CHAPTER XV.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 71

CHAPTER XV.

JNTS expression was not - polite, nor was it intended for ears feminine. His almost eager face fell ; he was evidently thinking of nothing ~ else but his paper. He would have ruined every kingdom in tbs universe, including the State that gave him birth, to get a scoop on his rivals. Just for a moment it flashed across his mind that he, had been betrayed for higher money. But that was hardly possible. No English paper would have dared to give that information to the world. It would have aroused tbe indignation of .every patriotic Briton, and the circulation of even the yellowiest in the world would have suffered. And the expression of the Countess's face was no acting. "It Seems almost incredible," Hunt said. "Please tell me all about it."

The Countess proceeded to relate the story. It seemed to him that the case was not * quite hopeless after all. True, he would not be able- to enjoy the prospective triumph of his paper over the others, but as an able and adroit journalist he would know how to get out of the difficulty. "Well, you Jiave a clue anyway,'' he said. "Miss Galloway is a strikingly beautiful girl, with a very marked type of lovelines-s, and if the thief was so like her as to make your mind certain that Miss Galloway was the real thief, tine culprit is uot far to seek. You don't think yourself "

"That Vera Galloway is the thief? Of course not. The thing is physically impossible. Besides, Vera Galloway does not take the slightest interest in politics. She is quite a butterfly. And yet the whole tiling is very strange. What puzzles me most is the infinite acquaintance the thief appears to have with my house. She could not have walked in like- that to my bedroom unless she had a knowledge of the geography of the place." "I'll make a stirring half column of it," Hunt said — "showing no connection between your loss and that Asturian

business, of course. We'll hint that the papers weie stolen by somebody who fancied she had a claim on your vast Russian estates. See what I mean. And we'll make fun of the fact that your maid recognised Miss Galloway as the culprit. That will set people talking. We'll offer a reward of £100 for a person who first finds the prototype of Miss Galloway. See? Unless I'm greatly mistaken, we shall precious soon get to the bottom of this business.

The Countess nodded and smiled approvingly. The cunning little scheme appealed to her. She pushed her plate and glass nway, with which siie had been toying. At the same moment a waiter handed her a note, which she opened and read with a nusbed face.

"It appears as if the police had actually succeeded in doing something for once," she said. ''This is from one of the Scotland Yard men, saying that a woman in black dress and veil, answering to the description given by Annette, has been taken to Charing Cross Hospital after being knocked down by a passing cab. This may or may not mean anything, but it is distinctly encouraging. Ijj-m told that I shall know more in the morning. But that is not good enough for me." "Don't- do anything impetuous," Hunt said anxiously. "I am not in the habit of doing impulsive things," the Countess replied. "At the same time, I am going to Charing Cross Hospital to-night to make sure. It is quit© time we finished this discussion, as you have to alter your plans and write that paragraph. Let us be going." A little later and the Countess was proceeding in her brougham eastwards. Hunt had parted from Lechmere, too, after the latter had secured his ussful piece of information from the startled editor. But the Countess did not know anything of that. And as* she was approaching the well-known hospital, Jessie Harcourt was reaching it in another direction in the motor car of Lascelles, otherwise known as "Pongo." The nearer she approached to her destination the more nervous did the girl become. "Awfully jolly ride," Lascelles grinned. "Glad you put that black thing over your ihead, though. It's a pity to cut the thing short, but I suppose the joke has gone far enough?" "Not quite,"' Jessie said between her teeth. "I am going to confide in you, Mr Lascelles "

"Called me ' Pongo ' just now," the other said in tones of deep reproach. "It seejis to me "

