SLINGS AND ARROWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19891, 9 March 1928, Page 16

SLINGS AND ARROWS.

S •' ■ ' •' :""t. BY CARLTON DAWE 1' •: •' •.'P/' '

CHAPTER Xl.—(Continued.) Pitiful appeal. Poor Da'vid was at a loss how to answer, knowing nothing of ■the law on this point, if there were one. But whatever law there was he had no doubt of the way it would go, or of the precedent, fuzzy-wigs would create if called upon to do so. " I believe Lord Tynehurst is in town. Ha came up for the— David, what is vour theory about the murder of Bernard ?" " First ox all, do you know any one who would be likely to wish him out of tho way ?"

" Do you mean to the extent of murdering him?"

" Let us put it like that." " No, of course not. As far as I know he never had a real enemy. He was too careless, too indifferent to what people thought, to make enemies. " No suspicion of any kind?" he asked. " None at all."

" What if he came in suddenly and found a burgilar ransacking the flat ?" " But how did he get in—l mean Bernard ?"

" Perhaps tho burglar carelessly left the door open." Slowly she shook her head. " I don't think it's like that at all, though 1 admit the possibility. You see, nothing was missing; not even a drawer opened. There would have been some evidence of an attempt at robbery. " And there was none?" 0 -No." " What about Corsun ?' " Arthur! But you've just seen him. Can vou imagine him attacking a man ?" "No, 1 can't; but even a fellow like that may be dangerous with a dagger in his hand, if the fellow wasn't looking. Aud, as far as we know he, was the last person in the house." 4< Again she shook her head. What motive could he have, even if he were capable of doing such a thing, or had the courage?" " You, Barbara." "•'Me! But you don't mean that, really?" '. . " Would it bo very surprising.' " Oh. no," " she answered hastily, *' there's nothing like that betweon Arthur and me. It s just a business partnership. Of course, David, I don't ?>rofess to be blind j but Corsini ou don't think like that of me?" "I couldn't; I was thinking of him. But let us blot out the Signor Corsini. That leaves us the theory of suicide." " Bernard was too fond of life. I should' think lie wSs about the last person on earth who would even dream o£ ■doing such a thing.' Then what about Sir Harry Marn-

ner?" " David, David!" she protested. As a matter of fact I happen to know that 'Sir Harry was out of town at the time. " He might have returned." » She intimated that this was a very serious matter, to be discussed seriously, though the woman in her might have been a little fluttered at the thought of jealousy. He acknowledged its seriousness: no one was more convinced of thtis than he. But were they not. out to make tests, to advance theories for what they •were " worth ? "Forgive me."' she said. "I think I'm fast losing ray manners as well as my courage. It all seems so frightfully hopeless." Yet of all the theories advanced she clearly preferred that of burglar. The fact that no valuables were stolen might have meant one of two things: sudden terror at what had beeu doi.e, "which necessitated instant flight, or a ruse to avoid' suspicion. If the depredator were an habitual criminal he woulfft live a life of dread, never knowing a moment's peace; but with robbery clearly not the motive there might be a shadow of hope for him to escape detection. That Bernard should come to h<r Hat *t such a time (she assumed it would be about the time she was due to return from the cabaret) was nothing surprising in itself. There was no known g wnat he would do with liquor fumes hi his brain. And he had grown more importunate of late, ' more- intractable; tried to make her see the farve of their separation; declared that ahe was still his wife and always would be. His protestations of affection grew until they became nauseous, revolting. Her scorr of him and them maddened him. He ■wanted her; she was the only woman. With an endless stream of the same unconvincing talk. For slowly she was beginning to realise values in men and things. Those days, when she first met him, bow far away they seemed; lost in some dim and distant age! There had been romance in the thought of him then, great allurement it' the dreams ho awoke, tinged doubtless, with worldly ambition. She had her way to. mal.e in the world, a life to make the best of. and fate didn't throw great chances in the way of every girl. In the glamour of her dream she oubtless saw what she most wished to nee. Even then she probably had an inkling that he was no perfect hero, no stainless knight: but socially he was of importance, and one day would be a considerable personage. But now against imaginary values she was weighing tear ones, and the discrepancy of the balance amazed her. Ir deed, it might be said to have done more. It awoke a suspicion in her mind as to the difference between real and imaginary values, or if such a difference existed. Which just then was not good for her peace of mind. Not. to have taith now, faith in something, anything, might point the ay ay of catastrophe. David Kingsfield watched her closely, seeir. g a suspicion of all this in her face. He had an uncanny feeling that she was at the parting of the ways, and was apprehensive of her decision. Fate, he knew, was driving Jier hard at the moment. urging a desperate course. Which way should she take; would it be possible for her to chose One little woman, with danger and temptation on i?ve, - y hand, suffering what she believed to he a cruel injustice: here was a situation full of grave contingency. Husband, child, deputation, all taken from her. How was she going to face the melancholy out' look'!

