MASTER OF FATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 18 (Supplement)

MASTER OF FATE.

BY FRANK PRICE.

CHAPTER XYIIL NORTIIFEILD. H What on earth has been happening here ?" asked Robert at last. " These two men have been fighting," Joan said. " That's pretty obvious!" returned Robert grimly. " And from tho look of the room it wasn't a tea fight! But what jvas it abrut ? What did they fight for?" " These papers. That one had them. Is /''fie Mr. Northfield ?" "Yes. Did ho bring the papers hero?" *' I think not. I believe he got them / from Stanloy Wayne." She mado a motion with her head towards the silent figure in tho invalid chair. " But I can only guess at that. I was watching outside. Another man has been hero. Ho knocked at the front door and Stanley .Wayne answered in his chair. Tho man handed him a packet and went away at once. Wayne shut tho door and a few minutes later 1 beard him scream in tins room. I ran round to tho back and heard angry voices, but could see nothing, and /1 was going to the side door when this one suddenly appeared and went into the porch. Judging by the sounds ho walked straight into this room and then the fight began." "Don't you know who he is?'' demanded Robert. " No. I never saw him before." "He is Peter Morrison." ' "Morrison!" She stared down at tho fleshy face with a queer, startled expression. "I never thought of that! But come and get these papers from him. / They are both unconscious—l found them like this when the noise of fighting had died down, and I ventured in to see what had been going on. It went on for a long time. They must have fought each other •to a standstill; but either or both may recover at any minute, and then there ;will be trouble again!" "Not much fear of that!" said Robert. / f f'l should be equal to the pair of them with one hand tied behind me, for a long time to come! But I'll see what these papers are!" He dropped on his knees beside Morrison and tried to prize open his hand. Tho grip was so tight that ho had to exert all his -strength and he almost expected to hear the bones of the fingers snap beforo the muscles relaxed. Ho succeeded at last, and gained possession of the papers. One glance was enough to . tell what they were. "Do you know what they are!" ho asked. " No." " But you told me they belonged to Mr. (Hearstwood." " Isn't it true 1" " Well—in a way." j "I caught 3. few words here and there (while they were struggling and shouting. Most of it was swearing, but ono sentence came clear, though of course I couldn't tell who was speaking: ' Those papers / belong to Gordon Hearstwood and you shan't have them while I am alive!' Then tho din got worse as if both had become desperate, and it vras soon afterwards that silence came." r "One of them said that!" exclaimed Robert. " Aro you certain yon were not mistaken?" " Quite. The words were shouted and I , heard them distinctly." ' " Morrison would not say it. It must have been Northfield!" Robert stared doubtfully down at the manager ; but his doubts were of himself and his judgment. As he looked Nortlifield's broad chest rose and fell in a long sigh, and his arms moved slight)). '' He is coming to," said Robert. " I wonder if we could get anything—brandy—water ?" " I don't know about brandy, but JI there must bo a water tap somewhere." ' Joan flitted quickly from the room. Robert went to Northfield and examined him. There was a big bruise on his forehead running up into the scalp, where the skin waa broken and blood was oozing , from it. A fragment of a broken chair, 1 to which clung a few hairs, lay beside him and seemed to tell how the wound