HERITAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1934, Page 11

HERITAGE

BY

HEDLEY RICHARDS

CHAPTER 13 (continued), “But, my good woman, cannot you tell me?” said Jack impatiently. “No, sir, I’d orders to -send anyone to Mr. Carey. You’ll have to go there if you want Miss Drury’s address.” Jack saw she was resolute, and with a 'good-morning’ he turned away. Mrs. Reay went with him to open the door, which was slightly open, as the servant was cleaning the steps. When he got outside he took £1 out of his pocket and put it into the girl’s hand. “Try and find out Miss Drury’s address,” he said. She beamed on him. “I’ll do my best, sir, but I don’t think she left London, though I’m not’ sure, The gentleman and his sister, where Miss Drury’s gone to stay, have heaps of money and a grand house; he used to come here in ever such a fine motor. He was called Mr. Prince.” “Thank you,” and Jack got into the motor and told the man to drive home. He was going to search in the directory for a rich man named Prince. It was a fruitless search. He found the name Prince, but one was a greengrocer, another a tailor, one a retired Civil servant, but there was no Prince who lived in a grand house and occupied a good social position. As he put the directory down, his brother came into the room and Jack said: “Dick, did you ever hear father speak of some people named Drury?” If he had been looking at his brother his face would have told him much; as it was he wondered at the curt tone in which he said: “I. think I’ve heard him or somebody else mention them. What about them?” “I wondered if you could tell me anything about them. I know Miss Drury slightly.” “The deuce you do!” said Dick startled, and forgetting to be cautious. '“Yes, and it seems you do. Perhaps you can tell me where she is?” "No, I cannot, and I wouldn’t if I could. You take my advice and give her a wide berth.” “What do you mean?” demanded Jack, springing to his feet and facing his brother. “Just what I said, and that’s all you’ll get out of me,” he sai'd as he flung out of the room.” CHAPTER 14. A PAIR OF SHARP OLD EYES. Mary came slowly across the lawn, and seeing the drawing-room window, which was quite low, open, she pushed it a little higher and sprang into the room. ; “I hope I haven’t shocked you, Miss Price,” she said as she came forward, then she came to a standstill, looking embarrassed when she saw two strangers were there: one was an old lady with snow-white hair, but there was a look of keen vitality in the pleasant face; the other was a young rather plain girl, fashionably dressed. Both looked at Mary with interest; the elder one’s face showed a sort of puzzled astonishment and she turned to Mr. Price quickly, saying: “Who is that young lady?” **l was going to introduce her. She is a young friend of ours, Miss Drury.” Then he turned to Mary saying: "This is

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

Mrs. Delamere Hicks and Miss Curtis,” he added. Mary went forward and shook hands with them. “I hope I didn’t shock you the way I came in.”

“You didn’t shock me,” said Mrs. Hicks, but the girl did not speak; she was looking at Mary enviously and wishing she was as beautiful. “Have you ever been in these parts before?” asked Mrs. Hicks, watching Mary with interest. “No. but I’m enjoying myself very much.”

“She’s making the old place ever so much brighter,” said Mr. Price. “Do you like living here, Miss Price?” asked the elder lady, trying to draw the silent mistress of the house into conversation. >

“It’s a beautiful place, and wherever my brother is I am contented.” “That’s more than a good many wives can say of their men folk. Have you never married, Mr. Price?” “Yes, but my wife is dead,” he said. “And you've no family?” “No, I’ve no family.” Mary happened to glance at Miss Price and was struck by the strange expression on her face. “Do you know, many years ago I used to come here a great deal; then there was a coolness 1 between us and the Dyers; my husband did not hit it with them, and all visiting ceased, but I re 7 member the gardens were very lovely, quaint and old-fashioned. Have you altered them?”

“No, they are just as I found them. [ thought it would spoil them to make a change. Still they may not be the same as when you saw them. Would you care to have a look round?” “I should very much like to see them, but I don’t think I’ll go through the window, though it’s only a little jump. Still, when you get to my age you don’t care to practise athletics.” “I’ll take you through a side door. If you knew this house you’ll remember it,” he said as they left the room, followed by the others, and going along the hall they turned down a passage that led to a door opening on to the lawn.

Quite naturally Mary and Miss Curtis had joined each other. “You’ll find it deadly dull here,” said the latter as they strolled along the lawn. “Do you?” Mary asked.

“Yes, I shouldn’t come if it wasn’t that the Dalrymples live here. Of course, my godmother is a dear old lady, but 1 don’t come to see her. Jack Dalrymple is often down here and we’ve grand times when he comes.”

“Are you engaged to him?” “Not exactly, but my father and Mr. Dalrymple arranged that , we should marry. You’ll have heard that he was murdered.” “Yes, it was very dreadful.”

“Arid the will that left the estate, Dalrymple Court and all the farms, etc., to Jack is missing; an older one waS found and Dick,’the elder son, inherited it under that will, but Mr. Dalrymple told my father that he’d made a will leaving the Court to Jack, and he said that he wanted him to go into Parliament. I think it’s awfully strange that will not being found. The only person who benefitted by its disappearance was Dick; still, I don’t think he’d mutder his father,” Miss Curtis said, as though she wasn’t quite sure.

“Oh, no, he wouldn’t be that wicked,” exclaimed Mary.

“No, I suppose not, but it’s awfully disappointing. I like the Court, and I’m sorry Jack hasn’t got it. We could have lived half our time there and half in London.”

“But you’re not engaged,” said Mary in surprise. She couldn’t understand any girl ■ making plans when the man interested hadn’t asked her to matry him.

“Oh, but we shall be. Jack knows his father wanted it, and I’ve heaps of money, and that, of course, counts for more than beauty,” she said spitefully. “Really we are as good as engaged. It’s understood, and I expect when Jack comes it’ll all be settled, and we shall be married as soon as it’s proper after a death. Are you going to stay here long?” she asked. “Mr. Price wants me to stay all summer, and if my guardian is willing I Shall.”

“Are your parents dead?” “Yes.” “Oh, and I suppose as you’ve a guardian they left you some money?” “Yes, but I really don’t know h6w much,” said Mary, feeling sure that the next question would be a feeler to discover if she was rich. “Then you may depend it isn’t a great deal My father is worth two milliohs, and I’m his only child,” she said, looking at her companion to see if she was impressed. “What an awful responsibility. I don’t think I should like to have so much money. But let ais talk about something else,” said Mary.

Half an hour later, when they took their departure, Mrs. Hicks asked them all to go and spend the next afternoon with them.

“I’m not going to wait till you’ve returned our call; we’re going to be neighbourly.”

“I hope SO, and my sister and Miss Drury will come, but I don’t visit.”

“Rubbish! I shall expect you,” said the little old lady. When the next afternoon came, however, he did not accompany them to fveson House, and Miss Price confessed to Mary that she would a deal rather have stayed at home; that she wasn’t used to grand people’s ways. “Now you young folks can have a game of tennis while Miss Price and I chat,” said Mrs. Delamere Hicks soon after their arrival, and Mary, who was very fond of tennis, found it very much pleasanter playing with Miss Curtis than listening to her boasting of her money and talking of the lover whom, in her own mind, Mary did not think she should make quite so sure of. Afterwards, while they were having tea, Mrs. Hicks said to her in a low tone: “I suppose Jane’s been telling you that she’s going to be mistress of the Court some day?” “Yes; she said that Mr. Jack Dalrymple and she were as good as engaged.” (To be continued).