THE MYSTERY OF HILDA VAUGHAN,

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13635, 19 February 1908, Page 6

THE MYSTERY OF HILDA VAUGHAN,

BY LLOYD LESTERAuthor of " For Women Must Weep/ " In the Bondage of Fear," etc., etc. [ooptbioht.] ■• (Published by Special Arrangement.) CHAPTER XXVI. Mr. Latitat puts things together. Following that sharp summons at the hall bell came the sound of footsteps advancing to the drawing room. Mrs Cameron caiight the cheque— -the reward or her contemptible behaviour —from Hawke's fingers, whispering, "Your ward is at Helstone," ' darted across. the room. The curtains fell behind her just as the servant ushered in a smart gentlemanly man — a stranger, of course; to Mr Hawke. Nevertheless, while the latter made a great* show" of and buttoning his gloves, and finally retiring on his way out with an air x>f the utmost insouciance, the fresh caller eyed Mm furitively but accurately ironi his quickoosoYving eyes. Theii vrh&ix Anthony Hawke had made his eiit; this dapper, spruce gentleman took 6ut a thin, black notebdofe $,nd made one or t <ro entries, wni'ch h^ assiduously compared with several others of the same kind on earlier pages. \ Perhaps the gentleman was restless; he might have been impatient or abstracted ; hu,t he; certainly employed another fire minutes of waiting in "c decidedly curious way. Pn the li&le inlaid writing-table lay the open blotter which Hawke in his haste . had used to blot his cheque for Mrs. (Cameron. The visitor's sharp eye noted this object, and he. leisurely strolled to ythe table and idly examined the leaf, as if , it had been a curious record, , to | which hieroglyphics he possessed no key. ' Apparently, however^ his thoughtful examination yielded some information pleasing to hinv for liis eyes bright- 1 ened. His next act was as singular \ as its predecessor,- He took his penknife and neatly cut out the leaf of blotting-paper, which he slipped into a pocket of the aforesaid thm book. This operation was hardly concluded when the ' door opened Dr. Rhys camcin, accompanied by his mother, still wearing traces of her interview with Anthony Hawke on her comely old face. » The precise, cool and legal-looking stranger introduced himself as Mr. Latitat — of the firm* of Latitat' and Son — Lord Helstone' s family solicitors. His errand .was •to • gain . exact particulars 1 of the circumstances attending Mrs. Rhys' s first acquaintance with Miss L'Estrarige. Lord Helstone had instructed hi& lawyers' to institute proceedings against Mr. Anthony Hawke ;' but unless they could obtain^ the strongest evidence ; that the gurtrdiari 'had deliberately abused hi* trust, they could hbld' out little hope of obtaining even, an injunction to restrain- him from Asserting his legal authority over his ward. . it his statement troubled and annoyed 1 ruga's * moTSier, wk»; with -all -her sweetness, and kindness, was by no means > destitute of- that proper possession — righteous indignation. "What?" exclaimed the little lady, spiritedly. ri *'Do you really mean to imply, t sir, that the Lord .Chancellor will be likeW to refuse Miss L'Estrange's petition for a new guardian to be appointed,- when that mail Hawke's cruelty is proved against hiih?" / ' ' The solicitor smiled and shook his sleek head, with a cautious glance at the lady. MNo," no. n&, my dear madam!: .1 imply nothing.— -^nothing at all." "Then what are. we to infer from your remark?" rapped out Mrs. Rhys, smartly. " , ; ''As I say — nothing, '\ replied Mr. Latitat. "The case will be thoroughly (based upon sufficient^ testimony. I sincerely trust to secure the end we have in view. Miss L'Estr&ngo's interests are in excellent hands," Mr. Latitft't continued, ' "and I have no doubt all "will go well. Ahem — er," he continued, "p)eas>e correct me if I am' mistaken, but did. not Mr. Hawke call upt>n you this morning, madam?" "He did," nnswored Mrs. Kh.vs, a lively satisfaction appearing in lser fare as she uncalled her roxit of the crafty Hawke '"Indocd, he mu^t havi« left tlic h< i:-fj jiljiidjfct as v<?u entered jt, idr: Ui£itat:V ■•» '•Indeed! "Humph! Is ho a tlimicatured man of spare frame, slight halting gait : and s,onicwhat stooped shoulders!'" "You describe Mr. Hawke exactly. His errand here/ was to demand Miss 1/ {Grange's address, which I. oJF course, refused ijo give him," promptly answered Mrs! * Rhys. ''Nevertheless, " gently said the solicitor, reflectiveiy' staring out of the window, 'II fancy Mr. Hawke secured what he came for." Or. .Miys, start lcd_, exclaimed: "Hou could heP ' My mother absolutely denied the information; . and there was no one else to give it him!" c *Pardon me,", interposed Mr. Latitat blandly. "I found a gentleman ahswering to Mr. Hawke's description in this room .when the servant! ushered me into it. Something in his manner and hi ro arou&cd suspicion oil my pad, and tins continued my idea" — drawing out hs he spoke his packet-book, and selecting the piece of white blotting-paper which he had removed from <rfhe blotter. J)eli')fiately opening and holding this ■v to the li^ht, Mr. Latitat asked Dr. Rhys to'r"»d the words transferred from writing and dried on the clear sm face. • Pnzzlfv.l, the doctor obeyed .slowly, uliile Mr». Rhys looked and reiul also. First "-iMi- the date, then the writteu amount— hundred pounds —^then "pay \! Cumer — ," and, nt tbt rightiirtnrl corner, " — nthony Hawke." "Do you understand?" asked the .-.olieivor, eip;tiificantly. - • Nit,">l Rliya shook his head. Manliko, he wps obtuse to the real point, although he snid readily: "It fceoms to me a cheque written by Hawke." "Exactly. Written almost as I came in. The blotted transfer showed it to he clone in great haste. Well, what els"? To whom is this payable?" «M Cumer-i-" began Nigel. Bui his mother interrupted sharply: "Nigel, it is 'Mrs.. Cameron.' Don't you see," "Precisely, madam." Latitat took up the word smartly, "Do you know anyone* of that name? Have you any lady residing beneath your roof who owns it, to whom Mr. Hawke would be likely to give this very handsome present of one hundred pounds?" The solicitor's insinuation was unmistakable. Nigel and his mother •«*-'

