The Lion's Mouse

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 13

The Lion's Mouse

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRAHCEMEHT,

By

C.N.

&

A-M-Willamson-

Author of •• This Woman to this Man,- " The Lightning Conductor." $ " The Car or Destiny /' fire., &c

fCOP VKIOHT.I

CHAPTER XVI.—A QUOTATION FROM SHAKESPEARE. “Not easily jealous, but, being wrought, Perplexed in the extreme.” The words describing Othello's torment rang in Roger Sands’ ears. The words kept time with the purring throb of thfijmotor that sped him on his wife’s errand. Contain it was, that lie had' not been easily jealous! He had' married a girl with a secret to keep, and he had never questioned her. He had made her a queen; and he was her loyal subject. She ruled him and his kingdom. Only to-day he had given her a queen’s pearls. They were Sis tenement for an hour of distrust. How had she rewarded him? Roger reviewed tihe afternoon, since the presentation of the pearls, and there were details which, he saw in a new light. So desperate had 'been her haste, that she had broken the rope of pearls, and bad not even stepped to pick up the scattered splendour. Rqger Sends’ heart had been hard towards his wife when they met. He had, settled upon a policy of eilenoe for the present, while in self-protection he watched developments. He agreed quiefly to Beverley’s request that he should fetch the pearf stringer, though feeling a cold, aick certainty of heir motive in making it. He went, as he had given his word tihait he would! go, to 27, Elm street, Yonkers. Miss Blackfhuxne herself answered his ring: and when the name of Clo Riley was mentioned, she said at once that she would accompany Mir Sands. 'Roger was kept waiting only while Miss Blackburns took leave of her another, gathered l together her materials, and packed a small bag, for it was dear that, if the (pearl-stringer were to finish her work in one sitting, she would have to spend the night an Bark Avenue. The little woman, whoso face seemed almost featuresless to Roger Sands, was interested in the man os well as in the mission. The pearl-stringer had often heard of him it various ways: and her work took her into a set wtho knew, or gossipid, about his private aairs. She (bad listened' to women’s talk concerning Mra Sands, “the girl from nowhere,” and. though miss Blackhnxrne Was “good as gold,” she did enjoy a little epicy' scandal. She could in future make herself quite interesting to some of her . regular clients by telling how she had worked for Mrs Roger Sands: and not only for their Bakes, but her own, did She look forward to this “job." ’

Secretly, Ellen Blackburne planned some day to write a volume of reminisopnses, and she had a “feeling,” as she sat in discreet silence beside Roger Sands in his car, that to-night she would get material for particularly good notes. She was conscious that his nerves were tensely strung. “It’s just as if he were sitting in a thunder cloud charged full of electricity, with me getting some of the shocks/ ’ she told herself, thinking of her notebook, where she would make entries when she got home. It was nearly a quarter past eight when Roger’u latch-key opened the door of nis apartment. Miss. Blaokburae was impressed, not only by th« magnificence of the hall, but by the originality of its decoration. Roger, having let himself and the pearl-stringer in with his latch-key, regretted that he had done so. He did pot want to see Beyerley alone just then. It would be better, to have her summoned by a servant. Miss Blackburns was too observant of tiny details not to notice that h,e stepped baok and pushed the electric bell outside the door, which he had not yet olosed. And when he said to the butler: “Please tell Min Sands that I have been able to bring back Miss Blackburne," the email student of character guessed at once that he wished to avoid meeting his wife. . The hall was large,- and furnished like an extra drawingroom, therefore it was not inhospitable that Roger should leave the pearl-stringer alone there, with the excuse that he must dress for dinner. He was, he explained, going to hie club. As ho made this announcement. however, and before the butler could carry the message to Mrs Banda, a dazzling vision aphoared. It could be no other. Miss Blackburne felt, than Mrs Sands herself: -and ehe was right, for Beverley had dressed with unusual speed, yet With Unwonted pains, in order to be ready for Roger’s return He vision came into the nail before the butler had been able to deliver the message, and his wife s arrival whilst the man was present gave Roger an opportunity he would not miss. There was a question he wished to ask file old, servant, in Beverley s hearing, but he had not expected the chance to come, so soon. The butler retreated, stepping aside respectfully to let Mrs gauds 'mss. But 'before the man could efface himself, and before greeting Beverley. Roger exclaimed, un, hy Hie bye, Johnson, has anyone been hors since I went out?” “Yes, sir," the hutler replied, one gentleman has been. He ’’ , But the vision intervened. itie gentleman wasn’t a visitor, Johnson, she ©aid, a ©harp note m her vcnce almost an agonised note. You ought to explain to Mr fends that lw came only to bring Miss Riley home. Then ehe hurried on, snatching the explanation from the servant’s mouth, though she had ordered him to make it: the poor child came back quite donei up, nearly fainting. She had to be helped in. almost carried. The rnnn ® ta 7‘ ed inat 'one enough to hear that sne was better. Is this Miss Blackburne you’ve been lucky enough' to find, ana bring hack to me ” Ail this rushed out in a breath? The lovely lady in white and silver smiled at the small person in' brown’ pongee. But Roger Sands was not a- man. easy to r»Tay with. “Yes, it is Miss Blackburne," h« quietly answered. “What was the gentleman’s name, Johnson? Hid you hear it?” . ... Thieru Was .to trifling pause while I the servant replied. Mrs Sands was c.tiH faintlv smiling, & mechaai.ica* smile, and her eyes were suddenly dull , as pdas®. “Yes, mt. I believe X heard the nam** mentioned,” Johnson admitted. <4 I thought, it was the emn** as the young lady’f?, Tliley or O’Reilly. -As Mr* , Sands remarks, sir, he 'W&sn’fr exactly

