Our Short Story. THE STOLEN HEIRESS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143768, 17 April 1912, Page 8

Our Short Story. THE STOLEN HEIRESS.

By ARTHUR APPLIN,

Author of “The Gamester’s Wife, “The Chorus Girl/" “The Priest of Piccadilly,” etc. CHAPTER X. YVETTE’S REVENGE. Yvette Liber tie might have guessed nearly everything, though she aid not —as she had boasted —know everything, until she left Mrs. Solheim and the bouse in Morecambc Street.

There was nothing she did not know, when she closed tit© door and stepped into the street! Mrs. Sniithcrs was watching her from the front parlour window of her own house.

“It’s evil sue’s boon up co,” she muttered to herself. “I’ll warn my young gentleman.” V vette breathed deeply of the fresh air, it seemed sweet and keen after the foetid atmosphere of the dreadful place she had iust left. She was prised now at her own daring and its success. The man who professed to love her, and who had promised to marry her, was in . her power. It was a splendid feeling. She no longer experienced any resentment against Dolores. Paul had made fools of them both I The little white teeth met savagely. Now she could make a fool of Paul. She would make him pay dearly for his treachery. It was not love she wanted from him now. Nor the money he would have inherited —if anything happened to Dolores! She entered a tea-shop near victoria Station, and while she drank a cup of tea she made her plans. It would be dangerous to go to Martin, ■ even if she could find him. Her game was to tackle Lesson first. Not an easy task, for she herself had plotted and planned with him long ago to rob Dolores of her inheritance. Paul was Dolores’ cousin as well as her guardian. She alone stood between the Lessons and the fortune General Kenvon had loft at his death in trust to Paul for his daughter. Directly she reached the age of twenty-four dr married, the money became hers absolutely. And she"had been kept in ignorance! _ The money still tempted i vette. But she was appalled at Lesson’s last attempt to securing it. Ho had connived at Dolores’ ultimate death. That failing, ho was ready to accuse her of murder—unless she married him Yvette Liber'tio had confessed that she was not a good woman. She would have been less than human if her soul had not revolted with horror at Lesson’s cold-blooded scheme. It was almost unbelievable. 'Supposing.he had got rid of Dolores, and married her? She shivered at the thought. She daren’t face him now. Ho could sec the rcpiislion she felt for him. There was only one thing loft her. Ecvcnge. She would have to be careful he did not cheat her of that. , Calling a cab she drove hack to Drayton Gardens. There was not a moment to be lost, for the inquest on the body of Fritz Solheim had been fixed for the following day. Yvette knew that it was quite possible many fingers had handled the knife which caused his death, thus, perhaps, spoiling the finger-print cine. Otherwise, Mrs. Sclhcim would not still he free. She was suspected and watched. But Yvette knew that she must strike before the jury returned their verdict. She dismissed the cab at the corner of the Gardens. When she saw Paul, what was she going to say to him ? Accuse him outright, or bargain with him ? . , She had some pride still left. With her kisses wet on his lips, he had gone to Dolores and made love to her—and the special license he was obtaining would bear Dolores’ name! Neither love nor money for Yvette Libertie! How, even at that moment, Lesson must be laughing in his sleeve at her. Her attention was suddenly arrested by the sign of a telephone call office hanging outside a shop in the Brompton Road. If she accused Lesson ho would be warned; he might escape and take Dolores with him. She knew ho cared neither for her nor his own honour. Money was all he wanted. She could ring up Scotland Yard! Entering the call office she did so. It was some time before she was connected with an official who had charge of the “Studio Murder Case.” And then it was only to learn that she would have to attend personally at Scotland Yard herself if she had any information to give. Saying she would be down at once, sho rang off. She began to feel , a little anxious. Sho wanted the help and advice of someone else. A man for preference, but she did not know one she could trust. _ . , There was Peggy Davidson. It would mean a rupture of a valuable friendship when Peggy knew everything. But, revenge was worth any sacrifice. So' sho rang up Rook Hall. “Dolores is in dreadful danger—connected with this Studio murder. I’ve made a. shocking discovery. Can you come up at once—alone?” Peggy was a practical .person as well as a spoilt child. She asked for particulars. Yvette gave as many as sho deemed wise, warning her that Lesson had plotted to min Dolores. “I’ll he with yon in less than an hour,” Peggy said promptly. Father will let mo have the car; if ho insists on coming, too, I’ll drop him at his club. I don’t know what it all moans, but I felt something was wrong this morning. Where shall I find you? A meeting place was arranged, and Yvette hurried out into the Brompton Road again. It was now half-past twelve. She glanced into Drayton Gardens, a cab was coming towards her and just as sho hailed it, she saw Martin leaving the Lesson’s house. Ho gave a start of surprise ns he recognised her, lifted his hat and was passing on when she stopped him. “You’ve not called to enquire for Miss Kenyon Did you see her?” Martin hesitated before replying, at sight of. Yvette all his former Mistrust and fear of Lesson flamed afresh. “No, sho isn’t well enough to see anyone.” Yvette smiled subtly. Sho leaned towards Martin ‘ and lowered her voice to" a whisper. “Sho is quite well—but she in danger. If you would save her, get into tin's cab with mo and drive to Scotland Yard.” Sho saw his face change colour, mere was mistrust in his eyes. “You doubt

