THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15075, 19 August 1912, Page 3

THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY.

PUBLISHED BY bPECIAL AnKA^GEMEKT.

BY LOUIS TRACY,

Author of "The House of Stonn," " Rainbow Island," "The Pillar of Light," "A' Son o! the Immortals," etc., etc.

copyright. CHABTER IX.—(Continued.) Bon was anxious to gnaw his prostrate enemy, so Waverton, holding his wife's limp form in his arms, was compelled to shout an imperative command to the dog to leave the man alone. It was a distinctly awkward situation, for Bob's fighting blood was aroused, yet Waverton was strangoly reluctant to lay his helpless burden on the grass, bo that he might hold the animal until tho *py could scramble to his feet and slink off. He solved tho difficulty by lifting Doris bodily off the ground and striding away in the direction of the house, meanwhile -calling londly to the dog to follow. When tho astounded poacher ventured to lift his head Waverton had already carried his wife a considerable distance, and tho settler had gone with him. Then Joe Brett tenderly felt the bridge of his nose and produced a soiled handkerchief to mop the dark fluid, which was pouring from that damaged organ. He knew, too, that when morning dawned ho would find himself decorated with a pair of spectacles ] ] of .Nature's own contriving. But the man's low organism was governed by an innate lovo of sport, and he was actually more concerned with tho style and forco of tho blow ho had received than with its effects.

"Injured right arm, 'as 'e, blighter!" he muttered, scrambling to his feet. "Then, Lord love a duck! if 'e can give that sort of punch wi' the right, wot would ha' 'appened to mo if he d landed mo one wi' tho left'/"

Ho went to the lake and dabbed water on his face. Then, hearing voices in the open park, ho dived into the wood and vanished. But his warped mind recurred many times to the pugilistic science which lay behind that half-arm blow, and ho even waxed enthusiastic over it next day when Rico was sent to the village with a £5 note as a solace for tho unknown man " who had accidentally sustained two black eyes in the park during the previous night."

Rice argued that Brett had been mistaken Sir Claude must have used his left hand.

Whereat the poacher laughed scornfully. "D'ye think I don't know 'owe it mo?" he said. "That's good, that is! I can put 'em up meself when the other fellow doesn't let out like the hind leg of an iiijia-rubber mule; but take my tip, mister, if Sir Claude Waverton ever sets about you keep away from his left, or ho'll knock yer bloomin' 'ed orf—ho will straight." The valet was puzzled. Sir Claude's only acquaintance with the noble art during recent years had been confined to a fairly regular attendance at the National Sporting Club, where prize-fighters liammer each other cheerfully with four-ounce gloves. But watching these events is not boxing. It was manifestly impossible for a man whose right hand could neither hold a pen nor press the keys of a typewriter, to blacken the eyes and bruise the nose of a hard-featured rascal like Brett with that same member.

Still, he did not give much heed to the matter. His thoughts were engrossed by more developments. He had seen Sir Claude Waverton crossing the park, and was wondering what measure of success had attended Lady Waverton's ruse to waylay her husband, when ho heard tho dog's uproar, and fancied ho could distinguish his master's voice raised in anger. Hardly knowing why he ventured to interfere, he hurried out of tho house and across the garden. Then he distinguished something unusual in the aspect of an approaching figure, but when he reached Sir Claude, after a breathless run, Lady Waverton had recovered her senses, and was on her feet again. A woman's first thought is given to her appearance, and Doris had scarcely realised what had happened before her hand travelled mechanically to hat and hair. " Oh, how utterly foolish of me to break down like that!" she almost sobbed. "But I was so frightened, and I imagined that you would be hurt in a scuffle with that dreadful man. Where is he?"

Then she looked round, and discovered that she was standing in the park, nearly half-way between the house and the lake. "How did I get here?" she cried, utterly bewildered. "Did you carry me? But how was that possible, when you are so weak?"

She broke off with a cry of alarm, because Rice came panting up, and Waverton grasped desperately at the opportunity which presented itself. " Not a word before tho servants Doris," ho muttered. "Leave matters till the morning; I promise you they will bo gone into thoroughly then. Let Rice take you to the dining-room, where he will bring you a glass of wine, and, by the time the brougham is ready, you will be feeling all right again. You won't mind if Igo straight to my room, will you? There ie not so much of you that I could not have carried you a mile if I were in good form but I was badly broken up at Monte Carlo, you know" Ho ended lamely, for the explanation was curiously laboured, but Doris, tearful, bubbling over with joy, yet distressed by the outcome of her momentary weakness, fell in with his suggestions willingly. Rice, keeping discreetly in the background, was delisrkted by tho manner and speech of husband and wife as they walked together to the house. He was somewhat taken aback when ho found that Lady Waverton was left to his care when they reached the interior, but her ladyship's smiling face reassured him. and she thanked him very sweetly for all that he had done, at» ho ushered her past an astounded footman in tho hall, and saw her safely into the waiting carriage.

