THE MESSAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14531, 19 November 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE MESSAGE.

f , BY LOUIS TRACY,

• spaom. 'abbangbwsmt^

I If . w 0 f •' Rainbow Island," " The Pillar of I mWrflghtr'" Wheel o'" Fortune," etc., etc. I - ' COPYRIGHT. I Wom -CHAPTKR . Vlll.—(Continued.) I V -'iioßrixo defiance, but not daring to pour I 1 the wrath that boiled up in him, the | T ushed a mowing-machine savagely \ : v;*.'- '«/*nss the lawn. I f •.Ranted-!'' smiled Billy. "Bannockburn i is avenged 1 . ~, I ; is amusing you, Mr. Thring V" s Evelyn, who had walked over the - '' ' -crass unheard. f ' - li l hare just discovered my lost, vocation, I ' "1 am a buffoon, Miss Dane, an ' - I 5L jester. The only difference between me J a music-hall comedian is that, my /juimonr is no* remunerative." "\Yhv when I left you last night you |_. on'the verge of proposing to you _, re on'the verge of proposing to Mrs. a most serious undertaking^' •r~ '-"Mr nice woman, Mrs. Laing. No non-,-nse »bout her. We've bin together the —test' jjalf-liour, an' I'm under the starters v-" orders, at any rate. . hv not go m and win . demandea V ,r V re lyjjtaking a kindly interest in the HonI'Lahle one matrimonial prospects. If be Laing made a match of it, that T :<*ould provide a .very agreeable close to a MBi#wetiag incident. ' V'Tm afraid it'll only be to make the *§'■ jgjmu,' for some other Johnny," sighed he. -iV* 1 was gettin' along like a house a-fire, | 'Ji'ijjea all At once she remembered she hadn't ? what she wanted to say in a letter 1 |<) a captain somebody at Ostend, and off 1 A#' Tallied to her room. She is probably | f;i' «n(iu* sweet nothings to him now. Same Wstorv—Biilr Thring left, at the post. I « that's funny ! See it. eh, what V * <'• i r Xhrin' 7 was so amused at his own wit that : 'W|e did°not notice the expression of pain i ''"'r-iwit' fear that drove the brightness from I St jFyiyae face. But she herself was con- '* gafios of it. and looked away lest he should -- , -wef into he eyes, and wonder. So Mrs. 'Lang was writing to Arthur ! She knew HPjjg address ! How strange, how unutterf aUy strange that he had not once mentioned name ! The girl, as in a dream, Sf?: stated to be watching a boy, the son of fite village postmistress, coming up the §%»toue. For the sake of hearing her own 'Una in such commonplace words as she ®f might dart, to utter, she drew her comm /anion's attention. 8 f?4sFHere is our telegraph messenger," she SHiwL ... glanced at his watch. 1 j - f'tlt'slor me," lie announced.. There's a at Newmarket who is the champion. |f is'ijfi»er finder of the world, an' I'm one of ili#irtim, : This is Leger day, an' if you te rtjjait a moment I'll put you on to a stiff % sore thing. Then you must turn bookBpljpfe' at lunch, and win gloves right and pairs, in fact. I'll stand your losses prophet has gone mad an sent a Ipl^ißiier.".boy made straight for him, and comfejEfinced to unfasten the pouch slung to his K|p»lt. ; ''' • • - l|p'" See * I told yon," laughed Billy, openpping the message. S'; Evelyn hardly understood him. She was p: s grateful for the high spirits that prevented ag|]am from paying any heed to the tears fetrembUng under her drooping eyelashes. De-Kipit-e"her brave resolve to disregard RosaySinnnd'Laing's unbelievable story, a whole of; doubts and terrors now .trooped jMjptat on Kct.' She asked herself how she could endure to Uve in the same house as her rival, mC-for, five long days, until Arthur's answer I trembling under her drooping two letters by Spite her brave resolve to disregard Rosaxcund Laing's unbelievable story, a whole legion of doubts and terrors now trooped j§in on her. She afiked herself how she could | endure to live in the same house as her rival, f/for five long days, until Arthur's answer :§ came. Would he receive the two letters by Bl:vtEe' "same post ? Could there be any real Bi. foundation for her rival's boast ? The || | thought made her sick at heart. Fighting Sir down her dread, she turned to Thring, hopffc; ing to find a momentary oblivion in listenMy-' ing to his cheerful nonsense. •IfSlie found oblivion, indeed, but not in the il 'sSiape anticipated. Shading his eyes with (me hand and liolding the telegram 1 in the other, her companion was giizing at it in '&||»!i-dazca way. • His . cheeks were - bloodless, * , the hand gripping the scrap of flimsy paper . . shook as though he were seized with ague, 1 ; L '_ r his whole attitude was that of a mail who Hp-had • received an overwhelming shock, Sift " Sir. Thring !" she cried, startled beyond .. measure; "what has happened ?" ® ?