THE NOVELIST. [Publisted by Special Arrangement. THE CROOKED - - WAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 70

THE NOVELIST. [Publisted by Special Arrangement. THE CROOKED - - - WAY.

By WILLIAM LE QUWZTX, . '•

Author of "Whatsoever a Man •Bonreth/" "In White ftaiment," "Of .Royal Blood, 1 ' "Whoso Findeth a Wife," "The Day of Temptation," etc., *te. [COPTRIQHT.3 CHAFFER XXVH.— WHAT JAMES DID. OTH men sprang to tabeir feet, but the next moment Soy quietly sat down .again. " , "It's io jise, Boh," he .said. - v "I'm cornered *t last. I somehow felt '& '«v oeomiug. -. And Jifberr*H it's perh&psHhe best that coukl have -hap- * pelted. There'lHae an end <if it now, one «ray or the ' other," and then to the constable, "And now what are -you going to <fe> with me? We can't go to London ito-jnght. 93w - last tram's =gone long jsmee." '1 ehall l ave -to iafce to my "bow till the morning, sir." "Anywhere you like. 3!m not .going to try to .get away. I -give .yon my word about that. I'mjsiok of "You've got « 4ook-np joom there, : I suppose, constable?" said -Bob. "I've got a place where the gentleman will be quite safe, "And comfortable?" "Well, I can't say so much about ; that. It ain't much of a place, certainly." Bob thought ioT a minute or -two, and then said : ' "Now, look here, if we- were to put * Toom at your disposal in the Sail that you approved of, and .gave you -the key, would you stay here with Mr "Royeton tonight and go quietly to town to-morrow morning? He will give you his word he won't try any tricks, and it would be more comfortable for him than .going through the village, where he is known, to the lock-up." "Oh, never mind, Bob. Don't bother about me. I've got to go through with it now, and I may as well begin at once." "All right, Roy. Leave it to me. What do you ray, constable?" The man. "hesitated. He -had &nawn ' Roy, at any rate by sight, for years, and had now and then exchanged a -word or two with him. And when Roy had been down shooting over the estate ie had not forgotten to send him a -brace of birds or a hare now -and then, bo that the man was far from being enamoured -with the duty that had fallen to his let. "Well, sir, I should like to make matters as easy as I can, and if the room's all safe and no monkey tricks are meant, I don't mind staying here instead of going down into the village, which I quite understand wouldn't be very pleasant." "Thank you, constable; that's gool dr you." Then turning to Dowse, who all this time had been standing behind in the background, his face working and a look: of intense vindictiveniess in his eyes, h» ■continued: "You've got a. room that would do, Dowse, haven't -you?" "Yes, sir ; plenty." "There's the red room; that will b» safe enough. There is only one door, and it's on the top -floor, so there's, no chance of jumping from the winlow/* said Roy with a laugh. "Yes, sir, - and the bed is aired, if Master -Roy would care to «leep in it." "Shall we go and -see it. Constable, you can handcuff me if you think there is any chance of my trying to bolt." "No, sir; do need for that — I take yoaz word. And if I try to do you * little kindness you're not* "the gentleman -to round on me and get me into trouble, Tin sure. Short of letting you out of any sight, you can do what you like." "Thank you. I've given you my word, and I shan't go back on it." .And with Dowse leading the way, candle in hand, the party left the squire's rooms and moved across the hall to the .stairs, passing a group of servants who were huddleS together near the kitchen door struck dumb with astonishment at the turn events had taken. ®A careful inspection of the tooth satisfied the policeman, and after he had tried the lock and placed the key in his pocket, at Roy's suggestion they came downstairs again to get a little supper before retiring.. "Quite a party," said Roy, as with his captor and Bob he sat down in the dining room, while Dowse waited on them. Ana while he was doin^ so Bob could not help being struck by the expression on the latter's face. It was almost that of a madman. His features worked spasmodically, bis eyes were full of fire and were never still for a moment, end as he passed behind the police officer Bob almost feared he would strike him -with whatever he had in his ha-nd at the time. But the meal came to an end without anything occurring, ami Roy and his captor retired upstairs for the remainder of the night. Dowse had to attend to the squire, and Bob followed him into the room. "And now, James, what do you think of all this?" he a&ked. "He's innocent. By heaven ! I swear it. I know he didn't do it, and he ought not to be taken. It's a shame, an infernal shame," and the man rushed into such a torrent of words that Bob could not follow him. He eeemed to lose all command over himself, his mind working more raipdly than his tongue, till what ho uttered was a mere jumble of sound with-

