LINKED BY PERIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12229, 29 August 1925, Page 10

LINKED BY PERIL.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. POWERFUL STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERr.

BY

BEN BOLT,

Author of “The Lady of the Miniature,” “The Lifting of Iho Shadow,” “Love Find* the Clue,” &c., &c. >;r [COPYRIGHT.!

CHAPTER lll.—Continued. The girl smiled, and the old woman resumed her fortune-telling. To Wandesforde it seemed that her manner had become more perfunctory, as if she were in a hurry to finish her task; but twice when she should have been looking at her client's hand, he saw her dark eyes fixed upon himself with what seemed a menace in their gaze. He was a little amused at the gipsy's evident hostility, and smiled to himself as he thought of the future promised him should he venture to test her powers. He was still smiling when Lady Traynor thrust Miss Gauntlett forward. ‘‘Your turn, Sylva! Half-a-crown will do."' ‘ t “But I haven't got one, Lady Traynor," laughed Sylva; “I -—" “May I fill the breach?" .cried Cyril, gaily. “Here is the money. I. wish you joy and good adventure." Sylva took the coin, and’with it in her hand - approached the fortune-teller, who had watched the little incident with inscrutable eyes. The gipsy slipped the half-a-crown into her lap, and then bent over the girl's hand, which ehe'considered for (juite a long time. Then she began to 6peak, and instantly Wandesforde knew that his jest about the stream of prophecy was to be vindicated. “There are dark things about you, little miss, and an influence that will make for sorrow as bitter as death. Two ways are at your feet, and one of them is full of darkness, is no bird there save the croaking raven, and the only flowers that grow there are the bitter flowers of sorrow and the black one of death. The other one is full of light, of song birds and of-sweetness. the choice you make.” / \ “But how can I tell which to follow?" asked Sylva, impulsively, a little impressed by the gravity of the old- woman's manner. “That is not difficult,” was the quick reply' “At the beginning of the road of darkness waits a man. Ho is looking for you, and there, are evil' tilings in his past, and more evil things in his future if you go with him. . . . T oeo his eyes, they are grey—cold as a winter's morning. He is taller than the usual, run of men, and his hair is the colour of red sand. He has been miuth abroad — “Of all the confounded cheek!” cried Arlington, suddenly, “Wandesforde, the old beldame is describing you l” Someone in the circle laughed, and the old woman gathering her anron with the coins in it in a bunch, threw Sylva's hand from her. and rose unexpectedly from her seat. “Beware!" she cried, passionately, “Beware!" The moment after one venomous glance at Wandesforde sho stalked across the ring which opened before her, and without once looking round, marched across the lawn and down the drive. The light-hearted fortune-seekers gazed after her in amazement. Sylva stood there with somo distress showing in her beautiful face, whilst Wandesforde, looking round, caught sight of Lorry Smendon at the back of the crowd. He was smiling at his cousin's manifest dis-

oomfiture. Then a voice broke out explosively. “Well, I'm " .Mr- Arlington remembered himself just in time, and turned to Cyril. ? ‘Do you know that old harridan, Wandesforde?” “I never saw her in my life beforp," answered Cyril with a wry smile. “Then you must have trod upon her corns without knowing it, for it's clear she had it saved up for you, and I can't believe that what she had to say was due merely to our interruption whilst she was giving Dolly Parrildw a husband . and family." ■ “No,” chimed in Lorry Smendon stepSing forward, “and she really seemed to int at, quite a> considerable knowledge of you, Cyril." “Oh, rot!" broke in Wandesforde impatiently. "How can an old gipsy woman know anything about me?’* “That is a conundrum beyond me,” replied his cousin thoughtfully. “I don't beliete in this kind- of thing asj a rule, but really the old dame was impressive —dramatically impressive." “But she is not going- to spoil our afternoon," broke in Lady. Traynor, gaily. “Come along, Sylva. There is Lady Caster who is anxious to meet you I know, particularly as we are to dine with her to-night." She laid a hand on Sylva's arm. The girl half-turned, and doing so mot Wandesforde's eyes. As she did bo the look of distress that had been on her face was suddenly erased and she smiled. The yo.ung man smiled back, and ns Sylva walked away with her chaperone, his arm was taken by Arlington. “Old Drury Lane isn't in it with that old witch, and she's given you a reputation that will stick, as there are always fools who believe in that kind of thing. But by-the-by, did you happen to observe your cousin whilst the gipsy was yarning?" . “No," replied Cyril, indifferently. “It was honey to him—honey of the honeycomb. Ho was revelling in the woman’s blackguarding of you." Cyril remembered hi© cousin's face, and after a moment's thought said .-quietly: “Are you suroP There can be no reason why—t-” . “Rubbish!" broke in Arlington langlringly, “I f.aw you look at that protege of Lady Travnor's, and I saw Sxpendojfs face when the gipsy warned t the , ftiyl' against yon. That girl fn the reason—ihouorh you don't seem to know it yet.” Arlington Idughcd again, and as life caught sight of an acquaintance moved 1 away, leaving the young man to 'his own doviceSi He found a secluded, seat 'and sat there for quite a long time in meditation, and at the end murmured to lura.self: “Of course, the old woman was offended. There can't possibly be any other reason." But tvro'Hours later lie was constrained to change his mind for on hin homeward way, following a bridln-trnck tb rough a wild piece of gorse land, he suddenly; became f awnre of two men stalking him. They were olive-skinned, dark-cyed men. and he was k’.to they were of Romany race. For a little time he watched tliein to make * sure; and then, wondering ir they lind any ccnnexion with the fortuneteller, he determined to confront them. He had iust arrived nt that decision, and had turned aside to meet the «tnlkers when he caught a rustling in, the bushes behind him. He swung round quickly, and saw a tall youno; gipsy in the very act of striking at him with a | whipstock. 110 saw the blow coming, but ' too Into to avoid it. and a second -aler I the loaded ©took caught him on the head, nnd he dropped in the path in utter unconsciousness