"Well, Pongo then— dear Pongo, if you like," Jessie said desperately. "I am going to confide in you. i want you to put me down close 'to the hospital, and then you go back without me. You m<ay infer that 1 did not care for ths business, and that I returned home by the front door. Then at the end of 'half an hour or so, you are to declare that the sport is over for the night and ride off as it seeking your chauffeur. After that you are to come here and fetch me back. You understand?" It was quite plain, from tho blank expressdon oi Loscelles's iace, that he did not understand. The familiar air had left him; he had grown stiff and almost "I ' don't quite follow,'' he said. "Of course, if I choose to play the ass— which, by tho way, I am getting a little tired of — why, that hurts nobody. But when a lady Vhom I respect and admire asks me to 'become a party, don't you know, to what looks like some — ar— vulgar assignation. " # . "You are wrong," Jessie eried 1 . xou are a gentleman ; you have more sense than I expected. I 'pledge you my word of honour that this is no assignation. It is a case of life and death — a desperate case. lam going into the hospital ; it is important that nobody should know of my visit — none of my own friends, I mean. I could come back in a hansom, but danger lies that way. I havo no money for one thing. Mr Lascelles, please believe that I am telling the truth." The girl's troubled eye-s turned on the listener's face. Lascelles would have been less tb-m a. man had lie not yielded, sorely against his judgment as it was. "I'll do" it,'" he said. "Xo woman eve*yet appealed to me in vain. Because I play tbp a,ss people think that 1 don't notic3 things, but they are mistaken. I've never done anything yet to be ash-iincd of, anyway. And I'm not going to begin now. * It seems to me that you are making a great sacrifice for somebody •else. If I could feel quite sure that that somebody else was n "' "Woman? It is a woman! I felt quite sure that I could rely upon you. Not please go back and act exactly as I have suggested. When you come to know the truth — as assuredly you shall some day — I am quite certain that you will never repent what you are doing to-night." Lascelles wvs equally certain of it. He was quit© convinced now that he was no party to anything wrong. All the same, his face was very grave as he helped Jessie from th« car &nd placed her wrap •more carefully around her. It was a long black wrap, covering her head and face and reaching to the ground, so that the girl's rich dr-es-3 was quite hidden. "Half an hour," Jessie whispered. "Itmay be a- lit+le longer. I can trust your discretion. At first I was a little afraid that perhaps you nr;ht — but in your new character you are quite reliable. Do- not stay any longer or Are shall attract attention.."

Lasoelles wheeled his car round and started westward once more. Jessie hesitated just a minute to make quite sure that shs had her permit in her pocket when a two-hcrse brougham dashed up. Evidently sorns fashionable doctor summoned in a hnrry, Jessie thought. But when she looked again at the perfectly appointed equip". ge. with its Sxim horses and its silver harness, sh© knew better. The thing was too fashionable and glittering for a doctor; besides, no

man in the profession would use such * tnrn-out at night. Then, as Jessie lookcii again, her heurt beat more violently aJ she recognised the face of the occupant. It -\va-s the Countess Saens. What did she »vant at this hour of the night? Nc errand of mercy, Jessie felt sure for the Countess Suens did not bear that reputation. Theii like a flash it came to the girl standing hesitatingly on the pavement-. The Countess had found some clue, possibly through the assertions of the maid Annette, that the sham Miss Galloway was tbo thief who was responsible for the burglary. It was possible for such a train of thought to be started and worked cut logically in that brilliant brain. But there was one other thing that Jessie would have given a great deal to know —'■ how had the Countess discovered that the real Miss Galloway was detained by an aceidenL at Charing Cross Hospital? Well. Jessie would know in a very few; minutes. The Countess stepped out of heTcarriage and made her way into the hall of the hospital. She could be seen talk-, ing to the porter, who shook his head.' Evidently the Countess was asking for rompthing that was against the rules. Again the man .shook his hoad Jessie felt that a crisis was at hand. She stood . on the pavement hesitatingly, so eager that -her haivl fell from her face; her features were distinct and lovely in ih? strong rays of light. A man walking past her in a great hurry stopped, and an exclamation broke from him. "Veia!" he said hurriedly. '"Vera.won't you speak to me? Great heavens'! A chance like this " Instantly Jessie guessed what had happened. She was face to face with Vera's lover, Charles Maxwell!