THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143980, 24 December 1912, Page 5

THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN LONDON.

By JOHN H. DUOS, Author of “A Society Sinner,” “A Mayfair Mystery,” “The Ruling Passion,” “Vengeance is Mine,", etc., etc.

( . CHAPTER IV. (Continued).

“So it seems,” the doctor laughed. “But fortunately for me my . double is in America.” Then he looked seriously at his brother. “You must excuse me for saying so, Stewart, but your wife is looking anything but well. And the same remark applies to yourself. Whatever possessed you to come to such a dingy, poky hole as this?” “It was not a question of pounds, my dear chap; but of shillings and pence,” Stewart replied, with a feeble attempt at,a laugh. ' “Lefthem lack whatever qualities you like, these rooms still nave the .superlative merit of being cheap. But cheap as they are,” he added bitterly, “I haven’t been able to pay anything for weeks past.” 1 “X am sorry to hear that things are so bad with you,” the doctor said gravely. “As a matter of fact, it was to talk of your prospects that I came here this .afternoon., Hare you anything in view?”. “Oh, I’ve plenty of prospects,” Stewart returned, with' an assumption of confidence. “The difficulty at present, you see, is to hang bn until they materialise. I’ve got a good' many irons in the fife", but whether there is fire enough to heat them all, or any of them, is a question which can only be decided by waiting.” “And meanwhile?” the doctor threw out. ’

“Meanwhile,” Mrs. Osborne took him up, with a pathetic show of bravery, “wo must make the best of a bad job, mustn’t we, Stewart?” “Oh, we shall pull through, never fear,” her husband rejoined airily. “The luck’s bound to change soon.” “Well, then,” said the doctor, “if a few pounds will help you to tide over the interval, I ■” “No!” Stewart , spoke sharply. “Thanks all the same, of course.’ But —no!” ' • Mrs. Osborne looked across at him in surprise. This sudden outburst of independence threw an entirely new light on her husband’s character.”, “It isn’t much I-can offer, as you. know,” the doctor observed ruefully. ’“But as far as I am able; you must let me come to your assistance.” “No,”. Stewart repeated, doggedly, but less sharply. - “Wo shall manage quite well, X assure you. Dobson and 1 have arranged the matter I spoke about yesterday to you." Ho called this afternoon to , toll me it was settled. Also he thinks that he will be able to put a little business in my way.” The doctor i roso and reached for his hat. “’Well, I’m pleased to hear it,” ho said heartily. “Now, when will you come over and see us? Let it ho soon. Helen will bo delighted to make Mrs. Osborne’s ’acquaintance.”. Stewart remained-thoughtful for a moment.; ... i “I may be going out of town for a few days,” he said, presently. “My movements are rrncertain. -I’m afraid I can’t make anything in the nature of a definite promise.’! , ' The doctor looked ’ hurt. , It whs clear that Stewart did not intend to respond to bis friendly advances. .However, he know his brother of old, and could make allowances for him. Those -who graduate in the school of adversity seldom learn the art of being grateful.

The doctor stood on talking for a little Awhile longer, and thou took his departure; - Stewart seemed unable ; to : breathe freely in his'brother’s presence, and even: after, ho had.gone his rest-e lessness did not desert him. Once or twice .Mrst Osborne returned to the remarkable likeness between the doctor and her brother,,but her husband did not encourage her, 10. discuss the ifmtter. ; Indeed, finally, oh some, trilling pretext, he sent berrmfc for a walk, and while she was away spent the interval pacing up and down the floor,' or twisting about in the armchair, smoking cigarette after, cigarette, and .endeavouring to bring his mind to bear with some-degree of calmliess on the situation with, which he,-was faced. ■ ' In this latter ho was by no means Successful. Stewart Osborne was not east in a heroic mould. He was not bad at heart—for he lacked even that 1 much of character—but being woak and easily led, he had fallen into evil courses without even-an effort to keep straight. Of courage he had none, except the baser metal which sometimes passes current for the'real article, and which is the courage born pf desperation. He was; in fine, the typo of man who would be perfectly harmless j if left to himself—unless one counted j the harm which he did to himself. But j in clever and unscrupulous hands, as j the tool and dupe of such a man aSji Mr. Dobson, for example,; there was 1 no telling how dangerous' he might not tricorne. . , ■ \ -

