THE SILVER DAGGER

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 163, 15 August 1914, Page 4

THE SILVER DAGGER

01=2=1 By R. A. J. WALLING l<=™=n

Author of " Flaunting Moll,'* " A Sea Dog of Devon,' &c.

[copyright]

CHAPTER XVI. IN WHICH IS RELATED HOW TORFREY TOOK HIS PHYSIC IN THE MORNING. It was towards midnight when Charlie Pudifin staggered into his lodging at Saint Maurice. A lamp was burning in his sitting-room, but the household was in bed. He stood for a moment or two, leaning on the table. Then the room began to swim round him, and he felt himself reeling. He called aloud once the name of the landlady, and the sound rang through the house. He fell in a heap on the iloor. Awakened by the outcry, Mrs Wherry ran down the stairs in her nightdress, and burst into the room. She screamed at the sight of Pudifin bundled up on the carpet. His face was ghastly grey. Calling upon her servant to come to her assistance, she knelt beside him and placed her hand upon his breast. He was living, but his coat was wet and clammy, and when she took her hand away it was stained red. Mrs Wherry was not easily dispossessed of her courage. This was bad enough, but it might have been worse. By the time she had opened his coat and waistcoat and exposed a shirt dyed carmine about the shoulder, the servant had come j down. *1 "Stop!" cried Mrs Wherry. "Ifi you scream, I'll hit 3 r ou. Look here, Mr Pudifin's hurt. Get some water." The girl, in a tremble, brought a basin of water. Get a scissors and some old white rags—quick about it! " The girl brought both, and, scolding ' and threatening her with divers pains I and penalties to be imposed if she made a fuss, Mrs Wherry cut away the reddyed shirt and washed the shoulder. There was a neat little wound at the top of the arm, and blood was oozing from it. She examined it carefully. "That's a bullet wound," said she. There was auother one on the other side of the arm. ' 4 The man that fired that shot was not far away when he did it, for it's gone right through, thank God, and there's nothing there. He'll be- all right." With great gentleness and diligence she dressed and bound, tlie .Ayoundv .She had heard of a aliltotigh ske <iould not have called it by that name, and she devised one with; the aid of & penholder. ( ?f

sense than Pudifin, or I'll quit the house and leave the whole thing to set itself right. 1 can endure a good deal, but this is a little too much." Torfrey was cowed by his manner. 4 ' Of course, I meant no han.ii, Diego. I am, worried. I am a good deal more worried even than I have told you." '' About what ?'' "Oh, there's a lot of anxiety. What do you think of Radford?" 4 4 How can I think anything of him ? I have never seen the old fellow.'' "No, of course," said Torfrey. 44 And yet I should think you would like him — believe in his friendship and judgment, I mean, Diego." 4 4 That all depends.'' "Naturally it does. I am afraid what Pudifin said must have upset me. Of course, it was all foolishness." 4 4 More than likely," said Diego with a sneer. 4 4 Yet," Torfrey continued, 4 ''•yet it is terrible thing to think that one's whole fortune is staked on a man whom he has only known for a few weeks.'' "What! You have staked your fortune. In heaven's name, on what?" "Well—l am worried it. You know I had always relied on F 's Bank—you don't mind my taking you into my confidence?" 4 'No; go on, Mat, if it does you any good to talk." "It, does, old man. I had my money in F 's Bank —or they were manag*ing it for me. Soon after Radford came here, he gave me some hints about investments, and I put money into them. They're good, very good indeed. The shares in two companies are up several points. Radford said tlieywould appreciate immediately, and they did; and I put more in. My engagements in that direction are not very large. Of course it is a risk, but one must take risks," said Torfrey, with a weak laugh.

" I don't quite see what your trouble is. You can't have invested your whole fortune in speculative companies. '' "No, not the whole of it, but a large sum —a very large sum. Don't you think I had better realise" '' I should think you might if you are nervous. Anything that will get you out of this idiotic condition, Mat." "It isn't that. I've not told you all. Ranford warned me just before he left not to allow iny money to remain in charge of the F 's. He predicted trouble. He seemed to know something. I withdrew my account, and it was true that they had a little trouble. Perhaps they tided it over for the time." "Well, where did you put it?" "On Radford's advice, "I well, I have engaged it all except a few odd thousands in a set of companies that Radford recommended.'' "Well, of all the fools!" exclaimed Diego. "Do you mean to say that the brokers have got the lot'?" "My dear fellow, how can that be? If I realised to-morrow I should be handsomely in pocket." "But, look here, Torfrey, you know very" well that you ought to have realised to-day, or yesterday, or any day but to-morrow. That's a to-morrow that never comes."