Next morning, about ton o'clock, he was entrusted with the mission of searching for and placating .Too Brett, and Sir Claude also handed him a letter.

"Yon will be passing the vicarage." he said. "Leave that for Lady Waverton. There is no answer, and I would prefer; if possible, that you should not hold any communication with her ladyship." The words struck (hill on the valet's warm heart, but- he soon hugged the belief that his master was only feeling ill and wretched as the outcome of his overnight experiences. Nevertheless, his first impression was the right one. for the letter which Waverton had written to his wile, conveyed the most flagrant insult that he could inflict on the woman who had surrendered ell that she held best and holiest for his sake.

It read :—

"Dear Doris. — I was unwilling last night to blurt out, a fact which must have altered tho whole tone of your words. You were so excited and unnerved that I am sure you will credit me with displaying, at. least, some regard for your feelings when 1 withheld the plain "statement I make now, namely, that I intend to marry Mrs. Delamar as soon as tho law permits. You know now why I have persistently refused to meet you since you gave mo my freedom and obtained your own. lii warning you against that man. StraitenTearlo. I was only trying to do you a good turn. Need I say more?--Yours sincerely Claude Waverton.

"P.S. —I cannot do other than type this note. Woulfi you mind burning it?" Let its ashes mingle with those of any project« von may have formed -.is the outcome of last, night's useless and painful scene." At first. Doris refused to accept the evidence of her physical senses. She held in her hands and read with her eyes a document so curt and unbelievable that her benumbed bruin declined to assimilate a word of it. Three times did she peruse it in vain effort to realise its full significance. Her face, deathly pale for some minutes, suddenly became .suffused with colour when she recalled certain passages of the conversation by the side of the lake. She grew dimly aware, 100, of the restraint, the half hints, the desperate anxiety to bo rid of her company, on her husband's part, which were now fully revealed by what he called a "plain statement" of his intentions. What, a fool she had been, and how. he had punished her for her folly ! There were "no tears now— was a prey : jtc» m feelings gave shame anc} toi

indignation. Burn Claude Waverton's letter! Never! Rather would sho keep it as a reminder, if ever such were needed again, that she must exercise some degree of common-sense in her dealings with a man who had tho nature of a boor in the guise of a gentleman. She bade good-bye to her puzzled and sympathetic friends at the vicarage, caught tho next train for London, and told herself that sho had shaken the dust, of Boxham off her feet, for ever. Women, especially young women, are opt to use those words "Never!" and ''Fur over'" somewh it carelessly ; but certainly in Doris List-pad' case (no more of "Lady Waverton" for her) they seemed to bo warranted by the circumstances. Her unappreciativo husband did not appear to be enjoying the rebuff he had given his wife. As a villain he was a failure. Ho neither smoked the callous cigarette nor chuckled over a woman's distress. Indeed, he sat very still in the. library, looking out over the park, ignoring the mild question in Hob's upraised eyes, for the sun shone gloriously, and there would .seldom be a better d'av for roaming the woods. " ■ When Rico returned ho reported the placating of Joe Brett. " And now," caid his master, giving the valet a look under which a Rico squirmed, " I assume that someone in this house, probably von, know that Lady Waverton would be in tho park last night V" ' "Yes, Sir Claude," came the honest answer.

" I thought so. Well, I forgive that sort of thing once, because it may have been inspired by good intent; but, tho next time I am trapped in mcli fashion, those responsible for it, or helping it in any way, will leave my service. Is that clear?

"Yes, Sir Claude." Waverton said no more. Ho. wen to the typewriter, and rattled off a.brief note to Winter, in which ho recounted the incidents of the meeting, and pointed out! that he could not think of interfering fur™ri? Lady Waverton's affairs. ' This attempt has been a sad bungle ** he wrote " I thought it better to appeal temperately to her than raise a row with htratton-Toarle; but I was wrong I have never understood women; and, as tho outcome of my disinterested endeavour to save Lady Waverton: from another scoundrel, I found myself compelled to lie to her this morning. She believes now that I mean to marry Mrs. Delamar. Still, as a man is free to exercise _ a feminine privilege, and change his mind, I shall be glad to hear from you if there is any real chance of Stratton-Tearle winning Lady Waverton's affections, on the ; re-, bound, as it were. It may be my wish* as it certainly -would be my duty, to stop a crime of that magnitude." Winter was bending his brows over this enigmatical note, and nibbling his moustache in a vain effort to reconcile its rather contradictory sentimenta, when a! telegram was brought to him. § It waa from Furneaux, at Monaco, and it read : " Remarkable developments here. Keep clear of baronet. Connection established with purchase of crystals." . Then the chief inspector whistled, and ha read Waverton's letter again, for he saw: it in a new light.

