A MYSTERY OF WIAYFAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13481, 4 July 1907, Page 3

A MYSTERY OF WIAYFAIR.

[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

«8» , BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER. [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER XIX. ' MIRIAM CONFRONTS RODRIGUEZ. Leon Rodriguez was not a- man. easily baulked in a purpose he had set himself to accomplish, and that was Hie conquest of Aide Morarit. There was a certain vigour and energy in his character which could 'never recognise defeat. His sentiments towards Miriam were deadened by constant association, arid he realised that she would throw him over without scruple when she no longer had need of his services:

He had vigorously pressed his claim to her hand in marriage, but she evaded any decided reply, while she insisted on the [completion of conditions which she had imposed upon him in the beginning of their ! compact. Nothing succeeds like success, he reflected. Luck had befriended him in tire restoration of the diamond necklace. " Lawson is alive, and apparently flourishing, therefore two of the four restrictions are removed. That Michael should ibe in the company of Simeon, the famous French detective, a deadly enemy of mine, is the work of unkind Fate.

j "In that association," his thoughts ran, I" I scent danger to myself. When Simeon's eye caught mine I became an abject cow- } aid end fled like a cut. Bah! His very .I presence is a- haunting nightmare. Of death 1 have no fear. It is the knowledge that he will always be a. shadow walking behind me." He turned his head nervously over his shoulder. "His house is closed, but should he suddenly return to Marlow, what is to become of me'' Miriam would . round on me straight. I would rather : face a wild animal than encounter her rage ' when she heard from Simeon —the worst deed of my life." > All tho same Leon Rodriguez was not a , man to lose his head completely, and he re- . solved to keep himself incognito ■ till such time as he could leave England j in safety. " Last night's catastrophe caps my exi ploits," his thoughts went on, "and'means - the gallows or suicide. Every.act of mine lately has seemed to be in some way linked with the same people. The car takes fire a few doors from where I have a room. To dodge being served with a, summons, for heaven only knows what would leak out in a police "court, I rush blindly into the wrong house. Fortunately I reached my own place unobserved. Lucky thought of mine when I fancied another car was in pursuit to destroy tho plate, it saved the j chance of the Tankard being traced to I.Miriam. Taken together, my lot has not of late been happily cast. I must reshuffle the cards, and deal myself an ace or two. Of knaves, God knows I've had plenty." ! The French windows were thrown open land Miriam beckoned to him. Blase man of the world as he was, he felt be had never : seen a more imperious or more beautiful . specimen of womanhood than she who stood awaiting his coming. Her step was elastic, and she greeted him graciously, holding ' | forth her hands for the case, which he gave 1 her. Of the greedy look which stole into - her eyes he mentally took note. , Why should she wear that look of triumph"? lie asked himself. Not for the value " of the gems, he was" positive. There must be some history attached to the necklace, which he must set himself to discover, so ; that he might hold her in check should she > become restive and attempt to defraud J him of his share of the luxury in which she lived. 'j Closing the window, he pulled a silken ' curtain across the lower sash, so as to pre- > vent their interview being observed by the - gardener, should ho pass the front of the house. He turned and saw a morning paper crumpled, half hidden behind her ' gown. •■;■..-.-. ! "Have you seen this paragraph?" she asked, pointing to a line in large type. Averting his head he answered: " No, I have not seen the paper to-day.