HERITAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1934, Page 13

HERITAGE

BY

HEDLEY RICHARDS

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

CHAPTER 10 (continued).

"No, thanks, I can manage with. Mr. Carey’s help. I've sprained my ankle,” she said, turning to the latter. ♦ “All right.” Then Mr. Price took Mary's hand saying:

"Goodnight, I won’t say goodbye,” and he got into the car.

As it went quickly down the street Mr. Carey dismissed the taxi, then he assisted Mary into the house. "It was lucky .1 got here before you went to the station,” she said.

"Yes, I should have been uneasy if you had not arrived by that train. Now tell me how you fell in with Mr. Price.” Mary seated herself on the opposite side of the fireplace, placing her foot on a stool, and she told him all'that had happened. “I’m glad you got away from Elm House. I don’t quite see what they dare have done to you, still, there was a good deal at stake. Anyway you’ll have to steer clear of Mr. Richard Dalrymple.” “He didn’t see me so he won’t know me.”

“Perhaps not, but I think you've had quite enough adventures. I wish that case with the papers in it would turn up. Now goodnight, it’s lucky Mr. Price came to your aid.” “Yes, I like him very much, in spite of his gruffness.” "He’s a man to be trusted, a good friend and a good hater, I should say. Well,'l’ll see you in a day or two and I think you’d better let Mrs. Reay attend to your foot, and if it’s not better to-morrow send for a doctor,” said Mr. Carey.

The next afternoon Mary, who was lying on the couch to rest her foot, heard a motor stop, and in a minute or two Mr. Price was announced.

“Now, that’s better than having your foot down. Have you had a doctor?” he asked as they shook hands. “Mrs. Reay’s been my doctor.” “Well, she looks a capable sort. No,' you’re not going to get off the sofa; if you do I shall go.” J “Don’t go, I want to thank you.” y "I don’t like thanks. Do you dike living here alone?” /

“It’s better than being at Mrs. < Burley’s,” she said, speaking on' impulse, then she coloured. “I oughtn’t to have said that, but Mr. Carey cannot make any definite arrangements for me until Mrs. Drury’s will is proved. She left me all”- • /

“Why doesn’t he prove it?” “He cannot. The will and some other papers, very important ones, were stolen.”

“Was that before you came here?’’ “Yes, while I was at Mrs. Burley’s.” He frowned. “And I suppose it makes things awkward for you?” he said. “Yes of course; the money isn’t mine till the will is proved, though I’ve plenty to go on with, but there are heaps of things depend on those papers being found.” “Ca'rey is a splendid lawyer, he’ll find them if they are to Jbe found.. What should you say to going into the country till he’s found them? y I’ve been wondering if you’d come into Devonshire, I’ve bought an estate there, one that Richard Dalrymple’s father wanted, but I asked for it and goj the” thing settled before he knevz he was out of the running. He wanted the Easingwold estate because theuands march with the Dalrymple lands" Mary drew a quick breath—was he asking her to go and stay near Dalrymple Court? “Easingwold Abbey is a fine old place, though it’s not so grand as Dalrymple Court, still it has a lovely garden and park. You*d have a good time while the lawyer was settling your things, and my sister, the one I’ve been up north seeing, is coming to keep house. You’d liven the place up for us. Will you come?” .

Mary’s face brightened, she’d often thought, since she had learned the truth about herself, that she would like to see Dalrymple Court, and now she had the chance, so she said: “You are very kind, but I’m quite a stranger to you, and 1 don’t know whether Mr. Carey would like it.” “The question is would you like it. I can fix it up with him, and you’d be no end of use to me. My sister Janet has always lived in a very plain way, a little house, and a girl to do her work. I know she’ll find it a great change and be bothered how to go on. Of course there’ll be a housekeeper to see after the servants, and that sort of thing, but there’s heaps of things you could help her in. You see, I don’t want her to be always making mistakes.” “We didn’t live in a grand way in New York, still we had everything nice,” said Mary.

He looked at her. “I wish you’d come; if it’s that you’re afraid of meeting Richard l’ll take care of you.”

“He doesn’t know me by sight, and, of course, I should keep out of his way, so if you really want me, I’ll come.”

