CHAPTER XXII.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13948, 1 May 1909, Page 1

CHAPTER XXII.

THE CIH'CIAL MOMENT.

Though Koniirlv Tlorriot was nnt n«aic iii tlio ovttcmc iniminonoo of t he <l'iim<T tliat menaced Mildred Harden. l>e had obtained a straight Hue from K.itic to liit ))laco (ij detention. To hi> anahtir l)rafn the doiiblr meals laUon up 1o tb<> west winy;, ostensihU foi flic mad nmmiii, had been an open book. Witli or without her consent Norman's sweetheart was concealed in {ho a part nion is de\nted to tlio usp of Lady HMhe. Of that llernot was convinced.

'I In 1 in i nor question of consent or othoiwiso did not weigh ttieh with him, fen- whether she was lx'nm detained williii<_iU or not lie 101 l cyilain that it w:>> l«.(;iu>.( 1 xlio wax an <>! lade to Sturge's designs, and that slio wix therefore in ,i position of considerable peril. This cnimciion liatl born brought homo to llerriot hy the tolograM whiHi Norman hud reported by wire a.x received by Gloria at Brighton from Sturgo. Tho ominous words that "tho second alternative was to bo put in practice that night" were intensely disquieting, and caused Hcrnul to regret ! fiat he liad sent Norman to Brighton at all. , lie had taken that course in the belief that one of the objects of the conspiracy afoot was to inveigle Norman into a* marriage with the adventuress, and that if he could induce the archplotter, Sturge, to think that that purpose had been achieved he would "give himself away" In beginning to work the Monkswoocl hrant-h of the scheme. For Horrint's insight had latterly given him a pretty good inkling of what that branch wax — the blackmailing of Paul Blytho. He had hoped that, with himself on the spot to note them, events would have begun to take place at tho "Chase," and comings and goings have commenced, which would have led to Mildred's discovery. . . "Now, however, thanks to Katie k information about Lady Blythe's double supplies of food, he had made a shrewd "uoxh nt Mildred's whereabouts, and he was xorry that, there Uing no mod foi it ho had prompted Norman to a rtep which, by the light of Stingo's telegram to Gloria, might have precipitated the girl's danger. Sturge, being by tins time under tho impression that Norman was safely hooked, might not wait til night to enforce that mysterious second alternative. Yet Herriot did not see how he could hasten matters without the risk of a fiasco which would smother himself with ridicule and possibly result in Norman In-ing arrested on the murder charge. If he proceeded openly to the "Chase, backed by the police, and found that Mildred was living voluntarily in the west wing she would very probably Ikarre.xted as well. It was more thin likely that Sturgp hnd a card' up hi-, sleeve to meet such nn emergency. \ftor due reileetion in the bar-nr.r-lour oi '"Hie Blytho Anns," Hernoi came to the conclusion to let his existing arranuements stand. These wore to "am access to the "Chase at haifpasT ton that evening with Katie's connivance, and to act as the circumstances of the moment nnght suggest, but always with the ultimate aim of withdrawing Mildred Harden from such questionable custody. At any rate he would l>e an able-bodied protector with a revolver in his pocket, and no gro-U harm could ensue while he was in the ho\i.se. And he. had dropped a hint to Inspector Hrysoß to be the neighbourhood. , , "I am going to make my he»dquarters here to-nifcht, Mr. BcnWield. he said to tbo innkooppr, who had won watching him anxiously as he stood deliberating over Norman's wire. ' 'lou can get me something to eat, and for the chauffeur as well. And 1 should like to have tlw» car nut out of sight somewhere-, if you could manage' it. There wafi a yard at tlie back, mtc which the automobile was steered, ant) presently Herriot sat down to a chop in tho parlour. John Ronjafwld waiU-ti on him in i»orsnn and took care that no intruder should enter. The oliauffoui was made comfortable in the kitchen. Chnfin" at the inaction, Herriot had to while away the interval between the conclusion "of his meal and nine o clock in listening to his host's rather