THE WILL AND THE WAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14715, 24 December 1909, Page 2

THE WILL AND THE WAY.

Bi BKKNAIiD CAPES,

Author of "Hie Secret in the Hill," "A Hoguo's Tragedy," "The Green Parrots," "A Castlo in Spain," "A Jay of Italy," -The Lake of Wine," Etc., Etc. [Coi'iTiiGirr.J CHAPTER XXV.-T-TE OPEN WINDOW. "Beware of the dog at your heels!" •WJ"> had spoken those words? In. that mo?>wnt, I think, he knew himself trapped and doomed. The sense of dark fatality which had pursued him all day—always in seeming the shadow of somolliing horrible behind him, and always a vague indefinite nothingness when lie had turned to lookwas interpreted at last in the sinister significance of this ambush, So lie read it at once, and, rcading.it, his heart constricted deathly for an instant, his nerves leapt and vibrated. But, i n the ; very shock of the surprise, ho seized dcUpdrato - bold if lii« i-hason, desperate control of . his manner, lest in the demoralisation of cither a consciousness of his miilt should seem to betray him. And all the'tvhile that his mind was leaping and tearing, like a snared rat, for a way to escape, his eyes wero gazing steadily on the" two figures, and there was a placid emilo'oh his face. "What? hcrgeant Roper?" lie said, not a tremor in bis voice. "This is an unexpected meeting!" ;;......;.. '[-Sorry I can't say the same, Mr Red-'! i; ding, sir," answered tho,other,/coolly'. 'J Not?": said the lawyer.. "Well;''l confess- there docs seem an air, of premediration about it. Is Miss Vanborough,. may I ask, in the plot'" ■: Lo Strang put in a decisive word> s i. , ''"Miss Vanborough is not here. I*Vepresent her, 1 may as well tell yoiyiji'tjiis. i matter, which is simply ono of- ■ posuro aiid impeachment." -'»'W' Redding conned the speaker ,with .;art nirof insolent disdain. ' ' •:'*< : " ' ''Really!" he said, "If r'amnot-mia: taken, the rascal who tried tojilackmail me. I- can't congratulate you on-your confederate, Serocanl." Le Strang did not even, flush to the insult. £ Worthless as he saw-the creature, ur/JcKrving bis least'pity or commiseration, he was too large-squkd' to retoit' upon tlio snarlings of a beast so trapped and helpless in his hands. 'But, though he would not return insult for insult,,')he would not address him again directly. '' "You will tell this mail, . Sergeant ' Roper," he said, " that it is .'no part, of my interest or intention to.acquaint liim by what processes I arrived at ih'o coil-' elusion of his guilt in r a very crime. It is enough for 'him Hn'"knojv/' that he'is detected and exposed.' 1 -.'- ■.■■' Tho dog al bis heels! Agaia.thc'iateiiil reminder. _■ In all this sudden' ruin schemes'! in all the wild despair of his' ■ heart, he thought of his own criminal folly _ in despising a warning, however seemingly innocuous at the moment, struck with tho biflerest force. The look of the' iiunted creature stolo into his face, however- hard he might strive to repudiate it, Ik r>ave a sick laugh. " Air Lc Strang, sir," said the Sergeant, "formed his suspicions of you from tho first—l won't say how or why, as ho' doesn't want me. Eut this I -will say—as that the end have justified; the'raeans. We know what you done, sir, 'and, what you have got with you-in your poeket-at this moment, and we make ■ n0... scciel.-of it,, that this was a rooso to trick ■ you 1 info producing it. It. will save a deakjofiin: necessaiy trouble, and maybe scrve'-you for an extenuating circumstance, .if you will hand it over. ; •■'-- * Redding, listening with a smile, folded liis arms over his breast. "You aro quite a convincing orator;' Sergeant," ho said. '.' 'B|ijuf,' is a term in ' pokor.' -Did■• you -'ever pltty' it?" "That'won't do, you know, Mr Red- , ding," said the officer.' "I'm! talking about what I know." '•'.ln my pocket?" said the lawyer, ban-, teringly.--." And what niav.-thati be, rto.wJ"; "'A will, sir," said the Sergeant—r'l'one. made by tho late Mr Urenville subsequent to that by which the young lady cbrho to profit in her igilorance. You needn't deny it." .if, -:■ >;. " Certainly not," said the other Coolly. " I noither deny nor admit it. I know nothing, in fact, about any such document. If such.wero drafted firely without my knowledgo or, connivance." ....,, .-;,- .■'.'.. ■':-.--.o " It wero drafted and signed," said;the; Sorgeant, " and witnessed by you and; the butler, Ambrceo Sharp."., . ."--..■_ i. -.'" TUV/ L. "Certainly one was.".;;;,; "And certainly'two was; and the second cancelled number ono. Come, Mr itodding, sir, it's no good; the game's up. Will you hand it over?" "'•■'■' " Take care, Sorgeant. You will'bear in.mind tho peril you are inviting..; ; If this follow has misled you, the wprs'p-'fbr you both. Understand me whcn/;I 'say that I know nothing of this ; will 'of which you speak. Ab one of your [pyesumptivc witnesses I deny that I ..ever; "set

