AN OPEN SECRET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10589, 5 September 1896, Page 3

AN OPEN SECRET.

A-SENSATION-J- STORY,

Br THOMiS COJ3B,

-Author of * iOn^rust^*Eor,-Value Received," *""c- / _c.

[AEZ'iaGHTSIS.b'SERVEDzi

'SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Qhajtep.s I AI.D H.-fMaud Sadgrove and her husband live together in St. John's'Wood with their child, Robbie, a boy of five years. Mr Sadgrove returns'home, and telle her he is practically ruined unless she consents to a plan he has in his mind. , He at the'name time tells hsr their marriage is a sham. Distracted and humiliated, ihe is willing to consent to anything he proposes, lie then tells her that a client of hi"*, named Annison, had a daughter who 19 years ago ran away ,\ and married . her father's gamekeeper, named' Long. She is dead, .dong with her husband, Serving a daughter, Cindra. Mr Annison, her F,,at*df*Ui»r, who has never seen his grand-daut/iU-r, .s, however, induced to make a will in her favour, Sadgrove, who had defrauded Annison, is afraid of discoveiy, and wishes Maud to personate the granddaughter Cindra, whom he tells her is dead. ■:' Through' pressure she at last contents. • Sadgrove then arranges that Cindra shall be removed, in care of an escort (Mrs ■ BoBlock), to India. Chapter's 111 a>d IV.—Maude takes the final plunge and >is installed iu the house of her "grandfather," at', Shottendcn. The old man is dis»ppointed';ta her, saying 'thai she.is nothing like her mother.l Maude is dispirited and pines for her child: Weeping in a wood,'; she meets and Forms ; the acquaintance of Claude Hardinge, •biother of Miss Hardinge, a'visitor on old Mr Ac-uson. i Chaiters V and VL—Claude Hardinge woos Maud assiduously, and hopes be will have no difllculty witty Mr Annison. The reader is introduced to Archie Belford, whs calls upon Cindra at lilr, Bostook's, iu Cornwall Mansions, having been deputed tto meet her on his return' from India. ",

CHAPITER VII.-CINDRA PAYS A VISIT TO BEDFORD ROW. Cindra arrived at the conclusion that Mrs Bostock*s advice was sound; certainly it was disinterested, for' whatever might be her • faults, she had nothing to gain by taking Cindra to Ruggapore, if no one was there to receive her. So on Moacky morning she set forth at 11 o'clock, and by the aid ot several policemen saccseded in ' reaching Bedford row , Entering the opfcn door, * she saw another on the right of tbe wide hall, with , «Clerks' Offics" \pn its panels, in letters which once bad been tvbite. It 'led to a large room containing several vacant desks, and one ocenpied by a sharp looking lad, at present engaged in the study of criminal law ;a the pages of «' Clauds Dnval, the Ladici' Highwayman." "Is Mr Sadgrove at hr.me 1" Bhe asked, as "he goti down from bis high stool and came to the counter, which ran across the office. " I'll see, miss; what name 2" " Miss Long " She' waited, while the lad entered another room through _ doorway leading from tbe clerks' '"Office, Watching the dusty windows, the cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, the grimy-ri alls, until he returned after a short absence.' "Not at home, mis3." Obviously a lie; but having regarded the boy for a' moment in silpnee, Cindra saw no alternative but to go awsy again.

Certain';.-.':thM; Sadgrove was at home, Dindra's alarm'was heightened by his refusal to see her, and She determined to repeat her visit until she obtained the desired interview. OnTuesday she met with no better success ; on Wednesday it was the.same, but directly the boy,opened the, inner door on Thursday, lhe heard an impatient voice bidding him ihow Miss Long irj;

"I -have nbt|bad the pleasure of seeing yoii before," said Sadgrove, when she had jat down," What-can I dofor you 1 "

" It is not my-fault you did not see me on Monday," she answered. "Yon can tell me to whom you are sending me at Ruggapore."

