THE MILL-OWNER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1624, 29 April 1919, Page 2

THE MILL-OWNER.

IBr F. R. rtJNSHON. Aath«r of "Til* Mber E»xt," "The Ch»i«*." The Spin *t the Ccin," ctc.l

[All Ri*ht» RewrTed.l • CHAPTER X. HEART STIRRINGS. Now that they were near the house tkere became visible signs of commotion and excitement, a little group of ■crrants at the front door, lights shining ia many windows, a man on horseback riding away down the avenue, that screed to indicate Damaris's absence was already causing alarm. Without looking at her companion, without seeming to be aware that Be ■■till accompanied her, Damaris walked qui.-kly on, yet all the time she remained acutely conscious of his presence. Then as they drew nearer still, some of the group by the front door seemed to become aware of their approach. It was the butler, Martin, who saw them fret, though in the darkness he failed „ to ree ognise who it was. "There's some one coming up by the tennis court," be said. "Well, now," said Damaris, looking at Clifford with an affectation of care leasness, "I do not wish to be hard on yon, for yon have certainly found the way here "mnch better than I could have done by myself. No, I do not want to, be bard on yon, but this ia your last ebanee. Ran." For a moment again they looked full at each other; their faces flushed, their eyes intent and angry. It was Damaris wbo looked awav first, and the flush on ker face faded and shrank till there remained only one small spot of crimson ia the centre of each cheek, Clifford . aaid bitterly. "Now then, I fee yon are quite determined I shall not leave you till you have bad yonr chance to denounce me; no doubt it will be fun to you to see me "To me,'' she said coldly, "it is ■ merely disagreeable to have to do this policeman's work." She walked on quickly. It had been • «©rt of last hope to" her that even ' at tbe last moment he would attempt to auke bis escape. But instead he re- • mined obstinately by her side, and he I MRBed to her to have grown huge and . formidable, to tower above her and ' spread around her as if he were the whole world to her, so that for her there eowkl be no escape from him. It seemed to her he hemmed her in, he pressed her, (■compassed her about, till even her pride vanished in her fear. Once again tbe impression came to her.that to save kerself she must destroy him. For a moment she viewed herself and him as two antagonists in some eternal duel, §ad it seemed to be borne in upon her that only in bis destruction could she Cad ber own safety; that if Damaris Hlwood was to endure, Clifford Brown must cease to exist. Her resolution became firm and set- ' tied. 6he felt her pride of personality, ker self respect, could only be restored when be was enduring in a disgraceful prison severe and eondign punishment. "I will see him in the custody of my •ww servants," she said to herself with ardent desire; "I will watch them hand kim over to the police." By now they hail eome together into the "light from" the open front door, ami Martin, the butler, catching sight of them, cried out excitedly: "Why, why, here is Miss Damaris herself come back again." A clamour of little cries and exclama-—"**tie-!is of astonishment broke out from tke rest of the group, but Damaris hu:hed them with an imperious gesture as ■he swept through them, and, still closely followed by Clifford, entered the bouse. Without pausing she went through the onter hall into the inner kail, where a brisk log fire was burning, and where it was the custom to assemble before dinner. -The word that Damaris was back had run through the house like wildfire, so that already all its inmates knew of her return. Bhe, Clifford still beside ler, ■food quietly in the inner ball. Behind then, the servants —some half dozen men and two or three women—who had been grouped outside and who had followed them into the house, stood clustered together at the door of the outer kail, quite blocking tbe entrance. In front were other servants who, at the wews of their young mistress's return, bad come running from all parts of the bouse. From one bf the rooms o[ieniug on tbe ball Mrs Mitehinson now hurriedly emerged. "Oh, Damaris," she cried, catching tight of her, "are you really back J Oh, how frightened we have all been—what has happened f They found your chauffeur. Arc yon hurt at all/ Damaris made no answer, but, with a alight gesture, indicated Clifford standis£ beside her. "Ab, who ia this?" said Mrs Mitekinson.

Damaris for a moment did not answer. Bhe looked around and saw that •■every side her servants were grouped and watching, surrounding them. A momentary wonder crossed her mind as to where her uncle could be that he had sot appeared with the rest, and then ■he glanced at Clifford. He returned her gaze with smiling case, and it seemed to Damans it was some other Damtms who suddenly laid her baud upon kis arm and cried but loudly: "Come anil seize this man. He Is the burglar who broke into the hotise; he has tried to rob me again to day." BtiD holding him by the arm, her gloved hand gripping his sleeve with a certain wiMoess of strength, she waved to the servants with her other haad. "Come anil take him—£loo to aay of you who takes hinh-" But they, in utter bewilderment, hang back gapingly, amazed, and knowiag not what to do, or whether they' natty heard and saw correctly, or suffered from some delusion. While they ■till hesitated, Clifford bent down and ■aid to her very softly and gently: "Bot why not play fair.' How can 700 see me ran to advantage if vou kohl me like this?"

"Oh, I hate yon!" she burst out with a heaving breast, wrought up now ta eling to him to prevent bis escape, even though he should shower down Mow* with all his forte upon her. She felt that nothing—nothing at all—woul I ever make her leave go. "Oh, I will never let you go," she said through her teeth. "I'll remember what you sav," he ■Mwered, quietly. The bewildered servants still hung mdeeideil, though now some of the wen were pu«hiug forwanl, while some of the women wore huddling together ami preparing to s. ream. Mrs Mitibin- ■«■, elasping her hand*, appeared to 1* looking round in astonishment to find someone who was not present. For, perhaps the tenth part of a seeond or ta nobody moved, and then, before Damans understood his intention, Clifford benj his head and pressed a ferT»Bt kiss on the gloved haud with wbit.h she held him. Uttering a low, startled cry, Damaris leaped away. He bowed to her and ■ailed, and turned towards the door. "Stop him! Btop him!" screamed Damans. "£3OO if you catch him." "Ah, I eomiuaad ft rising market, I tee," asid Clifford, and with another

bow to her he turned and ran up the great hall stairway. This was so unexpected Oat for a| moment no one moved, and then Dam-! aris leaped forward, waving her anus | excitedly. "Follow him! Follow him! "she cried; | "he'll try to jump out of one of the windows. Wilson, Potter," she directedj two of the grooms, "go out and watch, the windows, and catch him if he tries 1 to climb out anywhere. You others follow him up the stairs." "What consummate generalship," said a smiling voice from above, and, I looking up, all saw the fugitive draw! back from the bannisters over which , he had been leaning, and disappear down one of the corridors. "After him," Damaris cried: "£jIMT if you catch him." "Come 011," shotted Martin, whose slow and bewildered mind had only now grasped the situation. But butler as he was, he had courage enough for a battalion of soldiers, ami he waved to the others to follow him. "Come on, we'll catch him," he shouted. (To be continued.)