my hand to such a testament," Ho spoke with, a convincing gravity. One might at least admire the magnificence of tho courage which could so brazen out a desperate situation. "Very well, sir," said the Sergeant; " then we must produce the other." Lo Strang, standing near the door, beckoned, and instantly there came quietly into tho room, and .paused by him, the figure of an old white-haired ■man leaning on a stick—'Ambrose'Sharp himf.cTt. no other. "All. Mr Redding!" said the exbutler, " that were a cruel and treacherous'blow you dealt me, sir; but I'm glad to think my duty earned it." In, .the first shock of the apparition the unhappy wretch had staggered bock, so that for an instant he seemed in peril of falling through the opened window liehind ' him; but, Before Sergeant Roper could dart forward to his rescue, he had recovered himself, and was leaning-among the curtains, hie bands picking at his throat. It was a painful thing, then, to watch the.'struggle of the possessed with his demon, He rallied from it, looselipped, shaken, with the face of one dead and lost; whereat the formal voice of tho. law,. habituated to .-'such ■ exposures, took','iip the tale of denunciation. " 11/'e no part of my duty, sir," said the Sergeant, " to comment on this here evidence; but you. can tee for yourself as how the man's .been operated on and has recovered his reason. He accuses you of a.murderous assault committed on him for the purpose o'f closing his month, on the night of tho supposed burglary at Scars,;-. I've only to add to that, Mr 'Kfddiflg,,',,that I've a warrant here for on a charge of attempted -murder;, -aiid that I hops you'll come with nie/quio'tiy." ...'.. .' .'"! ' ' He lo'tilra step forward, as he ended. '■." Stop !" (cried- the accused.' Jfc had advanced a single pace from his covert, but, finding his actions beyond his .control, had paused ; th«re,,- with* an cxipressibn of white hatred on his-face. ' " An ambush," he said hoarsely, struggling ton speech. , " Courageous dogs, to havo' feared to'uso yo'urleeth until I was | shared! But if I'm to' go down -it shall = not' be alone.' I did'it—iriiike the most I V>f v Wal : '-coni'osfiioii; "'alT shall/ : I-knew the old man could rin.t last much longer— the thing was in my hands. *A was quick to. foresee, the uses lo bcmade'qf il, biit thilt,old' fool there'- stpod hY piy way; and since;l could-'-.not bribe him'to see?with pie, I broke his wooden head' to silence Hjm. Not hard enough" for such a r);u!l —that was my mistake. A wise on my scul. -But you."—he turned wilii fury Le Strang—" you guessed the truth, did you, and suborned my pretty mistress and used her for decoy? I «« it all, ypu hound. • 1 ■ understand her l-Machcry> and how youcompelied her to' 'it,''and where yoiChope to profit. Take your"pauperj you wiflnot lt<;cp her long. She is going to testify' to her: knowledge o.t mys,.cfiinc, toA-fier acquiescence- in it, ..andilFer guilty enjoyment *of ils'fruiU, The'dock for ; her as" ; :fqr m?.•'■.. Play the happy suitor while you can, and'discuss the prospect ..while'you kiss. The timid, ' treacherous fool—too weak to bs a strong man's love! "■ Yet'l loved her, and would have'.made her my wife.iii time." There came,a scream and quick rush through the door, and, before anyone could move to interfere, ■Mrs'.Rcd'ding had leapt upon him, and;- borne -him down upon the opbh; window-.silk . T'fiken off. his guard, he was ''prostrate,,under;,her, "big man as lie was, and heihtes v'n- an instant. He beat out wlklly. his r lran'ds'r'liis. f nee ■'vm"lilffi--';m^sheTt s fliTi3k: "Monica!" he: gasped;- "Not'that- > way!"-.- -.. / ■ -' - ',',.-.-:. ..,,.. .. ~ .-.. Her clutch was demoniac. " Cdine down.!"' she sajd between her teeth. '. They went .over together. ,' It all hap-pened-in-a moihent, and-ix,hile fearlul hands were, still outstretched to save them. ■ An appalling sound, attenuating thMiigh.i-a.'Sccond to eternity,;a : .dull crash, 'a"'momentary pause,'-.the--cry ,; of sudden •voices and iootsteps,running,far below— ali \ shivered, 'into, Silence,' and elided'.'.' ..- The cripple saw it . carried 'away. "Gord bless him, anyhow/' he said. ■I'. I shall-sleep dr.nnk to-night' far once." ■'" It had'been a'daring villainy, such as . only. a. master miscreant,could have conceived and thought 'lb- 'darrv through. And, may be, it.be h'ad had;fhe-'acumen to advise -his- victim,--to' -a "measure of compromise with William Gronville's executor .— ,to:' liava! "conceded just that sop to Cerberushe would have carried it through, to its atrocious end in thpMmirderoi hisj.wife, ■- 'rind-'his ultiinat4!j6'dipUiie.'!.'enslav'cmisnt ; and.;corruption of the poor girl caught in juxtbils. But, ' 'he-.-was not superior,., to:-.. fhWfvcomiiion weaknesses of the criminal—inordinate .greed, vain-gloriousne'ss; : ; and -'iticoritempt ■for the sagacity- of-the-good—and so, over-confidence in his own victorious cleverness brought hiiiv literally, to the ' ground. They found the will upon his body. ' Its-date was that'of'the night of. the \ supposed abortive burglary, -and it left, ■ after revoking all former wills and codi- ■; cils,- the testator's- property uncondition- ; ■ .ally to. his only-^sen-William,-thus- corn-

