THE FAITHFUL FIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE FAITHFUL FIVE.

BY JOHN H. DUOS. Author of " A Society Sinner," " The Silver uclfii" The Mysterious Millionaire," " The Way of tho World," " Hedda Vantris," etc.

CHAPTER XXlll.—(Continued). Clayton's business at the office detained him longer than he expected. The work was not heavy; but he had been spending so much of his time lately with Hilda, and in other frivolous ways, that it had fallen a little behind. However, he got tho worst of it out of the way by about six o'clock, and was hastily putting the papers 011 his desk In some sort of order, when the office boy entered and handed him a card. The name on' the card was " Mr. James H. Shepparton, solicitor, Lowestoft." -Clayton frowned as he read it. " Shopparton—Shepparton ?" ho muttered. " Where tho deuce have I heard that name before ? By jovo, I know! It's the man VVhyte went to see on his honeymoon, and tho man who has just paid over Air. Fanshawo's £10,000. Now, I wonder what he wants with mo. Yes; show the gentleman up, Sprat," he said to the boy, and glanced at his watch. "I can give him exactly five minutes." Mr. Shepparton came into the room a few seconds later, as calm, polished, and self-possossed a gentleman as any Clayton had ever had any dealings with. Tho secretary of the Orphans eyed his visitor curiously, "You wish to we me?" lie asked motioning him to a seat. "You wish to fa me, I tako it, in my capacity as secretary to the Orphans?" "That is it, precisely," said Mr. Shepparton, with a quick glance round tho room. "I have heard a great deal of tho good work done by your society, and a client of mine is anxious to subscribo to your funds." / Clayton glanced ostentatiously at his watch. He was thinking more, if tho truth must be told, of his dinner engagement than of anything else. "I shall not occupy much of your time," Mr. Shepparton went on, apparently taking the hint. "I will be as brief as possible, though I must worn you that the circumstances of the ease are rather complicated. My client, who does not wish his name to appear in this affair, is desirous of contributing—a really fabulous sum to the fluids of your society. Tho gift, too, is in kind, but of a kind which is easily converted into cash. It is, in fact, a parcel of diamonds, and the value, if tho experts who have valued the stores aro to be relied upon, is nearly half a milion." Clayton started, His interest was now thoroughly aroused. "Half a million!" ho murmured. "Certainly not less." said Mr. Shepparton. "Probably that estimate will be exceeded. What I want at present is a copy of tho last two balance-sheet? issued by your society, and an address at which 1 could meet you to-night not later than 11.30. If tho balance-sheets meet with my client's approval, and I have no doubt thev will, I will hand over the diamonds to-uight. Although, us I have eaid, the

circumstances are unusual, there is no mystery behind the affair—at least, I have assured myself that everything is straightforward and above board. As for myself, there are a score of people to whom I could refer you for references, if you should require any.'' "No, no!" exclaimed Clayton, who had been almost rendered speechless by the magnitude of the proposed gift, and who had been rubbing his eyes for the last few minutes to assure himself that he was fullv awake. "Wo should require a reference, perhaps," he corrected himself— "someone in Lowestoft, 1 suppose— " "Quito so. I can refer you to the mayor ; he lias known me for years. These aro the balance-sheets? Thank you. And now, where can I meet you this evening'; I must tell you that I am very particular as to time ; you must not make it a minute later than eleven-thirty. Now, where is it to here?"

"1 am afraid this building will be closed shortly," said Clayton, thoughtfully. "Suppose you were to come up to my diggings?" "It's all the same to mo, as long as you are punctual," said Mr. Sheppaiton. "The address is?"

"Whitcomb Street, No. 14b. But I'll give you one of my private cards." The exchange was quickly effected, and, after a little more conversation, Mr. Shcpparton went off with the balance-sheets and Clayton's card in his pocket. His last words to Clayton were an injunction to bo punctual. Clayton was the last to arivo at the countess's house that evening, and the old dowager's temper was not improved bv having been kept waiting twenty minutes for her dinner. Clayton, however, when he chose to exert himself, could be, as has been mentioned before., very charming, and he soon won the old lady's forgiveness. The countess was not riding her favourite hobby this evening and the company at table was as select as anyone could have desired. Most of them were interested in the Orphans— indeed, it might well have been described as a charity dinner—and Clayton was kept fairly busy answering questions until the cloth was removed and the ladies had retired.

