THE RULING VICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15700, 29 August 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RULING VICE.

BY PAUL TRENT, Author of "Tho Vow," "A Wilo by 1 uixhttse," otc.

COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER XXlV—(Continued.) ''Leit Mark? Tell mo about it." "Can you put up with mo for a fo\v days?" "Of course! But I'm waiting to hear what has happenjd," Olive answered, impetuously. " I've decided that it would bo better that wo should livo apart for a time." " So you've quarrelled?" " I suppose so. At any rale, I found it impossible to stay. 1 won't be treated like a naughty child." "What did Mark say?" Olive's tone betrayed lier eagerness to learn exactly ■what had happened. "I don't know. I haven't seen him. I left a letter informing him of my views." "What was tho row about? But I think I can gucis>-tho gambling? Am 1 right?" "Yes, that wa? tho start of it." " But it wasn't your fault that night wo played at your place. You were practically forced into it. Didn't you tell Mark?" "Ho knew, but it didn't mako any difference," Nald.i answered wearily. "1 certainly think that Mark deserves a losson. Ho always was too dictatorial. I shouldn't'forgive him too easily." "I'm not sure he'll want my forgiveness. Olive, I'm very unhappy. I know l'vo behaved very stupidly. Do you think I did right to leave him?" " You couldn't have done anything else, If you'd taken it lying down, you'd have hat) to pay for it for the rest of your life, Take my advice, and liuve a good time wlnlo you're waiting for him to como to his souses," Olive said, cheerfully. " I don't feel like having a good time. Ought 1 to let him know where I am 1 ?" " Most certainly not. It'll do him good to worry a bit. I've got the ve'y idea. Let us'run over to France, to son. ) quiet little place like Touquct." "I don't care where I go," Nalda answered miserably. "Then we'll catch the boat-train iii tho morning. There's nothing to eat in tho houso, so wo must go out to dinner. Como along, for I'm very hungry." Olive appeared to be in the highest spirits, and when dinner was over sho insisted upon going to a music-hall, although Nalda would hare preferred to return to tho flat. However, tho performance was an excellent one, and succeeded in distracting her mind, which was what Olive intended. Afterwards tho latter suggested supper, and it was late when they reached home. Even then Olivo would not go to bed, but sat up talking until sho saw that Nalda was 'ired out. She accompanied her to her room, and stayed until sho was in bed. "I think yon will sleep to-night. Don't worry, for it will como right in tho end. It would bo fatal to give in to a man liko Mark Lindsay. Good-night, d«ar." "Good-right. You have been very kind." Olivo looked &t her for a moment and then switched oil the light. As soon as sho reached her own room tho mask fell from her face, and she gave way to tho triumph sho felt. " I think l'vo got her, and if I piay my i cards properly—" She broke oil with a laugh that had a cruel note. CHAPTER XXV. Nalda sat on the decX or the channel steamer and watched Folkestone slowly disappearing from sight. Sho did not miss Olive, who was not a good sailor and had i retired to her cabin. In fact, she was glad to bo alone, for sho was thoroughly miserable. It seemed incredible that she could b<s leaving England estranged from her husband, and now lor the lirst timo she was regretting the step she had taken. | "Mrs. Lindsay! What an agreeable sur- , priso!" Sho turned quickly and recognised Jim j Shalton. > "Where are you going?' ho asked, as ho drew a chair near to hers. "Lo Touquet. Miss Delairo is with ■ me." ' "I've never been there, but I've heard ) a lot about it. I'd thought of going to 1 Deauville, to join my yacht. Isn't thero a ripping golf course at Le Touquet?' I "I don't know anything about tho ; place," Nalda answered, J Ho gavo her a quick look, for the re- , mark had been made impatiently. 3 " Tell me if you'd rather I went away," } ho said, quietly. r "No—no. I'm very glad to have some--3 ono to talk to. 1 was feeling quito miserable." s "Como below," said Shalton, "and we will have an early lunch. The sea always ! makes me hungry." j Nalda accepted tho invitation, and Shals ton did his utmost to raiso her spirits. Instinct told him that she was worried, and 3 ho suspected that her husband was tho 0 cause of tho trouble. As a matter of fact, t ho had no great liking for Lindsay, and d told himself that Nalda was much too good for him. "Is your husband coming over?" ho s asked. "Mo." 0 "I'm afraid wo got into trouble the 1 other night. However, Lindsay managed G to punish inc. 1 never saw such a run , of luck." "Mv luisband generally wins," Nalda said, quietly. " I've often noticed that when the husband's lucky the wife's generally tho reverse, and it certainly applies m your case. By-tlio-by, how long have you been married?" i< A hvn "

