FOES OF JUSTICE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14139, 19 February 1910, Page 5

FOES OF JUSTICE.

(Published by Special Arrangement.)

By HEADON HILL, Author of “Unmasked at Last,” “The Hidden Victim,” “Her Splendid Sin,” “A Traitor’s Wooing,” Etc., etc.,

CHAPTER VI. THE NIECE OF THE COMTESSE. Julian Penfold had boon a week at Seven Gables, and, whether or no it was duo to his constant vigilance, there had been no sign of the peril in which Sir "William Grasmere Relieved himself to stand. If it had not been for the mysterious disappearance of the butler from th© house sin Hyde l J ark Gardens and for the poisoned bottle of wine, Julian would have put the threatening letters down as a hoax. In the meanwhile, though rather tied by perpetual attendance on his employer, he was enjoying the change from a struggle for existence in the Blackfriars" Road to life in a pleasant country house. The judge was a cultured if somewhat reserved companion, and had a bias towards the field sports and games so dear/ to his stalwart protector. They played golf together on the improvised links on the common and went fishing in the trout stream that skirted-the village. . Lady Grasmere, the gentle invalid, made a delightful hostess, treating Jnlias as a guest rather tli.au a dependent, though now and again she would scan his face closely as though gauging his fitness for the task ho had undertaken" and half inclined to question him about it. Yet, ho reflected, that could hardly bo the meaning of the wistful look in her patient eyes, as Sir William had distinctly said that she had not been informed of his danger. Julian often wondered how his presence in the household had been accounted for to Lady Grasmcro without causing her alarm. Miss Norah Biltnn, too, was a new acquaintance who helped to relieve the monotony of his watchfulness. That night at the dispensary, when the girl in'the shabby black dross had dazzled him with her wondrous beauty and with her personal interest in his affairs, had fortified him against the influence off others of her sox. And under am- circumstances it is doubtful if Norah" Hilton’s hovdonish ways would have thrown to him the great appeal, even if they had been exerted for his captivation. which they were quite obviously not. But Lady Grasmere’s lively companion, with her frank good-fellowship" and her undisguised curiosity as to his real functions', amused him, and they were rapidly becoming comrades. The}- had even discussed in guarded terms the personality of * the absent member of the household —Mr. James Trelawnoy, who was still away on his holiday. ' Julian, with his brief acquaintance with the private secretary, felt that it would be unfair to agree with Norah’s outspoken comments, but ■ he promised to make a closer study of Mr. Trolawney on his return. He did not add that lie was in duty bound to do so, as in the case of every other inmate of Seven Gables. On the eighth day of their soiourn in tile country Julian and Sir "William were strolling after luncheon on the terrace in front of the house, when the footman came out and handed his master a telegram which had been delivered at the servants’ entrance. The judge road it with an unmoved countenance and carelessly told Jackson that there was no answer. But as soon as the man had retired ho handed the telegram to Julian with the remark — “That ought to convince -you that you hold no sinecure.” The message ran — “Body of Hnnnable found in a thicket in Richmond Park. Rope round neck indicates strangling. Inquest tomorrow. Doctor Penfold will bo required to give evidence. Will wire hour and place later.—Squarth, Inspector Crim. Invest. Dept,” Julian was shocked but not surprised. The unfortunate butler must hare witnessed the completion of the fiendish trick with the bottle of wine, and it was not likely that lie would be spared to tell the tale and possibly to identify the poisoners. Indeed the mode of death suggested that Hnnnable was killed actually in the pantry immediately on his entrance, to prevent his raising an alarm and to facilitate his removal from the promises. Such a proceeding would bo in accordance with the methods of people, who had been described. by" Squarth as absolutely regardless of human life. “It is certainly convincing,” said Julian, “but what troubles me most is my enforced absence at the inquest tomorrow. The inspector docs, not intimate that you will be wanted as a witness, and I do not like going away end leaving your flank open to an attack.” . “I shall remain indoors and see no one while yon are gone; to venture out would he to court disaster,” Sir William replied. “Poor old Hnnnable! It is exasperating to think of a good and faithful servant done to death by those miscreants —crushed out of existence as if he had been a chance beetle in the path that was leading them to me.” ' Julian glanced quickly at the judge with a medical eye and saw that .he was more unstrung than His pride would allow him to admit. . ' “Come, sir!” he said briskly. “Yon mustn't .dwell too much on what can’t he helped. To-morrow must take care of itself. Lot us do, something commonplace to make us think we are living the simple country life with nothing abnormal in the background, What do yon say to a little golf? Or shall wo try for a front in the brook?” Sir William pulled himself together with an effort. “No,” he replied, “we will act upon your advice, hut not on those lines.' I am told that Sir Harry Duulaw has let, Monksglado Priory to a French Com)case .and her son bv a former husband —a Mn Vance Cha’--nnck. I suppose it will ho- thought odd if we do not call upon them. Lady Grasmere is unequal to any social duties, but yon and I will walk over and pay onr respects—or leave cards if they are not at home.” Julian assented readily. There is no such remedy for taking oneself nut of oneself as the making of pew aconaintanooß. and the proposed duty-cell was hist the thhie needed +a di'-.-e’-s‘Ri?- William’s mind from the fate of his servant and all that it portended. It was near three o'clock, and by the lime they had traversed the couple of miles to the Priory they would reach their destination in orthodox calling bourn. They set out at onec, and on their wav through the village Sir William enlightened his companion on many local’details. Some of them Julian had alrcaclv heard from’Norali Bilton, but he purposely drew Sir William out, and learned that the lord of the manor of Monksglado was an eccentric who was looked "at askanco by the county generally, but for whom Sir Wiiiia'm had an affectionate regard. L “Duulaw is as mad as a hatter, but.