In tho drawingroom, however, the ordeal was resumed, and it was striking eleven by tho Westminster clock when Clayton was at length able to tear himself away. A hansom conveyed him to the top of Wiiiteomb Street, and he reached his diggings with exactly five minutes to sparo. His landlady informed him that a gentleman had called while he was out and was upstairs awaiting his return. He thought, of course, that Shepparton had arrived, and ho took tho steps three at a time. Imagine his Surprise, therefore, when, opening the door of his snug little sittingroom, he saw, not the solicitor from Lowestoft, but Royston Vaughan! Vaughan sprang out of his chair, and faced him with flashing eyes. Clayton had never seen him so moved before. "I'll explain 'everything presently," Vaughan began in an eager tone. "But first I want you to explain this," and ho held up Shepparton's card, which Clayton, had left on the table. "What does it mean? When did you see Shepparton? Do you know where he is to he found ?" "I thought—l fully expected to find him—" "Do you mean that you are expecting him now—here—at this time?" Clayton nodded. ''I believe I hear Lis step on the stair," he said. "Good heavens! this is immense!" chortled the big man. "Where can I hide? I want a word with him presently. Not now. In here shall I go?" Again Clayton replied with a nod, and . the next moment Vaughan had disappeared into his bedroom. He left the door slightly ajar. Almost simultaneously there came a knock at the outer door. Opening it, Clayton found Shepparton and his landlady on the threshold. "I am glad that you are punctual," said the solicitor, bustling into the room and depositing a small brief-bag on tho table. "And now, as time presses, wo will get to business at once. I have carefully perused your balance-sheets, and everything is most satisfactory. And here"—pointing to tho black bag"is my client's gift. All that remains for you to do is to give me a receipt. I have tho document all ready for signing, and I see you are well supplied with pens and ink. Here you are. Sign here, Mr. Clayton." Clayton took the paper and tho pen which Shepparton offered to the table. Tho rush of events had so bewildered him that he scarcely knew what he was doing. And yet, by some instinct or other, ho detected an error in the document offered him to sip. "What's the matter? Anything, wrong?" asked Shepparton, who was quick to notice his hesitation. "A mistako in the date," said Clayton. "You are exactly a year behind the limes," and ho laughed weakly. "Oh, that's no matter," Shepparton rejoined nervously. "Sign the thing, and I'll put that right afterwards." There was a momentary pause, a deep silence, which was shortly broken by a stern voice from the bedroom doorway. "It matters everything!" said Vaughan, stepping into the room. "Come, Mr. Shepparton, the game is up! Are you coming quietly, or—" Mr. Shepparton gazed at the intruder for a moment like a man suddenly turned to stone, and the next instant, with a gasping little- cry, he dropped inertly into a chair. , "Who are you?" he demanded, in a weak and tremulous voice. "I represent the Faithful Five ; The game is up, Mr. Shepparton. Will you come quietly with mc, or will you oblige me to use force?" Shepparton seemed to hesitate for a moment, but not longer. "I will come," he said. „ ~ t „ "Yon are wise. I can tell you that, said Vaughan, snatching up his hat. "Come! As you said, t.hero is not any time to lose. ' Quick, man, get a move on you !" He picked up the brief-bag as he passed the table, and seized the trembling solicitor by the other Hand. "We're off now, Clayton. I'll explain everything very soon. Meantime, with or without your permission, I'm going to take charge of this bag. So long!" And without another word, and before the stupefied secretary could rouse himself, he had bundled'Shepparton on to the landing and was gone. It was quite five minutes before Clayton could pull himself together, and then, of course, it was too late to think of demandin" any explanations. Vaughan and his pnsoner were far away by that time. CHAPTER XXIV. Clayton called at Lowndes Square early on the following afternoon, fully expecting, of course, to find Vaughan there, and to receive an explanation of tho overnight incident. Vaughan's presence in his rooms when he was supposed to bo in Dresden required a good deal of explaining. All Clayton's old uneasiness returned. He recalled the scene between himself and Vaughan, when the latter assured him, on bus word of honour, that ho was innocent of any share in Mr. Fanshawe's death. Hut this doubling and twisting about did not look much like innocence. Why had Vaughan been keeping away from'his daughter, leading her to believe that he was in Dresden when all the time he was slinking about London like a fugitive from justice? And why, in spite of all these precautions to keep his whereabouts a secret, had he gone to Clayton's rooms on the previous night ? Clayton felt that he had a right to' demand an explanation of these matlcrs - , • .. ~ " Miss Hilda is not at home, sir, the footman greeted him, on his arrival at the house. "Not at home!" Clayton repeated, blankly. "But-" "There is a letter for you, sir. "From .Mr. Vaughan?" he asked. "No, sir; from Miss Hilda. Mr. Vaughan is still abroad." 1 Clayton felt that, in a figurative sense at least, he was all abroad too. If the letter was not from Mr. Vaughan it must 1 be from Hilda, and what on earth was 1 there for her to write to him about? " I think I'll come in and wail until ' Miss Hilda returns," he said, taking a > step into the hall. "Oh, but, sir, 1 was told to say that the letter would explain everything," the man protested. "Miss Hilda has gone ■ away. She doesn't expect to bo back for a couplo of weeks." This information caused Clayton's features to fall. It was piling mystery on i mystery with a vengeance. "Won't be back for a couplo of '• weeks!" he echoed, stupidly. "Then I > don't think I'll wait. Good afternoon,!'-

