LOVE SHALL BE FIRST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1507, 11 December 1918, Page 6

LOVE SHALL BE FIRST.

By ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT. Author of "A Tight Corner," "The Man Who Wu De»d." Etc (All Right! Referred) CHAPTER XXvTI.— (Continued.) Eldwood joined in the laugh. "Bather a nasty one that, Carton, eh?" Carton took no notice of the jeer, and Lady Ledfield came in directly afterwards. "Where is my daughter?" he asked her sternly without attempting any preface. She was overwhelmed by surprise at the question. '' Surely that is just what we have all been asking ourselves ever eince she ran away from here, Mr Carton." "Do you mean you did not know she had come to mo to the Bitz Hotel?" "How could I know? Really your manner is very extraordinary." "I took it for granted your son had told you. Did he, or didn't he?" She saw her mistake then and tried to parry the question. '' I presume that something has occurred to account for your cculiar tone, and am ready " "Will you answer my question?" "Not when it is asked in such a tone, Mr Carton. I am not accustomed " -- "Never mind what you are accustomed to. I'll take it that for once you've told the truth, madam. It narrow* the circle to you Brettell. You, at least, can't deny that you knew it. Now, where is my daughter?" "I should think you're best able to answer that for yourself." "Do you say you don't know?" "I don't choose to say anything at all." "Answer the question, Harold," said Sir .lames. "Beg pardon, sir," replied Brettell in a tone of mock humility, putting his hand to his forehead, "but what do you think I had better say?" "The truth," cried Carton angrily. "Anyone else got any orders for me this morning?" mocked Brettell. "What's all this hullabaloo about?" "If you know anything you had better say so, Harold," said Lady Ledfinld. "Yon can see that poor Mr rton is very much excited about something, and if we can help him we ! "ally ought." "Thank you, mamma," said Brettell hi the same mocking tone. "But I'm a big boy now and really can manage my own affairs." "What has happened, Mr Carton?" she asked witli affected sympathy. He paused a moment, looking at her searchingly, but she did not flinch. "You have takeu my daughter away '' "Mr Carton!" she protested vol mcntly. "This is no time for play-acting, madam. Whether you merely connived at it or actually did it, I neither know nor care; but this I know —that if t)he is not immediately restored to mo there will be serious trouble for you." "What do you know about it, Mary?" asked Sir James unexpectedly. "Nothing, James. Absolutely nothing. I can't conceive why you should dream of blaming me, Mr Carton." "I told you so," said Sir James to Carton in feeble protest. "I was sure eho hadn't anything to do with it." Eldwood laughed. "Didn t the young Jady run away before, Lady Ledfield?" "Seems to have got the habit," murmured Brettell. '' But why make all this row with us about it? She's only treated you as she did us."

"I'm very sorry for you, Mr Carton, but I cannot pretend to be surprised," said Lady Ledfield. Carton rose. '' Take me right through the house,'' he said to Sir James. '' And while we're away you three had better make up your minds to tell the truth.'' The two men went out, and the others looked at each other for a while in silence. "He's pretty mad about' it," said Eldwood presently. "So much the better," muttered Brettell. "You're sure he can't find her?" asked Lady Ledfield. "Could you?" replied Eldwood, shrugging his shoulders. "Nor anyone else. He can put an army of detectives on the job if he likes." "He suspects ue," said Brettell. "Of course he does. No one but you knew where the girl was." "What will he do?" asked Lady Ledfield. "Get madder and madder, and then pay up. He can't do anything else. He'll soon understand there's nothing else for it," declared Eldwood. "You hadn't much to say to him," grumbled Brettell. "He didn't say anything to me; but I'll keep my end up when the time comes for me to talk. We 've got to let him stew for a bit. The longer the stewing the more the juice. I know how these things run," and he got up. "Where are you going?" asked Brettell quickly. "Hullo! Turning schoolmaster?" cried Eldwood turning on him. "Or do

you want me to dry-nurse you?" he sneered. "Well, the arrangement was that we should stick tdgether until all this business was settled." "I think Mr Eldwood is right that Mr Carton should not think you are too intimate, Harold," put in his mother. "You follow her ladyship's lead, and you won't go far wrong, Brettell.'' And with that Eldwood went out. "What's he going to do now?" grumbled Brettell to his mother) '' Ho always seems to have something up his sleeve. I don't trust him a bit." "I'm glad he's gone." "Why?" "Hush! Here comes the others. I'll tell you my reason presently," she said quickly in an undertone, as Sir James and Carton came into the room. "I hope you're satisfied now, Mr Carton, that I have had nothing to do with this matter." "I'm satisfied that you haven't brought Muriel here, madam. Where's Eldwood?" he added, turning to Brettell. "Do you suppose he lives here?" "I can guess why he's gone, and shan 't be surprised if I find him. waiting for me at Scotland Yard." "What do you mean by that?" cried Sir James in a panic "He knows that I shall go straight there, and that he'll lose the chance of earning that reward he talks so much about if he lets me get the first word in about that New York business." [To be continued.]