THE MESSAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE MESSAGE.

Br LOUIS TRACY, 'Author of "Rainbow Island." " The Pillar o.f X.ii"llt," " Wheel o' Fortune." ate, etc.

COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER XIII-—(Continued.)

fif the privacv of her own room she ; ofl CO through it slowly, weighing its jjgffiidcring revelat ions, taking to her very J,earl the outspoken. manly sentences that sacred her of Warden's deyotion. and planning with new zest the means whereby ,'he might circumvent Iter enemies and his. Warden had been deceived even more grossly than she herself. _ lis faithful record of Rosamund's malicious innuendoes during the dinner at the Savoy Hotel cave ample proof of that- It was quite true she had talked with Eigucro in the •'•,., r don at T.ivhmerig. The man naturally "nte'-«-od her. his manner of speech was U ;,*" t-.» told her strange things 0 .lain t. lU'.. ... - .'"j" ♦ 'j;,. i,-".intrv in which the whole of about >!.• - N ' .... , her lover*.- a. live farcer might be passed. Was that a crime? And how shameful that anv woman should write such a wicked ant ruth -•«-> to say that she had gosslnwd to Tliring and others about the men of Oho. '. Of course. Mrs. Laing nad obtained her information from tlie stolen M'er Evelyn remembered perfectly well the unfortunate postscript in which s.ie alluded to the negroes and the ca.abash. She only meant to soften down the har>h-re-s ot* her comments on Rosamund and the- two foreigners, but if was obvious B ow that, she could have written nothing more harmful to Warden's minion. Nth! then. with a sudden honor that, ..i-ido her white. to the lips, she realised Ivivr. it meant--that Warden had never ' '--ivp.l her letter, that Rosamund had '.i.-vtlv availed ho,soil of the ,Wails » ;.V 3 :aii;,-J. and that her lover nad gone > -.-h-. with a lurking doub: m ins hea-i. woman in the world whom he i-uited. Did he think her really the base creature she w;„ depleted? Oh. it- was intolerable 1 Site would never forgive Mrs. 1 ail jni no. never! lb rival had stooped U. meanness that could not be borne—-me irujst be parished with a vengeance at once swift and merciless. . _ Tin All this was very unchristiaxi. and wtioiU untile the delightfully shy yet- lovable girl to whom Warden lost- his heart- during the midsummer madness of Cowes and 1 lvlror.* h. Bit Evelvn was stirreu to the <( # ™ ..s of a passionate nature, not- for the 'erst tine in has Pal mas she cried herself tO shv:'. _ . . She aw?ke in a betUr frame Oi mind, thou slid determined t> bring Mrs. Laing -,l h*r knees at the first- - -.pport unity. Keeping the trvst with Peter, she took him iuliv into her confidence. He was aole - ( , manv minor items of informal-ion tha:"Wo,.l the pieces of the puzzle more .-ux-uraudy together. He did not- know vhit had become of Warden, but Evelyn inade no scruple of tolling him the facts within her knowledge.

She rocked Utile of Government secrets -'d the nv-wavs of imperial politics. The cx-yiVt and 'M sturdy" offspring were now ,wiir.fsees of her goxl taitit- Perhaps iher micht meet Warden in England «v»'Wc* he was able to communicate with h-- lr. that event she wanted Peter to :v jr. a tuition to do for her lover what h.» ' ,'d done for her, aad disabuse War- - s trlrd "i ! e cloud of lies by which it r..'^i r •rr : II «i**rk.on«.xi.

Father and son were returning at once 1,-- the out-jjninc mail steamer. She pressed ■P:.;.- r accept whai. little money she could but. he would not take a, penny.

