordinary ; Jrawing-room amateur.- ami. of course, the ' : usual little knot of promenaded gathered ! '-" Hinder the windows to listen, but when Lilias ueut to the piano and begun to sing "Robin Adair" yet another spell fell upon those in the room, and the knot of people rapidly swelled into « small crowd. ' With the first word her soul seemed tc leap into her voice, ami she sang as only those who feel what they are singing, can g in ,r. Then she played one of Chopin's ' nocturnes, and her soul went into her linders. When she «<>( up she had to sit down again, and this time she sang " Remember or Foiget" with a pathos and passion which exalted the somewhat commonplace words into real poetry, when "she rose and. went back to her seat Ken- ,.- neth looked up. and saw a mist of tear* in Lev eves, and understood why .die had suns: the song.

During the first week in September the little party broke up. Lilias and her aunt vent buck to their cat in Othello Mansions. Mercia went to Liverpool to begin again the management of her father's household and .'endure with what patience she might, his "remarks on what he had told her he should consider a hi each of duty, and Kenneth installed his mother and sister in the modest hut cosy little home that he had made ready {or them in Bedford Park. Then he went away to Norway to enjoy that Indian summer' which is often the most delightful time of year in Scandinavia, which is also a time when those who want to he by themselves as he did Hist then can almost have the country for their own. J, He came hick a week before the Law Sittings, and began to get himself back into harness, as he put it. though, as a matter of fact, he had nut in a very considerable amount of thinking among the fjords and mountains. The Eversley "ill case stood second on the list. The first wax a somewhat highly - flavoured divorce case which was expected to provide pleasant entertainment for the smart women of London for about three or four days, the principal reason for this being that th? respondent was one of the prettiest, and had been one of the most popular, women in society.

During the week there were, of course, several consultations, and Kenneth dined twice at Othello Mansions, but' it they made love at all it was in the unspoken language of their eyes, for now In- tacit consent they had' become merely advocat" and client again. .As the day of the trial approached, Lilias' days of anxiety seamed to grow longer and her nights of self-tor-ture darker.

Three days before the one for which the trial wa= set down, she was sitting alone in the drawing-room of the flat just after breakfast, thhikinir over for the thousandth time the possibilities of escape from the fate which was nomine dark mi her life's horizon, when the maid knocked at the door and brought in Alfred Ashford's card. Instantly, by a great effort of w ; ll. she banished the brooding thoughts. Her fightins instinct tingled in her heart, her brain crew cool and clear, and in a word, she became herself, armed at all points for the encounter which she had herself entered.

.She did not rise to receive her guest as

he entered. She merely waved her hand towards a chair with an almost roval gesture, and said, in a low. but sweetly clear tone:

"Good morning, Mr. Ashford. Be good enough to sit down." It was not an invitation, it was an order, and Alfred A«hford stared at her for a moment in sudden surprise, but he obeyed, saying: "Good morning! You'll allow me to say that this is a rather curious reception. Lilias—"

"I must ask you to remember your manners, sir. if you hive any, and address me 'bv mv proper title! If von are guilty of that familiarity atrain I shall find means to make von regret it." * ""lie iroperiousjiess of her tone and manner absolutely astounded him, and he had an uncomfortable idea that something serious must have happened; but he replied •with iust a suspicion of a sneer: - "0!).' very well. Mis. Elsiey. if you wish it so. ' T am. as you know, the last one who would wish to be rude to a lady. . and now as there is no need to waste either Tour time or mine, will you do me the " 'favour of telling me why you have asked me to come and have a tete-a-tete talk with .roil after what you were kind, enough to /.Ear to me that afternoon at Hampsfcead?''. ./"Because I wanted to see yon on business." she said in a voice so cold that he felt a little .shiver in his nerves. " Because, in short. I wish to tell you that what I may perhaps call our partnership must be dissolved nt once."

