Time, The Avenger

Ohinemuri Gazette, Issue 2720, 18 November 1910, Page 4

Time, The Avenger

(All Rights Reserved.)

+_ THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY.

By HEDLEY RICHARDS,

Author of "The Haighs of Hillcrest," "From Mill to Mansion*" "Diana's Inheritance," Etc., Etc.

NINETEENTH INSTALMENT

CHAPTER XX,

As Mr. Dalrymple stood near the end of the inn, mechanically watching the people depart, while' he thought over the evidence that had been given, he waß startled by hearing a girlish voice say :

"If you don't treat me differently there'll be another drowned in Dead Man's Pool."

" Don't talk such rubbish, Gertie. You know well enough you're too frightened to drown yourself, either in Dead Man's Pool or anywhere else even if you'd reason, which you haven't," was the reply, in Hugh Hudspith's voite.

" But you're breaking my heart, Hugh. Why did you make love to me if you don't care for me ? I cannot hold my tongue much longer," was the girl's reply.

" Hush, Gertie ; I'll see you soon. Have patience a little longer, and, above all, don't say anything to your grandmother. I only hope my father didn't see you speak to me. There, I really must go."

Another moment, and Mr. Dalrymple heard a door close, then the sound of suppressed sobs fell on his ear, and taking a step forward, he looked through the open window into the sitting room, where Gertie Hayes was seated in a rocking-chair, her head buried in her hands, sobbing bitterly.

The sound of his footsteps roused her, and she rose and pretended to be busy in the room ; then, as Mr. Dalrymple went to the front door, Hugh Hudspith came out with one of the jurymen, to whom he had been talking in an affable tone. Seeing Mr. Dalrymple. he stopped, short, asking If he wasn't going to the Hall.

"Yes, I'm waiting for my horse, and here he is," he. said, as the groom rode up leading a splendid chestnut. # horse. "All right, I'm going to cross the fields. I walked here," said Hugh ; and Mr. Dalrymple, having mounted, sent the groom home while he rode at a leisurely pace to Gelder Hall. '

It was not often he went there, but when he married and settled at Housesteads he had made up his mind that he would have to visit at Gelder Hall, or it would arouse suspicion, so then had been a certain •mount of visiting between the two families. But Lady Dalrymple had discovered that her husband did not care to go there, so she had gone less frequently than her inclination led her, as she was much attached to the late Mrs. Hudspith and, Nina. On arriving at the Hall' Mr. Dalrymple was surprised to find his wife and daughter, the latter listening with a heightened colour to what Oar Hatton was saying.

" " You did not expect to find us here?" said Lady Dalrymple, as, having greeted Nina, Mr. Dalrymple took a seat near his wife.

" Scarcely ; but I suppose, like every one else, you wanted to hear all about the tragedy that has happened in our midst."

" I confess I do feel interested in it. I think it very sad that a stranger should have come to such an end, and no one to claim him," said Lady Dalrymple.

"I wonder who the. woman was that the girl saw enter the wood ? " observed Lord Ovingham,

" I!m inclined to,think the man ■who went along the roaiL to Wittonbury could tell us more about it," said Lord Hatton. :

. ". Anyway. we haven't heard the last of it. The person who sketched the gallows and the unhappy man dangling from it could tell us something or I'm much mistaken," remarked Hugh Hudspith, who had just entered the room.

" A sketch ! Who received it ? " asked Nina, with breathless interest.

" The coroner;" and Lord Ovingham told her the nature of the sketch.

"And the man's figure could not be distinguished ?"• she said.

"No. The jury had to find that out. Thank you, Miss Hudspith, that will be quite sweet enough," said Lord Ovingham as she was about to drop the seventh lump of sugar into his cup.

Nina coloured, and apologised for her absent-mindedness.

"I am glad your grandfather is not too- offended to speak to us., I know he saw my father the other day," said Mona in a low tone to Gar, who kept his seat beside her, in spite of Mr. Dalrymple's frowns.

"-I don't think he is so much vexed as puzzled: He believes that your father has a good reason for refusing consent to our engagement, but what it is puzzles him. I can see he hopes it will come right in time, but, as I tell him, it is hard to practice patience;" *

Mona■'•was going* to reply, when the attention of all in the room was drawn to Lord Hatton who said in a clear, distinct voice : ,

"I understand , Miss Hudspith, that the man who was drowned gave you a fright not long ago ? "

Nina looked surprised, but when Lord Ovingham reminded her of the man they had seen in the lane near Housesteads she remembered the incident. . •; [.. .. '■ -■ ■■'•'■•;'■■-.