In the child, he believed, lay her salvation. Her Jove, dissolving * it' tears, v.-ould have washed away much bitterness of ."pirit, leaving the woman to find contention in the mother. What sort of man was this Lord Tvnehurpi ? If he believed, as doubtless he did, in her alleged iniquities, there might be some excuse for his conduct. But had he ever heard the other side of the story; was there no way of making' him hear it?" "Did you ever meet Lord Tynehurst ?" he asked suddenly. "No; he always refused to see me." "But durirg your visits to Babs?" "She was always guarded by an army of servants. David, I felt like a known criminal gazing at a precious jewel. None of them seemed to realise that I was her mother." "You say he is in town at present?" "So I understand. What do you mean to do?" she asked suddenly. "If possible I should like him to hear the truth." "He Avouldn't listen." "Have I your permission to try ?" "To see him?" He nodded. "He ■wouldn't see you, especially if he thought you came from me." "I can try." "H« is an awful old man." "Evidently; but he is a man. and con••quehtly more or less a human being. Things can't go on like this, you know. S y got to pull up, make a stand; «ul< bftck if necessary."

(COPYRIGHT.)

"Vou would lav yourself open 'to an awful snubbing. it would bo no use. He has formed his opinion of me. Nothing, 1 feel sure, will alter it. Not that I want his good opinion," she flashed out; ■' I should hate it as I hate him,"

" That's better," he said" " There's a lot of self-respect in hitting buck and hitting hard. And there's always hope for us until we're counted out. As for the snubbing I am likely to receive, don't let that cause you the slightest alarm, at any rate not on my account. Haven't you guessed by this that I'm as insensitive to slights as a duck is to raindrops ? This hide of mine, Flaming Hair " " Flaming Hair!" " I beg your pardon; it slipped out inadvertently." " What does it mean ?" she asked, a new tone in her voice, a new look in her eyes. " Sometimes, when I am alone, I think of you as Flaming Hair." CHAPTER XII. THE OOKE. The problem of how this interview with Lord Tynehurst was to be obtained presented many difficulties, almost insuperable difficulties they seemed to Dr> vid Kingsfield. And even if obtained, how was it likely to further her cause ? She had promised him a snubbing, the thought of which failed utterly to intimidate hint. The whole peerage rising in wrath or supercilious contempt might have set him laughing hilariously, but that he was likely to be blotted out by such an assault exceeded the bounds of probability. The difficulty was to get at the old agre. That he was an ogre of the most malignant type was taken for granted; h:s actions proved this conclusively. Nobody but' the veriest curmudgeon alive could possibly assume such a provocative attitude to her of the flaming head. So he spent some time in trying to think tlie worst he could of the ogre; tho rest, how he was to enter the ogre's den, which, most appropriately,- was situated in the barbarous region of Mayfair, the peculiar preserve of ogre, ogresses, and their young. Now the thought of posing as a detective investigating the case, now as a the family solicitor. But the first was quickly abandoned because of its element of danger; the second because of the doubt it might arouse in the ogre's mind. Did nondescript dancing girls have family solicitors? Besides, tie might refer him to one of the genuine species. So, arming himself to the teeth, he courageously invaded the country of the barbarians, and boldly blew the horn that hung before the frowning gate of the castle. That is to say, he furiously plied the knocker, and, on the appearance of the seneschal, informed that dignitary that he had an appointment with his master. Such an intimation, coming from one whose appearance satisfied the critical eye, was received with all due respect. He was shown into a room at 'the far end of the hall and asked if he would kindly wait while-his lordship was informed of his presence.