calling, so the* nmne wasn’t announced. It only r«achedi my ears. 5 ’ Roger looked straight at Beverley. It was merely a challenge. 4 ” , Justin; O’Reilly who came?” and nib eyes said: '‘lf your conscience is clean, you'll understand! that 1 m not trying to extract any confession.' 1. give you the chance to clear jourseii, that’s all, here and) now.” But Beverley’s face was flooded witn one of her painful blushes, that alwaryp came when she wanted) them] least. She realised, too late, that Roger had! inquired- of Johnson because he suspected, perhaps ev&n knew, that O’Reilly had been in the house. “Yes, it was Justin O’Reilly who came and; stopped about ten minutes, she answered, trying to keep her voice as calm is Roger’s. ‘‘But this -sat very interesting to Miss Blackburne. It was good of her to give up her k Sunday evening! Shall we- ” “Just a moment, please, Roger broke in, still in that deadly quiet voice which, it seemed, could betray nothing to a stranger, but for Beverley was a knife at her heart. I must go out, presently. Before starting} to dfrass I should like to hear the latest news about your protege©. She looked all right, and not inclined to faint, when I saw her tripping into the house, just before I came ini from my walk. 'By the bye, I think Mr OrßenJly must have iUe&rt with then. He was passing the house, I noticed.” .. , “I don’t know anything about that, the answer came slowly. “Clo didn t mention seeing Mr O’Reilly at that time. She rested and went out agaon later. Johnson 1 was speaking of her second return.” , Beverley knew that her husband could- easily have questioned Johnson behind her back, and then have entrapped her perhaps, through her ignorance of wheat had passed. He had chosen to be as frank as he was hard; and while she suffered, Beverley thanked her husband for cold! justice. “I maidt dress, now,” Roger said heavily, “X am dining at my dub.” Murmuring some civility to Miss Blackburne, Sands turned away. A moment more, and his wife heard his bedroom door shut. At the sound it seemed that her heart must die in her breast! She felt a sensation of physical sickness, and would have given anything not to have the pearl-stringer on her hands. Here the woman Was, however, and could not be treated with discourtesy !

