A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16723, 26 April 1920, Page 8

A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

By HEDLEY RICHARDS.

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued.

Anna proceeded;— "I saw you come out of .Sir Gilbert's room the evening after the murder. My father and he wore still in the dining room. You left me in the drawing room, saying you didn’t feel very well.* A little later 1 wont upstairs, and I thought I'd have a look at thq telephone wife. 1 didn’t know it was mended. Sir Gilbert’s room joins the one above the library. 1 had to pass R to get there, and just as I opened the door of the next room i heard Sir Gilbert’s open, and as X knew he vas downstairs I thought I’d see who had been in with the door shut. Y r bn came out, and I had a glimpse of a roll of paper in your hand. Then yon thrust it in the bosom of your low-nocked dross, and as yon did it I had another glimpse of a thin roll. Then you looked up and down the corridor, hut. 1 had drawn back, and stood just within the next room, so you did not see me. 1 wondered what you’d taken from Sir Gilbert’s room, hut I held my ton,giro and waited. Then that day Sir Gilbert came I discovered that inside the roll of paper there had been a blotting pad—a tell-tale blotting pad-” For a moment Lady Dalrymplo’ face blazed with fury, but by a powerful effort she mastered herself; still the voice in which she spoko was strained:—

“So you were playing the eavesdropper, and heard Sir Gilbert’s absurd statement.”

“No, I wasn't listening; 1 was watching. I've been quietly studying lit; language for a long time. It’s interesting, and I thought it might be useful, so while I stood outside near u corner of the, window I was able to make out nearly every word. Afterwards I had a little chat with Sir Gilbert, and promised to help him, so you see if I was to he put m a lunatic asylum ho could tell the police why you wanted me out of the way,” said'Anna, and there was a tinge of triumph in her voice.

Lady Dnhwmple regarded the girl with a look of intense hatred, and her voice conveyed something of her feelings as she said:

“Anna Dalrymplo, I’ve always disliked y f ou. I felt au aversion to you the first day I saw you, and each year the dislike has grown. You’ve dona ycur best to bring trouble and disgrace on me. Now you want to digrace my boy, but you won’t succeed, and I’ll make you suffer bitterly for the attempt. If I were to tell your father he would—” Then her ladyship stopped , “What would he do?”

Lady Dalrymplo rose and diew a step nearer the girl, then she said in a low, tense voice:—

“I don’t know what ho would do, but l am certain that something dreadful would happen, if you hinted to your father what you have said to me about Norman. I think the day will come when you’ll wish you hadn’t pried what doesn’t concern you, anti joined forces with Sir Gilbert, who for anything you know may have killed Mr. Tallantine. He wants money badly, perhaps ho thought a legacy would fall to him. If the crime is brought home to him, you’ll bo sorry you sided with him.” Anna started. The notion that Sir Gilbert might he guilty had never occurred to her. She did not like him, but she didn’t believe he had murdered Air. Tallantino, and raising here eyes to her stopmother’s, she said:—

‘'l’m not worried about who killed Mr. Tallantine. 1 wasi to know how you came into his past life, and whether you’re the missing wife, and I mean to find out.”

Lady Dalrymplo raised her hand as though to strike the girl, then she let it fall as she said:— “Anna Dalrymple, you’re getting a ball rolling that before long you’d giro anything on earth to stop, but it’ll he too late then.” (To he Continued.)

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES. DEATH AT SEA. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 25. The Melanesian Mission has received word that on the voyage of the Southern Cross from Norfolk Island to the New Hebrides the second engineer, Joseph Steele, died from influenza, and was buried at sea. The vessel is quarantined at Vila. A MOTOR FATALITY. MASTERTON, April 25. James Chisholm Carpenter, a married man, about 50, was knocked down by a motor-car this afternoon when riding a push bicycle. He was frightfully mutilated, and died .shortly afterwards. Corset Perfection. —Every lady will find absolute corset perfection in B. and C. Corsets. They are made, on scientific lines, giving the maximum of freedom and comfort, besides supporting the figure correctly and giving the height of modern style. B. and C. Corsets are of British manufacture, and by specifying them you get the best value obtainable. Ask to see B. and C. Corsets. All leading drapers stock them.* Complete stock of Toilet Requisites at the Central Pharmacy.