■ "My God 5" he wailed, with the tingling $|| note of agony in Ms voice thai comes most ; • clearly from one whose lips are formed for laughter. " My God ! ; And I was jesting f -about them only last night !" p. f *' Oh! what is it?" she cried again, catch•g; ing his arm because he swayed like one about " to faint. O" "Read !* he murmured. "Fairholme an' the .two. boys ! : May heaven forgive me ! 11 l'o think that I should have said it last night Vi"; of all nights !" v Evelyn took the telegram from his palsied fingers, and this is what die read: ■}} * " With deepest regret I have to inform you that the Earl of Fairholme and his two ; son? were killed in the collision at BeckP minster Junction lasit- evening. Their pri--TSte saloon was being -shunted when the * v down express crashed into it. . Letters found iS;?w(lhis lordship's body gave me your address. j-'-j -Br«yona here joins in profound sympathy. Pleaee wire instructions.—Jakes Thwaite." Scarce knowing what she said, and still c&aging desperately to the stricken man at her side. Evelyn whispered: i Are they yonr relatives ?" the answer came brokenly: I oyou know ? That' Ferdy and my !y And two such ' boys ! Straight p ; ati fail an' handsome. Good Lord 1 Was 'the only way ?" Then she realised the horror of it. The - f r nsiifid society, butterfly, -who was like to fall to the ground but for her. support, was of Fairholme. Calling Brown aid, .they led him inside the house. . Tbe.iiutler, impelled to disobey his master's injunctions, , knocked at the, library ' } door, and told Baumgartner what had hap\wmmm Eippenhach heard. He was a. callous person, to whom the death of three . . iuigl«hmen was of very slight cohsidera- : Mb; '- . thing !" he murmured, "l^ow fe your excuse. You can empty the i^^m.^houre." ; . ®§lii| Laiiig, whose white brows wore - tnmaily furrows, was writing and thinking S' rOWII W 1 when a maid brought her ®- r i 116 ? 8 ' Before her on the table was fe.Jy letter, : and the sharp-eyed Scotch that, the lady almost upset the ®^ haste to cover something .-'fa ;Wotting-paid. Rosamund »• was lav , ».01" course. Finding that Thring for the south almost immedi|C- sha then and there -wrote a sweetly n J®fe|thetic note, and liad it taken to him. KJt* *<\ri r the way," she said before the S? 1 went -out, " have you seen Mr. 3K? recently ? I mean the darkifi IBan who came her© yesterSB J justleft the library with the & an ® Mother gentleman."' Rosamund Pif ; tafr« a " v nce - If she were not greatly misti hannless-looking postcript S s *®* her • a ciue to the mystery of ft" Hi? 1 ? 08 I )reeen( -e in Baumgai-tner's house. : ; - r»^ er West Africa,, and t-lie bad orw» ®*.Oku was one of her clearest memp i i Bl6 turned back at. the door, fe:- «iiiJ ?®lyn's letter from her pocket, copied * locked the original in her - Sc&nnt• c ' lCo . n "g° n g sounded as she de- - Btasr6 ' 80 perforce she postponed ft Portj. Jew s^e promised herself with the •^"'•*teiLpr 6 'i' And, for the success ot her % v-'i&Kk schemes,it : was a.-, well. Somet comes to the aid of evil-doers U * tan** ? ii contrives opportunities where feS*.fT thou S )lt ■ would fail. Rosamund, «jj n i a well-nigh desperate enterfound the way smoothed l®i»nii(>on, f . ecs wholly unexpected an--4 t^ab us ' ness considerations to leave Lochmerig forthk ? °uld have tried to arin™, ,sfa ® toril y for our guests," ■ i , g^ o°m0°m • cast on our plear 'thjs swri;« u unhappy tidings received I -' ft ® V one of our number renders % £■■ tte e f° r an 7 of /" 3 to enjoy || Jight &il iJt, 1 ° most memorable and de*- -. ia Scotland." , Idm3elf of other platitudes, .^ ejeC^d air a " d

