THE BITTER TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20720, 13 November 1930, Page 18

THE BITTER TEST.

By JESSE TEMPLETON.

(COPYRIGHT.)

Author of " Between the Tides," "Dead or Alive." "The Eternal Conflict." etc.. etc.

A SERIAL OF EXCITING THRILLS. LOVE AND ADVENTURE.

CHAPTER V.—(Continued). " Olga, you must look facts in tho face, ' he ; said ono evening. " I've been looking them in the faco for 6 long time." " You aro spending too much money. [What little I have must bo eked out to lastAmtil I can get a berth." "As I told you—you cannot afford mo. [Why did you marry mo ? " " You know why. I loved you." " Loved! Thanks for using tho past letise." " I lovo you still," ho replied tensely. S 1 In spite of tho way you are acting-" " What have you to complain about? " " Your advertising our—our disharmony. There was no need to make it so clear to your father and your aunt, also to lots of other peoplo. It may please you to huit me, but how can it benefit you to hurt your own closo relatives ? " I don't want to hurt anyone." sho replied passionately. " But what I want is freedom. Rob, this is all a mockely you know that. A clergyman may have mumbled a few words, but wo are just as far from being really married as ever we wjtfro. Why don't you give me back my freedom ? " All the time that was in her mind. Sho never lost sight of tho possibility of ultimately cutting the bond, but it was yet too soon to attempt it. People would talk? So Rob drifted into despair. The inability to approach her gave birth to melancholia and aimed a blow at his natural pride. Never before had he looked at himself in so unfavourable a light. For a wholo week ho left her alone, upending tho timo feverishly hunting a job. It was at tho expiration of this time that ho got a reply from a letter written a fortnight before and to his great joy it requested him to ca 1 on the following (lay- , Unfort.natrfyh. cooM not remember tho wording of the advei tisement, having left tho cutting at the b He a turned up at tho office of Newton tfnd Newton in the city and found them to be a firm of solicitors. He sent in his name and a few minutes later was asked in»o an inner office. A middle-aged man surveyed him through a pair of goge . then begged him to be seated. " Now Mr. Sutherland." he said. Tell IXI Rob°swiitly ! 'put him into possession of the facts respecting h'mself and h.s exnerience Newton seemed to be iairiy versed in engineering and asked numerous questions. He explained that he was actr ine for a client in this matter and that the selection of a suitable man lay in his "And where is the job? "asked Rob. "On the Gold Coast. The agreement ■would be for seven years, wth six months leave every three years our [' rst ; c . 1 passage would be paid, and the salary would include furnished^ quarters. B\ tho way, are you married ? " ' Rob started and then realised that a •wife might be an obstacle. Ho shook hi " Good- I for K ot to mention that there are no facilities for ladies. Ihe ls rather wild, but tip climate is not too bad; and remuneration is generous. Moro over', there are opportunities for an ambitious man, as this station is only one of a dozen belonging to a wealthy com oany. Provided your references are satisfactory, I should think I should he justified in appointing you to the . " May I have a few days to think it #ver?" asked Rob. . " I can give you twenty-four hours no longer. You would have to sail in a f °"rn give you my reply to-morrow, and if I accept I will send along my refere/"That will do excellently." Rob shook hands and was shown out. He had a big problem to solve in twentyfour hours and he began to wrestle with it immediately. After months and months of doing nothing, hero was a dianco that promised much. But the Gold Coast! What about Olga, would she undertake to wait for him, or would he lose hei completely during his absence . Here was the chance for which she had been waiting. His absence would give her the blessed freedom she desired Why not cut the bond now ? At first it could bo a mere separation, and afterwards there was no need to come home at all She could divorce lum for desertion. At ary rate she could find a way of escape It proved to what extent sho had acted upon his naturally pugnacious spirit. Normally he was not tho type of man to let anything go, but during tho past few weeks he had sickened mentally. He was not himself —not the old Rob who had led men to battle over tho bloody trenches ° f S^e K might be his wife in law, but it was obvious she was not so in spuit. His ' lips had never even touched hers. Li.cn that smirking Crane was more to her than he. Ho slept on it that night and on tho following day went down to Maidenhead to tell her what he had decided. She was out when he arrived, so ho hunted out some testimonials and posted them early with his acceptance of the job, asking for a proper agreement to be drawn up without delay. His heart ached as the heavy letter fell into the box with a thud. It was as if he had dropped his jvife into that ugly slit.

