LINKED BY PERIL

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12251, 24 September 1925, Page 10

LINKED BY PERIL

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. >OOO<KK;<X><><KKMKK>O<)O<>OOOWW<>O<KKH>fiOO<><><KKVHKK><K) POWERFUL- STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY.

BY BEN BOLT, Author of “The Lady of the Miniature,** “The Lifting of the Shadow,** “Love Find* the Clue,** &c., &c. [COPYRIGHT.!

CHAPTER XXVI. As Cyril spoke, Sylva started, and looked at the on-coming car. It was as he said. Lady Traynor herself was seated by the driver, and it was clear that she had recognised Sylva and Cyril, tor she spoke quickly to the chauffeur, who brought the car to a halt by tho side of the ope in which the girl was seated. *'Why bylva/' she said, ignoring Cyril, “What is the meaning of this? I thought you were on your honeymoon by this time.” “But how did you know?” asked Sylva, postponing a difficult explanation, and still seeking to learn something which puzzled her. “Why,, you silly child, Lorry told me or course. You don't suppose he would marry you without my knowledge do you? We arranged the affair between us/ she added smilingly. “What have you done with him?”

As he caught the look of distress on Sylve-'s face, Cyril Wandesforde hastilv intervened.

“Aunt Tenelope,” he said, “Lorry and Sylva are not married. You see——" “Not married!” cried Lady Traynor, sharply. “Why not?” The matter was all arranged, and I have sent to tho newspapers."

“Sent to the newspapers,” cried Cyril in consternation.

les, replied Lady Traynor tartlv. lo t s e ‘Corning Post/ ‘The Times/ and The Ladys Field/ They’ll have photographs in the latter this week.” For a moment Cyril and Svlva stared at her dumfounded, and it was then that Jack Wandesforde, who had drawn near during the conversation, broke in. “Aunt Fenelope, you've put your foot into it pretty thoroughly time!” At the sound of his voice Lady Traynor turned sharply to him. “You, Jack VV andesforde ! •W 1 ere have you come from, and what do you know about tliis dreadful muddle?”

“More than anybody else, I think/' replied Jack, gravely. “And if you'll just step out of your car and walk a little way with me, I will explain to you how Providence has been interfering in the matter.”

‘I shall do nothing of the kind,” answered Lady Traynor. haughtily. “Then you had better send away your man. The things I have to tell von are for your private hearing only—;—” Lady Traynor looked at him, and something in the gravity of his face convinced ner that he had serious things to tell her. She turned to her chauffeur. “Johnson" jet down and go for a little stroll up the road. I*ll blow the horn when I want you.

“Yes, milady!” The chauffeur descended and walked away up the road. When he was out of earshot the young man looked at Ladv Traynor. “Aunt Penelope/’ he said quietly, “I am afraid you must prepare yourself for a great shock.” “A great shock!” she echoed, looking at him wonderingly. “Yes,” he answered. “Lorry will never marry Miss Gauntlett—or anyone else.*'

What do you mean?” asked Lady Traynor, going suddenly pale. “Has fiomething happened to him ?” “Yes.” he answered simply, with an intonation that conveyed more than the word. '

For a moment Lady Traynor did not speak. She sat there whilst a strange look of age crept into her face, then with trembling lips ehe said, “Tell me.”

Jack Wandesforde told her, choosing his words carefully, “There has been an accident. Lorry’s car collided with another and overturned. nnon him, and I think he must have died instantly.”

w Oh! M she cried. “Oh!” She buried her face in her hands, and remained so for a little time, then she looked up. I must *s° home.” she said, “home. Sylva ’ —she turned pitifully to the girl. Will you come with.me? I feel I cannot go alone. I—T thought so much of poor—poor Lorry.” “Of course, Lady Traynor.’’ answered Sylva instantly, and as she stepped into the car. .Tack Wandesforde put a finger over his lips. Sylva understood that he wished her to say nothing if she could avoid it, and nodded her comprehension; then she touched the horn, and Johnson came hurrying down the road. He gave one glance at Lady Traynor. who had again buried her face in her hands, then he looked at Sylva. (f Home,” she said, “as fast as vou can.”

She glanced at Cyril once, and that look made his heart leap, then, as the car reversed, she waved her Hand to both of the brothers, and a moment later was speeding away. Jack Wandesforde looked at his brother. “Lorry,” lie said, “was a bad lot; but Aunt Penelope believed in. him. We shall have to let her continue to do so now that he is dead.”

“Yes,” answered Cvri 1. “ ‘Of the dead speak no evil’—but all the same Lorry was nearly the limit.” “'.'lore so than you know,” responded his brother, and told him some things that in their previous brief conversation he had not had time to tell him. When he had finished Cyril spoke again. “One thing puzzles me,” he said, a frown of perplexity'on his face, “I can understand that he wanted to marry .Sylva for her money, but I cannot understand how he induced Sylva to consent. Lady Traynor must have had something to do with it—and yet I don't believe she had sufficient influence over Sylva to get her to ” “It wasn’t Aunt-Penelope I” broke in his brother. “I am sure of that.” “Then ”

“It was Lorry himself. He jockeyed the girl into a promise to marry him somehow, and I know that, though she was going to Winstow to keep that promise, she certainly did not want to go, and it was a huge relief to her when I told her Lorry had run away and left her at the altar.”

‘‘But how could he get- her to promise him?” asked Cyril. “That is the thing I can’t understand.- Till the time of the Assizes .she stood by me through thick and tnin. It was wonderful how she faced out the examination of that inean-minded solicitor at the magisterial hearing—hut I forget—you know nothing about that.” He broke off and gave his brother an account of that occasion, and when he had finished, Jack Wandesforde spoke his approval. “Miss Gauntlett is certainly as plucky as she is beautiful. But what you say does make the projected marriage with Lorry difficult to under stand.” He stood thinking a moment, then something leaped in his mind. “Cyril, old man, tell me one thing. The girl, I gather, was very active in working to establish your innocence, hut did Lorry Smendon do anything in that-way?” “1 think he was the means of finding old Petengo—the father of the murdered girl,” was the reply. “Sylva hetcelf by some chance had got on the track of him, and was looking for him when she hurt her foot, and at her request Lorry took up the job. I had a short note from her whilst I was in custody, telling me this, and begging me to keep up my heart.”

“Then that explains this projected marriage,” answered his brother with conviction. “I gathered whilst I was driving her to Winstow, and when I did not know that Lorry was the intended bridegroom, that she was under obligation to the man whom she was to marry, that he had done some service, and that for that service she had promised to marry him. I thought at the time it was strange, and I urged her to break the promise, since to keep it would be a greater wrong than to break it | Old man—that girl is a treasure. She was deliberately sacrificing herself for you.” “Upon my word,” said Cyril. “I believe you are right. You have found the solution of the whole mystery.” “I am sure of it,” answered Jack, “and if you ask her, you ' will find that something of that sort is the truth.”

‘ f will ask her,” said his brother, “for lam morallv certain she’ll never tell me unless I do.”

“No,” answered Jack, “Miss Gauntlett is not the sort to proclaim her good deeds from the house-tops, and I’m beginning to think you are a very lucky fellow. Cyril, my hoy.” “I have always thought so,” answered Cyril, with conviction, “since I met Sylva.”

(To be concluded.)