was inflicted. Robert turned to Morrison wondering how tho two men came to ll collapse at the same moment. Dark, deeply indented finger marks on his throat explained his condition. Northfield had evidently been choking him with deadly intent when Morrison, probably with the last remnant of his failing strength, struck the blow which then ended tho / fight. • ' "I don't understand it!" muttered Robert to himself. " But Northfield Ecem3 to bo recovering and he will have to explain!" He turned to the manager and shifted him to an easier position. Joan came back with a basin and a glass, both containing water, and between them they raised Northfield slightly and poured / some of the liquid between his lips. Ho swallowed it and they saw his eyelids flutter, but they did not open. Laying 1 him down again, Robert dipped his handkerchief in the basin and bathed his head. Tho cold water had a reviving effect. Northfield sighed again, and his lids parted slightly. " What about tho others?" asked Joan. "They must wait!" said Robert. "I want to hear what this chap has to say before anything else."' ' " But ought we not to call someone—a doctor—the police ?" "No! I'm going to hear Northfield's ■tory without interference! I'll tako full responsibility, so you needn't worry." "I'm Dot worrying about them!" she l aaid in an almost callous tone. " But if Morrison revives he may try to make trouble." | " Ho had better not!" Robert put the bundle of documents into an inside pocket and buttoned up his coat. " I have a few scores to wipe of! with Mr. Morrison ,and if he gives me half a chance I'll make pulp of him!" Northfield moved, rolling over on bis face, scrabbling at the carpet with his fmger3, trying to raise himself. Robert took him under the shoulders and, with 1 Joan's help, lifted him into an easy chair which had escaped the general wreck. I He lay back in it for a couplo of minutes, ' breathing heavily with his chin on his breast and his eves closed. Robert put the glass to his fips again and he drank greeddy. Then ho slowly heaved himself erect in tho chair and opening his eyes stared dully at the two faces in front of him. j " What —who—" he wheezed falteringly, and then, as if he could not concentrate, his gaze went roving about in tho room. It wandered over the dis- j order, an expression of grotcsquo wonder growing on his face, until bis eyes fell on the figuro of Morrison, face upward | on tho (ioor. Memory seemed to return j with a leap, and ho leaned forward, grip- j ping tho arms of tho chair as he tried i to struggle to his feet. "Tho papers!" j bo gasped. " What has he done with tho papers?" i " They aro safe," said Robert. "I ' bivve taken possession of them," " Give them to me!" Northfield had fallen back and had only strength' to hold out two trembling hands. " Give thorn to me at once." "I shall give thern up at tho right time and to tho right person," replied Robert. " Thoso papers concern Mr. Hearstwood, and I shall bo responsible to him for them." How do you know that ? I have seen your face before. Whoro was it? When! v, ' n ® Who arc the devil are you?" My name is ljoder. You saw rnc at Air. Hearstwood's house." " Ah!" Northfield glared at him from tinder his shaggy brows. "I remember *v 7'n ,-? U W ? rc with Miss Hearstwood. I 1 didn t hko tho look of you then, but I ! thought you were only one of tho idle I parasitic tailors' dummies who aro always Wr 5 K? B SiTm u C V," 11 was evid ont that 1 Mr. Northfield held strong views on somo I Bocial matters. "I wouldn't have credited r 'S\ )n T. f°"" h t0 1,0 »P ZLi But y° u ' re not going i t* H'lth it; " I'll—l'll * ° 1

