DICK’S DOUBLE DEALING.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 10, Issue 46, 16 June 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

DICK’S DOUBLE DEALING.

A FORTUNATE MISTAKE. “ I wouldn’t have believed it, Dick, if anybody but you had told me, and I can hardly believe it even now. But you wouldn’t deceive or mislead me, would you, Die* ?”

The pretty face upturned to his with its pleading, wistful expression would have touched any heart less utterly selfish than Dick Maywood’s, but he had registered a vow long ago bo win his pretty cousin, and ho meant to accomplish that result by any means be could command.

“Of course I wouldn’t, Madge,” he replied with >n appearance of sincerity that would have convinced a person much more worldly-wise than Madge Sinclair. “It is Guy Phillips who is doing that, with his handsome face and smooth speeches, making a fool of you as he has many a girl before. Bub I don’t ask you to believe my unsupported word,” he added, with a suc : cessfully simulated tone of injury. “ I expect to be in possession of proof before long that will satisfy even you. In the meantime, if he calls again don’t see him—that is, not until 1 can putyou in possession of the evidence I expect to get, and then, of course, you can use your own judgment as bo the steps you will take.” Dick was very astute in making that last remark. He knew Madge had a spice of obstinacy in her nature, and would resent anything that even savoured of coercion. The only sure way to succeed was to poison her mind, and then lead her to believe she was acting in perfect freedom, and the plot was almost sure to work just as he wanted it.

“ He called last night,” said Madge, in a tremulous voice : “ and it almost broke my heart to send word that I was not at home. 1 listened at the door while he was in the hall, and he seemed so surprised and pained. Oh, Dick, what more is there that you have got to tell me ? Let me know it at once and have it over.”

“ 1 cannot to-night,” replied Dick, for the double reason that he had not quite shaped his plot to his own satisfaction, and because he deemed chat a little suspense would be favourable to his success.

At any rate, it would serve to keep Guy away, and prevent the possibility of any explanation, and that was so much gain. He wanted to consult with an acquaintance of his, who had had some experience in such matters, and receive the benefit of his valuable suggestions. “ I’ll tell you what bo do,” he added, after a moment’s reflection, as a bright thought struck him. “ Call me up on the telephone to-morrow about one o’clock ; that, is the time when most of the folks at your place will be out to lunch, and 1 will be prepared by that time to tell you what will convince you that Guy is a scoundrel, and not deserving another thought, or ” —with a wily afterthought—“ I will be prepared to own that my suspicions are groundless, and that I have misjudged him.”

“ Oh, if you only could !” exclaimed Madge, with a quick-drawn breath, while her face lighted up with an expression of joyous relief. “ How welcome any such message would be to me, Dick—how it would delight me to receive it. What is your number?” “ Six forty-nine—don’t forget. Call me about one. I will remain in the office until I get your message. And now 1 will say good night, for you are looking quite pale and wan. Try to get a good night’s sleep, and hope for the best,” he added, with a faint compunction of conscience. “ Perhaps it will be good news after all—who knows ?”

“ I shall hope for it,” said Madge, as she laid her hand in bis outstretched palm with a wan,little smile. “ But whichever way it turns I shall feel that you are my best friend, Dick, and that I can trust you. “ Good-night.” S‘ Two points in my favour,” mused Dick, as he walked briskly away. “ 1 have her confidence, and I have succeeded in estranging her from Guy Phillips to a certain extent at least. Now to get some useful points from Rube, and by the time our telephone interview to-morrow is over I think I will have the game all in my own hands, and my frietyily rival may as well leave town. At any rate he will have to content himself with some other girl, for 1 will not go away again, business or no business, until 1 can take her with me as my bride.” Dick’s solicitous admonition to his wouldbe sweetheart was not conducive of any good result, however, for Madge rose the next morning from a sleepless pillow, wan and heavy-eyed, and wended her way to the large manufacturing establishment where she acted as book-keeper and special correspondent, and where she enjoyed, moreover, the benefit of a private wire. 'L’he morning dragged dismally, but finally the managing clerk and his assistant went out to lunch and left her sole occupant of the littleroom which she shared with them. With hands that trembled from excitement she rang the telephone bell and called :

“ Give me 639, please.” “ Busy,” came back the reply at first, but in a few minutes her bell tinkled. “ Is this 639 ?” she asked. “ Yes,” came the reply. “ Will you please ask Mr. Maywood to step to the telephone ?”

In another minute a voice responded—- “ Hello, is that you,

“ Yes. Oh, Dick, can you give me any good news of Guy. No !” —as she was conscious of a strange sound which she interpreted as one of disapproval—“ I can speak perfectly plain —I am all alone here, and this is the private wire. Have you found that your suspicions are indeed illfounded ? Oh, if you knew how I have been hopintr. I passed him on my way to business this morning, and it almost broke my heart not to be able to notice him ! Toll me, Dick, don’t keep me in suspense—is it all right, and can I believe him good and true ?”

