THE MYSTERY OF CROCKSANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18459, 24 July 1923, Page 3

THE MYSTERY OF CROCKSANDS

BY FRED M. WHITE. Author of "The Secret of the Sands," "Th« ; Devil's Advocate," "The Man with the Vandyke Beard," " The Edg 1 # • of: the Sword," etc. r i

■■■■V*:' (Copyright.)- 'A.'/: 1 -:'] - - ■ ' . ■-'.=!( >;■ CHAPTER (Continued.) With her thoughts' more or less in a maze Ellen left the house and walked up tho winding path between the sweeping woodlands that led presently downwards to the shoulder of the cliff on which the bungalow was perched. She... had seen Wrath drive past the lodge gates through the sombre valley where the rocks rose majestically on either side, with the spectre of the White Lady on the left and the Devil's Cheese wring . opposite, so that she knocked on the door of the bungalow without fear of spies. She knocked again, but no reply came. Then, looking down over the edge of the cliffshe could see the figure of Rollo Bly on the sands busily engaged with a sailing boatthat he and Evors kept there. She made her way down, the winding path, and presently stood by Bly's side. Ho looked up with a glad smile. "Delighted to see you, .Miss Marchant delighted," he said. "I began to think you had forgotten us." , Ellen smiled in reply. There was something almost boyish about Bly that attached her in that sort of motherly fashion that girls so often assume before other and more intimate feelings are aroused by daily contact. , * . ■ " I have been very busy," Ellen said. " By the way, was thai a Death's Head moth after all? " v

" -Well, no it - wasn't,". Bly admitted.:. "It was one of tl}e Poplar Hawks lam afraid you thought we sneaked off the other night rather like a lot of boys: caught stealing : apples, , but we really had ; no business by the Tower, and Evof-s was annoyed to find that he had placed him- : self in the wrong. Yqu see, Wrath hates him so; indeed, I should. not have been surprised to hear that you were forbidden to speak to us." " I think I should have been if J. hadr.'t been firm," Ellen smiled. " But I took the opportunity of telling Sir Christopher that you were a friend of mine, and I let him know that my . leisure is my own to do with as .1 please. I don't think he liked but, still, I was perfectly firm, and he had to give way.' As a matter of fact, he has gone to Barnstaple this afternoon, so I am free to do as I like. I wanted to see Mr. Evors, because I think he can give me some information that I require." " I am very sorry, and all that sort -of thing, you know," Bly ► went* on in . his boyish way. " But he isn't here. He has gone off to Wooda Bay to look after some lobster pots we . have got there. But he will be back in an hour or so, and if you will honour us 'we shall be delighted if you will let us give you some tea in the* bungalow. It s a topping place." .. "Yes, I know,"-Ellen said, quite innocently. . .. " You are pulling my leg,'' Bly cried. " You have never been . inside the bungalow."-' .. ■ .v '•< ] "Well, as a matter of fact, I .have,". Ellen said. " I -hope, you won't ask .me any questions, because I don't want - to say too much. Perhaps later on I may ask you to help me." Bly turned his clear blue eyes in her direction. " I would do anything in the world for you, Miss Marchant," he said. " I am rather a simple sort of johnny, who can't do much outside sport, hut I am not perhaps such a fool as I look, and I don't •think I am afraid of anything. Wow ; if there is anything I can ao for you just say the word." Later on, perhaps," Ellen said, gratefully. ." Mr. Bly, did it not strike you as rather strange that I should _ give up my job in London and come into .this quiet corner of the world? " ■>;- . "Well, it did,'-' Bly admitted. "Not that it is any; business 'of mine. Vulgar curiosity ain't in .my line. .But I. .was real glad to hear that you were, coming. It sort df bucked mo up and. gave me— but it would be frightful- cheek to say any more." Ellen discreetly let it go at tfi'af, the more so becauso'she.-had a' pretty shrewd: idea of what was.on the tip -of Bly's tongue. She knew without being ; told that his feelings for her were something, more than ordinary friendship, and; just at that moment ' the knowledge filled her with a warm glow of something like happiness. ; ''• - , " ' " Just give me a few minutes,". Bly said, " and then we will walk up to the bungalow together." ; • . - v -^'A:;v " There is another way up," Ellen said— 1 " the smugglers' way, by the steps that end at the Tower. It is not an easy ascent, but I have tried 'it ones, and / I should like to try it again." - . 1 " Oh, so you nave found that out, have you? " Bly cried. "I thought those steps' were only a legend. I have asked lots of the old people about here, 'and not one of them really believes. that the steps exist. You must have' been here . before— ' "Never mind about that," Ellen said, gaily.' " And please don't comment; on my local knowledge. I will just sit down here on the sand till you have " finished your work, and then we will climb the steps together." / , " Where beauty leads I am , content;, to follow," Bly said, more or less fatuous!}'. " I hone we shan't get into any trouble. Miss Mar chant, it ' seems to me this is my lucky afternoon. I am going to embrace my good fortune with both hands.