Then he began to brace his nerves for the ordeal, wondering what would happen to him when the fraud was discovered, Anyway, he had achieved something; lie was in the den. And a fairly comfortable den it seemed, with a thick carpet underfoot, a well-lined bookcase, most inviting pictures on the walls, and not a sign of crunched bones. Probably the ogre ate them.

Indeed that bookcase drew him, fascinated him. The only time he ever felt inclined to pilfer was when he saw some volume he had a great longing to possess. And there were many such volumes here. He wondered if the ogre ever looked into them, if ogres read books, or if by any chance they ever had other thoughts than those of villainy and destruction. Then lie was conscious of a presence, cooking round he saw a red-faced man of middle height, of heavy build, who wore a dark lounge suit and a black tie. He was not a handsome man, even for his years; neither was he undistinguished. His eyes were large, blue, and rather fierce; very like his" dead son's, yet with a difference." Bernard might have done much better for himself had his been as steady, his jaw as firm. The old man had the same ugly mouth, made uglier and more provocative through age. Indeed, his whole aspect was fierce and threatening, and quite in keeping with his legendary character. David believed that a man with those eyes and that mouth was capable of an infinite variety of outrage.

I understand you have an appointment with me, Mr. " " Kingsfield." " Ah! Well, what's it about ? I seem to have forgotten." He waved the interloper to a chair seating himself with his back to the window, . glowering in the approved manner of his kind David Kingsfield took his time. Carefully lie loosened his trousers <o\er the knees before seating himself sunk comfortably to repose, and thought hard all the time, harder, probablv, than he ,had ever thought. Then, impulsive as ever, he blurted cut the truth. ' Xo stammering, no hesitation. Out it cfune as though it were the most natural thine in the world.

To be quite frank., Lord ,Tynehurst. I ne ?! ei ~ an appointment with you." "All!" Accompanied bv a muffled, ogreish growling deep down in the throat.

i./' You see me for the first time in your life, apd judging from your benign expression, it will probably be the last." ''You're right there," snapped the other, turning if to touch the bell at his elbow. But David was quick, exceedingly quick when in the mood. One moment, please. Let me assure you that. I am neither adventurer nor ■rogue, that,l have no nefarious designs on your person or your house, nor have I come to beg. Excellent credentials, you will admit."

The ogre stared at him as one night at the sudden apparition of a freak, j.'icn. "Why have you come?" This time the snap was nearer a bark. Presently the animal would bare his teeth, or his claws, or whatever it was these creatures tore with.

"I happen to know something of this great calamity." "What ?

"In the first, place, that you entirely misjudge the lady who has been Am fortunate enough to incur your displeasure," was the bold venture.

"And on what authority do you assume this impertinence?" Eyes gleamed with fierce hostility; the mouth adopted a portentous shape, David wondered if indignation wotiid imnie diatcly terminate the interview, or curiosity prolong it. "Justice," was the solemn reply: ''the knowledge that most men prefer to play the game when they can.". Probably even ogres have a latent sense of sportsmanship, a dull sort of glimmer of what man felicitously terms the "right thing." Certainly this one appeared to hesitate a moment or two before replying, though irritation and annoyance still lingered in his tone. "Well," he said at last, "what do you think you're driving at ? Are you competent to make an intelligent statement, or am I wasting my time with a fool of a busybody?" " As to the nature of the statement, its intelligence or otherwise, much wijl depend on the proficiency of the intelligence to which it appeals. But as to the question I wish to ask, 'Have you ever seen the lady V there can be no possible ambiguity." ''Oh! Well, I haven't seen the lady, nor don't want to."

"Nor heard her side of the argument?" He was answered in a tone of sudden suspicion: "What is she to you?" "I hope a friend, though I doubt my worthiness of being admitted to her friendship." "H'm ! Did she send you 1" "On the contrary, she endeavoured to dissaude me. But "I argued that even in a certified idiot there have been found occasional glimmerings of reason." (To be continued daily.)