THE BARTONS SECRET.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7285, 12 August 1893, Page 4

THE BARTONS SECRET.

LITERATURE

•' CONTINUED 1 * No, air,’ cried the General, * the secret it* not buried. If it were— —* At that ioatant there was a clamour at the door. The bell rang; and then the knocker sounded, and at so unusual a summon a the three men stood to listen. A hurried footstep sounded in the hall and a moment later a servant entered with a lettter. *To be given to Mr Barton instantly.’ * Tom accepted it—opened it, and read it through, and handed it to Mallard. ♦ It is a ead business,' be said simply ; * hut 1 think it settles What we were talking about.’ Mallard read: * Dear and Respected Madam,— Before putting a termination to an existence which has long been a burden to its owner, 1 have to thank you for jour many acts of kindness. Tou have horns long with an unfortunate wretch who can no longer bear with himself, and who. before your reception pi this letter, will have ceased to be. I know no one else in the world to whom I care to say farewell, and T can only trust to your liberality to insure that an unfortunate man, who once occupied a respectable position in the world, shad be spare > the degradation of a pauper’s grave. 1 shall be found a* Jackson’s Town, in the bush, with this letter in my pocket. * 1 am, Madam, * Tour obedient servrnt, * Grateful, even in death, * John Dogdyke.’ Mr Dogdyke, though lifted to a height of temporal prosperity, such as be had not reached for many years, was far from being absolutely contented with his lot. Toe Count von Herder allowed him whatever small sums be demanded, making no demur at all for five pounds, or even twenty, and actually offering no sign of resistance when Dogdyke wished to soar beyond that sum. The Count throughout was extremely suave and complacent, professing himself to be entirely submissive to the good Dogdyke’s wi}l, and perpetually congratulating the good Dogdyke on the courage and acumen he had displayed. For his own part, Dogdyke was suspicions of the Count’s demeanour. He was not so much of a fool bat that be knew the Count bad oo especial reason to love him, and that gentleman’s exuberance of affection some, times seemed to have a threat within it. Sometimes Dogdyke rejoiced in the delightful belief that he had conquered tbe Count, and felt as if he weie a lion-tamer of the most extra* ordinary sort; at other moments be trembled in the very presence of bis prey. But at last, after having been put by with numberless excuses be determined to run what risk be might and to bring matters tu a head. He wrote to tbe Count requesting a final interview, and threatening, if matters were not arrangeo to bis own satisfaction there and then, to make General Mallard cognisant of the situation. He posted his missive in great fear and trembling, and bis contemplations of the possible consequences led him to creation of terrible scenes, in which the Count evaded him with diabolical ingenuities or even put him to death with devilish cunning. He dreamt of these things at night, and they npset him. He was driven to each a state of actual physical fea r f that, when ha received a note from tbe Count promising to give him an appointment in two days* time, he went out into the streets and wandered np and down until be found a gunsmith’s shop, and there purchased a revolver and cartridges for his own protection. Tbe mare possession of this weapon alarmed him, and he was afraid it might go off, at its own voli* tion, at any instant. He bad but a single scrap of paper in the Count’s handwriting, but, inspired by hie newly-developed fears, he put that by in a place of safety. It was but a trifle in itself, promising a meeting within two days and signed * W. v. H.’j bnt it would serve to show, at lea-t, in ease of need, that the Count and Dogdyke bad been m communication with each other.

By-and-by came an intimation of tbe place of meeting, and this alarmed Dogdyke still further, for tbe spot appointed by tbe Co ant was between thirty and forty miles out of 'own, and the frightened little mao could see no reason why tbe appointment might not hare been made witb perfect safety at the house of hie dreadful confederate. He thought this matter over far into the night, and tbe more he looked at it the lees be seemed to like it. He took it to bed with him. and tossed about with it restlessly and miserably until tbe first grey gleam of dawn was seen at tbe window. Then inspired witb a sudden revolve, he rose and wrote two letters. One he addressed to the Count in these terms : ' To the Count von Herder. 'Honoured Sib,—l am in receipt of your communication of yestetday, and shall keep tbe appoincment you are therein good enough to offer me ; but I aesire respectfully to observe that, after a long and careful consideration of the question, I am unable to aee on what grounds it is necessary that tbe appointment should be made at such a dis ance from your own residence or mine. I may further venture respectfully- to state that on several occasions I have thought your manner threatening. I trust you will not regard the observation as offensive, but I am not fully certain that yon intend to give me fair play. You will see &at it will not be safe to do anything

el?e when I inform you Ibafc, before meeting* you to-dav, I shall prepare a complete statement ol the fmts for Generi|l Mallard’s perusal, and that I snail leave that sfairmeat. seale i, hahind me in the hand-* of a confidential person, who, in case I !>houlci not turn up in safety wi bio foity-eight hours, will at once cause it to be delivered. Trusting that this friendly intimation may be received in the spirit in which it is written, and that there may be no breach in that confidence between us which has until now made our business so smooth and agreeable to both parties, * I am, Sir, ‘ With every sentiment of respect, ‘ Your obedient servant, * John Dogdyke.' When be had addressed and sealed this letter,he satdowo to writeanotber, much more lengthy and elaborate. It took a good two hours’ work to complete the second missive—not that it was extremely lengthy, but that its sub-ject-matter demanded to be handled with great care and delicacy. It was addressed to General Mallard, end was intended to inform that gentleman, if ever it should loach his eye, of Dogdvke’s complete devotion to his service, and the dangers into which that de* votion bad led him. Dogdyke, accord' ing to hia own showing in this letter, had had an opportunity of associating the Count von Herder and the now disappeared Mr Whateley with the i mpudent and gigantic fraud perpetrated on Genera! Mallard some months ago. He was tracking the Count, and was resolved to bring him to justice. The criminal had now iiegun to temporise with him —Dogdyke—and was proposing to bribe him ; sbou d negotiations be entered into for that purpose, Dogdyke professed himself willing and even eager to betray tbe villain to justice, and throughout tbe whole of tbe written pages there shone a spirit of indomitable self-sacrifice and an undying sense of private devotion to the public good which were, on the surface, extremely impressive. Dogdvke, having breakfasted and being ready to set out to meet the Count, entrusted these two letters to the head waiter of the hotel at which ha stayed, with tbe stricest and most laborious Jinjunctions. That addressed *o tbe Count von Herder was to be despatched at once ; tbe other, addressed to General Mallard, was not, on any account, to be delivered before Thursday, and in the case of Dogdyke’s return in the interval, was to be surrendered to him personally.

(To he continued )