THE SPIDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14302, 23 February 1910, Page 4

THE SPIDER.

BY FERGUS .HUME, Author of " The Mystery of a Hansom Cab." " The Dwarf's Chamber." " The Crime of the 'Liza Jane." "The Solitary Farm," •, *• Etc., Etc., Etc - "• <'

[COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER Xl.—("Continued.)

Towtox i duly finished his letter of . inquiry to Venery, of . Singapore, and having posted it went:cheerfully;about his usual business of pleasure— that is, as cheerfully as a man in love well could do. At the colonel's age love was rather a serious matter, since had taken the disease badly, as is invariably the case with; middleaged men. Some individuals constantly let their emotions trickle' out to expend themselves in ' triflling - love' affairs, amusing - : for the moment; others dam up the passions for years until.they burst through;the barrier, to sweep everything '. before them, irresistibly. Colonel Towton was one of the latter. But; not being entirely blinded by his lateborn infatuation, he did not deem Ida perfection,, as a hot-headed youth would have done, and he foresaw that, -as.Mrs. Towton, she would need guidance and firm control. ..Hitherto, for want of both, she had run wild but the materials were there, out of which, as Towton put it to himself, he could build a model wife. : That she was frivolous, rather than strong-minded, was a point in her favour, as the colonel desired to mould .wax rather than to hammer iron. So if Ida only consented to marry him he hoped for a calm and contented domestic existence, undisturbed by aggressive romance. And with his . home-loving, selfcontrolled nature, Towton'infinitely preferred the outlook from an unemotional point of view.

•.As to the money, he cared Tittle for the possible loss of that, although he could not deny but what Ida's yearly thousands would have come at the right moment to effect improvements on the Bowderstyke Estate. ToAvton was too prosaic and level-headed to despise the power of the purse, but on the other hand he was not at all grasping, and was quite satisfied to marry a girl with no dowry but her beauty and sweet nature. All the same, he intended to inform himself fully of the truth by inquiring, as lie had done, from the man Diabella had mentioned as her authority. The-colonel had no notion of letting Ida's money benefit Lady Cbrsoon if ho could help it. Of course, if it was proved to be legally hers ho would be the first to see that she had her rights. On the other hand, should Ida turn out to be Dimsdale's daughter, Towton made up his mind that the £10,000 a year would be joyfully used for the improvement of his family property. With these thoughts to employ his mind he waited very, patiently in London, considering that he was a man of actions rather than a dreamer of dreams. Later on, when Vernon had coaxed Diabella from her hiding-place, Towton intended to travel to Bowderstyke to see his beloved. He had every belief that during his absence Vernon could manage the affair which interested them both so greatly. | For the next few days the colonel saw nothing of Vernon, but. while in the tablinum of the Athenian Club, he unexpectedly came face to face with Mr. Maunders. The scamp looked singularly handsome, and in trifling love' affairs, amusing for the sight of a snake would have been more pleasing to the worthy colonel. He did not like Maunders, and, moreover, resented him as a somewhat dishonourable rival, for no one could respect a man who pointedly wooed two women at one and the same time. Towton therefore nodded coolly and crossed to the central table .to pick up a

service magazine. : As.h&.did'»" \i. .'l' 3 sauntered to his side Ultarf S*«l chair near; to that one which tl« if had taken. «-.,wmcn the '- dale? asked Maunders amiably '-'^H•No,' retorted Towton, ■ opening 'il U ' marine as a hint that he wffi^'-feP left alone. . : .-. ' ,eu * to^[f: .: "She is still in Yorkshire with v !' %'■"•■ Hest," persisted Maunders. ill& s| "So I understand," was the <ti« , P ,"1 believe he will remain V ply ' II one month." io ™m the or fjl? Possibly eh" will." ' |M' Maunders was not discouraged 4 *jfi you any message for her," he.asked - ' UTft II \V by do you ask?" demanded <),' ', 1sitting up abruptly. ' (lemanded th e colonel § ."Because Francis Hest—von l-"„ H brother of Miss DimsdaleT ffe J* 4 • asked me down to Uerby Ball t '■ "*» M there at the end of the week to* 8 11 days, I thought you might haveV fen 1 cage for Miss. Dimsdale." ' -- mcs 1"« - There is such a thing as the post " ~ § lowton, exasperated by the VoSK I coo assurance. He took up i£F&££\ I again, then hesitated and threw" -gfS I table Averse as the colonel WMiS'ft CUSS his private affairs with =~„■"•■ Je-tofiu frankly | lated h f ,. |t th , Jo*. he „ advantage of this ,hance to learn ' J what was Maunders' attitude toiarifr}' Ami to understand that vou ar ™llt : he asked sha^^ :• \\hy should VOII think that' s "' B a., ; Constantino negligently. M :< "Why, indeed' Considering that ™ : day you profes, to be P avintr.attenf,? e to ) Miss Gorsoon and the S nav I addresses to Miss : Dimsdale. bJI ■„'.? .■.•■«■ going down ,o(;erhv Hall it look , ; ' though you inclined to'marry the g£ young lady. ..- ' . Il " ler <.-, ''No," said Maunders indulentlv La ! daresay Miss- Hest -,nrl Ar; iv , * I find it. trifle." 3 " b,e lo amu « C them a trifle." ' , umuse "I am quite sure of that." said Tow I (on sarcastically; "your social ,: ,"J turns are. well known. But 1 asked * if you were engaged to Miss Dimsdale " I : No, I.am not, nor am I likely ,to be" ' I his was good news, but Towton could not be Mire if Maunders was speag ! ' honesty. " Then you intend to'm Miss Corsoon?" said the colon-! .- ' 5 - 'I .do. But I don't see why . Voa ' i should trouble yourself about my pS ' '' affairs." said Maunders, insolently S $ _ It was not I who sought, this inter- I view. But as you chose to speak to m F' : ' have every- right to mention a mite J which concerns us both." ../,-,-; ■ "And concerns Vernon also." '"':"■ ! i "Precisely," said Towton with ' «■»? ' 5 emphasis. "It is useless to d-seuiath. ;f \ fact, Mr. Maunders, that we are rival, I I and—" '■-,;. - -./-_• ■-;.,■ ,'■'■ I'i "Pardon me, no," ■ interrupted th* I young man quickly. "I have , been re fused by Miss Dimsdale, so the" 'field it' open to you." ••■..-. :•>;.- ..." Ida refused you?" 'mattered' th* colonel stupefied. J;-..-,. .; "Strange, is it not?" replied' Maunders lightly, " but such is. the case., listed her to many me and she hinted at W previous attachment. I presume'; she meant—'.'.-.' ... -'-' ,i Towton threw up his hand and coloured through his.bronzed .skin. "We will not mention names, if you please." .;--•: " I don't mind. , But you know .'how the - land liesso far. sis 1.-. am concerned' '■ ■ that is. ; But you will have to reckon with' 8 Francis Hest." • : - "Miss Hest's brother?" The same. . Francis .and Francestwins, : with twin names,' you might sav. She is: devoted to this more than brother and wishes him to marry money.'.':? "Do. you mean to say that Miss Hedi ; ! has taken Miss Dimsdale down to" Gerby ■ Hall-so that she' may meet Mr.' Hest!" ,' ; '" Yes! - He's not a bad-looking fellow; exactly like his .sister, who is handsome in an imperial way, as you have seen. In , fact, if you see' Frances you have seen Francis. The brother isn't ; very ;'; well off,:as/ho has spent'all his available ; cash in ; philanthropic; works, and ■ constructing some confounded dam to supply : water to several villages .has nearly ruined him. Miss Dimsdale-'s money will there-- I fore come in very acceptably But I fear * Hest will waste it in helping the poor; ' he's ridiculously crazy about doing what he calls good." ... .. -.' ; --■;■-' ," It's ridiculous,''-. muttered the colonel crossly. "Miss Dimsdale :"doesn't:know, ; this man Hest."

