FOR HIS DEAR SAKE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145996, 30 November 1917, Page 8

FOR HIS DEAR SAKE

ATTRACTIVE STORY OF STRONG DOMESTIC INTEREST.

By BUTH TEMPLETON, Author of “The Price of Her Silence,” “The Tie That Binds,” “Lore For- . bidden,” etc., etc.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS. Mark Travers: Master _of Beverley Grange. Killed by lightning. Owen Travers: Half-brother to Mark, and his successor at the Grange. Dr. Max Seaton: A thorn in Owen’s side and the evil genius of the story. Is in love with Lynette Sylvester: A charming girl, daughter of John Sylvester (who dies early in the story). Mrs. Sylvester: Lynette’s step-mother, Unkind character, only living tor self and her daughters, Honor and Grace. Pauline Silver: An old flame of Mark Travers. Appears to claim her rights as his fiancee, and plays an important part in the story. Corise Augart: Pauline’s maid, and a tool in unscrupulous hands. CHAPTER XVI. Max Seaton sat in his cheerless room, staring down at the curt note that had just airived from Beverley Grange, ft told him that ho had come to the end of his tether, so far as the blackmailing of Owen Travers was concerned. , ~ Over a month had gone by since the night of Owen’s meeting with Lynette, at the Hedderwicks’, during which time I Seaton had been forced by Pauline s insistent demands to approach the man he had in his power again and again for large sums of money. Now, Owen refused, point-blank, to be blackmailed any longer. The brief note that lay on the table before Seaton, plainly stated this. Not f another penny would Owen Travers give. Ho had paid heavily enough. Seaton got np, and paced the long narrow room restlessly. Unscrupulous as he was he yet recognised the unfairness of further demands upon Oweu, and cursed the fate that had thrown Paulino Silver across his path once more. , . . , After a while, he made up his mind to send for her and tell her the news, j-lo sat down and wrote a short note, despatching it immediately. Within half an hour Pauline arrived, exquisitely dressed in the latest stylo, her lithe, graceful figure clad in a costume _of dove-grey material, ornamented with dull silver. A small, close-fitting hat of black velvet, from which a long white aigrette dropped, was pulled well down over her beautiful head, shadowing her remarkable eyes. Seaton took in every detail of her expensive clothes, and a look of disgust showed on his dark, handsome face. She was the type of woman who would sell her soul in order that hor bcrlv might be fashionably attired. Hor quick eyes recognised Owen's writing on the letter still reposing on the table. She raised her pencilled eyebrows questioningly as Seaton picked up tho brief communication. “This came about and hour ago, Pauline. Travers refuses to bo bled further, and candidly, I am not surprised.” He glanced over a small tablet on which he had jotted down a number of figures. “You have had just over two thousand pounds in just under five weeks. At that rate, even Travers, rich as he is, would soon bo ruined. I can’t possibly, in the face of this, ask him for any more.” Pauline took Owen’s note, her purple eyes darkening as she read. “He should have kept his promise to me,” she said sullenly. “It would have been cheaper. I’m not going to cave in now.” Seaton faced her squarely. “It isn’t a question of your caving in,” ho said bluntly. “Travers refuses to pay another penny, and I don’t blame him. He’s paid far more than those letters you hold, are worth. No judge and jury would award you such a sum.” Pauline’s red lips curved in a sneer. In her heart she hated Max Seaton, and judged him capable of any treachery. “I see. This is a put-up job between you and Mark Travers,” she exclaimed angrily. “A pretty pair of scoundrels you both are. and I suppose you’ve arranged it between you to outwit me. Bat I can tell you this, Max. Your game won’t work. I’m going to be fooled by you, or anyone.” Her eyes blazed passionately, and she lapsed into the vulgar tone of voice Seaton knew so well. “Don’t talk like a fool, Pauline, he exclaimed harshly. “You know ns well as I do, that Travers was bound to jib sooner or later, and after all, I don’t suppose he cares overmuch whether you carry out your threat or not. At ariy rate, he apparently thinks he’s paid enough, and I’m dead certain I can do no more.” A long silence followed. Pauline Silver’s scheming brain was working swiftly. Foiled in her endeavours to make further capital out of Mark Travers, her last remaining hope was Max Seaton. He must have money. She was well aware that his nefarious schemes in America had enriched him considerably, and it did not look as though ho was spending much now. She glanced round the rather meanly furnished room, and, as luck would have it, a small nortrait of Lynette. that Seaton had begged from Mrs. Sylvester ere she loft Beverley, caught her eye. She walked straight towards it and picked it up, looking from the sweet pictured face to Seaton, who felt a keen desire to snatch the photo from her hands. • . Something in his attitude caused Pauline to stumble on the truth, and her eyes narrowed cunningly. “Ah! I’m beginning to see daylight, Max, my boy. It puzzled me at first, why you were so willing, even anxious I might say, to bury the past and leave mo tree to go my own way. It was from no disinterested motive that, you adri-ed me to marry Mark Travers. I wondered what your little game was at the time. Now it’s plain to me. You aro in love with this girl,” she held up tho photograph. “You thought if 1 was safely disposed of as Mark Travel's’ wife, lawful or otherwise, you’d bo free to go your own way undisturbed. I’ll bet any money that was your programme. my boy.” A fierce desire to strike her to the ground seized Seaton. Ho hated the sound of Lynette’s name on her lips. His very anger betrayed him. “You can leave Miss Sylvester’s name out of the question, Pauline,” he said furiously. “She has nothing whatever to do with the matter we have under discussion.” Her answer was a shrill, derisive laugh.