"I hardly follow you." he said, his wonder still increasing. ' " Permit me to remind you that a dissolution of partnership re- . quires the consent of both partners, or in £ this case of all. and I think it will be rather ' ■difficult to obtain the consent of the of/hers.'* - ; "I don't think you will have very much difficulty in doing that." " 1':""

"Yesyou, Mr. Ashford. 1 propose, in xhort. to ask you to become—well, mv agent in the matter. No, don't interrupt me, please!" she continued, as she -aw her guest open his mouth and start in his chair. "When I have done, you mav give me your opinion of the situation. I. need not refer to the past- you know it as well ps I do : but I must remind you that I am now approaching a great crisis in my life, and I propose to approach it alone. A few weeks ago your friend. Mr. Walter Redman, sustained a very serious loss, apparently by burglary." The 'shot went home. Ashford's lips turned white and his "kin sallow.

■, "Ah," she continued, before he could trpeak, " I see that we shall soon understand each other. Now tell me this: What would you and your friends- give to know where those documents are?"

"I—T—well, to tell von the truth. Mrs. Klsley," he stammered "this is such an Titter*surprise to me that I could not an-swer-that question without consulting my er— colleagues.' "Well, then." she said, with a little exasperating laugh. " J will tell yon for nothing. They are in the hands of Inspector Edward Burnett, of Scotland Yard." "Great heavens. Lilias. you don't tell trie that!" lie exclaimed, starting to his feet. "I don't believe it. You couldn't possibly know it."

■ "Sit" down. Mr. Ashford. and don't get .frightened before the time." she laughed again. "I do know it. Now listen. Inspector Burnett got hold of those documents bv a lucky chance, but he floes not know where they came from, or <vho fabricated them. Your confederate has so far kept faith with you. Rut Scotland Yard Would give a good deal for that information, and I can give it." ■ "And ruin yourself," interrupted Ashford. with another sneer.

—"Certainly." she replied, quietly. "But mv ruin would involve the ruin of the whole lot of you, for after this would come exposure after -osurc, and I should think the resulting sentences would come to a considerable term of years. Now my proposal is this: Release me absolutely from the partnership. Take no hostile"action whatever against me. and I will keep my .bargain with you. provided I win the .case, and hold my tongue. Hut at the first sign of.hostility." I will tell even-thing and ruin myself to ruin you. You know me well enough to believe me. Those are my term-", neither-more nor less. Discuss them with vour accomplices as soon as possible, and let me know the result. Good morning." She got up and put her finger on the button of the bell beside her. The maid opened the door, and with a muttered 'Rood morning, Mrs. Elsies" Ashford walked out.

CHAPTER XIX. f . MAKING TERMS. As soon as he reached a post office Ashford sent Redman a wire: " Must see you at your office, two o'clock, without fail. "Most urgent." Then he took a cab to his club, thinking, as the French say, furiously all the way, and had a hasty and uncomfortable lunch, which he washed down with brandy and soda instead of his usual half-bottle of light wine.

When lie reached the offices of Redman's Detective Agency he found the chief sitting in his armchair smoking a cigar, and reading the betting news in one of the evening papers that are published early in the afternoon.

" Well, my dear Ashford," he said, putting the paper down, what's the meaning of ail this? 1 hope you're not exaggerating matters, for I've put oil' a very important appointment to see you." " You'll find this a precious lot- more important, whatever it was." said Ashford, putting his hat and umbrella on the table, and taking out his cigar case. " I've been to tee the fair Lilias this morning. She, sent me a note last night asking me to call.

1 wondered what the. deuce she wanted me for, and when 1 got there 1 found that my lady had sent for mo to make terms, ami she did mo the honour to appoint mo her agent for the making of them." "Well, of all the infernal impudence," said Redman. "What the dickens does she want to make terms about? She's made 'em, and what's more she's got to stick to 'em." " Von just wait till you hear what I've got to toll you." replied Ashford. "arid perhaps you will take a different view of the matter. The thin;,' s almost incredible, but I'm afraid it's true.

" All right (hen. get along." said Redman, a little uneasily, for there was no mistaking Ashfnrd's earnestness.

" Well, to begin with I believe you lost some documents whit you accounted pretty valuable a short time ago." "Did I really?" said Redman, taking hi-; cigar out of his mouth and staring him straight in the eyes. "And may 1 ask how von know that"'"

" Lilias told me. And what is more, she told me where thev are now."

'" Look here. Ashford, what kind of a fairy tale is this you're giving me? If 1 have lost any papers, 1 should think you know more about them than anyone else, to tell '-oil the truth."

