THE BROKEN WAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21560, 3 August 1933, Page 15

THE BROKEN WAY

A STORY OF ROMANTIC ADVENTURE

CAPTHKR Xll.—(Continued) " Is Mr. Hayne really seriously ill?" Marion asked tremulously. " He lias a really bad go of fever. You can never toll what is going to ■happen in this wretched climate. Y >ll ;are up one hour and down the next." "Can't you get a doctor to him?" " The nearest is many miles away. Besides a doctor can't do very much in these eases. From the experience we get out here we know nearly as much about the treatment of malaria as a doctor." " 1 am going to nurse him," she announced with decision. " His boy is thoroughly competent, and you can do no more than he can. Besides you look thoroughly worn out and need a long,'rest." " 1 feel that I shall never rest again," she answered wearily. However, when she had been sitting by Robin's side for an hour she found it impossible to keep her eyes open, and as the boy was in attendance she went to her own room and undressing, lay down on the bed. A sleep of exhaustion followed and she was awakened in the morning by a knock at the door. It did not take her long to l>athe and dress, and when she appeared 011 the verandah she found that breakfast was ready and Boulton was there to give her a warm greeting. " You look ever so much better," he said cheerfully. " How is Robin ?" " There doen't seem to be much change. What he needs is a thoroughly good sweat and until that comes, I am afraid his temperature won't go down." " Can nothing be.done for him?" " He is having hot lime drinks and pheuacetin. The next few hours should see a change." " T am going in to him now." " A little later 011, when Roberts | comes, I think wo should have a serious j talk." " Roberts?" she repeated qucstion- ! ingly. | " Yes. the chief clerk. I suppose you I are interested to know something more 1 of what I told you about Hayne, and | his financial affairs out hero. So far, vou have only had my bare word of the truth of the charges brought against him to you. It is only right that you should have some evidence to substantiate it." " I am much more deeply concerned about his health than his financial morals," she answered with a sigh. There was a pause for a while and Boulton sat watching her quietly. " You will be interested to know that we are in touch wVih your father," he remarked. " Where is he? T will go to him at once. I will start iust as, soon as you can assure me that Robin is in safety." " I am afraid you will have to wait for a day or two. He didn't let us know exactly where he was to be found. Sir Simon is an elusive person. Has it been his usual custom to run around Africa in this way?"

" Yes," she answered hurriedly. "I. am going to Robin now. Send for 1110 when you wish me to meet this man Roberts." " Very well," lie answered, and then went ovor to the office where his chief clerk was seated at a table, busily writing. At another table sat a native officer, 23 or 24 years of age, Williams by name, who acted as Roberts' assistant. The young man had an intelligent face, and a liappv expression which changed when the commissioner .appeared. "Go into the other room," Bou/ton told him curtly. " Take that book with you, and i>:ot 011 with your work," ordered Roberts, and Williams nodded his head. As soon as he had gone, the two men sat down close to one another and talked together with great earnestness. " You know exactly what you have to say. Miss Hartley will bo coming in to see you very shortly and it is of the highest importance that you convince her that Mr. Havne took money from the treasury that did not belong to him but to the Government," Boulton said with quiet deliberation. • " I have figures here that will convince her. There is, however one matter that I should like to speak to you about sir, atul that matter is myself. It seems to me that I should bo more adequately recompensed for what 1 am doing for you. Don't you agree with me sir?" Roberts asked smiling broadly. " T. think I have treated you generouslv."

" In ordinary circumstances, perhaps vou are right sir, but in this case i want you to realise that I am bringing myself within reach of the law by wliat I am doing to help you. I suggest that you give me a hundred pounds at once." "A hundred pounds?" Boulton repeated angrily. " It is a mere nothing, sir." " You had "better be careful. This is very near to blackmail." Blackmail? You wrong me greatly, nir, I am only asking to be paid for the services that I am so willingly rendering to you. You can "do nothing without my help. Indeed, sir, without mv help you might possibly, or probably, find yourself in the same position in which you are endeavouring to place ilr. Mayne. It is—" " Stop. Stop. Let inc think," Boulton interrupted him angrily. " I am at yitur service, sir." Boulton rapidly came to the conclusion that he had no alternative but to give way to the native's demand, but lie must devise _ some way of preventing any similar demand in the future. " I will give you fifty pounds," said Boulton, and moved tojvard the big safe in the corner of the office. •' No thank you, sir. J. think that in the first place my request was extremely reasonable! May I be permitted to say that it is not particularly gracious of you to offer less than 1 ask.' " What about young Williams? Boulton asked abruptly, referring to the clerk who had Ikvmi ordered to leave them. , •' What about him, sir?" Roberts asked innocently. " Is he in this with you?" " Good heavens, no, sir." " Do you think he has any suspicion of wliat is going on?" * " Not the slightest. T have been very careful to take every precaution." " 'Pake care that he doesn't suspect anything." " You may rely upon my looking after that, if only for my own sake. Williams, educated in a mission school, is an extremely straightforward young man." . . " Were, you educated at a mission school?" Boulton asked dryly. " By no means, sir. T was educated at Freetown in Sierra Leone. No mission school could .give the education that 1 have received. I flatter myself that my English, my composition in English, is as good as that of most white men." " Shut up. If I give you this hundred pounds, will it be the last of your demands?" " I think so, sir." " Very well then, you shall have it," said Boulton, and crossing over opened . the- safe,Jrom. jwiicli lie took the money.