There was a very strange sound at the end of the wire, and then the answer came : “ Yes, Madge, it was ail a mistake. There is no reason why you should cease to love him or have faith in him. Indeed, it is worse than a mistake— it is a cruel plot; to destroy your happiness, but happily it has failed to succeed.”

“ Oh, Dick, how happy, how very happy you have made me,” replied Madge in a voice full of tears. “ When can I see him and auk him to forgive me for having doubted him for a moment. Will you see him this afternoon ?”

“ Yes,” came the prompt answer,/* and shall I tell him to call on you this evening’” •* Oh, Dick, how good of you to think of just the right thing ! 1 should be ashamed to send to him after the way 1 have created him. He would be almost sure to think 1 was trifling with him. Tell him. to come early—l shall be home any time after seven o’clock. And come with him yourself, too ; you deserve to share my happiness when you have done so much to promote it. But I hear someone coming—l must not talk any longer. Good-bye,” “Good-bye,” came the answer ; and with a radiant face Madge rang off and returned to her duties.

The afternoon sped quickly, for the work she had been obliged to neglect in the morning kept her busy now ; and as soon as the time for closing came she hurried on her wraps and started for home. She bad some distance to go, and it was dusk when she reached it, but she was informed by the servant who admitted her that “ there’s a gentleman in the parlour for you, miss,” and without stopping to remove anything she hurried in. In another instant she was caught and crushed in an embrace that threatened the complete destruction of her pretty hat and cape.

“ Now tell me,” said Guy, when he had sufficiently refreshed himself for the moment, “ tell me just what that—infernal scoundrel—Dick,has been telling you about me!”

“ Dick—about you I” gasped Madge in bewilderment. Why, it was he that cleared up the trouble. “ Didn’t be tell you to come here ?”

“He 1 Not much 1” was the indignant retort.

“ I only hope he will be here bo-night, though ! Listen to me, my darling ?” with another mighty hug. “Do you know who it was you were talking to over the telephone to-day ?” “ Why certainly,” replied Madge, blushing crimson. "’lt was Dick. And he told me-”

" No, my darling,” interrupted. Guy, in a tone of loving remonstrance. "It was not * Dick,’ and he did ‘ not tell you ’ any thing. It was me—me yon were talking to, and it gave me the key to the mystery that was fast becoming torture. 1 happen to know that his number is 649, and you called up my number—639—and as soon as I recognised your voice I determined to see if I could find any solution to this mystery. Your words gave me the very clue I wanted. 1 spent the remainder of the day in investigating, and the result is—there is the bell —I believe that is he now. I’ll hide for a moment. Don’t tell him I’m here until I ieveal myself.” 51 Ue stepped behind one of the heavy window curtains, just as a footfall sounded in the hall, and the parlour door opened and Dick came in, evidently somewhat excited.

“ Why did you not call me up to-day, Madge ?” he asked ; “ I waited a full hour; and then rang up your office, only to learn that you were out, and I had to leave before you returned. I succeeded in obtaining conclusive proof of the utter unworbbiness and insincerity of that scoundrel Guy Phillips—- “ Not quite so fast there, if you please,” exclaimed Guy, stepping out from his concealment and confronting Dick,who uttered an execration between bis teeth and turned pale, “ unless you are prepared to substaiitiate and prove your statements before a tribunal competent to deal with you and your worthy confederate, Jiube Evans, for perjury and blackmail. Oh, I know all about this little plot; never mind bow—that is for me to know and you to find out —but I give you just one chance to make your escape from this disgraceful proceeding unharmed—that is to make a clean breast of it and retract, here and now, in my presence and that of my betrothed wife, whom you were plotting to win by estranging her from me, every word of the slander with which you have attempted to poison her mind. Refuse to do this, and I shall make such of certain letters and documents that I have in my possession as will be apt to result in your enforced retirement from public life for some years.” Dick cast one look of mingled fear and hate at his triumphant rival ; then, cowed by the unyielding look in his eye, he blurted out :

“ It was a trick, Madge, but ! deemed all fair in love and war, and I loved you long before he saw you.” “ And you acknowledge that every word you have said to my discredit—both those, 1 don’t know as well as those I have discovered—was an utterly unfounded, malicious and lying fabrication. You admit this 1” repeated Guy, taking a step forward his eyes flashing fire. “ Yes,” was the sullen response.

“ That is enough,” said Madge, waving her hand quietly. “ I can even forgive you, Dick, for the very means you suggested for completing my deception was the means by which 1 learned the truth, which perhaps 1 should never have known, otherwise. Never mind how”—as Dick made an impetuous movement to ask shall keep Guy’s secret as he will mine—and -—we will both wish you a very good evening,„wth my thanks for the fulfilment of your really prophetic words last night, that at our next interview you would indeed bring me good news.” One glance of concentrated hate and fury Dick cast upon them both, then as Magde’s hand still pointed towards the door, he slipped quietly away. He react a few months later in the newspaper a notice of the marriage to which he was not an invited guest, but he never learned of the fortunate mistake by whicli his scheme had been brought to naught.