longwinded stories of Normans friendless boyhood. , ill But at last he decided that as he had to verify Katie's somewhat vague directions how to reach the glass door he might as well start. Having told tht h chauffeur that they would spend the night at the inn, and that he might gc to bed when he chose, he asked Benjafield to wait up for him and set out for the "Chase." The night was warm and still nut very dark, and this condition suited In*purpose well. Till be had proved what lie hoped to prove against Sturge and Paul Blytbe they would have <«vt>r\ right to treat him as a trespasser it he was found prowling about the house. They would be justified in setting the do"R on him, and he had no mind to have his intentions so ignoniuuoiish thwarted at the outset. He thereioro hailed the steamy cloud canopy as a "Knowing that it was not much frequented, he thought he could not do letter than gain access to the park from the lane where he had parted iiom Katie. To enter by fho lodge gateand the carriage drive was, of onu/xo. impossible. So he climbed the palmicand made bis way past the dilapidated sumniei bouse to the ditch and fence that divided the park from the gard< ns. A wicket gate enabled him to pasthis obstruction, and then he found that he could get quite close to tin house under cover of a dense slmibben But it was so dark that be had to too, every inch of the way, and when at Inxt he emerged on to a lawn in fiont of n ran«'o of lighted windows he was ulad that he had allowed plenty of time From where ho stood at the edge of tho lawn he could make out tho glax' door which he had to seek, and he noticed that the mom it led into was- un-li-'hted. And, even as he looked, the lights in several other ground floor windows were extinguished — all, in tact, except in a great oriel window which was probably that of the entrance hall and in two" windows which he guessed must be those of the library where Paul Bhthe, according to Katie, would bo sitting over bis wine. He saw also with a thrill of interest two unlighted French windows next to thoxo of the library, and these he had no difficulty in identifying from Norman's description as belonging to the now disused dining-room where Sm Bevjs niythe hnd boon struck down not a month ago. He would have given a good deal to have a view of the west wing, but it was round the angle of tho building, and he had no time for explorations. For now the double stroke of the half-hour tinkled softly across the meadows in the sultry air, and Herriot stopped lightly across the lawn to the door of tho morning room. He had no need to tap. The door was opened aho approached it, and the next moment, as soon as he had stolen across tho threshold, it wax softly shut again. "You muxt not make the slightest sound, " Katie.x whisper came out of tho darkness. "Sturge is about the house somewhere, but I cannot make out exactly whore." "Tell Die just how; that, happened," said Herriot under his breath. "I went up to my room at ten, after sitting in here since dinner," Katie replied. "Sturge joined Paul in tho library shortly after I left it, and was still there when I went upstair-.. 1 bad boon in my liedrooiu about a quarter of an hour and was thinking of slipping out again to come down and lot jmi in, when I heard a slight noise "outside my door. I expect it was Sturge listening, to find out if I was going to bod. I made some sounds to show him that I was there, and then I blow out my candle." "That was clever of you, young lady. What next?" "Well, I was in a mortal funk, was the scarce audible answer. "I knew tliat I had to be down here at the half hour or you couldn't get in ; yet there was Sturge mouohing about outside, and evidently suspicious of me. However, I didn't like to disappoint you, so I waited till the last minute almost and then slipped out. When I was creeping downstairs 1 nearly had a fit. Sturge was just passing through a baize door that leads to the servants' hall and kitchen premises. Luckily he had his back to me and didn't see." "Probably he was on his way to find out if the servants had gone up t .■•-";-*»,-*.■ iv^vC Wstaw*. -»■**

