LOVE THE JESTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14767, 24 August 1911, Page 3

LOVE THE JESTER.

BY ALICE AND CLAUDE ; ASKEW. Authors of "The Shulamite,". /'The : Paignton Honour," etc, etc. ..

COPYRIGHT ; . CHAPTER Xll.—(Continued.) - Vernon was wandering if there was any possibility of making a fight. His two captors had relaxed their hold a little, and tho despatch-box upon the table was almost within reach of his hand, if he could only havo stretched it out. Ho was a man of considerable strength, and would not have been afraid of tackling his threo opponents if lie could see his opportunity and if ho were not faced by that revolver. After all,, as he had told himself before, it would be better to die fighting than to go away empty-handed. . This man evidently, for some reason of j his own, wanted to talk— let him j talk for as long as he pleased. If his attention could only be distracted for a moment a sudden shake of , Vernon's powerful body might throw off the two fellows who held him, and then a dash forward—why, there, was a chance even now, if he did not allow them to have any "suspicion of what was in his mind. ' "Well, you havo caught me, it appears," he said. "What do you propose "to do?" "I havo no intention of treating you badly, Mr. Ratcliffe," was the reply, " unless you compel me to. These matters are much better settled amicably— don't you think so? Of course"—he stretched out his. hand and tapped tho despatch-box on the table with his knucklo; his fingers, Vernon noticed, were long and shapely and white was an aristocratic hand. " Of course," he resumed, " I've got all I require in this box; at least, I presume that, like the conscientious secretary you are, you have carried out Sir Galbraith's instructions to 'the letter"— smiled a little as he spoke —"and we've laid our plan very carefully, Mr. Ratcliffe, more carefully than you are as yet aware of. That is .to say that when matters come to be looked into it is you yourself who will bo found to be the traitor. You will not bo able to substantiate your innocence. But I needn't go into particulars as to this, for I sincerely trust that such a contingency will not arise." "You couldn't do it." Vernon's eyes shot defiance. " I shall only nave to speak the truth explain how I was lured here." ' " How you came here voluntarily to,sell these papers, you mean," corrected the other, without the slightest indication of temper. " But let me come to my point, Mr. Ratcliffe. It is simply this : If you hold your tongue not a soul upon earth need be any the wiser as to what has happened hero to-night. There are others besides yourself in possession of the information that I am anxious to acquire. You, with your irreproachablo character, are the very last to como under suspicion. All that I shall ask is that you will quietly hand me over the key of this despatch-box"—he tapped it again as he spoke—" in order that I may peruse the contents, and perhaps make a few notes. Then I will restore the papers to you intact; and you may leave this house unharmed. Furthermore, since I liko you "for your honesty, Mr. Ratcliffe, I am ready to admit that you should receive a substantial reward for being compelled to go against your principles. That reward shall bo paid you. I have spoken fairly don't you think so?" He had a way of repeating that expression "Don'tyou think so," with a peculiar intonation, of which Vernon took especial note. It might be useful to him later on. And for a. moment or two Vernon remained silent, turning over in his mind the proposal which had just been made to him, slowly realising the exact position in which he stood. It amounted to Ihis—and he quite saw the force of his unknown captor's suggestionthat there was an easy means of escape for him if he pleased. "It was quite true that if he acted as it was suggested that ho should, the chances of not being suspected at all were very much in his favour. But he would bo accepting deliverance at the cost of his honour. Tho stranger was. scrutinising his face, evidently understanding what was passing through his mind. . "You hesitate, Mr. Ratcliffe? Ah, but that is foolish of you. You have conscientious scruples— are telling yourself that it is dishonourable to act as I suggest. But there are times, my friend, when questions of honour, . as you understand them, must go to the wall. This is' one of those times. Do as I suggest, and, except to your own conscience, your honour is safe. No one will suspect you. Refuse to do what I propose, and your world will hold you guilty of unpardonable treachery. Will, it be a sufficient recompense to you, then, that you are able to tell yourself that you acted as an honest man should?" He spoke glibly and plausibly, and Vernon bit his lip as : he listened to tho words of the tempter. The latter sought to drive his point 'home. "Really, you have no choice, Mr. Ratcliffe," he said. "No man in his senses would be such a fool as to sacrifice all his prospects in life because of an unduly troublesome conscience. You wiU admit that I am not treating you badly; indeed, if you fall in with my suggestion. you will be the ' better for this night's work." .' And now temptation was assailing Vernon as he had never guessed he might bo tempted. On the one hand, he was faced by humiliation and ruinthe loss of all that he held most dear; for he did not attempt to deceive himself, this man was capable of, doing all that he threatened. Protest as Vernon might, upon him would be the obloquy of " having . betrayed a sacred trust. How should he clear himself in Sir Galbraith's eyes? How should he hold up his head before those who had esteemed him for his honesty ? And Lucywould Lucy believe in his innocence :.'.'. Upon the other hand, he had only to submit and all would be well with him. And if he chose to accept it, he would be paid the price of his silence— generous sum, no doubt, for ho was surely in the hands of those who were playing a big game, and to whom money was of small "import. But no— never! Whatever he might decide to do he 'would not receive a penny for his perfidy. .Why, the gold would burn his fingers—it would sear his very soul. . And if I refuse your offer?" he said, huskily. You already know the consequences 'that will befall yourself," replied the other, with a shrug of the shoulders. " You cannot prevent us from learning what we want to. know. Later on you may tell what story you. please— will not be believed." " But do you think"Vernon's voice shook—" that I should submit quietly to being robbed, and just steal away afterwards like a whipped cur? No, you would have to kill me first"—his voice rose as he gathered his strength together, the strength that was thrusting temptation for him" and there's a law in this land that will punish you for* that. Then, though ' I may be dead, the world will know that I died in defence of my honour." . - > .- There was a ring of triumph in his tone as be spoke the last words. Yes, there named on> this for him—to die, but to <.i with his honour untarnished. ' " I !,h".ak vou are very foolish. Hr. I "Ratcliffe,' ' i-.-;..Dd Vernon's adv?r.. v, I his calm altogether unruffled. "1 . ;ov'd i be —yen f pry indeed—-if we 'ad L-K't , take such drastic measures with ; yor Mevertblow., you may as we"' kre \ th?. IN is is an p?''.«apied house, *o " . .j'h no- | ■bK'"y < i,-,..: t: apt the car:>.;'.t:!r y who J h.«. +; .j keys, „-d he is 'eiiage&ec: devoted to our service. Also, there are cellars underneath the form really rather a remarkable feature of it— and if we j_ should v be .put to the painful necessity of laying violent hands upon you,' Mr. Ratcliffe—well, there is very little prospect of anyone finding out what has become of you. It will only be