"But the letter, sir!" said the man, calling him back. You'll take that, I suppose?" "Certainly! Oh, yes! I was forgetting." He slipped the letter into his pocket and went down the steps like a man in a dream. Where to go next, or what to do with himself, he had not the faintest notion of an idea. He did not even feel curious about the letter which Hilda had left for him. It was a dull afternoon, and rain had been threatening all day. As he drew near to Hyde Park Corner it began to splutter down in big drops, and these quickly brought him to his senses once more. "I have it!" he suddenly murmured aloud. The duchess, by jove'. She's the one !" He hailed a taxi which was crawling towards him, jumped in, gave the duchess's address in Mayfair Crescent, and threw himself back o*ll the cushions. He recalled the last occasion on which he had seen the duchess, and the curious way in which she had pressed him to come to her if anything ever went wrong—"if ever you should want a friend," as she had said. Well, the need was urgent at the moment. Perhaps she would be able to advise him. He felt that he wanted advice badly just now. In ten minutes he was put down before the duchess's town house, and as he went up the' steps the big doors slowly opened, and he found himself confronted by a soberly-attired menial. He sent up his card, and was left to kick his heels in the hall for another five minutes. At the end of that time the man returned, and conducted him upstairs to the room where her grace, having effected a hasty alteration in her toilette, was anxiously awaiting him. A single glance at his face was enough to show her that he had come on no ordinary errand. Her heart beat quickly as she took the hand he proffered. " Well?" she asked, as he dropped into a chair opposite the one in which she was seated. " Well ? " "I'm not at all sure that it is well," Clayton rejoined, slowly. "In fact, I begin to think it's all the other way about." " Ah! " The duchess shifted uneasily in her chair. "Tell me what has happened. I've had a presentiment all day that something was going to happen. Now, what is it?" " I hardly know—l can't give it a name. That's what I'm here for, you see." Her grace nodded encouragingly. It's like this. Mr. Vaughan's disappeared, and now Hilda's gone. What does it mean? I saw Hilda yesterday, and we parted with an appointment for to-day. I saw Mr. Vaughan last night, and " But that's quite impossible!" the duchess interrupted him. "Only this morning he telegraphed to me from Dresden." "I saw him—spoke to him— night," Clayton replied, wearily. "This thing's getting too much for me. A little more of these complications, and I think I shall go off my head." "You were quite right to come to me," the duchess said, in a hard voice. "Now, tell me all that has happened since you saw Hilda yesterday afternoon." Clayton told his story, just as it has been set down here, only, as was natural perhaps, omitting certain little personal incidents which had pasted between himself and Hilda, and which had no bearing on the narrative proper. The duchess listened with half-closed eyes, lying back in her chair, her hands folded tightly in her lap. By the time he had finished she was very pale, and it was not until .some moments had elapsed that she could trust herself to speak. "But what does Hilda say?" she asked, presently. "What was in the letter?" "Good heavens! I've never looked at

