THE AVENGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE AVENGER.

[PUBLISJU-U BY SPECIAL ARUANOEMESTJ ■

BY E. PHILLIPS OPPEMIEIM. i ■ . Author of, ["The Mysterious Mr. Satin,"* "A Man an*s Bis Kingdom." " A Prince of Sinners," "Mr. Wingrrave. Millionaire," and "A Maker of History * . . etc., etc., etc. , , ■

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] • [COPYRIGHT .3 CHAPTER {Continued.) ' The colonel stretched out his band for a. match, and relit his cigar. " You believe, then," he said, " that Heritage) has succeeded in solving the mystery of Barnes' murder, and is keeping the knowledge to himself?" "That was the conclusion I came to,** Wrayson admitted. The colonel smoked for a moment or two, in thoughtful silence. " Well," he said, " it isn't like Heneage. I always looked upon him as a man without nerves, a man who would carry through any purpose he set himself to, without . going to pieces about it. Shows how difficult it is to understand the most obvious of US." • ' ' • ' ' ; ' r ' Wrayson nodded. "But after all," he said, " "t wasn't to talk about Heneage that I brought yoa down here. What I want to know, colonel, is if you can help me at all with Louise." The colonel's forehead was furrowed . with perplexity. "My dear Herbert," he declared, " there - is no man i>" the world I would sooner have for a son-in-law. But what can I do? Louis© wouldn't listen to mo in any ; case. I haven't any authority or influence over her. * I say it to my sorrow, but it's ■ the truth. If it were my little girl dow»t . at: home, now, it would bo a different matter. But Louiso has taken her lifo into her own hands. . She has not spoken to me for years. She certainly would not listen to my advice." 1 "Then if you cannot help mo directly, •colonel," Wrayson continued, "you can > help me indirectly. I havo asked you a > question something like this before, but I • want to repeat it. I have told you that Louise refuses to marry mc. She has some- ' thing in her mind, somo scruple, "some fear. Can you form any idea as to what >it may be?" . , . .' - The colonel was silent for an unusually long time. He was leaning back in bia i chair, looking through the cloud'of blue i' tobacco smoke, to the ceiling. In reflection, his features seemed to nave assumed " a graver and'somewhat weary expression. "Yes!" ho said at last;, "I think that , I can." ' : ■ •• ■ Wrayson felt his heart jump. His eyes were brighter. An influx of new life seem--5 ed to ihave come .o him. He leaned'fori s ward, eagerly. 1 . 1 > "You will tell me what it is, colonel _ he bogged. • /' ' ' s The colonel looked at him with a que©® i little smile. .. , i "I ajn not sure I can do that, Herbert," iho .said. "I am not sure. that I > would - a. help you if I did. And you are asking me rather more than you know." .! '. u--1 Wrayson felt a little chill of diswuragW", ment. '■<" : : " r . " - i 1 ' "v " I " Colonel," lie said, "I am in your hafldar e But I love your daughter, l and 1 swear thfttf I would make her iha.ppy." lj : The colonel looked at his watch., ' . "Do you know where Louise is?" lift [1 asked, quietly. , " i' i "No. 17, Frederic Mansions, Battereaa"' I Wrayson answered. ■ ' '' ' v The colonel rose to his feet.' "I will go down and see her," ho ©aid, 0 simply. You had better wait _ hero for.■■■ me. -j. will come straight back." , ; " Colonel—you're a. brick," Wiaysott do* • clared, walking, with him towards the door, "I'll do my best, Herbert," he answered, .. quietly, " but rI ; can'- (promise, I can'#' a promise anything." , .7/ . • >f . Wrayson • watched' him leave ; the club ! , and step into , a {hansom. He. walked',* v -, little more slowly than usual, his head was u a little bent, and he passed a club acquaint-; ance in the hail without ; his customary greeting. : Wrayson • retraced' his stops and" y ascended towards the billiard-room^ 1 with s his first enthusiasm a ; little damped. ; Was; II his errand, he wondered, so grievously dis- , •- tasteful to his old friend, or: was, he ' losing' i) at : . last that magnificent elasticity '/and ''' r vigour which had kept him so long;'indd«'t pendent of the years? ... . > , e There were others besides Wrayson who t 1* noticed a certain alteration •in the colonel/, when' he re-entered the billiard-room, am hour or so later.. Hisi usual greeting was' » unspoken, he sank a little heavily into u a chair, and .he called for a drink, without it waiting for someone to share it with him. '■ They gathered round him sympathetically. * - "Feeling the. heat a bit/ colonel?" *. " Have one with me?" • • : : - » " Anything wrong downstairs?" * The ' colonel recovered himself promptly. ; g He beamed upon them all affectionately, and r set down an empty tumbler with a little t sigh of satisfaction. ' ' - ' e "I'm all' right, boys," he declared. "I '• couldn't find; a cab—had to ,walk further '• than I meant and I wanted a drink badlv. II Wrayson, come over here. I want to talk: e to,you." , , ? Wrayson sat down by his side. . r v " I've done the best I could," the colonel e said. " Things may not come all right for you quite at once, . but within a • week; I ,j fancy it'll be all .' squared up.'' I've ; found out why she refused to marry you, and yoa t can take my word for it that within » J week the cause will be removed." > - • .; •" You're a brick, - colonel," Wrayson do* e clared heartily. ■ "There's only one thing. c I'd love to have .you tell me." t "I'm afraid— the colonel began. ' t " That you and Louise were f Wrayson declared. " Colonel, there can'ii e be anything; between you two, of all the u people in the world—there can't be anyv thing sufficient to keep you and she, father I and daughter, completely apart.",. ; r ."You are quite right, Wrayson,"• th« colonel assented, a little more cheerfully, r " Well,. you, may , find that all ill come > - right very soon now. By-the-by,' I've been talking to tho baroness. ,1 want you to let) t me be at your rooms' to-morrow night." " Wrayson hesitated for "a moment. : " You know how we stand?" ho asked. ' "Exactly," ; the colonel answered. "I j only wish that I had known before. You will havo ■no objection to my coming, I suppose? v - " None at all," Wrayson declared. " But, s colonel! There is one more question that I j must ask you. ;• Did Louise speak to you about her brother?" , ' : :* j The colonel nodded. ;; ■ j " She* .blamed me, of- course," lie said slowly, "because I had never told her. It was his own desire, and I think he was • right. I have telegraphed for him to come over. He will be here to-night or to-mor-row." Wrayson left the Club, feeling almost i light-hearted. It was the old story over f again— colonel to the rescue. •

{To be -continued daily.)