*' "Afraid?"' she said cynically. ""."■Afraid?" sa j ( j he;'shrugging" his shoulders. "Why throw such a gibe at me?" "The body of a man, stabbed to death, was found on the pavement outside Trafford House. You have been intensely inquisitive to get from me the name of the hermit who chooses to dwell in retirement there. Where were you last night?" "I retired to bed early," he said, pettishly. She smiled disdainfully and read: "The point of a dagger or slender knife was embedded in the man's chest.'"' His fingers sought his pocket. " You need not trouble to search your coat, the weapon is not there, but here," producing a horn-handled walking-stick from which, upon pressing a spring, a sharp and narrow blade protruded. Rodriguez started back, his eyes dilating at the production of this incriminating piece of evidence. "See, the point is gone," said she. He snatched at the knife, but she put it behind her. "Nay, I intend to retain it amongst my curiosities. A souvenir to be brought forth occasionally to remind a certain person when he becomes refractory. The deed described in this paper is yours, Leon Rodriguez. Why iiave you committed it?" she demanded. 'She was prodding him none too mildly, and he grew restless and surly. The blow was not premeditated; the man assailed me. I was, I own,- taken aback, and I stabbed him. Had you treated me fairly this would not have happened," he added, reproachfully. " I choose not to trust yow." He winced. "Not trust me?" "No, no, nor any man." He was too disheartened to reply. " Did vou enjoy your evening stroll round the walls of Tniflford House';" she asked, sneering at his terrified aspect. Snake-like, he turned upon her, crying vehemently, " I was leaving, by the small door in the gate when the man seized me, and would not leave go; he paid the penalty of his rashness." , Miriam, in her astonishment, let fall the knife, which Leon immediately secured. She glared furiously into his face. "You had been iii.the house?" she jerked out. , , He nodded coolly, for he had quite regained his self-possession. "How did you manage to get in? -she demanded. " By means of your key," he replied. . "Thief!" she stormed. - " No, I only loaned it for a little while,' ho answered,*provokingly. "The key is in your cabinet, in the secret drawer." "For what purpose did you enter my house at night?" "To satisfy a suspicion that 1 have long entertained." , ( " Did you meet with success?" Her hands were clenched tightly, passion distorting her handsome face. • = "The expedition was a complete failure, he admitted. . . She was relieved, and he, not wishing to increase her displeasure, omitted to relate the incident of his scare in the corridor. Your necklace is restored, and 1 have news of Lawson." Here he hesitated. "Is ho dead?" she whispered, eagerly. In spite of himself, he felt as if an icy wind was blowing on him. His vices were countless, yet he was not m liar. He dared not tell the truth, and he absolutely quailed when she questioned him further. "Does he live?" she hissed. "No." "Where did he die?" "In Charing Cross Hospital," he said, •stolidly. „ "I congratulate you, Leon, she said, blandly.' "Our marriage day is Hearing." He 'shuddered, but caught her hands m his. and drew her to him in spite of her evident disinclination to submit to his caresses. - „ "You mean what you say.' lie asked, hoarsely. " You're not playing me false to gain your own ends, to urge me to commit some fresh crime?" . " No—no." she gasped, struggling to unclasp bis amis. "Let me go, the servants may enter at any moment.' He did' not seem to hear, but whispered, "Miriam, my love." He held her close to him, while lie showered kisses on her flaming cheek v. "By Jupiter, you're magnificent; that deep colour on your face makes vou simply lavishing. You're beautiful, very beautiful ; do you know bow beautiful you are?" i

