By Breathless ways

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12096, 25 March 1925, Page 4

By Breathless ways

* A STORY OF MYSTERY, CRIME AND LOVE.

BY A POWERFUL WRITER.

? Byl

Ben Bolt

•• Author o? "Love in the Wildv" "Love F md» the Clue,' 1 "Linked by Peril,"'etc., etc

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

- CHAPTER XX. When, after a considerable time, Catberina returned to the suite, she left the door open, and rang the bell for the chambermaid, of whom she asked some small service. Then, whilst’ the woman was present in the suite, the girl carefully inspected each room to make sure that the intruder had gone; and, satisfied on that point, retired to rest. Notwithstanding the peril amid which her father seemed to more, and the natural perturbance due-to the intrusion of the man, Manuel Vincente, she was conscious of a great relief. Not for a moment did she doubt he!* father’s word, and the fact that be had not been responsible for Salvano's death reduced Miguel Concfca’s threats to empty words. Her father’a innocence knocked the weapon from the Consul’s hand, and she need concern herself with him no more. On the morrow when ho arrived to fulfil the promise to take her to her father, she would refuse to go. Shewould tell him that she had already seed her father, that she had arranged to see him again that day, and, so far as she was concerned, that would be the end of Miguel Concha. Her thoughts passed from the Conmi to the man she loved. To-mor-row her father would make Charles Wcgan’s acquaintance, and she had no doubts /whatever as to what his at-ti--1 tude would be; Her lover was a man after -feer father’s own heart—an Englishman, courageous and honest, and alteSSpther manly, and she knew that her-father mould approve of him. She began; to dwell in anticipation on the meeting. and from a waking dream ojf lowe passed into a dreamless sleep. she awoke it was after eight o’clock, though as the fog still pro-, vailed, it was quite dark, and rejoicing to think that soon Ghe would he meeting both her father and her lover, she rose,' dressed ready-for a motor journey. :and breakfasted in her room. The meal over, she began to pace impatiently to and fro. Her father’s messenger, aeemed an unconscionable time in coming. Wbat if something had gone‘"'wrong? ' "What if he never came’ at- all ? Then she laughed at herself. Hpr father had given -no definite time, and there really was not the slightest need for her to work herself into a frenzy of anxiety. In due time the messenger would arrive, and ' She broke off her thoughts and glanced at the clock. '‘Quarter to ten,” she said with a little laugh. “And I may have to wait until noon It. is absurd cf me to be as restless as a child waiting for the hour to go to a party.” Scarcely had the words passed her lips when there came a knock at the door that made her heart leap with anticipation. She answered the knock to find a boy in buttons standing outside. “A message for Miss Vospero,” said the boy, stiffly, “from a gentleman wqo says that Mr Vospero’-s car. is awaiting her to take her home;” 'J;"Thank you,” she said and gave the b <g; » tip that made’ his ey# Bulge. of 1 * for me,” she said, “and you shall take me to the gentleman, whom, in n,l probability 1 do not know.” “\es, missl” The boy ..waited. , and- in. a very few minutes accompanied her to the vestibule; of the hotel, where the messenger awaited her. “That is the gentleman, miss,” said the boy, indicating a medium-sized man - .""h° wore a heavy fur coat, and who from the Laitn caste of his features. she instinctively knew was a Balvadorian. As she went towards him. the man Straightened himself, and shot a question nig glance at her. Then he smiled. ‘-‘You are Senorita vospero, I am sure.” “I am,” she answered gaily, “but why you should be so sure of the fact I cannot guess. ido not remember ever having seen you before.” The man laughed lightly. “Possibly not. but I remember having seen you more than onoe when you were at the Presidency with your father, before you went to school. Also I remember your mother, and you are very much like her. So I could not make a mi!,- L take.” Catberina laughed in sheer lightheartedness : and then said: “You are going to take me to mv father?” “And afterwards to fetch the Senor Wogan, as your, father arranged last eight.” said the man with a smile. “Have you far to go?” asked Catherina. as the man led her towarda his car • “Some miles, senorita.” said the man carelessly. “it seems an absurd thing to take me to my father and then to fetch Mr Wogan. Could not we call for Mr Wogan and take him along with us?” “Pardon me. senorita. no! The senor’s orders were strict ones, and I should not care to disobey his Excellency’s command. lam to take you, first; and then return for Senor Wogan. Your fathor. or so I understand. desires a little private conference with you, before Senor Wogan arrives to see him. It it natural, of course ” , “Of course!” laughed the girl, “Well, if you are leady, I think we will make a start. You have a car here ?” “But, certainly, senorita, I should not think of calling tor you without one. That-'is my car there —the lightblue. I was at Cambridge in " my youth, and I still cling to my colours. Once a ’Varsity man always a ’Varsity man, you ~ know.” Catberina noddid, and laughed. “You carry your devotion to your Alma Mater a long way, senor, to have your car enamelled in her colour. But if her engine is all righto ” “There is no better in this city,” said the man with pride. And as they began to thread tbeir ■way through the traffic of tho city to Catberina it seemed that his pride was fortified. The far ran with wonderful smoothness, almost noiselessly; and once they were clear of the citv, and moving along a suburban road it quickened speed, and travelled at a jiace which left the speed limit far behind. The suburbs were left behind and a tarmac road almost, bare of traffic opened before them. They passed beyond ' the zone of fog. and the speed of the car, was accelerated, and now. with a sonorous purr thev swept forward at- a rate that devoured the mile". At first tho girl took litle ifbtc of