•• No, miss." he said, with an emphatic hesir-f-i-.ikinc. "There's some shot left in .... ;.okvr Vet. ar' me an' the eip'n will • ,v■ - - r.-'koidn' wen ho comes 'ome. If V-i .-h-.rt 'd a pound or two afore I get v.jner i:t cxi:uii.Si--i- =it this spring, I'll -o„ :«.vat4eoisin the hank tor .it. I' raps -.ou'li. write 'in; a line, an say "i've kep' v.. a ;o be con twit with that. Were v -■=-n--*tk-.U>ie. she would have gone back -o, 'Kt.Jar.-.i in the Nunc steamer. Here" i- L.is Pa'mas a'r>«> felt so utterly Tin ber.hd. Thou *h thousands of miles nearer Africa than in Bnciand. she seemed to be mo*-"- thousands of 'miles removed from the • hr-nef' reviving a letter or cablegram, art.-. .4:'- possessed a very usefni acquaint - th-f- 0 mmander of tne "Valiant, but S-."' ■ '■U' 1 lia.rd'v expect one of His Ma--..ju-v's r'lis'-rs to fly to awl fro in the TV-.-' Atlantic in order to keep her con-ver-am v. ho developments 1:1 Nigeria. p.-;,-. however, undertook to call at the ;.-,r.:al . tfli-.-e. while she would cable her a:":«r the laiise of a fortnight. Then. . v IV . iS ii:iv pews of Warden. he would At lunch- on site had her first meeting vh-:, Mr.-. I.,:in_ r since the arrival of that or".*'-vmarking letter. A special menu was t-rrd. ai.-i the table wao guy with -v..v.-r~. :--r the P»a.tintc:artnL'rs dearly loved r '< --r,. and .-»%'» revdvid tO make the most f>- ■ 'v>ir trier. 11 v relation? with the Earl of Fa: :ho:;ite. Mr. B audianrt.";C-1' looked worried and prejv,.-,;,;,,!. ill*' coming "i the mail which me.ir.c s-. much t.«, Evelyn ]>erha]is had its imr-. ...j.,, iii'i"! also. At any rate, he i,vh.-. <•[;;.-r.-sinrfi'-ni .>[ his quests largely l.) i.is wifv. until a -hi.n.) clash of wits ];,. r .; I'.t\" r;..-a:t' .•'.■ r was the unconscious a?-r.t' r.a: rd.ont an unforeseen • -ids. •••:• r»"»s.-l": ! s eves sic-edily caU'jht -iir.r. of 'diamond? on 1-icdynV left hand, liv.-h,'?;. v, ; ; at .»• lovciv jifig! Where slid y-.u "i. •' hi. -! woTpstn at it;" tale-' was on the qui xh t .;>ian:.iv. In a phi.-e -ike has Pa.lnins t'i e lii-re on*'■ -*J '"* a • ii:-:i '•! ii? lin'j; in i '>;u;.y !:•'!! v. it-h .1 y and pretty girl j'nr-'-a-.' < tn-n .'■.>■ !!!'.;•• i.'ilat aaP-d male has i ■ h:::: .j;!', oanovd : .'» i.ame loan the r , . .s. ' ' ]-.% •■!.. '■ ave_ i : •••! . t ;.r \ia<jan<> that j a."«•! 1 .a: : . i.:o; l.av<- ,;i:<.u.ml the a v ti si:'' }iad not lwp--j :•> <-au h t">- 'ri_r smile <>n It-nsa-nv;nd*> f. a w}:<-n t'ie 7!awir»'* of the. ring "... an;.- vi't'nr. That steeled her inor.:. "It ia my r-ni'a._'^m r 'nt rincr." she raid »|:;h fly. Wi.al ? ' si:o.J:..ri p.-rvh v. la in this V. as ... v., it'.dewl. "W1 .or,.' is I 'ap'-dis Waid'Ca li- if- at pnv-jit. ••• W' ■' .\f:i« a. ;v.!iM-wh>-iv 1 tor tl.e nu'' -i d•<! hi- io:it io von V- . . t only it ]a>t nijht. It f:i • •: : .iv ■ o-a' !.'•'! tie- four months a. f o, •mi) : .dr.-, L.iiii.' si'.'i'-n tin*-■>}' my lei(juk - _ t,- r-s :!!•!>: , \U-1! -and lata! lialur•t ' 1 1 >•'!!.• a'i-it.il." ! v ;| » 5 ;i /lauiKjnt '>> 1 up-tied f iiciice «*d '.lie rd!.\ !v.a rvii.;dy .•.(•••med to !»• ;a;.n oam'n. Ih'samur i. f, noon with v. • ! on;-.- lemter -

