THE LADY OF THE MINIATURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3270, 15 November 1916, Page 50

THE LADY OF THE MINIATURE.

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(Ponr.isuKD or Special AnnANOEMBNT.J

By BEN BOLT. Author of " The Lifting of the Shadow," " Love Finds the Clue," etc.

[Copyright.]

CHAPTER XV. S Janet Selby announced her intention of going to Charles Kow.ey to warn him of his impending arrest, her lover laid a restraining hand upon her arm. Rut you can’t do that, Jamt, ’ he protested quickly. “ Peopl e will notice you—they ~ ... talk. iou know what they will say. ’ i( * them cay,” she retorted sharply. I no not care. This man saved my life at the risk of his own, and 1 am not an ingrate.”

"But he killed this man, Cordery," said Shaplaud, har.hly. "He is a murderer; of that there can be no question whatever. The less you have to do with him the better. He——''

" I do not believe what you say, Vernon," the girl replied venemently. " You do not like Mr Rowley, and you are prejudiced, but I am quite sure that he is incapable of doing a thing so foul. He is high-minded. He is brave and chivalrous, and he only spoke to this man Cordery at all because the man was loafing round and watching me—why I do not know."

Vernon Shapland could have explained had he so desired. He guessed that Cordery had been watching not Janet but himself, who that morning had been much by Janet's side. The mistake was a perfectly natural one, and he congratulated himself that the possible alternative had not presented itself to the girl, congratulated himself and held his peace upon the matter.

" Janet," he said soothingly, " you are generous-minded, and in view of what Rowley did for you at the Murland I can understand why you should wish to serve him, to save him. But you can do nothing. Even now I daresay Lindsay and the sergeant have arrested him, and "

She threw off his detaining arm and without waiting for him to complete the sentence, ran back to the great doorway. He followed her and cried to her : " Janet! Janet!"

But the girl did not so much as turn her head. When he reached the doorway she was already halfway across the hall, and the coat which had been upon her shoulders was lying on the floor as she had flung it from her. Recognising that to overtake her was hopeless, he shrugged his shoulders, lit a cigarette, and went back to the terrace to await the inevitable developments.

As Janet entered the ballroom there ■was a tragic look on her face, but noticing the light of surprise in the eyes of an acquaintance as they met her own, she strove to* compose herself, and succeeded so well, that, except for a trifling pallor, there was nothing to indicate the tumult of her feelings. She skirted the room quickly until she came to the glass doors which opened into the conservatory and passed through them. Just before Vernon had spoken to her she had seen Charges Rowley pass through the doorway, and was sure she would find him there still. As she entered she looked round. From one of the aisles between the palms came the sound of soft feminine laughter, and instinctively she turned into the other, feeling sure that the man she sought had entered the conservatory for quietude. As she walked under the green fronds she glanced from side to side, and then almost at the far end she saw him. He was seated in a rustic chair. On his face was a very thoughtful expression, and his eyes were fixed on some object held in the palm of his hand. She caught the gleam of gold, and knew intuitively that the object in his hand was the miniature. For a second or two she watched the man all unconscious of her presence, and she saw him lift the miniature to his I'ps. As he did so her face flushed ronly, ad her heart grew sud lenly tumultuous. She had known all along that he loved her, and now a new knowledge came to her, —knowledge of wlrch she was almost afraid, the knowledge that she herself returned his love. The flush faded, leaving her marblepale, and then recalling the purpose which had hrou?ht her to the conservatory, she coughed discreetly and tonk a step forward. Charles Rowley looked up, and be ame aware of her presence. His hand closed on the locke x , and as he to his feet, his e-es fir-shed welcome and a smile came oil his face. But before he could speak, she cried impulsively: " Oh, Mr Rowley, I am so glad that I have found von." Ho gave her a quick look of inquiry, marked her evident agitation, and then said quietly : _ ■ "There is something the matter, Miss Selby. What is it? Nothing very serious, I hope?" " Oh. it is very serious for you—for all of us," she said in a quick tense whisper. He betrayed no discomposure. His manner was quiet and self-possessed, as he replied gravely: "Please explain, Miss Selby."

"I don't know how to do it," she said, "I can scarcely find words to do it, since to me it seems so absurd, but I must tell you. In the servants' hall there are two policemen. They have come, I understand, to get a warrant for your arrest."

