THREE MEN AND A MAID.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13664, 31 March 1908, Page 6

THREE MEN AND A MAID.

BY ROBERT FRASER.

[COPYRIGHT.]

' rublishod by Special Arrangemont.

CHAPTER i

» If only He were Here."

That night Marjorie Wrote to •Inspector Winter, giving him the news. She did not know at which hotel ho was staying, but addrefesed it to Nutworth, sure that it would reach him, and, in writing the name of the town she wondered what he was doing there. Nutworth was the nearest town of any size, and it contained the offices of Camitbers # Bennett, -the Squire's solicitors." Did that fact aceotmt for tbe detective's presence there? Marjorie ran out herself to post tlr.fi letter leaving the ring locked in her work-basket. She laughed to herself, thinking of the . detective's surprise, wondering how much weight he would attach to her discovery. She had not been able to keep from adding slyly in a .postscript : "It seems rather a mercy I did not take myself away to London as you advised-" It was a restless night that she spent, imp-atient at her inaction, at the Joss of time, - feeling ' that when day broko sho would work vague wonders. Tko thing, now necessary for her peaea of mind was by any means to bring Warren and the ring together. But, when morning daw-ned, -which she had expected tOy bring, light to her mind as to her eyes, it left her still blank, and 'Philip as lost as ever. She could think <if nothing to dp, except to hurry with the news to her new frievl, the Vicar. At once, after breakfast, she was off, met Felix on. the* path bet tureen the Greyhound . orchard and the Yioan&e shrubbcjry, made him rich for a month, toll him with a laugh that she would 1 not want him any more to go with her to Lancault, and went on up through the shrubbery to the Vicarage, whore the Vicar received her with both hands, and led her into the study. On. the Vicar's, face sat a great gravity in those days. Davenport, jhis old butler, was saying that his-mas-ter had aged five years in a week. Mr. Isambard placed Marjories easychair near the fire, for winds of November were moaning outside. Sitting near her at the table, and resuming his interrupted breakfast, the Vicar said : "You teem with good news, one can see, but I always first insist upon foffeo for my morning visitors " ' This came as a calamity upon Marjoric, meaning delay. She pleaded to be excused. * . * ' "Well, thenj let me just n>«nd the iir% and I will -hear—he rose, and before he could sit again all her laic was told. "You have found his ring," said the > Vicar slowly, for he had trained himself never io^xhabit surprise- "Well, that may prove a matter of some moment." ; ' "May, sir? I say will and must!" "Well, so I, too, say. I, tog, nm glad. It seems to tend towards th^ view that' there was a 'duel." "It proves it!" - "Well, since you say so — yes.'' I personally never doubted >it, and you and I are quite at one,, be assured, in the belief that Philip Warren is not a knave.". "The thing now, sir, is to. get the ring to him" and him to the nngj I come to you to tell me how." - "To him?" said, the Vicar. "Why to him? ' It is for the authorities, it seems to me-*-" N "Ah,i sir, I hope you are going to trust to my instincts in this. It is for Philfp ,td ,have the ring, believe me. It is his'mascotte " "I see ydu are quite a convert to de Warrenne traditions," said the Vicar somewhat dryly. "That is easy, seeing that Philip taught ,me., ' Yet it is not a question whether his separation from the, ring really moans calamity for him, but that he, from his youth/ has believed it. I think that if he once had the ring again, his panic would vanish, he would give himself np to the police, and would then make such a statement of facts as must, clear ins. character, and free him from all fear of the law." "0 woman, groat is thy faith!" cried th-3 Vicar, laying his hand upon her > shoulder in a- kindly way that was new to t him. "But Js it so great?" asked Marjorie 1 . ii l \ do not s ©e that. Since there was really a duel, as. the broken ring seems to prove, what follows next P Thai, there were two swords, surely. And where is the other? Removed and hidden — by whom? Not by Philip, apparently, for one. can't conceive any motive for sudh conduct, so it follows that some one else must have been there, some third person The Vicar almost allowed himself to start, those three words ; "some third person," were so electric in their effect. But long practised restraint came to his aid, end be said, in an everyday tone : 'Almost you persuado me. Yet, if it was not Philip Warren who did tho Squire to death in the course of ,a duel, how can the human mind account; for— his flight?"' "That is' .bfcyond the wit of man to livine, Isambard. Lot us at least be sure that there is an explanation, one which your nephew alono can give. In which case, do you not' eco that tho thing noAV is to get this ring to him?" , . Tho Vicar meditated it, and then suddenly, shaking a finger- at her, said : ''I believe you are right ! You have forgiven me, Marjorie, for havinjg once spoken — cr — lightly of you? Of lato I find it hard to forgive myself." "Pray forget it wholly, she roplied. "Let us rather remember that it is Philip alone" who is in question, and that I am of no importance. We have to find him, and quickly, beforo the Authorities; for it will bo far bettor if he gives himself up to them than flint thoy should take him. But how, in HettVfim'a name, to find him?" Mr. ' Isanibrfrd roso from nis chair, walked through the room, looked out upon his window-garden all nipped with frost, and finally announced hie decision as though it were a text-. "I will this day advertise tbrougltout the kingdom the words: 'Your uncle has your ring'— or something of that sort/ Then Marjorio laughed with a touch of her old merriment. "It will sound awfully like a pawnshop advertisement," sho cried, where-

