DEFIANT DIANA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8482, 17 July 1913, Page 2

DEFIANT DIANA

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

By E. EVERETT-GREEN, Author of "A Queen of Hearts," "Tho Lady of the Bungalow." "The Marriage of Marcia," "Married in Haste," etc.. etc.

(Copyright.)

CHAPTER XV.—THE UNEXPECTED.

Muriel’s face went white to the lips. But she did not lose her selfcontrol. She drew Norman into tho shelter of her house, and instinctively shut the window and drew a curtain across it. Then she faced round upon him.

“Nftrman, what do you mean ? What are you saying? You cannot mean the thing you said.” “I do, Muriel. I’m convinced I’vo don® tho trick. I left the fellow as dead as a door-nail, if I know anything of such matters, as I should do. Ho was abominably insolent, and 1 let out at him with my'boot. Ho came a thundering cropper, and there was a sharp-edged stone hidden in the grass. That finished him. I heard the smash of his cranium. They may bring it in manslaughter, but 1 don't see stopping for penal servitude. Give me some money, if you have any, Muriel, and I’ll be off.”

She pressed her hands fast together. The boy’s eyes were wild. All his hot impulsive blood was awake and astir. But she had scarcely anything in the houso at that moment; and, besides, was it ever wise to ny as though before justice? And generally how futile it was; especially in a neighbourhood where a man was known to every; person he met. She must know more—much more, before she could let him gc. And yet, suppose she were to detain him, to his undoing? For the moment he was exhausted by the pace at which he had been running. Panting and gasping, he lay back in a chair, and she brought him cups of half-cold tea, which he drained with feverish thirst.

“Norman, you must tell me all tho story. Who is that you think you nave killed ?”

“ A swindling Jew moneylender into whose clutches I’ve got, Muriel. It began in India two years ago. Then he made the place too hot to hold him and did a bolt. I thought I’d seen the last of him. But no such luck. Boon after 1 got hero he found me out, and began sending hia beastly letters. I went to see the little brute in town. He’s got my paper all right enough. I stopped his infernal mouth tor a bit; but it’s begun again . lately. I can’t bother Godfrey. He’s nothing to spare, and you’ve been so uncommon good to them through all this time of worry that I knew you’d been pretty well'’ cleaned out. And it’s a shame to worry a woman,” “Norman, 1 wish you’d told me—told Godfrey—any of us. Money isn’t easy to get, as you . know; but we would have put our heads together; anything rather than this.- Oh, Norman, I don’t know how to believe it. Where did it happen, boy?” “In the park—our old park—Durham's now. 1 suppose he’d been sneaking about, dogging my steps. I often take the short cut across from the village, along the old path, though Di will never come, and bully-rags me when she thinks I do. And just as I got to the old oak where the owls build, up comes that little brute with his insolence, his .cringing, his;veiled threats and preposterous demands, and at the last I lost fflj patience, and let him have it! Ho’s lying there still with bis toes turned up. Muriel, I guess I’d better cut the whole concern and work my way out to Australia before the mast.”

She pressed her hands close together. Her face was pale, but very resolute. She looked liked one who intends to stake all upon one threw, and knows not what the result will he.

'‘Norman, don’t do that—till you’ve 1 tried one other way. Go straight to Mr i Durham, and tell him everything, as you have told it to me.” Norman gazed at her thunderstruck.

"Durham! That fellow I’ve amused myself by baiting. I’ve never mot him without trying to get my knife into him.”

“Never mind that, boy. Don’t you know that when everything is tangled Up, a woman’s wit will sometimes cut the knot? We have our intuitions. Often they prove inspirations. Norman, he is lord of the Manor now. He has a sort of right to know what goes on. The—the—body—lies in his park. Go to him straight—as if you’d come, straight from it, if you like—and tell him everything. I behove he’d stand hv you. Norman, listen. It’s in my mind that ho wants our Di. Now don’t fly off at a tangent. My heart tells me things that you will be ages learning. I believe Mr Durham would like to help you, would stand by you like a man, would give you the best advice and assistance. Go to him, boy. I beg vnn to go. One thing Ido know. I will pledge my life upon it. If he does not see any way of shielding he will help you to got off, and cover your tracks for and make that part easy. Oh, Norman, don’t lose a moment. No one knows what may happen at any juncture. People do use that path. They have never regarded it as private. The—the—man might lie found at any moment. Go to Mr Durham! Go at once!”