"My arrest!" he said calmly. "For what am I to be arrested?" " For the murder of that man, Cordery, wh m vou th; e.»te..ca to thrash the other day." " She was watching his face as he spoke, and her heart rejoiced as she saw there was no sign of guilt. For a moment he stood quite still, then a half-smile came on his face. " Your news is not altogether surprising," he replied quietly. " Then you knew'/ You were expect- " I have contemplated the possibility during the half-hour," he answered. " I overheard a word or two spoken by .'ome of your guests, and I gathered that they tl.ought that I ought not to be here to night, as it was more than possible that I should be anested within the next few duys." Janet was surprised at his calmne-s, and indignant tr.at anyone should thus assume his guilt. ■"lt is shameful," she said, "and though there may be circumstances that point to you, the whole thing is dreadfully absurd. 1 cannot think how people can be so utterly foolish." As she thus protested her faith in his innocence, a light of joy glowed in Charles Rowley's eyes. He stepped impulsively towards her. "Ah, I am glad to hear you say that," ho whispered, "very glad. I think it would have been altogether too much for me- to bear, if you had believed " "I could never believe anything so wicked of you," she interrupted quickly. "And yet circumstances "are all against me," he said, thoughtfully. "1 knew this man, and we both came from the same remote corner of tho earth. From remarks that Cordery had made in the village, and of which Sir James told me, it is clear th t at this man had come to England to look for some man whom he had known in New Guinea—for me, ninety-nine out of every hundred men would say, and with some show of reason. Further, there were people who witnessed that little incident at the hunt-meet the other day, and, once suspicion is awakened, that trivial affair quite naturally takes a new significance. I can understand why people should jump to the conclusion that I " He broke off suddenly and looked at her. "Tell me why you came to warn me." The pallor of her face gave place to a sudden crimson. She had not analysed the impulse which had brought her to him, had only followed it blindly ; but now at his unexpected question she saw the explanation of her action in the light of the knowledge which had come to her as she had watched him, and knew that she could not tell him.

"Oh," she said stammeringly, "I could not bear to think that they should come and take you without warning. It seemed so—so cruel —unfriendly. I—thought that if I told yoiVj, you could —could get away—if you wished." "Then there was no doubt in your mind? You- •'' "Never even the shadow of a doubt!" she cried quickly. "I should believe in you if all the world were against you." Ho looked at her steadfastly for a moment. Her eyes met his in level glance, and in them there was a light that made his heart beat quickly. Then her eyelids fell, and a deep blush dyed her neck and face. He lifted his hand and took hers. She made no protest, and for a moment he did not speak. He waited until her eyes were unveiled again, and he saw them abrim with tears and bright with love.

"Thank you !" he said simply. "I can say no more now. It is not right that I should with this shadow upon me. But when it has passed " His voice thrilled with a sudden exultation, and he broke off. But she understood all that he left unsaid, and in spite of her anxiety she smiled. Then he lifted her hand and held it for one moment to his lips before he released it. That done, he released her, and his manner became almost brusque. "Now," he said, "I will tell you something that you once asked me." He held out his other hand, and -she saw the locket, with the miniature, lying in his palm. "J will tell you how this came into my possession. It was found, as I told you. and found in very tragic circumstances I had a foster-brother, who was my partner, and I left him in a camp in the hills of New Guinea, whilst I went with some native carriers to the nearest tradingpost for a new stock of provisions. I returned to find him dead outside the tent door, shot through the heart. Ho must have died only an hour or two before my return, and why anyone should have killed him I cannot imagine, for some gems which were in the tent were untouched, and a couple of natives who were engaged on a mine we had opened two miles from the camp had not been disturbed. One of my carriers—Boromai by name—nosing among the bushes, found this, miniature. It was untarnished, and could have been there but a very short while. I was absolutely sure that it did not belong to Jim—my foster-brother, you know-—and naturally I saw in it a clue to the perpetrator of the crime." He broke off as he saw that her face had grown ghastly pale, and waited for her to speak. She did not do so, and he resumed his narrative.

"I guessed that whoever had shot Jim had left this ohm hehind him. The chain to which it had been attached had caught in the bushes, and had broken, leaving the locket hanging there. When I saw your eyes looking out at me from the miniature I was amazed; I believe" flie smiled as he spoke) "I fell in love with you in that first glance. But I loved Jim ; 'we wei-e brothers in spirit if not in flesh, and we had grown up together from childhood. I felt that his death ought to be

avenged, and whe.'i I took out the miniature and saw the name at the back— Crispi, London—l realised that it ought not to be difficult to find the owner of the locket, and determined there and then to come to England. I should explain that the mine Jim and I had found, the first of its kind in Papua, required machinery for its development, and capital also; and we had already discussed what we would do, and had thought of Sir James Nancarrow, who is interested in the Australian goldfields. I saw that I could kill two birds with one stone, and accordingly I went down to Port Moresby, obtained a letter of introduction to Sir James from an official at the Government House, and came to England.