"Thanks." laughed Ashford. "you can think just what you please about that; but, to come to business. Lilias must know, simply because Lilias cannot possibly have known of their present whereabouts unless she had also known that you had lost them."

"And where might their present whereabouts be''" asked Redman with visible uneasiness.

"At New Scotland Yard, in the keeping of Inspector Burnett."

"The — they are!'* exclaimed Redman, jumping to his feet. " Look here. Ashford. 1 don't care whether you stole them or whether you had them stolen, though I believe that's a fact, but this is a serious matter. The things are gone, and if Burnett has got hold of them, and he can truce them to me, why. it'll give him just the very hold over us that he's been looking for for years, and then the Lord only knows what will happen." " Exactly." said Ashford. "but don get excited over it, and I'll tell you the rest."

Redman sat down biting the end of his < igar. and Ashford went on and told him the terms that Lilias had proposed to him. "Now, what do you think of that'.'" he said when he had finished.

Before he could reply the door opened quickly, and Mr. Henry Montagu came in. When he saw Ashford his face grew almost purple with anger, he pulled an envelope out of his pocket, shook it at him. and-shouted: " Ah. I thought perhaps I should find yon here. Von scoundrel, you forger, you thief! Look at these." he went on, taking out of the envelope with trembling fingers a letter and the two invitation cards for Lady Beaucler's reception. " And listen to this." Then he read the letter in a thick, shaking voice: "Lady Beanclerc presents her compliments to Mrs. Henry Montagu, and begs to inform her that" the enclosed cards were not signed or .sent by her. They are forgeries. Lady Beaticlerc does not impute any fraud to Mrs. Montagu, but she must request her to understand that her name is not upon her ladyship's visiting list." "What the deuce have you been doing now. Ashford:" exclaimed Redman, augvily. "Isn't there trouble enough about, without you going looking for more?" " What has he done?" continued Mr. Montagu, turning towards him. "He has committed more forgery and theft, and he has insulted me and my wife. Look you. my wife, like most women, was mad to get into society. This thief told me that he was intimate with Lady Beaticlerc. and being fool enough to indulge my wife's craze. I offered liim a thousand pounds for two cards for the reception. Her ladyship took time to make quite certain, and I have taken time, too, and I have proof that he is the only person who could have stolen them. As for the forgery we know how well he could do that, and now he goes to prison, not so much for the thousand pounds, but for insulting me and my wife, and inking us ridiculous before these people. What would some of our aristocratic diiectors say if they knew that Mr. ami Mrs. Henry Montagu got into the Beauclerc's reception with forged invitations'.' Yes. he shall go to prison." Ashford sat silent in his chair, gnawing hi-.: moustache with trembling teeth for the very good reason that he had nothing to say. Then Redman said :

" Look here. Monty. I grant that Ashford has treated you infernally badly, but there's something even more serious than that on hand. Sit down and get cool and listen. Something has happened that may send others to prison, beside Ashford, and you might be one of them. ' "Eh, what's that?" exclaimed Mr. Montagu, with an almost magical change of manner and temperature. "Me. prison! What the deuce do* you mean'/ Out with it."

Then he sal down, and Redman told him the /uessage which Ashford had brought from Lilias.

By the time he had finished. Ashford had recovered some of Ids nerve, and was determined to play what was practically his last card.