Bob 1 tried to soothe him, But it took time, and even when lie had succeeded in silencing him his hands and' body were ttncalmed, and were twitching and moving* far worse than:- they had' done during' the- meal. The man wa» in suck a state of cerebral excitement that Bob- feared for his sanity. He wasr on the very verge of madness, if he had not already- crossed the border. To turn Ms attention, Bob asked him where- h« was going- to- put him for the night, or- whether hV had not better go and try and find at bed in the village; "SFo, Mt Bob — no. The old squire would never- allow that while there is aroof* over the old place. A roof — a roof !" he repeated, and stopped, and seemed lost hr tfibught for some moments. "What was* I sayingpr' he continued. "Oh, yes, a roof",**"" and again be lost the connection of his thoughts, and was client, till Bob recalled him to himself by asking :

"Then which, room am I to. have, James?"

"Come with, me, sir," and. he led him. to oner on the first floor. '"It'& all a Teady- - r the' beds are kept well aired*" and just as he was leaving the- room, having placed the candle on the chest of drawers,. "It^B a pity Master Boy gave his woid. I dpn't think he'd: care to go back on it . now, do you:?" ''Oi cotme be wouldn't." - ''Ah* it's a pity, a great pity," and the old man went out muttering to hnraelf. Much as Bob was upset by his friend's capture, it did; not affect his night's rest. The long walk in the fresh country air, added to the excitement he bad. undergone of late, had- tired him out, ar.d* he slept like a top,' not moving till a knock at the door roused him and he heard the- voice of hm friend saying:: "Bob ! — Boh ! Get up, old. chap ; I waub to ccc yon before I go." It took Bob very few minutes to hurry on his. clothes ana ran dbwn&tairs, where he found Boy and the policeman; in the .dining room, watting, while one of the servants bud the breaklast.

"Morning, Bob. 1 wish, you'd go into my father a room, and see that he's ail nghw- i-imven't seen, James. tiu» morning, and no. one seems to know anything. about ham. I thought, held aave oeen. up long sicce."

xK>b went a£ oHce, and found the squire sleeping a? calmly aa- a child, but mere was no sign of tvs attendant, and his bed hau. not Dten sUegu in. it was just aa &c had made, it tlie pievMH»- day, when be tiMWgbtr itr wouiit nave oeea occupied by -.**» sqjure's-- ail light, he said on his recura, •'outr Dowaa is- oat tiusve, and it cos* not tue* aa it tie oa«ct bc&n tuere last mgm>. Uaere'a not a sign ot iiim. ' . "Odd,, very. Wiiat can. nave tuecome oi him? JsK>ne- of- tne servants know anytimig, except ttve coot voiuntaered the mtonuaUon? uiat an© baa disooverta tue Kueuea. uoor open, wnai ,*.« bad coin** aoWßsCaum Have * laok round the ground, old man, will 1 job?' he oontinuea. "1 don't wane to go- iratnout saying good-bye to hiu»; stfKt w& must be ott if we re to catcb. that nifit train." Boi». iHirnett oat by the front door, which, he found boited' and locked, and hwl harmy xetc toe ew* uwnung aur on Ills face when., he recogmsecb tun* eomefrimig waa amiss. 'Dangling from the parapet of the root, almost in. ironfc of tue red room, was a iengtft. of ropa, ttie lower end ot which was uayed, and hurrying to the fringe ot the tmsuea that borotred the house, Bob doscoverea the oid man i\ing doubled up on the ground in a strange, uimarural position. jit lirst he thought hs was dead, his face was ao wtute aiid drawn, but on cio&er examination, ue iouihl lus ueart was beating, tiiougii very laintiy. In his hund waa t^e reutaunaer of ttie rope. mto the House lie hurried, and told of his discovery, and with the aeedstance of Ji^y and. the policeman, Dowse was caief uiry titte«t anoL earned, to his bed in the square's rooms. This was- all tne latitude the constable could aitow : he must not delay longer ; the prisoner most be uiken^o town dj that train, and they must start at once. ••fctoed-bye; old man. I wish I :ould etav and* help, but- I'm not my own -mratex any longer. You'll do a!i you can for James, If know. I quite think he was up t/> something on my account. Have the best advice possible, for he's been the best of servants to my father and me. He'd have given his liie for us, I know, and I don't reel at all sure that be hasn't. And look after Rags too: he'll mies me. No doggie, you can't cjine with me this morning; stay here, ar.d be gocd," as the do£ jumped up and fawned on his master, thinking he was a.bout to take him for a walk. "No; down— o^uiet. And, Bob. you must do as you think best about Edith. She'lL feel it, poor little girl! Break it gently to her — gently," and his voice' trembled. " All right, constable, I'm- coming. Good-bye," and, with a gnp of his friend's hand, he was gone. Bob could not trust himself to speak, but in his clasp of Roy's hand he told more than words could have done and gave the assurance looked for. Bob had intended to have accompanied Roy- to town, but he saw he could do more good where he was, and therefore gave up the notion. His hands were very full.

