SLINGS AND ARROWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 16 (Supplement)

SLINGS AND ARROWS.

| BY. CARLTON DAWB.

CHAPTER XH.—(Continued.) It was growing clearer and clearer every moment that even ogres have their doubts, irresolutions. This one was cogitating the question: shall I have this impertinent jackanapes summarily ejected? And he cogitated it with mixed feelings. Never in all his Itfe had ho been bearded in this preposterous fashion. The catastrophe, dire, tragic; - was almost assuming an appearance of the absurd. This man, ■witli hi 3 curious air of self-possession, was like an accusing angel fantastically attired. For he was . accusing, accusing ynore by implication than by a direct jcharge; yet surely pointing the finger. Insensibly Lord Tynehurst was conflicted of uncertainty, and what was even Stranger than this, he was made singulariy aware of the fact that he was convicting himself, which was. a proceeding so abnormal as both to startle and mystity. This, coupled with a sense of a loss ot identity, irritated Mm profoundly. He •was not accustomed to this feeling o» effacement; he the dominant one, the master, the man who always knew pwn mind. . >- But there must come a time when the master mind hesitates, grows doubtful of its' judgment, has a wish to avoid enor. CCo assume a superiority over all ot *her minds, while it may flatter vanity, can never appease reason, and reason was conKTiicuouslv recalcitrant just then. Se £n always be right? Mgeejj" secret he had pondered long this tragedy S fcrtd its cause. *No one knew how he had pondered it. Ostensibly his unc.ompr - front had nevsr faltered. out twardly.. his determination remained implacable as death, but inwardly there had Len a craddng and a crumbling of th iabrie. Hate, like iron, aats into itself. And on what sort of foundation had lie built his hate? Mere human disappointment, annoyance that life should thwart desire, that providence should Oppose a check to formidable P nde - This visitor of his revived these thoughts with much poignancy. l!Wii„ss long pent up struggled for an outlet Though he would never admit it, tevsn to himself—may, indeed, haves no real knowledge of it-what he yearned for was to talk. Man must talk, or go mad. Hitherto there had been no ono worthy of his confidence. He was the giant who sat brooding,; head in the clouds, despising the midgets beneath hint, yet suffering acutely from a sense c f envy, the intolerable effect of solitude. " Well what do "ou want ? he asked, fixing hi's eyes on this presumptuous stranger. "For myself, nothing} for her, just;ce" , " She has had it," was the grim answer. . , . " On the contrary, she has been sacrificed to a perverted sense of dignity. " Come, come, I can t listen to tms impertinent balderdash. If you have anything sensible to say, any cogent fact to make known, let me hear it. "Yet Sir Harry Marriner is prepared to come forward and prove her mnotence." , The old man's heavy eyebrows rose Sorbiddingly. his mouth twisted into a Bnsrl. . _ ~ " Sir .Harry Marriner ! Don t mention thai scoundrel to me. Hp was. the s-uin of my son. Every retrograde step (that Bernard took was duo to his abominable instigation." ~ . " I am one with you in your estimate ©f him," David rejoined in his most convincing manner. > -j ~ " Prove her innocence! , snapped the bgre. "Ana at the moment she's practically Kving'jOß«Wf..fp? hlHl * I know all about it; me. If you've no better than this, fycm're a fool for your pains." " She is quite aware that you are having her watched, which is not, when •you come to it out, a very creditable performance." " Well, ol all the— Much splutter-. sng, redness of face, glaring of fierce eyes, unmistakable signs of the crumbling of 'psres. * , ii " She receives Mamner for a puroose. ©avid went on imperturbably. "He has ipromised to help her; only, through nim - lean she regain hev status in society. _ "Her status!" A nasty snarl, this, (even from an ogro. , " Such as it is," he answered blandly. I" As your son's wife you will best be bble to judge its value. But since you appear to have a record of Marriner s doings, you are also probably aware of the visits of your son? He begged her a second time secretly to marry him. "So she says." , . . " Now, would a man. not convinced Bf his former error, make such a proposition to a woman who had wronged him? Would you, Lord Tynehurst? Would I ? Assuming that your son was both strictlv honourable and in full possession of his reason, can we do less than admire his sense o£ justice, however tardy ?" , " She appears to have bewitched him, he admitted grudgingly. " Not, I assure you, in f;he way you mean, but as any good and beautiful (woman might bewitch .an honest man. " The whole business was dark and underhand," he protested, but with a lessening vehemence. Who was responsible fcr that ?" " Look here, young man, it seems to me that I'm exhibiting exemplary patience." " You are doing now what you ought to have done in the beginning. If you had vou would have brought happiness instead of misery, and your son would yuw be alive." Dignity fought with natural feeling', human nature' with vanity and pride. But his patience! It amazed him. The proper thing would be to terminate the interview at once and order this injtolerable lellow from the house. Why he didn't, ha could not understand. Was it the unaccustomed freedom of dispute jthat appealed to some inner consciousness, ,a twisted turn of the brain that impelled hipi onward, in sjjite of himself, a sense of refreshment in hearing a man talk'! |Any one of these things, probably all >of them. He did not know. He only Sinew that he listened and was amazed %ts his listening. | More closely than ever he studied his : Those fierce eyes of his, ac--1 Customed to instil terror, were met by ! teyes of a singular calm. No fear there rof man, or anything else, it seemed. rQuiet solf-possession, a face ruggedly . , and a brain that was thinking, brain that was probably summing him Vip. Ho was not sure that he liked being ptunmed up; First of all it was an astonishing impertinence; then it seemed to make sad havoc of dignity. Indeed, dignity felt a curious quiveriog about the knees, a sensation as of caving in, most reprehensible and scarcely to bo endured. If he had acted differently his son would now bo alive. But ho was dead and with him all his hopes. Once more anger cloud ec? reason. " She shall pay for it," he said. ■" For what ? " ... v " The death of my son. If she did not actually kill him I have no doubt she contrived at it." " Why ? " . " Why ?" ho echoed irascibly. "What a damn silly question! What would animate such a woman but revenge ? But I've not finished with her. I'll have the truth at whatever cost, and bring her down where she deserves to be." " That would be an extraordinary thing to do to your eon's wife, the mother of jfeis child." " How do I know the child is his? " : I"Did he ever deny hw parentage?" " t" Mv son wes a gentleman." ' *" Ail,". said David Kingsfield; 2 that Hoes make a difference." The old man sprang to his feet, eyes Starting, face suddenly aflame. Most