A strong will, backed by a deep conviction, will often prove a driving force of no mean calibre. Norman Hurst, aghast at the possibilities loom ing before him, bewildered, agitated, doubtful what to do and whither to go, and totally lacking the means for flight or, concealment, was in no condition to refuse any course of action which might bring about some amelioration or some wav of escape. _ He had had former experiences of his_ youthful aunt’s powers o£ discrimination and soundness of advice. A strong and urgent will goes far to work upon another in a state of confusion and flux. Almost before he was well aware what was happening, Muriel had him well on his way to Idylhurst Hall, accompanying him herself to the inner gate, and watching him till he stood upon the door-step, anil pealed the great bell, the faint clangour of which reached her in the stillness as she stood. When she hoard that, she fled away in the dusk to her homo. But Norman found himself treading the familiar corridor towards the room which had once been Godfrey's sanctum, and was now nsed by Durham for his business and estate work. He rose at sound of Norman’s name, evincing no surprise, and pushing forward an easy chair towards the table, where tobacco, a syphon, and a tantalus stood. But Norman did not sit, down. His young faro was still pale and drawn." Ho plunged into the midst of his tale without warning;

and Durham, arrested in his proffers of everyday hospitality, listened in silence, a keenness in his eyes, and a slight compression of the iips the only indications of interest.

“Ah, well,” ho said, as Noiman paused, “the best thing to he done is to go and see what has become of the corpse. My experience of that sort is that they don’t die so easy as all that,” and he proceeded to till a flask »nd slip it into his pocket. A suddent flash of hope radiated tne blackness of the young soldier’s spnit. With hasty steps he led the way, and as the moon swung clear of the tree tops of the glade, they saw before them, a prostrate form, lying grimly motionless, .with face upturned in a Sufficiently ghastly fashion to the white light. Norman had soon death in horde affrays before this, without anything approaching the sick qualm which assailed hitil as this sight again smote Upon his eyes. A ghostly call from the tree above sent light shivers' through his frame. He was seized by a paroxysm of shuddering horror. But Durham walked coolly forward, and knelt down by the motionless figure, making n, brief but fairly exhaustive examination. It struck Norman as he Watched him, fascinated, that this was hot the first time he had performed a similar office.

Next minute he whipped out his flask, and seemed to bo trying to gc: some of its contents between the blit ■lips and clenched teeth. At ihn. Bight Norman came swiftly forward. ‘‘Do yon moan—is he not—dead?”

“That kind of reptile does not die £or a trifle,” spoke Durham quietly. “He’s not dead. He’s had the wine and sense knocked out of him for a ■bit. Do you think wo could get hinr to the house between us? We can strike a bargain with han once he’, there, and 1 bet ho won’t bo in any liaste to return.”

Norman smothered a boyish whoo) of triumph, it seemed ns though i ton’s weight was rolled off his heart “I could carry a rat like that i mile, and not feel it.”

“All right, then; bring him along I’ll lend a hand. I’ll bind up hi* head first. He’s got a good bash there. But we’ll soon get that sot ngnt. Bee. he’s taking kindly to his liquor already. Suck it dufru, my beauty. That’s your style. You’vi been used to the taste of it I shou.i suppose. Now, Captain Hurst, you lift him by the shoulders, and keep his head steady. I’ll take his feel. We’U soon have him safe in my room, and when he’s got his senses back ne will have a little business talk with Him. He’ll be ready to hear reason by that time, I take it. And if hei has any papers in that fat pocketbook of his I will take the liberty tf making an examination of them as a preliminary to our business talk.” Norman had the perception of hav-t ing found safe refuge in his trouble.i It twas an textraorclinary sensation, and one which wrenched some of the chords of his being almost with vio- ( lence. All in a moment this man. whom he had ridiculed, flouted, disdained in company, and abused frc«Iv in his own immediate circle, seemed suddenly to assume the role of the) uort of friend who, without protest or piofession of any sort, beoomes the tmy and strength of those about him. Durham had espoused his cause, he. had heard the story of his difficulties,, his danger. Already through hisj promptitude in action the danger seemed to be passing away, and now he seemed' quietly to be about to tackle those other difficulties whicu had of late cast so black a shadow on the young soldier’s path, and had sometimes caused him to wonder whether his career might not be blasted and ruined. They bore tho unconscious mau into Durham’s room. Ho had put a match to tho fire before leaving, and now there was a cheerful wood fire crackling up the chimney. The cake: couch was drawn up to tho blaze, am the little sallow-faced Jew was laid there, his face twitching from time to time, and his lips making sucking Bounds, as though desiring more stimulant. . ; „ "Give him a little from time to time,” said Durham, “whilst I go through these papers. He’ll come to himself in a short while now. Give him plenty of tho soda water, and look to that .cut at the hack of hm head. I suppose your training has taught you how to hind up a cut. And then wo’ll be ready to go into this business of you re when ho wakes up.” (To he continued.)