" Look here, Montagu." he said with a very fair show of bravado, "I plead guilty, and I admit that I did very wrong,' but I was in an ugly position, as Redman here can tell you. and I had either to stop in it, or take a desperate way out. For any personal injury that I have caused Mrs. Montagu or yourself I most sincerely apologise, arid it' you'll give me the chance I'll make amends." "That sounds all right in talk." snorted the indignant Jew, but is there a reason for me giving you a chance?" "I am going" to tell you of one which I think you will find pretty good." replied Ashford, gaining confidence with every word. " I have the pleasure to inform you gentlemen that yesterday my suit for the hand of Miss Belinda Vanderleen came to a happy termination, and she has promised to become my wife." '"The deuce she has." exclaimed Montagu and Redman almost at the same moment; and Montagu continued in a very different tone, " Well, if that's true, 1 must confess that it alters matters very considerably." "It is true." said "Ashford, quietly, "and you will sec the engagement announced in to-morrow's papers. Now, of course, Montagu, if is in your power to stop that marriage and ruin'ine. The question is whether it would pay you to do so or not. The Vanderlcens quite understand that J am a poor man. but they also know that I have a very good chance—in fact, it is practically a certainty now— being, recognised as my late cousin's successor to the baronetcy, and also that, on my mother's side I am pretty near to the earldom of Munford. So what I may call the settlements will be pretty liberal, and so within a week after my marriage I shall be able to give you five thousand for that other thousand, and further I'll undertake to do my. very best as his son-in-law to persuade the old man to take seats on one or two of your boards, and I needn't tell vou that that would put anything through. I flatter myself that Belinda, is pretty fond of mo, and like most American daughters she can just twist her father round her linger." • n "I think that's a square offer, Monty," said Redman, while the Jew was considering. " You know we can't afford to be very particular with each other in theso matters, and besides if you go prosecuting Ashford and get his back to the wall, he might go into the box and give the whole show away." " You may be perfectly certain of that, gentlemen,"* laughed Ashford, feeling that

his last stroke Lad completely turned the tables. "In fact, you couldn't reasonably expect me to do anything else. Wouldn't you do the same yourself?" "1 suppose 1 should," .said (Rodman, quietly, and I'm quite sine Monty would, and therefore, Monty,'.' he continued, "I think you had better listen to reason. Let us accept Lilias' terms. If ishe doesn't split, and I know she'll keep her word, it will be practically impossible for Burnet* to find out where those papers came from, and in time they'll get tired: the things will get pigeon-holed, and there they'll slop, and everything can go on just an nicely and comfortably as before."

There was a little silence, during which Redman lit a fresh cigar, while Ashford thought, of his friend Mr. Murder, whom he decided to pension and ship oil" to South America as soon as he could afford to do so, and Mr. Montagu turned his quick, clear intellect on to the proposition that, had been made. He came to the conclusion that five thousand for one thousand wad a respectable-return for lis money, and moreover the prospect of handling some of the Vanderleen millions was a quite irresistible temptation. So after a minute or two he linked up smiling and said, in his most genial tone: "Right, my boy. On those terms I forgive you. It's a Int. and we'll have a bottle on :-."

The next morning I.i'.ias to her amazement and horror read in the Morning Post the announcement of the engagement of Miss Belinda Viinder'.een to Mr. Alfred Aishford. Her aunt had been strangely ailing of late: in fact, ever since Sir Arthur's death, and bo she was breakfasting alone "Great heavens!" she exclaimed, "is it possible? What an unspeakable infamy! That poor innocent girl, with youth, good looks and everything the world can give her, lobe deceived into a marriage, a union for life, with a swindler, a forger, mid a card-sharper, I suppose tln'.s is the work of Redman and Company. No. gentlemen, you shall not commit this hist infamy, whatever it costs to thwart you. There : hall he at lea.st one pond action done in my wick.Nl. miserable life. and. if 1 have to no to prison or th? scaffold for it. [ will save thin innocent girl from your filthy (dutches."

CHAPTER XX. VICTORY — AN" AI-Tl.lt. It would lie of little or no interest to describe in detail the legal buttle for the splendid fortune which Sir Arthur Kversley had left- to (lie woman win? had been his first and onlv love, the h.s of whom had driven him to seek exile in foreign service, to lie stricken down by wounds and disease in the ontlands of the earth : whence lie only returned to the splendid inherilance that fortune had given him. a drink.sodden and drug-sodden wreck of a man who might well have been an object of pity or contempt to a sober artisan earning hi:< thirty shillings a week. The proceedings in the Court of Probate and Divoic-? present a somewhat curious contrast. Un the one side public interest is as keen as it is unhealthy. On the other the proceedings are of the dullest, and the public ignores them, unless circumstances have occurred to render 'he case a eaufieeelcbre. such as Kversley v Kyersley was. For all that, the brilliant audience which had gathered to witness tin- final disposal of the dtad man's wealth, was foiced to sit and Hsten to an absolutely uninteresting recital, sometimes in scarcely audible tones. by learned leaders who had made probate their speciality, of different versions i.«f the story which the newspapers had already made familiar to everybody. Those eminent gentlemen contented themselves, when thev had each given their version of the «tory, with wrangling solemnly over abstruse technicalities which hardly one of their fashionable audience understood or- wanted to understand, and so the said audience went away grievously disappointed. 15ut they had learnt, meanwhile, that on the second day the real drama would begin, and begin it." did. a little before eleven, when Lilias Elsley was eared 10 the witnessbox and sworn, and Kenneth .Markham rose to commence the examination in chief. The v/iolo of the Ka.stbourne party were, <>' course, present, hoping, in spite of their own opinions, to see Kenneth score another triumph So, too. Messrs'. Ash ford, Redman and Montagu* were very interested spectators. Lord Ovfrbury occupied a, seat on the Bench, and Mr. Edward Burnett, as he said afterwards, watched the case in the interests of both parties. To these, of course, the case had almost a. tragic interest which was denied to the ie-i.