A THRILLING STORY OF LOVE, CRIME AND ADVENTURE.

(COPTnianr.)

_ " Thai's my job." said Northfield, Getting to liia foot with difficulty. )( " Yon aro not fit." Robert told him. ' n no ' walk a hundred yards, and it is moro than a milo to Grov Prior. TiO.fc mo have the paners. I will dolivor ''lorn to Mr. Hearstwood and ho shall doride what to do next. The police aro still at Orcy Prior and we can have them nor© bet ore Ijfine arrives."

With a tremendous effort, ho had got fo his feet, and, after swaying drunkenly for a moment, he lurched forward, his hands groping for Robert's throat. But thoro was no power in them, nor in all his bulky frame. Robert took him by tho wrist and forced him back in tho chair where he lolled panting, with fury in his eyes.

" Look hero, Mr. Northfield," said Robert, " you and I understand each other. You seem to bo accusing mo of wanting thoso papers for somo unworthy object, and I don't mind telling yon that I am not at all satisfied as to your reasons for being so anxious to get hold of them." "Then I will soon satisfy you, my gentle man crook!" croaked Northfield. " Thoso papers mean tho differenco between fortune and bankruptcy to Gordon Hearstwood, the man I owe everything to. They should bo in his possession now, but they were stolen—no doubt you know by whom and why. But I havo been on their track ever since. I traced them here and had them, when that scoundrel burst in," 1.0 nodded toward Morrison; "and if you get away with them now becauso of what ho did to me, I'll trace you if it's to tho ends of tho earth and have them from you! You will savo timo and your skin if you hand them over at once!" Ha held out his fat right hand, still bleeding from the injury it had received. Robert looked down at the flabby face, pallid where blood and bruises had not discoloured it; ho noted the collar, ridiculously askew, its buttonholes burst, and its starched surface reduced to a rag; the tattered tie and rent, disordered clothing, all giving the man a grotcsquo and savago air. But behind these superficial appearances he sensed a will that would never bend from its purpose, and a loyalty, tho conviction of whose reality wiped suspicion from his mind. lie laughed suddenly and, clapping his hand into Northfield's, shook it until its owner rocked in his seat, while he gasped out angry ejaculations, and vainly strove to free himself.

"What are you doing?" ho roared. " Shaking hands with an honest man," said Robert, still laughing. " And to show you that I am converted you shall take chargo of these." He brought tho maps and plans from his pocket, and placed them in tho manager's hand.

" What does this mean ?" demanded Northfield, staring at them. " Simply that I see I have been mistaken about you and want you to realise that you have been equally mistakon about mo. lam here with Mr. Hearstwood's approval. He would havo como himself, but there were good reasons against it." " Do you mean he knew the papers ■would bo here ?"

" No; but he was aware of your presence, and now we must lot him know the papers aro recovered. But what amout these two ? There is a telephono somewhere in tho house. Shall I call a doctor."

Ho indicated Morrison and Btanley Wayno. Northfield scowled at them both.

" What for ?" he growled. " They won't die; if they did it would be a good ridance." Ho glowered at Morrison. " That sneak-thie< is moving. He's coming to. We mustn't let him get away." " Ho wouldn't bo ablo to go far in the condition you have left him in," said Robert. " You don't know. Take no chances. Tie him up. There's sure to be a rope in the house, if it is only a clothes line." " I will find something," said Joan Eversley, coming forward from the corner of tho room whero she had been a silent spectator. Northfield stared at her. "Who is this?" ho asked frowningly. " A friend," said Robert, who had almost forgotton her presence. " What brings her into this?" " I brought myself in!" said Joan. Sho placed herself before him, her eyes fixed on his, and her voice was hard and venomous. " Grant Lane is mixed up with all this and I will help anyone who is out to smash him."

Northfield had started at Lane's name, and for a moment he sat staring intently at her through half-closed eyes. Presently he nodded appreciatively and slowly moistened his lips with his tongue. " That sounds good to me," ho said. "I don't know how you guessed it, but—Look out! " It was a sudden shout to Robert who faced round in a flash. Clutching the upturned leg of the table, Morrison bad dragged himself to a semi-upright position and was measuring his distance for a rush at Northfield. With a bound Robert had him by the collar and jerked him back so roughly that he went sprawling to the floor again, where ho rolled cursing, with impotent efforts to regain his feet. " 1 told you," said Northfield. " Why don't you tio him up? Send the girl to find a rope." " Will you go ? " said Robert, and, with a nod, she went out. Sho was back in a moment with a coiled clothes lino in her hand. Robert was stepping forward to take it when he felt an arm go round his ankles and attempt to pull his feet from under him. If his brain had not acted quickly ho would have fallen heavily on his face, but, directly ho was touched, he flung himself backwards. The clasping arm tripped him and ho sat down heavily on tho head and shoulders of Morrison, driving him against the floor boards with a crash. " This is not Mr. Morrison's lucky day," said Robert, picking himself up. "He seems to be getting sat 011 all round! "

