THE DAY; OR, THE PASSING OF A THRONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15951, 23 June 1915, Page 10

THE DAY; OR, THE PASSING OF A THRONE.

BY FRED M. WHITE. Author of "The Nether Millstone." "The Corner Honse." "The Slave of Silence." Craven Fortune," " The Scales of Justice." etc. etc.

(COPYRIGHTS

. CHAPTER XLVII. THE HOUR THAT MATTERED.

Veea had quite forgotten both Lady Loxton and Alonzo. They had gone clean out of ber mind from the moment that she had left London, and she never thought of saying anything to Hallett about them. Of course, Hallett had been informed that the two spies had been present at the attack on Brighton, and that in point of fact they had engineered the whole thing, but she' had never got far enough in her story to reach the point when Alonzo had proclaimed the fact that he and his companion had been recognised and had suggested that they should fly to Blair Allison for protection. And here they were at the door clamouritg for admission. The reason for their coming was perfectly plain. They had been unfortunately recognised by someone and were fully alive to the fact that so far as they were concerned the game was up, and England was no longer a place of safety. They had probably come with a view of getting away on one of the fishing smacks to the Dutch coast. Once there they were safe enough even though their story was known to every peasant in Holland. That was one of the advantages of being a spy. Once beyond ah enemy's frontier, and he could laugh at the country he had betrayed. And so it was with Alonzo and his companion. They had come up here knowing that Blair Allison would liide them until they could be smuggled across the sea. In "a way without knowing it they had delivered themselves into the hands of the foo, and indeed in the circumstances they could have chosen no more unfortunate hidingplace. But even at this moment they were very near to discovering the truth, and this was what Vera had to prevent. She must allay the suspicions of these people, she must account for her own presence there, and keep the spies until help came. She took in the caretaker at a glance. She liked the look of him, she liked his resolute face and determined jaw. And, moreover, Hallett had told her that she could confide in his subordinate if anything like danger presented itself. " You have dono quite well so far," she said. "These people downstairs are unscrupulous. They had come here under a misapprehension. They come here to hide themselves until they can leave the country. They must not be allowed to leave; indeed. Mr. Hallett would be terribly annoyed if they slipped through his fingers. Invite them into the house, tell them Mr. Blair Allison is away, but that the lady of the house will be down presently. You had better suggest that she had gone to bed, but that on hearing their names she had decided to come downstairs. That will give us a quarter of an hour's delay at least. If they get really suspicious, then you will' have to shew your hand and detain them. Do not hesitate to show violence if necessary." , Tha man tapped his pocket significantly. You needn't be afraid, miss," he said. " Mr. Hallett arid me, wo have been in many a tight place together, and we have always come out top. But what do you propose to do, miss?" " I am going to see if I can find Mr. Hallett or some of them," Vera said. I " I don't suppose they are very far off. I'll come back as soon as I can. You had better go and give my message to the visitors, and ask them into the house. Put them in «i room- if you can where there is only one window, a room you could lock them in if you wanted to. Make escape as difficult as possible. An* if you can steal out presently and damage the car they came in it would be perhaps just as well. Now go along.'' The caretaker favoured Vera with an, admiring glance and departed on his errand. Vera had fottunately finished sending her messages now, so .that she

was able to act as she pleased. She stole very cautiously down the stairs and into the hall. It would never do for her to meet Lady Loxton or Alonzo at that moment, and she was pleased to see that all the doors leading- out of the hall were closed and that the caretaker was standing there apparently listening. As Vera came forward he smiled significantly, and jerked his thumb over his shoulder in tho direction of tho morning-room. Vera could hear the murmur of voices as she smiled in reply, and then made her way cut on to tho lawn. It was very dark there, and just for a moment she hardly knew. which way to turn. She was tryiig to memorise the route by which she lad come, and it seemed to her presently that she had got it clear. Then she moved cautiously (across the lawn in the direction of the cliffs until it seemed to her that she could make out a figure advancing in her direction. Her eyes were getting < accustomed to the gloom now, and she'was sure that here was Hallett on his way back to the house. .* ■ •