I think his heart is in the right.place,” the judge pronounced his opinion. “Ho does the kindest things in the strangest wav. Mills, the gardener, told me this morning that he has just taken'on the son of our unsatisfactory vicar to help him in his latest fad—the breeding of bloodhounds. He has established th© young- fellow in a tumble-down keeper’s cottage on the estate, and has sent him some superfluous dogs from his kennels in Essex. I am glad to hear it, for Bob Boscombe is a docent qnqugh youth considering his parentage.” In answer to questions Sir William wont on to say that Sir Harry Duulaw, who had been'wildly extravagant in his younger days, had not for some years been able to live in befitting stylo in his ancestral scat, and that he had gone in for the breeding business as a commercial speculation. , It was also under the spur of impecuniosity that he had lot the Priory furnished to strangers from London. “Ho has been a long time finding.a tenant, and has boon lucky to got oixo at all,” said Sir William. “The grounds have been ill kept, and the house, besides being gloomy and isolated, is sadly out of "repair. At least it was the 'last time I was there.”

it suddenly occurred to Julian to inquire if anythin;. l ; was known of the people who iiad rented the Priory from the eccentric baronet. Sir William’s reply was to the effect that he had no personal knowledge of the Comtcsso do Bcaucourt or of her son, but that they had conic into the neighbourhood with the best of credentials. Mr. Vance Charaock was, he had boon inforpiod, in poor health, which probably accounted for the desire to dwell so far from the haunts of men. His name was,prominent in connection with many charitable institutions in which Lady Grasmere was interested, and the manager of the bank at Wycombe, where both the ComtpsEO and her son had drawing accounts, had allowed it to leak out that their financial position was unassailable. “I cannot say that I am fond of the professional philanthropist,” Sir William summed up with a touch of the cynicism in which life sometimes indulged. “But at any rate tho heading of subscription lists is less objectionable than going round with a collcetingbook and exploiting your hobby at the expense of other people. The entrance gates, giving access to the Priory grounds, wore nearly a mile from tho groat, rambling Tudor mansion whoso crooked chimneys and fantastic lichcn-oovorod roof presently ■'became visible over -the tall beeches which encompassed it. Tho private road ran through no broad expanse of park, but plunged at once into a dense woed and wound in ninny a zig-zag till it stopped abruptly at tho heavy iron-studded front door. So thickly and closely was tho house surrounded by the trees that it was difficult to got a comprehensive view of its imposing dimensions. Anv possible standpoint was too near to it for a proper appreciation of the long facade of Sir Harry Dunlaw’s decaying lie* l !©.

But with the pulling of tho old-fa skinned boll, followed almost instantly by the opening of the groat door by a smart manservant in a handsome livery, tho atmosphere changed as by magig. Though the house had boon taken on “furnished” terms th© mouldy chattels of the Dunlaws had been supplemented by m-4nv costly articles in excellent taste. The tattered carpets and ragged curtains which Sir William remembered bad been removed altogether, and bad hoeir replaced by expensive modern floor-coverings and hangings from Hampton’s or Waring’s. There was a, suggestion of luxury in the very air of the vast entrance-hall —tho -. faint aroma of exotic flowers and of choice tobacco. (To be continued.)