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David, unruffled, answered: "I think you can, and what is more, I think you do. It was necessary that you should hear the other side, that some one should perform that particularly unpleasant task. Though I have scattered only a few seeds I am not without hope of a plentiful har-1 vest. But I must tell you that Mrs. Carmond's friends (of whom I am honoured to count myself one) are not stopping here. "We who have faith in her are going to"prove that faith." " The faith of a woman who still receives her old lover! Th.it will need some proving, don't you think ? And what is more, I wipe her out. I refuse to provide monoy for abandoned women. Tell her this, if you're her friend, and clesr out." David, rose slowly, and as slowly took up his hat and gloves; but when ho looked at the irate old gentleman, there was an unveiled anger in his eyes. However, his voice was still unruffled. " And the child, now that her legal ! guardian is dead ? " " Do you suppose that I would allow my grandchild to be brought up with that woman ? " " Her mother. Isn't there something in the tio? " " Not enough to make me change ny mind." " Then the courts must talk." " She Will have had enough of courts before she's finished." Monstrous ogre, but one whose wrath needed a stimulant to keep it at fever heat, or this visitor was strangely misreading him. " Lord Tynehurst, may I ask a fav- j our? " " Ah, I thought something of the sort was coming," he chuckled. " Well, out with it." " When you next see the baby will you tell her that ' David ' called ? " " David ? " " I'm David, her big black bear. I think she was rather fond of me." " What infernal nonsense is this ?" Yet he betrayed a curious interest not usually bestowed on nonsense. "It was quite delicious nonsense." " Who the devil are you, anyway ? " he snapped, angry with himself, interested against his will, and doubly irascible on account of this knowledge. " A mender of kites for the sweetest baby in the world; also a mender of splintered hollyhocks." " Have I been listening to a lunatic ? " " Probably. But you won't forget, sir ? " " Where did you know my grandchild ? " ' . " I think it must have been in Fairyland, though I'm not quite sure it wasn't nearer heaven." " What are you." The heavy grey brows were contracted over the fierce blue eyes. The ogre was clearly a little puzzled, arid not entirely devoid of the human weakness of curiosity. " A snapper-up of crumbs that fall from the tables of the intellectually rich." " What the devil's that ? " " I don't quite know. In fact I never did know who I am, where I am, or why I ,am. Do you ? " " Is that* supposed to be clever, or impertinent ? " " Neither. How can one, groping in the dark, knowing not what awaits one in the. beyond, be either clever or impertinent ? It would be an unwarrantable presumption, sir, a flouting of providence." " Did you know my son ? " "No, "sir; but I rather wish I had." Lord Tynehurst did not answer on the moment, for thought was surging rather confusedly ju3i then. So this was the '* David " of whom the child had babbled so frequently. " What did you mean by a ' a mender of splintered hollyhocks?'" he asked. " A precious memory, sir, almost holy; at any rate, not to be shared by tho profane." :• " Among whom you appear to count mo ? " "You aro wrong, sir; I count you nothing." " You have not learned the specious art of flattery?" " Not yet, though God knows what fato may be in store for me." " Not difficult to guess, I think, unless you mend your manners." " I often wonder which i 3 the more culpable, bad manners or bad conduct." " I should £ay you were a judge of neither." With that he sharply rang the bell, and the servant appearing, David bowed and took his departure. Lord Tynehurst stood gazing into vacancy. He heard the big front door close, and in imagination followed liis strange visitor as he walked down the street. Then he dropped into a chair by tho table, resting his head in his hands. Almost he wished he had not let the fellow go. In spite of himself he had to admit) that he was curiously intrigued. Naturally he resented the familiar tone adopted "by tho fellow; but somehow he felt that he had been talking to a man, a refreshing because a not too common experience. And with these thoughts came others, not one of which conducted to a placidity of mind. He would not ask himself if he had acted justly, having little doubt of it; but precipitately? And hurrying on the top of this thought came one more disconcerting: had he been quite fair to the young people ? This in its turn prepared the way for others, a multitude of them, strange phantoms with accusing eyes, "But he was right; he knew he was right. Between them they had da stroyed him utterly; shattered his dreams. An old man's dreams! Yes, surely he j was right? Poor ogre! CHAPTER XIII. SPECIAL PLEADING. " Do you, know," David said to her, in reporting this interview, " I'm rather inclined to think that I'm not the best of ambaissadors. Yet it was a comparatively reasonable ogre, and allowed me to quit its den without molestation. Indeed, I am almost convinced that if he were to undergo an intensive system of training something might yet be mado of him."

