SHORT STORIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 90

SHORT STORIES.

[All Rights Rxssbtzd.]

A QUtSTION OF PLUCK.

Pt Mrs GfeOBGE Corbett, Author of "A :

Mere Masquerader," etc.

Rollo Purcell, his eyes dark with angry disappointment, stood looking at the girl 'who held his heart in her keeping, and who had just told him that his love was hopeless.

"And your father's decision is irrevocable?" he"asked, noting with chagrin that Letty Verlaine, after vowing that he was dearer to her than anybody in the whole wide world, seemed now to feel not the •lightest regret at the- prospect of being parted from him for ever. . "Absolutely," was Letty's reply. "He is determined that I shall marry nobody but Mr Middleton, and, of course, as I have been an obedient daughter all my life, I must not run counter to his wishes now."

"Then you don't care for me, after all ; and I have simply served to temporarily amuse a heartless coquette whose sole am-^ bition ig money." Letty smiled mischievously, and. rose from her seat with a pretty gesture of endearment. !

"You foolish boy," she purred. "Don't you see that I cannot help myself? I do not intend to go empty-handed to the man I marry, but my father will disinherit me, and leave the £50,000 dowry already promised me to my brothers, if I do not fired to please him." "Does that mean that you will wed this Middleton?"

"I'm afraid it does, unless you can convince father-that Horace Middleton is not Quite such a hero as he believes him to be. Th© fact is, it's entirely a question of pluck." 80110 FurcheU'e face flamed into quick •nger at this implied aspersion upon his own courage. "A question, of pluck /" he exclaimed. "I iaai to understand you." Letty aw that her lover was bitterly hurt, but she was by no means "Perhaps," she whispered, "you will* tn* Hevatand the situation after I explain that Mr Middleton has been a great traveller, and, according to his own story, has met with all sorts of wonderful adventures. The tales he tells about what he lias en(lured and about what he has achieved "ire so marvellous that my dear old dad is fcimplr enslaved by admiration. As a sequel nothing will satisfy him but my acceptance of the' offer which 'the bravest pnan on earth' has done me the honour to faake." ' There was such scornful emphasis laid on lie words "the bravest man on earth" that xtollo suddenly seemed to fathom the nays* tery of Letty's cheerful acceptance of misfortune, and his face flashed into smiling tomprebension as he kissed the rosy lips Raised so temptingly towards his. "Suppose," ho murmured eagerly — "suppose this doughty lion-tamer were to lose $ri» halo of glory, what would happen then?"

"Can't you guess?" was the whimsical answer. "If you cannot, I'm afraid you ar* hopeless. rt Rollo gave an answering smile, which broadened considerably as Letty continued.

"Mind, I trust to you to manage everything. I don't wais to vex dad. And I don't want to lose my dowry. And I don't want to marry Mr Middleton. So fet your wits to work between now and to-morrow, for the hero is to have hii encwer then."

"All right, darling. Meanwhile', axe you going to the hunt ball to-night? "Of course. Everybody is goi»ig. Won't you be there?" - - "Certainly. But what about Middleton?" "He is dining with -us this evening, and jlpill drive into Singleton with us." v "By way. of Landon's lane .'" *'Yes. But 'there, I must be off now, 'Or somebody will be coming here to eeek toe"

.another minute, anS the lovers had parted, Letty to go indoors by way of the Tose garden, and Rollo to hurry off to the local station^ just in time to catch a train "to the next town, where lived certain friends of his. who had been in many a college scrape with him.

Letty Verlaine looked 6Weet enough to charm anybody's heart when she came downstairs dressed ready to go to the hunt ball, to which she had looked forward so eagerly until it had transpired that her <*oorting cavalier was to be Horace Middleton, instead of hit hitherto hopeful rival Rollo PurcelL - . " A pompous, selfigatisfied looking man was Mr Middleton, who was already waiting with Mr Verlaine in the hall when Letty, a fair .vision of beauty, greeted him with one of her usual dazzling smiles. ' "I hope you have not been kept waiting very long?" she said, with such demur© charm that Horace Middleton longed to take her into his arms and kiss- hen

"No matter how long we had been waiting, he rejoined, "the ultimate 6ight of you would be sufficient compensation." "Very prettily put," interrupted Mr V«rItine. "But I don't think we must waste any more time. The horses have already been waiting half an hour, and we cannot go very quickly, for there will be no moon till 3 o'clock in the morning." "And these country roads are horribly dark and rough," added Letty, glancing Slyly at Mr Middleton.. "I've even heard of people being held up by footpads." "Nonsense !" was Mr Verlaine's protest. •What silly chatter have you been listenIng to? The road is bad enough at any lime, I know, but it doesn't harbour bighiraymen and footpads." "You are mistaken, dad. Thfre was "quite a sensation there last week. My toaU was telling mo about it. But it

won't matter what sort of people are lurking about so long as Mr Middleton is with us. He has had too much real adventure to be flurried by anything that can be done by commonplace English footpads." A quiet glance at Air Middleton showed Letty that he was by no means so smiling and confident as he had been, and though she was anxious about what the next lew hours might have in store for her, shsi had no doubt that her estimate of Mr Middleton's real character had been fairly accurate.