'' CHAPTER XII. . They skirted round the fringe _of the' frowning cliffs where the Atlantic swell beat incessantly until they were; lost to sight under the : headland that towered up the best part of a ' thousand feet over their heads, and feathered almost to the, water's edge ,with the great forest trees, How they had planted themselves and flourished ; there on the precipitous slope with; its thin soil was a mystery, ... but there they were, and their luxuriance concealed the fact that the climb , through. them was a rather hazardous undertaking and that if one of those - ancient meps gave way or a boulder shifted Ihe adventurers might be dashed to pieces on the rocks below. 1 / , So far as Bly could see, there wasi no sign of a foothold anywhere, till presently Ellen pushed a mass of growth / on ; one, side and disclosed what at one time had evidently been a rough step hewn out of the cliff side. " - " There you are," she said. " That is the beginning of the path. I hope you have a strong. head, ' because you - will want it." ■ "I am not afraid," Bly said, quietly. " You had better i go' first, because ': you know the way, ana if you happen to slip , then I shall be able to catch you." . . It was a fatiguing and laborious task in the blazing sun. and long before "ihey were half-way to the top Ellen was heartily sorry thai, she. had suggested the adventure. . Since she had last climbed the steps, the growth of spring vegetation had burgeoned wonderfully, so that it was quite a task in itself to find the way; from one oothofd; to ; another. They came out presently on the side of the cliff at a spot where trees had died; away and where there was .'•• an. . open space of broken stone and shale , which was almost perpendicular. Bly glanced down, j and his heart came into his mouth as he i did so. If he had been alone he would have feared nothing, but the fact of being there with the one woman in;' the world | by his side seemed to take all; the courage* l out of him and render him ; v singularly weak and shaky at i the knees. 1 , He felt | convinced at the back of his mind that in some way Ellen had got- off ■ the beaten track, owing, doubtless, to the thickness of the undergrowth on " the . ..steps. He j looked! doubtfully at; the crumbling expanse' of • shale overhead/ /and as?-; he | essayed to ; climb it . the . friable c mass | literally crumbled ; under his feet, and sat loose a hanging boulder that went crashing . down the hillside and thundered into v the sea. And. then, as Ellen looked at her ! companion, she realised 1 for"; the first time that here was no i frivolous, ' inconsequent boy,', but a real . man, ■ face _j to face and r<?ady to cope with a -living danger. His lips were closely set, and there was