i- ■ • u:;|-i 1 l F 'iti_ r to sty, ii.it it v ' " f! "- •'yid Lv"!yn. div-sif-di.:: ?i<• r 'rival's I V.:! v.*r»?-.!..ii !: ! ii• • m-p.»t MM.; t<r-ot -fact I-I.i' - ; v.-;..- Ci -;i>l ii,;;;: {>? ;i ipieer s:i; >!:••• l "' ' ' "i h'T hair, and . c he i ; -.'U-ed tl'f ,•• ••!!!«< I of her nil !'•■ .;;i!i'a!!!:•-!• f<-h imp.-raf i\> !<> stop Vl.j.' '}> r<-.-i !•-: :i-< 1 i " <t**v« ;.>j» »um . >«.-;indal. d;.-.- 1> •!.'•. you are IliaMnu' a serious <"■ agiiitl.-j a. lady I.r thi- highest Itp>'t-.\ ' i H! ii'- I" ■ v ' c il.'i ■ M m;i ?i (.1-lilt-cOinjj'i»iV yn . "i i ; . ivviy w< nl," < ried LvMvn. " '' .>!«• ui'ir.' •, • hi'iu'.-nt " Lord ]*'air)n!m« ■ •■in i -.-{•• akitig i hi' f null or not >h«- liviiuuidci. suddenly wheeling round " i!-;d!y— l i — r<-a!iv " h" - phnured. f.r on '• ■■■■> b.-.\iidertfi to giiji. " Plea.o i.-il Mr. i'.auuix titer what happened in ihe hail „i L«a luin-i ig when Mrs. La.;;,;,- iifkc-d i )i-:- po-im.iri m give her a letter ttd*in-;is>.d in Captain Arthur Warden, it ' >.-i*-:! 1. V„u were pu-ciit. It. was my Setter : .«».• <-liia".ti"d. Pci hap-, she Ins it y«-i- if !•.-:• i•< ;„(•>. w ■ >c.a:. !o -1." Here w i- no t mid gal >t riving vainly v to bolster no a ;.i!-e aeeu.-auou, Init a (it ry young good"!-* impeaching an erring mortal. 'he atria.-ja.,!'' was electrica 1 ; Meryl Baum warmer >;>?.! ait-mva'-ds that .die felt pinr. and nevdles attacking Iter at ail points T " I

"1 it), awfully sorry, Miss Dane, but I gave very little attention to the incident," said Faivholme. partly recovering himself. '' But you remembered Captain Warden's name last night ? Was it not at Loehmerig that you heard it, and from Mrs. Laing?" "Well—yes, but, you know, Mrs. Laing might have written to him.''

" She did. after obtaining the address : rom my letter and reading what I wrote." Then she turned on Rosamund with magnificent disdain.

Sheer fury enabled Rosamund to regain her self-control. " *

" Shall 1 give you a copy of your letter '! Captain \\ arden lias sent if to me."

" \our foolish attack on me is disproved out of your own mouth," she said, striving desperately hard to speak nonchalantly. " Captain \A arden has not written to you since I. saw him in London. He is in. Africa, it is true, but he has never been heard of after going ashore at Rabat fully three months ago. How can you pretend that you received a letter from him last night? My authority is an Under-Secretary of the State. Pray, who i.- vours V '

I rider other conditions Evelyn might have been warned by the restraining look Baumgartner gave his wife when that good lady was minded to interfere. But no consideration would stop her now. The memory of all she had suffered through the machinations of one will'.'disposed woman upset her calm judgment. In other respects, she-act-ed with a restraint that was worthy of a first-rate- actress : people at- the next table might have thought she was discussing the weather. Taking Warden's letter from her pocket she handed it to Lord Fairholme.

