Time, The Avenger

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 2726, 2 December 1910, Page 4

Time, The Avenger

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THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL % MYSTERY.

By HEDLEY RICHARDS,

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

TWENTY-FIFTH INSTALMENT. "You've thessadvantage of. me, as tlioy say in polite society, seeing ] don't know you." . " That's all very well. What about that jewel robbery, when I secured the Countess of Perth's jewels, and you got a couple of years' residence and board at Her Majesty's expense, and one or two other occasions on which we met ? Don't be shy ; you may as well own up, or I shall have to take you into Wittonbury and give you in charge for personating a dead man, and frightening decent people out of their senses. By the way, how is it they take you for the man who was drowned?" said the detective, watching the man narrowly.

The man grinned, and for a moment hesitated; but as the other gave him a slight^ shake he said : " Now you stop that. If I hadn't lost my wind, you wouldn't have got me as easy as you did. I'm a bigger chap than you."

"And older. Now, look here, if you managed to get free you wouldn't have the ghost of a chance. I'm years younger and more active and 3 know how to use my fists. I could have you on your back in a second ; bo understand you had better make a clean breast of it, as I mean to know all there is to be known."

" What do you want me to tell you," ho asked in a surly tone.

"First, I want to know why you are down here, and how is it you are taken for the man who was drowned ?" asked the detective.

■■•"" Well, I don't know as it'll do any harm to tell you a few things, particularly as I've made up my mind what to do ; so, to begin with I'm not the chap as was mixed up in the affair of the Countess of Perth's jewels. I'm a twin brother, Jim. We were that alike that the police never knew one from the other. Bless you, when you got Joe, I was busy far away. A nice life we did lead them for many a year, and we never let them know there was Joe as well as Jim. But circumstances made it advisable for me to go abroad, then some of them darned Americans were too cute, and I had to stay out there against my inclinations, until a bit since, when I came back to En& land and decided to hunt up a chap* I'd known at Dartmoor, who was living like a swell and had heaps of money. Now, I put it to you, was it likely I'd go cracking cribs when by asking a certain rich gentleman, I could retire from bizness and live the life of a lord ? This gentleman doesn't live a hundred miles from here, so I paid him a visit; and, do you know he didn't like to hear himself called No. 649. But I didn't care, and he had to shell out pretty freelj."

" Mr. Dalrymple gave you five hundred pounds," said the detective, quietly. The man uttered an oath. " So that's the lay you are on. I wondered what had brought you down here." The detective let go of the man's collar, and, grasping his arm, he said :' " Suppose we sit down on the bank while we^have our talk, as it seems, likely to be^a-long one. Now, what happened after you got your money ? " ; "I went back to London, and when t'd had a drop too much, I was fool enough to tell Joe all about it and that if No. 649 didn't give me any more, as he said he wouldn't, I should go to Mr. Hudspith and tell him that Lionel Hudspith was living. You see, I'd read them notices in the ""paper, and I know it was to Mr. Hudspith's interest he should never come -forward, and I meant to tell him where his cousin was, and that'l could swear to him in case he wanted r any one to prove as he was Lionel Hudspith."

"A very pretty scheme," said the detective, when the man paused. "Yes ; but Joe stole a march on me. He set off while I was in drink; but when I missed him I guessed his game. So I came down here ; but I had to get out at a station on the other line, and I walked through the wood intending to go to the Vine Inn, where I expected to find Joe passing for me. I came by the low path, close to the river. I knew the way and that it. was the shortest path, but when I got near that bit of open space close to the Dead

Man's Pool, I heard Joe's voice and

another man's, who was evidently a gentleman. Joe told him all I'd intended saying, and he vowed he was the only man in the world who knew and could prove that Mr. Dalrymple was Lionel Hudspith. Poor chap, I believe those words cost him his life as in another moment Mr. Hudspith had sent him flying into the pool. It all happened in a minute, and before I could make up my mind what to do my fine gentleman had walked, away. I went to the pool and saw the body rise, but I couldn't help him. I'm

not a swimmer, and if I had been I

daren't have taken my chance in that pool. After that I thought I'd better keep out of Wittonbury, so I went through the wood and slept in a Bhed, then I caught an early train to Carlisle." " Why didn't you tell the pojice what, you have told me?" asked the detective.

