THE LUCK OF THE DARRELLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8613, 26 December 1913, Page 2

THE LUCK OF THE DARRELLS

[Published bt Special Aeeangement.]

BY ERNEST TREETON, Author of “The Instigator/’ “Her Double Life,” “The Saving _of Christian Scrgison,” “The Goring Mystery.” etc., etc.

COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER XXVII. While do Brocas was still engaged with tho earl and countess, Doris left Wedge’s side, and joined the circle of some friends within close reaah. As she glanced at her mother’s latest arrival, she confessed to herself that she had never seen de Brocas looking more commanding and impressive in oresenoe than he was to-night. For a woman who could lovo him, he was a man of whom she could well be proud. Yet Doris knew that in all that assembly of elegant women, she was the one woman upon- whom he had set his mark. Being fair, gracious, and unspoiled, she wondered why. She did not think of the wealth that was hers from the fortune of her dead uncle. To her his personality was strange. Sh© did not love him; yet she had to ;ook at him, as at an irresistible picture. In that sense he interested her. Yet she disliked him, was averse from him, and, in an undefined sense, feared him. But the salvation of her difficult thoughts, when de Brocas had occupied them, was always Richard. In him there was nothing enigmatic. He was bright, open sunlight, embodied in human nature; just a frank, simple, good fellow, who did not pretend to he anything more. A tear moistened Doris’s eyo as she wondered where he was at that moment. Then she glanced again at the face of de Brocas, and her wonder turned into another channel. Somechins akin to presentiment was stirring within her. Though she screened herself in her circle of acquaintances, she saw him look leisurely round the salon, until his eye settled, as if by omniscience, upon the group in which she was hidden. Though, as yet, he did not sec her, she saw him, now full-faced; and she knew that if she once became detached he would claim her, and would have things to say to her that would bring tho crimson into her face, and a mute prayer for Richard to her lips. But she could not keep to one group of guests throughout the evening. Though she would have preferred the quietness of her own room, sh© was present to please, and not to incommode, her mother and father; and she was in many ways their deputy, passing to and fro with the courtesies and graces due from the daughter of the house. It was then de Brocas caught her. Like a kaleidoscope, the guests passing in and out of the music chamber, made constant change of group and -scene. The movement gave da Brocas hisi opportunity. Doris missed -him in one place to find him in another; and then she was face to face with him. He was a guest, and she could riot be blind to him. “Good evening, Lady Doris,” he said, his tone and manner a quietness , meant specially for her. “What have’ I done to have so much trouble to catch you?” A Spanisli-looking gentleman sauntered up quite casually behind de Brocas. He seemed to have no interest apart from the general picture of the assembly, and no _ ears for tho conversation around him.

Senor Don Miguel Sanvaldo Wedgo was not sure that ho would learn anything. Eavesdropping was unknown in his vocabulary, and in the bright lexicon of Scotland Yard there wjs no such word as delicacy. “I don’t know that you have done anything,” Doris replied to do Brocas at random.

“Then yon were not thinking of raef” he suggested openly. Doris could not answer “No,” for she knew that her face would belie her. She had been unable to think even ol Richard, without de Brocas ns an intruder into her thoughts.

“Though you have seen me, you did not think I wanted a share of you as well as other people,’’ he went on. supplying words for her silence. “Let's sit down, Doris. 1 ' Without resistance, Doris walked h\ uis'side to a settee against the arched door opening into the Battle Chamber. She had some vague hopc oi receiving confirmation of her boiiel that de Brocas had been within the walls of the Cloister street house. For a moment the face of Wedgtwas a study in confusion. He was completely upset, and could not _hear nothing. But only for a moment. From his seat he wandered into the gallery at the head of the grand stairs, and sauntered into the Battle Chamber through its main entrance. Then he made his way to the door opening into it from the grand salon, by which Doris and do Brocas were sitting. There he leaned against the wall at the corner of the door, and heard very comfortably indeed, with the additional advantage of being entirely unseen.

‘You seem to expect it of me,” Doris replied, bringing her courage into action.

“Why not?” de Brocas returned. “Did I not say once, ‘What if X draw you from all others?’ Perhaps you have come nearer than you know. You do not remember what I can never forget. You said you would hare no husband but Stafford ” “You claim a strange right to talk to me like this,” Doris remarked, interrupting him. “Why? And what do you mean by my coming nearer than 1 know?” On the other side of the wall the Don from Scotland Yard, like Doris, was turning over those expressive words in his mind. He was there for inspiration. “Perhaps yon have come nearer than you know,” seemed to him to have a curious ring about it. “It is simple enough,” de Brocas replied. “Yon have only to remember, Doris. I told you that I love you. Has any other man told you that, as I have told it to you, since you gave vourself to Stafford?”