"1 cited you as witness," she said. " Will you now act as a judge V Read that, and toll my friends which of us two is speaking truly." Despite his self-supposed shortcomings, Fairholmo was a gentleman. Instinctively ho believed Evelyn, but he shrank from the du'.v :he entrusted to him.

"Oh. 1 say." lie bleated, "hasn't- this thing gone a bit too far already '! Is it worth all the 1 "easily fuss V There may be a mistake somewhere, you kiTow. I'm sure, Miss Dane, nobody doubts your statementwhere this lucky chap Warden is concerned, an", on the other hand, don't you know, Mrs. Laing may have a, perfectly fair explanation of the other business. So let it go at- that, eh, what?"

" May I act as arbitrator said Baumgartner. "If 1 glance through your letter, Miss Dane, 1 may discover a means of settlement."

Something in his tone, some- hint of a, crafty purpose behind the smooth-spoken words, beat- through the haze of wratn and grief that clouded Evelyn's mind. She could tins: Fairholme with her lover's letter, but not Baumgartner. To reveal to him what Warden had said about Mrs. Laing's extraordinarily accurate knowledge of proceedings in the Solent and. affairs in Nigeria would be tantamount to betraying her lover's faith.

With splendid calmness she took the letter from the table and replaced it in her pocket. "No. thank you, Mr. Baumgartner,'' she said, "it Lord Fairholme declines to help me, nobody else can take his place. I appealed to him because he is aware that Mrs. .Laing induced your groom to unlock the post-box and hand her my letter. The proof of my words lies here. It- is for hint to say whether or not tie is satisfied he taw Mis. Laing commit a theft."

Fairholme ehook his head. He was not lacking in pluck, and his artificial humour was only the veneer of an honest nature, but he surprised a look in Rosamund's eyes that startled him. She was pale now, ashen Dale. She uttered no word, but continued to glower at Evelyn with a suppressed malevolence that was more threatening than the mere rage of a detected trickster. His lordship evidently thought it high time Buumgartner or his wife exercised their authority.

" Don't you thnk this matter has gone quite far enough"'" he asked, glancing from one to the other, and avoiding the eyes of either Evelyn or Mrs. Laing. *" Yes," said Baumgartner, speaking with a pomposity that contrasted sharply with his prompt"offer to supplant Eairholme as judge. "This absurd dispute about a purely private affair must end at once. I and my family are going to Europe by the next mail steamer —"

" Isidore 1" gasped his wife. « " Father, yon can't mean it !" cried Beryl, who, at the lowest calculation, had made arrangements for a good three weeks' frivolity at Las Palmas. " Unfortunately, I am qidfe in earnest. The financier" looked it. Despite his magisterial air, his puffy face was drawn and haggard, and he had the aspect of a man who needed rest and sleep.

" You will accompany us, of course, Miss Dane," he went onspeaking slowly, as though he were groping for the best way out of a difficulty. "Your quarrel you. without knowing this, answered Mr. with Mrs. Laing can be much more easily adjusted in England than here. I hope, therefore, we shall be spared further bickering during our brief stay in the Canaries."

" But, father dear,'"" put in his daughter. " vou said we were going home on the yacht.* and calling at Gibraltar and Algiers." ~ "I have changed my plans," he retorted curtly, and that was all he would say on the subject.

Evelyn left the table at the earliest moment. When too late, she regretted the impulse that led her to declare open war against Mrs. Laing. But it was done now. Those words "theft" and "steal" were irrevocable. She retreated to a nook in the grrden where a dense clump of tropical tries and shrubs gave shelter from the sin, and was trying to discover if she had imperilled the success of Warden's mission by any unguarded phrase when Lord Fairholme came to her.

'• .May I sit down here a few minutes?" he asked, " 1 want to try and understand things. ■' I should be sorry to test your lordship's capacity so greatly," she said. She had not yet forgiven him for not taking her part." She was young; her world was fumbling about her ears; she believed that everybody ought to stand aghast at Losuniund's wickedness.

