THE SIGN OF SECRECY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143672, 16 December 1911, Page 5

THE SIGN OF SECRECY

■‘THE DARK HOUSE OF DACRE,” By EDGAR PICKERING, Author of “A Romorsnloss Accuser,” “A Witness from the Grave,'’ “Was She Guilty,” “Jhirdcr will out,” “Dick Beresford’s Wife, etc. CHAPTER I.—Continued. ‘T am positively clreatling to see the buff envelope that is lying on the hall table at tins mnineni, ’ continued Do Vaynes, “if Sundown hasn’t pulled off the race 1 may as well put a bullet through my head at once. I would if Algernon wasn’t at hand. Ho must see me throngin’ ’ “Have yon spoken to him yet about the money you want? 1 shouldn't delay, for when anything disagreeable has to bo said or done, it’s best to lace it as soon as you can. Your cousin doesn’t seem in the nicest temper I f an C y—got something on his mind, perhaps, 1 noticed him whilst he was speaking to Eglesias this morning, liy the way, what is that Spanish fellow?” . . “I onlv know that lie is a friend of Hilton’s.” Heaven only knows what Eglesias does for a living—possibly the Salvados shares her salary with him like a dutiful niece.” “I have a curious theory,” continued ilark, “that Guzman Eglesias is descended from one of those Egyptian soothsayers, and is quite capable of turning walking sticks in the stand into a lot of writhing serpents. Ho is, by way of being, an astrologer, I have heard.” Do Vaynes shrugged liis shoulders. Hilton gets a scratch lot at Haydon Hois sometimes. 1 wonder what possessed Algernon to come, he is usually abroad at this time of the year? Has such beastly bad health.” “1 have an Idea that there is an attraction for him.” "Lola .Salvador’* replied Do Vaynes, “it i.s very probable. She is tho handsomest woman in Loudon. They_ say she is earning a lot of money. \\ mn I had a vmee. Shouldn’t be in tho hole i am now if 1 had.” "Very deep hole:-'” queried Stark, who had listened to similar complaints from ins irfend many times nciore, and Do Vaynes suddenly slopped in lus walk. "Look here, Mark,” he said, “J am about at the end 01 my tether, and if Algernon dnesn t help me J am ntraid to think of tho consequences. I must pay a mini 01 moiu-v Mining ilic u-.ti week. U/s not u net —J could negotiate that—hut .something more. i waul a non t ami U oamio.vn Juts won—Llio race lias been over a couple, oi hour* ago. ami the telegram 1 sjhikc about lias been waiting nearly ihav tune on the table in the hull ai iiayclon Hois—it will give me die amount. 1 liave been wanting ttf get back ever so long, ami now wo are nearly at die house, I led like man in tho dock waiting ior the jury/' ••And if Jt's good news?” ■*l win seven hundred/’ replied Oc Vaynes. ‘•And if ids the other way?” “I daren't think what u will mean to me,” answered the other gloomily. ••I’d lend you the money you want if 1 had it.” said Mark as diey walked on again, “hut filty pounds are ad 1 possess in the world. Vou can have 'Half if it will he any g00d..” ••.Not a bit,” replied De Vaynes bitterly. “it’s awfully kind ol you to offer it, hut twenty-five pounds would ho no earthly use to me. 1 want three hundred, ami Algernon must lend it. He is beastly rich, and 1 mean him to tide me over. If ho were dead I should come into an income of thirty thousand a year. 1 don’t care a hang for the title, hut 1 wish Do Vayuc* would make up his mind and die quietly. Tho doctors have told him lie has only got one lung.” “Creaking doors hang long on their hinges, you know,” laughed Mark'. “Do Vaynes will probably see seveu- " “Curse him I” added his companion under his breath, and the two friends walked on quickly until tho house was reached. Upon the broad marble topped table that .stood in tho hail at JJaydon Jiois half a <lo2en letters and telegrams lay in an orderly row, and l)e Vaynes, whoso face was pale as death, took up one of the telegrams addressed to himself. Danvers had gone at seeing someone who had glanced down into the hall from the gallery which went round three sides of it. and Phillip De Vaynes and Ids troubles vanished from Mark’s mind as lie ran up the. broad staircase leading to the gallery, whilst a sudden deathly silence seemed to fall as De Waynes scanned the telegram. CHAPTER 11. LOLA SALVADOS. In the library of Haydon fiois, lying upon a couch that was beside the open window of one of the deep hays, Lord Algernon |)e Vaynes had been spending a quiet hour, and on tho floor woro strewed the various papers with which lie had beguiled the time. Ho had been a good-looking man in tho prime of life, betraying no sign of tho insidious malady which prevented him from joining in the ordinary amusements of his fellow guests, or engaging in the sports which men of his wraith and position- are expected to occupy themselves, and support. His M.F.Ii. was an honorary title, bub he paid twothirds of tho expenses of the limit, and although hi* yacht, The .Syren, was in commission the season through, she rarely left her moorings at Cowes. He was considering with himself whether it would lie, worth the trouble and exertion to take a cruise to the Mediterranean which had been suggested to him. lie was perfectly cognisant that he was doomed. That Harley Street iel-

low had told him this, and Lord Do Vayucs accepted his sentence very philosophically, resolving to mako the most of tho* time the specialist had predicted that remained to him. Ono thing ho was determined to do at any rate, which would he—to marry. “Phillip shan’t squander the Do Vnyncs property if 1 can prevent it,” Lord Algernon had told himself. “H© is welcome to the title, but I have control over tho estates. Thank heaven the entail is cut off. I’d rather tho property went to charities than to that hopeless fellow, who is everlastingly whining to me for money. I am sick of him.” hie and his cousin were civil to each other when they chanced to meet, as on tho present occasion. It suited Lord Do Vayucs to stay a few days at Tlaydou Hois for more reasons than, one, and Phillip De Vaynes’ presence had not disturbed his. equanimity in tho slightest, but it made him firmer in his resolution of marrying than over. It was a matter not to be trifled with, and his choice of a wife was already made. There was a smile on his thin lips ns glanced from the window to sec walking across the lawn the man whom he had decided was to be his father-in-law. A man who was richer even than Mr. Milton, and whoso daughter, an only child, was another of the. house party at Jlaydon Hois. Tho siglit of John Alarchmont had disturbed tho oven flow of Lord De Vnyncs' thoughts, and .stretching out his hand ho took up tho illustrated paper which ho had thrown down ini-, patiently a few moments before. On the front page was the portrait of a woman whoso voice thrilled St. Petersburg, Vienna, Berlin and Paris, before she had taken London by storm. It was a full length picture of Lola Salvador. and he scrutinised it intently. Tho portrait of a woman of sinking beauty and majestic form. 'A magnificent animal, endowed with a voice which held the listener spoil-bound, and had given her world-wide celebrity. (To be continued.)