CHAPTER X.

A TORN OF THE SCEEW—AND TWO TWIN'S

OF THE WHEEL. Furneaux meant to stop the growth of confidential relations between Sir Claude Waverton and Scotland Yard, because ho had good ground for believing that the baronet might yet figure in the dock, side by side with Josephine Delamar. If that thrilling denouement came about Mrs. Delamar would be charged with the murder of her husband, and Waverton would be called on to disprove that he was "an accessory before the fact." Even if his innocence of that particular crime were established he might be indicted for another grave offence, and, in either event., he was officially undesirable as a friend; but, to understand Furneaux's attitude on this point it is necessary to follow the little man's adventures on the Cote d'Azur.

He called first on the commissary of police at Nice, and persuaded that functionary to set on foot an inquiry as to whether any person had purchased a considerable quantity of crystals of nicotine from a local chemist during the past year. With regard to any ordinary drug of a poisonous nature such a wide cast of the net. would have defeated its own purpose, but crystals of nicotine was a rare poison. It was more than likely that the great majority of the Nicois chemists had never so much as heard of it. while those who did recognise it, and had dispensed it, would surely have some record or memory of the customer. Then he set forth to interview Doctors , Beaujon and Mercier. Doctor Beaujon was a fussy little man, a Gascon, a wonderfully adroit surgeon, but so full of the present that he could only deal in generalities as to the past. He remembered, the Waverton accident, of course, but was inclined to it in a sentence. It had no points. The Englishman had been stunned, and his 'cuts demanded a stitch or two, but the affair was nothing serious, a mere bagatelle. Now. he had a case the other day, when a rock fell on a quarry man at work on the dock extension at the foot of Montboron, in which a splinter of granite had lodged itself between the paracentral lobule and the precuneus—now., that was a most- beautiful — - No, he had not examined the othe» , Englishman's injuries. One did not trouble about those who were already dead. As for Sir Wa,verton, he waa scratched— was all. Furneaux was most polite, and bowed himself out with fluent French, but he came away with the poorest estimate of Doctor Beaujon's paracentral lobule; ha even went so far as to despise the doctor's precuneus. But in Doctor Mercier he found a man of different metal—a thin, lantern-jawed, hollow-eyed person, who could theorise, and give chapter and verse for his beliefs. Yes. 'he had conducted the post-mortem examination on the body of Monsieur Scott, tutor to the family of the celebrated Monsieur Max Mangin, of Madagascar. The man's head had "been flattened like a pancacke. "Was the paracentral Nibme damaged?" Furneaux- could not help asking. Dr. Marcier had bushy eyebrows, and they curved now disdainfully. "My dear sir," he snapped, " the man's brain was in a pulp down to the corpus callosum." Furneaux looked grave. "In that event," he said, "he.must have been struck while the car was travelling at a terrific speed." The doctor brightened again at that remark - ... „ , . , "It was an amazing injury, he cried— " the sort of complete organic obliteration one would expect to find after a railway collision, but not as tho result, of a pedestrian being hit by an automobile. Indeed, bearing in mind Hie exact locality of tho accident, I should have imagined that the thing was impossible, except tinder conditions which, to our knowledge, did not obtain." . Furneaux" sighed with relief, and resolved to curb his sarcastic tongue, for Mercier would sav things it encouraged. "Will von explain that remark more fnllv, doctor?" he said. "I am deeply interested, and 1 want to grasp this case in all its bearings." Mercier hesitated, and the detective was afraid he meant to be careful in his statements. But the doctor only looked at his witch, and said determinedly. "I am due at the hospital within an hour but thev must wait, a, few minutes. Mv automobile is at, the door. Let us jump in. T can demonstrate my meaning so much more cleaily on the spot," Furneaux almost chortled with delight, for ho had found in this man a thinker, who quite unacquainted with the peculiar features of the Waverton case generally, had discovered that there were discrepancies in that minor phase ot it winch had come under his notice professionally. (To he continued daily.)