A PRETTY CONSPIRATOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13347, 29 November 1906, Page 3

A PRETTY CONSPIRATOR.

[PUBLISHED BT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

BY THOMAS COBB. i;. Aithor of " For Value Received," " A- Man of Sentiment." " The Intriguers." " The .:■_ Friendships of Veronica." " The Composite Lady." etc., etc. - [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER XIX. MR. THORNLEIGH.' Mr. Thornleigh. having married somewhat late in life, was at present in his 57th year. Mote than five, years ago he had returned to England on account of the illness of his wife, who had remained at home, ostensibly for the sake of her child, but actually because she found life apart from her husband a far more tranquil experience. However this may hove been, Pamela's parents had not met during the past four years and now came together again only for an eternal farewell. Pamela, at that time a girl of twelve, impressed Mr. Thornleigh as an unmitigated nuisance, and lib paternal duties were henceforth restricted to the payment of Miss Grugeon's fees and the despatch of one brief letter every term. Whilst Pamela was growing from a. child of twelve into a young woman of seventeen or eighteen she seldom troubled her father's thoughts, until his serious illness gave rise to fresh and surprising sensations. A man of quarrelsome disposition, intolerant and dogmatic, retaining few friends, his loneliness was now unpleasantly brought, home to him. On the sick bed,' from which he feared he should never rise again, he thought of Pamela, who must, surely, be about her mother's age fon his marriage. Beginning to yearn for the presence of somebody of his own flesh and blood he heard that Sir Jeremy Cole was on the point of going to England. Whilst wishing for Pamela's presence Mr, Thornleigh feared the risk of bringing her to India. She might, for all he knew, have developed into the kind of girl who could prove only a nuisance; instead of tending her lather she might require the most careful supervision. ,- Appealing to Sir Jeremy's good nature, Mr. Thornleigh entreated him to lose no time in going" to Hove, seeing Pamela and sending a report, upon the receipt of which her father undertook to telegraph his decision—ves or no. For "what appeared a. sufficient reason Sir Jeremy had determined to send Pamela out ; without-; awaiting such permission; he had written to this effect, but the letter had not reached its destination before Mr. Thorn leigh's;depar-;