"Frances: will ' see to that. Now that) Miss Dimsdale is:at the hall she will have 1 every opportunity of seeing,, him. ? Mis,* ' Hest 'will.;-throw, them together ;on every occasion. ,-■ Upon my word,"i Menders rose and stretched himself, " were I yon, colonel, I should go down" to Gerby Hall an'd look after,matters. , v ':'. " s " Thanks for your., vice," said Tovrton,- picking up the magazine again, "and good-day to you, Mr. Maunders. " • " This is what comes of my trying to help you," ' observed the young; man with a shrug. "I do what . I can:arid' yon throw my philanthropy in my face." ; • " No! no!" • Towt on's conscience: snojj. him,- for really Maunders had done him a distinct service, and also he had announced that Ida had refused him, which was : excellent news.- '" I ' thank you for what you have told me. : ''It; is 'probable that I j shall go down to Gerby Hall at the end : of the week." .-.' ~,;..%?

■ Maunders'nodded. ■ "I . may meet you ■) there," he yawned, and sauntered any 3 with a bored air, which was rather overdone. As a rule lie was alert- and full of ,-, life, so it looked as 'though this languor was assumed'for some purpose, and not*.-; good one, if the man's selfish nature vras ■ ,to be taken into account. , | It wanted three days to the weekend,! so Towton really intended to take the nor--thern journey." He had never trusted - Miss Hest, and it was: quite probable that as she had discouraged the ■ wooing",of both himself and Maunders.her.intention was to secure the heires: for her too philanthropic brother. .'" : , . Of course, if Towton could prove to the twins that Ida had no money it was possible that no further plans would be laid to entrap ; her. Money was what Francis Hest required : for bis . Jord-of-the-manor schemes, and money was what the sister desired to secure for. him. But, considering that Frances did not get on well-with her brother and that they rarely.met. itwas strange that she should be so. anxious ' to serve him ; unless, indeed, the two had come to an agreement that if : Francis; married the supposed , heiress Frances should share the income On, the whole Towton thought it would..be" just as well to go down to Tire Grange for a week or so and pay a neighbourly visit to Gerby. Hall. He would at least learn how much of Maunders 1 tale was true, and perhaps might induce Ida to accept him. since she had refuted his handsome rival. . -"•-;. " Gad : I'll go down on Saturday, ..decided the colonel. ■:.'. , '■'-. And it happened that fore. Saturday he received a letter which made him even more anxious to visit his family seat.: <j came from Ida, and she pointedly »»> him to come down and see her. Anions other things, she wrote that Francis tie* had gone away, and that'she had W seen him wire' at Gerby Hall, "trances and her brother don't get on well together." went on Ida in her letter,,, ana are rarely together. When he is m >> 9 is out, and vice versa, like the little old man and woman in the weather cottage. only saw Francis for, a few minutes cacatime, and I don't like him much, a thoiign he greatly resembles Frances. But nt » more gloomy, and is quite a misanthrope. Nor do I like Frances so much as ,l die, as she seems inclined to - take the upper hand with me, and wants me to ao exactly as she wishes. Lately she hj been urging me to marry Mr. Maundy and told dm that he was coming flown to stop for v a time. Besides, there is » housekeeper, Alibi; Jewin, who is doia £ faced woman. I am sine, and looks .quite dangerous. She'' fell in ecstacies over-. photograph of Mr. Maunders, when ' gave 'Frances, and told me, presump ' ously. that she thought we made.a^ nan some couple. . In fact. I dorft.U»#g place at all, and I wish you would court down and stand by me.. . > (To be continued on Saturday- next.)