She listened, expectant, hoping against hope. Naturally he did not tell her of tho unkind things the ogre had said. On the contrary, ho strove quite heroically to gild the edge of the storm-cloud that lowered so theateningly. Ho felt that Lord Tynehurst, witli all his faults of pride, ambition, prejudice, was a much worried, much desolated man. Into his life had coma the supremo catastrophe, overwhelming, devastating, and ho was opposing to it a feeble and impotent resistance.

Of course Marriner had to bo mentioned. David was weakly human enough to detest that person; also, perhaps, a little to fear him. The suavo sleek one; he was rather an intriguing enigma, not free of danger. It was not for him to voice his own opinion of Marriner, which would have looked like special pleading, but he none the less suggested care in all dealings with that gentleman. Ha had no doubt in his own mind that the ogre did her great wrong or that she was wilfully or blindly laying herself open to suspicion. Why had not Marriner moved during all these wcoks ? What had become of his protests, his profuse promises ? In a way ho understood her attitude. She was sincerely of the belief that he was her sheet-anchor, her only hope of salvation. Eliminate him and the sun, and plunge the world in darkness. .Sir Harry was a careful, an astute, and a patient man. Occasionally one might hasten the achievement by a show of vigorous enterprise, but better always carefully to prepare the w*y to the desired end. To ha suddenly surprised and cot off from all-commonciafion3 -jkis

not a model of good soldiership. To 6tress the situation while the Carmond Incident was still engaging popular attention would not be good tactics. So he arguod, and proceeded to act accordingly. Better wait until the affair had quieted down a little. Presently some new sensation would come along and provide the usual mine days' wonder. Such things were always happening, were bound to happen in a diverse and thickly populated centre,Already, so he informed her, he had privately suggested to Lord Tynehurst the necessity for an interview, and had been coldly referred to his lordship's solicitors, a firm eminent in the city, and universally renowned for its connection with the socially exalted. But from that visit to those astute persons he reaped but a barren harvest. Their disbelief in him, in his protestations, was evident. After a polite hearing they told him they would communicate with their client, and that ho should hear from them in due course. But from that day to. this no word had reached him.

"So you see," he explained, "they evidently have no intention of entertaining my proposition, or of giving mo a chance to right you in the eyes of the world. We're up against all the force that wealth and social position can employ. As well attempt to move a mountain as to hope for justice or mercy from Tynehurst. He is still insatiable for revenge. Not alone is he firmly convinced that you ruined his son, but he even suggests— But why should we condescend to think of him, his hatred, or his petty suspicions? Why not cut him out, dear girl ? It's a big world, and all before us. me, and let us quit the country for good." She shook her head. "I shall never quit the country until the of Bernard's death has been cleared up."