He sat doWn.stooping over bis bare writing table, and looked at fo-: keenly—bis eyes red arid irritable, his face haggard and careworn. He bad hoped before this to hear of Mr Annjson's deaih; but Maud had been at . Shottenden three weeks to-day, and not a 'word had reached him, it being understood that they should not run the risk of corresponding until the desired event took place. Mr Aunison's early death was an item of the Erst importance in the programme; he knew how difficult it would be to keep Maud long »Way-frOB-' her chil,-, and had quite sufficient cause for anxiety; without any fresh trouble with Ciudra',v7' '; \ "If my client had wished to enlighten you,-'hesaidj, "he would havo done so before you left Harrogate. On your arrival, in ledia I don't doubt ;tbat everything will be explained. Having'carried out your—let us say your guardiaj-'s—instructions, I consider that my concern-with yo.u ceased the day yen-reached Mrs1 Bp'stock.f ; •*: Surely tbere' 'can' be uo harm in telling me at least who, my guftrtlian is. You told Mrs Bostock and also. Miss Ringer, tbat bis name.wks.Long." 7';.. 7,' '

It was a weak link in the chain. When Mrs Bostock, asked tha name of tbe man who was to receive her protegee, ifc seemed safest to "give Cindra's own.' It was not an nncommon name, and apart from the important, fact that it was Cindra's, would serve bs well as Brown and Jones, br any other he might invent for the occasion. Sadgrove's sole Object was to get ber out-of England till such time as he could himself depart plus Mr Anniaon's fortune. As to what happened upon; her arrival at Ruggapore, or the exposure which Inight result;, he did not concern -himself. Before she could retnrn he hoped to be safely on bis way to Brazil.

, "Certainly," he answered, "your guardian's name ie the same se that yon bear at present." ;

" But," she insisted, " I know someone who has' returned from Ruggapore, and Mr Charles Long is his intimate friend." Sadgrove coughed violently for a few minutes, then looked into Cindra's face and answered quietly: ' "Yonrguardian's name w not Charles."' -'J My'friend'is positive there is no other, Mr Long at Ruggapore," Cindra said, with a feeling that he had taken the wind out.of ' ber sails. He laughed in a qniet, irritating .way;'-'";-' ; .■<-.;■'" ..-.'- ---" Really I have something more important to do-than listen to an account of your friend's hallucinations. Miss Long. Yon will see bow absurd these arePwhen I tell you I "am ?'in frequent communication with Mr Long—your guardian.". ■ ■ "What is his Christian name ? " she asked. ''.Pardon me, I cannot be led into a betrayal of my client'*, confidence. Upon your arrival yon-will doubtless hear everything, Rndyon must allow me to say that after all that he has done for yon, it ill becomes you to doubt his good intentions in tbe future. Anything I can do to ease your mind, I am willing to do, but my tongue is-tied as was my father's when he'first placed you under Miss Ringer's care."

' After some more conversation in the same tone, Cindra left Bedford row convinced that Archie had made a, mistake, and that in spite of his assertion to the contrary, there were two; Mr Longs <at Ruggapore. Bat Archie, who had not enjoyed the advantage at a personal interview with Sadgrove, was by no means satisfied,* and. after leaving Cindra on Saturday he pondered the matter a good deal, and that.evening took his mother and Bisters into his confidence.

"You see," he said, "I can swear there is only one Long at Ruggapore, and I know all Charley's people and everything about them. It can't be a mere mistake of this Sadgrove, and it strikes me there's mischief in it."

"It strikes me there will be if you thrnst yourself into it,"retorted Mrs Belford. "Par better leave it alone—-"

"And let Miss Long go to India and find herself in no end of a mess. Imagine the pickle she'll be in. What I want is to discover who this Sadgrove is and all abbot him. By Jove, I'll ask Wentworth."

"If yon do see Mr Wentworth," said Mrs Belford," you may as well invite him to dine next week. He never comes to see us now, ind the girls liked him so much." On Monday morning, therefore, whilst Cindra was on her way to Bedford Row, Archie set forth to St. Paul's Churchyard. When he left Tonbridge for Sandhurst, Wentworth went to Cambridge; and had now become a partner in Ms father's firm, as wellss one of the youngest and most promising members of tbe House of Commons. In Archie's opinion there existed no higher authority on all matters of business. Wentworth was tall, handsome, and twenty-six years of age; - wore an eyeglass, and a flower In the buttonhole of his unexceptionable froekcoat.

After a cordial greeting, Archie sat down in Went'worth's private room and stated his bnsiness.

" I want to know how to find ont all about- •*,' johnny," he said. " Whether he's a rank outsider or not."