Edith was his first care. He feared she ■would see an. account of Roy's arrest in the later editions of the papers, and without anyone being near to give her details, or soften, the shock, and he took a jstep which in ordinary circumstances he would not have dreamt of taking. He wired to her:

"TS& good news; if possible, come down here at once. Name train ; I'll meet you. —Bob."

It was all he could do at the moment. He felt sure she would come, and he would then be able l« explain matters and give bet his support in the t enable trial she

'must undergo. In the meantime he had two invalids on his- hands. Dowse had recovered consciousness to a certain extent, and had smiled at him as he bent over the bed ; but he had not spoken when the doctor arrived. To him Bob explained as briefly as possible the state of the case and: his surmises as to how the accident had occurred. The doctor had known all the parties in the matter for years. "I'm. not surprised," he said when he had listened to the details. "The devotion of tfie man to both the squire and his son was wonderful, and there was nothing lie would not have done for them. I'll be bound he was scheming something to aid Mr Royston when this happened. •Some extraordinary idea- had got possession of his bruin, and he was trying to carry it out. Fve noticed at times be was curious, in his moanier, and. have thought the suntroke he once suffered from might have something to do with it. It often affects people years after it has occurred. But, come, let us see the poor fellow," and they entered the squire's apartments. Dow6e eeemed a little better by this time, and the doctor was able to examine him partially. Bob had remained by the squire while this waa taking place, and when the doctor joined him, closing the door after him, he shook his head and said in. a low voice : *T don't like the look of him at all, Mr Mackinlay. There's something seriously amiss. I hare not been: able to examine him as thoroughly as I could wish ; he must recover a little before I can. In the meantime keej, him absolutely still, and don't let him excite himself in any way, and I'll look in again later on. "But, to be candid- with you, I look on. James as a dying man. I fear his back is broken. You are staying here, I presume, at any rate for a time? Well; you will not have any trouble with the old squire. He may remain in his present state for years ; and though he'll never recover his. brain power, he may live on like a vegetable for a long time. See tiat he eats well, and Fll' call later on to see James, and then I can give you fuller directions," and Bob was left in complete command of a situation he had rot bargained for. v But he did not cavil at it. He felt he could be of use to his friend by taking the reins in his absence, and he would not shirk the responsibility. He went into the hall and had all the servants before him. "No doubt you're all astonished at what has taken place within the last few hours," he eaid ; "but before judging your master's £on I want you to wait a little, and I think you may be more astonished still-. Remember, he has to be proved guilty before anyone of you has the right even' to think him co. In the meantime I am here as his representative, and I &hall look to you to obey n»e as you would have done him. One thing I ask you — don't go talking about what has occurred to anyone. Everything is in doubt at present, and you might say some- [ thing you would be sorry for afterwards. j You can go.' CHAPTER XXVUL— BREAKING CLOUDS. "Leaving London 11 ; meet me Kentford I.24.— Edith." Such was the message put into Bob's hands hour or two later. "That's- all right. I'm sure she will be better down here out of the way of all gossip and the rumours that are sure to be flying about town this afternoon." He was sitting beside Dowse when the servant brought the envelope in to him, and at the sound the old man opened his eyes. "Is there anything you want, James?" asked Bob. "No, eir ; only is Master Roy " "Never mind Master Roy ; we'll talk about lum later on. Are you comfortable — no pain ?" "No, sir ; I can't feel anything ; I don't think I'm hurt really, and if you'd tell me " "Xow, Jatn?6, I've pot the doctor's orders that you are to be kept quite quiet ; so if you don't stop I shall leave you." "Then I'll get up," and again there was that curious look in his cyc-s which Bob had noticed before as he moved his arms to raise himself. Bob prepared to stop him, but it .vas unnecessary — Dowse was powerless. No babe could have been more helpless; ar.d he recognised the fact as lie gave vent to an exclamation of anger and disappointment. "You'll do yourself harm, James, if you go on like that, and then what will Master Roy say to me? Try and get well as soon as you can, or the squire will mkfl you. I shall be back again soon ; meanwhile you must keep still — Master Roy would wish it,"' and Bob left him to se<? the squire. It nas some hours later that, on his way to Kentford Station, he was astonished to see Inspector Desborough walking towards him. "Good-morning. Mr Mackiniay," he eaid with a smile on his face. "Why, Desborough, what on earth brings you down here? You're not in our case." "In one sense, no, sir ; in another I am." "I don't understand. T« suppose you know what has happened? You fellows have such a way of getting information.'' "Oh, yes, I know, and it was through me — and you, sir, that it did happen.' "Ms?" " '■Ve6, you, bit.'' "Desboroucrh, you've been rounding on me, though I don't see how. At any rate, if you have, I tell you plainly I don't think it was fair." "P'raps not. but I had to do it. You sea, I've mv duty to perform before all things, and I do it,, come what may. I don't say but what you've helped us fellows many times, but for all that when something comes in my way I'm bound to

