A WOMAN OF THE PEOPLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15004, 28 May 1912, Page 4

A WOMAN OF THE PEOPLE.

rOTUSHBD BY SPECIAL ARSAKQBJTCNT.

BY ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT, Author of "By Right of Sword." " Mn -who was Dead." " A Dash for a Throne. "In the Nam® of a. Woman. <f ' Owe of Lady Broadstone," Ttie Queen's Advocate." tic-, etc.

WHAT WAS HER SECRET?

COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER XXlV.—(Continued.) am not hero to reproach you. But last night you had not decided, and something must have occurred since. You will tell me?" " My sister tried to destroy herself during the night; her husband found the poison and prevented it. He cam© to me this morning nearly out of his mind with the trouble of it, and I went to Agatha. j X could not have her death on my head, and I told her I would do what Mr. Howell required." " It has not occurred to you that your Bister may be merely acting in order to force you into this?" " She is not r.cting. If you had seen hex you would not dream of such * thing. She was within an ace of doing it last night." " I have seen her this morning on my way here," ho replied drily. " She looked far better than yesterday." " Because she knew what I have derided to do. Please do not make any such suggestions as that again." "Bat you do not believe that it is right to keep this thing secret from her husband. Or indeed that it can be hushed up permanently." " I believe that she would keep her oath and lay violent hands on her life if her husband were told; I cannot face that. I dare not." "Then it is her threat of suicide which has frightened you into this." " Not only that. Mr. Carrington's health is such that a shock of the kind would be enough to kill him." He shook his head. "It is all wrong, Elinor. A miserable tragic blunder from start to finish, and can only end in disaster for all concerned. Your own life will be ruined, and the ruin will be in vain. You .jnust not do it. You must not. Your sis- , ter married him in all innocence and good faith, believing this scoundrel to be dead; * and no man, Carrington or any other, would blame her." "It is too late to think of anything like that. I have chosen my course." '"And without a thought' of me," he exclaimed involuntarily. She winced with the pain of this sudden -shaft. "Do you really think that?" she asked, simply raising her eyes to his. "No; I was a coward to .say it. But I love you so, and this is so hard." " You must not think it is easy for me. All night I struggled and fought against it, leas for my own sake than for youra. ißelieve that. But I could see no other way. Heaven knows how gladly I would have grasped the chance of sparing us both; but it is impossible. It was the ■fear that I might bo weak if I saw you ■<' • ■ before deciding that led me to write that letter, asking yon not to come to me. Your coming makes it so much harder." "I will not give you up, Elinor. I will find a way yet." She sighed heavily, " be kinder to kt me slip out of plied desolately. *»* "Do you thhflf [ can do that?" he cried. Then took her hand, and yield- ! ing to the loaf that bumed in his heart, he drew h°jf to him and held her close. "Say th'tffyott love me, Elinor," he Dgfeftinnatplv"ußPnmy dearest, my dealest!" she cried, as she lifted her face and pressed her burning lips to his with a passion to the full as fierce as that which consumed him, then as suddenly she drew away, . trembling and agitated and overcome. "Go now, please; please, for the love of heaven. This is only madness; I can bear no more." "As you will. Good-bye." He strove to take* her again in his arms; but she would not and shrank away from Kis approach. "No, no." she murmured. "Would to God it could have been otherwise. "Elinor, my dearest he cried with outstretched arms, his voice hoarse and broken with emotion. ■ But she drew back again with a Smothered groan of anguish. For a moment he *tood appealing to her. But she turned from him, hiding her face in her hands. And with a weary despairing sigh he left tie house. She waited until the door dosed behind him, rushed to the window to ca.tch a. last glimpse of him, and then threw herself upon the couch overwhelmed by the agony -of the separation. CHAPTER XXV. WHEN DOG BITES DOG. Wilfred Howell was on too good terms with himself as the result of Elinor's visit to remain long in a bad temper. In the smart of defeat she was sure to be angry, he told himself, and it was only to be expected that she would be a little bitter. Hard words broke no bones, however, and no jeers could rob him of his victory, or alter -the fact that she would be his wife. He would have her fortune, or rather as much of it as was left; and no inconvenient questions would ever be 'asked as to what he had done with her money during the last few years. This was his chief concern in forcing • her to become his wife. He had no great desire to marry her; and if it had been safe, ho would have been only too glad to have accepted her offerto give him the money and retain her freedom. But it would not be safe: for a very few inquiries would have reversed their positions and he would have been in Elinor's power instead of her being in his. , The same reasons urged him not to lose a minute in getting the arrangement completed and he set out at once to see Paxton. Fortune had been unexpectedly kind v, to him all through the affair, and particularly in regard to Paxton. It was no empty boast t'hiifc he could effectually secure the man's silence. He held his fa te in the hollow of his hand and a very few words would suffice to bring the fellow to his knees. • ■ Paxton had been very uneasy as the re- , cult of what Jack had said and lie was therefore intensely relieved when Howell the interview by saying that it had been decided to keep everything secret and that he had been asked to settle • matters. ' "Of course it's the only thing to do," " replied Paxton, concealing his jubilant relief at the announcement. " And I'm quite willing to consent to any reasonable proposal." "Well, we needn't beat about the bush. What do you want?" asked Howell bluntly. "Five hundred a year and the first year's amount down." "Too much," said Howell shaking his head. "You told Miss Murray two or three hundred." " Well, split the difference, and say four hundred." "That your lowest?" and Howell grinned. "I've got to live, and living is dearer in America." " You ran stop in England if vou'd rather and you'll want some sort of occupation to prevent the time hanging on your hands, said Howell in a. furiously suggestive tone which Paxton, feeling sure - of his ground, resented. 0 ' .. "What- I do with mv time will be my . own affair, think you," he replied loftily. 'Howell grinned more broadly than ■■ .before. "It's a little detective business I have in my mind. 1 want, you to find a ;1 ' man who was one of a gang of swindlers i'V.N ~ and forgers a few years ago and managed f-i, , ~ 'to keep out of . tho clutches of the police. &£-They-xobbed my •/ firm amongst others.

