THE SHUTTERED HOUSE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16432, 6 May 1919, Page 8

THE SHUTTERED HOUSE.

EXCITING STORY OP SENSATION AND LOVE.

By WILLIAM GUIDOTT,

Author of “Through the Silent Night,” “What Delia Dared,” etc., etc.

CHAPTER Vlll.—Continued. Robert went on, “You see, she can't speak as there is danger for her if she makes a hue and ciy over the disappearance of the will. And we can't speak because—well, because the will disappeared ” Jill’s lip quivered. “You look upon mo as a hardened criminal, I expect,” she said crossly. Ho gave an exclamation.

“Indeed, I look upon you as the bravest woman I have ever come across.” He held out bis hand. After a moment Jill placed hers within it. Then they both laughed again. “This borders on sentimentality,” she said, “but after all you were nearly my stepson.” That cleared the air. The old housekeeper in the kitchen heard peals of laughter from upstairs “Laugh away,” she grunted nnamiably. “We’ll see who laughs last—Geraldine Patou!

Jill, unconscious ; of the adverse element below, rested her finger thoughtfully on her chock. “That piano fascinates me.,” she said. “This Miss Thornton is such a shadow- to us, and yet wo both heard her play and speak. I’m sure she didn’t go out early, it so, who played?” “Fuat is rather clever of you,” said Robert slowly. “That really was she wo heard 'n this very room—it must have been."’ Ho looked round. “If you heard her speak again would you recognise her?” Jill looked straight at him as she spoke. Fie shrugged iiis shoulders and smiled. “X don t know, 1 don’t think so. Mould you?” Jill got up and moved thoughtfully across the room to the piano. “I—think so,” she said quietly. Robert watched her ns she opened the lid. At first she did not touch the notes. Then she put out her hand and played a soft chord. It vibrated through the room. She drew back. “It scorned like someone speaking, didn't it?” she said with a startled look on her face. “1 wonder if pianos have souls, or only the people that play on them. If this one could speak it might tell us a few things, mightn’t it?” Robert moved to her side.

“Yon told mo you were musical,” ho said, “and that reminds me. 1 have interviewed Oscar Bernstein on your behalf.”

“Oh!” the girl clasped her hands excitedly as she turned to him. Ho shook his head at her.

“Don’t bo too pleased before you hear what I've dono. You see-I know Bernstein. He is a hard business man. If Jig lias any sentiment underneath ho doesn't show it. It, would bo no use for him to hoar you sing fur many a day yet. You would fail. You arc not nearly strong enough. Bernstein never forgets a failure. Ho would never hear you again. Later probably you will get a chance.” The flush of excitement died out of tho girl’s face. “You arc quite right,” oho said mournfully. “You must think mo such an idiot to have dreamt of it.”

“Anything but that,” ho said kindly. “A T ow 1 can tell you what I have managed instead. Ho will take you into his private office. He happens to be in want of someone, as one of hie assistants' lias just married. I don’t suppose ho would have made an opening, even for me.” lie laughed as hd spoke. “Bernstein’s a hard nut to crack, but he’s a good chap, for all that. So you are to go and see him at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning.” “I don’t know what to say. lam so grateful for all.you have done,” said Jill in a low voice. “It is quite the best thing that lias over happened to mo.” She was feeling a little shaken. It was the first time she had been out since her illness. Robert saw with dismay the tears filling her eyes. The situation was desperate. “Not at all,” no said politely, “just think how much 1 owe Fate for sparing me the infliction of having you for a stepmother, as you reminded mo so kindly just now.” Jill looked at him with indignant surprise. Her tears dried magically. “You might easily have done worse,” she said severely. “Saved!” His shout of laughter threw a glimmer of light on the situation. It was useless to be angry with him. She rubbed bor eyes. “It was horrid of you,” she said reproachfully. “1 was so afraid you were going to cry,” lie said penitently. “Ob 1 Don’t go. TVc haven't decided yet what is to bo done about the jewellery.”

Jill glanced out of the window. “It is getting quite dark,” she said, as she took up her coat. “Really, I ought to go now. My dear old landlady bogged me not to stay out in the. night air for the first time.” “Quite right. I’m a selfish beast.”

Ho helped her into her coat as ho spoke. Jill looked up into hie faco with a quiet smile. “You are rather a nice beast, then, Mr. Thornton, she said quaintly. Robert noticed for the first time that her eyes were renllv wonderful. Sis relations with her had been so impersonal up to this moment that it came to him with a shock that she was beautiful.

There was something almost mocking iu that upward glance. She turned away ,and was tucking a stray curl under her hat in front of the old-fash-ioned mirror. When she again faced him the elusive glimmer in her eyes had vanished. His blundering masculine mind began quickly to adjust itself again.

Ho followed her from the room, and dliring the walk home to her lodgings they discussed, the loss of the jewels.

Jill went to bed that night with her heart full of gratitude and anticipation. To-morrow would see the end of her enforced idleness, to-morrow she would begin a career of independence. Robert Thornton was a dear—she had begun to realise that she liked him very much. She blow out the candle and buried her face in the pillow to hide the startled blush that burnt her cheeks as she realised—how much 1 (Continued daily.)