grim determination in those bJltte eyes ©i his. Ho* spoke presently between his' i, set teeth. "Mis Mar chant," ha said, "wo are in • great ■ danger here. If anything starts that '• •< " dxale' going again' we; shall be earned down into the sea.' ,Wb have evidently - got off the track. Don't look : down, what; rf. ever you 'dodon't look down." ' ; \ "I am riot in the least afraid," _ Ellen said, - quietly. :It seemed • almost impos- * sible to 'fear, with this > now man by..h»jr ■ side. "What do you think we had better f. do?"' '' ■ 1 'y- J-".'.' \ . • "Let me think a minute," Bly said. "1 must get you to a place of safety. I ' '' must manage to get a few yards back, so that you can lie behind , that boald* *. there. Then I will endeavour to reai i the Tower and, bring Evors with a couple ' of ropes from the bungalow. With luck ' ' I can manage it." ' 1 : . He was taking liis life in his hands for her. sake, and Ellen knew it. He slipped " . by her feet presently, and. with gireat v . i courage and daring managed: to .crawl■ * v. along the top of the great boulder, which seemed to him to be firmly embedded in the side of the cliff. Just for a. moment ho hung there, clinging desperately, with his feet touching nothing, ; and then he secured some sort of a foothold. ' .;• ; * ''Yes, you'will b« safe down here/'' ho said. "Let yourself slide and I will catch you.". " . . ' , , Without the slightest hesitation she obeyed. 'She could feel' herself gaining momentum before a pair of urns gripped and held 'her like a vice. Tiien she was safely perched on the top of a big boulder and Bly's arms were around her, "Thank God," lin whispered between his teeth. i "Ah, but that was a close ' " call. When I think what might have 'happened to you, Ellen, I feel like a child. My dearest girl—my very dearest girl— I can't say any more—l really cant." : ' J V ' I • ;• ; -:S;:" .

. He was looking at her with all his heart in his eyes, and all that was loving and tender in Ellen's 1 womanhood , went out ; , to him. She swayed a little dizzily, and then sb»e was conscious that - Bly s lips were pressed to hers. It was only for an instant and then he laughed in that boyish way of his. r "Well, I have fairly done it now," lis said. "But, I don't care. You were bound- to know sooner ,or later, and I don't think you are very angry, Ellen, ■ are you ?". ; "I wish I knew," Ellen whispered. "I don't seem to have any feeling at all just now. You'are a bravo man, Hollo, and I never cared . for anyone as I seem ' to care for you. And yet only a few min- V : , utes ago— 1 ' ' /'■ "Oh bother a few minutes ajfjo " Ro.!]'> cried, joyously. "Let us think abc something else. You have just got/to sit where you are while I manage, '.somehow or another, to get to the top. You are not afraid to bo left alone ?" "I don't think I am afraid o? anything ' - in the world," Ellen said. "But I" don't think you can manage it." Bly rose to his feet. Ho knew too weK the peril that lay before him, but he was going to risk it. He managed to skirt. '. the treacherous bed of shale, holding on desperately ; to gorse bushes and patches : .. of heather, until at last he gained th«s fringe ' of' the woods beyond. And Eli'en sat there lost in a whirl of thoughts , for an hour or more, until Bly appeared, * ; ' followed by Evors, carrying ropes between them, and a few minutes lator the ; V -tTiree of them were seated round the tea- ' / table in the bungalow. — Ellen looked curiously at the tall, .well-. knit figure of the Australian.' Here was a ; man who possessed a fund of information which before long she meant to share. She had managed to convey to Bly that > lie was to say nothing of what had " happened during those few vivid momenta on the edge of the ; cliff, , and Rollo had : J agreed without a moment's hesitation.. h "This is rather a romantic meeting, Miss ' Marchant," ' Evors said. " '.'I understand . from Bly that. you are an : old friend _of !'' . his. I hope you did not think my manner was too abrupt the other night ■ when we >; , met outside the Tower, but Sir Christopher Wrath , and myself are not exactly on: friendly "terrtiij, and I was very much' ;; annoyed to think that I had given him the ; opportunity, of'''ordering mo off as if ' I ' . wore a common poacher. ' Not that iit matters very much; it. will be my ' turn next, because, as 'it happens, Miss Mar- . . chant, I hav® a score to settle! with ■; Wrath and when the time comes he will realise : . ; • it to his sorrow," ' c, , v V" . ; ! ' ''Then he .is an' old ;' acquaintance ; of: - yours ?" Ellen asked. ' : ' 'Oh, •: yes, I met - him years ago in Aus- •., ;; n. tralia. Up to. a certain : time ,we were < i, ■ friends,, because he knew a lot ol people .in the other Country; that I knew, and ha ; came with . good * credentials." E)ht* I' am ' " sorry "to say,■■ ■ Miss ? Marchant, that your.■ ■'v ■ ; employer is a' thorough , scoundrel. ; 'I. -/ ■ could tell you things ?. about] him thai ' - would set your teeth >■ ogt , edge. And the •;: way he served a friend of mine ; ; was abso- • lutely scandalous. Perhaps I ought not to tell you all this, seeing,, that you aris.-\v ; v i living under ■ the same roof, as-'Wrath'/.' jK \ "Oh, you need not be ' afraid," Ellen . said. '. "You are _merely/ confirming certain suspicions of ; mine. VI had mora than - ft.": suspicion when I took my , present situation of the character of the man I encaged • , myself • to. I came v ; down here ■- wish my V eyes wide open to right, a . certain wrong, * ' and I was prepared to take any risk to do so. . I know that there is danger in the . air. but that -is not "going to deter me. ? !;, . '"I am quite .sure.: it wouldn't.,," -Bly . cried.' "Evors, if you . had seen -the, plucky ; way in which Miss Marchant behaved herself this afternoon you would have'been delighted." . ... -i "Please leave me out of the! question," J Ellen smiled. "Mr. Evors, would you mind telling me what, vou•know about Mr. ■■ , Gordon Bland? Mr. * lily told me ;he .waa '■ ; a friend of yours." ' . " >, - "The best friend I ever had/' Evors replied. ! "He helped mis out of more than ~, ; L one tight place. ; I didn't know him before "l 1 f I went to Australia,' but I met him there.: , ". ii j I : was a bit: of a headstrong' fool in , those :■ , ' days, and I ' was always;' in ' trouble. :;. As . : a matter of : fact, my ; people sent me • : 'down under'? to rough it i ana - learn a certain amount of .worldly wisdom. I took a long time over the lesson, and if it had •'■ not ; been for Gordon Bland I should not be. „ here now. It .was . a bad: day for my old : friend when I brought him 1 in-contact with; ' Christopher Wrath." '•-, i, . ' 'v. • '"Won't you tell me the story?" Ellen ; ■ asked.'' r 1 , v. '