When Lilias entered the box. radiant with beauty and very quietly, yet exquisitely dressed, an irrepressible murmur of admiration ran through 1 lie crowded Court. If anything, her loveliness was heightened by a faint flush on her cheeks, and perhaps a brighter gleam in her eyes. In an instant every man in the audience had decided in her favour. If the law didn't give the disputed fortune to this lovely woman well, then, in Mr. Waller's immortal phrase, " the law was a has-:." The verdict of the women wsm by no m.ans so unanimous, possibly for the reason that, although there were many pretty, and even beautiful women present, there was not one of them who would have eared to challenge comparison with the inclination of absolute loveliness which stood in the witness-box, facing them with'a subdued confidence so calm that it almost amounted to an affront.

" Your name is Lilias Elsiey. and your maiden name was Castellan. I believe," said Kenneth, in his coldest professional tone. "Yes," replied a voice, whose sweetness seemed like notes of silvery music falling through the silence.

"When you were between seventeen and eighteen, the late Sir Arthur Kverslcy. who wa.-; then a lieutenant i>' lancers, tell in love with you and a.sked you to many him'-'" " Yori." "You refused hi-' offer under pressure from your father and otlu« lelatives, chiellv on account of your youth and his lack of prospect 0" " Yes."

" And you subsequent!- married your lute husband, aho under family pressure?"

" Yes." "You became a widow under very painful circumstance. I understand - '"

" Yes, he shot himself because he was mined by the failure of tiie Markhain group of mining companies.'' Was this the absolute candour of perfect innocence, or a transcendent stroke of dramatic genius? Clearly and softly spoken as they were they fell like so many hammer strokes on the ears of the astounded audience. Even the judge gave a perceptible start and the Bar, being mostly gentlemen, looked straight down at the desks in front of them. There was a moment's pause, of intense* expectation, and then Kenneth asked in exactly the same tone as before:

"And about three months after your husband's death you met Sir Arthur Kvensley quito by accident outside Swan and Kdgai'd ill Regent-street?'' " Yi - "

"Magnificent." murmured Mr. Burnett to himself, and his sentiment was repeated in the mind of practically every man and woman in the Court. As Lord Ovcrbuiy looked down at Kenneth's impassive face the tears came into hi.-! eyes. .' " Afterward-) he had tea with yourself and your aunt. Miss* Holroyd. and during lea. lie accepted an invitation to dine with you at vour flat at. Hammersmith?" "Yes!"

"Had he up to this time informed you of the great change that had taken place in his fortune?"

" Yes. And also of the terrible, alteration that had taken place in his health."

" Hang it all." whispered Nevil Jarvis to (he junior sitting next to him. "this is rather too clever. 'They are not going to leave mo a question to wk, but it's admirably got up." I "After dinner did Sir Arthur ask you to mairv him?" " Yes." " And von refused?" "Ye-." "On what grounds?" "I told him that he wanted a. nurse rather than a, wife, and that I absolutely declined to fill both positions " "OoAcl. again." murmured Mr. Burnett to himself. " Never -saw a better witness. Clever and well coached. Jarvis won't get much out of her."

" Did you afterwards consent to act in conjunction with your aunt as his nurse on the understanding thai if he was restored to perfect health vou would marry him?" " Yes."