He took the ropo and mado a thorough job of the binding. When ho had finished Morrison was so securely trussed that it would be impossible for him to get freo without help. " That makes him safe," 110 said. "Now what about this one?" Ho went to Stanley Wavno and, looking down at him, fully realised for the first time the reason for the wheeled chair. Wayne was paralysed from tho hips down and liis legs were mere spindles. The wellproportioned upper part of his body was surmounted by a face of soft, almost womanish iines. and a head crowned by thick white hair. There was a slight movement in tho still figure as lie watched; then carno a heavy sigh, the lids fell apart and surprise leaped into tho eyes as thev lighted on Robert. A moment later they rested on Northfield, and a cry of terror broke from Wayno. "That man !" lie whispered feebly. "ITe attacked me! Ife robbed rne! " "That's a lie! " said Northfield roughly. " Thero was no robbery. What I took was not yours." "It was worse! It was his—Grant Lane's! "

" How do yon know that ? " asked Robert quickly, beforo Northfield could speak. "Ho told mo. The packet was left hero for him. Ho has to como for it himself at twelve to-night." With a simultaneous impulse Robert, Joan and Northfield looked at their watches. Robert bad not wound his since ho found it stopped in tho shed, but he saw by Joan's that it was a quarter to eleven.

" Tho night is young yet," 110 whispered and sho nodded. Robert turned to Northfield. " Thoso papers must not bo hero when Lano comes for them. Thev must bo put beyond his reach and Mr. Hearstwood should bo informed of their recovery."

" I don't want the police," rasped Northfield. " I am not afraid of Grant Lano! But I ought to hand tho papers over myself!" He walked unsteadily across tho room only to sink exhausted on a chair at the other side.

" Mr. Loder is right," said Joan Eversley. " You must stay here and let him go. I will remain with you and help to keep watch." Reluctantly Northfield handed over the precious papers and a moment later Robert was once more in tho opon air, with his face turned toward Grey Prior. CHAPTER XIX. FACE TO FACE. Robert returned by tho way he had come. No doubt a watch was still being kept for him at Grey Prior, and the road would bo guarded, especially as it was toward the latter that Keith Mallory bad led the hunt.

"Stout fellow, Keith!" he thought as ho trotted across tho fields. " I hope ho didn't get into trouble with Lano—but ho would keep his end up if ho did. Phow!" as ho climbed tho third hedge. " I could do with a hot bath and bed! If Una wasn't ahead I could drop under one of theso trees and sleep tho clock round! But she is there, God bless her! And she loves me, loves me, loves mo!" Tho rhythm of the words carried him on. He came to tho edge of tho trees and worked round to tho front of the house, without seeing any cvidenco of a watch being kept. Tho car in which Lano had driven from tho cottage stood at tho door. " Waiting to take him there for his 12 o'clock appointment," ho thought. " It's up to me to prevent that appointment being kept, if I can!" Ho skirted tho house cautiously, searching for a means of entry. What he would do if ho got in ho had no notion. He must find Una or her father, but how it could bo done was a problom whoso solution he could only leave to chance. Tho immediate puzzle was to effect an entry. He made a complete circuit of tho house without seeing a way out of tho difficulty. There wa3 tho balcony. If Beryl Lacroix had swarmed up one of its columns he could surely do tho same, but tho light coming from the drawing room windows, and figures ho conld seo moving inside, caused him to rule that mothod out as too risky. Ho did not want to bo seen, as ho had seen her. Ho came to a stop opposito the door by which ho had already entered once and escaped twice. His last uso of it must bo known. Would a special watch have been set on it? At any rate, it was pretty sure to bo locked and bolted now, and he had no means of forcing it. Still, if bv any chance it were unfastened, it was his best hope. Onco inside ho would know where ho was, and that would be a great advantage iD the great, wideflung house. Besides, time was going on, and he must do something quickly. He stood for a moment looking about him. Tho night had turned dark, and ho could see only a fow yards- All tho bettor! It was tho more unlikely that he himself would bo seen. He was on the point of dashing acros3 to the <OOI when the low hum of an engine came <0 him, and ho listened intently. Tho sound came from tho front of tho house. The chauffeur in tho big car had started up to be ready for 1113 master when he came out. Lane was going to tho cottage. That would bo awkward for the people there, but it had its advantages from Robert's point of view. If he had to deal with enemies inside the house, they would only be subordinates. He sprinted to the door and turned the handlo. As he feared it was locked, and ho uttered an exclamation of annoyance as he put his shoulder against the panels and pushed in a petulant access of chag rin. Suddenly ho sprang back and stood fn an attitudo of defence. He had heard the lock siiot back, the door was flung open, and a man appeared on the step. Before Robert could decide whether to advance or retreat the other spoke: " Here wo are, hero we are, here we ar6 again! Come in, Loder!" It was Keith Mallory. Robert stepped insido and Keith shut and locked the door.