make the most use I can of it, though you may not be pleased." "But I never gave you a hint .of where Mr Royston. was." "Yes, you did, sir — in a way." "How? He's caught now, co it doesn't matter your telling me." "Oh, no, not a bit. It was like this. The evening before last when I was with you with those photos you made a remark or two that set me thinking, and then a letter came for you, and whale you read it you threw the envelope on the table, and I read the postmark ' Kent ford.' I saw that letter meant a lot" to you ; and, putting two and two together, I settled it would be just ac well to have your movements watched, and " , "You don't mean I was shadowed yesterday?" "Every step of the way." "Well, 111 be hanged. You men deserve greater credit than you get. And so my friend may put his arrest down to me?" "Yes, eir, he may. But we should have had him in a day or two without you, so it does not make much difference after all. And between you and me it is the best things that could have happened, for in spite of what the public may and doesthink, we haven't a great case. Let him have a sharp lawyer and good counsel, and we shall be whipped." "You think so?'' "I know it ; but don't go and give me away, sir. I tell you mora than perhaps I ought, but you're privileged, you see." "Not very privileged when you use my envelopes to catch my friends, eh, Des-boro-ugh?" said Bob with a laugh, for the inspector's words bad "cheered him a good deal. "But why are you down- here, since this is not your case?" "In a way it's mixed uj> with what I've got in hand, and I thought I might come across something in your case that might help mine. You're on your way to the station to meet a lady/ If you don't mind Fll go with you." "Desborough, you're the devil," said Bob, stopping, aghast. "No, eir, not quite," said the officer, pleased at this tribute to his aouteness. "You have forgotten that there is a telegraph office here." "Of course I had forgotten. Well, I don't mmd — Fve got nothing to hide now, and I'm sure Miss Clifford has not. And if we had you'd, have it out of us by some means, I'm certain. But one thing. I will' ask- you, let me meet her first and break Mr Royeton's arrest to her, and then after a while you can say what you want : she's coming; up to the Hall." "Of course, sir, I don't want to intrude ; I'll do as you suggest. I- think the train's coming in now, so farewell for the present," and the inspector disappeared as Bob entered the station. The train was hardly at a standstill when Edith sprang on, to the platform. "Oh, Bob, Roy's caught ! You need not tell me, I know it. I knew it when I saw your wire." "Yes, little woman, it's true. He was arrested last night, and taken up to- London this morning." •' ' "Then I shan't see him. Oh, my poor darling, and I thought I should be with him," a-nd the sorely-tried girl broke down and burst into a violent fit of weeping. The train had gone on, and there was no one on the platform. Bob led her to a. seat, and did not attempt- to stop her. He knew tears would afford her relief, and that she would be more composed afterwards. At length she regained command over herself, and looked up, saying: "Forgive me, Bob, but I could not help it. I have had no one to talk to, and the strain has l)een awful. Now tell me all about it: where are you taking me?" "To Roy's home. I thought it would do you good to be down here where he has been so lately and among the things he loved so well, and £ will take you back myself." And as they walked along the lane he gave her an account of what had passed since he had parted from her the previous morning. Many were the questions with which s-he plied him, entering into every particular in any way affecting her dear one ; and he told her everythiug, and how lie himself had bsen working on the finger marks he had found in her office and on the Florence journal La Nazione, only in the end to discover he had followed a false scent, and that his time and labour had been thrown away, and he wae now as much in the dark as ever. He had given orders for lunch to be ready on bis return, and prevailed on her to eat something and have a little wine before she saw Desborough, for he had gently informed her of tie coming interview. There had been no change in James during his absence, and beyocd his voice being a little stronger, he found him just as he had left him. By the time they had finished lunch Desborough was announced, and by Bob's direction was shown in at once. After expressing his sympathy with Edith on Mr Roj-ston's arrest and his hope that he would quickly be a free man again, he continued . "There are one or two questions I should bke to ask you, Miss Clifford, in connection with acother matter. Have you received a letter from a former friend of yours at Lyons, a Mademoiselle Vittoria Lodi?"' "Yes, a letter that I can make neither head nor tail of." "It w.is about some young man calling on you?" "Yes; .but she gave no name, and no one has been." "You're sure of that?" "You were to ask Miss Baker if she had ever left the office empty, if you remember, Edith!" interposed Bob. "Yes, and I did, and she admits that she remembers one day going to Bo we and Green's office on the floor below, with some work without fastening our door ; but she was awaj only a minute or two. and when