said that you sold the secret and then absconded. So I'm afraid that violent resistance won't help you much." There was a smile upon the man's lips, and his calm was maddening. Vernon lost control of himself. A dogged spirit of resistance entered into him. At the moment it was less the impulse ■of conscience," the desire to preserve his self-respect at all costs, as a blind fury of rage against this suave-tongued villain—this plausible devil of a man who had trapped him. The hot blood in his veins coursed rapidly, making the vessels stand out in great knots upon his neck and forehead, his nerves were tingling madly, and he' felt as if every muscle in his body was contracted. The colour rushed to his cheeks— lips twitched ominously. ■ - He cast discretion to the winds. His enemy's smiling, placid face was very close to his own, and €he revolver was pointed downwards, not held so as to cover him. One quick movement release of an arm so that ho might strike a blow—and he might yet be saved. Vernon made the effort —but it failed. He sprang like a wild beast; but the men who held him, with physical strength that could not be compared to his own, and whose grasp appeared to have relaxed, were evidently practised in means of holding a prisoner of which Vernon knew nothing. His strength was of no use against their subtlety. He was tripped up, and lay sprawling upon the floor almost before he was aware of what had happened to him. The man who faced him had drawn back a pace or two, but had not even troubled to raise the hand that held the revolver. . That was foolish of —don't you think so?" he said, quietly. Then he ad dressed the men who held Vernon. " You'd better bind him," he said, and if you will hunt through his pockets for the key we need delay no longer about opening the despatch-box." (To bo continued daily.)