that the millionaire's fiat -was unalterable. Polite murmurs of agreement veiled the chagrin of people who had a fortnight or more thrown on their hands •without any prior arrangements. The meal was a solemn function. Everybody was glad when it ended. Rosamund met Figuero in the hall. " I am going to the village," she said. "Will you walk there with me ?" Ho caught the veiled meaning of her glance, and agreed instantly. When they were clear of tlie house, she commenced the attack. " Why are you and Count von Rippenbaoh and three men of Oku in England T' she asked. She did not look at Figuero. There was no need. He waited a few seconds too long before he laughed. " You make joke," he said. •' Do 1 ? It will bo no joke for you when Captain Warden informs the Government, if lie lias not done that already." Why you say dent t'ing V he growled, and she was fully aware of the menace in his voice. "You told me what you were pleased to consider a secret last night. Very well, 1 am willing to trade. Captain Warden knows what you arc doing. . He probably guesses every item of the business you and the count were discussing so long and earnestly with Mr. Baumgartner in the library before lunch. " Oh, please don't interrupt."for Figuero, driven beyond the bounds of self-control, was using words better left to the Portuguese tongue in which they were uttered — lam not concerned with your plots. They never come to anything you know. If either Count von Rippenboch or Mr. Baumgartner had your history at their fingers' ends as I have, they would drop you like a red-hot cinder. _ \ et, lam readv to bargain. Help nie, and 1 will keep my information to myself." " What you want, den V She glanced at him, and was surprised to see that his face was livid, almost green with rage and perplexity. It must be a grave matterthis jtfmble of hints in Evelyn's letter. " Can you read English she asked, after a pause. - " Yes, leetle^piece—better as I can make palaver." "Read that then."' She handed him the copy of that part of the fateful letter that alluded to himself and his affairs. He. puzzled it out,, word by word. "Where him lib for?" he demanded. " That was written by Miss Dane and intended for Captain Warden. I came by it, ho matter how, and. I mean .to make use of it in some way." With a rapid movement, he stuffed the sheet of notepaper into a Docket. "Me keeps dem letter," he announced. " Certainly. It is only a copy. Sawv, have the real one safely put away." Figuero swallowed something. His thin lips were bloodless, and his tongue moistened them with the quick, darting action of a snake. Rosamund, who was really somewhat afraid, trusted to the daylight and the fact that they were traversing an open road, with cottages scattered through the glen. " You cannot humbug me," she went on, " but I want to assure you again that I am no enemy of yours. Now, listen. I mean to marry Captain Warden, but I have reason to believe that he is engaged, promised, to Miss Dane. I am trying to stop that, to break it off. Can you help ?" " You ask hard t'ing—in dis place. In Africa, we get Oku man make ju-ju." She shuddered. The cold malevolence in his words recalled stories she had heard of those who had died with unaccountable suddenness when " Oku man make ju-ju." " I don't mean that," she cried vehemently. " Tell me what is taking place, and how it will affect Captain Warden. Then I can . twist events to my own purpose. I can warn him, perhaps prove myself his friend. Above allwhere are you going to-morrow Mr. Baumgartner sails in the Sans Souci, I hear. Does Miss Dane go with him, or is she to be sent away because she is aware of your plans?" Figuero did not answer during a whole minute.