Presently the trio "were en rout© for the Singleton Assembly Booms, but the coachman, obedient to orders, was driving very slowly.

"It's a dreadful bother," sighed Letty. "What a pity I was so long in. getting ready. I shall miss ever so many dances through, being late — oh-o-oh !"

A wild shriek ended the last sentence, and Letty cowered back in an abandon of fright as a rough-voice was heard to order the coachman to stop. The next instant both the carriage doors were suddenly opened from without, and two masked men, pointing revolvers at the occupants of the carriage, exclaimed simultaneously : "Your money or your life!" "Save me! Save me!" shrieked Letty, and her father would have done his best to gather her into his embracing arms but for the stern command to keep still. "Move the least bit, sir, and I'll blow your brains out!" was the cheerful threat, and as the threat was pointed by the muzzle of a revolver held in uncomfortable proximity to his temple mt Verlaine had perforce to be discreet. But he knew that Mr Middleton had been in much worse scrapes than this, and was feeling a certain amount of confidence in his courage and resource -when the footpad at the other door emulated his comrade's conduct, very emphatically, adding: "And empty your" pockets in two minutes, or you'll be a dead man." " For God's sake, don't shoot !" yelled Mr Middleton, forgetful alike of his past deeds of daring and of the impression he was creating upon his companions. " For God's sake, don't shoot ! Only take that revolver away, and I'll give you everything I have with me." " Very well. Be quick about it," was the stern reply. " But if what you have with you is not enough to satisfy our chief, may God have mercy on your soul, for we will have none !" Mr Verlaine was looking at his "bravest man on earth" with disgusted amazement. Letty had covered her face with her hands, and was apparently shaking with convulsive «fear. And Mr Middleton's very teeth were chattering with fright as he, with frantic haste, began to empty one pocket after another of the money and valuables they contained.

'• Oh, dear ! Oh, dea.r !" he moaned. "Whoever would have thought of this?" "Hurry up I" was the command \>f the footpad who had Mr Verlaine under special guard. " How long are you going to Tjeep me waiting ?" "Waiting for what?" was the angry question. "For your money stud jewellery, of course. Come on, cut with it!" ' " I'll ace you hanged first !" was the fierce retort. "If you want to steal my money, maybe I can't help myself, but I'm not going, t« help you to rob me."

A simultaneous movement of the fingers \rhich touched the triggers of the revolvers was significant of danger, and Mr Middleton called out in added terror : " For Heaven's sake, don't defy them, Mr "Verlaine ! You don't knew to -what length they may go." " Your money at once !" was the fresh demand hurled at Mr Verlaine. " And the young lady's jewellery too," added the masked aggressor. " Come, my little beauty, if you don't turn it up willingly, I must take it by force!' 1 A wild shriek from Letty was sufficient to waken the night echoes for miles, and it apparently brought instant help, for there was a sudden scuffle outside the carriage, and the man who had last spoken was thrust forcibly on one side, the revolver was snatched from his hand, and pointed at the other "robber," wh«, seeing himself under fire, hastily took to his heels, leaving the booty already yielded by Mr Middleton unappropriated. "Mr Verlaine, are you hurt? called a familiar voice. " Lelty, don't say lam too late to save you from harm !" "It is Hollo ! ' Hollo Puroell !" was Letty's ecstatic cry. " Ob, 80110, it has been awful ! I am so ' thankful you came !"

"Yes, it is a great mercy," echoed Mr Middleton. But Mr Verlaine only gave an angry grant. " The fellows have all cleared out now, observed Rollo, who was smiling all over his handsome face. " Shall I tell the coachman to drive on? The men who held the horses' heads have followed their leaders, so there is nothing to hinder you from going on to the ball." Perhaps Mr "Verlaine guessed a good deal, for he asked no explanation 'of the ease with which 80110 appeared to have vanquished a whole gang of bandits. But the lesson had been a valuable one to him, for he gave his full consent to Letty's marriage with the organiser of the little adventure, and cheerfully bade a permanent farewell to the man whose pluck made such a sorry show in an emergency. As for Mr Middleton, perhaps he will boast of something else in future, for nobody is likely to believe him when he tries to pose as a great hero.