THE RULING VICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15730, 3 October 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RULING VICE.

BY PAUL TRENT, Author of " The Vow." " A Wife by I'orchaae," etc.

COPYRIGHT. . CHAPTER XXXl.—(Continued.) Mark ran quickly from the hotel, for he saw that a steam team was passing, which he just managed to catch. There were A number of men crossing from the hotel io the links in front, and he examined them all. The verandah, too, was crowded, but he could see no trace of Shalton, and eo went through to the office.

" Mr. Shalton is in his room. He has just sent down for his letters," they told him, and so he sent up a message, and the boy brought back an invitation to go

upstairs. Jim Shalton occupied a small suite, and his valet was busy with his clothes when Mark entered.

"Sit down, Mr. Lindsay. Will you have some coffee? I can thoroughly recommend it," Shalton said, pleasantly, and when Mark refused, he passed over a box of cigarettes. "I'm afraid I'm late this morning. I suppose you don't care for a round of golf before lunch? By the bye, I forgot to ask after Mrs. Lindsay. She's had infernal luck lately.". "Do you know where my wife is? Mark asked quietly. "Didn't she go back with you last night? Isn't that a curious question to ask?" , ' • : . "My wife disappeared from her hotel last night. Listen to me for a moment. Your name has been coupled with hers lately. I haven't a doubt that you were only friends." % (> "Thank you," said Shalton quietly, l honour and respect Mrs. Lindsay. I hadn't a suspicion that people wore talking about us, or I would have steered clear of her. You believe me _ " Yes. Do you know where she is, Shalton? You have ths reputation _of being a gentleman and clean-living. You're a bit to the idle, rich young man of the day.' .. ~, "I am obliged by your good opinion, Jim said drily •,.,.. - "Can you tell me where my wife is; "No, I can't." . "Does that mean you wont, or don you know?" . . * Mark looked at Shalton steadily, and the latter discovered that he could not tell the lie which was, on his lips, > ; "I can't tell you, but I do knew; Lindsay took a step towards him, and his fists wer=> clenched- ' " None of that, I'm not afraid of you," Shalton said very quietly; "Mrs. Lindsay is my friend, and she asked me to help her when she was in great distress. I could not refuse, but she trusted me, and I don't intend to betray her." . .- "You took her away last night?" [cried threateningly. - ~. . V : 0 "I did, and I returned the moment I had placed her in safety. I didn't ask her any questions, and she didn't tell me very much. But I am pretty certain you must have acted like a brute to have driven her away from y0u."...' : % ; ;V. > y "Where is she!" Mark - ; demanded huskily- ■-,- ;!."■,*„.-]:*'■'" ■'■■ ..'' : "I shall not tell. you, but I will deliver any message you like." J - . , v' : "Do you intend to see her, again ?". : Not unless she wishes it. ... I will'be. quite frank,with. you.- Last night I discovered that I was in love, with your wife." ; . -;V-.-.'"a''. V V-'" -:.'>\ '-:"'* :''" :

u You .blackguard!'.'. cried Lindsay I'll-" ;■ ' -- A •' . -■ ; **.- ?

"Steady. But I've • always treated j her as I would have done a sister.\'l, should loathe myself if '> I,' ever' 5 let ' her' 1 suspect what my feelings;were towards "her. ij I .'

It's just" my' luck to fall in love' with a woman 'I ' can't marry. ; She's "one of ' the best I ever met— : most >" unselfish, = the purest, Lindsay, it strikes me she's:'a

jolly sight- too' good for you* \ All you have to grumble about is that •- she plays

'chemie.' Well, what harm is there, if she dors loso a': few thousands— can well afford it.", "I don't want to listen to your infernal jaw!• Where's my wife-!" : demanded Lindsay.', ' * ■." \\ ' "It seems me that you haven't valued her '• properly..' You 'require', a lescon,,and; I think it'll do you good to :be kept apart for *' while." -. , ' ; Shalton' was enjoying himself immensely, for he took a malicious delight'; in the knowledge that/ Lindsay.:, v suffering acutely.; jHe was remembering .;. that *it was this • man who was -> the cause o! Naida's distress, and he resented it./- V . Mark himself ..felt quite helpless.:/ He was tempted •,'to give :; SbaU*n';a/, ; good thrashing, .tut... physical violence; would not have given him the information he required. I'rida made : ; him loathe::to appeal, but be felt that he must know where Nalda- was. :":> y ;;- : - ■'• ■-■^i,?

