A TIGHT CORNER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16037, 23 January 1918, Page 8

A TIGHT CORNER.

[COPYRIGHT.]

By ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT, Author of “By Right of Sword,” “The Man Who Was Dead,” Etc. ~ CHAPTER XVl.—Continued. Bob winced at this reply. “Thcro’s one other tuing. rihouid 1 be likely to do things wmch at any other time I should never <lieam Vd doing? Would one’s ordinary moral sense be active as usual, or changed?” “luat’s going a little deeper. t Have you any reason for the question ? “Afraid I have. I’ve been told of one or two things that were pretty rotten—not a bit like me, 1 mean. “That’s very Interesting; very interesting indeed. I have known one or two oases'of that nature. Yours was probably one of them.” “Of course a man wouldn’t Be hfla responsible for anything he did ” "Naturally not. You would only have to prove your condition. Bob nearly groaned. “What sort of proof?” bo asked anxiously. “Of course, the medical' man’s evidence in the first place; and then that of the people who were with you, nurses and frmnds, and so on. A man m your posit® a, Sir Robert, _ would have no difficulty of that description.” “Doctors and nurses and friends, thought Bob, gloomily, as he walked along Harley Street. He hadn’t the faintest idea whether there had been either doctor or nurses, and the “friends” would bo Gaudin and bis associates. Splendid witnesses to character in all conscience, as Grimston had said.

Anyway, there was one satisfaction to be derived from the interview with the specialist, there wore going to be no moro lapses of memory; and as for the rest, well, it must bo faced. He was a little restless that no word had como from Grimston that day. Ho was to wire as soon as he had any news worth sending and when a telegram arrived in the evening he opened it with excitement. But it wasn’t from Grimston, It was from Mrs, Gendall asking him to go and see her at once. “Something important to tell you,” , it concluded. This switched off his thoughts from Grimston to Enid and was a big relief. “I’ve been busy on your matters, Bob,” said Mrs. 'Gendall when they met. • “And I’ve been thinking a lot about you and Enid since we had that chat at Bournemouth. Something happened down there and I think I know what it was. Let me tell you first that after Ton had cone I went up to Enid’s room and—weii. it will he entirely your fault if'she marries that horrid little cr.d, Blount.” “I know that,” he replied with a grin. “You’ve seen her then ?” He nodded. “Im glad. I’ll toll you why. The next morning I saw them in the. garden before breakfast and afterwards Enid was just a different girl. You know how r bright the child is, but at breakfast she hadn’t a word to say and looked awful. Really awful. Blount, on the other hand, was as perky as a cock sparrow, if he could be as innocent as ono, and kept hinting about an early marriage, and not ono word did she say to contradict him. I could have— I don’t know' what I couldn’t have done to him.” “I’m with yon there,” said Bob. “Well, now I’ll toll you what I’ve found out. 1 told you that there wan no end of trouble to got things settled when 1 took my matters from Crneroft and went to Mr. Bachelor. Ho 'dropped certain hints at the time and so I went to him yesterday to find out more.” "It’s awfully good of you.” “There is 'something wrong, very wrong indeed. Ho didn't want to tell me—one legal dog never bites another if he can help it you know, but I made him. He found out that in order to raise the money to pay mo, between I tliroe and four'thousand pounds, Craeroft sold some things—shares and a couple of houses—which didn’t belong to him. It wasn’t Bachelor’s business, as he said, to probe the matter; but the moment he told me what they were I knew they were Enid’s. I know all about the money my sister left Enid, of course.” “Ira not much of a hand at business matters,” said Bob; “but I suppose she knew all about the sale.” . . “That’s just what she didn't. She believes at this moment that they are still hers and what’s more, that precious brother-in-law of mine leads her to believe it. Now Enid’s of age,, and those things couldn’t ,be sold without her signature, in other words, some one forged her signature.” “My dear lady I” protested Bob. “It’s no good taking that tone. Some one forged Enid’s signature,” she repeated with a nod of emphasis for each word. “And it could only have been one of two persons—Cracroft himself or that horrid Jjttle cad who was at ray house the other night. To my mind the thing’s as plain as the nose on my face. Cracroft has always dabbled on the Stock Exchange and has probably been in deep water for a long time. Blount must have found it ■ out—the reason for the partnership of course—and he has in all probability led that stupid old man—for he is one of the stupidest—stiy deeper in, for his own purposes naturally. Now he has turned'round and most likely threatened exposure unless Enid marries him.” “Of course, one has heard of such things, but—: —” Boh paused shaking his head as if unable to credit it. “He "couldn't make her marry such a man as Blount I” “I’m not so sure of that. She’s not an ordinarv girl at all; and Cracroft has been kind enough to her in his way. Of course, it’s paid him. Bhe has about six hundred a year, or should .have, rather; and he’s brought-her up. "If that rat has drummed it into her that her uncle is in fear of prosecution and that she ran save him. I wouldn’t like, to say what she would do. And it’s my belief that he told her that morning at Bournemouth; “I’d likd to wring his neck,” growled Boh. “But that wouldn’t help you with Enid. The question is what you will do?” “An infernally ticklish business.” “Then I’ll tell you what to do. We’re not going to sit and twiddle our thumbs and see Enid sacrificed in that way; and for her sake as well ns mine we can’t have any open scandal. You must see Cracroft, therefore, tell him plainly what you know, and get the thing settled quietly. Fortunately, yon don’t need to bother your head about Enid’s money, so you can go and tell him that ho can have the income for the rest of his life. Let him retire and give up his Iww business to his beautiful partner. Y r ou’ll have to frighten him a hit, of course—that, if he refuses. Enid will he told the truth. For, of course, if you don’t tell her, I .shall.”

“Not a nice job,” murmured Bob, looking Worried. “Besides, I’m afraid that Paris business is not so simple as I thought”’ and he told her the result of the interviews with Grimston and Sir Mervyn Weeks.” But Mrs. Gendall only smiled at it all. “You’re only hipped by the suspense, and this will give you something to do while you’re waiting for the verdict. You want something of the sort. Here’s a paper with all the facts you need for tacfding Crncroft; and my advice is—tackle him at once. Ho won’t show fight. Do it to-day; and you’ll spend the evening with Enid at Burnham Court. Sec if you don’t.” “But if this dtho'r business ” “Bother the other business! You don’t suppose Enid would care a single Lloyd George stamp about it, do you? And at any rate you’ll save her from this' awful marriage.” “That’s true,” agreed Bob,, smiling; and he went away studying the paper which Mrs. Gendall had given him. He would see Mr. Cracroft the next day; during the evening be tried to think of the least unpleasant way of handling the matter. On the following morning a telegram came from Grimston. and a very disquieting message it was. “Regret matter much worse than anticipated. Returning immediately,' urgent. See you to-night. Grimston.” "Confound the man; why the devil couldn’t be wire something definite,” be muttered fretfully ns he tossed the telegram down. But he picked it up directly, and threw himself into bis easy chair and sat frowning, as be conjured up all sorts of unpleasant possibilitie,s behind the words “much worse.” A little later the telephone boll interrupted his rather' gloomy meditations. “Is that yon, Bob?” It was Mrs. Gend,i]l’ K voice. “Yes.” “I’m at Burnham Court, Enid’s you know. Come here at once. There’s trouble.” “What is it?” “I’ll toll yon when you’re here. Come now!” “Wait a bit. Are yen there?” No answer. “As bad as Grimston.” be growled, and told Stevens to call a taxi. '’Continued daily.t