THREE MEN AND A MAID.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13647, 30 April 1908, Page 6

THREE MEN AND A MAID.

BY ROBERT FRASER.

[OOPTRIOHT.]

Published by Special Arrangement.

QHABTER XlX.— Continued.

Hannah waj) oalled. Mr Hardingo lot hor off easily. "How many documents cud you witness in the library of the Court?" ho asked. . • . , , "One, I think," she sa;d, desperately averting her eyes from James, because this was a question that seemed to have in it some foreboding of evil. "Are you not certain?" inquired the lawyer. . , "No. I was rather flurried, not bein<* used to such things. Mr Bennett 'Sign hero' and I just did as I was told— signed one, I think." She could have given no better answer. And then, like James, she received a staggering query. _ "Are you engaged to be mamed to 'Mr James Courthope?" , . There was a sudden singing- in her oars. What a chance of establishing herself ! Before all" these people! "Yes," she said, and the. syllable had a metallic click, so dry, was her throat. "Thank you> TAat ia. all.'? Not a word about the letter written by Philin and addressed by Robert, tho letter which she had explained away m tears and agony before the coroner The reaction of relief nearly made her faint. But she sank into a seat, and she wondered dully why the packed court was so obviously excited when Mr Whitaker called "Mr Bennett." Bennett had really nothing to say which bore on the charge against Philip. Therefore, knowing a good deal of police ways, he guessed that he would be cross-examined with some ukterior object in view. The foxy eyes of experience told him that something out of the common had happened already. The very aspect of the magistratesworthy squires who seldom dealt with crime of higher import than game trespass — gave a warning of the unusual. So he v braced himself for. the ordeal when Hardinge rose, nor was he kept long in doubt. , . "You have been the legal adviser to the Edenhurst estate for many years, I believe?" began Hardinge. "Yes, fifteen, or thereabouts. "And you knew the property was not entailed?" "Of course." „ „ , , "So Mr Robert Courthope could hand it over to whomsoever he chose? "Yes." "Was he of sound mindP" "I should say so." „.,.. , * "Quite fit to devise his wealth as he thought fit?" "Oh, yes." r, I. . . , ♦'Were you not surprised, then, when he instructed you to. draw up a will leaving everything he died possessed of, excepting a few legacies, to Miss Marjorie Neyland?" The wizened, parchment skin snriv 7 elled somewhat. Bennett, small as he was, shrank visibly. The one thing ne could not help doing was to, glare like a basilisk at Hannahs in whose sudden pallor hfc found- proof, as he thought, of her mad' folly. That was his undoing. ...He was. far too .shrewd a lawyer to make, admissions which- might subsequently be/ used against him. But the terror of Hannah, to whom Hardinge's question came , like a gun-shot, gave him an imaginary clue which he fancied would lead toward safety, and he answered, with a certain professional dryness: ' ... "That is a stupid invention. ' ' Whose invention ?" I "I leave that to you;" "You allude to Miss Hannah Neyland, I suppose?" . "Well, yes, since names must be 2iven»" "She told you that?" "Yes." "Why?" she wished me to help her in an ambitious project." "mat^was it?" . ■ - "I decline to explain myself further"Then no such will was ever executed?" 1 , „ | "Not to my knowledge." Once more Mr Winter showed his appreciation. This was a case after his own heart. How glad he was that "James" and "William!' were tied together by a piece of string, and reposing, thus bound, in. a cardboard box in bis rooms at Hudston. . .- . . "So if such a will exists, sa*d Mr Hardinge smoothly, "it was not prepared by you?" "Certainly not." . "Even though it bears the signature of your firm, and is attested by one ot your clerks?" "It is a fo*gery." # . "Though it was signed m your presence, and can be shown to have been in your possession ?" , Those words "to have been" spoke volumes. Whai? did Hardinge know.' How far had treachery gone P And who was the traitor? .- "Tho whole story is a he," said Bennett, .grimly determined not to budge from the line ho had mistakenly followed. He saw now that a more deadly iiil.'ilisrence than Hannah's had been at workv His active brain carried him out of that remote country court to the assizes at York. He found himself facimr a judge and fighting tenaciously for freedom, and he knew that every word he said now would be used against him then. Nevertheless, he was in a mad fury at the manner in which he had been tricked.. With unerring instinct he fastened on Inspector Winter as the prime mover in this extraordinary outcome of Philip Warren's trial. If malice could kill by a look then the detective should have died forthwith, j Hardinge had no more to say. Walker, puzaled, angry, humiliated by developments for which he was utterly unprepared, asked nothing from the witness, and the court rose for luncheon. After a wbisoered consultation between Mr Hardinge and the superintendent of police, Philip was told ho might accompany his uncle and Marlorio. Ever ready to hold out the olive branch of reconciliation, Marjorie asked her parents to bring Hannah to tho hotel where the Vicar had engaged a private room for his party, but Jon a;; and his wife came a few minutes later and said that Hannah was waiting outside the court to speak with Courtliope when he appeared. Philip and his uncle exchanged glances but no word was spoken. They were aware of events taking place elsewhere, but they were pledged to secrecy, even where Marjorio was concerned. When the court "reassmbled, neither James nor Bennett wan to be seen, and proceed in jxs , were delayed sommvhat whilo tho majtistrnton. their clerk, Mr (Winter and tho lexcal tfontlenien onKagcd in the case, hold a consultation in |'i roon'i apart.

