HERITAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 11

HERITAGE

BY

HEDLEY RICHARDS

(Author of “The Telegraph Call,” “The Deputy Avenger,” etc.)

z SYNOPSIS. • "Mary, come close. I. cannot die without telling you.” "What is it, mother?” "I’m not your mother. . . I did it fpr gold. .■•/. But you must claim your own. . . It's in the- little brass-bound case.” Seven days later Mary arrives in England. She is going to Mrs. Burley, the sister of the woman she had always believed to be her mother. In the. train she makes the aequaint'ance of Jack Dalrymple, who falls in love with her at sight. He writes his name and address on a slip Of paper and gives it to her. That night, after Mary has gone to bed, Ralph (Mrs. Burley’s Son, and an unmitigated bounder) finds this piece of paper on the floor. Mrs. Burley quickly transfers it to the fire. Mary has how lost the address of her friend, and does not even, know his name. At last Mary brings herself to Open the little . brass-bound case. In it she finds the marriage certificates of Hugh Dalrymple and Leslie Ord; and the birth • Certificate 6f their daughter Mary. Also a long letter in the dead woman’s handwriting telling the story of the secret marriage of Mary’s parents, and their tragic death immediately after their baby’s - birth; and how Mrs. Drury and her husband had succumbed to the offer of five thousand-pounds from Mr. Francis 1 Dalrymple (half brother of Hugh) who wanted the estate himself. Mary was to be brought up as the Drury’S child, and for additional security they were to go abroad. The only other person who knew the truth - was Nufse' Barnds, Whose' silence had had to be bought. The letter ends with instructions to Mary to take the certicates to Mr. Carey, a lawyer in Lincoln’s Inn; and a warning not to have any dealings With NurSe Barnes, who is sly. Francis Dalrymple has two sons. Dick, the elder, is a spendthrift, and ne’er-do-weel, and his father has just made a, new Will leaving the Dalrymple estate to the younger son Jack, whose character is just the opposite. Suspecting Mary'is an heiress, Ralph makes up his mind to marry her, but his attentions are repulsed. Mrs. Burley then seizes her opportunity to steal the little brass-bound case, but it is in turn stolen by Divie McClean, a window cleaner. Mary goes to see Mr. Carey and explains everything to him., She feels she cannot stay any longer with the Burleys, and he finds her rooms with an old housekeeper of his. A strong inclination to interview Francis Dalrymple comes over Mary, and a taxi soon takes her to his town house in Park Lane. Francis Dalrymple gazes at his visitor.. She is the counterpart of a portrait that hangs in the picture gallery at Dalrymple Court. There is no need for the girl to tell him who she is—he knows. When Mary leaves, war is declared between them. Next morning as Mary is glancing at the morning paper she is arrested by the words in big letters “Murder of a Millionaire.” Francis Dalrymple has been shot while sitting in His library 'the night before. CHAPTER 8 (continued). The evening papers contained further particulars of Mr.' Dalrymple’s murder; it appeared he had been seated at the table writing and was shot from behind. The bullet was very small, and as none of the servants heard the report the police thought it was one of those kind that made no sound when fired. The in the next room was unfast-’ <ened and it was thought the murderer had left that way. It appeared that the family dined at half-past eight, and Mr. Dalrymple’s valet was puzzled when it got to quarter past eight and his master did not go upstairs. It seems one of the footmen who thought his master was dressing went to make up the library fire, and found the door locked. He spoke to the butler about it and the latter went into the next room, a sort of smaller library which communicated with the other, the door between the two rooms was locked, but the kfey was on the side they were, so the, butler turned it, and, after knocking once or twice, entered, then the murder was discovered. It appeared both sons were in the house, they had come in together about half-past seven and gone upstairs, and when the butler went to tell them what he had discovered they were still upstairs.

I At present the police had no clue to the mystery. The next day the inquest was held and a footman told the coroner that a Tittle while ago he had found chalked in red. on the library window a skull and cross bones, then below it a coffin. ;He told the butler at the time; he thought the master must have seen it. At the close of the evidence the jury returned a verdict of Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, and it was announced that his sons had offered a reward of £l,OOO for the apprehension of the murderer. Three days ' later Francis - Dalrymple 'was taken to Devonshire and buried in the family vault in the churchyard near Dalrymple Court A few days later Mary was thinking of calling upon Mr. Carey and asking if he had heard anything of the papers, when he dropped in one afternoon as she was having tea. “You’ll have a cup?” she said, when they had shaken hands. “Yes, please, I’in rather fond of tea. I guessed I should be in time for some, and I've some news for you.” “Is the case found?” Mary asked eagerly. , He shook his head. “No Such good luck, but I’ve heard a quebr story. Tin rather friendly with, the younger Britain, of the firm of Britain arid Sori, the Dalrymple’s lawyers. The firm is one of the oldest in the country,’ and for over a century. they’ve been advisers to the Dalrymples. Of course George Britain doesn’t know I’m interested in’ them at all, and when. I told him I’d heard, a report that'Mr. Dalrymple’s will couldn’t be found, he said there was a will, but hot the latest; that under the latest the younger son was to have inherited .the t estate, but'the elder 1 one had a handsdme fortune. The will that was fourid left the estate to the eldest son. It seems the police got to know this and it made them, wonder if Richard, the, elder son, had anything to do with the murder, but they are satisfied that both sons were upstairs from the time they entered tlje house till after the murder was discovered.” “Surely he wouldn't be wicked enough to kill his father,” said Mary. - • - “I don’t think so, though I don’t .like what I’ve heard of him. Now I suppose you are longing to go and interview the old nurse.” “Indeed I am; if the papers don’t turn up, she is the only one who can help me.” . ? “Yes, but it’s possible Mr. Richard Dalrymple may find some clue to the past, and he may make it worth her while to hold her tongue.” “I must see her before he does, and we can pay her to tell the truth. Hadn’t I better go to-mt>rrow?” said Mary anxiously. “Yes, I think. it would be as well; to tell the truth, I came to make arrangements for. your going. I think you said Nurse Barnes lived at Biford in Warwickshire?*’ “My mother said she was living there the last time she heard from her." “Your adopted mother,” said the lawyer quietly, then he went on: “I’ve looked up Biford in the guide. There are. not many trains stop there, it’s evidently a mere village. There’s one leaves London at half-past eight in the morning. Is that too early?” “Oh, no.”

“I’m afraid I cannot see you off at that so you must take a taxi to the station. The return trains I’ve jotted down for. you; one stops at the village at half-past four o’clock,. and the next at eight. You have to change at the junction into the London train. If you come by the half-past four you’ll be back in town by half-past seven. If you travel by the later one it’ll be eleven when you get in. I shall come here about nine, and if you are not at home. I shall be at the station at eleven.” “I’m sure you needn't trouble, I should be quite safe in a taxi.” “My dear young lady, I’m your guardian, arid I mean to look well after you. It would not do at all for such a beautiful girl to be alone in the station at that time of night.” “You are very kind, but I don’t like to give you so much trouble,” Mary answered. He smiled. “Well, it’s all settled, and if it comes to a question of buying that woman’s testimony you can bid pretty high. By the way, she may be dead or have left Biford. Of course if she’s .living we can trace her.” Then Mr.. Carey rose, and holding, out his hand he -said “Goodbye, and good luck.” . (To be continued),