changed dismayed glances before the former replied: - . "Mrs. Athol Cameron is at present staying with us, sir, but ", "Thank you. Tbat is sufficient to prove my theory, Dr. Rhys. Mr. Ha wise's manner as he left ( the house was so jaunty and self-satisfied that I realised he had scored in some way. When I detected 'tbis"— indicating the paper— "l bad a clue tbat, with your information as to his errand, madam, satisfies me," said Mr. Latitat, in his clearest, slowest tones. - "But if, as yoii seem to infer, Mr. Hawke wrote this cheque ; far Mrs. Cameron, there, is no proof she has it yet," said Nigel, in a troubled voice. "Besides, what possible interest could she have \\\ betraying Mass- L kstrange's present home, even if sheknew it ? And, as it, happens, we have most sedulously kept the secret from everyone. Only my mother, myself, and Helstone are 1 aware of Venetia's refuge. And I can hardly believe my cousin capable of betraying her, even if she were cognisant of the secret, wrathfully added Nigel. "That isa point I' cannot judge, sir. All I know is that I disturbed the occupants of tnis room, and on? of them was a lady — for I saw her' as she hurried- behind the rrurtaitis." j Mrs. Rhys looked enlightened as she exclaimed : V'l kit my nwoo-iirfche library when I came to "receive Mr. Hawke. He spoke loudly, and she may have heard our conversation. • Ah-l'-'-^-aa c remembrance of Bertha's financial difficulties flashed 'across h<>r bvain-— "can it bo that she- heard his' offer of a* brilje or the information he wanted, and yielded to the temptation c-f repls&msiling her own empty purse by "means of it?" "Pardon my asking. -" Was this lady in. need .\pi money % &> '• asked- Latitat, quickly. , (To be continued.)