He saw light, dimly, but growing more distinct each instant. Warden was a deadly personality in the field against him, and his active interference was now assured beyond cavil. But, with two women as foils, both beautiful, and one exceedingly Well equipped with money, there was still a chance of circumventing the only man he feared. "You'steal dem letter?" he said unexpectedly. "At any rate, it has not gone to Captain Warden," was the acid reply. ; " An' you write 'im. What you say?" " Oh, nothing that affects the case. 1 ' - "You tole him me here?" " No. That can wait," which statement, as shall be seen, was strictly untrue. " Well, den, dem yacht lib for—for somewheres to-morrow. Dem girl,' J lees Dane, go wid me. You tole him dat t'ing as you say las' night. I make wife palaver to dem girl." "What good will that do?" she said. " In a week, ten days, he will hear from her again." "No. I take dem letter; You gib me Captain Warden writin', an' I keep eye for dat. Savvy?" ' " But can you carry out what you promise?,".' " Two, t'ree months, yes. After dem yacht lib for Madeira, no. P'raps dem girl be wife den." Rosamund's dark eyes narrowed to two tiny slits. If Figuero could really keep Warden and Evelyn apart during so long a period, the utterly hopeless project on which she had embarked in a moment of jealous rage might become feasible. Of course, the suggestion that he would marry Evelyn was preposterous, but there was no reason why she should hurt his pride by telling him so. Her heart throbbed madly, while her active brain debated the pros and cons, of the all-important questionshould she post the letter already written? Yes. It was the outcome of her earliest thought. She would follow it up with another in different strain. The two would be vastly more convincing than one, and the dates would have a significance that no mere contriving could impart. ' By this time they were at the . post office, from which mails were despatched by a later train than that caught by the groom. Rosamund dropped her letter in the box. She was quite pale with suppressed excitement. Her boats were burnt. She heard the fall of the envelope into the receptacle, and the appalling notion possessed her that the sound resembled the fall of earth on a coffin. She breathed heavily, and pressed a hand to her bosom. Figuero was . watching her. " Now you done dem t'ing," he said, "you dash me some money." She started. Did he mean to levy blackmail for his services " Why*?" she asked, summoning all her strength of character to meet his gaze without flinching. "Me buy present for dem girl. If I make wife palaver dat cost many dollar." " I am not buying your help. You trade with me one thing "for the other. If you refuse, I write to the Government about the men*of Oku." The Portuguese laughed more naturally than she had yet heard him. If his archenemy, Arthur Warden," was well acquainted with the mission he and the chiefs had undertaken this pretty and passionate • women counted for very little in the scale against him. " You dash mi? one hunner' poun'," he said cheerfully. "Jus' dat, no mo'. If you say 'no,' dem girl no lib for yacht. Mr. Baumgartner say go one-time. Me tell 'imtake dem girl. Savvy?" Mrs. Laing savvied. She gave him thirty pounds—all she could spare from her purseand promised to send the balance to an address in London. He was fully satisfied. He was sure she would not fail him. When he needed further supplies she would pay willingly. In an intrigue based on such lines Miguel Fi- j guero was an adept.

CHAPTER IX. \ ' WARDEN" BEGINS HIS ODYSSEY. ! Evelyn's weekly letter firm Scotland usually arrived by the mail boat, due ; at Ostend about three o'clock in the afternoon. Warden, sitting on the plage among a cosmopolitan crowd that delighted in its own antics, watched the steamer from Dover picking its wav along the coast and into the harbour. He was dinihg with a friend that evening in one of tihe big hotels on the sea-front. He could dill for his letters after he had dressed meanwhile, he had an hour or more at his [disposal, and he was weary of the frolics 'g^mooisietirt ! Madame et Bebe, and pi a

