THE AVENGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13484, 10 May 1907, Page 3

THE AVENGER.

[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL AEEANGEMBNTJ

, BY. E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM, . j " '" Author of " The Mysterious Mr. Sabin," " A Man and His -ivingdomi'', " A . Prince of Sinners," '.". Mr. .Millionaire," and -• -,"■■ a." "Maker .of; History," '•'''.■<: \.•'';•'. • ; f etc., etc., etc. , ? [ALL EIGHTS <EESEBVED/], ' . ,->-.-_ CCOPYEIGHT.] CHAPTER XXXVin.—(Continued.) He was- a little ,»taken aback. She had changed her methods suddenly and he had not time to adapt himself to them. . " Don't hate me, please," she murmured. " Indeed, it would -make me happy if we could ' be ' friends.": ■ He laughed a" little unnaturally, and turned -in his seat, until lie was facing h«. ■ "'; . ■ "" •:.' • , "Would you mind lifting your veil for a moment,: Louise?" he asked her. • She obeyed him with fingers which trembled a little. ■;' He saw then that the tears had indeed ;been in her eyes. Her lips quivered. • She looked at him sadly, but very wistfully. " Thank you I" he said. " Now would you mind asking -yourself whether friendship between us is possible? Remember Etarpes, and ask yourself that! Remember our seat amongst- the rosesremember; what you will of that long golden day." t She covered her face with her hands. ' " Ah, no!" he ' went on. " You know yourself that only one thing is possible.' I cannot force you into my arms, Louise.; If you care to take up my life'and break it in two, you can do it. But think what it means! I am not rich, bub. I am rich enough to take you where you will, to live with you in any country you'desire. I don't know what" your' scruples arel shall never ask you again. , But, dearyou must not— you must not send me away." She was silent. She had dropped her veil and her head had sunk a.little. ' "If I believed that there was anybody , else," he continued, "I would go "away and leave you alone. If I doubted for a single moment that I could make you happy, I would not trouble you any more. But you belong to me, Louise! You have taken up your place in my life, in my heart! I cannot live without you! I do not think tliat you can live without me! You mustn't try, dear! You mustn't!" He held her unresisting hand, but her face was hidden from him. ."What it is "that you fancy comes between us, I cannot tell," he continued, more gravely. " Only let me tell you this. We are . no. longer in any danger from Stephen Heneage. He has abandoned his quest altogether. He has told me so with his own lips." v, t You are sure of that?" she asked softly. "Absolutely," be answered. ■She hesitated for a moment. He remained purposely silent. He was anxious to try • and comprehend ' the drift of her • thoughts. "Do you know why?" she asked. "Did he find the task too difficult—or did 1 he relinquish it from any- other motive?" ■ "I am not.: suit;," Wrayson answered.c " I met him the night before last. :, He was very much altered. He had the appearance of a man altogether unnerved. 1 Perhaps it was my fancy, but I got the idea—" Well she demanded, eagerly. "That he has come across something in the . course of his' investigations, which had, given him a shock," he said. "He seemed all broken up. " Of course, it may be something A-se altogether. At any rate, I have his word for it.' He lias ceased his investigations altogether, and broken up with Sydney Barnes.'' . ..''/ , : "'. ''■ 'The afternoon was warm, but she shivered as she rose a little abruptly to her feet. He laid his, hand upon her arm. "Not without my answer," he begged. :• She shook her head, sadly. "My, dear friend," she said, "you must always be. That is all!" He took,his place by her e.ide. _ _ .- "Your very dear .friend," he-repeated. ''■Well, it .is"a. relationship I don't know", much* about., I haven't had many friendships amongst your sex. Tell me exactly what my privileges would be." - \" "You will learn that/ she said, "in; time.''' ' ■'. -;. v '"' - •- He shook his head. / ■-■. ' : v< •';,' ■ j "I think not,"''he,declared-. -"Friendship, to be- frank with- you, would not satisfy me in the least.",- " , ■-~-.• :;. "Then I must lose you altogether," she murmured, in a low tone. =~v ■*■•"•; " I don't think; so," : he affirmed coolly. " I consider that, you; belong to me already. ' iou ' are only postponing . the time when I claim you."- , ■-. - She mode * ho remark, and behind her veil, her face- told him little. A moment later they, issued from the park,' and. stood oh the pavement before the baroness' Hat.; She held out her hand without a word. • "I think," he said, " that I should like to come in and see the, baroness." "Not now,"- she begged._ ... "Wo shall meet again at dinner-time." . ■ "Where?"-be asked, eagerly. "Madame desired me to ask you to join us at the Orosvenor," she answered, "at half-past eight.'';. ' ' ■ ;,.!" "I shall be-delighted," he answered,; promptly.. "You nearly forgot to -tell; me." ; , ,'' : ... ..',•'" '•"-" < She shook her head. '•"::*-■',-.-■ | "No! I didn't," she said. "I should not have let you go without giving you her message." "And you will let me bring you. home afterwards.". - ..' , "We shall be delighted," she answered. " I shall be with Amy, of course." He smiled as < he raised his hat, and let her pass in. . ; ..:- ""■'_ "The baroness," he said, "is always kind." ' ' ~■' : ' He stood for a moment on the pavement. Then he glanced at his , watch, and hailed a. cab. ... , ; . -..' i ■ ...',- - .» "The Sheridan Club," he told the man.? Ho had decided to appeal to the colonel. .« , ■ . ." . CHAPTER; XXXIX.>'-',.'.' Wrayson : was- greeted enthusiastically, as he entered the- club billiard- by a little circle of-'{ friends, unbroken, except .for the absence of Stephen Heneage. The colonel especially "came across and laid his hand affectionately on bis arm. • "How goes it, Herbert?" he asked. "The sea-breezes haven't tanned - you much." .".:';; ./'.": ; " I'm all right,". Wrayson declared. " Had a capital time. Who'll have a drink with me?" > -. ' '. 1 ■: „- •" ■:'. ' . : .' ,i '■ "With me!" the colonel insistedw . "We must welcome the wanderer home. Waiter, take theso gentlemen's orders. Whisky plain for me. You'll dine here to-night, Herbert?" ' ' >->\ . , . . . c : - Wrayson':shook his .head. ' "I; meant to," he declared, "but another engagement's turned! up. No! I don't want to play' pool, Mason.'' Can't stop. Colonel, do me a favour." ' : - ■ The colonel, who was always ready to do anyone, a favour, signified his . willingness promptly enough. But even then, Wrayson hesitated. • • ; "I want to talk to you for a few minutes," he said, "without all these fellows round. Should you mind coming down in the smoking-room?" . The colonel rose promptly from his seat. 'Not a bit in the'world," he declared. "We'll go in the smoking^Toom. Scarcelyi a soul there. Much cooler, too. Bring your drink. See you boys later." , . They found two easy-chairs in the smok-ing-room, of which they were the sole occupants. The colonel bit off the end of his cigar, and made himself comfortable. " Now, my young friend," he declared, " proceed." •' . " Wraysou did not beat about the bush. "It's about your, daughter, Louise, colonel." he said. : " She won't marry me!" The colonel pinched his cigar reflectively. "She always was a most peculiar girl," '■ he affirmed. " Does she give any reasons?" , "That's just what , she s won't do," Wrayson explained. " That's just: why -I have come to you. I—eolonel, I'm fond of her. I never expected to feel like it about any woman." '-- ; ,; The colonel nodded sympathetically. "And although it. may seem conceited to say so," Wrayson continued, " I believe '—no! I'm sure that' she's fond, of me. , She's admitted it. There!" ' J