When they appeared, it was manifest that some unusually important decision had been arrived at. Mr Whitaker announced that he proposed to offer no further evidence against -Philip, and Mr Hardinge nut his client in the box to ;isk him a few formal questions. These tended to show that while Philip did not deny he fought Robert Courthope for Marjories hand, the contest resolved itself into a harmless trial of skill, as he was by far more adept with the rapier than his adversary. He explained briefly how he kept faithfully to the compact made with his victor, .md how lu> had lived in Fennell s Tower for many days in absolute lgnorinoe of the hue and cry raised for him. The chairman deemed it incumbent lo lecture Philip on the folly of engaging in such 'a dangerous escapade, pointed out how it had unwittingly led to the nernetration of a terrible crime, :tnd dismissed the charge, which \v;v t'romeel under an obsolete statute. The magistrates rose and vanished through their snecial doorway. To all outward semblance, the Hudston tragedy was wrauoed in' greater mystery than ever, but already some inkling ot the strange truth had penetrated the bucolic brain, and to Hannah's strained ears had come dreadful phrases. "Hoth of 'em arrested!" "James Courthope killed him!" - "And Bennett knew!" "A terrible business!" "They say that 'tec. frae Lunnon is a fair wonder." "I s'pose he had this un his sleeve all the time."

Hannah sat with her clenched hands pressed against her brows, and the tearless agony of her face might have moved any heart. It assuredly touched Marjories, and the girl was going to her sister when Mr Jsambard, warned by Winter, restrained her. "Hannah is not responsible for her actions/ he whispered. "Do not j^o near her. She might injure you." At that moment, as it she was conscious of their thoughts, Hannah turned and looked at, Marjorie. For once the' younger woman felt sorely afraid. She shrank away trembling. Hannah did not speak. She maintained that steady, lambent malediction of the eyes, and none could doubt that she meditated a swift and merciless vengeance ion one whom "she held, responsible for the downfall of all her napes and schemes. Winter, skilled .observer of human passions, was rendered anxious by Hannah's tigerish glare. He was wrapped up in tiuß story of love and hate far! more intimately than was his wont. |f he could help -it, his successful unravelling of the threads which bound the fate of Robert Courthope, should not give cause for the. commission of another and even more unnatural crime. It was hopeless to appeal to Jonas or Martha, so lie went swiftly and placed himself at Hannah's side, thus preventing her from seeing Marjorie again, as Philip was leading /the terrified girl away. ' . "I advise you to make the best of your loss, Miss* Neyland," he said quietly. "I can assure you that James Courthope would never have married you. He is a mean hound, for all his gijand airs. To gain his own ends he would not have hesitated to kill you as relentlessly as he killed his cousin." , Hannah listened, but she might have been stricken dumb with grief and rage, for no word escaped her. She raised herself wearily, passed out of the court, and hurried off m the direction of the railway station. Winter, after making sure of her flight, followed the others, and led Mr Isambard on one side.

'If you value the life of nephew's promised bride you will not allow her to return, to the Greyhound Hotel;" /he; said.; ; . The Vicar understood him without further explanation. "It is a sad thing to say, but I have that fear myself, what is to be done? Cannot Hannah be restrained in some wayP" „ „. "That is wh»reJ;he law is powerless, Mr Isambard. ty£ carijaot put our belief into a lunacy 1 order. ,The fact remains that Miss Marjorie is in real danger and she must be rescued."

, "But iow?" "Let your nephew marry her by special licence, and, meantime, send tier to the house of a relative or friend where none can find her save those, whom you trust implioitly." (To be continued.)