By PAUL TRENT Author of "The Vow," " The 'Peacemaker," etc.

(COPYRIGHT)

The chief clerk smiled broadly as he received the money, and gave Boulton very effusive thanks. " You will always find 1110 a most devoted and loyal servant sir. You may rely upon me in all respects." " That's enough of that. 1 prefer you to prove vour loyalty in acts and not in words. And now, Miss Hartley will be coining in shortly, and will doubtless ask you many questions. Arc you quite sure that you can answer them convincingly?" " I have no doubt aboi.it it. I have rehearsed myself thoroughly." " Then see you don't fail when the j real acting begins," Boulton cried, and j then left the room. In the meantime Marion had been | sitting by the side of Robin's bed and j watching him with tenderly anxious j eyes. He was still delirious, but seemed ] quieter and less hot to the touch. Now I aiicl again she could hear him repeating | her name, but try as she would, she | could gather no meaning from the | words he uttered. Again her thoughts j were occupied by the charge that Boulton had brought against him, but they were interrupted by the man himself. "Will you come across to the office?" he asked. " Very well. I don't think that Robin is any worse this morning." " No. Indeed, I think 110 is a little better." " 1 will come with you now," she said quietly, but was conscious of a feeling of extreme nervousness. Roberts jumped to his feet when they entered the room and bowed deeply to Marion. " This is Mr. Roberts, the chief clerk. .1 may say that it is our custom to leave most things in his charge. He has a great deal of experience of the work that goes on in the office of a District Commissioner and I, and my predecessors, have had absolute confidence in him. I think you may rely upon anything that he tells you as being the truth," Boulton stated with quiet earnestness. " Madam may rely upon me in all things," Roberts said unctuously. " .1. just want the simple facts. I understand from Mr. Boulton that while Mr. Robin Hayne was here there were certain moneys taken. Is it true?" " There can be 110 doubt about it, Miss Hartley." " Who stole the money?" " Unfortunately there can be no doubt as to the thief. It was Mr. Robin Hayne. I regret exceedingly to have to 'make this statement, for I have a

•ireafc liking for the gentleman in question." " What proof have you of that. Marion asked sharply. " The facts speak for themselves. JNo one else had the same opportunity," said Roberts. , " Not even yourself? " Marion broke in impetuously. " It would be impossible for mo to take any money without the knowledge of Mr. Boulton or Mr. Havne." "Is that so?" she appealed to Boulton. " It is quite true. Are you satisfied that what I told you about Havne was the truth, or would you like to hear more? " " I should like some, further evidence than this gentleman's word," Marion said steadily, but a feeling of doubt crept over her that the man she loved might be innocent, for it was impossible to conceive that these two men who were facing her, could lie with such quiet deliberation and launch, a wrongful accusation against an innocent man. " Yes, T should like to hear more. What evidence hare you? " " Do you understand accounts, and are you acquainted with Mr. Havne's handwriting? " asked Roberts, as he walked over and produced some ledgerlike books from the safe. " I have certain knowledge of accounts, but I cannot say that I am expert." Then Roberts proceeded to explain with every appearance of accuracy the figures which he showed to her. He was an extremely cunning knave, and spoke with such assurance and confidence that she could not doubt him. Besides, there was Boulton listening and apparently approving of all that was said. . "All this that you are telling me—this is the truth? " she demanded with vehemence. " It is, Miss Hartley," said Roberts. "Are you prepared to swear that, on your solemn oath," she asked. " I am." "And you? " she went on, turning to Boulton. " I am afraid you arc being a trifle melodramatic. Don't you think you are insulting mo by asking such a question? " " This means such a lot to me, almost everything, that I must insist. Will you give me your word of honour that all this man has told me is the truth ! J " " If you insist upon it—yes, I swear it," he' said in a low voice, and his eyes met hers quite steadily. " Then 1 must believe it. I must believe it," sjie said to herself, and as she turned away, a sob escaped her and she covered her face with her hands, beginning to cry piteouslv. (To be continued daily)