A CAPTIVATING CABMAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5229, 19 March 1904, Page 12

A CAPTIVATING CABMAN.

\Vlu<ii Alison Tliornborough wrote to her one intimiuto frieiul, -Mrs i’ayre, she put her address on the top of the page as Rcd'loaf, Private Prison, Mountside.

Bill it was an ■understood thing that the second lino was to lie omitted on the answering envelope, for Alison was terribly afraid of her gaoler, as were all tho rest of tho Redleaf, household, where Kiclum! Leigh bad reigned supreme for the fast twenty years. Baliko most prisons, Itedlcaf was very buoutmt), but it was none tho less a prison for that. The house was old and substantial and convict built, and the. grounds sloped in a deep fern-dad, creeper-bridged gully. Away beyond was a glimpse of countless tree-tops, and a line of misty-blue hills that told of the sea-girt city, and at the foot of the garden was eet every rose that ever was thought of. a.uj very well, they looked blooming against the fringe of tree-tops._ wiio.se roots wore in the ravine below. Richard was very proud of tho place, and toad of bringing friends front the distant city to see it. but Ins pretty stepsister was kept in the background, arid never appeared at all unless the party consisted of particularly unattractive bachelors and staid married men, and (lie rciiiSon of tills was that, as long as Alison remained unmarried, Iticha rd Leigh had solo control of a enug little sum and the management of Redleaf, which had been a Thorn bo rough possession, and did not belong to the Leighs at all. Richard had establishes! a fairly strong influence over his step-mother during her widowhood, and she had appointed him as manager of tiro place. Mother and daughtor had an. inherent guilelessness of disposition, and were inclined to trust easily, like many gentle natures, each owned a fund of obstinacy under certain circumstances. Richard was not a man to leave anything to chance, and so carefully was tho girl guarded from contact with die world, and so cleverly withal, that the world itself never guessed the tall facts of the case.

But even tho cleverest people are the foofe of chance at times, anti Leigh made two great mistakes—one when he invited n certain bachelor friend to stay a day or two, and forgot to ask him to leave his private secretary 'behind him, and the other* a more serious thing still, when ho trusted to the power of money to wipe out the memory of an- injury dono to a man in a humbler position than his own.

Six months ago tho friend, who was Governor of a certain group of islands in the Pacific, had arrived In' the afternoon train instead of thoh evening one, and, as a matter of course. Iris secretary accompanied him —a blue-eyed, hlackplaco of tho watery-eyed fossil who had taken the position only very recently, in place of tho watery-eyed fossil who had hitherto acted in that capacity. They arrived just as Alison was coming downstairs, ana she rushed behind thio velvet portiere, and hid until they had passed. But she changed her mind about going out for a walk, and chose to preside at afternoon tea instead, a function she always avoided if possible when ■Richard's guests were present. The governor preferred whisky and soda, and fell asleep beside the huge pine fire. Tho young people sat on in the gloaming, until the wheefls of the trap bringing Mr Leigh from tho station startled the girl into sudden flight; but they had had nearly three-quarters of an hour together, ami. the Irishman had decided in that space of time that ho must spend the rest of his life with Miss-Alison Thornborough, if it was to be worth anything to him at all. As for Alison—well, she would never own to it hut I fancy she lost her heart at exactly the moment she took that long look from the shelter of the velvet portiere at the visitors in the hall.

They continued to meet pretty often during the next few days, until Richard took tho alarm and arranged to make a third with great diplomacy, until the day came when he could speed the parting guest with joy. But ever since then, hi had an uneasy feeling that things were changed. Tor one thing, Alison became a different girl from tho datei of tho visit. All her listlessness had gone, and she showed an unwonted interest in her frocks, and a pretty colour crept into her cheeks, and a new light into her steady grey eyes. She never talked now of becoming a member of the Anglican sisterhood, 'of whose happiness and usefulness Richard had often told her, and she ventured more than once to disagree with 1 his arguments in favour of celibacy. In due course Bryan O'Dell wrote and dem ended her hand, and it was promptly refused him by her guardian. So Brian wrote again to remind him that his guardianship of Alison ceased as soon as she married, and that, by alii the saints (Irish, English, and Soots) that ever were, Alison Thornborough should be Alison O’Dell before the year was out. But of this epistle Rich arc! Leigh took no notice, except to redouble his vigilance on his step-sister’s actions, and her life became that of a prisoner in all but name. Her letters ware read, her outgoings watched, and all under the guise of brotherly solicitude. Ho was careful, too, to sow certain seeds of gossip amongst O’Dell’s friends in the city (and there had been enough harum-scarum deeds in the Irishman's record to give colour to the stories), po that the majority of people thought Richhrd Leigh quite justified in disapproving of the attentions of so wild a young fellow to his loved stepsister, however charming the ex-private secretary might be—for he was now at work in Sydney. Ho was generally understood to have expectations of a more or less vague sort, but mud sticks, if enough is thrown, and more than one person thought of him os a designing fortune-hunter after hearing Leigh’s views on the matter.. However, bolts and bars have never kept love wholly at hay yet. and one afternoon Richard returned to Redleaf with his face set in harder lines than ever, but a triumphant gleam in his eves, for by hia astuteness he had discovered an important plot—money will do ai good deal —and he had letters in his possession proving that Brian, had arranged everything for an elopement. Alison was to meet him at Mountsido railway station—some eight miles from Redleaf—and from there they would take train to Sydney, where clergyman and special license would await them.