me, I know,” she continued quicbly“Oh, you’re right! Mr.- Lesson has fooled and cheated me-—as ho is fooling you ; —in. a week’s time Dolores will be his wife, and you, perhaps, in prison for a crime neither of you committed. You love her, I know. I only- want .revenge. Now, will you come?” He helped her into a cab and followed. “I’ll hear what you’ve got to say!” And as they drove towards Westminister Yvette told him all that had transpired- “ You can win Dolores yet,’ she said with a ghost of a sigh- “And you 11 be a lucky man, for you’ll win a fortune with her. It was the money that tempted me to plot with Lesson, - But Martin shook his head; “Now I know she is rich I shall give up all hope of winning her. But I’ll save her from Lesson —even if I have to take his life.” _ Vvoile laughed. If the police failed her, this boyish lover would not! “We’ll find a worse fate for him than death,” she replied.

It was three o’clock before they left Scotland Yard, Martin niado a clean breast of the whole affair; ho gathered that the police knew more than he had suspected, though, of course, they told him nothing. , But there was ono thing they did not know which Yvette was able, to tell them; namely, that Dolores Kenyon bad been lured to the Solheim s house in Morocambe Street by a.,letter and telephone message requesting her attendance there, from an imaginaty firm of solicitors. And Paul Lesson, her guardian, had been responsible for both letter and message. Had she been kept a, prisoner in that dreadful house her fate was easy to foretell. The ultimate end. a miserable death, and Lesson and Ella sole heirs to her fortune. “Having helped yon, Mr. Martin, you must help me,” Yvette said to the latter as they walked up Parliament Street. “Of course, you want *o get Dolores away from Drayton Gardens. I want to keep Paul Lesson there until the police arrest him. Already, probably, detectives arc on their way to Morecambc Street to verify my story. Once they’ve done that, its almost certain that a warrant will be issued for Lesson’s arrest. Anyway, he’ll be subpoenaed to appear to-mor-row at the inquest, and will bo kept under police surveillance. If ho can t escape, he may find some means of, revenging . himself. Prison won t frighten him if, when he comes out, he can get hold of Dolores or her money.” . , Martin was for going to Drayton Gardens immediately,.but after^ a httle argument he agreed, to Yvette's .plan. He took a cab to Morecambc Street so that he might see Airs. Smithers before the police arrived, put her on her guard and told her to speak the whole truth fearlessly—as that alone could help him now. Later on he was to meet Peggy and Yvette at South Kensington, when they would all drive together to the Lesson's house—and take Dolores away.

“With luck,, we shall time our arrival just before the police put in appearance,” Yvette said, "so if Air. Imsson turns ’nasty,’ they’ll look after him.” She gave a cruel little laugh; “I want to be in at the death!” (To bo continued.)