"Look here.. Shalton," he said, "you're assuming an independent attitude. \ You appear to forget that it's my wife of whom: we're talking. '"• Ybu : " calmly .take her away from me, and now refuse to tell me where she is."

"It ii rather cheeky," the- other admitted; ' but I'm afraid; you'd bully her if you "-See her before you've had ample time to simmer down. II she . were my sister I should, act just in the tame'way.'-' "And ii such your final decision?" '•;:. "It is; but if you'll keep in touch with me I'll let you know where your wife is when she gives permission. If I may advise, I would suggest you return to England. In a week or -two it is possible that I might invite you to fun down to the south coast, where I shall probably bo cruising." ."'...', / "I'm longing to thrash you," said Lindsay, "and—yet—" " ;* " Pleaso don't. I mean well, and I believe sometime you'll thank me for what I'm doing. I told you I was in love with your' wife, and it's quite true but my affection is not of the e'elfish sort.". I'm only thinking of hor happiness. I don't care' a hang about you." • , • "■ At any other time' Mark would have been amused by this frankness. It was Shalton's sincerity ' that enabled him to listen quietly. However, he was quito sure that nothing ho did or said would make this young man speak. "Is my wife alone?—l am very anxious about her," he said at last. "3*

" You've no reason to be. fihe'll be in safe hands, properly chaperoned, and all that sort of thing. • I give you my word of honour that I won't intentionally .see her, without first advising you—that is, if you behave reasonably. By the. by, may I ask you an impertinent question?"

"I wonder you hesitate, after what you have already said," Mark remarked grimly. „.£ .'■■ "Are you in love with your wife— honestly in love?" Shalton'asked. "She is the only woman I ever 'cared for." " ~••■■ " Upon my word, I'm uncommonly glad to hear it. For she's precious fond of you, in spite of your behaviour. Lindsay, I'm afraid you don't understand women." "I've been told that before," said ho other. -, "The more you try to bully them the worst- they are—that's my experience. . . By the by, I suppose you don't feel like a sound of golf? It'll do you a'world of good— finest thing in the world to make one see things in their proper light. Besides, it might stop gossip, if there's any going round. It's really generous of me to invite you, because I'm pretty good —scratch—and you don't look &s 'if you played much." "I think I will inflkt myself on you," said Lindsay. "I'm twenty, a* bid twenty." Mark cared nothing about the game, but he saw the advisability of being seen in, public, with Shaiton. Whatever.;happened in the future, scandal must fcr avoided. And so they played, and Mark was worse than usual. Golf is not a game' to undertake with nerves ajar. > \ And when they parted, they shook hands' I "Just one tip, Lindsay! Beware of that Delaire woman—she's dangerous," Shalton said gravely. '■ ■' .-.. '. '.'v^"