hr<]" Uoirinf wacosirci. "M d w]lfl( fihoin Miiir l)n)T)ici .'" . "Jn tho nc^ct rcioin to tlik— tlio librai\. I oaunlit a tihmpso ot him Iliroii^li Ilio liall-diicn (]<)" i :is 1 rrosscil tlio liall. 11.- l..uK(d Fliislirr} nm\ «)I'I." HiM-viot slow I m i\\<> <!av(v, jwndonn^ Ilio '.ltuaiion. Tlk> iii\st<'iious imovomriils ot Sinr^o confinm'd liis ioars that snmc ovil deed nai i" rontcmpla1 ion ll.' rorommod tlio dosporalo nerd (il histe il he «a<- to solvo tlio soorot of ilio wosl w'miz in tiino to ho of sorviro in Mildiod. Hut ho nii^lit spoil tho full \.iluo of Ins cliseoverv if ho artod proiiiaUii<'l\. Prom Ratio's dosonption of li m hi other's ftppp.iranro ho "tiossod i hat J'anl was to ho fIU important actor in tho ovonts of tlio nisiM- No ffroai !i,,im <onld hofall till tho maSi«-r of tliP lu.iivo rinittod tho library. Suddenly tho silenoo of tho groat mansion Has disturbed Ij.v tho clangour of a distant boll. Ilorriot f<4t Katio'<? lilho tiivors clutch his arm. "Tho front door boll!" she mnrmmod. "Somooiu 1 haß come" Tho sound of a chair upsot in tho no\t room told that Paul was Mirpnsod hv tho summons, and quick on tho hci'U of that same tho thud of a door smri!!ma to and th<> stop of somoono crossing the hall. . '•That is Sfnrgo going t^ answer tho hell " «hispcr<'(f Katie. "The servants ha\o all gone to bod m th(> i-:is< winand won't hnvo hoard. 1 ' Horriot felt that at all eosv lie niiisi know what was happening. Tiiglittpu .1 T\ax match, ho glided to th» door and „p, nod it hair an inch, blowing mil the match ns soon as he had found the handle Tho crack was sufficient to give him a view of tho front door at the opposite side of tho groat square hall. Stur"o was busy at it, drawing bolts and rattling chains. Tho next moment the door swvJhi4 open disclosing the lamps of a carriage Under the portico. Vnd then even Herriot was astonished by the new element that had camo into his calculations. Framed in the open doorway was the pale face of a woman evidently seeking admission— the face of Gloria Carrington. Before the watcher could 4 *urmise what could have brought the ii6nd Street crystal-gazer to Monkswood Chaw, at that time of night a querulous voice afmo«t at his oar caused him to hold his breath. "What the devil's wrong, bturgo .' Paul was asking from the library door. "It's all right, sir, ' camo th*- answer. "A lady to see me on a _pma to qnd vorv urgent- ftffan-. If >ou wii Srmit me to^take her into the ■ dr.£ Ing-room for a short tttoC I wi" ** with you as soon as possible. "Don't keep me long with yonf confounded bllsiliewi," was the peevish •*" ply. And I'aul was heard retreating f Tor t ; i iot ib Kd dOC himself confronted w itli the utterly unexpected He .bail made no provision for any intorrnptio n hv filoria Carrington, in which he had underrated her pertinaoitV and neverness He exi>ected that wheij «he discovered how she had been too <•<] by Norman at Brighton she would haie abandoned hof matrimonial. project and returned, a sadder aJKI a wiser woman to lament her failure in the privacy of her bond Street rooms. AbcW all he had thought that she would not for an hour «r two suspect Norman s desertion of being intentional-too late foi activity ilia* n.i>rbt. Yet she must .-rasped the sitt*ation at once, ha%e flown back to Unfloil flnd tonkin to Monkswood as fast an ft ltirk> connection of trains could bring hrr. Doubtless she had come to inform her accomplice of Norman's conduct. But to what end? And why tins »W^ It foreshadowed that matters of the greatest gravity were impending, ami Horriot determined at all hazards to ho present, at least with his ears, at the coming interview. His sharp eyes noted, that the door of the drawing-room. to ( which bturfle wa,s now conducting Gloria, wm covered with a portiere curtain. He turned to Katie, who had crept close to his elbow. "I nm going to try to hear What thnso two are saying," he whispered. •I shall be behind that curtain. Remain here, please, just inside the door, and be ready for emergencies. Katie, .pressed his arm in reply, and Sturgo nnd his visitor having now disappeared, into the drawing-room, Herriot tip-toed across the hall. As he reached the portiere he glanced at the library door, tt was half closed, so that Paul was not visible. Herriot then glided behind the heavy folds, to find tliat his eavesdropping was made easy. The door was nearly shut, but .■nitlirirntJy op_en to enable him to hoar the conversation. It was, as he expected, a narrative of Gloria's journey to Brighton with Norman, loading up to its strange termination in the desertion of her escort. "I somehow smelt a rat from the first "' she concluded, when Sturge had informed her of the telegram falsely announcing their marriage. "So when no mad» the oxoiw to leave me for a Few minutes I tipped a waitor to shadowhim. After sending tho wire he cabbed it to the station and caught the afternoon express. 1 came on by the next train." , Sturge had listened in silence, btit now his rasping tones met Herriot s straining ears. "This makes no difference to our policy about tho Harden girl," was the male' plotter's verdict. "Someone must have gained an inkling of our plans, and a quietus in that direction is more than ever necessary. As I wired you it is arranged for to-night. Paul is proixrlv primed." . •the cat and the chestnut, eh?" said Gloria with a metallic laugh. "'I don t care what hapix>ns to her. It will punish that brute for selling inc. well, as I've posted you I'd better bo off before the circus begins." Herriot was choking down Ins mingled triumph and disgust, when he felt his sleeve plucked from behind the curtain. Stepping back into the hall, he vas confronted by Katie's scared "I thought I had better tell you," she whispered. "Paul has left the library and gone upstairs, muttering to himself." (To l>e continued.)