“You wijl dine with me. of course, before beginning your work,” Beverley said, faying to be cordial. But M-ifls Blackburne smiled and shook her head. She had) had “high tea” at home with her m'otjer, and could eat nothing more, she replied, thanking Mrs Sands. “I’ll take you to my boudoir,” she said kindly to the little woman in bnorwn. “The* pearls are there. You’ll he gurjpmed at their beauty.” .Mrifig Blackburne let her hostess lead the way. “There’s a drama here, all right,” she told ih&rself. “Hus it anything to do with the pearls? But I shall know soon. I net.’ 1 -

Mrs Bands opened the door of a charming room. The light was already switched on. and the newocer noticed that a door stood wide open between the boudoir and the bedroom, which, also, was lighted. Miss Blackburne guessed' that Mrs Sands hud only just finished dressing in a hurry as her husband! came into the house. Perhaps, on account of the (pearls, her maid had been released from duty. Anyhow, someone had • forgotten to turn off the lights, and . * but Mrs Sands herself was explaining. “I left the door opeaA between my room and this, while I dressed,” she raid, (t becftUß« of what you see on this taible. X thought at might as wesl be herOj as anywhere else, all ready and waiting' for yora.*She made a nervous gesture* and Mass saw on the table indioated a large oval, case of purple velvet, old-fashioned looking, and adorned" with .a splendid gold crown. The poarlrfitringeai knew something crowns and coronets; duchesses, countesses, baronesses, and small fry like that. But this* cnown was royal. She was going to get good “copy” jfcxr'-Jwr note*. •BevefleyV hand moved i towards the purple case She wla© in a desperate hnnry to get her (business with Miss Blackburne over, and escape into the haß again. She must try to have ; a word with Roger before he went., though she dared nob—literally diared niorb—go> to his room. “You’ll see the pearls, and ” she had began, when her ears caught, the sound of an eieotric (bell; a loud, insistent CHAPTER XVII.—THE MYSTERY OF THE BOUDOIR. *‘Jit’s Roger,”' Beverley thought, “lie’s ringing for Johnson —perhaps to ask more Questions.” “I must speak to my husband,” she said to Miss Blackburne. 4 ‘The pearls are in that cubs. There are two hundred and fifty. About thirty came unstrung. You’ll see for yourself how t they ought to be graduated. I’ll be with you again in a few minutes.” She flew to the hall, hoping to intercept Johnson before he could reach Roger’s room. But tKe man was not on his way there. It was the sound of the door-bell she had heard. Johnson was in the act of admitting a girl in a black chiffon cloak lirlScf with blue. A large frilled hood pulled over the wearer’s eyes hid the profile from Beverley. The girl turned. It was Clo. “I’ll go with you to your Toom,” Beyerley said, controlling her voice for the benefit of Johnson, and trying not to show how frantic h*r haste. It Was onlv when she had noiselessly closed the dloor of V' big, bare room that she dared .to- let. herself go. “What’s happened?” she implored. “Why are vpu dressed like this? Of course, you haven’t got the papers P” “I dressed like this to make a getaway.” said Clo. “I stole the cloak. I’ll tell you everything by and bye. But first, you must find out for vourself whether I’ve got the papers. I’ve got something—6<jTnothin.?r in a thick envolone. That’s all X know.” She threw off the cloak of the girl at th> Dietz, and unpinned the pocket which held the precious package—the i pocket tfhich* thanks to the pin, had

guarded Its contents through the whole series of her adventures.

Beverley took the largo iinen envelope, not even thanking Clo. Neither noticed the omission. “Addressed to Justin O’Reilly!” she exclaimed l . “It’s the right size. But what makes you think it may have my envelope inside?” “Because - it wa6 carefully hidden in a safe in the wall. I thought of opening it to make sure. There wasn’t—enough time.” < “I’ll open it ... . now!” said | Beverley. Her words were firm, yet she j hesitated, and, turning the envelope! over, stared at the five official-looking red seals. What if it should contain legal documents belonging to some client of O’Reilly’s? “Tap—tap!” came at tho door. Beverley laid tho envelop© on the glass table, where Clo’s medicine bottles once had stood. Over the red seals she flung her handkerchief, lest it should he Roger at the door. Meanwhile, Clo had answered the knock and revealed Johnson. “Madam, the lady who came with Mr Sands wishes to see you immediately—it’s very urgent,” he announced. “Say I’U be there in a few minutes,” she replied. “I can’t come just yet.” (To be continued.)