A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16722, 24 April 1920, Page 12

A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

By HEDLEY RICHARDS.

CHAPTER XIV. ANNA DALRYMPLE SPEAKS. . Lady Dairy in jile let the paper fall from her hands. Her face wore a frown; it was evident she had read something that had seriously disturbed her, and she. did not try to hide her perplexity, as she would have done if she had* 'been aware that her stepdaughter "as seated in the recess behind the screen, and'peering round it was studying her face. A very slight movement made her ladyship* look up, and she saw Anna Dalrymple, glide quickly forward, stretching out her hand to pick up the paper. “So you wore reading the advertisements for Mr Tallantine’s daughter and Ills murderer?” said the girl, ns she glanced at the paper. Lady Dalrymple fixed a scornful glance on her as she answered in a cutting tone; “You’ve been in your favourite nook, I see, waiting to play the eavesdropper. I suppose you expected your father and 1 had something to talk about, and are disappointed that he has not joined me.” “I didn’t expect he would. ■ I was sitting there when you eame in the room. I can always think better in that corner, shut away. Then when you sat down, and I hoard the rustle of the paper, I watched you. I’d a pretty good idea you’d be reading the Tallantino advertisements, and 1 saw you didn’t like them.” Lady Dalrymple laughed. “You’re mistaken.. I’m quite interested in thorn.” Anna sat down facing her stepmother, ns she replied;— “Yes, you’re interested, hut you’re frightened. People, will do a great deal for money. Two thousand two hundred pounds is a good deal., I expect the girl who sold the brooch is Tallantine’s daughter, _so they’ve got some clue. I’ve'an idea they’ll find her before long. Do you think tho finding of her will lieltj them to find the murderer?” “How can I tell? Tho whole affair is a mystery, and you’re very'absurd .to talk about it,” said Lady Dalrymplo impatiently. “It’s a mystery to the police, Hut I’ve, an idea yon could tell them something about it.” Lady Dalrymple flashed a look at her step-daughter in which there was bitter hatred. Then sho said slowly and emphatically;— “There ha'e been times when I have doubted if you were quite sane; I may find it necessary for jour own good to tell your father that I think you would bo better under supervision.” Her words told on tho girl, who turned pale, then her face became scar-, let and her eyes flashed with anger, as she. exclaimed: “You are threateninig to have me put in a lunatic asylum. Very well, I’ll be prepared, but before you talk to my father about it I’ll tell you that I saw you cut the telephone wire when Mr. Tallantine was in tho library.” "You’ve a wonoderfuliy vivid imagination, everybody knows that. As a child you let it have full play to bring odium on the step-mother you hated, not only because she had taken your mother’s iplace, but bdeause, young as you were, you realised she was a thousand times dearer to your father than your mother had been.” “You aro a viper,” said tho girl in a quick, impassionatc tone. Lady Dalrymple smiled. “Call mo what you like, but I don’t think you will be wise to do so to outsiders,” she said. “When I tell what I know tho police will listen to me, hut I’m going to wait until I’ve more proof.” “Proof! What of?” The words were spoken in a bantering tone, but there was a ring of fear in it. “I want to prove that you were John Talhmtine’s wife, that he iccoguised you. Of course the police will say that it was to youi* interest he should die, so that it may mean more than that, but what I want' is to proao that you are not. and you never were, my father’s wife, that Norman is illegitimate, and can never be master here. When I’ve done that 1 shall bo satisfied. Jackie will be avenged.” ■' “It’s a nice little scheme, but I’m afraid, my dear Anna, the lack of proof to support your story will prevent its fulfilment,” said 'Lady'Dalrymple in a mocking tone, but it was quite evident that sbe. had hard work to control the anger that boused in her eyes. “I’ll get the proof. I think I’ll tell you what I know. That night—l mean the one Air. Tallantine came—l saw .you and he talking in the hall. I could tell from your faces that you were in deadly earnest, and that you were both angry. Then Sir Gilbert joined you and you left them and went upstairs. I wont on to the lawn, I wanted to think, and just as I passed the library 1 saw Mr. Tallantine come into the room, and go to the telephone “A slight sound made me look up, and I saw you lean out of a window above and cut tho wire. You were too absorbed in what you were doing to notice me. I moved nearer to the library window, and looked ‘in. Mr. Tallantine. was ■swearing and looking as though he’d like to kill someone.” “And you really think because you saw me talking to the man,, then imagine you saw me cut the telephone wire —which, of course. I deny—that people will believe I am Mr. Tallantine’s missing wife?” said Lady Dalrymple, speak-