A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16726, 29 April 1920, Page 8

A DAUGHTER OF MILLIONS.

By HEDLEY RICHARDS.

CHAPTER XV.—Continued.

Baynes turned, and say a big, broadshouldered man of 50, with a jovial face. I , , “Yes, it’s a lovely country, though. I confess I haven’t seen much of it,” said Baynes. “Then 1 advise you to explore it. Is this your first visit?” he asked as he lighted a cigar. • Baynes following his example, then he said:— , , T “Xo, I was here about 10 years ago. I did Dublin and Killarney.” “And this time?” said the stranger. “This time I’ve only been to Bray. “Bray! I '"■as assistant there for about a year when I was a young fellow. I went to help an old friend of mv father’s, who was a doctor there. Hui health had failed, and he had to take a sea voyage. It set him up, and when he came back strong and well I wasn’t sorry to say gond-hye to Ireland. It’s a lovely country, hut 1 prefer living in England. “How long is it since you were a doctor in Bray ?” asked Baynes with in- “ Let me see, it will he about 19 years since I wont there. I was there a voar or so, and it’s IS years next September since I se.ttlcd in Truro. Eighteen years ago this man was m Bray. Would ho have known Miss Lyle? Baynes speculated. Aloud ho S,U “I wonder if you knew a Miss Lyle who was at that time staying with Mrs. O’Grady at Killarney House.” The other man took his cigar out or bis mouth as he said; .it “Yes, I attended the poor girl. 1 did ray level best to pull her through, and 1 was alfully sorry when she died. '■ “Dead! Miss Lyle dead? exclaimed Baynes, staring ah the man. “Yes the poor girl died. Is she a relation of yours, and.didu t you know? I thought she said she hadu t any Jelations, that she was alone m the world For a moment Baynes was silent. Then ho said: “You and I must have a talk, suppose we find a .seat, Doctor— P “Doctor Clarke. I’m. quite at your service, and there’s a nice shady scat over there where wo slum t catch the bit'of wind, and there sno one about. “Yes, that’ll do.” Then, as they seated themselves, Baynes said: “Before I tell you why I m interested in Miss Lyle I’d better introduce myself as Stowell Baynes K.C. Doctor Clarke stretched out his hand 3.s he sfiid • j “I’ve heard of you, Mr. Baynes, and I’m glad to make your acquaintance. Now what is it you want to know about Miss Lyle?” , , . “Everything you can tell me, but before I ask you further questions Id bettor tell you that a - ady ot .title declares sho was before her marriage Miss Judith Lyle.” “Whow! Then it’s a case of money r said the doctor. . “Not exactly. 11l explam further after you’ve told me all you know about Miss Lyle.” “It isn’t so very much. I was—as I said—in charge of Doctor Lowndes practice, and one morning 1 was summoned to Killarney House. I believe it was about the end of June. Anyway it was very hot. 1 remember thinking, as I drove round, that the sun was hot enough to cook a beef-steak.* When I got to the house, Mrs. O’Grady—l’d attended her for a little ailment earlier in the year—told mo that a young lady who was lodging with her was ill ami feverish. X saw tho gill and found it was typhoid. Luckily there were no other visitors in the house and 1 told Mrs. O’Grady not to take anyone. “From the first I saw it was a bad case, and asked the girl to let mo send for one of her relations, saying it would be pleasant for her to have one of her own people about her, but she said she was quite alone in the world. I think India had played havoc with her constitution, as she went down like a log. Once sho said I must try to get her bettor quickly, as she was hoping to get a very good post in England. “I did my best, but the poor girl cbod and I was so sorry for her loneliness that I followed her to her grave. Mrs. O’Grady and I were the only mourners. So you see I know Miss Lyle is not only dead but buried.” “Did you see another girl there?” asked Baynes. “No. Stay a moment! I did once. I was coming out of tho sick room and a door opposite opened, i and I’d a glimpse of a lovely girl, who drew back quickly and shut the door. I remember it because I blew Mrs. O’Grady up for taking more visitors and she said the girl was a relation. I never saw her again, and I concluded she’d gone.” “What was Miss Lyle like. asked Baynes. “A plain-looking-girl, with an interesting face. She was tall, and I fancy would have had a graceful figure.” “Hinny you. Doctor Clarke, I think you are going to help me find John Tallantino’s wife and child; its the latter I want to trace, but I’ll tell you all ‘about it,” and Baynes, told him that they suspected Lady Dalrymplo was. the missing‘wife.” “Good heavens ! I shouldn’t wonder if you are r.ight. You've brought something to my mind. About a year after Miss Lyle’s death I saw Dr. Lawndes in London, and in talking over some of his patients, I’d been interested in one or two, he remarked that the child of that poor girl who had died was doing very well, and a bonnie little thing, that Mrs. O’Grady was uncommonly good to her. I didn’t know who he alluded to. but he explained that it was Bliss Lyle’s child. I declared that she hadn’t one, but Lowndes just laughed, and said that Mrs. O’Grady hadn’t told me. I assured him then, and I’m certain today that Juditli Lyle never had a child,” said Dr. Clarke. “I expect that child was Tallantine’s. X shall take the first heat hack to Ireland,” said Baynes. (To bo Continued.)