* The colonel smiled nnderstandingly. "Well," he said, "then where's the trouble? You don't -want my consent. You know that." './■.-:' "Louise won't marry me," Wrayson repeated. " " That's the "trouble/ ■ Sho ; won't explain her attitude. She simply declares .that marriage for. her is an impossibility." The colonel sighed. "I'm afraid," he murmured, regretfully, "that my daughter is a fool." "She is anything but that," Wrayson declared. " She has some scruple. What it is ;I\ cant imagine. Of course at first I thought it' was because we were .'both, of us involved . in that Morris Barnes affair..". But I know now that it isn't that. Heneage, who threatened me, and indirectly her, has chucked the whole business. Such danger as there was is over. I—" "Interrupting you for one moment," the colonel said quietly, "what has become. of Heneage?" ,- ..- ■»• He's in a very queer way," Wrayson answered. " You know he started out hot to •solve this Morris Barnes business. He warned us both to get out of the country. Well, I saw him last night, and ho was a perfect wreck. He looked like a,man, just recovering from -a bout of dissipation, or something of the sort." "Did you speak to him?" the colonel aske<2. " : :. ';■' ''. ' "I was with him some' time," Wrayson answered. " His manner was just as changed as his appearance." The colonel was looking, for him, quite grave. His eigar had gone out, and he forgot to relight it. . "Dear me," he said. "I am sorry to hear this. Did he allude to the Morris Barnes affair at all?" ' .;. "He did," Wrayson answered. "He gave me to understand, : in fact, that he had discovered a little more than he wanted ■to." , (To he continued daily.) - ATTRACTIVE NEW STORY. Tomorrow we commence publication of a charming new story, . " Neither Storehouse nor Barn," by Allen Raine. This story will be published in instalments in the columns of the New Zealand Herald every Wednesday'and Saturday till its conclusion.' '