" Was he the man ? " she said, and a shudder ran through her as she

thought of his brutal face, and it surprised her how distinctly she could recall it.

Half an hour laier the Dalrymples ieparted, and were soon followed by the Hattons and Lord Ovingham. Then Nina Hudspith went slowly upstairs to her own room, where she seated herself and tried to solve the problem—why had a similar letter been sent to her to that which the coroner had received, and what had her father been doing that night wher she had seen him return, though he said he did not leave his room ? And she recalled with a shudder that her father had been out at the very time the doctor said the man must have died. At last she rose, and, ringing for her maid, began dressing for dinner, glad' of anything to distract her thoughts from the matter.

The next day the body of the mati who had been drowned in Dead Man's Pool was buried in Wittonbury old church-yard, and a great number of people followed him to his grave, among others Mrs. Hayes, who declared it was as little as she could do, seeing that he'd been brought to her house ignoring the fact that he had been in an outhouse.

She had walked into Wittonbury, but some friends had given her a ride in their trap as far as the churchyard and back. She remained to have tea with them, and afterwards walked home in the cool of the evening, reaching the inn about half-past eight, and, having removed her bonnet and mantle, she sat down in the kitchen, while Sally prepared the supper.

" You'll hurt your eyes, Gertie, if you try to read in this light," said Mrs. Hayes as the clock struck nine.

" It won't do them any harm," replied the girl, in a listless tone ; then taking up her book she passed through the door that led into the front sitting room.

" Poor fellow ! He'd a big funeral. I should say half Wittonbury followed him," said Mrs. Hajes, as she rocked herself gently.

" It's to be hoped he'll rest in his grave," replied Sally, as she took hold of the frying-pan.in which some trout were being cooked. At that moment Mrs. Hayes happened to glance towards the window, and an exclamation of horror escaped her. There, close to the window, was the face of the dead man wearing a diabolical grin. Something in his gaze seemed to fascinate her, as she sat quite still for a moment'; then a loud scream burst from her, and Sally looked round. ,

" Oh, Lord ! " and the frying-pan fell on the rug, the contents being scattered about, while Sally stood gazing with open mouth in horror and amazement.

" What is it granny ? " asked Gertie, coming in, and both women turned towards her.

"It's him come back," said Mrs. Hayes, recovering her speech, and pointing to, the window ; but the face had gone. .

" I don't see any one," said Gertie but in a frightened voice.

" Then just be thankful, Miss Gertie, it's enough to freeze the blood in your veins," said Sally.

" Who was it ? " asked the girl

"Didn't I tell you it was the dead man come back ? Oh, Lord, I wish I'd never let them bring him nigh here," said Mrs. Hayes.

"It's because you didn't have him brought into the house like a Christian, but put him in a tool-shed just as if he'd been a; dog, that he's going the haunt you," said Sally, decidedly, as she crossed to the window nnd pulled the blind down with a jcvk ; then she came back to, the hearthrug where Tiny, the little terrier and Toby, the cat, were enjoying a hearty meal of fried trout.

"Get out both of you," she said, lifting the frying-pan while her mistress lighted the lamp.

" There's a fine lot of grease on that rug," said Mrs. Hayes, crossly.

She was beginning to recover from her fright.

"Well, missis, if you have spirits about what can you expect ? " said Sally, as she picked up what the cat and dog had left, then rolled the hearthrug up and put it at the other end of the kitchen, after which she went into the back kitchen, washed the pan, and set about frying some more trout, while she and her mistress discussed the supernatural appearance and Gertie shivered in a corner. About ten o'clock that same night Mr. Hudspith was seated in the library ; it was a warm night, the windows were open, and the blinds not drawn down, though the gas was lighted. A book lay open on the table before him, but he was not reading ; he was thinking about what the dead man had told him, that Richard Hesketh Dalrymple was really Lionel Hudspith. He believed it though he could not trace any resemblance in him to Randolph Hudspith ; but he felt that it was the truth, and it had alreadj caused him many an anxious moment. It would be easier for a man with money to establish his innocence, than for a downtrodden fellow such as he had aoped his cousin had developed into, anless he was in his grave, which was the most desirable thing, in the world: Something—he •' never" knew what—caused Mr. Hidspith to raise his eyes and looked towards th* window, when an exclamation of horror burst from him as his eyes rested on the mocking face of the man who had that day been buried—the man he had pushed into Dead Man's Pool.