at the Vicar stared at her,^ then suddenly had a shock of quiet amusement which turned his face all red. "Unfortunately, be hardly ever reads a- newspaper," sighed the girl, yielding again to the diificujty of the problem which perplexed them. "Pity, pity," was tbe .Vicar's comment. "1 have often impressed on him the duty of a modern man to read and know what is taking place in the world about him, but Philip was ever locked up in the past, and in his own dreams. Surely now, however, when ho is so personally concerned in the death of Robert Courthope, he will search tbe papers daily, to see if anything new has cropped tip — don't you think so? You know bis- mind far better than I, I regret to admit." "He may," said Marjorie, "ho may UO^r — I am not sure — probably ho will." "Then, I will advertise persistently — I can think of nothing else., except that there is a young man iji London who was n close friend of his at Oxford — a dreamer like himself, I fear— and to him I might wnio. It is just possible be may know vheie Philip is hiding." • ' This, then., was" arranged between Marjorie and Mr. Is-^mbsrd. That very day the Vicar wrote, to an advertising agents meaning to spend a large sum oil tbe enterprise. , Marjorie,' after an almost affectionate, leave-tak-ing, started back homeward. To her surprise she ■ found Haftnah, up and woli, talking with Jamj?.s- Courthope on the path at the* bottem. of 'the shrubbery. Courtbope ' received .as cold a bow as bad ever frozen* 'him', and no word was spdken as Marjprie passed on her way. But she bad kycily entered her room/ »nd was stiU vaVijg oHI her hat and beater stole, \vhen .hannah >can)o to her, saying «.p&vi»lij : "Been to the Vicarage?" "Yes," answered 'ISfarjorio; "but I don't like socrct meetings." " "Don't you? Really? After ]-\»nnen's Tower, and all? r * Ah, Marjorie, you do fancy yourself— you do!" " Don't be absurd.. j l l mean, of course, unless you are, quite, sure that the man is honest, and I don't think James Courthope is honest."Hannah dropped" inl<> an easy chair, and slinging a knee between her clasped fingers, said tauntingly : * ' " "Don't you think co? Dear me, you are far off the mark this time. I hope you arc not; always" so -wrong. It's to be on the 17tb of - t'ebruary, Marge, within, throe months from today, for I'm not one for long delays, you ccc. Father and, mother and all Hudston will be bearing about it in another few days. Can't you s.eo their round eyes!" ' "I hope it is trr.c,'f was Marjorio's quiet answer. "How much do yen- hopo?" asked Hannah. "Look here, Marjovio, 370u3 7 ou know that J. threatened "father and mother to clear out pf, tho -house, if you stayed in it- ? u * I shan't go now, for I know that,! if I did,,, they'd turn you away, not {ne, and I want you to stay, just to see you eat your little- heart out wirh. envy, that day "Oh, please g° &v{&y," murmured Marjorie. "You are "quite horrid." "Yes, that'll be a bjit of a shock for you, en? And if you bad only behaved yourself differently, I would have been good to 'you .in toe days of my grandeur and woftjih. But you shouldn't hav.e. taken . that Jotter out of my pocket, you.n<j,v6r should, por mado it public to* 'try v to'. shame 'po — you I sboiildn*t " '"As 'if I eo'uld help it," was thej indignViit reply.' j : "Bon'-t care whether you could help; or Vtot — you shouldn't, you shouldn't — I*ll hflto and curse you for it as long as evor I live." "Do try to speak more or less decently!" '"Before a lady — is 'thai it? Ah, j we'll see about the lady as wo go| on. So you've been to the Vicarage? AVbat was that ahouf ?" "Really, HfuinutH " "About the' ring?. Whs tbnt it? You are pretty full of that blessed ring. What dll the Vicar have to say I about it?" : "How can you cxpec.t •me to speak to you, Hannah, after bearing such dreadful words from your mouth ?'' "Wei!, never mind, let's bo friends, if you likel You should never have dared to touch my pocket, but still — let's bo friends. So, what did the Vicar have to say about it?" (t l don't see hoVit concerns you. You seem to me to t>e crowing more ami more gross, though- ojTo would have thought that' your fHendfehip with the now Squire would i\t lenst tend to iniprovo your manners'." * r "Well, "never mind about that. You had bettor be trientfly When oiib is willing to meet you bijif-wiy. I asked you a question."*' "The Vicar means to ndvertiso for Mr Warren, l since you wish to know/ said" Marjorie. ' t "Why? { ' - . "To find him and give him the; ring." "I see. ■ But what good will that do?" ' ' "You won't unrferstaijd. Mr. Warren has certain notions about the ring, you see, and we think that, if ho once gets it back, be may bo induced to come out of his biding, and .toll cverythiMß ap it hanjK>ned." "I see." said fiiumnh; anil she sat there museful a minute, two minutes, looking at the cafpfet. Then she Bprang 1 up, saying: "Well, I wish yon luck, the/ whole crew of you," and wont out humming. (T<? be continued.)

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