"What are you doing here I" Robert asked.

" Waiting for yon. I thought you'd come back to report, if you cbuld, and I guessed you might choose this way, as it was useful beforo. Have you been seen?"

" I think not. There doesn't seem to bo anybody on the look-out!" "I wonder!" said Keith. "I don't think Mr. Lane has lost interest in you since you got away." " What happened when they caught you ?" Robert asked. " They didn't! There wasn't a man among them could live with me. I led them to the lodge gates, doubled, shed your coat and cap, hid them in some bracken, joined tho others from behind, and helped them to look for you. Lano was quite pleased with me!" " Good man! Has anything happened since ?" " I beliove there has been the devil to pay between him and Hearstwood, but Ido not know what about. Miss Hearstwood will tell you." "Whero is she?"

" Come in here." They had been standing in the unlighted passage, and not/ Keith guided him into a room which opened off it. " There's a switch by tho door, but don't light up till I bring her, and you can shut yourself in You'll bo all right then; the window curtains are thick—l was doing tho Sister Anno stunt through (hem when you bolted across tho grass just now —and the door fit? closely. Sho will bo here in a minute, but I may have to exercise my unfailing tact to get her father, if he is still with Lano." " Lane is either out or just going," said Robert.

" How perfectly sweet of him! Keep qniet till I como back." Keith was going, but Robert stopped him. "A moment, Mallory! I gather you think .1 watch is still being kept for me. If I have been seen there will bo trouble, and I have something hero that ought to be in Mr. Hearstwood's hands." He took out the packet of documents and gavo it to Keith. " Seo that ho has it, or, at any rate, that neither Lane nor any of his people get it. You will not be suspected of having it." " That's right. I'm Ca?sar's wife—auove suspicion, sinco I led the search for vou !"

He put tho packet into his pocket and went out, closing the door noiselessly. Robert waited in tho darkness, every nerve on the stretch, for Keith's suggestion that Lano had not abandoned the search for him was ominous, and tho silence of tho unseen room, filled with the blackness of tho pit, tried him to the utmost. Ho seemed to have been alone an interminable timo when ho heard the door open again, and lie drew himself up, ready for anything that might como. " It's all right, Loder!" said Mallory's voice, and then a whisper reached him: " Robert!"

It was Una's call. He went toward it will, outstretched hands, that seemed to find her by divination, and they were in each other's arms. " I'm off to find Mr. Hearstwood." said Keith. " You can switch on tho light as soon as I close the door—if you need illumination."

Ho was gone, and they were tightly clasped, lips pressed to lips, and heart to heart. For Robert, neither darkness, danger nor distress existod now. He only know that all his being thrilled with the raptnro of that embrace.

" My- love ! My wonderful lovo!" he whispered; and she answered him: "My dear!" But she was not as free from caro as he, and - presently she drew hor lips away. " What aro you going to do?" sho said. " Oh, can't you take mo from this dreadful houso?" (To be conlinued ou Saturday next.)