TEE WHITE GLOVE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 2

TEE WHITE GLOVE.

[Ah, Rights Reserved,]

Kt FUED'M.'WHITE.

: CHAPTER XXXIV.—THE END OF ]T ALL. "01 course I have," Clifford said, " She is tlio most famous 1 lady detective in tho world. Most, of the American mysteries have been solved by that clevcr brain. Awl do you mean to say that tlio lady whom we know as Mrs Manton, of New York " "Is Virginia Walters, no lesp.. -I have never been found out yet in any of my disguises, though I have had some narrow escapes. Unfortunately for uio, in n big affair, fivo yeais ago, I lost three fingers. They were severed by a bowie Itnifo in a struggle. Hind you, all the criminal fraternity have heard of me, ancl tlicy all know of my misfortune. Hence the wax fingers and tho velvet gloves. Tlio night 1 first met Mr Marsh 1 had had ail accident, and these wax lingers were* crashed. Michel Hayne was closc on my track; I felt snrif he had spoiled inc.' All »tho same. I wus not- alter liim then, apd whon ho mot me a littlo hilcfjus Mrs Manton I knew that 1 had escaped detection. Really, I eamo to Kngland on another matter, which had puzzled tlio police, and which I.solved in u single, day. Their I heard what Kavne was after, and I served Sir Arthur ilarrymore. • When ho called mo from liis oflice on thij telephone T knew from, his incoherent speech what ha<l happened. I was just going to the theatre. lint the rest ypif know,'' "How was 'tlio Mrs Manton scheme worked?" Clifford asked. .' ' '

" Oh, that was easy. Mr Manton. was in London incog. , There wns no clianeo' of anybody seeing liis wife, and I had , asked 'her permission beforehand- '■ Mr Manton has a grim eenso of humour, and lie mado no objection at all. He did' not know at that moment how (Jdsely. I should lio identified with his interests before very long. When I found that Sir Arthur had been robbed, 1-saw llf Mailton and suggested a policy of 'patience to him. Like a clever man, ho consented. • You have seen to-night how that policy worked out." . "And you are going to leave, us at onco?" Mndelino asked. "I am .y'&ry sorry." . "It is very good of you to say so," said Mies Walters. "I shall miss you both; in fact, I don't know wien I havo taken lo two' yourig people so much before. Courage .'and endurance are qualities that I greatly admire. And I have more than a suspicion that. I should mil. -havo succeeded in llio matter at all if it bad not been fOr'your husband, Mi's Marsh." "I.iim sure I should not have succeeded but for you," Clifford 1 said. Rut are we never -going to have tho pleasure of seeing you in England-. again? I '-' " Who knows?" Miss Wallers answered. "My business takes mq everywhere. I am hero to-day and gono to-morrow; there are li .score of cases crying aloud for my attention. Tn a year or two I hope to return, and then T shall live in England.,- iYour life is so much more restful than'ours. Now I am going to bed, for 1 seo that I havo a busy day before nio to-morrow'." For a long time Clifford sat. thoughtfully over tlio pleasant wood fire that had been lighted in the bedroom.allotted lo himself and his wife. Madeline was doing np the braids of her shiny hair. She looked -very pretty and pathetic in her white nightdress. When she.,had- finished she camo and sal down on tho other side of. the fire. "So, it's all well thai ends well," lie said.' " My darling, you .are quite right. Yon alwaysisaid-that tho'sun would shino again for lis." f'lt comes in.strango and unexpected ways," Madelino'replied, " We are rich now, Clifford we can afford to think, of tho future a little, Some timo ago I dreaded it. more than T, do now. There was a.special Teaeua why I dreaded it." !• Clifford looked np ami met. his wife's eyes. Thero waß just a tinge of extra cfilour in her face. Then ho.slifted .belli.) and placed her on his knees, so that her head could rest on his shoulder. ; '■" Now go oil and tell me all.. about;.it;, 1 darling," lie said., . " The surprise is going to, bo a pleasant, ono now." v'Not yet., Clifford. First of all, I havea, confession to make. I could not sleep to-night till you had forgiven me.Clif-., ford, I—l stole those diamonds." My denr child, what are. you talking about? Those diamonds foil'into .your hands in a strange manner, aii'd - you deemed them to be pasta. You' .told.;me, so to-night," - . # ■ " lint I did not tell the whole .truth,'. Clifford. I meant to steal them, or. .one of them at anyrate. I thought they 'werediamonds. And that is why I told you nothing about, tlicm. My idea was -to-, one and turn it into money andrsolid yoi' the notes anonymously, so that-you rould sav that you had nol lost the cash that Sir Arthur liarrvmore luui given you. It was 'a dreadful thought to occur to anybody, but I yielded to the temptation I tried to sell one of the diamonds in Tunbridgo Wells, hut. they said they were pasle. Thank Heaven, that mistake saved me. And until to-night, •ivhen - you 'mails that discovery public, I remained under the same delusion. 1 can orilv say that I did it for your sake.", , . 'Clifford oaid notliim'. by way of reply. . He merely took Madeline's nrettv, pleading face iu his hands.and kissed it long and tenderly.' M;;'Jclino was crying sofllv. "I feel that. I-am forgiven," she ventured to sav at length. /. My darling, of course-yon are," Clifford said. " One tiling I am certain of, yoii would not have dreamt of such a iliim; for anybody else in the world. The. faults Unit wnmru do for the sake of theu' husbands and children are looked leniently Up.;:i by the recording angel, I am certain. And now for your other piece of iu:ws. Is that a confession, too?" Madeline leant, her head on Clifford's shoulder, so that lie could not see her eyes. ' You Jiiive made mo wholly and entirely happy," she whispered. "There is

