LINKED BY PERIL

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12252, 25 September 1925, Page 12

LINKED BY PERIL

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. >0 O 0000 OO 0-0 coo OOOC OOOOOCKKKXXKKKKVSOOOO POWERFUL 31 OftY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY.

BY BEN BOLT, Author ci 'The Lady of the Miniature/* “The Lifting of the Shadow/’ “Love Finds the Clue/' &c., [COPYRIGHT.!

CHAPTER XXV.—Continued. They stood talking for some time longer, and then Cyril said, “What are we to tell Uncle i.bout this?" “The truth/’ of course/' answered his brother promptly. “I think it is necessary for your sake. It will clear any lingering suspicions that he may have about you— —' “He has none," broke in Cyril. “He used to have plenty; but I think Sylva managed to kill them pretty thoroughly when she declared her faith in me. You know, he thought that I was responsible for your disappearance——" “Great Scott! What made him think that?" “Well, there was an absurd rumour started by someone to that effect, and- as 1 thought at that time that I was the sole survivor of the wreck, I was really in a rather helpiess position." “Ever got at the bottom of the rumour?" asked his brother, sharply. “No; but I have an idea that it was started less with an idea of causing trouble with uncle than of fouling my chance with Sylva.*" “Lorry, of course, was at the bottom of it. The facts speak for themselves. He wanted the girl himself. He knew of the circumstances attending the wreck of the schooner, and he was certain that the true facts would never come out. It was a safe card to play, since it damaged you and left you without any chance of 1 reply. It's all very well to talk of speaking nothing but good of the dead; but really, Cyril, you can't find any good to tell about Lorry. You can do and sny what you like, but I shall tell Sir Reginald the whole truth, and insist that you shall be perfectly vindicated in the eyes of the public." “There's no need to draw the family name into—— ’*

“Mud sticks!" broke in his brother. "There ere always a certain number of fools in the world who, once suspicions have gathered about a man, will persist in believing the worst, until facts knock sense into them. And it isn’t to yourself this vindication is owed. There is Miss Gauntlett to consider. If you are to marry her you owe it to her that the name she is to carry shall be without speck or blemish." “You seem very sure that I—" “Pooh, man! I saw her look at youV You have only to ask, and the thing is done. But it is time we were getting to Wandesforde; the sooner we are at the end of a telephone wire the better, for we must stop these confounded notices of Aunt Penelope's from appearing in the papers, you know." “Upon my word!" cried Cyril. “I had forgotten." “Yes, but I hadn't, and they must he stopped by hook or crook. Miss Gauntiett has endured too much to be asked to endure that also." They started for Wandesfbrde Park immediately, and, when they arrived, they found Sir Reginald in the library with the chief constable of the county. “Go in and prepare him tor my resurrection," said Jack, “whilst I go to the telephone. I’ve no doubt lie'll bo glad to see us, and since the County Chief is here, I have a fancy that we shan’t have much news for unde. Mackinson would not come here just to report a motor accident." It was as he said, as Cyril found the moment he entered the library, for besides his uncle and Major Mackinson, were the two gipsies who had attacked Lony Smendon at Winstow. “Sit down. Cyril," said his uncle. “I have been listening to a strange story." I think I know the story, sir." “Is it true what I hear—that Jack is dive " "Yes, uncle. He is at the telephone; be will be here in 'a moment." > Sir looked at his other visitor: “Major Mackinson, I think you can let these men go now. Ido not doubt their story for a moment; and, as I think we owe it to my nephew here to let the whole facts be known, I shall be glad if you will arrange for some notice to be sent to the papers setting forth his complete innocence." “But, uncle," broke in Cyril, “there is no need " “The living come before the dead," answered his uncle, simply. “X made up my mincf, and I shall nave my way. I have already wronged you too often to allow even a possibility of further injustice. Besides—some account of Lorry ttmendon’s iniquity is already running over the countryside. These men"—he waved a hand towards the gipsies—“having lost all sense of restraint when they found he had escaped them, shouted his iniquities to the world.. So the harm—if harm there is—is done. And arm mour of this sort is like thistledown thrown in the air, and simply makes it necessary to state the facts. Don’t you think so. Major?" “ Major Mackinson nodded his head in agreement. * •