I've got his photo here," and he felt in his pocket and searched among some papers, pretending to have difficulty in rinding it and watching Paxton closely all the time.' "Ah, here it is," he added as he held it out. "His name was George Pilbury. Ah, you recognise it, I see. I wonder you kept the same initials." The blow was so unexpected, so overpowering, and so crashing that Paxton collapsed instantly. He stared at the photograph transfixed with terror, the beads of sweat stood thick on his ashen forehead and for the moment he was incapable of uttering a word. " You'd better have a drink and pull yourself together." said Howell. Some brandy was brought and Paxton drank it eagerly. It's nothing to do with me," ho stammered as the spirit stimulated him. "We'll take, that for granted—for the moment. 'This man, Pilbury," said Howell, holding up the photograph, "had four pals in the forgery business. They were all caught and convicted and they' believe they were put away because he gave information. They've dene their time and one of them came to me with this likeness and begged me to help them to find him. You can guess why Scotland Yard is also anxious for his address: so that you can understand that he's in a pretty tight corner." —I don't know anything about it," said Paxton in a very shaky voice. " Very well, then, what about this other affair? What are your terms now?" Paxton leant back in his chair and shook his head feebly. What do yon propose?" he murmured after a pause. "That's much better," was the reply with another grin of triumph. " You shall have your passage paid to any part of America and £20 when you get there, to make a fresh, start with. You'll hold your tongue about everything and I'll hold mine. That' 6 a bargain; and so long as you keep it, you'll be safe. But by heaven, if yon try any hanky panky with me, I'D put these bloodhounds on to you as certainly as you're a scoundrel." " What can I do with twenty pounds?" "What you like," replied Howell with an oath. "Chuck it into the sea, drink it in whisky; anything you like. But it's all you'll get. Now, your answer? Refuse, and you'll be in gaol in half-an-hour. If you agree we'll go to Liverpool this afternoon and I'll wire for someone to cross tlie Atlantic with you —just to see that you don't get ashore at Queenstown this time and miss the boat." " I'll go," said Paxton. after a pause, with a heavy sigh. " Then you meet me at the station for the 4.20. And I shouldn't advise you to miss the train." With this parting threat Howell went off, leaving Paxton apparently in a condition of utter collapse; but the instant ho was alone, the latter sprang to his feet and followed stealthily into the street, and keeping at a safe distance watched Howell as he swaggered along to Shuttleworth's mill. Then he looked about for a place where he conid hide and watch the big gates; and his eyes never left them until he-saw his persecutor come out. Howell went there for the mere purpose of enjoying his triumph over Jack and witnessing his rival's discomfiture. He owed him a grudge for their former interview, and it \vas not in his nature to forego a chance of repaying it. "My visit may surprise you, Mr. Shuttleworth, but I deem it better to come as I think yon will be gratified to hear the residt of an interview I have had this.. morning." "That, is probably not your purpose but lam glad you have come. I wish;' to see yon and called this morning"''"'at Your hotel." "No doubt on mncli the same matter. My interview with that scoundrel Gilbert Paxton. Miss Mjrrray asked me to deal with him andf I have done so. I knew certain facta* about him and there will be. no more,. trouble with him. He leaves Fragjtisigton this afternoon and will sail Cvssts* Liverpool by the first boat in the 'charge of one of my men. The facts 1 know are such/that he will never dare to return to this country." (To bo continued daily )