' A month or two. "So short a time?" ho cried in surprise. 1 Jim ShaHon cared very little about ; women, and perhaps it was becauso ho had seen tho worst side of them. Evei sinco ho had come of ago he had been on tho defensive, for he had been hunted relentlessly by mothers and daughters, so that often ho had been compelled to fleo in order to maintain his freedom, lie often told himself that no man with great riches can ever know tho meaning of real peace and happiness. Hut so far ho had managed to cseapo their wiles. To him Nalda was something of a revelation, for sho wanted nothing of him. In fact, she treated him rather coldly than otherwise, and that in itsejf was an attraction. " I wish I d met you six months ago," ho said, suddenly. "Why?" sho asked in surprise. ".Becauso if you'd told mo you cared I should have believed you." "You aro talking nonsense," sho said, nervously. "I'm not trying to ilirt with you, and I'm not suggesting that I'm in love. Merely that you're ono of tho few women I've met who doesn't care a hang about money." " You've been unfortunate," said Nalda, "I bclievo 1 have, Mrs. Lindsay. I don't think you make friends easily." "I'm sure 1 don't." "I should valuo your friendship," Slialton continued; "I know I'm asking a lot." "I like von very much. lam without brothers," alia answered, simply. "And lam sisterless. So we'll be friends, eh?" "Gladly." "Good. I liked you from the moment I saw what a good loser you were. Most women grouse and make a fius when |!:e,-l drop a few pounds." ( "And i.ome men do ti.e same, .-lie .in- , swered with a smile. | " Would you mind if I eamo on tu Lo | Tououct?" tie suggested, dillidently..

