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Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 71

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HEAJDOJST HILL.

By Author of "The Kiss- of the Enemy," "The / Sentence >of the Court," "The Ocean King Mystery," -"Millions of Mischief," ;'Th> One Who Saw," etc., etc. '[Copyright.] SYNOPSIS OP PBEVIOUS CHAPTEB.S. CHAPTERS I and ll.—Norman Blythe returns to his native village of Monkswood. and is welcomed by John Benjafield, landlord of the Blythe Arms. The eldest son of Sir Bevya Blythe,' of THonkswood Chase, the young man is heir only to the empty title having been disinherited by his father in favour of his step-brother, Paul. Now Norman has come home wealthy. He inquires after Mildred Harden, his step-surter s bototmsss. Despite the late hour and the Sdvic* of the innkeeper, he decides to visit the Chase that night. The scene changes to th« interior of Monkswood Chase. Sir Bevys, in a state of semi-intoxication, warns ma sou Paul not to be too attentive to Miss Harden, ma he proposes to make her Lady Blythe frhen his- second wife, who is insane, dies. Shortly afterwards Sir Bevys Blythe is found murdered. Paul sayß that when he came into the room he found Miss Harden there, and. the window open. „ CHAPTERS 111 and IV.—John Benjafield hears of the tragedy early next morning. H» meets Miss Harden, who hints that Paul tried to throw suspicion on her. The innkeeper informs her of Norman's return, and his visit to Monkswood Chase. They both agree to keep silence concerning his presence in the neighbourhood. A new thread 1 of the narrative is then introduced, beginning, at the Hotel Duoal in London. Lord Croysdale and his son, flle Hon. Kenrick Herriot, have their attention Wrawn to a couple seated at another table. Th* lady is Mme. Gloria. Carrington, a noted palmist and crystal-gazer, and the gentleman Hector Dallas, lately returned from. South Africa. They are strangers to begin with, but the woman arouses his interest, and then leaves him dumbfounded by foiling him tnat he has an interest in the murder of Sir Bevys Blythe. CHAPTERS V. and Vl.—Hector Dallas accompanies Gloria Carrington to her consulting rooms in order to test her powers of crystal-gazing. She tells him that he goes about in deadly fear. They arrange to meet again at the Hotel Ducal. Going to her own rooms, she •tells another visitor —no other than- Caspar Sturge, Lady Blythe's mental attendant—that she has discovered Mr, now Sir, Norman Blythe. Returning to Monkswood Chase, Sturge tells Paul that his half-brother is in England. They both connect his return with the murder, but Paul Begs Sturge not to inform the police. At the inquest on the body of Sir Bevys, Paul's evidence helps to exonerate' Miss Harden from suspicion. CHAPTERS VII and Vlll.—Paul Blythe having sent for Mildred Harden, she promptly , gives v him notice of her intention to leave. ] He, however, proposes t maSriage, and tells ' her that unless she consents he will put the j police on the tTack of her lover, Norman Blythe, whom, to her surprise, he knows is in England. She Reluctantly agreeß to en engagement, on condition that it is kept secret. Then she decided that itt order to remove suspicion from Norman it will be necessary for her to disappear, and that in such a way that it will not be known whether she is alive or dead. After consultation with John Benjafield, she arranges to do this. Meantime Gloria Carrington and Hector Dallas meet very frequently at the Hotel Ducal and elsewhere. One- night she tells him that the woman for wkm he feared in connection with the nmrdeT has been drowned. He leaves her abruptly. Outside he is stopped, and. again taxed with the' affair at Monkswood.