CHAPTER VI. THE SCHEMER. But Olga did not return that night. Hp got a telegram telling him that she was fltaying with her father and would return on llie morrow. This was a disappointment, for lie had worked himself into the necessary state of mind to break the news to her. It was shortly after noon the next day that she arrived. They had lunch together and immediately after ho broached the/' all-important subject. 1 " 1 had a little luck yesterday, Olga." Sho raised tier head and gazed at him jwith her beautiful but cold eyes. " Not a job ?" "Yes.' It is slightly different from what T wanted, but it offers certain advantages." " Where is it ?" " Africa." " Africa!" she gasped. " And I must go alone." " And what about me," she asked unfcm<jt ionallv. " That is what T wished to talk about, fvippose I go and do not come back, what then?" " You intend to desert me?" " Isn't that what you have been praying for all along?" " I wanted my freedom." she replied slowly. " Rut there is no reason for you to be driven all that way." '' Tt offers me the thing I want—work." ' Arid enables you to get rid of me?" Her audacity astonished him. This Tiabit of turning the tallies on him always enraged liini. It loused his deepest anger now. " You are insufferable. You almost Fu/ceed in bringing about a state of things similar to what you want to believe already exists. I don't want to be rid of you—and never have. If I am going abroad it is because yon have wished it, prayed for it, dreamed of it from the very day/of our marriage. Well. I've made up my mind. I'm going within a fortnight. I will make you a fair allowance and it is up to you to follow yonr own desires. {lf you decide to cut the bond all I ask is that you play the game and tell me that you are accepting this opportunity. I ;wi!l then stop the allowance and slay j*way. That will give you your chance."

"That's generous of you," she replied calmly. " When you aro gone I will have ample timo to think things over. Sho left him abruptly. Already the world seemed shattered. Ho pined to no gone—to bo settled down to tho new work, far away from her distracting beauty and her cold contempt. While ho was sitting gazing moodily across tho meadows tho housekeeper brought in a letter. Ho slit it open and saw from tho heading that it was from Newton & Newton. But tho contents took his breath away. "Dear Mr. Crane, "This is to let you know that Mr. Sutherland has accepted tho berth at. your Sierra Leone place. I havo written him by this post enclosing draft aßroement. Will book berth for biui on Nigeria# sailing ~C>tn. Yours, otc. Tho letter was addressed to Frank Crane Esq., Sloane Square, London, but the envelope bore Hob's address. Iho thing was clear, plainly clear. Some clumsy clerk had mixed up the envelopes! So tho advertisement in The limes was put in by Crane! With what other purpose than to catch the eye of Rob, whom ho must have known searched daily for such a post as ho offered ? And tho motive? That was equally clear —Rob was in tho way. Crane wanted tho running all to himself. With Rob planted safely on ths Gold Coast. Ho uttered a low groan of hate as ho saw through the plot. Then his blood ran cold as ho reflected that Olga might conceivably bo in this! No, no, he dismissed the unworthy thought. Frigid as she might be towards him sho would not stoop to such a dirty business. His head swam. Ho wanted to thin e tho matter over calmly. Taking a stick ho walked out of the house and struck across the fields towards the river. Ilm unexpected enlightenment certainly made all tho difference to his plans 110 had been willing enough up to then to let Olea havo her freedom, but to_ let himself bo swindled of his wife in this fashion was quito another matter. He wandered on heedless of where he was going. The job was now out of tho question, and the problem of the future was even moro vexed than before. With bis mind still a trifle chaotic he found himself back near the bungalow having walked for at least three hour It was when he entered the bungalow that ho received a tremendous surprise. Ho could hear Olga's voico m tho draw ing room. She was talking to someone a man, and tho replies came m tones that were faintly familiar. It was a minute before ho realised who the visitor- was. "Crane!" ho muttered between teeth. * . It only required this to break down all the walls that enclosed his restraint. Coming so swiftly on top of his d*jJusionment it infuriated him. ® open the door and entered the room. Crane was sitting on the couch before a small table sipping a cup of tea. uiga was presiding over tho pot. "Oh. Rob," she said calmly. lou remember Mr. Crane — ? Rob's pale face and square jaw warned her that trouble was brewing. ohe halted and moved her hands nervously. Rob was staring at the immaculate Crane. " Good afternoon, Mr. Crane!" " Good afternoon. I called to see you." " To see me ?"