"My business affairs, as you will have heard, have prospered exceedingly; the other affair not su well. I went to' Crispi's, but was unable to see him. The doorkeeper at the studio denied all knowledge of the miniature, and Mr Shapland, wlro saw it by accident, decided that he did not know the original." Again he paused. Janet's face was still pale, and there was a dawning horror in her beautiful eyes, but she made no comment. His voice grew sterner and less matter-of-fact, as he added, "I am quite sure that the man at Crispi's was lying, and I have sometimes wondered whether Air Shapland was not lying also." Janet gasped, and then spoke in a oroken whisper. "But why should' v'ou think that he—that he "

• Because he knew you, and because when talking to me he led me to believe that he knew nothing whatever of New Guinea, whilst I have since discovered, quite by accident, that he had been to New Guinea on business—that as a matter-of-fact he was in the colony when my brother was killed. That is why I think th it he was lying to me, when he denied that the miniature "

There was the sound of heavy feet at the far end of the conservatory. Both Janst and Rowley turned instinctively. Tlnough the green of the tree-ferns they caught a, glimpse of blue, and as he perc ive I it tho young man looked at Janet, and saw that her eyes were full of apprehension.

''They are coming;," he said in a level voice. ' Your warning was just in time."

CHAPTER XVI

The two policemen drew nearer. They weie accompanied by Janet's father, and in tiie background hovered Vernon Shapland, who frrm his position on the terrace had Mr Selby and the officers of the law enter the conservatory by a side door, and had followed in their wake. There was a troubled look on Mr Selby's face, a look which grew more pronounced as he caught sight of Janet standing by Charles Rowley. '• Oh, what will you do?" whispered the girl ia a -\oice tense with emotion. Go with them, of course," answered the young man with a wry smile. "There is nothing else to I>2 done."

■" But '' She broke off as a thought struck her. '"The locket!" she said. " Let me have it for a few days. I will return it a- soon as I can."

" Why do you want —-—" ITe caught tie a;i;e.l in her eyes. Mr Selby was very close now, and he saw that the opportunity to explain was not to be given. Quickly be detached the locket from the chain, and handed it to her as Mr Selby stepped forward. " Rowley," he said haltingly. " I want a word with you in private." He turned to his daughter. "If you do not mind leaving us, Janet -" The girl withdrew a little way, and her father, n iticing the look upon her face, did not press her further. He had a very unpleasant duty to perform, and he felt that or.e unpleasant thing at a time was sufii; ient.

" Rowley," he said, speaking in a low voce, " I have something to tell you which I am afiaid will upset you a great deal. I do not like the part I have to play in the business, but you are my guest, and I owe you a very groat deal for what von did for Janet the other week, so I "felt that I ought to come with the sergeant he-e and explain " " There is no reed for vou to explain, Mr ?elby," interrupted the young man. " I have already heard why the sergeant is h<re. I understand that he proposes to arrest me for the murder of Jack Corner v."

Mr Selbv whs surprised at the coolness with which Charles Rowley accepted the situation, but he was relieved to find that there was not to be a scene. "Yes." he said, "that's it! It's all confounded nonsense, of course, but he feeh that it is his duty, and as he applied to me for a warrant, on what on the face of it reems l-easonablc gi'ound, I have been forced to grant it. But if it is any comfort to you io hear it, I don't mind telling vou that I am sure there is a bad mistake' somewhere, and that I don't think for one moment that yon did this despicable thing." "I'm very glad to hear you say that. Mr Relby. "And it is very good of you." "Not at all. Rowley. I've known you for only a few days, but I know that you are incapable of anything like that. Can vou offer any explanation to the sergeant here that will serve to remove his susmrons? In that ca c e your arrest might b? ' bviated."

Rowley smiled slightly and shook his head.

"Not at present, Mr Selby." His host's face grew more troubled

" I'm sorry to hear you say that. I was hoping that von -would be able to olear up the wretched business -without it becoming a public matter, and I am terribly upset that this should take place under my roof, and that a man whom I was beginning to count a friend " " T hope you will still do that," said Row lev quickly. Mr'Selbv looked at him, marked his

opn face and frank gaze, and then held out his hand.

" There's my hand upon it," he said. The young man took it, grasped it hard for a moment.

" Thank you," he said simply, and then turned to the two officers. "If these men are ready, I am." Mr Selby also turned. " Now, sergeant, since you insist on making a fool of yourself you had better read that precious warrant."