In the present Stage; however, Stewart. Osborne was wavering tearfully; tortured on the one hand by the hard fact of the crime which he had committed; and on the other hand by the hideous thoughts which Mr. Dobson proposition suggested, he was reduced: to a state of min'd which was truly pitiable. , But one thing was perfectly clear—his crime had placed him utterly at the metcy of the lawyer. Whatever Mr. Dobson schemed, he, Stewart, would have to bo a party, to it. It was as certain as anything could be W?at Mr. Dobson would leave him no eioice in the matter. •'

By -the, time Mrs. Osborne returned and tea was. brought up, Stewart had convinced himself, by, a process of reasoning not difficult to'follow, that his brother was the source of all hie troubles. If Dick had only consented to sign a ' ’xw bill Mr. Dobson’s .hold on him wot. ' have been broken. Consequently, for whatever happened, Dick had only himself to blame. It was carrying sophistry to an exceedingly fine point, but, for the itimo being, at least, it was ■ all the. consolation ho could find. ■

“I am going out this evening, and shall very likely bo late. Don't sit up for me,” he said, half-way through the mepl. “Mr. Dobson and I have business to discuss.” “I don’t like Mr. Dobson,” his wife ventured in the hesitating manner which had'become a habit with her of late. “I wish you were not going to have anything more to dp with him, my dear.” “Pooh! That’s stupid prejudice, and just like a woman,, was the contemptuous retort. “Dobson’s a hard nut to crack, I admit,' but I’m not exactly a fool, and I know what; I’m going to do most of my time.” ■ “When are you going to take me to see your brother’s wife?” she asked, to give a change to the conversation. Stewart finished his tea abruptly. “Oh, don’t bother me about that

now,” he eaid snappishly, and passed into fcho inner room.

A motor-’bus from the Elephant took him to Putney Bridge, a policeman directed him to Sellingcourt Mansions, which was a big block of residential flats on the riverside. He was making hie way towards the porter’s lodge when ho heard his name spoken and, on turning about sharply, found himself face to face with Kate Marston. For a moment ho hesitated, but it was impossiblo - to .avoid the • encounter. Stewart shook hands with her nervously, but, confused as he was, he could not help thinking how pretty she looked/ . - “I’m jus: going on to Hampstead to see Hick,?’ she informed him. “Any message from you?” “Dick called at my place this afternoon. Can you tell me which floor No. 43 is on?”

“No. 43? Oh, that’s the man with the black hag!” and although/Kate laughed,' there was a note of surprise in her voice. “Do you know him?” “The man with the black bag?” Stewart repeated. .“That’s what we always call him here,” she explained. “He’s a mystery to us. But 1 apologise for mentioning it if he’s a frient} of yours.” “Scarcely a friend; we have a little business together occasionally. The top floor, you said ?” ' “Yes.. You’ll find it a bit of a climb. Good-night!” And with a handshake they parted. Stewart’s uneasiness was not improved by this casual-meeting. ’ CHAPTER V A CRY IN THE NIGHT. Doctor Osborne had seen the last of his patients for that night. His assistant arid dispenser, had. left some time since, and the gas was turned down in the hall.- It was the hour when the doctor usually betook himself to his little snuggery downstairs, and, with the evening papers or a book,passed the time until supper was ready.. It was the one hour of the day in which he allowed himself to be -idle.

Doctor Osborne was. a methodical and regular man; a man who had never in his. life- acted upon impulse: In everything, even his looks, he was the exact opposite to his brother Stewart. He was a strong-minded as the other was. weak, as self-reliant as the other was dependent. , And yet, as is aften the case,'there existed a bond " of affection between these two which, ns far as the doctor was concerned, was as firm "now as it had ever been. Stewart, being the/younger, the doctor had alwjtys been inclined to regard him indulgently, treating his more or disgraceful escapades with almost pater r nal tolerance.. This, perhaps, was not the wisest course to nave taken, bnt the best men have their weak moments, and the doctor was no exception to the, rule.. . •

'To-night', while the doctor sat turning oyer: the papers in a casual search tor nows Of interest, his thoughts were more than' onco busied with Stewart and his affairs. It was a week since ho had i seen his brother, and there had been no word from him. in the meantime. Kate had mentioned hor meeting with Stewart at Putney, and she had Seen him again, hut not to speak to. Though ho could not explain it,. Stewart's friendship with the lawyer was a source of uneasiness to his brother. While, as has been said, there was nothing impulsive iu the doctors character, his first impression of -Mr. Dobson had not been a favourable one, and the little he had since heard about him from Knto had not tended to improve it. However, he wasmot his brother’s keeper, and Stewart was old enough, and had knocked about the world long-enough, to bo able to take care of himself. With this reflection —scarcely a consoling one—he dismissed the matter from his mind. -: 1 -. (To bo continued.)