She dashed on "the patient's face she poured brandy into his mouth. And so, when Pudifin. opened, his eyes, lie found the two women kneeling beside him. He looked at his tattered garments and at the bandage on the arm. "Thanks, Mrs "Wherry," said he, feebly. "You're very good. I've had an accident." "You've had an accident? My dear man, you can't deceive me. That accident was a gunshot—and no duck-shot, neither.'' "I'll tell you all about it when I'm better. See if I can get up," said Pudifin. They helped him to his feet. He winced as the wound throbbed, but he stood upright and attempted a smile. "I'm much better. It's not a great thing, Mrs Wherry; I shall be quite well in a day or two.'' "If you're all right under a fortnight. I'll eat my bcjst bonnet. It's over-late to send to town for the doctor now, sir; but he'll be fetched first thing in the morning.'' "Nothing of the sort," said Pudifin, and the smile left his face. "I forbid you to talk of it. Do you hear, Mrs Wherry? My good woman, I won't have a doctor. I'm all right, I tell you. I have a reason for not wishiug to see a doctor. Promise!"

"You alarm me," said Torfrey, his face more pallid than before. "I mean to," replied Diego. "Why, if you realised to-morrow a large quantity of shares like that, it would make the market shiver. You cannot realise at once. You must do it by degrees. Can you begin to settle the business tomorrow?"

"That's the mischief of it," said Torfrey nervously. "My memory is liever very good, and every document I had was stolen when my room was broken into the other night." "Great Scot!" cried Diego. "And you really are, then, entirely in the hands of the brokers?" "Yes." " You fool! " Diego laughed. * * .* The morning following this scene Diego was restless and excited. He could not talk at breakfast, and wandered over the grounds thereafter. He intercepted the man who rode in from the station with the local morning papers, and took them from him. His hand shook as he opened the first broad sheet, and his eyes ran hurriedly over the columns till they rested on the black-lined, widespread news that he sought. He read hastily. "The coup! The coup! " he cried softly to himself, and walked rapidly up and down the terrace several times before he went into the house to find Torfrey. Back to his memory came the words of his companion on the previous night—"l wish I were you, to see how he takes His physic in the morning." ■The episode was very brief. "Here's sensational news," said Diego to Torfrev, as lie unfolded the paper. " What is it?"

"Very well, sir. Now I'm not going to let you talk any more. You must go to bed.''

Pudifin- spent a horrible night—a night of torture both in waking fancies* and in dozing dreams. He fought it all over again from the time when they were challenged o.ut. of the darkness as i they reached the edge of the garden ' with the words "Quien es?" till he had fired as he ran and discharged all the chambers of his revolver, and raised such an outcry as had never been heard on the banks of the Anne before, till he had felt the vicious sting in his arm, and realised that lie was hit as he scrambled over a hedge and made off across the fields, still running for his life. ~ ' What had become of Grander? Pudifin had not heard him fire, but that might easily lie explained by the noise he had made himself. They had scattered, as was agreed, and after a long, circuitous walk, growing weaker at every mile, he had staggered into his lodging, to fall unconscious almost as soon as he entered. ■ And what of that night at the Villa Zaniora? Diego had reached the terrace when the shooting and the shouting broke the quiet of the night. It was all over in less than a minute, and hefore the servants came rushing out and Torfrey himself appeared, the darkness and the stillness vei led everything again. What was it? Diego said he had been for a walk along the shore, and he had seen some men in a boat seaward. Probably the sounds came from there. "At this time of night?" said Torfrey. "What could they have been shooting at?" ' i Listen! '' said Diego. '' We may see or hear something more.'' But no sound came to them except the murmur of the water. They retired to the house. Torfrey was quiet and trembling when tliey reached the library. Diego wa.tched him coolly. " This is horrible, Diego, " he said. "I seem to be surrounded by an atmosphere of gloom and terror. Nothing that happens is. natural. Everything goes against me. I am even compelled to break with my best friends. I am particularly sorry that Pudifin has left me. Some devilish chain of circumstance has got hold of me and my affairs and cut me off from everything that J have held by." "Don't you think that's rather a weak view to take?" said Diego. " You are a man, Mat, and you have a man's will. You can surely have a little patience while things rigiii themselves.'' "Yes, yes," he replied. But we don't seem to be helping them te right. Practicably we are doing nothing. About Lucy, now. One would have thought that you would be more eager than you seem to be to know the truth about Lut?y." "Now, Torfrey," said Diego, "be careful what you are saying! Don't accuse me. Have a little more common