CHAPTER 11. ON THE TRAMP. David McClean opened his knapsack and took out a little brass-bound case which he placed on the table in front of him, then, as he took a little key out of a pocket in his vest, he muttered: “You’ve been a sort of harassing belonging; I had to clear out of Prince’s Court because of you, and come here, which is much more secluded if less salubrious; that’s dictionary talk and shows I haven’t forgotten my schooling. Now here goes,” and drawing the case towards him he put the key in the lock and as it turned easily he gave a shout of satisfaction. “Done it at last, after picking up all the second hand keys I could. Now let’s see what’s inside.” As he spoke he drew out a paper, and unfolding it in a leisurely fashion he read: “The Last Will and Testament of Phoebe Drury.” Very carefully he perused it, now and again pausing to weigh the meaning of a sentence. At last he laid it down.

“Seems to me the girl must be Mary Drury, but I don’t quite see why the ancient light wanted it. Perhaps these make it plain,” he muttered as he took out the other papers. They were so absorbing that he didn’t indulge in his usual habit of thinking aloud. When all were read he whistled, then he filled his pipe and between the puffs he discoursed to himself. “This is a find. Nov? .that lass the case belongs to is Mary Drury, otherwise Mary Dalrymple, father and mother Hugh Dalrymple and Leslie, his wife; Francis Dalrymple uncle, gets the Drurys to adopt her and go abroad so that he can have the estate. Mrs. Drury repents and writes it all down. She don’t trust her sister, that’s the ancient light who took the case out of the girl’s trunk, I guess. “David, my lad, you’ve fallen on your feet, you’ll make a fine haul of this. Theje’s three of them will pay handsomely to get these here papers. No—there’s, only two of ’em left. Francis Dalrymple’s dead, murdered. Now if the police knew what I know they’d suspect the girl, but they’d be wrong, she didn’t kill him. But if he’s dead there’s his sons, they won’t want to give up the even if they have got a million of money. Then there’s Mary Drury, or her lawyer,' would pay jwell to get hold of these, and lastly there is the ancient light who stole the case. Now what did she want it for? Guess she wanted to bum the will and claim what her sister had left; she’d know Mary wasn’t Mrs. Drury’s child, and if the will was gone she couldn’t claim the money. I’d lay a penny, tob, that the ancient light would do a bit of bargaining with the Dalrymples if she’d a chance. She’d give every penny she could afford to get hold of these, but that wouldn’t be much. Now which shall I trade with—the girl or Dalrymple’s sons? If I make the girl an offer of ’em, it means the lawyer will put his spoke in, and I don’t trust lawyers. He’d do his best to land me in prison, after he’d paid up, and I’ve no fancy for having a spell of Wormwood Scrubbs or Dartmoor, or any other of his Majesty’s guest-houses. I guess Dalrymple’s sons are the men for my money. Not but what this' looks’ promising,” and he read aloud: ‘lf the person who has become possessed of a brass-bound case, containing papers of importance, will communicate with Carey, Solicitor, Lincoln’s Inn, he will be liberally dealt with.’ “No, it’s too risky, not but what I’m sorry to do what goes against the girl, she was a rare beauty, but business is business, and I must trade where it’ssafest, and I guess the Dalrymples will pay best. There’s that old nurse, she can upset the game if she likes, or she may be dead. Now the question is, when shall I make a move?”

It was a knotty point, and he relapsed into reflection, while he smoked his pipe. Presently he laid it down, and as he reached for the tobacco jar, he muttered: “There’s no hurry. Suppose I sold these I couldn’t take less than a couple of thousands for them,” and he tapped the case. “Now if I’d two thousand pounds I should feel bound to live up to it, which means I’d stay in London and do the thing grand, but I’m a man of habit, and with a couple of exceptions when I was on a visit to the King,” and he grinned, “I’ve always spent the summer in the country. I like the smell of the hay and the green fields, and that sort of thing. I’ll just shelve the thing, and start off the day after to-morrow on the tramp,. as a knife grinder. It’s a grand free life; maybe I’ll go down into Devonshire, and have a look at Dalrymple Court. I might even do business with the new master while I’m there. Anyway, I’m off within forty-eight hours, but I must keep these careful; they’re my treasure trove.”

(To be continued).