"I don't believe it ever will be. There are lots of such crimes still unsolved. I happen to know that Scotland Yard has an appalling list of them. As I said from the first, only two solutions are possible: Either Bernard committed suicide " "Why should ho?" "Please don't ask me. Why do many people do absurd things ? But it's either suicide or "

"Or?" 'An attack—by a burglar. Personally I favour the burglar theory; it seems to me the only one that we can reasonably accept. But whatever we may think is likely to be of little service. The police have the affair in hand, and we may safely leave it to them. What does Inspector Kellett really think of it?'' "I don't know. He gives one no inkling of his thoughts." ,i Detective-Inspector Ivellett was the officer from Scotland Yard who was investigating the crime. Rather a hard-faced man was Detective-Inspector Stephen Keliett, a cold-blooded sleuth with as little regard : for feelings or sensibility as a wolf. Obsessed by a stern devotion to duty, he would have arrested his own mother if she had contravened the law. What he really thought of the law, or of those who administered it from the secret recesses of private offices, in no way clashed with his devotion to duty, lhe hunting down of criminals was his job, the job he was paid for, and many a hardened malefactor quivered apprehensively when he knew that Kellett was after him. , .Already he had twice closely questioned Barbara Carmond, and left her feeling as though a tornado had passed over her. There was no sympathy in the man, no suggestion of it; and he was as blind to beauty as a rhinoceros. Sallow and dark, eyes too near each other, and a tightlipped mouth, the fellow had seemed to her more like a machine than a man. And he frightened her; his face frightened her, his" method, and the knowledge of what he stood for. When he looked at her his manner suggested that if she were not the actual culprit she undoubtedly knew who was. Consequently she had no use for the Kellets of this world; would have banished them all to the utmost limits of space. "Well, he is recognised as a most able and conscioentious officer," Marriner continued, "and if anybody's ■ ever going to clear up the mystery I think Kellett'sthe man. To me it's quite clear that we can do nothing, and I hate this continual brooding of yours, which can do you no sort of good. Why not cut it all out! Come away." "And leave my baby?" "Babs," he said with curiously compelling gravity, ''why not try to understand ? They'll never believe in us though wo swore a thousand affidavits, took ten thousand solemn oaths. Therefore try to understand. Lord Tynehurst has not the remotest intention of giving up the child. "The courts may make him," she persisted, desperate. "But they won't. I'm sorry, my dear, but we must look facts in the face. You know what the public's like when it gets on the moral lay." "And as I said before, to marry you would admit the guilt.'' " The guilt is apparently there whether we admit it or not. The court, the world, our friends, are all convinced of it. Since, inadvertently, I have brought you to this, there is no other way for me, as an honourable man, to make reparation. I think you can have no doubt >. of my devotion? Let .us marry, clear out, and forget this horrible business. We shall both be the happier. _ I, because I shall feel easier in my conscionce on account of you; you because of the unassailable dignity of your position as my wife." But the thought of so fine a prospect failed to stir enthusiasm. Much time had passed since her departure from Fellwood in the silver car. Then, for a mom-, ent, she had seen possibilities in this man; in fact, there appeared no hope except through him. But as the days and the weeks slipped by her faith faltered, and was now on the point of vanishing altogether. Besides, she was seeing Harry Marriner now as she had never seen him before. In the old, happy, careless days, when nothing really mattered, he had seemed well enough, his admiration a tribute to beauty, his jealously not unentertaining. As Bernard's fnend she had accepted him, and there he began and ended for her. Probably he amused her with his cheap cynicisms. Ho had a sharp tongue which cut and thrust without mercy. And it is always sweet to hear bitter things of our friends. Harry spared no one, not even himsolf, though not quite in the same way. In his favour some reservation was always implied. He didn't in the least mind denouncing him- t self as a sad dog, but with a suggestion of lovable points about the creature that no other dog possessed. " To be quite frank with you, Harry," she said, " you have cruelly disappointed me. I hoped much from you, you promised much, and you have done nothing." " All I could do, dear girl. Remember what I've been up against. You yourself have had experience of the general enemy. As well talk to the wind. The man "is convinced that you are the cause of all this unhappinesa, and nothing we can say or do is likely to alter that conviction."

" In any case I should not dream of marrying you." " I admit my unworthiness, but hoped that my devotion might not go unrecompensed." " And I don't want yon to come here any more. Already your visits hav© been misconstrued.'' " What have you to be afraid of ?" Her eyes flamed. " You mean that a little extra mud " I meant nothing of the sort, and you know it. Probably I expressed myself badly. What I meant to say was that as my wife you will have nothing to fear. My name will protect yon from insult or innuendo." " And without it?" " Babs, be reasonable. I love yon and I want you. Don't let us worry about what people say or think. And for Heaven's sake don't let mo brag, but if you were Lady Marriner it might make a difference 1 about the kiddie." (To be continued daily.)