" And Sir Arthur then agreed to be treated at Doctor Mathews' house at Humpstead, where lie died - '"

" Yes." . , ~ "Now, Sirs. Elslev, I am going to ask you a question which, although it is a somewhat delicate one to put to a lady m vour position. 1 know you will answer truly- During the time that Sir Arthur Eve'rslev was a patient at Doctor Mathews house did vott use or allow to be used any means whatever of persuading him to make a will in vour favour - '" . "Certainly not. 1 never knew that such a will was'in existence until Sir Arthur was dead.'' "■ . This lime the voice which had so gently repeated the monotonous " Yes" had a note of anger, almost of defiance in ! t. "Thank you," said Kenneth, sitting down. , . . Xevil Jarvis rose amidst the intense hush of an audience expecting great things, and said :

"MVs. Klslev. I shall not detain you very long. I shall' only trouble you to tell me whether on mature consideration yea are prepared to repeat on vour oath that joii did not, in the language of my learned friend, use or permit to be us?d any influence to persuade Sir Arthur Kv.n-sey to make a will in vour favour, and hat von did not, know that such ( a will had liuu made until he was dead':" "Why not be candid. Mr. Jarvis. ami accuse 'me of perjury at one.'':'' she said with a splendid flash of indignation. "Ot course 1 am." "Thank von. thai will do," said ><vil Jaivis. and'sal down to the accompaniment of a nun nun- of mingled meirinient an< disappointment. . The next witness was Mr. Arthur Ashford, cousin of the testator, who swore that, he went with Sir Arthur to his solicitors and saw the will diawn up, witnessed and signed. To the lest of his belief Mrs. Elslev had no knowledge of the making of the will. As the testator's cousin he was naturally disappointed in Iho provisions of the will. There was no doubt that the will was the real expression of his cousin wishes and there was an end of it. Again 'lie brilliant N'evil Jarvis utterly disappointed his audience by saying that he had no questions to ask. Then followed the .senior partner of the eminent firm of solicitors who had charge of Sir Arthur's affairs, and deposed that to the best of his belief the testator was both in the legal and the moral souse absolutely capable of making a will, and in fact very much better both in menial and physical health than he had known him to be since his return to England. He had not the ,dtest doubl as to the validity of the will. Again Mr. Jarvis had no question* to n«k. ' ■~ i Tim distinguish"'! solicitor was followed bv Miss il.ilruvtl and Doctor Mathews, win* both swore positive denial of any influence being brought to bear on Sir Arthur, and Mis Ho'.rovd added that .she was just as ignorant as her niece was of the existeiiroVif the will till after bis death. Thai was the case for the respondent After this it was plainly evident that the case for the respondent wad overwhelmingly utroiver than the somewhat feeble case for the petitioners which had been heard the dav before. The learned lenders i.ulu.ged iii'mii'.liw .hour's dignified wrangle, and then after live minute*' whispered conversation their lordships deliveied judgment m favour of the will. That evo.ing Kenneth dined at Othello Mansion*. Miss Hnlroyd. overcome by the i.me and excitement of the day. begged him" to excuse her immediately after the dinner and retired. Thru in the little drawing-room he reminded Lilian of the permission she bad given him on that momlight evening at Eastbourne. She looked up at Inn. with smiling lips and eyes radiant with .delight and said : T , -Yon have made me a. rich woman. Kenneth, but von have done more than tint. You have made me a happy one." And then he took her in bis arms and the rest was a delicious delirium such as it is given to mortals to experience only .are m their live-. , Kenneth wen I home that night as lie firmly believed the happiest and most blessed man on earth. When he got to his chambers the next, mottling be found among his letters one f,„m bis learned leader, which ran thus; — •• Mv dear Markham.- I have jiwt received notice from the Home Office that the Home Secretary has granted an application to have the -'rave of the late Sir Arthur Fverslev opened and the body exhumed. sufficient prima facie evidence of the administration of poison hiving been laid bo--1,,,.,, i,„ to justifv him in taking this step. I hope that this is not the real reason for the extraordina.v conduct, of Nevil Jarvis in refraining from all cross-examination ycslerdav. — Yoi to faithfully. •• (Jood Hod Lilias!" Then the-walls of the voom swam round him. ami for the first time in hw life Kenneth Markham fainted. (To be continued on Saturday next).