plelely reversing the forms of that former' will under which Miss Vanborough hntl fijjjircd as the sole beneficiary. P,ut there was mi earnest appeal in it to the heir to make adequeta provision for his stop-sisliT while unman icd, and io provide licr with a resaojiaule dowry elsewise. Now it fame out that tiie old butler had been largely instrumental in •)jrociiring this change of'front, which'.was due lo.his pleading, through long months and as-a privileged servant, for some relenting tuwaids the young master whom he had loved, and had loved only the dearer for his faults. And so it happened that at length, whether for the impression they wrought on old affections and longsuppressed remorse, or from their awakening of a doubt us to the wisdom of entrusting so much power to such young and inexperienced hands, or perhaps for no better reason than that they disturbed and wearied a self-centred nature, his imporlunlics bad prevailed upon his Miaslcr, aud Mr Redding had been sent for to draft a new will. Its terms were simple enough; the thing was done in an hour; andlliss Vanborough stood all unconsciously.'lis-' inherited under the witnessing lihiids of Luke Redding; and, Ambrose Sharp, both of wlinm were desired bv the testator, naturally enough, to keep their knowledge to themselves. And thus came Luke's opoortunity. It is not to be supposed that he saw in it all at once that full-blown flower of rascality, it came quickly, to develop. At irst, no doubt, he designed no more thanto use his information, some..day,for the diplomatic bleeding of a spoilt" young ,I'iay, to whom the prospect of a narrow maintenance, conditional' on the favour" ol .a none too friendly connexion, would' ibn par,cularly galli ng . -But tbit'scheme jt'Oiild hardly have presented itself to him, : before lie recognised the impossibility of ,i s lrmtion without the connivance of ■ Ambrose Sharp. To render it something ; ess than abortive, he must win over! .bribe over, the old, ninn to-; his side. , He made the 'attempt,., without. hesitation or delay, To his cynic' conception <it was;,merely, a qiieatioii 'of ■ tide ■frruW tint for once his worldly estimate was atlai,lt: ■ -t''e butier had rejected his proposals extravagant- though -they.AvW,'with horror. Bedding, feeling in bis pocket, for a. life-preserver he was-wont to carry with him nfriijht. for'his'-own P.roteation-,on. lonely road's, had feigned lo turn away as if baffled and abashed, had whipped suddenly, round, and had struck tlw old man down, at.- a' blow, . He had intended lo kill him, and believed, no doubt, that he had been (successful. The desperate (situation he,had invited admitted of no alternative. 13ut the result, as Sergeant Roper had said, "must"have.shook him." However, his resourcefnlnefs rose to the occasion. He had .disposed matters, after .the. deed, so as to: make it. appear as if- a -burglary had bcenf-.-ittempted:;-he now,, in the-character ' of almoner to the family, gave- Sharp's daiighter-itoMindei-stand 'that- the liberal allowance-made her--on her injured-father's i behalf was r.« solely conditional on his non-recovery as it 'was on her holding her tongue.-as to that condition. She was a dull, selfish woman, with all that degree of cunning obstinacy which goes with navvc,w-m,iiuljiliwss, and she took her money impassively and was mute to professional remonstrances. They could r.ot force her into consenting to an operation, and Luke felt safe.