ture. ~, : ._..^ ; 1 ■ 1 ••■-.-^m la the 4 meanwhile, Mr..; Thornleigh, in spite of medical opinion, had Co certain degree recovered his health; although bis illness had left him morbidly anxious about his own condition, lie was still liable- to attacks of faintness; he believed, with moreor less cause, that his life hung by! A thread, and consequently began to take elaborate and rather ludicrous precautions against every kind of excitement. . . ; His tall figure had become gaunt; bis long face hollow -cheeked ;" his prominent nose was red at the, tip, notwithstanding an abstemious life. The top of his head was entirely bald, with a convenient fringe of dark hair to show below his hat. His return to India was to depend upon the report of a specialist whom he intended to consult in London, but his'desire to behold Pamela had dwindled with his own increasing'strength, whilst yet lie felt no longer able to ignore her existence. ; - . At the best she. could scarcely fail to prove an encumbrance,' at least until some other'man could possibly be discovered to take the responsibility off her father's hands. As the voyage continued Mr. Thornleigh found himself remembering that which lie had taken many years ago with Pamela's mother, when she'first accompanied him to India. Retrospection induced pangs of conscience, until he realised that self-reproach , was calculated to injure his health. Disem- • barking at Marseilles a day or two later than Cyril Redington, Mr. 'Ijhornleigh travelled by easier stages.to Paris, to Calais, Dover, and London, reaching Victoria terminus early on the morning of Mrs. Ternperlev's departure from Keynshaw. Having engaged two bedrooms and. a sit-ting-room at the Grosveiftr Hotel, and deposited his luggage with the, exception of a small kit bag, Mr. Thornleigh took a ticket to Brighton, naturally assuming that he should find his daughter beneath- Miss Gr'ugeon's roof. As the train bore him on his way he became conscious of a certain curiosity to see Pamela again, and on reaching Brighton Mr. Thornleigh took a fly ■at once to Hove, warning himself of the desirability to mitigate, the excitement and emotion which a gushing girl of eighteen might be expected to display. '■•• - ;• "What name,"sir-"' asked the parlourmaid, in answer to his inquiry for Miss Grugeon. ;.- ' ; " Mr. Thornleigh—" - ; ' The girl, who had on a previous occasion admitted Sir Jeremy, astonished and irritated Mr. Thornleigh by her open-mouthed stare, but a moment later she sufficiently "recovered to take the visitor, to the drawingroom," where he stood with h*is back to the fireplace, .pressing two fingers of his left hand against his right wrist. A little later: Miss Grugeon entered with traces of obvious "Excitement on her face, and offered Mr. thornleigh a trembling hand. "I thought," he explained, " that it might be desirable to ask for you in the first place." He raised a deprecatory finger when she showed signs of interrupting him. " Permit me," he said, "to tell you that although considerably better. I am still in a, precarious state of health. Anything of the nature of excitement is so disastrous that before Pamela enters the room. I beg yon w.v caution her against the slightest display of emotion." Miss Grugeon regarded M'r. Thornleigh with something approaching honor. His appearance confirmed his extraordinary warning. Yet how was : it possible to - account for Pamela's absence without causing excitement'.' .. "I wrote to you at the end of the second week of April,*' she faltered. " Then your letter did not reach me before. I sailed," lie answered. "Forgive me," he added, "for reminding you that I feel impatient to see Pamela" "You—you have not spoken to Sir Jeremy Cole?" gasped Miss Grugeon.'"My dear lady, 1 have spoken to nobody —not a soul. I "reached London this morning and came on here at once to see my daughter.'' ■ : " But she left my house some weeks ago," was the answer. "" The day following Sir Jeremy's first visit." " Left your house!" exclaimed Mr. Thornleigh, with a start. • You may remember," said M'iss Grugeon, "that I have your letter authorising me to obey Sir Jeremy's instructions." Where in the name of goodness has she gone?" he demanded, sinking into a chair. "It is an unpleasant and distressing story— . ■ ■":■'. "Tell it, my good woman, for God's sake, tell it," he ejaculated. , " Unhappily Pamela eloped—" " Eloped—eloped!" shouted Mr. Thornleigh, starting to his feet again. "She left the house before six o'clock one morning!" said Miss Grugeon. ' ' He gazed into her face as if still unable to grasp the statement. - ■ "Do you mean that the girl is married?" he demanded, a moment later, and taking a handkerchief from his pocket began to mop his forehead. His breath was quickly drawn ; his face had become deathly pale," so that Miss Grugeon began to calculate how. long it would take to ring the bell for aid in the not improbable event of his swooning. "Pamela certainly would have been married,"' was the answer, "if it had not been for Sir Jeremy. She ran away the day he came to see her, and doubtless the two circumstances were connected." "Bless my soul:" cried Mr. .Thornleigh, "then Cole'prevented her from marrying! • " You certain! v have to thank Sir Jeremy for that, ' .-aid Miss Grugeon*. "He fortunately overtook ' Pamela and -and her companion at Westhurst, just. as they were on the point of netting out to the church. "Who, in the name of goodness was her companionV" demanded Mr. Thornleigh. '"ills name i> Wellington— Redington." / ••A uentleuutii*"- •" '

"No gentleman," said Miss Grugeon, hold' ing herself more erect, "would have tempted a mere girl to run away from school." 1' "Pah I" ejaculated Mr. Thornleigh. ;" I am a man of the world. The point is, could this Redington afford to keep a wife?" " Oh, dear yes," was the answer. He* is extremely well connected. He has' a very fair income—" > ..*'.'.. .'

"And he. wanted to marry my daughter!'' ' "If Sir Jeremy had reached West hurst aquarter of an hour later," slie returned, "Pamela's wedding would unfortunately hare, been an accomplished fact." . •* "Good Lord! What an idiot! What ■ an infernal idi<n!" exclaimed Mr. Thorn- . leigh, and whilst Miss Orugeoo looked somewhat shocked and continued to givo further details of the affaii fie made similar ejaculation*; at frequent intervals. She could not, however, provide any information concerning Pamela's present whereabouts, and at last Mr. Thornleigh left the house intending to return to London without loss of time. His reflections in the train were extremely uncomplimentary to Sir Jeremy, who at least served to : divert Va little animosity from Pamela, Mr. Thornleigh would have felt not only tolerant, but even grateful, towards any man who had relieved him from an. encumbrance and taken the girl to wife. And lure was a man of good birth with a satisfactory income! As to the. elopement, what, on earth mattered the means to such a desirable end! If it had not been for Jeremy Mr. Thornleigh might, have regarded this first day in England as one of the most fortunate of his life. Possessing no clue to Sir Jeremy's address but the club in St. James-street, Mr. Thorn.eigh was driven thither from Victoria station at a. little past four o'clock. Sir Jeremy was nob in the building, and of course his address could not be given. Asking for a. sheet, of note-paper, Mr. Thorn - leigh scribbled a few words in pencil: — " Have just returned from Miss Grugeon'fi. For God's sake come at once to the Grosvenor Hotel.''