The man beside him gave a gruff laugh. "Look here, roister, what I've told you is gospel truth, but do you think the police would have believed me ? Mr. Hudspith is a grand, fine gentleman, a magistrate, and he'd have got folks to swear he was in bed at the time I said he was in the wood; and very like they'd have made out that Joe and -I had quarrelled and I'd pushed^ him into the pool, and I should have swung for it."

" Did you push him in ? " aslied the detective, looking keenly in his face which he could see clearly in the moonlight.

"No, by Heaven, I didn't !" answered Jim, roughly, but earnestly. " Mind you, we'd have had a reckoning if he'd lived, but I shouldn't have done that."

" Why are you hanging about hern frightening people out of their wit= who have done you no harm ?" asked the detective.

" It's rare fun; but that's not the reason I've stopped. I cannot make up mj mind to let that bloke go free. If I don't let the police know a thing or two, I shall do for him as sure as I'm living." "You mean Mr. Hudspith?" " That's the chap I mean. Holy Moses, I've led him a life ! " and Jim related how he had sent sketches of the gallows to the master of Gelder Hall and his daughter. " You're a brute to have treated the poor girl in that way." " I don't know about that. She's his child ; and didn't he send Joe to kingdom come without time to say a prayer?" " She is not to blame for her father's sins," said the detective. "And now, I want you to tell me whether you stole that paper from Miss Holmes ?" " No, I knew nothing of the paper being of value, or I might have had a try for it," answered the ruffian ; then something in his tone convinced the detective that he was speaking the truth..

" Have you done with me?" asked Jim after a pause.

" I shall be in a minute or two. t've been thinking the matter over, and I don't want you to say anything to the police about Mr. Hudspith just yet, and you mustn't injure him. Just keep quiet for a time and you may find yourself in clover, only you mustn't meddle with Mr. Hudspith."

"I twig. No, 649 is on the way to prove his innocence,'' said Jim, with a grin.

"Think what you like, only do as I say. And now tell me where you art lodging ?"

"I'm staying at a cottage that stands on the roadside, a couple of miles from the other end of the wood. The old woman's stone deaf, and the man is short-sighted, and they never go away from home or hear what's going on ; so it's a safe place for me. They've a pension, and don't object to make a bit more," he replied.

"All right, and no more ghost-act-ing ;" and as he spoke the detective rosei

"Very well, but it's been rare fun I'm going this way. Good night, Mr. 'Tec ; you're not a bad lot ;" and Jim descended the bank, and then crossed the stream, and found his way on to the path. As he walked leisurely through the wood he thought matters over.

"Hang it, I'll let matters be. Won't he smart if No. 649 proves his innocence and turns him out of his fine house ! Then, after he's had his fill of that, he can swing for the other, and I guess No. 649 won't treat me shabbily. Yes, I'll keep my hands Off him," he reflected.

Meanwhile the detective returned slowly to the inn, thinking over what he had heard, and he came to the conclusion that th« man had spoken the truth.

As he entered the kitchen which was now lighted by the lamp, Mrs. Hayes looked up from the book she was reading :

" I was beginning to be quite unsasy about you, sir," she said.

" There was no need. I tried to find your ghost, but ghosts hold aloof from mortals. So I went into the wood ; it's looking lovely in the moonlight. And now it's about time [ went to bed. I think this is my 2andle. Good night, Mrs. Hayes and E advise you not to think anj more about ghosts."

. " It's all very well talking, sir, but you saw something yourself," she replied, in a rather indignant tone.

"Or fancied I did. I think that tea of yours is rather strong for my nerves," he replied with a laugh, as he left the kitchem.

CHAPTER XXVII. IN MADAME'3 CARE. It was Wednesday afternoon —Witfconbury's half-holiday—and madame and Louise were spending the afternoon with Miss Holmes. It had become quite a customary thing, and .the mistress of the Hollies would have thought herself badly used ii they had not appeared. Louise had, as usual, taken a book and gone into the garden, though she knew that Hugh would not come, as a party of the neighbouring gentlemen were shooting over the Gelder estate with Mr. Hudspith, and Hugh dare not be absent. Madame and Miss Holmes sat in the shady parlour which -had been the scene of the former's midnight visit, and as her eyes rested on the writing-table her thoughts reverted to the paper, and the gentleman who had called the previous Wednesday. She had seen him once or twice in the town, and she knew that he was still staying at the Gelr der Inn. -

" Have you seep that gentleman again—l mean the one who called here last Wednesday afternoon ? " she asked, looking at Miss Holmes.