So safe that the lost and desperate soul of liim'.began to. turn to a contemplation, of tilings which it had not ■ hitherto ;conc'ciral. ~jyhy.'; , notju.sc. his knowledge to the securing of, the whole-rich fortune for himself? As well be*hung for a sheep' as a lamb. As things'stood, for'all'the isaving profit his deadly sacrifice of con-

science stood to' bring him, he might as well have, stayed his hand and submitted to a virtuous bankruptcy. Only one shadow stood in the light of his ambition —the shadow of his married stale, Howto lay that spectre was the question.' Wo need not follow him further .or draw: an obvious moral from the proverly which' hoists a gunner with his own petard, lie went-fast enough to his account, if.,his flight was down instead of up, and. the' inquest disposed of what remained. U was a pninlew business, of comse, rife with scandal and conjecture; but.they managed to keep Ruby out of.the "box, since she had been no witness to the occasion which had brought the deed. The-lawyer, to whose hands"William Grcnvillo had-entrusted the will which' made his friend, Robert Le Strang, heir to all that of which he miaht die possessed, watched the case on behalf of the legatee. The legal proceedings which ensued.are matters of probate, and call for ;no more discussion than was entailed in the necessary contention that, as William Grenville, by the terms of the later will, died possessed of all the V Scars" property, that estate necessarily devolved upon .the; ' body and'person of Mr Robert O.'Strang,. his assignee. And Mr Robert I>e Strang; •having asserted.and emphasisedi-throui'h--out the- business' his personal knowledge, of the wrongful heir's innocence of ayv wilful participation in the fraud, and of her earnest desire to right things .the . moment, she . learned they were astray, proved his case and the will, whereby he iwas able to'justify to a"certain -young lady his somewhat arrogant assertion that she should not come lo be the wife of a poor man. ■.-".Vqhapter XXVL-THE aft-er-"""" • .;•• .<--,.- : GLOW. ■>-,■:,.;,,, -Two'- ladies were, resting on the. Bands, of a North Welsh watering place.- It was a famous golfing locality, and they had clubs by their sides. Immediately behind them, between the eands and' the links, .was tossed up a great rampart of tiissocky dunes;;-: in. : front, 'the sea took-the land 'in 1 ■a"vnst:-scjthe:l}ke sweep of bayytfhich, v six. miles, to -fthe,;north, ■ melted into-'an estuary of hazy, blue all jewelled with liquid reflections.. Vast..mountains, rolled '.in purplo billows round tlie'horizon, and, nearer, the valleys sprang into slopes of vivid green.". A beautiful, restful place, full of high-lifting (suggestion. •It. was -one of those unsophisticated coasts where bathing machines are not, and decorum nitist limit itself to its opportunities. They were.represented here, so far as bathers were concerned, by a dozen rudimentary tents—like Japanese box kites, and almost, as apt to blow away.—and by tho sand dunes. Any unwary dive among the latter was liable to produce embarrassing results. But there was no help for it, and sensitive propriety usually hardened after a time. The ladies were both of the sporting type—roiigh-complcxioned r - iinyouthfulb-' youthful/tailor-made, hard-voiced. One sa" : with her knees cocked up and her hands clasped ron-d her shins; the other lav on her back with her hands under her head and her hat tilted over her eyes. Both chewed stalks of grass.. Said "the one on her back: "Who's your friend, Jack?" She had barely waited until the individual referred to—a lady leading a tiny boy by tha hand, with whom she had observed her " pal" to exchange a nodhad passed out of hearing. . "Le Strang's her ■ name," said Jack, "She.won't interest you." : "No sport!" . . " Don't golf or mote or play bridge or anything useful." ■ : "' What brings her here, then?'* : " Jupiter knows. The brat, I suppose. She's a feminine—one of the domesticated 'fowls. They're 'stopping with Lord Saxonshore. Her husband's something swell in education. I know them through meeting them at Uncle Bob's place in Bucks. They've got a sort of private l home closo by for girls—first offenders or something— •who've come to grief through poverty. Rich cranks, who ;■';;,don- ! t; know how to spend their money.'" TJricle. infatuated about-her. -Vipp you think her pretty?" "Not. my sort. I doh'fc favour.,the domestie'breedv' \yi\ii'£. i,. - •.';' -'4• " Oh ; plaih|-tb':jji'6u;- ; ;'I wonder'how-Vou'd 'favoNir the.'lad£'s.upeK' ! intenderit "ofthe. : hpme?" ■ ."■ ";'•' .'iy' '■-;, "You needn't.-leave .the ,y.6ung la'dy-at-a loss lo answer, Miss' Gbtkerton-Cragg," said an unexpected voice clqs'e''by, and a farce, suddenly .appearing over a sand dune, simpered angrily down upon the astonished couple. "Great Scott!" whispered Jack to Iter friend. " It's Miss Pringle, the person herself," ■:.'■■.'