" Yes. A curious tiling nappeneu. i received a, letter this morning, and when I opened it I discovered that it was intended for you. Must have been put into the wrong envelope. Curious coincidence, what?" " Not much of a coincidence seeing that wo have both been dealing through the same person," growled Rob. Ivo got vour letter, too. You had better take it." He held the letter out to Crane and the latter took it and handed Rob a heavier document in an opened envelope. "Your wife was telling me that you were going abroad," said Crane. " J thought you knew all about that." " How should I ?" " It's all in that letter." t> " But I haven't read the letter yet." "Read it then!" Crane scanned the few lines. It was perfectly evident that he knew the contents by heart—that he had seen Newton in the meanwhile and ascertained exactly what had happened. And his rapid transit to the bungalow was due to a desire to hold up the letter which Rob handed him. Rob was intelligent enough to deduce this. " So you aro the Mr. Sutherland who applied—!" "Stop acting!" snapped Rob. "1 know I am the man for whom the berth was intended." " I really don't understand you. 1 happen to bo connected with the advertisers. I think you aro very fortunate in getting the post—" "Fortunate —!" the draft agreement and tore it into a hundred pieces. " That for your damned cunning conniving! Now get out of iuy house!" "Rob!" cried Olga. "Remember—" " Please don't interfere," he replied sternly, then, flinging open tho door, " I am waiting for you, Mr. Crane." Crane looked at Olga, shrugged his shoulders and, taking his hat, walked through tho doorway. Rob opened tho front door for him and waited for him to go. " Queer behaviour, Mr. Sutherland. " Very queer," replied Rob. "It would be more rational to fling you out neck and crop." "Fine words!" sneered Crane. "1 suppose you imagine you can prevent me from seeing an old friend ?" " You'll find I can and will." " Hadn't you better consult your wife about that?" " Don't breathe her name," growled Rob. "I warn you that if you call here again I will throw you out on sight. I don't approve of my wife's friendship with a man like you." " I've no desire to exchange insults with you," said Crane. " But I happen to know that this marriage of yours was a fake, to cover a certain exploit of a certain woman." " Exploit! You—" " It was an ingenious idea to coverthe fact that she stayed on the river with n.e until past midnight. You were but a pawn in the business, and will remain nothing but a pawn in her life." Ho stalked past Rob before the latter could recover irom his surprise. When ho did so Crane was twenty yards distant and out of danger. What hurt Rob was tho fact that Olga had lied to him on that night when wet and dishevelled she had appeared at the bungalow. She had given him to understand that her wet state was due to a shower. Now he knew that that was an invention. It was evident that Crane had tried to detain her and that in desperation she had leapt overboard. This was why she had fastened on him —the olrl friend of her father, her own big brother as she used to call him! She was afraid that an inquiry would reveal tho truth, arid she knew to what extent her father detested Crane. He shut the door and returned to the sitting room where Olga, a trifle bewildered, awaited him. " How dare you!" she said angrily. To her surpriso he strode up to her and gripped her wrists tightly. She had never seen him like this before —it frightened her. " How dare you, you mean?" he said. " What justification can you find in entertaining a man like Crane?" " I didn't ask him to call. But in any case I will not permit you to choose my friends." "Friends! You can still call a man your friend after he has attempted to detain you by force on tho river at midnight ?" (To b# continued daily.)