Having enclosed this message in an envelope, Mr. Thornleigh insisted that, it should* be delivered at the earliest, possible moment., then returning to his hotel began to think over a. form of words suitable to the occasion. In former years he had gained a reputation for his power of inventive. Mr. Thoruleigh bad usually been able to. tell a man what he thought'of him, but now his unfortunate disease proved a stern: disciplinarian, and the perplexing thing was to know how to deal with Sir Jeremy, without at the same time punishing himself. Whilst-Mr. Thornleigh was administering these tantalising warnings to himself at the Grosvenor Hotel Sir Jeremy had received a letter from Lady Bedingfleld to the effect that her mother's condition would prevent her from leaving Ecc'.eston Square for some days to come. She expressed her regret at the difficult situation which had been created; and. suggested that. Pamela. ought to be placed in other hands without : further loss;of"time.. '. ":-•.••■' "I think,'' said Jeremy, at luncheon-that . Wednesday; "I shall look in at Grandisonstreet this afternoon, to make certain that Mrs. Temperley will be able to receive you to-morrow,'* • ..:.-,■?- ' • -■ . . Without seeing Pamela, again he set out to Grandisou-street at. half-past three, where Catherine explained that the journey": had given Mrs. Temperley a headache, so that she would not- be visible until tea- v time. -... ;-;,.'i..' ', • „ . ," How is Pamela?" Catherine inquired, as Jeremy took a chair. •" > ; "The i poor child, is just a little down in the mouth," he answered. "Her treatment has certainly had th* most' depressing effect on Cyril Itedington," said Catherine. "Although," she added, "you may be surprised that ho should dream of bringing his troubles to me.' " On the contrary, it seems just the meet natural thing in the world for any man to do " "Now. you never appear to have any real troubles," she suggested.' "It. is true," said Jeremy, "that I would sooner bring you happiness." --••-> " Do you think Pamela is regretting what she has done?", asked Catherine. " Why should she have turned the fellow, away against her will?" he returned. "Anyhow," cried Catherine, "it is the consummation you have desired * from the very outset." ; - "Of course," said Jeremy, "you must remember that the, role was thrust on me —a rather unthankful role! If I had permitted Pamela to marry the man, howshould I have been able to look her father in the face again? Still," he added, "the present crisis took me rather by. surprise." "Have you really no suspicion?" she demanded, with a, smile. i - "I can see that you have one," he answered, looking a little uncomfortable. "I possess discretion also!" she insisted. "Does that signify thai. I am not. worthy of confidence?'* I - .'■■'" You are too experienced to imagine that r people are always treated according.to their'„"; deserts!"-she said. '__ ' ; -.' _ ■; :. "It's to be hoped not," answered Jeremy, i;Y " but still I deprecate anything from you in V the nature of a" refusal, and frankly," he added, " I—l have reasons ; to wish for »■;■;.' little light on the subject." ■ - , *v :.-"What shall you say if I persist 'in my '" refusal?" .she, asked. ~ ■"-,". :"Absit omen!'' '. ■- •■;. ; .V "Anyhow," said Catherine, "I can tell ' you one thing.- I am intensely sorry -I) had a share in preventing "Pamela's marriage."; . "Surely," urged Jeremy,,,with a rather anxious expression, "the • part wo played "-. has become justified by the recent development. : Whatever the actual excuse ' may,;. have been, it seems obvious that they lack-1:;! Ed confidence in' each otheror some neces- § sary ingredient. As far as I am concerned ~ the rupture is a relief. i; I; feel glad; that/» Redington has been removed from the stage "'"•■ before the arrival of the new manager." '' On leaving Grandison-«treeb,,he turned ■■".; his steps, thoughtfully, towards Longacre, where ho had business connected with' his motor-car. - He would have been pleased if.,; he could have gone.back O to live the past ■".'. week op ten days over; again. Assuredly 7 ho would not have brought Pamela to the ?> Hotel Sta.ssart. Having completed his busi- : ness he spent half an hour at his tailor's, selecting clothes in readiness for his return.-"!' to India Sir Jeremy seldom left anything Cuntil the latest moment. Walking back to *| his hotel he looked in at the club,', and there - Mr. Thornleigh's letter was' at: once put* * 7 into his hands.

(To be continued daily.)