••Oil, come now, that's a bit severe, isn't '.'" grinned Eairholme. ""i on don't make allowances for the ruffled fc-elin's of a poor fellow who has just had his image battered —"

Will you please tell me what you are talking about?" " Eli—beg pardon, I meant idol shattered. Silly mistake, eh, what?" Evelyn's lips relaxed in a smile. There was no resisting " Billy' when, in his own phiase. hi) war, goin' "strong. '• 1 i'.»ar you all thought me very rude," she said, with a pathetic little gesture of helplessness. " But what was 1 to do? — listen in silence to fresh insults?" " I think you did the only possible thine." " Then why did you refuse to bear out niv statement?" " There were reasons. May I see that letter now ?" " Have you come of your own accord?" she asked. Evelyn fighting for the man she loved was a very different girl to the proud, disdainful Evelyn who", twenty-four hours earlier, would have endured almost any indict ion rather than flout her adversary in a puf.lii- dining-room. She credited Rosamund with the adoption of any petty device (<> gain her ends, and Fairholmc was just the man to be used as a stalkinghorse. '■ No," lie said. " or rather, yes—and no. f .iin anxious to know the. truth, but ['.mnurart tier suggested that I ought to accept your offer of reading the evidence. Don't- 'vim see, he has to consider the i'ui in e a bit." " In wha:, way'.'" "Well, if Mrs, Laing stole a letter in ills house sh" — it's a, jolly hard thing to sav luiv she must- be warned off." H;iiimg;i. ; tuer as a guardian of morals was a new conception. Eveyn felt that a mi *: powerful .foe than Rosamund was in the held. Her unimportant romance had suddenly widened out into the worlddi,mam of politics. She must decide ipiii klv and decide aright. In that vital moment she realised that her postscript to lie l.ochmerig letter might have consequences farjievoud their effect on Warden's fori line- and her own.

" Lord I'airh.almc." she said, turning so hat- she (.onbi watili the slightest change in the exprersio .i' hi? face, "does Mr. • J'auiiijQirtnei' ■•••'' •• you as a man who would go out i • way to interfere in a dispute between ■ .vo women V'

" Not unless there was money in it," said Fairholme cheerfully. " Then why is he showing such interest now in a matter which ho deliberately closed down at- luncheon?"

"I gave you his explanation. Even Baumgartner like*. to associate with people of good character." " No, that in not the reason. Mr. Baumgartner is engaged at- this moment- in a. plot against. British dominion in West Africa. You see that cruiser in the barbour 1 ' Well, she is here to watch the Sans Souei. You yourself heard to-day that our party is going to Europe by the mail steamer. Why, when the Sans Souci is at our disposal? I will tell you. The British authorities believe that the yacht will help, or further in some way. a native rising in Southern Nigeria. Now. the letter in my possession, read by anyone who could extract its inner meaning, would yield a valuable clue to the amount, of information at the disposal of the Home Government. If Baumgartner' questions as to its contents, you would he doing the gravest- injury to Great, Britain."'

"By gad !" exclaimed Fairholmo. Yon can easily assure yourself (hat 1 am not- exaggerating the facts. Here is the letter. Read it, and remember what I have told you."

Fairholme pursed his- lips and bent- his brows in deep mental effort. He held the letter in his hand unopened during this unusual and seemingly painful process. Then ho gave it luck to Evelyn. " No, Miss Dane." he said emphatically. "I'm far too candid an '.is ~ to lx v laden v.-it-h Stat*' secret . Nov, it yoa wouldn t mind just- pickh' out the bits i lu.t refer to Mrs. I ing, an" ekippin' a.'! the political part. I'll Ik) able to bounce old Baumgartner for all lie's worth." " But I cannot. It is the political partwhich proves that my letter was stolen. "Same thing! Change the names. Turn West Africa into Newmarket, an' call the Emperor Lord Roseberv." '• The Emperor." said Evelyn, surprise*! at Fairliolme's chance shot.

•" He's in it, I guess. He lias his finger in every pie, an' some of 'em h:ive bin jolly hot. Now, go ahead. If it's a' all awkward, leave 1110 to till in a bit a-Ooat the Ditch jlilc an' the Epsom gradients that will bamlioo'/le Baumgartner." Evelyn did her best. Fairholme v. is delighted with Warden's description of the baccarat, and roulette incidents, but his face lengthened when he heard Rosamund's allusions to himself. Once; Evv ■) forgot his stipulation, and spoke of " men of Oku."

