CHAPTER XII

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13750, 12 September 1908, Page 6

CHAPTER XII

THK PMTCKIXG OF } TIGKOV

.lack Easter's interview with Lady Minnie did not bring forth the fruit that astute person had expected. He had gone to Park Lane at much pain and inconvenience. His face was smarting, but the injury was slight compared to the hurt His vanity, had sustained That he should have been worsted by a woman was intolerable! He had glossed over the occurrence to Patty — wives, like other beasts of burden, are easily reduced to silence — -and proceeded to exiunino his lnirts, ancl set? what could ho done with them. He had managed 1o patch up the cut on his lorohead with plaster and grease paint — Jack was first-class at "making-up" — and. looking fairly presentable, had started tor Lady Minnie in search of a plaster for his vanity. He gave her ladyship a glowing account of his part in the morning's happenings. He did not touch on the episode of the glass, but by ingenious — if not ingenuous — suggestion and suppi t-ssion of the truth induced tho belief that in his zeal and devotion to he»\ he had traced the chain and the thief , and was suffering from nervous piostration in consequence of his efforts ! He left the lady duly impressed with his eloquence, and under promise that she would give Anne yi charge if and when she should call. He returned some two hours later to find that his enemy had been suflcred to depart unmolested. Lady Minnie was not very pleased at his complaints. "I simply couldn't have the girl ar- j rested, Jack," she declared, ' she was ! engaged to Ainberley at one time. Besides," the little lady flushed, "there was another reason. The girl saw us in the mai-quee from the gardens. She told me you had your arm round my waist trying to unfasten my chain! That, of course, is nonsense, but I shouldn't ' care for her to repeat the rest. She might tell my husband." Jack had no cogent argument to meet this view of the position. He left Lady Minnie determined to make her husband pay for baulking him of his revenge. The millionaire, fresh from his contest with Garret, was in excellent fettle for a fight. He saw the drift of Easter's talk immediately, and experienced a keen delight in nipping the blackmailer's hopes in the hud. 'You saw my brougham in Albomarle Street last night," he replied, "just before you ran into Garret's [place? That must have been .soon jafter my rascal of a coachman had hhoi o upset. He smashed up the carriage last night, or tried to do so in Pic-

cadilly. It's very good of yon to come and tell me this, Easter. Most friendly I call it!" The other bit his lip. Somehow his scheme wasn't working. "It struck me as odd that your brougham should have been outside Garret's place, just at the moment he tound the dead man." "Coincidence." The millionaire shrugged his shoulders.

•'I wonder," Easter gazed into space with an ingenuous smile, "I wonder if I ought to mention it to the police . I moan — you know — would it be the right Miiug to keep it back? Of course, if it's at all unpleasant to you "

' Not in the least, my dear iellow. Tell the police, by all means, that you saw my brougham last night in Albemaile Street and anything else you may [know. I fear " he paused, "1 tear th« information won't pprovee — cr — very valuable.' 1

There was an unmistakable significance in his tone. Easter, who, whatever qualities he lacked, possessed a certain capacity tor reading men, realised that Scott was not to be terrorised. Xo matter how much he might know, the millionaire would not pay lor his silence. Decidedly his scheme, was not going to work. The substantial cheque he had promised him&elf was not likely to materialise.

He left the house in a savage humour. There remained now but ono source from which he might draw the profit he had so confidently expected jlrom others. Dan Garret was his last chance. In his case he determined not to make the first advances, but to let Garret come to him. If his suspicions were correct, Garret would fear what might come out at the inquest, and would be anxious to ensure against his giving evidence hostile 1o Anno.

The sequel proved that tho resolution was a wise one. JJut anticipation did not satisiy his appetite. He returned to Camden Town to nurse his temper and bus lace, and vtnit his spite, on things in general and his all-suffering wito in particular.

