HELEN OF THE MOOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14926, 26 February 1912, Page 4

HELEN OF THE MOOR.

PUBLISHED B* SPECIAL ABBASGEKEST.

BY ALICE AND CLAUDE ASKEW, • Athorn of " The .??^' to th l 10 " Tb« ShoJamite, tiie Jeter. Etc., Etc.

COPYRIGHT. SYNOPSIS. Philip Arfcivriyht, and Barry .Sh:r.»rd Iwe tb-=m-«.;!ve» m a tog on The incurs oi Dartmoor. The 'onner was partner in a London busings and the latter a journalist, with -aide experiences a* -» Vir correspondent. Sheranl was engaged to Arkvi:ight"« Mstffr Vora. An old woman, apparently (lamb, appeal* Ana guides them OTer the boj* to high ground. and th»n unaccountably disappearsThe men pick up a. brooch, an imitation turnnoise, ft in cold, wrapped in a lino handkerchief, Which was stained with blood. They safely rficb tbe Running Howe Inn. At the inn they ft'B uniformed warders. and are informed ?:>a' h convict named Tarrant. once the owner «f Wendlesham Manor, had escaped. Arkwrigh:- remarks that onco Spencer Tarrant was a sreat mend of bit (Arkwriihfs) father, and that MendVshsm had been bought by Lord I!aynoiir. Tyrant had 10-t his money through being led to »r«-caUnon by a man named Tierce Ruth veil. a man whom society accepted, though no one knew sr.ithing of him. The two men are informed that Lord ILtmonr is ftayi.ic in the houfe, and Arkwrigbt says be knows him. The innletper conducted ArWright and Sherard upstairs, and (■. the way they passed a bedroom handsomely furnished. ' In answer to a query as to whether j f. was Lord Ravnour'* room the innkeeper re- , plied, " No. that room isn't occupied by anyone, I • i:d isn't likely to ho either. CHAPTER IV. "That's curious," observed Harry with sonic interest, as their landlord conducted them to an attic room, evidently his own, on the second floor, and by the light of a candle began to rummage in a flimsy chest of drawers for the required garments. " I mean about the bedroom downstairs. What's wrong with it? Not haunted or anything of that sort ?" "No," was the reply; "I can't say it's haunted. Leastwise, I've never seen anything to bo afraid of. But I've not been in the place mors than a twelvemonth, and the old house had stood empty for years before I took it. I furnished up that room as the best bedroom, for there* was a lot of queer old furniture knocking about, which looked presentable enough when it was cleaned, though the people who sold me the place must have thought it was of no value, for they practically threw it all in for the purchase money. I believe they were glad i to get rid of the house at any price, for j though I only heard of it later, there j was a bit of trouble over tbo death of j someone couple of old men, I iancv who died mysteriously in that room. The place got a* bad name in consequence." "Most interesting/' Harry was pulling on a thick woollen stocking" as ho .spoke. ' But what about yourself'—that is, if you don't mind telling us of these things." "I don't mind— should I?" The innkeeper produced a pair of well-worn : slippers from under the bed, and stared at them critically. " I might have held my tongue if you hadn't questioned me, but since you have done so you may as well know all there is to know. It's just this. I hadn't been in the house a couple of hours before I was told that something queer had happened in that room. It was just human nature for the neighbours to keep it to themselves till it was too lata for me to back out of my bargain. ' I wouldn't sleep there ii I was —that's what I was told by one after the other. Well, I laughed at first, but j I felt a bit nervous all the same. I had meant to occupy that room myself, at any rate, for a wiiile. But I put off doing < bo, and I wouldn't let anyone else sleep there, either. Bat at last there came a time when the house was full up, just as < it might be to-night. My brother had 1 turned up unexpectedly from Exeter; ho 1 was by way of being a jobmaster, and as strong and healthy a fellow as you could wish to see. Well, I offered to"let