"No ; I've seen him go past once or twice, but I couldn't expect him to bother hims«i! about that. ■naper.

Do you know I'm beginning to think I shall never hear any more of it, and I feel as thoHgh I'd broken my word "to Mr. Hudepith. I promised not to let it go out of my hands, save into his son's, and I've no idea where it is," said Miss Holmes,, so despondently that madame felt bound to comfort her. " Don't lose heart. Though it has passed out of your hands, it maj find its way to ite true owner yet," she said. At that moment there was a loud ringing at the front door bell, and in a minute Janet, the housemaid, appeared, saying that two gentlemen wished to see her mistress at once, and wanted to know if she would kindlj go to the door as they were in great haste. Miss Holmes rose, and went along the little hall in her usual stately fashion ; but when she saw Lord Ovingham and '"Mr. Gar Hatton standing on the doorstep, she curtsied in a dignified manner. " Miss Holmes, there has unfortunately been an accident. A party of us were shooting about two fields away, the other side of the lane, and as Mr. Dalrymple was going through a stile, Mr. Hudspith who was shooting a bird, unfortunately hit him ; and as this is the nearest house—-much nearer than the Hall— we want to know if you will let us bring him here ? " said Gar Hatton. " Certainly ; I will get a bed ready at once. Is, the gentleman much injured ? " "He looks very bad. I should say it was a pretty close shave," replied Lord Ovingham, whose voice sounded very stern. " I am sorry. You shall find all ready;" and as he turned away Miss Holmes went back to the parlour, unconscious that madame, who had overheard all, had only by sheer force keep herself from fainting. - "I suppose you heard what they said ? " asked Miss Holmes. " Yes, I couldn't help it ; you left the parlour door open," answered madame. Then she added, almost beseechingly: "Don't you think you had better get the bed ready ? I can help you. I know a lot about wounds. My husband fought several iuels, and I nursed him back to health." "It seems to me you've had a hard life of it madame. But come along ; I shall be glad of your help;" and Miss Holmes led the way to the foot of the staircase. "They cannot carry him upstairs ; we must put a bed in the parlour, Janet and I can easily take that little iron bedstead to pieces while you get the sheets ready ; and you might ask Helen to come and help," said madame. Then she ran lightly up: stairs, leaving Miss Holmes to speak to the servants. For a quarter of an hour they all worked briskly, and at the end of that time the little iron bedstead had been placed in a shady corner of the parlour, and on it was a downy bed and the whitest of sheets. In addition to this, madame had seen that everything the doctor was likely to require had been placed handy, and she was just glancing round the room to make sure that nothing was missing when they heard the sound of footsteps coming up the garden-path. The servants retreated to the kitchen, while Miss Holmes went to the door to receive the injured man ; but madame remained in the parlour, '■ with white, set face, and holding her hand to her heart. As the doctor entered the room she stood erect and tried to look brisk. " Lay him on the bed," said the doctor. '' And is there no one can help me ?" ■ he asked, glancing at Miss Holmes, who stood in the doorway.

'"I can. I have nursed similar cases," said madame, in a quiet, decided tone. "All right. You -can stay. Mr. Gar, we may want your help in moving him. The others must go." In another moment the room was cleared, and the doctor examined the

wound. "If the shot had penetrated a quarter of an inch further he would have been a dead man. Now it will be a question of strength," he said, in a low tone, though the 'patient was apparently unconscious ; then he beckoned madame to the other side of the room. " You were a great help. Have you been a nurse ? " he asked. " No ; but my husband was a hottempered man and fought several duels. Twice I nursed him back to life," she answered in a distinct though low tone. " More than he deserved. Is he a-

live ? " " No, he died a few years ago and I am quite at liberty to nurse Mr. Dalrymple if you wish it."

" Do you live with Miss Holmes?" be asked, regarding her with interest. " No, I am madame, the milliner, in Market-street," she said, with a faint smile.

"I have heard of you. But how will the shop do withotit you ? " " My daughter can manage, and I am quite at your service, monsieur," " I will gladly accept your help, to-day. I shall wire to Carlisle for a couple of nurses to be here in time to take the night duty. I am sure you like sick-nursing, and would willingly nurse him altogether ; but it is my duty to see that he has two trained nurses," he said, seeing the look of disappointment that came into her face. Madame bowed, and listened to certain directions He gave her ; then telling her he would return in an hour, he whispered to Gar Hatton, and the two left the room. (To be Continued.)