"Oh, a big financial affair lias come smash. The bubble is burst. It is in liquidation.'' Diego saw Torfrey grip the back of his chair. "Financial affair?" he gasped. "Yes; they often do, don't they'?" "This is a bad one," said Diego; '' millions in it .'' "I suppose," said Torfrey, "someone will be —badly—hit?" " Well —you may imagine. There are lots of small companies involved, I see, so that is certain." "Yes. It is—a little —unfortunate— for some people, no doubt." Torfrey "s eyes were strained to a glare. "It, is called " Diego began. "No!" Torfrey almost, screamed, and sank back in his chair. "I am a little out of sorts this morning,' Diego.'' "Of course, you can't have any interest in this, old man. This is a Himsv tliffig that everybody who knew anything suspected from the start —this Metropolitan '' Diego ceased and dropped the paper. Torfrey had leant forward to him, with ghastly despair written on every feature. "Read no more!" lie cried, jumping to his feet. "Tear up the cursed thing! Tear it up, I say! Every penny of mine was in it. Don't stare at me, Diego. Tear it up, I say! I am ruined — ruined!'' CHAPTER VII. IN WHICH MR RADFORD REAPPEARS. While Pudifiu lay half delirious in his lodgings, and Torfrey raved at the Villa

Zamora that day, Mr Wilton appeared suddenly at llaylauds. He sent his name to Mr Hayland, who received him with somewhat, more courtesy than lie had observed on the previous day. "I was a bit rough, I think, Wilton," .said he. ''You must pardon that. You see how badly things went for me." '' We won't speak of that, now, 3 think," said the younger man. 4 'l came with a definite purpose, or I should not have come at all, as you may imagine." 44 Yes. Then '' "I came, Mr Hay laud, to renew in a cool moment the proposal I made to von yesterday. If you will give your consent I will marry Miss Hayland and punish for the insult he has put upon you. I make that proposal. You know me. You know that, nrs'' fortune is great. I think that it might be possible for Miss Hayland to put up with me." He smiled. "It seems to me the best way for you out of your difficulty, and would-be certainly for me a delightful outcome of tiiv visit here.'' "Mt Hayland looked narrowly at him. 44 It appears to me,'' said he, presently, "that we are leaving out of consideration the person most concerned — Margaret." "I should have said that everything depends on Miss Hay laud's perfectly free consent. I need not say that J have some reason to suppose that it would possibly be given. With that provision I understand you give your consent in the circumstances as they are ? "

"Well, I see no objection if Margaret likes to change her mind so quickly. But why do you press that point?'' Wilton steadied himself, as though thinking. Then he said: — 44 I don't want it to be said hereafter that I exercised any mean or undue influence over her or you. Just state that for me; that under the circumstances as they exist you are not opposed to my proposal.''

" Well, then " "Now have you heard anything about Torfrey lately ?'' 44 N0, nothing fresh. Why"—as he saw the intelligence in Wilton's eyes —"what do you mean? What do you know?''

"I have it from London this morning that there has been a big financial crash."

"I saw it in the paper —some rotten company-promoting concern." "Yes*. As a matter of fact, I believe Torfrey—such is my ''information —had invested nearly all his fortune in those companies, and the consequence is that he is practically a beggar. He won't have enough left to save his estate from ruin."

Mr Hayland's astonishment could only be expressed in gestures. At last he cried:

4 'Torfrey! What, Torfrey speculating in rotten companies! Torfrey a Stock Exchange punter!" 4 'l fear it is so."

"Is that what you meant," said Mr Hay la nd, after a' long pause, "when you asked me if I would give my consent to the proposal in the circumstances as they are?" "Say rather 'as they were,' Mr Haylaud. *1 did not want it to be thought that I traded on Torfrey's misfortune in order to press my own suit.'' '' My boy, you are honest and straightforward. I like that. By all means go in and win, with my best wishes. Torfrey a mere punter in the stock market! 'Pon my word, Margaret is well rid of him." Margaret was to be found in the garden, Wilton was told. He found her sitting, day dreaming, 011 the very seat where he' had left her yesterday. He came upon her almost unawares. She saw that he had her at a disadvantage, and made small attempt at defence.