"Not at all. Besides, I don't own tho place." They had gono on deck, and Boulogne was now in Bight. "What a lovely car!" Nalda exclaimed, pointing to the "deck below. "That's mine. You'd better let me drive you straight to Lo Touquet, It'll bo much quicker and more comfortable." " I'll ask Olive. Here she comes," Nalda 1 said, and hastened to meet her friend, j " Mr. Shalton is here. ITo wants to drive fi us to Le Touquet. Do you think we J ought to go with him?" " Why not? You will bo a competent chaperono for me," Olive announced, 1 mockingly. . ' They reached the Hermitage Hotel soon ' after four o'clock, and were fortunate ; enough to secure a couple of rooms, for 1 tho place was packed. Shalton went on , to the Golf Hotel, saying that ho pre- j fcried to be near the links, but Nalda understood tho real reason and was gratefill. The dinner was an excellent one, and ! i they smoked cigarettes with their coffee oi< 1 tho terrace. Around them were women I dressed in tho height of fashion, most of , them being English and of wealth, for Lo Touquet does not cater for people of moderate means. *' How do they amufio themselves in ' this quiet placo?" Nalda asked curiously. ' ' There's a casino," Olivo said quietly. " What do they play ?" i "Baccarat and chcmin do for. And there's no fear of being raided by the police," Olive answered with a laugh. "Is thp.t why you came here?" Nalda ■ asked. " I'm not rfraid of a police raid. : They can only bind you over, and you : , can give a. false name, so wiiat does it : ; matter?' " Did you come hero bccauso they play 'chemie?'" Nalda persisted. , " Here's Mr. Shalton; ask him why ho came to Lo Touquet." Shalton smiled, lor lie had hoard tho question. " I had a look at tho links before din- ' ner. They aro really excellent." ; "But was that tho real attraction?" ; ! Nalda persisted. ' "I can't say it was. Indeed, I'm look- . ing forward to a gamo 'choinie' to--1 night. Aren't you coming?" "I'd made up my mind I wouldn't ' play again," slw answered. : " You might as well come and have a • ' look at the Casino. That'll do you no ! harm," he said. Olive was evidently going, and Nalda dreaded being left alono with her : thoughts, and so sho decided to aceom- ; pany them. But when they set out sho know that sho would play; in fact, before leaving, she ran to her bedroom for money. Tho players wero nearly all English of tho leisured class, and the room was ! crowded. "Wo shall have to wait for a seat, ( Or would you prefer to play baccarat?" ( whispered Shalton. "No. I prefer 'chemie,'" she an- ; > swered. However, it was not very long beforo j one or two players left, and Shalton sat down next to Nalda. "We won't 'punt' against ono another to-night. I recogniso ono or two people hero who are ready to 'call' to any ' amount. I can soe Rome fun." "I intend to go very quietly," sho answered. Indeed, Nakla kept to her _ resolution for somo time, and succeeded in winning a little. But, as in tho past, when tho ' temptation to plunge came, she had not > the strength to resist, and found herself 1 calling banks of largo amounts. 1 "Will they take cheques here? I've lost all my money," sho asked of Shalton. 1 "No. Money must be placed on tho table. But I can let you liavo anything i you want. How much?" "Five hundred, please." " Hero you are. You needn't write out a cheque till afterwards. Perhaps it wont he necessary," he said with a ' smile. _ ... ' Shalton and also Olivo wero winning s steadily, but Nalda continued to lose, ' and soon it became necessary to borrow 5 more money. "You can have just what you want. 3 But I shouldn't liko you to lose more 1 than you can afford," ho whispered, as 3 he gavo her another five hundred pounds. But her luck continued to be bad, and " sho lost steadily, until lier last bank, which she succocded in running to six i hundred pounds, "Shall I pass it6he asked of Shals ton. ' Plcaso yourself, But your luck's not , i in to-night." And so blio passed tho bank, and to I her annoyance it won for 6ome time. 0 "I should have made a email fortuno 0 if I had kept it," she said with a sigh. "Yes, it was a pity. But you've got 0 somo of your losses back. When luck's against one it's much better to be on tho i- safo side." . Shal.on accompanied them as far as " the hctel, and Nalda insisted upon his waiting while sho wrote out a cheque. !- "I owo you fifteen hundred pounds. :- Hero'y fivo hundred in notes, and I'll give you a choquo for tho thousand. I e must keep money to go on with." s " May I call for you with the car after dejeuner?" ho asWd, and Nalda accepted [. his invitation. When Nalda was in her bedroom Olive d joined her. 0 "l'vo had a good night. I've won . over two hundred pounds," the latter remarked. 0 "I'm very pleased." "By tho by, do you think it wiso to see too much of Shalton? Lo Touquet is an awful placo for gossip. I'm sure Mark would be annoyed." '' Olive, I shall bo glad if you will mind ® your own business." "I meant it for tho best," returned the other. Olive had uttered tho warning in the II hope that Nalda would disregard it, and tho fact that Lindsay would bo annoyed 3 ' would mako her see even more of Shalton. "Good-night, dear," she said. "I hope r- you will have better luck to-morrow

night. Although it was late, Nalda did not commence to undress, out sat down in an armchair and thought over tho events of tho last few days. In spi'.o of her anger against Mark, hor longing for him was intense, and sho began to wonder if sho had acted foolishly in coming away. "Ho does:l't know where I am, and,l haven't givui him a chance," slit muttered fevcri ilily. Even now ho might bo regretting the letter ho lnd written, and if this were so, lio had no moans of communicating will her, for she had left no address. " [ will write to him," sho said to herficjf. "It is only fair." And so slio sat down at the table, but for a long time could not decide what to say. "Dear Mark," she wrote at last, "I have come over here, but am very lonely. Perhaps wo have both acted stupidly. But I fee! sure that your iove is just as alivo as mine. I hope so, or I sTiould bo tho most miserable woman in tho world. Will you please semi me a wire when you get this?— Your affectionate wife, Nalda." This sho addressed to their London house, marking the envelope "Important and immediate," and her heart was lighter for what sho had done. Her sleep was sound and dreamless, and it was late when sho awakened to find Olive standing by the bedside. "It is nearly lunch time, Aren't you going to get tip ?" Olivo chanced to look at the table, and saw tho letter lying on it, and instinctively drew nearer to read tho address. "May I just scribble a lino here? I want to send a message to my maid," Tho note was soon written and sho rose with it in her hand. "I'll go and post it. Shall I tako vours ?" she asked casual!v. ' "It wish you would. I'll join yon in a few minutes." Olive did nut f<> straight downstairs , '•••( "iiil ;' vhit ' • Wlrnmii, whoro I i t '() mien N :i ld"~ b H*. '• 1 thought so." she slid viciously. And only one letter was placed in the 1 post-box. (To bo continued Saturday next.)