she came back it was just as she had left it." "And you have had no more letters, have you?" "None, an* 1 I haven't answered that one. When I lived in Lyons, Vittoria Lodi was always said to be mixed up in some secret societies, though people laughed at her as not being quite right in her head ; still for all I know there may have been some truth in it, and having, no wish to have anything to do with that kind of thing, I sKall drop her altogether." "You will not be troubled any more by her, Miss Clifford. She was a dangerous woman, and is now in the hands of the police at Florence." "You don't say so. Then there was something in- that letter?" "Yes. We have the young man in custody now waiting to be transferred to the Italian police. Ferrari has been wanted for some time." "Ferrari!" exclaimed Bob. "Why, that is the man I thought had murdered Mrs Inwood, and to whom I have been trying to oring home the crime," and he explained the reasons for his belief and the manner he had gone to work. When at last he stopped, Desborough said with a quiet smile : "Ah, Mr Mackinlay, you will have to take a few lessons from us- yet, I see.'* "I shall, inspector, or, better still, give up the game. Everyone had best stick to his own last ; he won't do much good at anyone else's." "And that's all you know about the affair, Miss Clifford?" continued Desborough, turning again to Edith. "Absolutely." "And yet his friend, young Maeeon, called on you too?" "Masson? Oh, yes, he came, certainly, but he knew us in Lyons. He saved my life there, and being in London he called : but I have seen nothing of him simce I heard of him posing as young de Clinchamp, Mrs- Inwood's brother." "Did you know Raoul de dinchamp?" "Not even by sight. I think he had left the place before we went there." "That young man is more fortunate than he deserves to be. He ought to be in prison now, but Mr Inwood refuses to prosecute. It is a painful subject with him. I was after the young scamp that night I met you in Claxton street, Mr Mackinlay." "Yes, I thought so, and I was after Ferrari at the same time." '"They nearly slipped through our fingers, but I got in touch with them later, and " but the words remained unsaid, for at the moment a servant entered the room. "Please, sir , c the doctor's here, and wants to see you at once." Bob rose, and as he followed her from the room he- turned to Edith. "I'm afraid its' going hard with poor James ; I'll come back and let you know what he says." And. when he did return a few minutes later, there was a look on his face Edith could not read as he said to her: "You won't mind staying here by yourself a little longer? I want Mr Desborough with me ; he may be of' considerable use." The inspector rose at -Mice, and Bob added : "Gheer up, Edith. I prophesy you'll return to London in a very different frame of mind to that in which you left it. The clouds are breaking." She did not answer, but, seizing his hand, she pressed it to her lips as he passed her. (To be concluded.)

— Visitor: "Do they treat you well hereV" Prisoner: "Generally they does, only they hurts me feelin's by their lack of confidence. They won't let me have a. latch-key." — "When the people of your town in America discovered that the Mayor had been misappropriating the public money, did they suspend him from office?" — "No; from a tree."