him share my room, but when he heard — Ithafc I had allowed the best bedroom in the house to stand empty so long he Jaaghedi, and called me a silly old fool. Yes, gentlemen, he did, indeed. ' Silas Warden,' he said, 'you're a silly old Tool.' Just like that," Mr. __ Marden paused and gave rent to an indignant whistle. He was sitting on. the floor by the side of the chest of drawers, a quaint and uncouth .figure enough, amid the pile of clothes that he had turned out for big guest's inspection. The candle gut"tered on the dressing-table, its wick overlong, and a draught from a crevice of the ill-fitting window fanning the flame. "Of course, I couldn't stand that." harden continued, "and so. feeling a bit cross with Bill, I told him he could sleep in the room if lie wanted to and welcome. .' All light,' said he cheerfully enough, and those were well-nigh the last words he ever spoke. For I'm telling you a fact, gentlemen, when I say that wo found him dead in bed the next morning." The man spoke huskily and with some emotion, mumbling his words so that they were almost lost in his black beard. "We found him dead, and vet there hadn't been a single sound to (disturb us during the night. ' Here followed an impressive pause, and Mr. Harden played a tattoo upon the bare boards of the floor with his finger-tips. Very strangevery strange," Harry thought well to say; " and was there nothing to explain his death?" Mr. Marden shook bis head solemnly. "Nothing whatever," he said solemnly, " except that from the look of him ho might have been smothered. The clothes were all thrown about anyhow, and the pillow lay over to one side of his head. It may be that he bad struggled." "There' was an inquest, of course?" queried Philip. "You may bet your life there was," returned- Marden, with rueful recollection of this unpleasant chapter of his life, " and there were not wanting those who said that Bill had been intentionally done to death, and who looked at me askance a«? they said it. You see, Bill and I had not always been the best of friends. But, luckily. I had slept over at the stables that night, and my man Tim could prove that I never loft my room. There wasn't no one else who might have wished to do Bill a hurt, and as for a thief—well. there wasn't the smallest sign that th« room had been broken into." "And so the jury # returned an open verdict?" surmised Philip. "That's so," Marden gravely nodded bis head. "And from that day to this the whole thing has remained a* mystery. It did me a lot of harm, as yen may imagine— at the time, the folk that trooped here just to see the house you've no idea how they came. There were plenty who wanted to sleep in the roomjust*for curiosity, and to say they'd done so— I wasn't going to have anything of that sort. The room has never been occupied since. And now, gents, von know the whole story." There was silence for a few minuter.. Philip and Harry, in their borrowed plumes, scrutinised each other with some amusement. Still, the makeshift was not bad, and, at any rate, they were dry. Silas Marden appeared pleased with their appearance. " It's not the first time I've had to find dry clothes for young gents who've got themselves wet through on the moors," he remarked complacently. "And now sirs, if you're ready, I've no doubt that your dinner is ready, too." " Right," responded Philip heartily. "There's nothing that I want ho much just now a-s my dinner." He moved towards the door as he spoke. "Ono minute!" Harry, sitting on the low bed, appeared less eager for the promised entertainment. "I've been thinking," ho went on slowly; then ho broke off and addressed himself directly to the innkeeper. "Mr. Marden." he said. "I should like to spend the night in the room where this peculiar tragedv happened, and I am sure my friend would like to do the same. It's not only morbid curiosity," he went on to explain, "but by proving that there canrot bo the slightest reason why that room (should remain unoccupied. The best room m your house!. It must be a constant source of worry and loss to you." " It is that," Marden admitted, pulling at h'jt beard, "but —" " I suppose if wo spent the night there and nothing happened your - confidence would be restored?"

"It might be," was the guarded reply, "but I'd rather not. I don't care to ran the risk." " Believe me, there will be no risk," returned Harry with a light laugh. "Why, man, I can giro yon an explanation of the whole mystery. Your brother was taken ill in tlio night—his heart may have been weak may have eaten too hearty a supper or drunk "100 freely '•The doctors did suggest something of ; th i sort," acquiesced Marden. "Bill was always a hearty eater, and liked to take i his drop too. I'm not saying he was altogether sober that night." '"Very well," resumed Harry, with confidence. " "He woke up with a. spasm of ,-oma sort, .struggled, and got the bedclothes wound about him. He was suffocated because he was not sufficiently master of himself to throw off tho encumbrance. How does that strike you as an explanation?*' "Likely enough, and very much what was said* at the inquest." admitted Marden. but I tell you that the whole thin" made me feel queer. It wasn't as if it was the only time that something out <;i the way had happened in that room. You'd better give up the idea, sir." He addressed Harry, for Philip had taken no part in the discussion, contenting himself with being an amused listener. If anything, ho was disposed to wish that Harry might carry his point, for the room, cursory as had been his glance of it, had given an impression of comfort, and a bed was decidedly to be preferred to a sofa or a blanket on the tloor.