Great drops of sweat burst out on Marcus Hudspith's forehead, and, feeling that he could not bear the sight any longer, he put his hands jver his eyes. *

Five minutes elapsed ; then he reoaoyed them and glanced towards the window. The hateful face had gone, and he rang the bell telling the footme.n—when he appeared—to shut the windows, and draw down the blinds ; then soon after he left the room, and

went to the dining room, where he took a stiff glass of brandy and water, after which he proceeded to the drawing room where he remained until he retired. For some time he was unable to sleep ; but at last he fell into a light slumber, from which he was roused by the sound of movements in the next room, which had been his wife'B dressing room, and since her death had been closed. Sitting up in bed he was certain that he heard stealthy footsteps ; so jumping up he lighted the gas, turned the key in the lock, and opened the door. The room was in darkness, but he made his way to the other door which opened on to the landing, but on the threshold h« paused. There, standing on the landing, plainly visible in the moonlight which poured through a window, was the man he had believed to be dead. His face wore a mocking smile, and with a low cry of horror, Mr. Hudspith fell down in a faint. " I may as well have a try for the girl's jewellery," thought Jim, with a chuckle, as he went cautiously forward, counting the doors. Presently he paused. "This was the room where I saw the girl's shadder on the blind," he muttered. Then he took a bunch of skeleton keys out of bis pocket, and In another minute opened the door and found himself in a luxurious dressing room. A moment later and with the aid of his lantern he was examining it, and 7ery soon discovered her jewel-box.

Now, Jim was an expert jewelrobber, and he had come provided with keys and one or two small but Bxceedingly useful tools, but before beginning his operations he covered his face with a mask. Then he set to work, and very soon he had the contents of the jewel-case in a small bag that he carried, and was just going to leave the room when he heard sounds in the one adjoining, and in 1 a second the door leading from Nina's chamber was opened and she stood there wrapped in a white dres-sing-gown. " What are sou doing here? " she asked, and was rushing back to the bell intending to ring it, when an arm was flung round her and a bottle containing chloroform was held to her nose. A second more and she sank on to the floor, totally unconscious. When she opened her eyes her maid was bending over her, and it was broad daylight. " Oh, miss, what a fright you gave me ! " said the girl. "I shall soon be all right, Lucy: Do you think you could get me a cup of tea ? " said Nina, as the maid assisted her to the couch.

Very soon the tea arrived, and al J ter she had drunk it Nina took her bath and dressed, appearing in the breakfast room just as the bell rang.

" What is this about your jewellery being stolen, and someone giving you chloroform ? I have been hearing marvellous tales," said her father, in a slightly contemptuous tone.

" It is quite true;" and Nina told him what had happened.

" You didn't see the man's face ? " asked her father sharply.

" No, he wore a mask." And as Hugh just then appeared, she had to tell her. tale over again.

When breakfast was over, Mr. Hudspith told them he wished to say a tew words to them both, so they accompanied him to the morning room.

" Now-, I want to ask you both if you think it likely any burglar would risk getting in here for the sake of Nina's jewellery ? "

" I suppose my mother's has not been touched ? " said Hugh.

" No. I examined her case as soon as I heard this tale, and I have come to the conclusion that the thief is one of the servants."

" I cannot believe that," said Nina.

"I think it must be so ; but I am going to ride into Wittonbury and ask the inspector to come and have a look," said Mr. Hudspith, who then left the room.

" I guess the pater is right," 'said Hugh, preparing to follow his example ; but Nina did not agree with them.

Meanwhile Mr. Hudspith had gone to the library and was thinking over what had happened the previous night, and the more he thought the more certain he felt, in spite of the marvellous likeness, that the face he had seen belonged to a living man, possibly a brother of the man who had been buried the previous day and this man evidently suspected him ; but the fellow could not have proof or he would have spoken. The dead man, according to his own account, had spent some tfme in prison and probably the man who resembled him was a common thief and did not care to attract the attention of the police by coming forward at the inquest.

Well, the thief should keep in the background if he would, and Mr. Hudspith congratulated himself on the decision he had arrived at to deny that anything had been stolen, save from his daughter's room. Accordingly he rode into Wittonburj, and mentioned the matter to the inspector who seemed inclined to think as he. did, that some of the servants were guilty. Later in the day the inspector visited the Hall, and, in spite of Nina's indignant protests, he examined the servants' boxes, but with no result, finally leaving the house very much puzzled.

" I wonder if her brother has helped himself to her Jewellery? I know he goes the pace, and she may have recognised him in spite of the mask. Perhaps it will be as WBll not to look too closely into the matter. Mr. Hudspith did not give me the impression of being very keen about it. I daresay he has his suspicions," thought the inspector.

To be Continuo.d