For a second she clung to him of her own accord, then violently flung him backwards and stood panting, her arms thrust out to prevent his reapproach. "Stay you are infringing our compact. I do not permit such liberties before marriage." c She spoke quietly, but there was a fire burning in the man's, eves that made them two danger signals to her. She hastened to quit the room, but lie bade her remain, i "You are cold, you are an iceberg; you don't know the meaning of love!" ■, "Not perhaps as youjvould interpret it. | Cannot you be patient?" ( ,„ He stamped his foot with rage. ->(0. he thundered. . ~ " You have to obtain the torn halt ot the plan and the pendant containing the miniature, then—" She smiled at him with a couuettish look, and Rodriguez snatched at the chance of completing the broken sentence. "Then, Miriam. I may claim my reward?" . She stood completely still, and he, ever suspicious, scrutinised her features with his, keen eves. " ■ j " "Tell mo. does your heart beat resplm-, sive to mine? Does my—admirationj for your beauty awaken an answering glow of love in you? Why put me to this damn-, able ordeal? What "need to wait when a single word from you would raise up a legal j protection to guard your fame and fortune.. Why not abandon the search for the chart j and" the miniature—they cannot be of any special value to you? It they are of vital importance, then who better than a mis- j band should seek to obtain them?" | She did not answer at once, she was weighing his propositi in her astute mind. j Wedded, her thoughts ran, their fortunes would be indissolubly knit together, and during all her life she had looked to a position higher than lie could give her. .No; he must be utilised, and then got rid of- She looked upwards and smiled, but somehow Rodriguez was aware that beneath the womanly art of yielding there lurked a constraint "which should warn him that his cause was not nearly won. So there they stood., each playing the double game. He, the wily adventurer.; she, the intriguing adventuress, with no thought, save for her own aggrandisement: Not the drone ot a bee. not a breath of wind stirred the trees,! nothing but silence, and it seemed to them the whole world slept, and they alone were awake to spin their webs of evil. He felt a. swift, surging sensation, ..hat, dependent on her, he was about to be dismissed, and, like Aide, he had neither home, money, nor friends. Miriam was ncn and jealously sensitive to the opinions 01 the impenetrable society of which she was hankering to be queen. He sought her hand. There was no responsive touch. It remained passive in His, and ho kissed her suddenly on ■the lips. "Leon, let me go. You are unmannerly," she exclaimed. But he only held her the more closely. ' '[ ; - , " Let me go," she repeated, gasping lot breath. She sprang from his clasp, from the room, but he was after her in an instant. , , . i • She stumbled, and he saved her in his powerful arms. She raised her delicate blue-veined hands, and in so doing the case containing the necklace fell upon the floor. Ho picked it up, opened the case, and endeavoured to place the ornament round hex firm, white throat. ' *„„*„« One glance at her face caused him to stop dead still, for it wore a look so pitiless that he wis unable to move, even to speak, Wi searched his face .again, and struck the jewels from his fingers. He understood w hen he saw their leaden dulness. Niggins had cheated him bv retaining the genuine diamonds— the false ones were at his feet. He had never thought of closely examining the contents of the case, for he had been flurried when he had found thai there was a Witness' to the deed of the previous . night, and he cursed himself heartily for his negligence. Miriam, l have been defrauded, I swear. "Where is the three hundred pounds you had from me this morning?" _ "Paid to the man who brought those meretricious gce-gaws to me. lam ashamed, mortified," he exclaimed desperately. "The rascal stands before me," she said, in a colourless tone of voice. " Have you ever proved me a liar | In the same colourless voice, she acknowledged that Hitherto she had always believed' him to be truthful." . ■-:.--. "Then believe me now. Niggins shall disgorge his plunder, and also the diamonds of which lie robbed you ill the first instance. He shall surrender the jewels and the money," he said in a tone of resolution which convinced Miriam that he was in earnest. Her accents were less acrimonious, and he saw a ray of hope, a hope that all was not yet lost. Your faults are many, but you are not a liar, and I believe you have been deceived. Retrieve your want, of sharpness, hasten after this cheat,. do not Jose an instant, force him to disgorge the real diamonds. Don't quibble over the paltry three hundred pounds. You do not understand the importance that I attach to the necklace. Its loss means utter ruin to me, and in the destruction of fortune you also, . dear Leon, will perish." The lustre of the lost gems seemed to have found a home in the woman's eyes, for they were; .sparkling like stars. " •' " Take me into partnership with you; let me do a man's part and bear the burden of your secrets. Why lock them away in your own heart, when, by sharing them with me, you would lighten the burden, of difficulties in which, you , have become involved. Put me to the test, and I will undertake to extricate you from them. Again I say, put me to the test." "Fulfil your obligations, and I will seal mine," said Miriam, in a lifeless sort 'of way. . \" Will you swear it?" he asked. Yes, I swear it." "Then I'm oil' to town by the next i train." ■ "And you will force that cheat to surrender Lue necklace?" she urged. ' "He shall, or—" ~ "Another crime?" she put in'.,'. "No," he said, recoiling. " But -he'll have to' give up the necklace and the money." "., . "What is detaining you?" she asked. He showed his empty pockets and she gave him her purge. But still he did not go'. •' , " You are pledged to me," he-reminded her. .. , , | "I have said." ' "Kiss me," drawing nearer to her. The treacherous tell-tale colour on her cheeks served to irritate him, and again he said, Kiss me." This time there was a commanding ring , in his voice, and sre obeyed : m. Twisting two roses -together, he pinned them to • her _ dress. There is no accounting for feminine inconsistency, for no sooner was Miriam alone than she pulled the flowers from her breast, trampling the delicate ■ petals in the dust, under her shapely feet. :

(To be continued daily).