"Oku," broke in Fairholme, " w vo is that?"

"It is a savage native state in \\ Africa-. That is the one name you an i not remember. Lord Fairholnie." He did not; interrupt again till slit had finished muling. Then the told liiin how Peter Evans had brought her the ring and the letter, and. finding him sympathetic, explained the extra-ordinary chance that led to Warden's capture by a Mahonimcdan fanatic at Rabat.

"Funny thing!" he said, when she had made an end. " That- chap Eignero joined my steamer at Lisbon."

"'Ho is not here?" cried Evelyn, genuinely startled, for she feared Figuero. " Yes. he is. 1 fancy he's oh board the Sans Souci. I didn't speak to him., an" I have a notion that lie didn't recognise mo under my new name. Wo also picked up quite a. number of German officers at the eame port. but they left us at. aerial, where another ship took thorn on to the Cameroons. That is German West Africa, isn't it?"

" r believe so. My geographical knowledge of this part of he wo rid is of the vastiest. It dates, chiefly from last night." " When the naval Johnny was showing you the map, I suppose?" "But how do you know that?" she demanded. and another wave of surprise Horded her face with colour.

" Mi's. Lainc and I watched you for quite a timethe watchin' was involuntary on my p'.rt, but tdie wouldn't come away from the verandah. an' now I know why. You will observe, Miss Dane, that T have bin the goat, all through the proceed ill's." '" 1 can hardly sav that."

" No. you wouldn't. But it's true. The only bit of luck I've had is that I am. saved the painful necessity of bcin' refused as a husband by Mrs. Laing. I came here to ask her to marry me."

" Oh. I am so sorry — began Evelyn, but Fairholme's cackling laugh checked her.

" Why sorry ? You've done me a good turn, twice over, an' if I can do you one just. ask. In the first place, she would probably have said ' No,' and in. the second, where should I have been if she said ' Ye®.' In the soup, eh, what?" Lord Fairholrae seemed to pride himself on his narrow escape, and gave Evelyn the credit of reselling him. She protected that if she had known he was really bent on marrying Mrs. Laing she would neither have attacked the latter in liis presence nor called on him to bear out her statements. But lie refused to admit that she had conferred other than a favour on him. repeated his desire to servo her if opportunity offered. It came quickJy. That night, when Evelyn was sound asleep her- room was entered and Warden's letter taken. It lay with the ring and some other trinkets on a dressing-table. The door was locked and bolted, but the window was wide open to admit the .sea breeze, and, although tho room was on the third floor, and therefore some -10 feet or more above the ground level, it was impossible that the thief could have entered it except through tho window. That the letter alone was the objective was shown by the fact that the exceedingly valuable ring was left untouched. There was almost a hint of malicious humour in the discrimination exercised. An ordinary criminal, though bribed to procure a document of great importance to some other person, would certainly have made away with any jewellery that was lying handy. In this instance there seemed, to bo an outspoken warring to the girl that she was powerless in the toils that surrounded her.

At first she suspected Rosamund of complicity in this- now theft, but when she asked heree'f who had most to gain from the perusal of the letter suspicion pointed, not to Rosamund, who couid guess its contents with fair accuracy, but to Baumgartner and his associates, who were evidently more afraid of one man than of the armed might of Britain.

In the height of her distress her employer came to her.

"We have decided to return by the Portuguese mail from .Madeira," he said, "and in order to catch the next, steamer we shall Stril in the Sans ■ Sotted to-night. Would it be convenient for yon to go aboard the yacht this afternoon?" "But what action am I to take with regard to my stolen letter ?" she demanded. '• Yaw heard what I said to Mrs. Laing. That letter is my evidence against her." " It may have blown out of your window. There is generally a strong breeze just hefore dawn. At any rate it; is better lost. Such disputes are useless." " But it was of the utmost importance in other ways." " Young ladies' love-letters always are," he gurgled with forced laughter. Still, if it has really gone, you can hardly propose to remain in Las Talmas on the otfehance that it may l>e recovered." She felt that she was trapped, but for what purpose it was hard to imagine. Lord Fairholme had told her ulieady that Bauntgartner was very much annoyed with him for failing to remember what Warden had written, and it was now beyond doubt that the Sans Souci's voyage to Funchal was a blind for some ulterior object.