• CHAPTER XXXII. ~ : '*. 'Mrs. Fortescue began, to dress as'coorl as Oliwhad been to tell her that Naklj had gone, for she was very anxious, and she wished to do all that she could, to helo her daughter. When she went downstair! Olive joined her, and told her that Marel had gone to see Jim Shalton. • -^^s " What do you know about it ? Did yda see Nalda before she had left?" Mrs. Fop? tescue asked bluntly. . ,-M| Now, Olive still believed that their in. tcrests were identical, and that they vers both anxious to injure Nalda, for she had* no suspicion of the change in Mrs. For-'-tescue's feelings. And so she had no hesi. tation in teliing her exactly what had happened. ' ..■;.{s "I think this is the end. Mark has lost patience and will let her go. And now my chance will come!" she wound m triumphantly. -.{ " Not if I can prevent it," was Mra. Fortescue's inward comment. " What do you intend to do? What are you working for?" she asked aloud. >?•? " Now that Nalda had gone away Mark - won't be likely to take her back—he's far too proud—such separations usually end |in divorce. As least that's my experience.'.' j " And then you will marry Mark Lind--1 say ?" " -:■■ "He would have married me long ago if he'd never met Nalda!" Olive "cried 7 vehemently. "Yes; if he hadn't found you out. > What's your next move?" .'■? "Only to wait patiently. It won't te' ; necessary to do anything. She's gone 100 far already." ■-, " I should like to know what Mark said to her last night. He must have been very brutal, or she would never have nn away like that," Mrs. Fortescue remarked, reflectively. ." I think I shall go back to London tonight. It's no use staying here." "Then we'll return, together. Lang is going to reopen our place, and I want' to keep an eye on the takings—that is, if I don't chuck it altogether. Would you care to buy my share.'" ''. ; .; " I've no money," Olive answered, but' her eyes were alight with excitement. ••... l! "I'll let you off light if I decide to give it up. Now I'm going out for a; while. No. I don't want you with me, By the by, do you know where Nalda is?" she asked casually. .-.: , T ;' " I haven't the least idea. I only know that she went away in Jim SualtonV, car.". j; ,;.n*j And yet he was back this morning,'" It is certainly curious." . .' s %|| Mis. Fortescue caught the. first tramcar, and, alighting at the terminus, walked across to the Golf Hotel, where she v-as informed, that Shalton was playing golf. However, she was in no hurry,, and rd, made herself comfortable on the verrndah, and even allowed her usual lunch-time to pass, for she was determined to see Shalton. Her surprise was great when she saw him come from the links with Lindsay. ,;;V "Good heavens, they're shaking hands'. I believe there's hope for my worthy son-in-law," she said, with a laugh. , ; .' : Shalton waved his hand when he recognised her, and she beckoned to him;;7j ■ " You can give me some lunch," she' said. "I've been waiting • for you, 1 and I'm hungry."-,. • , ' >;".':. "With pleasure. Come along," he answered cheerily, for he had always liked her.■>'- : ";",'- : """.,. ■~ ';"■ .■■'][:'■•' • "Did you have a pleasant game?" she asked,- when i they ; were seated at V tho table. . - > .'. -- _-..s; -i-;fc ■' '■"■ '.'The game wasn't up 'io much. Lindsay was foozling all ; the time." :-a;/ 4x< "What did you do with his i wife last night?" she demanded, suddenly, and he stared at' her • coolly. :''-■■ ' ' ..' jgp / " What' on earth do you mean ? That is rather a strange", question, v Mrs. Fortescue." ,- , ' • '-'•. I '."Don't try to bluff me. I'm the girl's mother, and am interested." l ■"So.you're her mother," said Shalton, looking at her' curiously. ."I did ;bear something about it. but I'd; forgotten. If I'd known I■ wouldn't have;encouraged her," -he added, as though he were addressing' himself. •':-: '. ■■■.'".' .'■ ,* . .".You're ~not a , bad sort," continued Mrs. Fortescue, "and ; I'm going : to talk