The duchess could not repress a faint smile as she watched him pull the unopened letter from his pocket. Perhaps, she thought and hoped, it contained the key to the mystery. But, alas! that hope was soon dispelled. The missive which Clayton presently handed to her ran as follows:

"Fairest and Bravest of Men,—A sad disappointment awaits you. This morning, like a bolt from the blue, Aunt Martha swooped down on me, and, acting on urgent instructions from papa, is carrying me off to Reigate, where I shall probably be incarcerated in the deepest of dungeons. Fly to my rescue as soon as ever you receive this.—Yours till death, ' "Hilda." "P.S.—On second thoughts, perhaps, you had better put off the flying business until you hear from me again. I shall expect a letter from you by every post. The address is, the Pines, Reigate. Fail at your peril, sir! " Hilda, at any rate, is in good hands," said the duchess, checking her laughter. "I know> the Aunt Martha referred to very well. She's as prim and respectable as anybody could wish for. Now, I wonder if the telegram she received came from Dresden ?" "I wonder," said Clayton. "If it did, how could Vaughan possibly have sent it when he was in London last night? It's at least a couple of days' journey to the capital of Saxony, I should say." "About thirty-two hours." " Far enough away, anyway, to prevent Vaughan from sendinir the wire in question himself," said the duchess. " But if Vaughan didn't send it, who did ? Who could possibly have any motive in removing Hilda from London to Reigate? Can you throw any' light on that point, Mr. Clayton ?" "The thing is quite beyond me," ho confessed. "If—" he began, but stopped himself abruptly. "If?" echoed the duchess. "Go on!" " I was going to say that if the Faithful Five can have done this "Ah! Then vou have heard of the Faithful Five ? " ' I "I have good cause to remember them," Clayton replied. " And you, duchess ?" "Oh, I have merely heard of them, that is all." she said, evasively. "Supposing such a society to exist, I have every reason to believe that Vaughan himself belongs to it. In that case, of course—" "He would see that his daughter was protected from its machinations. I follow you. duchess." "Quite so. And the mystery remains as much a mystery as ever," she said, shaking her head. I've half a mind to send Hilda a wire. We could word it so as not to arouse the dear girl's suspicions, and yet at the same time to ensure a reply. What do you say to that suggestion ?" Clayton thought it an excellet one, and the dnchess rang for a telegraph form. While she was writing her message he paced restlessly up and down the room. turning over and over in his mind all the possibilities of the case, and always, of course, looking on the black side of things. Clayton loved the thoughtless and flighty daughter of theh millionaire to distraction, and the mere thought that danger threatened her caused him the most exquisite torture. "How will this do?" asked (lie duchess, looking tin presently. "'Vaughan, The Pines, Reigate,—Just heard of your departure from town. May I borrow Barclay for a day or two? Wire reply.— Bowcastf.r.' " Clayton looked his surprise. " Who or what is Barclay?" he asked. The duchess laughed, "Barclay is a mystery," she said. "What, another?" cried Clayton, in evident alarm " Yes, another," laughed the duchess. " But not a very awesome one this time. Vaughan, you know, is a very keen motorist, and he has quite a couple of dozen cars in his stables. Barclay is a chauffeur— we always speak of him m the ' mystery,' because he is so very obviously above his position. He is quite a gentleman, and one of the best drivers I know." The duchess touched the bell again, and a servant came into the room. " See that that is sent off at once," she said. "Ah! What's this? for the maid had handed her a card. " Good gracious! Dr. Whyto! Clayton, here's another surprise for you. Dr. Whyte has called, and wants to see me. Wonders will never cease! Show him up, Jane, and bo sure that that message is despatched at once. It is most important," (To be continued on Wednesday next.) He: " Darling, why are you so sad ? " She (gulping down a sob): "Oh, dearest, I was just thinking this will be our last evening together until to-morrow night!"