LOVE SHALL PREVAIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8852, 1 October 1914, Page 8

LOVE SHALL PREVAIL

[PCBLISKED JJT SPICXAI.

ARTHUR W. MAECHMONT. Author of 'The Case of Lady Broadstone," "The Gable House,” By Right of Sword.” “A Heritage of Peril," "In the Grip of Hate.” etc.. eta [COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER XXV.—continued. "I don’t wish to force you.” he reElied after a pause. “But- you can ave your liberty if you will buy it. But yon must remain here to-night because I must have time to make arrangements. Write a cheque for fifty thousand pounds, and , to-morrow you shall leave.”

"And my boy?” . , The question confused bun. and he hesitated before replying. "Ho is not here; but he ‘shall be restored to you to-morrow His manner set her thinking rapidly. The sudden abandonment of the marriage plan suggested that he was no longer, confident, while his confusion and hesitation in speaking of the child roused her suspicions. "Bring him to me here and I will^ pay yonr blackmail. But not otherwise. "If that has to be done there will be further delay," ho said uneasily. "Bring him to me here,” she repeated ■ firmly and turned away. As he stood looking at her in angry indecision, there came another sound of movement below. Olive tamed quickly towards the door, her face alight with renewed hope; but Galthorpe stopped her, ... “There is some one there,” said the woman in a low tone of alarm. ' “Keep her here. I will go and see, ’ said Galthorpie. Freed from his presence, Olive was content to wait, and all three stood listenin'- intently-as he went cautiously dbwn the narrow creaking stairway. There was no sound save his heavy footsteps, and they could hear each step; how he paused once or twice on the way: and again for a longer time when he reached the bottom.

Then suddenly his name was uttered sternly in the same stentorian tone which had so agitated Olive before. A cry of amazement followed from Galthorpe; next the shuffling of feet, the slamming of a door, and then silence. Olive, ■in a frenzy of ekeitement at again hearing her husband’s voice, rusbed toward the door to escape; but the woman, stood before it and kept her place, despite her evident terror. "You had. better wait. Olive. I will see that no harm comes to you." "Chris P” she pried, in overwhelming amazement as she recognised the voice. "Yes. Chris," replied the pseudbclergyman. "I am more ashamed of the part X have played in , this than I can say. Bht he had me in his power and threatened me with ruin if I refused. Yet I am not quite eo guilty qs I'eeem, and I have at least been able to help you a little.” ‘

Her eyes flashed with, indignation and eoom ■ as' she looked at him. "Yes, hut not until vou knew that other heln was at hand.” , He made no reply, and hung his head before her. ,

“Where is my hoy?” she demanded fiercely. "I do not know.'l would tell you freely if I did." he murmured, his eyes still cast on the ground. She turned on the woman repeating the question to her. "You must know, for you stole him from me." The woman cowered before Olive’s rage. • "I—l don’t know. I—l swear that,”

"You lie," flashed Olive furiously. “But your lies will not help yon. You stole him from me. and you shall pay for that. You heard your scoundrelly accomplice say that my/boy should be given back to me to-morrow. You must know, where he is. Tell me. Tell me. I say”; and she went up to the woman as if. to drag the trnth from her by force. "I tell you I don't know,” was the sullenly spoken reply. "None of us knows. That is why all this has been done.” “What .did you do with him when you stole him then?" demanded Olive fiercely. “If any harm has come to him. I swear vou shall answer for it with your life. "I have no more to say. I know no more." was the reply in the same sullen tone. "No one knows where he is." Her eyes flashing, her nostrils dilated, and her bosom heaving under the stress of her labouring breath, Olive stared at the woman like, a tigress robbed of he? whelps, as if she would spring on her and tear her limb from hmb. • "Stand out of my. way. or I will not answer for. myself," she cried and seizing the woman’s arm dragged her away and sent her reeling across the - room. But as she tore, the door open she changed suddenly. There was the pattering of little feet on . the rickety stairway. “Mummy! Mummy!" came in Don’s shrill treble, and the next instant she-, had her lost darling clasped to her heart .and the tears of thankfulness rained from her eyes. “My darling! My darling!" she mur. mured repeatedly as she fondled him. In her overwhelming, joy at the unexpected reunion, she did not notice the' other two as they left the room. All her world was centred for the moment in the ineffable delight of feeling once more the clamber of the boy’s arms about her, neck, in the comforting assurance of. his safety, and delicious sweetness of hie baby oaresste. It was a long time before, the remembrance of her surroundings awoke and the need for getting away from the house. She was surprised to find herself and Don alone in the room; and then her heart began, to beat excitedly as she recalled the wild hopes inspired by the sound of her husband’s voice. Had a miracle indeed happened? Could it possibly-be that she owed to. ham her own and her boy's safety? With Don in her arms, she approached the door slowly, almost nervously, as if fearing to put her hope to the test. It was pushed open gently, just as she reached it, and instinctively she clasped Don more tightly as she stepped back a pace.

But it was Mr Bulstrode who entered. “You have no' longer any reason to fear," he said, having observed her involuntary movement of alarm, Don cried tout gladly at the eight of • him, and breaking from her ran to him. Her face fell. "Who is in the house?” she asked, wistful eagerness in tone and look. “No one who will do you or Don any harm/' he replied, looking up from the boy who was climbing’ into hie arms. “But someone called, to me. Twice, I heard the tamo voice," eho said insistently* . • He smiled- v ' "It is often difficult to distinguish voices from a . distance/’ he answered. “But had we • not better leave this place f” “Did you bring my boy to me, and do X owe my safety to you?” “Ton are disappointed?” ho asked very gently. 'Ton had rather it had been some other?” She shook her head. “Not that. But I—l had, oh, - the wildest hope. I hoped that it was my husband’s voice I heard." Ho did_ not answer, and led the way downstairs.

“You—yon are sure that he—that he is not here ?" she asked as they reached the hallway. “I should certainly know if he were. You can see for yourself”; and ho opened the door of the sitting room in which two men were waiting, strangers to her. 'They came to help me,". he explained, and added: "My car is waiting.” - She turned toward the back of the house.

“Only that scoundrel Galthorpe is there in custody of my men.” Her disappointiaßßt was too deep for

words. Ho saw it in her eyes as she looked at himWith a deep sigh she throw up her hands and went put to the car. "I understand, and I cannot tell you how this has moved me,” he said kindly, and drew back. The tears were in her eyes now. "J have not thanked you," she murmured. "I shall see yon again soon and—and explain,” he said. She wished to put many questions, noticing the significant emphasis he olaced on the word; but he signed to the chauffeur and the car started and carried her away as full of bewildering perplexity as ever. (To bo continued.)