"I can't stop," lie said, "to explain why I've come back so soon —for my answer, Margaret. I have seen your father, and we have made friends." She looked at him gratefully for an instant, and then lowered her eyelids again. "Meg —the future shines before me full of triumph, if you will share it with me."

He sought her eyes. "The answer, Margaret?" Again the answer was silence. He caught her hand and held it. "Ah! Won!" he cried, and his voice thrilled with victory. An hour later Mr Hay land offered Wilton his congratulations. The young man was sober-fac.ed and slow of speech, as if weighing everf word. <' I reckon it," said he, "a fortunate escape for Margaret. It is certain she could never have loved Torfrey as I will teach her to love me. But we must be decent, Mr Hayland. This engagement will not be announced just yet?"

Mr Hayland looked dubious. "No?" lie queried. " Very much better not. In fact, it must not be."

The old man was startled by his tone. Wilton checked his reproof. "Ah/' said he, "you misunderstand me. It is important, to me that this announcement should*not be made. Torfrey has to be dealt with."

"Torfrey!" cried Mr Hayland. "Poor fool! Don't you think he has had a sufficient gruelling?" "Not such a gruelling as I intend he shall have. The insult to me will have to be avenged on its own account. I will see! Leave that to me." "Haven't you your vengeance already?" asked Meg's father, smiling.

"Not nearly such a vengeance as I will have. But that is only part of my reason. I have important work to do which demands that I shall leave at once. It seems brusque, but it must be. My business brooks no delay and 110 interference.''

Mr Havland, thinking it over, marvelled at this young man, and eyed Margaret for a token of her feeling as they sat alone at dinner. She gave no sign—she was as grave, as Wilton had been. When her father told her of Torfrev 'a financial disaster, and expressed his* opinion of Wiltou's conduct in the matter, she said little, only "It was what one would expect of him." Diego, having seen Torfrev that day pass through many phases of maddened fury, got him quietened at last. The potent word was "Radford.'' "If Radford lias been beaten in the same way, Torfrey, you are bound to hear from him. 1 should not be surprised, .judging by your account of him, if he turned up." "Ah!" Torfrey's eyes gleamed dangerously. "I shall be waiting for him." "I had rather not be Radford," said Diego, smiling. "If you were !" Torfrey leaped up from his chair, but as quickly dropped into lassitude again. Diego got him to go to his bedroom early that night, and enjoined Gray to keep a careful watch 011 his master.

There was urgent reason for Diego to go out for an hour. He had a hint of news. He strolled down to the riverside and took a turn along the path leading to the open beach, whistling as he went. As he rounded the point and

j faced tlie sea, lie heard an echo of bis ! whistle, and stopped.

''Alii, senor!" The voice came from the shadow o! the cliff'. Diego followed it to :! source. Then followed a conversation in Spanish. '' .So,' ? said Diego to himself. as hewalked back towards the house, "thei'i are spies—unless they are common robbers. The man tiiev have is a bumpkin. The other who escaped was lnt; tha'; should let some light in. we shall be overladen if we go on taking prisoners at this rate. If the tide had not been high T would have gone to have a look at him.'' When he reached the Villa Zamora Gray met him, holding a telegram in his hand. "This was brought for Afr Tori rev, sir. I didn't know whether to disturb him or not." ''Give it to me. I'll take it to him." « Torfrey Avas seated before his rifled cabinet with his head sunk on his arms. He turned as Diego came into the room. "Here's a telegram for you, Mat," Diego said. '' Good news, maybe. Cheer up! " Torfrey took it from him' with trembling bauds, but passed it back. "No," he said; "my nerves are all gone. I can't read it. I can't stand any shock. I shall go mad. Open it. See what it is.''

Diego otre open the envelope and ran his eye along the lines. "You should not have suspected your friend Radford," said he, looking up from it. " You have been doing him an injustice." "Eh? What, is it?"

"Listen 'Torfrey, Villa Zamora. Sorry to hear of crash. Hope things are not so bad as they seem. Returning to-morrow. Be at home to see me.' This is handed in at Westport. He will be here in the morning, and then you can have it out with him."