“I certainly think it will be the wiser course, Sir Reginald, however distasteful it may bo to the members of the family. As you sav, the harm is done already, for on the countryside the story will run like fire in heather, and such a statement as you and I together can moke will clear Cyril's name of any suspicion that may remain in stubborn minds." “And quite right, too!" broke in Jack Wandesforde s voicq. He had entered the room unperceived whilst the officer had been speaking, and now advanced to greet his uncle. “I am very pleased to see you, Jack. I had mourned you for dead, as" had Cyril here. You must explain how you es-

caped when we have disposed of this matter. But lam very glad that, as the heir to the estates and the prospective heud of the family, you endorse my view of this matter. The thing must not remain where it is, for a rumour is always more damaging than the truth—and Cyril at all events must be vindicated." •‘Certainly, uncle." “Then Major, if you will send these men away, you and I will draw up the necessary statements together, and when it has been sent off to the news agencies you might stay and have an early dinner with ns." “I'm afraid I can’t do that, Sir Reginald, as I am already engaged for this evening, but I will remain long enotigh to get the statement ready for the papers." He turned to the gipsies. “This way you two." He led them out into the hall, where he admonished and dismissed them, then as he and Sir Reginald bent over some sheets of paper, Cyril and his brother slipped from the room. “Wither away " cried Jack, as he saw the other slipping on a coat and cap. “To Traynor Manor," Cyril answered, conscious that he was blushing like a girl. His brother smiled. “I don’t blame you," he said. “I should not have waited so long." Cyril drove his own car to the Manor, and as he drew up in front of the house noted that all the blinds were drawn, and that already a flag was flying at halfmast As lie thought of the suffering that his vain and worldly aunt was enduring and of further sufferings that the* publication of the truth would cause her, he almost regretted his uncle’s decision. Then he remembered what Jack had said, and owned to himself that it was only just and right that he should be able to offer an unsullied name to Sylva. Lady Traynor had not behaved very nicely to himself, but she had loved Lorry Smendon, and as he roted the flag and the drawn blinds, he found it in his heart to forgive her; though at the same time he was quietly glad to think that, after all, his innocence was to be shown to all the world.

And he was doubly glad when Sylva entered the great drawing room where he awaited her. She was dressed in shimmering white as 6he had been on the night when slie baa met him in the park to say farewell. Her face was pale, buj; her eyes were shining, and as the door closed behind her he held out his arms. “My dear!" he said, “my dear." It was some little time before he spoke again, then he said, “It is an hour of sadness, Sylva; but you and I have earned the right to a little joy." “I feel as if X had escaped out of prison into the sunshine," whispered Sylva, shyly. “But why did you choose the prison, Sylva, when you knew that I was hungering for you all the time? It almost stunned me when you drove away without speaking that day at the Assizes." “That was not wholly my fault," said Sylva brokenly. “Lady Traynor gave me no opportunity, but in any case I think I could not have trusted myself to —to " She did not finish the sentence, and after a moment he pursued his inquiry. “But why were you going to marry Lorry secretly to-day?" “Oh!" responded the girl hurriedly, “I had promised him at a time when it seemed right to do so, and I could see no way out of the promise. Besides," she added as an after-thought, “X was goaded on by some gossip I overheard. It was weak and vain and foolish of me — but—well I am only a girl, and I have no experience of—of 6Uch things." He did not inquire what the gossip was, but still followed his main line of inquiry. “Sylva" he said, “why did you promise, Lorry? Tell me that?" As Sylva was still modestly silent he asked yet another question. “When did you make that promise?" Then the girl spoke. “It was when—when you were in prison, and I was trying to find Zillah Petengo's grandfather." “You mean when you hurt your foot and Lorry took up the search for you?" “Yes," she whispered.

He looked at her tenderly. -In his heart he had no doubt now, but he did not put his full conviction into words at once. “I wonder/’ he said, “if Jack was right." “What do you mean —what are you wondering?" “Jack has jumped to the idea that it* was in consideration of Lorry’s help in that matter that you made the promise; and I—and I—" he broke off and looked at her. “Yes?" she whispered. “I am quite sure. My dear, it was very noble of you, but if that sacrifice had been made, I think I should nave killed Lorry for forcing you to it, if 1 had ever learned the truth. But now, I am glad to know it—for I know that your love is beyond any man’s deserving. It will keep me humble all my days." “Not too humble," flashed Sylva, quickyy. “I do not like humble men." “Then/* he said, ,“I shall be masterful, arid I shall tell Sir Reginald that we are to be married at Michaelmas." “Well, she said, with mock resignation, “I cannot help what you may tell him " “But if I tell him so?" he queried. “Then I shall not dare to disappoint Sir Reginald." And with a happy laugh she buried her face against his shoulder. (The End.)