-The- .other- young lady, after a single. look, rolled • over on her face,'and"went into a silent convulsion of laughter. Miss 'Pringle, in tlie part of a mermaid, with her hair drying, down her back and a towel over her shoulders, "was hardly, it must.be'confessed, an exhilarating eight. Nature had certainly dealt abominably with .the-poor woman. It never resist making fun of its own work in her. "I am sure," said Miss Pringle, "that it must be very gratifying to your good nature; Miss Cockerton-Cragg, to witness this-risibility on the part of. the,young lady your friend. But, if I might be allowed to suggest, one resource for rich people who don't know how to spend their money, except on horses and dogs and motors.and 6uch-like vermin, would be to educate themselves into a little manners and good ta6te where the feelings of the less, fortunate than themselves are concerned. And' domesticity may bo a very contemptible thing and plainness a worse; but it's the lack of beauty and womanliness together that finds least favour in the eyes of tlie sex .which some people think to attract by-aping its habits, and only exciting disgust instead. And as to cranks, Miss Cockerton-Cragg, a. little crankiness of that sort would bring you a credit you'll never gain by knocking a ball about with a bit of a stick, and I shall be glad to know if there is anything peculiar in the conduct of tho home to which you apply the term." Jack," sportsmanly abashed, chewed her straw, and only grinned l and shook her head.

" Oh," said Miss Pringle, gathering tip her things Tather tremulously. " Then ■perhaps another time, young lady, you'll limit your observations to what concerns you,.and wait to make a display of your jealousy and,ill-feeling till you are sure there .are-none listening who can retort .'ii'pgii: you ,'ivdth a recommendation to cpnyour glass fwtfieir ■reason.--i wisK"'7<>u .'a -and .rihe- kdy-sypermtemdent, is'lufegjj'.a't ! ..full-leftgfh"' from; oehind her off,.very stately, across the'sands;--*. "*' " Gosh!", said Jack. •...' "'.' The ,' other choked with suppressed laughter. : ."Did you ever!" said Jack. "The vixen!- I say, there's tTie husband coming.' Look at him—isn't he big? Hie wife '. .adores )iim, I believe. That cat's joined him.-••' I hope she don't peach." ■ ■'■'"Hadn't we bett-er slope?" ~."■'."Y es,-,Coine.'ialon'g." ~~f - ; ],;, ,;^ Miss Fringle, falling into step with her employer, exhibited a somewhat agitated-visage. : He-noticed it at once. '"'What has happened to disturb youV" he said. Come, out with it!" "You are always fo observant and so frank, Mr Le Strang," che said. "I confess I liave just been hurt in my feelings by some observations I overheard. It is a very hard, thing, Mr Le Strang, to havn a heart full of loving and be doomed to lovelessness, because " "Who is?" he interupted her. "Let's ask Bobo." ■•". \ ■ ; - He called to the little boy, who was playing with his mother. The child tamed, and, scampering across the sand, plunged into- Miss Pringle's arms, which were held out to receive him. ' " Bobo want Catty." 'Jie said. i "Mamma's castles fall "down."' Beauty may spell love to men.) but to Children love-is beauty. Therelwas 'no half-heartedness in Bono'* caresses.; Her tears fell' upon his little face as ehe kissed it passionately. ' Le Strang drew his wife away. "Something has occurred to hurt her, poor soul," he said. " But- there's tiie remedy. You don't mind, Ruby?" "Mind !" she answered, soft and glowing. "Wasn't she the first to show munima the weak places in her castles? If deserts won men, Bobo should be hers, Rob,"- --- -■

" I daresay; but I'd rather you didn't, Eubv." "Poor Catty! It was very horrid of me. I know, Itob. But it is a share that beauty of soul counts for so little. Aro you goinq; 10-bathe, now that she's taken the child?" (The End.)