Torfrev replied, hesitating, '' It looks like a gleam of hope. Do you think there is any hope, Diego?" "It's impossible to say. What can one make of it? Don't ask me to divine the mystery for you. There is nothing to do but to wait, ou events." And so for events Torfrey waited. They came quickly enough. On the following morning Radford arrived in his motor car from Westport. Diego was with Torfrey. The latter, looking at his friend, felt ashamed of his suspicions. He was the same venerable and pleasant gentleman .he had ever been. *

"Torfrey,'' said he, "I am outraged to tliink that these speculations should have gone so -wrong. I hope yoii are not'deeply committed. But first —introduce me, if you will. " "This," said Torfrey, "is my friend Mr Holmes, who is betrothed to my sister Lucy. This, Diego, is Mr Radford. We have spoken a good deal of you the last day or two," he added. Radford laughed. "I hope you have given Mr Holmes as good an account of me as possible, though, in truth, the circumstances do not look too favourable. And how is my dear little friend, Miss Lucy?"

"Is it possible?" cried Torfrey. "Have yon not heard? But, of course —I forgot you had been away ever since. Lucy has disappeared—utterly, hopelessly. We can't get any news of her. She went quite suddenly the same night my bedroom was broken into by " Torfrey shuddered. '' My dear fellow! What's the matter ? Another outrage T What did I tell you ? There is something in this too deep for an ordinary intelligence. Such things do not happen as a matter of mere coincidence. I hope you have the detective at work?"

"Ye.s. T believe he has gone to Westport to make some enquiries. Is not that so, Diego ? "

'' Yes,'' Diego answered. '' We aiv, on the look-out here. There does not-seem to be much to be discovered on the spot. It is quite certain that if Torfrey is the victim of a conspiracy, as he suggests, its headquarters are not here." " Very likely not. But Miss Torfrey! —I am amazed. Tell me about it.''

They related to him the events that had followed his departure. '' So,' 7 said Radford musingly, '' I am not altogether sin-prised. But, my dear Torfrey, iii this civilised and enlightened country it is hardly likely that any harm can have come to Miss Torfrey. We shall hear of her, depend on it. What seems a tragedy may prove a comedy after all. Cheer up, Mr Holmes. We must put our heads together. ''

Diego smiled. "I have been trying," he said, "to inspire Mr Torfrey with that philosophy, but my efforts have been only indifferently successful.'' " Torfrey's hit, you know," said the old gentleman. "You can't expect a man to be very lively with misfortune after misfortune falling on him like this. By the way, Torfrey, you have not answered my question. How deeply were you involved in those companies?" "It's very bad," Torfrey answered. "It's very bsCd indeed. I don't quite know how bad, for my papers have all been stolen—they went the night that Lucy disappeared. I should think the whole sum is not less than a hundred and fifty thousand." Radford gave a long whistle. "So much'?" he asked. "By jove, I did not know you had gone the whole hog. I'm sorry. But I feel myself in a measure responsible, because you acted on my advice. Good lord!—a hundred and fifty thousand! That hits you.''

"There are few who wouldn't be hit. I'lll not a millionaire. It's bad for me; it's nearly my whole fortune.'' Radford took two or three turns up and down the room.

'' Look here, Torfrey,'' he said, when he came to a stand, '' we may be able to save something out of the wreck. Meanwhile, command me and my purse. I feel responsible, as I said, and ]. don't like the feeling. Command me for any sum you like.'' Torfrey looked at the old gentleman with a gleam of hope in his eyes. ''You say —that?" he muttered. "I say that —I mean that! Fortune has been kind to me; you most have gathered that. Foi; a -real friend I can stand a bigger sum than that. Throw aside any scruples, make any use of me you please, and I shall feel that our friendship is not a mere formality." Torfrey had tears in his eyes as he replied: ''it is too much, too good. By heaven, Mr "Radford, "I have done you a scandalous injustice!" "What!" he cried. "Indeed, 1 think the boot is on the other leg.'' "No, it is the truth. You don't know. Diego knows something of it. I n these troubles I have been unnerved, and 1 have sometimes wondered whether you were acting in perfect faith with me. But this is ample evidence of my mistake, and I beg your pardon—l truly beg your pardon!" (To be continued on Monday.)