“No: I hope they would have respected me too much,” Doris murmured, daring the words. “There you are unjust, Doris,” de Brocas said. “Tt is more than respect with mo; it is love. I .said once before that I had the right to challenge any man for you until you were won. Why should you not have some other husband? When Stafford fails, he fails. Why should I not be that other husband ?” “But why does ho fail?” asked Doris, as if giving expression auto-

matically to her thoughts. “Where is he?” “Because the stronger man always wins,” replied de Brocas. “He should love you too well to get lost. Why has he vanished ? He may be alive, or he may be dead.” , “Ah, then you know you are the stronger man—why?” Wedge quickened, speaking to himself, as ho heard u break in Doris’s voice. “He is not lost I” declared Dons. “No lost?” returned de Brocas, in a ton© of surprise. “No,” Doris reaffirmed. “Something tells me that ho has been trapped. If that is so, there must be a reason —and there must be people who know it.” . . “Have you a suspicion where? asktid de Brocas, his interest obviously kindled.

“At Westminster,” replied Doris. Wedge bent his head, and listened intently. If he was to have a full gift of inspiration, he was most likely to receive it now.

“But what reason —what people?", de Brocas asked again. “The Luck, and the people interested in it,” replied I>oris once more. “But, you know the Luck is found 1” do Brocas announced.

Doris quickened. This was news that she did not know. Until he uad had a conversation with de Brocas, Glyudale had resolved to have only one confidant—W edge. “You know that?” exclaimed Doris. “Before my father ” Perhaps de Brocas saw that he had done a rare thing, and had tripped. It seemed to Wedge that the man of mastery hesitated, but he could not be sure.

“I am afraid I have been premature,” said de Brcoas, in a slow, reJectivo tone. “Tho Earl and I both ..new it simultaneously, but, apparently. he has not told you.” Wedge could not see the paling of Doris’s face.

■‘Then, there is some deep reason," ,ho rejoined thoughtfully. “I think 1 can understand why. Can you tell lie who found it-—not Mr Wedge?”. “No—Blr Slewth,” replied de Brocas.

“Ah! Then you know me, my friend!” Wedge roused afresh. “That’s worth making a note of.” “How did you know I knew Blr Slewth?” Doris asked again.

‘Bravo, you!” muttered Wedge to himself. “You’ve got the right head on your shoulders, Lady Doris. That should bo a poser for him.” The Inspector was growing positively enthusiastic.

“I did not know,” de Brocas replied “I thought you might have heard of him from your father.” “You went to him, and offered him five thousand pounds to recover the Luck, did you not?” Doris inquired. “I wrote,” de Brocas . explained. “How did you get the idea that I went to him? I thought my having written was understood.” For a moment Wedge was puzzled. There seemed to be nothing in de Brocas’s replies that was not ingenuous. He began to test the value of his inspiration, hut the next remark by Doris required him to fling the task aside. “Because I have been to his place at Westminster,” she said, reflectively. ■‘l had strange feelings there.”

“You have been to Cloister street?” queried de Brocas once more, in a tone of surprise.

“Yes,” she returned signiheantiy. “I went to find .Mr Stafford.” “I ,ara afraid you found less than Slcwth did,” de Brocas observed. “Stafford could not be there; he has flitted into the last unknown, apparently. But Slewth has found ‘be Luck!” For some time de Brocas had spoken like an ordinary man; but, with his last six words, ho became the masterful ce Brocas.

‘Have you forgo’ten?” he added, his manner quite courtly. Dor's shook '-rr '•/■•ad. “No; I remember,” she said. “The Luck is found. I remember you said you would find it, for that was what your tone meant. And, although you made humour of it to my father, I remember you said you would hold the Lock to ransom, with me as the gift for its redemption. But ” Wedge has come to the point at which he was all ears.

“And can you wonder now, if I doP” de Brocas asked. is no longer a visible man, and things are completely changed. Can you wonder if I change humour into seriousness, and try to make good my claim to you—as I must?” “ No, never,” returned Doris, firmly. “I will have no husband but Richard.” “ We will see, Doris. Cornel” replied de Brocas. “ Come, and X will show you that I will.” The next moment the astonished Wedge was bobbing behind a convenient curtain. The Battle Chamber was empty, and he was the last man who should be visible as do Brocas led Doris into it. No warning came from de Brocas, as he finished speaking. But, in a sudden movement, he clasped Doris in his arms; and once more he kissed her.

A faint, startled cry came from Doris; and, breaking free from de Brocas’s loosening embrace, she half ran from the chamber. De Brocas stood looking after her, with a smile of assurance in his face, and then followed her at hie leisure.

“Well, you have it all nicely settled,” remarked Wedge to him Self, as ho ©merged from his hiding-place; “ very nicely settled, indeed. We must see how it goes.” From the Battle Chamber, hereturned to the salon by the way he had come- He was a man of ample leisure to-night, and he had the conviction that his evening’s work of hunting for inspirations was not yet at an end. (To be continued.)