'"Oh, I am so thankful to have met you," she exclaimed. "A most extraordinary thing has happened. I know that I am greatly to. blame, but I quite forgot to tell you that Lady Loxton 'and Alonzo were recognised during that Brighton affair; in fact, I overheard Alonzo telling Lady Loxton. They made up their minds to come up here for shelter, and they are here. The worst part of it is that I knew they were coming. I rannol understand how I can have been so foolish us to nave forgotten to tell you. At any rate, here they arc and 1 should like to know what I am to do with them?"

"Actually in the house?" Hallett asked. '• Yes, both of them. They are under the inint'.'sbion that Blair * Allison is away somewhere, and tha'- Mrs. Blair Allison, who is supposed to bo in bed, is hastily dressing to receive them. Couldn't you come back with me at once —" "No, I couldn't," Hallett said curtly. Don't thi.ik I am rude, but I am risking th« success of the whole of our campaign bv leaving my post for a, moment. 1 will scribble on this bit of paper a fresh signal which I want you to display at once. It will be the last to-night, but it must be got through at all hazards. I was ming back to give it vcu. even though I spoilt everything bv leaving mv post. You must do the test von can with these people, try and fool them, i-av and do anything you like for the next hour or so, by which time I shall Lo free to art." Hallett turned abruptly away and disappeared in the darkness. He seemed to be restless and messy about something which did not detract from Vera'a own feeling of nervousness. But without a moment's delay she flew back to the house again {.nd flashed past the caretaker who was still standing on guard in the hall. Ho made a significant motion as she passed, from which she inferred tint the car had been put out of action;.

She ran lightly up the stairs, and a few moments later the fresh signal stood out boldly from tho window with tho brilliant glare of tho electric light behind it. Tho feeling of nervousness had left her now, and she was quite herself as she made her way down the stairs. Tim people she was about to meet had lived well and luxuriously all these years by lying and trickery, 'they were going to bo met % by their own weapons now. In tho ordinary way it would have been an unequal contest, but forewarned is forearmed, and it seemed to Vera that she had all tho leading cards in her hand.

She walked smilingly intovlho morningroom and held out her hand to Lady Loxton. She seemed to take it all for granted, and there was a suggestion of mischief in her eyes. "This is quito a pleasant, surprise,"'she said. Now who would have thought of meeting you here? And who would have thought that Lady Loxton was one of us?"

The other woman hesitated and stammered.

"I don't know what you mean," sho said.

"My dear Lady Loxton, there is no reason for any caution under this roof. When the man brought mo your name I was fairly staggered for tho moment. 1 had no idea you were a spy like tho rest of us. As a matter uf fact, both the Blair Allisons are away on important business. I didn't know that till 1 got here yesterday and found the house in charge of a caretaker and his wife. No doubt the servants have been sent away for some good reason, but nobody in the neighbourhood suspects anything and you will be just a* safe her as anywhere else. Now, fat.cy you and 1 being friends this long time and neither of us knowing that the other was a spy! If you knew my father's real name you would be astonished. But you look troubled and worried, and not a bit like your usual self. if there is any way I can help you I shall be delighted." . Lady Loxton smiled for the first time. Evidently sho had not the slightest suspicion of Vera's object, and even Alonzo no longer regarded Vera with a hostile glance. "We are in trouble," Lady Loxton said. "It is the old story of the pitcher that goes once too often to the well. We were in that Brighton business and somebody unfortunately recognised us. So we came here on the chance of finding one of those fishing boats in which we could get over to Holland. We thought -we could hide he-re until the opportunity came."

"Ah, T am afraid I don't know anything at all about that," Vera said. 'It is out of my line altogether. And now let mo get you something to eat. I am sure von must need it. Oh, no trouble. I have onlv to ring the bell."

'Hie bell wan answered a moment or two- later. But the man standing there was not the caretaker, but Hallett.'

(To be continued on Saturday next.)