" "Well, I would much rather not. .You -; ; see, .it is not altogether"my secret... -1 havo not even Hollo. lily. The thing began- in . Australia, and .was continued . years after- r. wards in Monte 'Carlo., You see, I was : rat' Nice getting over a bad wound just at ;. ■ |; the; time of the Armistice. \ And there Ivj ; : saw Gordon Bland, who had come through ' . ; the Mediterranean in Wrath's yacht. But ' [ really, I am afraid that I had boiler say re? more for the present." _ . Ellen .sat there, alert mi every nerve. All lU: 1 this was confirming exactly what she ex-. pected to- hear," ana yet she would net ask |r - any more without /taking Evors into her " ■ ■;• ][■.- confidence. 'And so far she had' not done' , that, even with Bly. ; ; _ "As you please," she said. . ■jr.; J "That is very good of you," jSvors '~ said, ,\ ' • 'Most women •;•' would ■; have. been / •.' annoyed v with me. But it will all ,' coma/ !; ■: out in the end, and you - shall he,tir: the story when lam : ready to tell it." " / , With that he rose and opened a drawer : in a writing-table. 1 ; VHe • Came ' back . with •; what appeared to be a photograph r in Ma ' hand, -: and passed it - over for Ellen's in-': spection. i . 1 • "There," lie' said, "that ia my lata , friend, - Gordon Bland, actually taken at : Monte Carlo, j and a ' really good .likeness.•; ~ Did you ever happen : to, meet ! him, Miau /. Marchant?" v\. ; , c" .< , Ellen came to a . sudden conclusion.. - : : . i "Yes, I : have," she said. - "Oh, /ye.\ hundreds ,of / times. £'. Perhaps, , Mr. Evors; - you will; be inclined to tell me a>3liUl« ; more when I inform 1 you; that that, my.. father." ■ . •; * vv-, ... . y ■ ■■. (To bo continued daily. /; ;