In her dilemma she thought of Mortimer. When Baumgartner went away, she hurried out of tho hotel and drove straight to the harbour. A boat brought her to the Valiant; the commander himself met her at the gangway and escorted her to his cabin. " Sorry I couldn't call last, evening. Miss Dane," he said. "but I was detained on board unexpectedly. Things are happening, I hear.''

" Yes. Figuero is here, and wo leave on the yacht for Funchal to-night." He smiled.

" Is that the dodgeho exclaimed. "Of course, I was posted in ihe movements of tho Portuguese and' his friends, but the trip to Madeira is clever. Wliafc has caused the change (A programme V 7 She told him, and he bunged a, clenched fist emphatically on a table which a steward had just arranged for tea. ''For once I can find it in my heart to wish you were a man/' ho cried. " A stea- 4 mer starts for Lagos within two hours; and it would lie a tine tiling if the Nigeria administration heard your story from your own lips. Of course, 1 can write, but it is difficult to put on paper one's guesses and surmises at the trickery that is going 0n,," ' J

The words were scarcely uttered ere a wild notion leaped into Eveljws brain. Why should she not go to Lagos .' She might bo able to clear away some of the doubts and misgivings that must have gathered around Warden's name. Above all else, if there was news of him, it would surely reach the officials there long before it Ui&mo known in England. " If } were a man," she said tremulously, "would you pay my pasage on that- ehip.' "Of course. You would be travelling on Government service." " Then I shall, go. Please arrange matters for me, ana send someone to take me on board."

"Do you mean it he cried. '' Yes." Bv jove. Miss Dane, you astonish me more each time 1 see you. But how about the Baiimgui'tners "I shall imply write a note resigning my situation. It is a mere question of doing that to-day or three weeks hence. But I shall not- tell them why I am leaving their services so suddenly." " Baumgartner will find out. Unless lam much mistaken it will worry him. Now, you are sure you intend to take this trip '' Quite certain." Very well. I shall give myself the pleasure of calling for you at three o'clock." Evelyn packed her bo. vet? as speedily as possible. Counting her money, she found she had only £25. But there was that new treature. the ring. How better could she use it than in furthering the interests of the nun she loved '! She wondered it Lord Fairholmo would lend her £50 on its security. A note brought him to her room, and she explained briefly that she meant to visit Lagos and might need more funds than she had at her command.

Well, that beats the band," he said. "Mrs. Laing is going there, too." "Not on to-day's steamer?" she protested, for it scented that an unkind' late was conspiring against her. " Sure thing ! Heard her tellin' Beryl an hour ago." Though Evelyn wished heartily that her rival had chosen any other route of the many that lead from Las Pal mas. her resolution remained unaltered. But there was another thrill in store for her.

" Tell you what. Miss Dane," said Fairholme, "1 don't think you ought to tackle an expedition of this sort single-handed. You may want someone to pull you out of a tight place-what price mo as the pullerout- I'm a pretty useless sort of eliap in most things, but there is no reason why shouldn't try to do my country a. good turn onco in a way. Let- me go with you, and then you'll have no need to worry about ■ oin."

' You are really very kind," she faltered, ' but - hut—"

" You are afraid of Mrs. Laing .again," he grinned. " Don't worry yourself about her, dear girl. Not even Mrs. Grundy can growl at me for hein' your fellow-passenger. I'm mixed up in this business, an', by jove, I mean to see it through. Look here, cant you adopt me as a sort- of elder brother, an' make it 'Billy' an' 'Evelyn' an that sort of thing—eh, what V" (To be continued on Saturday next.)