rr Pooh ! What sort of a fool do you take mo for, Max? D’you think I can’t see? Why, tho very way you speak proves to me that you’re in love with the girl. It’s rather awkward 1 happen to be rour wife, isn’t it?” Tho mocking taunt deepened his fury. Me could have taken the woman’s slender white throat in his two hands, and crushe-d tho life out of her. “You mean that for a threat?” ho asked, in dangerously quiet tones. “Just as you like,” was tho nonchalant reply, with a shrug of her beautiful shoulders. “All 1 know is, that I’m not going to stand calmly by, and see you share what you’ve got with someone else now that Mark Travers is squeezed dry. In his heart. Max Seaton cursed them both—Mark Travers, and this woman who was his lawful wife. An ugly look came into his eyes. Nothing and no one should rob him of T.ynotte Sylvester. now that he had forced her into giving her promise to marry him. Me took a stop towards Paulino, his face quite calm now. “And suppose this idea of your chanced to be the truth?” he said casually, “what do von think you could do? ’ Pauline flung Lynetto’s portrait carelessly on tho table. “Do? Why prevent the marriage ever taking place, my dear Max, that's what I should do. 1 know your generosity. I’ve sdmpled it before. If I agreed to com© to terms with you, you’d probably end by giving mo tho slip, and as things have turned out, I couldn’t afford to let you do that. You must see that I’m absolutely at the end of my resources,” she gave a queer little laugh, “otherwise, I should not be forced into claiming a husband I’d lost sight of for ten years.” Seaton instantly realised the danger such a course might place him in. If Pauline took steps to establish her claim to him. his present position would bo greatly jeopardised. He did not forget that he was a fugitive from justice, a man “wanted” by tho American police. No, Pauline must be silenced another way. Meanwhile, he would do all in his power to appease her. His manner suddenly changed. “Look here. Pauline, there’s no reason why we should be bad friends, so far as I can see. I’m willing to help you, even if it does mean acknowledging yon as my wife. But, of course, that would mean leaving here, and starting life afresh somewhere eJso. Still, perhaps that could bo arranged. Anyhow, it would need thinking over. I’ll seo what can bo done, and let you know.” His affected candour did not entirely deceive her, however. She looked him steadily in the eyes, and wondered for the moment why she had over been fascinated by him.

“Remember, you’ve got no fool to deal with. Max, and that I hold the winning cards. Within a week I shall want to hear what you propose to do,’ 1 she -walked towards the door, “and if your proposal satisfies me, all well and good. If not,” sho looked back at him meaningly, “well, there are several people who’d bo glad to know your present whereabouts.” Seaton made no answer. He could have killed her where she stood, and when she had gone, ho could barely control the rage and fury that possessed him, obsessed as ho was hy the hateful realisation that sho stood between him and his one great desire—Lynette Sylvester.

It was not balf-an-hour later that ran straight into Owen Travers. Instead of returning direct to “Croasgates,” sho had taken the road that led into the country, and it was along this road that Owen was coming at a slow pace on horseback, his strong fade thoughtful and sad. At sight of Kim a sudden desire to do something to pain the man who had so coldly repulsed her seized Pauline. Her eyes shone with hate. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Owen was almost on a level with her now, and would have nassed on, after raising his cap, hut sho stepped suddenly forward, off the narrow path, and right in his way. He was feeling in no mood to talk to her, but common politeness forced him to stop. He reined in his hoiso, but did not attempt to dismount.

“I’ve got some news for you,” were Pauline’s first words, accompanied by a brilliant smile, “and it concerns that charming girl, Miss Sylvester.” “Indeed I” Owen’s voice could not have been more cold.

Pauline’s silvery laugh rung out. She had seen Travel's winco at Lynotto’s name. “Yes. I’ve just had it on excellent authority, in fact, from Dr. Seaton himself, that Mjss Sylvester ic going to marry him.” With difficulty Owen checked tho lew exclamation that leant to his lips, but Paulino Silver saw the sudden whitening of his cheeks, tho look of poignant pain that flashed into his eyes, and was satisfied. The barbed shaft had gone home. (Continued daily.)