- " Financially, do you mean s'' ' , ■ "Altogether—whether he is generally trustworthy. His name is Sadgrove, a solicitor of Bedford Row." f ■ "I can send his name to the_Trade Protection Society the firm subscribes to," said Wentwortb, " and no doubt we shall learn something, if not all you want to know. Directly I receive their report I will send it on to yon. Anything to do to-nigbt 1" >: Having nothing in particular to do Archie accepted an invitation, tc dine before going to bear Wentworth spe&k at the House of Commons. Ou Friday morning Archie j walked to Clarence Gate* directly after breakfast, and waited until he saw Cindra come forth. ■'' ' . "I have seen Mr Sadgrove," she said, walking by his side aleng Baker street, " and j he says tbat my guardian is not Mr Charles j Long, and he must be at Ruggapore, because Mr fcfrdgrove constantly hears from bim," j " Sadgrove is a thorough bad lot," answered Archie. . "You may thick it no business of mine, but I could not let you arrive in India with no one to meet you, could 1 1 So I have been making inquiries. No one will trust him a farthing cake; old Sadgrove was honest enough, but where he employed a dozen clerks tbe present man keeps half a one. His business—what there is of it—is of the shadiest description, and I am told that be has only one or two old fogey clients left; people who never come to London and remain in an ignorance that won't prove very blissful some day." " Perhaps my Mr Long is one of these old fogies," said Cindra. "I am not inclined to object to that. I shon'-j rathsr prefer to ba met by an old fogie than Mr Charles Long." "I assure you," Archie urged, as they retraced their steps, " that you will not be met by abyone." "You may be mistaken," she answered, and she added, impulsively, " I simply dare not believe that Mr Sadgrove is deceiving me; I dare not believe it," , "You will be forced to believe it sooner or later," Archie persisted; " far better see the truth before you leave London. Yon must have some friend whose advice you can ask." " Only one," she said, " but a very kind one; only Miss Ringer." • "Then let me persuade you to write to her at once; tell her tbat I left Ruggapore less than two months ago, tell ber whit I say about Charley Long mi also about Sadgrove; tell her I knew every' decent European in tbe place, and th&t there is only the one man of your name amongst them, and," he added, taking from his pocket the report he had reoeived from Wentworth, " you may as well enclose this. Tell Mies Ringer everything, and be guided by her advice." j

For a few yards she walked by his side in silence; .he watched hsr perplexed face intently. "I will do as you advise me," she said, presently. "It still seems to me that you are mistaken, but of course I will.write to Miss Ringer and hear what she says." : " And if she advises you not to go to India 1" "I cannot think she will; but if she does, I suppose—l suppose I" must stay in England; still it would be a serious thing to throw over Mr Sadgrove, who has beon the means of my support all these years."

"Have you anywhere to go after leaving Mrsßostock?" he asked. "Supposing that Miss Ringer advises you to leave her ? "

" Ob, if she advises me to stay in England she will invite me to Harrogate. But I believe she will think it my duty to go with Mrs Bostock, considering that Mr Sadgrove bas been responsible for roe so long. However, I shall write to ask what she says." '

. "And," said Archie, "I must make an excuse to pay Mrs Bostock a visit to ascertain her answer."

Cindra said nothing to Mrs Bostock, thinking that if Miss Ringer advised her to go to India it were better to keep her own counsel; and in the other event there would be time enough to announce her decision after it was formed. .

Locking herself in her bedroom, however, she penned a long letter, setting forth the snbstanceof her conversation with Archie, of her interview with Sadgrove, and enclosin Mr Wentworth's report.

" You told me that I might apply to you in any time of difficulty," she wrote, "so that I ask your advice now. If yon say go, I shall start :on Thursday without the slightest hesitation, bnt if yon advise me to stay, nothing shall induce me to leave England. I cannot tell wha,fc to 'think; sometimes I am afraid of I hardly know what, at Others it seems, so easy that Mr Belford should be mistaken: Bub he has been very kind and taken so much trouble, and he seems so confident and so much to be relied upon, that again I hardly like to doubt, what he says. Please answer this letter immediately, as I shall have no peace till I hear from you."

She could not hear until Monday at the earliest. Miss Ringer . v?ould receive her latter on Saturday morning, and no doubt answer it at once, but when Cindra dropped it in tbe letter box herself that afternoon she already began to long. Jor tbe re^ly npou which so much depended. "