no cloud anywhere now, .Clifford. I said I was looking to tlio future with dread, row I look forward with exceeding joy." "II sounds queer," Clifford said, with just the suspicion of a catch in his voice. "No. wonder that you felt a little bit anxious, Maddy, And so wc shall have to "make" a. home 'fitting tho importance of Ilia littlo stranger who will some day inherit the Forfitt wealth. Tho old house " "Not there, Clifford," Madeline pleaded. "Wc must dispose of, that, though wo can reservo this for a little time longer. The old house is associated to ino Ijv the saddest ties, sad memories that end in blood and tragedy. I should not like my child to be horn there. And now I am. going, to bed. I ani so terribly, heavily, happily sleepy." Clifford pondered over the disclosure for a little time longer. Madeline was asleep now; ho could cnteli her regular breathing. ' A pleased, proud smile was on his lace. '"Slrange' that. I never reckoned on that," ho muttered. "T suppose men never do. Well, thank Heaven, we have ilo' fenfs for tho coining of tho little one now." , Mrs Manton, otherwise Miss Virginia Wallers, vanished the following day; the house was given over to the agents, and the brilliant woman's place knew her no more. JLiwlisli had gone north to'look, up his people, who had regarded him * as- lost. He could take up his proper position again.njnv, for there was no lack of wealth there. He was going to-South Africa again, he said, and he should take l'hil Henshaw along now that' the latter could hold up his head .again. Already the proper authorities were working in that maltor. ." - . , " We'll. go down lo .Cranborougli tonight," Clifford said, "ami put up at the.'old house, for a lime at anyrate. I've arranged to take down a few of Mrs MAnton's servants, and I shall pay off tho old sour lot when we get there, lint, if possible, J .want to take poor old Colonel Marston. along and instal him in his cottage. I've got a servant for him, too. Let's go and hunt up the dear old man without further delay."

' Colonel Marston expressed his profound delight -at. meeting his friend Clifford Marsh's wife. iHe had got rid of Sefton, who had been removed to a hospital at the instigation of Dr Darrcll. He listened to Clifford's proposal with a queer smile, and'a lip that quivered despite himself. "It is. good of you," he said. "If I don'l'.say- much, believe me 1 feel the more. And to change this lonely life for one of. tho companionship of my iequals When do I come?" " With us—to-day," Clifford said. " We'll drive you round so that you can give up the keys, and yon can leave your 'belongings as a present for your successor. Pack up what you want, and we will wait for you. Madeline can help." ' . 1 1 "I shall he only 100 delighted jf, I can be of any assistance," Madeline cried. But- tho old soldier would not have those fair fingers soiled, he said. There were tears in his . eyes, so that he could hardly see what he was doing; her hands trembled. Madeline was feeling with joy -what wealth can bring when it is bestowed oil the proper hands. . They got away from the lonely old house, where so many fateful things had'happened, and then they looked up Henshaw afid Myra,i:.,who. ,was.;staying with an. old nurse of hers. , r "Yon arfc to~come with us as well," Madeline urged. " You and Philip Henshaw." 1 i "--You are : very good," Myra said. " You are all goodness, t believe. But 1 could not stay in a house where my ■brother " You understand, Ilcsides, I have to slay for the funeral. Perhaps I. may find some rooms near you " ."How stupid of me," Clifford cried. "Wc are going to. the. Ashdown house for the present. Maddy's old nurse won't be back for weeks yet. Why not take the cottage, with your old nurse, and let Phil stay with us for a time.. Before you are married we shall have 'moVed into-ii different house altogether. Come down, on' Friday." "The day after the funeral," Myra 1 said), with a faint siiiile. "How good you.are! And how I shall appreciate ; the rest and ease of mind! What do you say, Phil!" | ."What could onn say, darling?" Hem sliaw replied, with enthusiasm. And so it was arranged. The days passed, and, the lovers came; the days passed still, and they were married on their way to South Africa before Madeline coiild realise it all. The old house was let. and, in a sunnier, brighter one, iWith'. all- •. that wealth could ' procure, iJladeline.sal and waited for tho crown ,o'f all the joy that was so soon-to come, •;. . , The End. 1., ; .v -KICW STORY. 'On' Saturday next the opening chapters ; of a new and thrilling story entitled ' "The Hero of the Black Shale Mine" will be published. • It is written by E. C. Kenyon, author of " The Mystery of the Old. North Mine,"."The Hand : of .His Brother," " Sir Claude Man--liei'ley," " A Girl in a Thousand," " Love's Golden Thread," etc.