THE SIGN OF SECRECY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143675, 20 December 1911, Page 5

THE SIGN OF SECRECY

Or "THE DARK HOUSE OF HACRE,” By EDGAR PICKERING, Author of “A Remorseless Accuser,” “A Witness from the Grave,” "Was She Guilty/’ “.Murder will out/” “Dick BcrciforcTs Wife, etc. CHAPTER 111.—Continued. Murk was clasping her to his breast iir> she <sjiid this, ami it needed no words oi lus lo aiisucr Iter. 'there was such perfect confidence between LJiejn Unit Uio flows he hail just heard seemed to lose ns Mgnilicance. 'JJicrc was iiot a shadow 01 ooubt in Jus muid regarding Jean s constancy, but ho loresaw countless dunculues lo be surmounted before she became his wile. John Aiarchmont was inendiy enough with him,, for the sake of old limes perhaps, .dark's father in the days of prosperity tiad helped dir. .uarchiiiont, and placed him on the high road to fortune, and the latter had never forgotten this. It was dir. Danvers who had tided him over a perilous time, who had placed opportunities in his way and used ids influence in John dlarehmoiifs favour. And when his own ruin came which dragged others down with him, his foroLiiought and care had prevented Ids friend from sharing in the disaster, and John Alarchmont knew this, although the world did not .So as time went on Joan’s father grew richer and richer year by year. A bluff old-fashioned man whose word was his bond, cherishing his daughter whom lie loved tenderly, and who returned the goodness he lavished on her witli an equal affection. Ho was proud of his handsome child, and admired her independent spirit. ■‘Wealth had not spoilt her,” he was fond of boasting, “and Joan will have her way come what may of it,” as lie was to be shown one day. John Alarchmont and Air. Hilton were old friends, and the visit of himself to Joan to Haydou Bois was the fulfilment of a long ago promise. The company he found there was a little mixed, to be sure. There wore one or two people at whom Hr. Alarchmont looked rather askance, not being accustomed to their kind, hut on the whole lie had enjoyed the visit which wris to terminate on the morrow. To-night was to be the last night ho and Joan would spend beneath Air. Hilton's hospitable roof—the night was to be the ; gayest ilaydon Bois had ever wit- : nossofl, and the most notable one. 100, ! for a great many of Air. Hilton’s : guests, fraught with events that the wildcat imagination could not have conjured up. “There goes the first gong,” exclaimed Jomi ns the warning went booming through the house. “And we’ve nothing more to say to each other. Don’t miss me when we go down to dinner. Lord I)e Vaynes—” “Lord Dc Vaynes will ho a wise man if he takes somebody else into the dining-room.” growled Mark. “You've promised not to lie angry.” she .said, putting her fingers on his ' lips. s “Tin not angry,’’ lie replied, twisting his lips free with a kiss on her little hand, “hut no man shall come between you and me.’’ There was a look on his face that Joan knew meant mischief, 'the 1 look which RiiiJlij) J)n Vaynes had noticed when Mark cleared the cafe in the Quarticr Latin that memorable night. CHARTER TV. AN INTERRUPTED PROPOSAL. “Perfection M’siour Cuthherlson ! 1 no longer dance, hut I still enjoy the sight of others’ pleasures. Their hnp- ; piness is mine. 1 compliment you upon your arrangement, my dear - Al’sieur Cuthbertsoii,” and the speaker 1 gave an approving smile as lie turned away from the door, throwing up some {little halls dexterously, that glittered 1 in the electric light and sent out a I musical tinkling, which accompanied ! the French chanson* ho was singing • softly. It had ceased for a moment i in which he and the butler had been 1 regarding the decorations of ihe ball room, previous to the arrival of the guests from London. "We usually do things about right at Ilaydon Hois, Mr, Eglesias," replied the butler, who was known as Old CuthherHon by evej-vono in the bouse, an'd referred to by that familiar title, except the Spanish gentleman Signor Guzman Eglesias, whose tone cf almost respect was fully appreciated. “Al'sieur Cntlibertson” was a more graceful wav of addres-dng him than to be called “Old Gmhhertsnn,” ami like everybody else with whom Signor Egleda.s came into contact. Mr. Hilton’s faithful retainer found bis heart warm towards him. Indeed, none had ever been able to resist the magnetic influence of the mailing Spaniard, There was a cherubic charm in his manner, a suavity that placed him at case in any society, together with a bonhomie which defied the austerity of Hie rich, and von the friendship of the lesser men. Nothing ever worried him. hut jus beady black eyes, around which wrinkled tin* suspicion of a crow's toe. were keen to mark his approch to dangerous ground, and in what, hazardous oaths ot like Guzman Kglesia* hnd v.alkcd, few people would have guessed. Me spoke Lnglidi perfectly and fluently. ha ring conquered the accent, ami only a lapse now and then into n strange idiom betrayed him as a foreigner. lie wa> so desirous of being recognised as an Englishman that his cards bon* the affix of “ Esquire, ,J anti lie preferred to he addressed ns Air. Eglesias. What ho was, or had been, no one knew, but there were few things of which Air. Eglesias had not some knowledge, which lie employed very advantageously. He was devoted to music, and played the piano like a master, besides being a composer of merit, tiesigning quaint melodies to quainter worths, which he was acc-us-tomod to sing to the accompaniment of

tho tinkling silver balls, that bo handled with tho skill of a juggler, a* ho sang. He bad the entro into the best society. or at least the society that included some, of Lite richest people in London, and a close connection existed between himself and .Mr. Hilton, who would sooner have left a speculation alone than enter into it without consulting Air. Guzman Kgle.sias, who in turn consulted the stars. That he waft the- uncle of Lola Salvados was a mere incident, that had but little influence, although the largo salary the* singer commanded might have made him independent of any exertions of his own to provide himself with tho means of living. JTo and his niece were exceedingly good friends, and his age and experience enabled him to guide and advise her in a manner quite parental. One excellent caution he impressed upon her, which was to prepare for the time when her position of supremacy would ho assailed, and her power and charm find a successful rival, “The world is at your foot now.’’ lie had often told her, “it shall presently neglect you. The time is yours, my Lola, use it well. 1 ’ “Have I not then?'' answered Lola, after one of those little speeches from him. “Does not Lord i)c Vavneft adore me? Am I not his promised wife?” And there bad been more of the like sensible talk between Air. Kglesins and Ids niece. They, too, wore to leave Haydon Rois the day following the ball, and dinner having ended, 7‘lglesias had taken a stroll on the terrace, where lie had met old Cuthbertson, who was pardonably proud of the compliments paid him upon the arrangements lor the forthcoming dance. The room was empty as Kglesias and lie stood at tho entrance, hut carriages were beginning to arrive at the house in tpiiek succession. and hurrying away, old Cnthbertson loft the Spaniard toss, hie tin- glitterim; halls in tin l air. and softly warbling a weird melody. .To be continued.)