A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16724, 27 April 1920, Page 8

A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

By MEDLEY MICHAUDS.

CHAPTER XV. ON THE BOAT. Stowoll Baynes stood with his hand on tne gate, taiun.g sCock or Ivuhuney 1 louse. it was a lair-slaed, uoulneirontod house, witli a- long garuen m Iroui, and iooued over the wiue garueu. Tlie brass plate on the gate hero the name O’Grauy, and as Baynes pushed the gate open anti walked up the gravel path lie thought the O’Grady’s were evidently not loud of change, as they had been so long there. A servant —who looked bright and active—answered the bell, and hearing that he wished to see her mistress, asked him to step in, and while he waited, Baynes glanced round the sitting room that was both well furnished ■and pleasant, but he hadn’t time to more than take a brief survey when the door opened, and a tall, stout woman entered. Her grey hair was fashionably dressed, and she gave the impression of studying her appearance. Baynes rose and bowed as ho said; ‘Mrs. O’Grady.” ‘‘Yes, Mr. Baynes,” and she glanced at his card which she held. ‘T hope yon don’t want rooms, because I haven’t any to let,” she said with a pleasant smile.

‘No madam.” Then as he hesitated for a second she said :

“I was afraid Mr. Xewton, K.C., had told yon he stayed here, and you see I only let one suit, and that just because tbo bouse is too big for me, and I don't care to leave it. Just now I’ve got some people in.”

“Then it’s lucky 1 don’t want you to take me in. I came to ask if yon remember a Miss Lyle, who stayed here 18 years ago.” Sirs. O’Grady’s face brightened. “Of course I do. She was a very beautiful girl, a .governess, looking oat for a situation. I don’t reckon to take any but tip-top people, but when she came one afternoon and told mo that the aunt she was going to in Dublin had died suddenly—you seo Miss Lylo had just come from India—and she’d nowhere to go, I agreed to let her have a little sitting room I have upstairs at the front and a back bedroom. Poor girl she was very grateful.” “Did she got a situation?” asked Baynes. “Oh, dear, yea; slic’d a first-class reference, a lady of title in England, and she got a situation quickly. She went to bo governess to two littlo children at Dalrymple Court, and a year later there father married her. She’s Lady Dalrymple now, and has been for many a year.” , “What was Miss Lyle like?” ho asked.

Mrs. O'Grady looked surprised at the question, but she said: “Miss Lyle was a beautiful girl, uncommon'looking, too; she’d a quantity of red hair, and a skin' like cream; Then her eyas were something out of the common, and she was tall and graceful. Would you mind telling mo why you are asking the questions?” “It’s a questions of identity in which ft: large sum of money is involved,” Baynes answered.

1 ‘Do you think that if it’s proved that Lady Dalrymple was Miss Lylo, she’ll come into money?” asked Mrs. O’Grady. ■ “Not exactly; it’s‘a mixed up affair. “I’m sorry. 1 hoped I was helping her ladyship.” “Havp y° u ever seen her since she wont to Dalrymple Court?” said Baynes. “No. Stay a moment. I remember I did see her ladyship once. I hadn’t been well, and the doctor ordered me to have, a complete change, so I went to Edinburgh, and in the station ono day I met her ladyship. She was very pleasant, and just a,s affable as if she’d still been Miss Lyle.” “How long ago is that?” “Let me see: It will bo quite 10 years.” “Thanks,” and Baynes rose. “Will what I have told you help her ladyship in any way?” asked Mrs. O’Grady. “It may,” Baynes answered as they went towards the door, and in another moment he had left the house.

“It seems as though Lady Dalrymple and Miss Lyle were the same person, which mcaup that she cannot be Tallantine’s lost wife,” he thought, as he went hack to his hotel and lunched. Their he looked at a time-table, and decided to return to Kingstown by the next train and catch the boat that left in the evening for Holyhead. There was nothing to gain by delay, so he would go back to London, where it was possible that the detective who was trying to trace the girl who had sold the brooch might have some news for him.

About eight o’clock the mail boat sailed out of Kingstown harbour, and as Baynes stood looking at the fast-reced-ing shote a voice at his elbow said: — “The Emerald Isle’s hard to beat for beauty.”

(To bo Continued.)