to you:quite'- : frankly. : : ; Are you in love with the girl?" : ) " Yes,", he answered simply. , 'L r .','-." That's: a pity, for it. cannot come to anything. .Gambling is the only vice she's, got. She's, a good .woman—of that I'm sure " ■ ./ . ■■-;.;' ■'■'.'■\'' ; ; ;! v," You're right," he said " and she won't come to any' harm through me. "■ 1 want the poor girl to be happy. ' ' " So do I, and that's ; why I came -to have a chat with you. . Lindsay: is inclined to make a mess of things, and so is.; she; "•;;? They're :■ 'both '■■. proud, . and very much in love. : HuS: used to having his way, and so is she. By the by, how did .you manage: to.soothe-hinidowa this : morning ?.? I was amazed -. wheni; 1 sa ;v you . part' in such a, friendly way." -«,. - ...;';; "I don't see why I shouldn't be quits open ; with /you,'! i Shalton ;.■ replied. ( c ''Of course you're on Naida's side. You're her mother!'' ' y;-" : -'I>'AH?^ : f Mrs.-' Fortescue .. flushed, for she remembered what had been her former sentiments towards her daughter. But Shalton noticed nothing, and v went on .to ■' relate everything that had 'happened,' since Nalda called him up on the telephone. ';'-;■-%'; i :"She'll be safe enough with my aunt,'' he concluded, •" and Lindsay, will have time to come to his senses." . :."It'll either be , kill or cure,", said ,Mrs. Fortescue; "out I think you acted for the best." '-.-, < U ' "Once I thought he -was going to knock me ' down, when I : refused to tell_ him where she was," he "said, witn a grin..'. " I rather, think you deserved it. .... I'ji going, back to London.. to-day. We must keep, in touch with i one ■ another. I shall ' force my company on, my worthy son-in-law, and when I think the proper moment has arrived -we'll : bring' : them together 1 again." .;:;.';. ,-V';,- ']■■-; ■'■"■ :: ;- ''-■ M V-' | .'. " I think ■ I'll send a ' wireless'—l've ah ready ; '; telegraphed:? my aunt once this morning, i but • I want to ensure that; she'll ■J make . Mrs.'-: Lindsay,V comfortable.; There are times when one ?finds the money very • useful.":-. .-., '.- ..- '.'.■''-• r: i '•' :.;;''■ " You're a good lad." she. said, looking l! at him. with a pleasant smile.l'; ■/ : ' : ';- ' • Shalton motored her back to the Her. 1 mitage Hotel, and Mrs. Fortescue at once ' sought Mark, who had just finished his '. lunch. "■ ,•■ ' " ' . -j: ' : "I've-been v having a chat with young ! . Shalton, ' Mark," sho announced,/"."l..mast ' congratulate you/on the common'sense

you've shown this morning. /was agree- . ably surprised." . "Thank you. I nearly.made'a fool of ,"M myself." •' "Ibonder, if you- will be ; advised • by , ~- me..:.' v-. I ■suggest thai we return to London at once. We can do no good by''-, r - staying-here. In a week or. two Nalda • will, be longing for you. She'll be pre-: "': pared to como back on any terms. If you :. saw her'now it could only, end in a rup- \ ture. . ... And, Mark, yon do .want her back?" ... '■ '•" -v:f';ffi ." Of course I do," he answered roughly. ; ; " Then that's all right.. Yo i '*ave me . to manage everything, and I'm sure it'll _ - come right. By tho by, you didn't say anything 'to her that might cause her to , x think you suspected anything there was • in the gossip you'had overheard ?" He did not answer, and her face sharp- - need with anxiety: \ "• . ~'/!' "Why don't you answer?", she said.. "You couldn't have been so mad." ,; "I'm trying to remember what I did say," replied Lindsay. a I was very angry ', ,: —and—" "Well, yon can't hare forgotten,'' "I supple I did say something.' Ik -; might have borne that > construction— aDd—" "It was madness.'. If Nalda felt that you suspected her, I'm not surprised \tbaV||g she ran away. Shalton told me that the was in a terrible state." , ' ' "Surely I was justified in what I f*id. No man" cares to hear his wife's nar.ie coupled with that of : another man," he said doggedly. , "It's much worse than 1, thought. I wonder if she'll ever forgive you? .-~ -. • [" Now I'll tell you something that no ; living man knows. :•;., I never cared for J**JS i Fortescue in that way. s I Tan away with ■ him, but I was true to my husband r until -■ I had married Jack. That I swear. *~ if may have' been'' a gambler, ...but I was , never a wanton," she said with a passion that, amazed Lindsay. • ".-feii (To bo continued Saturday next.) : -%4