He had married Patty at a tim" when his fortunes were at .so low an ebb that ho was glad to embrace the opportunity of obtaining permanent board and lodging free oi charge, even with a wife thrown in. The house mi Camdeu Hoad was owned by Patty's mother, a widow of stern nvpeet and •.olitar} habits. She had consented to i'iitty'.s marriage under protest, and .'till maintained a judicial aspect towards her bon-in-law which at times irritated him beyond endurance. He contributed at long and irregular interval.s to the upkeep oi the house, and gave his wife but little of his society. I. nek had changed soon alter his marriage ; he. had fallen in with Carrington Hrosvn, who had introduced him to 1 Lady Minnie and others oi his set. Kaster had made the most ol his opporhuiitic.s, and hud won money for his pocket and popularity for himself. Jack j Master, 1. well-dressed man about town, had nothing to do with John Derricksou, Ihe husband of a lodging-house keeper, the son-in-law ol a rigidly rosped able Scots Presbyterian. The lal tor lost no opportunity o! testilying in Biblical language as to the. error of Jack's ways; her admonitions increasing in fervour with the length <>i his visit. By the third day, his fate beinj^ healed, Jack's endurance gave out. Business, he explained to Patty, called him away. rlo had carefully jnoidod Anne while, who was in the, house, and cautioned his wifo not to mention his name — certainly not hie relationship. Mo had no fear of his mo( her-in-law's loquacity. She declined to nv\ with the lodgers, and snent her days in comfortable conleiypbi tjon of Hie winth iii store in flic next world lor backsliders in this.

.Meanwhile her son-in-law depail'^d. It was time he bestirred himself. The adjourned inquest on Luke Fisher \uu\ been fixed tor the next day. J>an would inevitably call on him at latest in the morning." His chambers, furnished with the l.n:sh luxury appealing to the .sensual love oi ease that was pait ol lu^ natU'V. Mauled doubly inviting after fhe hoi >cItair sot is, the arid waste ot laded carpet' that characterised the house ill < 'jimden Town.

He enjoyed a smoke in bio most comfortable armchair, then feeling the n«'ed <>t congenial companionship, stroMed out to a neighbouring hostelry wh< re certain ot his coterie were wont U> gather. Tho saloon bar oi '-The Blue Monster" was lull to overflowing as lie entered. A rendezvous tor journalists, betting men, all tho arts and crafts ol which Fleet Street is the AUatia, all sorts and conditions ot -press men were crowded round tho little tables, decoi.itcd in a chaste- survival of Ihe suburbs with terns in china pots.

Master was received with acclamation by a genial individual standing at tin bar.

"My dear irieiul, my very friend, this is a pleasure indeed. Plust gentlemen" — O'Donnel waved his liaiul eeniprohonsively towards several shabby and unsha\en persons — "will be delighted _ to make your acquaintance. Friends"- — he made a graceful bow"this is Mr Easter, oil" ol the l> *t ' Mr Crowe" — lie motioned to an n:di\i(!ual with a .shim race and a perpelu;i| f-.mil — "a most brilliant man ot letters temporarily depressed, Mr lit; 1:,.';.!;.1 :,.';.!;. . a man astonishingly capable with figures. He can put your books right in iv \t t) no tune." He rolled the .-\ilal>les on his tongue as it appro<iativo ol ilu excellencies which his 'exuberant inia ginatiou had conferred upon hi^ mends. The brilliant man ot letters in-der temporary depression, suggested the hitter part of the description yen stiongly. Although a hot .Juno nr:!;t. ho had chosen to wear ;i mackintosh, somewhat .scanty lor his m'/.v it 's true, but fastened decorously with pins whore the deficiencies ol his toilette mi;^it otherwise have been revealed. For the rest he wove a black silk scarf twisted tiuchtly round his neck, a large and shapeless hat. ami wristband., of not*paper.

"1 am honoured, nir." ho said. wiHi a sudden and unexpected sniff, "I am proud to know you. Saul Crowe h,is a mind,'' here he patted his lorch«'ad. "a mind worth cultivating. There are those who from jealousy scoff, at me." he cast a withering glance at a person in a remote corner of the room, "and make light of my pen. I scorn them, sir, and their baso motives. A man of genius is not bought tor cighteinpence," he added fiercely. "X shall npay such base ingratitude,'' he continued with a lofty sneer, marked by .1 sniff. 'But those," his rubicund countenance became suffused with generosity, "those who have stood by me in adversity, them will I reward in piosperous times," He paused, and leant his arm upon the bar. "Thank you." ho said, irrelevantly, ' •mine's a Scotch."

(To be continued;