Harry was endowed with persistence, I and so it came about—though not without I further argument, backed up by the proj mise of liberal paymentthat Mr. Maiden at last yielded a'reluctant consent. ilis 1 J eye* had glittered avariciously when Harry I suggested that a five-pound note might be. ( forthcoming for their board and lodging t if their wish was complied with. He had, , however, asked for payment in advance— a request that was immediately gratified. "Have it your own way, sirs,*' he muttered, as. the guttering* candle held out ; before him, he led the two young men down the creaking stairs; "'but remember that I've given you fair warning, and so I'm not responsible for anything that may happen. That was my one comfort with ' brother Bill— gave him fair warning."' When, in their descent, they reached the • door of the room that was now theirs a I d.tire came upon Harry to examine the . j apartment a little more "closely. He came to a halt. ' j "Perhaps. Mr. Maiden," he suggested, "you wouldn't mind seeing ii dinner is served. If not. have it up at once. My friend and I will be down directly. We will just, have a, look at our room "first." '• Very well." growled the landlord, " tho • room's yours till to-morrow morning. You ! can do as you please. You'll find the key in the door on the outside." He stood and ! scratched his head reflectively. " It's i locked as a. rule, and I can't think how it came to be open to-night. But voti'll find even-thing quite straight, and if tho bed is not made I'll have it seen to later." So muttering to himself, he disappeared ' down the stairs. Harry, with a smile j of triumph, led the way into the long un- j tenanted chamber. CHAPTER V. " Here we are, in the shrine of mystery !"' said Harry,, with a derisive curl of the lip, as he set down the candle, which lie had taken from the hand of Mr! Marden, upon tho dressing-table. " And I think, Phil, if we achieve nothing else, we shall at least be able- to spend a comfortable night. I'm quite ready for any sort of picnic if necessary, but I prefer a bed if ono is to ha obtained. Nor do 1 think that the ghost of tho late Mr. William Marden will disturb my slumbers." Philip cordially agreed with this sentiment. Like his friend, he was quite convinced that their host had yielded foolishly to vain fears. Harry's* explanation of the whole thing had been to reasonl able that'it seemed impossible for the un- 1 happy Bill to have lost his life by any I j other means than those suggested. * How j j could people be so foolish as to reject the obvious in favour of the incomprehensible': i obvious in favour of the incomprehensible'.' How ignorant that jury must have lieen not to have recorded a verdict of " Death by misadventure." Philip was not devoid ! of superstition, as he had' manifested I clearly enough that afternoon, but at the i same time he was possessed of his full share of commonsense, and it struck him j as absurd that a room should be avoided, or looked upon as haunted, because a death bad happened to occur there. Why, at that rate, there wouldn't be an old house without half a dozen closed rooms. All of which sentiments he proclaimed loudly, and Harry cordially agreed with him. But a closer inspection of tho room caused them both to somewhat modify their, ideas of comfort. "

They made a thorough exploration, carrying the candle about with them, for it gave but a feeble light and the apartment was of considerable eize, The first point that struck them was that the essential articles of furniture, the great fourposted bedstead, the massive oak wardrobe, the cbeval glass, and one or two of the chairs -were not by any means what one would expect to find in a small and unpretentious inn. They appeared rather to Imvc been derived from some country house, faded and discarded trappings of nobility. In contrast to these were the articles that Mr. Marden himself had evidently added to complete the equipment of the room— deal washhand-stand and a plain deal dressing-table- to which was affixed an ill-fitting mirror. Upon the walls were three or four cheap and glaring oleographs, pictures to offend the eye, and all the more tawdry now because of their ornate gilt frames, darkened now and discoloured by dust and grime. There was no carpet upon the floor save a narrow 6 »P by, the side of the bed and a piece of oilcloth before the wash Hand-stand • tho window, too, a window that looked out over the-moor, was curtainless. There had once been a blind, but this had come out of gear, and lay where it had fallen upon tho ground. Harry was examining one of the (hairs. It was of oak and appeared to be antique. I wonder where these things came from"' - ' he observed. " They are 18th centurv at least, and see here, Phil, there is a crest upon his chair, though it is more than half obliterated. What do von make it out to be'/''

| Philip brought the light, and together the two young men attempted to define tho worn-out carving. Tliev succeeded at lafct in[determining the crest to represent a coiled snake, its head uplifted and fnn~s projecting, ready to strike. to tm 'r Vhy ' Bif the Taran fc 'Test," cried Si iP A, Mld , d ?f ly - " r ™»«*er it quite well. My father once showed me some letters he had received from his unhappv iriend—tho man who is now an escaped convict, running the gauntlet within a few hundred yards -perhaps of this verv bouse. Besides, we have a silver cup ■,» home with the crest upon it-Spencer 'f\' rant gave it to tho dad as a, souvenir when things began to go wrong with him. You must have seen it, Harry, Tarrant was bit of an athlete in his wav, and he won the cup in some sports or other. Yes, there is no doubt about it—all these things have come from Wendlesham Manor " ' °" "They were probably bought up at the sale, observed Harry, "by theorigiS ouj.cr of the mn." Ho moved over to the bed as he spoke and proceeded to examine

"Tins was a very fine piece of furniture once, he remarked, " but, of course it has been a) owed to go to rack and ruin I should judge it to be Tudor make-or even earlier. *o doubt it came from Wendle sham, too though J see no trace of i cree upon it. Anyhow, if, the sort of bed to stimulate ones imagination, and I r,S look forward to sleeping upon it. '

(To he continued daily.)