great many ot her people who came under a less domestic category. To kill time he strolled into the Casino and drank a cup of the decoction which Belgians regard as tea. Then he went to the so-called club to look at the gamblers. Play did not appeal to him, but lie had joined the Circle Prive because some men lie knew went there regularly for baccarat . To-day, to dispel the ennui of existence between meals, a German baron was opening banks of 500 louis each, and losing or winning money with a bored air. He had just closed one bank successfully, and the table was set for another, when a young American, bright-eyed, clean-shaven and pallid, stirred the pulses of both onlookers and players by crying " Banco !" Even in Ostend one does not often see £400 won or lost at a single coup. Warden, whose sympathies were against the stolid banker, stood by the side of the younger man until the incident was ended. There was no waiting. The challenger, impassive as a Red Indian, gave a bundle of notes to the croupier, who counted them. The baron dealt the two tableaux, and his adversary stooped and picked up the first. "Huit!" he said, throwing the cards faco upwards on the table. He took the second pair. " Neuf !" An excited buzz of talk rose around tlio board. With a blase smile the banker showed his cards —two queens. " Peste 1" cried a Frenchman, " toujours on souffle pour les dames !" Some few laughed; the German, more phlegmatic than ever, opened a pocket-book and started a fresh bank for the same amount, while the American collected his stake and winnings. He was stuffing the notes into a pocket when lie caught. Warden's glance. '• That's the easiest way of making two thousand dollars I've ever struck." " But you stood to lose the same amount," said Warden. " Why, yes. . The only difference between me and the fellow who puts up with this beastly atmosphere every day for a month is that: he fritters away his money at five or ten dollars a pop, while I hit or miss at the first time of asking." " You won't play any more, then ?" " No, sir. Me for the tall timbers with the baron's wad. ' Lucky at cards, unlucky in love,' you know, and I've just heard that my best girl has made a date with the other fellow." He walked away, erect, alert, and selfpossessed. Warden strolled to a roulette board. "I wonder if that is true," he mused. Instinctively his hand went to his pocket, and he staked a louis on 29, the year of his age. Up came 29, and ho won 35 louis. He was so astonished that he tent over the shoulders of a lady seated near the foot of the table, and began mechanically to draw in the five-hundred franc note and. ten gold pieces that were pushed by a croupier's rake to his own coin. "But, monsieur," whispered the lady, who was French, and gave slight heed to convention, " certainly you will follow your luck !" " Why not ?" he answered. Knowing that the maximum on a number was nine louis, lie was on the point of leaving that amount on 29 when he remembered that Evelyn's age Mas 20. To the surprise of his self-appointed counsellor, he told the croupier to transfer the gold to the new number, while the note went on the 19-24 transversale. Thus, if he lost, he was still a louis to the good, and the American's consoling adage was robbed of its sting. The roulette whirred round, the marble danced madly across diamonds and slots. Checking its pace, it hopped, hopped, hopped—into 20 —and the Frenchwoman nearly became hysterical. Warden'received so much money that he lost count. As a matter of fact, he bad won just 40 louis less than the cynic of the baccarat table. He deemed the example of the unknown philosopher too good not to be followed, so he gathered his gains and stakes, and left the room.

Now, most men would have been elated with this stroke of luck, but Warden was not. Though it- was very pleasant to be richer by nearly £370, he wished heartily that this sudden outburst of the gambling mania had found its genesis in some other topic than the reputed ill-fortune of a favoured lover. The incident was so astounding that he began to search for its portent. For a few seconds he saw in his mind's eyean evil leer on the black face hidden away in the Nancy's cabin, and it almost gave him a shock when he recalled the fact that both 29 and 20 were black numbers. But the light and gaiety of the streets soon dispelled these vapours, and he loitered in front of a jeweller's shop while planning a surprise for hw beloved. He had not yet given her a ring. Their tacit engagement was so sudden, and their parting so complete since that never-to-be-forgotten night at Plymouth, that he now fancied, with a certain humorous dismay, that Evelyn might long have been anticipating the receipt of some such token. Well, she should own a ring that he could never have afforded but for the kindly help of the Casino. There was one in the window marked "D'Oecaeionsooo frs." It contained three diamonds fit for a queen's diadem. He wondered whether or not, under the circumstances, one should buy a secondhand ring. Would Evelyn care to wear an article, however valuable, that had once belonged to another woman ? At any rate, the stones would require resetting, and he was not afraid of being swindled in the purchase, because the jeweller evidently regarded this special bargain as a magnet to draw the eyes of passers-by to his stock. Five minutes later the ring reposed in a case in Warden's pocket, and he was making for the post office. But there was no letter from Evelyn. There would have been were it not locked in Mrs. Laing's writingcase. and Warden was no wizard that he should guess any such development in the bewildering tumult of events that was even then gathering around him. Nevertheless, the clerk gave him a letterfrom the Colonial Office—asking that he should come to London with the least possible delay.