Ited'leaf was evidently no longer a safe harbour for a treasure to bo go constantly guarded, a traitor in the camp there must be, and a scheme long thought of materialised in hia mind. He would take the girl travelling at once, and trust to absence and hia olover System of half-truths to make final dissension between the lovers—it would be years before she cared for another man—if ever—ho know the Thomborough character very well. To think with Richard Leigh was to act. He had spent the whole morning in making arrangements, and determined' to hurry matters as muck as possible.

Alison was in the rose-garden, dreaming, ns many a girl does before her wed-ding-day. of the unknown future, and the happier portion of her past, when Redleaf was her mother’s home as well as her own. With her smail scissors she was snipping off buds from the climbing Nipheto", with some idea,of using them as a bridal bouquet on tho morrow, and it was that moment that Richard chose to come to her and toll her that her plan was discovered, and that ho had decided to take her put of harm’s way, and the clutches of the “rascally Irish fortunehunter" at once. .

“I won’t go with you,’’ said A 1 icon calmly. “I will never leave Redleaf except with Bth»h.” < ’ ‘“You will do as I tell ,ypu. No resistance is possible with my household, as you already know, and I will find some jiicaJja to silence you if you make a scene at the station,’’ said Richard, beside himself with rage, for his step-sister had never dared, to defy him before, "I daresay you have made some ipreparatithi for tho journqy you contemplated,” he added jeefinglv, “so you may do a little more, ant? bo ready in an hour’s time to drive with me to Mduntside.” “Can I speak to veil for ai moment, sir£”

Tho voice of Batewi-li, tho coachman, broke in on the stormy scene, but his well trained countenance gave no token that ho tend ever heard a word. Bo was a curious looking man, witli eyebrows almost in a straight lino across ins face, and bad Richard been less enraged, be might have guessed something from the sudden look of appeal and relief in las step-sister's eyes when the man appeared. “Sorry, fir. but tho black korrige horse has gone dead lame and can t be used, an iiis mate.won't run a stop ivithoid bun. You was orderin’ die korrige. sir:” Richard swore an angry oath. "Put the grew mare in the sulky, then, and send Hie heavier luggage by the spring cart,’ bo shouted, "I want to catch the mail train tiiis evening.'’ Batcwell looked reproachful. then you’ll have to telephone for a cab from Mountside, sir.” adding in a lower tone, “there's a soring broke in Ibc snaky, and the grey'ware's clean off her feed; if she hasn’t been drugged I’m a Dutchman!” and lie looked significantly in the direction of Miss Tliornborough. Richard’s face paled with anger. "All!” lie said, ‘Til look into this before I leave, and the groom can take Ids walking orders. That scoundrel lias got him, I suppose. Here, take the key. Batewell, and telephone to the cab stable: you know the best one to. order. Bring the key back here, and I’ll go to lire stable with lv ou.” ~ , , ~ , "Very good, sir.’’ sard tho obedient Batcwell, touching bis hat as ho took the key of tho little recess in the hall, where (he telephone was gafeV locked from nil but the master’s me. Richard prided himself upon bis attention to trifles, amt watched every link of the chain which held Alison in his power, but one link yclept, "Batewell.” was in reality the flaw, and Alison know it. and bad heard the conversation betwixt master and man with renewed hope in her heart. BatewoK’s story is not to be told m dutail here. . , , , , Years ago, Leigh bad remorselessly hauled up to justicna certain pretty housemaid, who had token some loose silver from his dressing-table. The incident was so long a»o that lie had forgotten it. But- -tha ■mi had been loved by Batewell, then a helper in tho stable- and the misfortunes which pursued her allcnvariK Batewell bad put down to his masters conduct in bringing her to court, and .‘or ten years and over he had waited Ins chance to take revenge, wwlang meanwliilo so steadily and well that Richard trusted him fully. Ho was back very quickly, handed the key to its owner, and then turned to walk witli him to tho stables. llalf-wa>v up tho path ho paused, and pulled a horseshoe from his pocket with ai start. "Miss Alison was wanting the shoe of the colt that died; tho one she reared herself. I’d best give it her if she s going away,”, he said, and ho ran back to the girl, and, as ho handed her the shoe, whispered, "the telephone door ain’t locked, Miss,’and Air Brian is at tho Mountside Arms,” ami than lie turned, and was back with his master before the latter had gone a step further. \ Alison walked slowly until the parr weiro out of sight, and then flew like the wind to the hall. A maid was dusting ths stairs, but was easily disposed of on a trivial errand, and Alison quickly turned tho handles of tho recess, ted shut herself in, and the message flew to tho wayside inn—" Was Mr Tom Brown there?”