The sergeant looked uncomfortable, but unfolded the paper in his hand, and stolidly read it, ending with, the stereotyped caution, " And it is my duty to inform you that anything yon have to say may be u ed against you, Mr Rowley."

"In that case/' answered Rowley with a faint smile, I will say nothing."

"You'll have to come with us, sir."

" Willingly, after I have got my hat and coat."

" I'll tend them round to you, Rowley," sad Mr Selby quickly. "And 111 have a car at the tide door inside of five minutes. If you care to wait in my study, it will be'belter than regaining here. People may come in, and " 'I understand," was the reply, "and I thank you. We will go to the study." Mr Selby led the way, and as Charles Rowley made as if to follow him the two policemen fell into step on eacli side. As they moved forward he looked back. Janet was standing by a giant fern. Her face was white as her dress, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. He waved a hand in farewell, and she waved back, and a moment later they were out of sight of each other.

As he disappeared the girl sank into a seat, and covered her face with her hands. The pent-up emotion of the last few minutes found expression in a sob which broke from her lips; it was followed by another and another, until her shoulders were shaking convulsively in the stress of grief. A step 'sounded, and the next moment a harsh voice called her name. "Janet!"

She looked up to find Vernon Sh.apland regarding her with blazing eyes, his face convulsed with passion. He had seen the silent farewell the two had made, and he was tortured with the jealous thought that there was an understanding between them. At the sight of him standing before her, the girl, by a supreme effort, obtained control of her feelings once more.

"Well?" she asked frigidly. Her question and her sudden self-control rather nonplussed him, and something in her face startled him. What it was he could not have told, but it filled him with vague alarm, and when he spoke his voice was much milder.

"What is the meaning of this?" he aske:l. "Why are you weeping here? Is it because a scamp is likely to get his deserts?"

For a moment Janet did not reply. Her eyelids dropped for a moment, and when they were raised again there was something like scorn in the depths of her eyes, and her voice, as she replied, smote him like a whip.

"You ask me that?" she said. "You?"

Vernon Shapland's alarm grew more pronounced. He had not the key to her thoughts, and stumbled blindly among conjectures. "Why should I not?" he asked. "It is true that that man Rowley saved your life, but the fact that the police have taken him away is proof that, whatever claim upon your gratitude he may have, he is unworthy to associate with decent people, and, as he is likely to be hung for murder " "You must not say that," she broke in stormily. "It is not true !" "Facts are facts," he said icily. "And in spite of what he did for you, the man deserves '' "I do not believe it," she assented vehemently. "Charles Rowley is as innocent as myself." Her manifest faith in the arrested man stung her lover to the quick. His facedarkened again, and there was a sneer in his voice as he answered : "Such faith is creditable to your heart, but not to your understanding, Janet. The man is as guilty as Cain." "It is not true," Janet answered quickly. "He is innocent. My heart and my understanding are at one in that conviction, and in any co.se, where Charles Rowley is concerned, I would trust my heart even against my understanding." "Feminine intuitions " ho began sneeringly, but before he could say another word she interrupted him : "Feminine intuitions are always right. That is a fact that has become proverbial. And, as I have said, ini any case where Charles Rowley is concerned I trust my heart."

Her persistent belief was like a lash to Shapland's jealousy. He was rapidly losing control of himself, and his voice was passionate and angry as he replied : "Why do you speak of your heart where this man is concerned? Is it that you have regard for him? I saw yon wave your hand just now, and I am hound to say that T did not like it. Yon forget that we aro shortly to he married " " No," she broke in quickly ; "you are making a mistake there. We are not going to he married. I have changed my mind. Nothing would make me marry you now." As she made this declaration Vernon Shapland's face grew almost purple. Ho shook with rage, and his eyes were full of a fierce light. For a moment he stood there inarticulate; then words come bubbling to his lips. ''Then yon do love this—man from the Novrt- Never," he cried—"this upstart, who by accident did you a service, but who is a murderer. I understand now why you were so anxious to warn him. I half suspected it at the time, and now I know." ' Ye* " answered the girl quietly ; "now yon kn'*v." Her calm admission staggered him. For a moment he stared at her as if he could

not believe his ears. Then he broke out once more. 'But you can never marry him. The law will see to that. Even if he escapes hanging ho will be outside the pale. Your father 'will not allow you to make sucli a mistake, and when this momentary madness is over you will see reason —you will come back to me " "Never!" she answered, "never! Indeed, I think I shall never speak to you again." 'And before he could reply, before he could anticipate her movement, she turned and fled up the leafy aisle, leaving him standing there, with his face the index of blackest thoughts. (To be continued.)