Though gratifying to a man eager for recognition in his service, the incidence of the request was annoying. At any other time in his career he would have left Ostend by the night mail. Now he resolved to wait until the morrow's midday service, and thus secure Evelyn's missive before his departure. He read between the lines of the brief official message clearly enough. Affairs were growing critical in West Africa. At best his advice, at worst his immediate return to duty was demanded. If the latter, by hook or by crook he would contrive to see Evelyn before he sailed for the south. He telegraphed his change of plans to Evelyn, telling her to write to his flat in London, and asking her to wire, saying whether or not a letter was en route to Ostend. Ho bade Peter bring the Nancy to Dover and there await orders, and then joined his friend, who was sympathetic when he heard that Warden must leave Ostend next day. .

" You'll miss the racing," he said, " and that is a pity, because I know of one or two food things that would have paid for your oliday." Warden laughed, and recounted his be-fore-dinner experience in the Casino. "By gad 1" cried the other, "I wish I'd been there. I know that German Johnny— let me see, lie has a horse running to-mor-row. Here is the programme—third race Baron von Grobelstein's Black Mask. Eh, what ? Oh, that is the gee-gee's name right enough, but it hasn't an earthly." To cloak his amazement. Warden pretended to be interested hi the entries. Black Mask was No. 13 on the card. He could not help smiling. .

"I feel rather superstitious to-day," he said. "Will you back that horse for me V" " Certainly, dear boy. But you are throwing your money away? It's a*so to 1 shot," "I don't mind. It is the Casino's money, anyhow." " Very well. How much ?"

Warden's pocket- reduced somewhat in bulk by his visit to the jeweller's, came in evidence again. Fifty louis," he said. " My dear fellow, it's rank lunacy." Believe mo, I shall not care tuppence if I lose." " Oh, all right. Give me your address. I'll send you a telegram about four o'clock to-morrow. You'll never see your 50 any more." Never before in his life had Warden acted the spendthrift, but any surprise he may have felt at his own recklessness was utterly dissipated when he received Rosamund. Laing's letter next morning. Though its tone was studiously gossipy and cheerful, the tidings it contained' were unpleasant enough to lend significance to the American's dictum. Its innuendoes, whether intentional or otherwise— Warden was suspicious, for he had not forgotten traits of; Rosamund's character--

assumed a sinister aspect when there was neither letter nor telegram from Evelyn. "My dear Arthur," — this unwelcome correspondent" I suppose I may address you in that manner after our once close friendship— will think that marvels are happening when you hear that I am. at Lochmerig. The real marvel is, however, that I should have obtained your address. Last evening Billy living —do you know him '!—by the way, ho is now Lord Fairholme, since that sad railway smash St 'Beckminster yesterday—well, Billy Tliring spoke of you. He means to cut you out with your little governess friend. I don t blame you a bit, for she is very pretty, but, without telling tales, I would warn you that the man who said that absence makes the heart grow fonder was certainly not a connoisseur in women's hearts. Naturally, Fairholme flew south this morning, and that clears off one of your rivals temporarily. Still, there are others. lam only chaffing, of course, and I suppose you were chiefly amusing yourself at Cowes and elsewhere. My presence here is easily accounted for —- I met the Baumgartners at Madeira last winter, and they invited me to their Scotch shooting. Isn't* B. a funny little man? Oil the island they used to call him by his initials, —Illicit Diamond Buyer, you know. "Now, why did you leave me to fish out your whereabouts by sheer accident'! Naughty ! Do write soon, and tell me when I shall see you. Oh, I was nealy forgetting. Recent arrivals included a Herr von Rippenbacli and an old acquaintance of yours, Miguel Figuero. Isn't it odd that they should come here ! And a little bird named Evelyn has whispered that the men of Oku are making ju-ju nearer home than the Benue River. Please keep out of it, for your friends' sake, and especially for the sake of yours ever sincerely, Rosamund. " P.S.—Send a line, and I shall give you more news.R." {To be continued on Saturday v ext.)

PUBLISHED Br SPECIAL AREANQESTENT.