Mr Brown, otherwise Brian O’Dell, was forthcoming,* and Alison rapidly sketched the situation in as low a voice as possible.

“When was tho oab ordered P”- O’Dell asked quickly. "About five minutes ago-, or a little more.” .

"Ah! Well, heart’s dearest, I think wo will hoist Mr Richard Leigh with his own petard this once. Wait a moment. Yes, I have it. But telephones have care as welj. as voices, and I’ll say no more, except that you are to trust me utterly, and don’t he surprised or frightened at anything that may happen to-day, will you?” “No, dearest, no, I am sure you will circumvent him somehow. I must go. Mary is coming hack, ami I can trust no one in the house but Baton'ell.” And Miss Thornborough hung up the receiver and stole gently from the recess, closing tho door securely behind her, and then called Mary to help her finish, packing. Some forty minutes afterwards the hansom arrived, -and Richard Leigh, his sister, and two small handbags made an expeditious entrance. Batewell shut the door with a flourish, and the oaib bowled down the avenue at top speed, for it had been a little late in coming.

A bright colour burned in, tho girl’s cheeks, and she looked very pretty in tho cosy autumn furs. A year ago she had looked pale, and almost passe, and now she had bloomed anew, as it were, under love’s sunny touch. Richard cursed the Irishman heartily under his breath—if Alison was going to look so charming during the ocean voyage before them his position would he "no sinecure—and then camo a passing glimpse of Redleaf, with its white walls and mantle of roseate bougadnvillia through the trees, and he declared to himself that any' trouble was worth taking so that his fair demesne should ho his own; and, dreaming of its beauties, he took no heed of time until the oab draw up with a sudden jerk on the trash-lined road. "What’s wrong? Wo shall miss the train,” he cried, throwing open the doors, and a deep, hoarse voice from above ■replied:

“Would ye kindly get out, sor, and see to tho hritohen strap, and be quick, if ye plase, for the mare’ll kick the blessed sthnrs wanco she feels, the leather out of place.” Richard was a stout man, and not too agile, so he had plenty of time to give his opinion of both hlorsa -and driver in hia descent. Alieon was nervous where horses were concerned, and at once prepared to follow her step-brother. The .next moment she screamed in genuine fear, for she was flung on to the seat again, as the driver lashed his horse into • a gallop, and -a vision flashed by her of Leigh on the broad of his back- on the ‘road. , .»

The cab swayed from side to side, and the shouts of her brother became fainter and fainter. Oh. if only Brian wore somewhere near—what could bo going to happeu ? Could she be murdered for the sake of the gold in that little handbag of Richard’s. She grew faint at the thought, but her heart raced wildly again, as the oab drew up with a jerk, and a familiar face peered down through the little glass door in the roof, and a ■well-known voice reassured her. "Brian!” she cried, ns a red worsted comforter and slouch hat came flying over the roof on to the floor at her feet.

“Yes, it’s meself, darling,' and we’ve only just got . time to catch tho train. Sit tight, and I’ll send the old horse for all it’s worth,’’ and before she could take breath almost, the cab was off again, the trees spinning past as they whirled along the road and into the station, where the train was already steaming into the platform.

Still dressed in the cabman’s shabby garments, Brian O’Dell sprang from the box, and helped tho girl to alight, and tho few awaiting passengers were horrified to sea Miss Thomborough, of Redleaf, fling herself into the arms of her driver, and then allow herself to be lifted into a-carriage without a word of protest. The guard shut the door after them, and tho cab-driver leant out of the window, and flung several sovereigns to a well dressed man -who had come forward to tlie horse’s head when the cab drew up at tho station. He smiled delightedly, as bo pocketed the money, and then followed along the train as it moved off, yelling something excitedly about “a black cutty pipe in the left-hand pocket of me waistcoat and a plug of nail-rod tobacco,” which two articles came flying through the air from tho carriage window immediately. Altogether, the passengers on Mountside platform had something to exercise eyes and minds that day. Half an hour afterwards Richard Leigh arrived, dusty and prespiring, having got a lift in a hawker’s van, and be sent quite a sheaf of telegrams, iu the last vain attempt to frustrate his half-sister’s plans; but Alison was over age, and the Rev. Mr Fayro was her best friend’s husband, and somehow the wires were not opened until noon next day, when Alison Thornborough had been Alison O’Dell for some hours. During the O’Dell honeymoon Batewell,

the coachman, took a compulsory but pleasant holiday, until such time as “Mi-s Alison” should reign at Redleaf herself. Richard Leigh was astute enough to see how tho man had tricked him with the telephone-key, and dismissed him promptly on his return to the house. Batewell Owned up at once to Ids’ part in the elr-pe-rn cut, and incidentally reminded his <;ximister of the name of a. girl who had been in his employ some years ago. "You spoiled tier life, sir, and I’m main glad that I've been able to i-.poil your plans now,’’ said Batewell, "and I’ll be as glad as everyone else to sec a Thornborougls and not a Leigh at Redleaf again,” ho idded, as ho folded Richard’s cheque and look Ids adieu —Kthcl .Mil Is, in the Johannesburg "Star.”