the speed at which they were travelling ; but after a time she realised that they must have tome manv miles, instead of , the distance implied in the careless “some miles’’ which the man had mentioned. Her father, it seemed had found sanctuary a considerable distance from the city. Still they seed onward : and at last thoroughly awake to the fact that they must have-travelled a long way from the shipping metropolis. she leaned forward and spoke to the drivor. “How much further have we to go?’’ “In five minutes we shall reach our destination, senorita.” Satisfied with the reply, she leaned back and took note of the countryside. Farms were dotted here and there, twice they swept by gates that led to mansions set in considerable parks, and now directly in front she saw an expanse of dull silver that she knew must be tbe eea. Thev turned into a secondary rend bordered by woods, where the ; snow still Jay, thick. The woods deepened. They passed what Was obviously a keeper’s lodge, and then, quarter of a mile further on. came on a large Ted tiled shooting box set in the very shadow of a pine plantation'. The gates stood! open and asthey turned in the driver 1 ; jerked a hand towards the house. Evidently' they had reached their destination. As they glided -towards the house, -Catherina looked eagerly towards it, hoping to see her father: As she did so, she caught sight of a. man at one of the lower windows, but it was not Juan Voepero. The man stared through the wjnfciw at the approaching .car, ‘and then withdrew, appearing a'taoment later at the wide door which gave admission to the house. “Welcome, senorita,” he cried, as he hurried down the steps to meet her. “His Excellency, your father, cava its you. This, way, senorita;’.’ Shehad scarcely time to him bef ore he wasi leading Tier up the steps; and when in the hall he paused and spoke to 'her, she bad a sudden sense of misgiving, for the man had extraordinarily cruel eyes, ieyes that were .hooded, and he were a moustache and • imperial; She- remembered Wogan’a ■description of the leader of, the trio who had raided his house, and her misgiving became acute. Shu hall turned towards the door, and- found the man from- the car in the act of closing it; an act in which in such weather was a perfectly natural one; hut somehow it increased the apprehension which was 'mounting- within her “This way, Senorita Catherina,” said the man who had received her, marking her backward look. ... t The door was already closed, and, .there was nothing for it ibut to go*' "forward. Her guide, threw open a • door with a flourish and announced '“‘Senorita Oatherina.” He beckoned her hint and 'she did so. As she stepped into the room she saw a tall man standing by the fireplace with his -back towards .her; a man who was not sufficiently • burly to be her .father, , Scarcely had she noted the fact when the man turned round, and die found herself staring at a face that, but a few hours ago. she had looked info as the owner of it lay prone on the carpet in her .sitting room at the Adolphi—the face of Manuel Vincente. -The man smiled at her obvious amazement. The Kaiser.moustache seemed to become more fiercely truciddnt, and the man’s white teeth; were bared., in a sudden laugh of triumph. _ “Good morning, senorita. The pleasure of our second meeting has not .been . long delayed. Blit you seem Surprised.’’ “My ‘athe-: ” began Catherina. “Oh!” the man’s laugh Changed its quality suddenly. “Have no fear, . senorita. When Juan Vospero knows that the ppple of liis eye is here, he will come for you like a homing bird. | And believe me we shall 'he more glad i to aee him than even you will be.’’ (To be continued.)