BY WHOSE HAND?

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13237, 18 March 1907, Page 2

BY WHOSE HAND?

(By Fied T White )

Lance -Upped as Veia. iai<-el hei aims, I .'S UlOUgh IU W .1 1 <-it 1 !■> appiO.loh. and I-s c i huulv lici head siiglitlj as tuuugli lin piUe=t lie accepted Hie hint nil I the be«t giace he coiud I his vas no 1 lo\ eis' meeting hei mannci bad that a> j p'ainiy as though the had e\pies<-ed it in v ijuK ' I couldn't help it, Waltei He t<dd lme to go, and 1 obtjei'—'jut, Waltei Ins. te loin hi j -Ivnt mmpled. his coal—he didn t do th.it ni a cue an 1 uwldn t t ink of g ing to b.J "Wli.it is it' , What has, Happened' What his changed him -o ' 1 listened and heaid jou help I him to Ins loom " i Waltei' hesitated for a, moment 1 "ilysteiies—moio mjstene-," she uied, impatieutlj "It isn't fan to me; I'm not .i cnild, Waltei, and I am je. t as fund of him as jou aie ' " We're both in tl e s uno b at, Veia—he heats me like ore, too ' ' Walter' s',e uied, looking at him incieiulous'y, "jou don t mein tint he expeuteJ jou to bs'ieie his" stoiy of a. dieam "■ vj pnctiCti'lr fciced me to pietenJ tint I did " " ' "And, .lie jcu ■ going on pietending? What are jou going to do'" .She asked the question in suc.li a way as to indicate absolute confidence ir his judgment, perfect belief -tint he would do what was light He thrilled with the übtle unconscious proof of her lc\ e How beautiful she was. ow he longed to clasp her in'his arms; but she had built up*"an invisible wall, and he respected it as sciup nlous'y as though it were to his -.touch. " I'm guing," he said i lowlyr jn *a voice net quite his on n, a \oice wtkli earned its hint pi danger to v the quiLkened intuitions of the g-rl, "to ask you to go to bed as quick as ever you can." - She fcmilcd, then qmckly bit hei lip, and tried to leak stern. t '"Tell iro what you think has happened and I promise to go in three minutes " , "I think what you ,think Yes, theie, was iumebody heie AbJut eieiythmg else I am as much in the daikfas this loom v. as when I broke down than dwi " bhe steried quicklj forwaul and put 'ei two hands on his shculdeis > ■ "Walter, «ho wag it' What "do jou .think ' Oh, you mast luue some idea This i) too avifu!'" His j'nswei was to giasp her hand and pisis it to his lips M.ith»pasMonale aidoui •Ve diew herself qunklj away fiom him. stiaighrened herself up, and frowned mdig nantf- but the angiy expression parsed away befbie his appealing glance foi "pordop "I know nothing moie, Vera." he said. "I can't an mfererce; but I shdll find out all about it He lias put two commands on ine tr night that I can't übej. Ore woifl —I should take up my quarttis in my chamber.* to monow, uu til—until you and I are mairied—for mar i led we shall be, uncle or no uncle. But I dare not leaxe him now " " Oh, Walter, you mustn't thi"k of anj - thing about tiiat 'bow Yes, you must stay lere; and foiget, Waltei, foi the time We must be u s> we were this miun-i-g ' "A lot of water has gone under London ■Budge Sinceithen, Veia,'" he said, laughing happy in her expiessicin "foi. the time" "Our duty to him., Waltei.," ■ lie said gia\e I y, "and to oursehes. ' "You're right, Veia; tiust me ' S-je" smiled on Lim <i>- she went to the d«oi 'Lhen. she turned with swift glace and b'ew '. mi a 1 k>-. " Good right—deal,' .sh& whispered, lhen 'he he.ud hei light steps .i 1 she i.m down the'hall v ' { "Grve hei up; not I," he mutteied, as lie Jesumed his search Satisfied a.iJ,ast that eveiy mode of egiess wiis closed, he took his pl.ue under t. e gieat dome, and looked meditatnely up "That glasu panel," he said a''iud, "is always open for ventilation; but only a bn-J could hcue got up there in the mo ment, I was buistmg down the duor A bird—bj Jove .there's one man m London could have done it. And jet—iid yet—absuid What can he have tu do with Lord Bavenspur.'' Walter I .>nce could not get to ■•jeep for some time, but when he did the iefre-.hmg slumber piqpei to ngcious young man ood came to him. Waking in the morning he had a, dim perception* that he had dreamed fartastically, Ihat a mad lace ,of unconnected incidents connected with the i tudio had chased tlnough his- hi am. He dismissed these" and'sprang up alertly as one great central fact jumped fo hi* memory. Ve'ia lo\ed lnmi, lad admitted that she loved him. Nothing was of consequeade but that Lord Bavenspur's stern ,disapro\al did not count -So kind and indulgent an uncle, who e hen lis wm. -n ho had tieajed him always -as a son*, would not persist "w 'a couise which biought ■ s.onov to. the two whom ti at uncle loved best in all the ,ii cild . Walter smiled con fidently as he thought of Vera's influence over_Loid Bavenspuj, as he lecnlled his own power mei thi" statelj nobleman, with a heait as soft as' v,<xx for those deuest to him , i i I. He'turned tc nng foi hk, valet—but .the" button was not theie He awoke fiom the fiance of lo\e, and stued about *im Ttci everything .came back to him. He' was in Ins uncle's"'dressmg-iopm, and the dre ibis of the: nighti had been fact. . He puslied open the d> «r and Loid lay m an uuea?j- v'wnbei,, moung les-t 1 . esly. and niutteimg* Hi*" face looked ghastly pale, -and Walter was shock ed at the effect which yesteiday's e.ents iad pioduced upon one usually so self-ie-str.uped, so entnely maslei 'cf himsel 1 . I The young man turned i ' \ almc. tde I termmed to violate hiv uik e s ! awl to send for a," doctoi ; but decision on "this- point he postponed for the moment He hurried to his room dressed hastily, ■and ran down to the studio The idw. bed in dcorliids a mute witness to what had ' happened, bub daylight brbugljt no fur- I tlier endeuce of the presence of a mid night maiauder. Waltei sent foi the butler. ,' ' '

"P.'iket." lie said. "Ins loid'-hip js sleeping He )u,s .i\v fully up. et by minder of poor Mr Dela.' ay. and he might have choked' heie ! iht night if I hadn't! got in in time to hosen his- collar." The butler looked from. 4hc solid teak dooi, spoil ficm an Oiiental temple, and then at the younir man's s,talmait shoulder. Walter' ivas re'ieved to see that in thaf glance lay only admiration for bi« stiength.:' there vas evidently no i us-picuon of tie tiuth. - '

"1 want j'ou. Puiker, to have that door | lepaired" 1 immediately. It mu.st be finished by to-night, no mater lio-vi rough!}'. You 1 krou hih lords-hip's fad about thiv, 1 om. j He never leaves i"i ope'). Send for one of 1 the footmen noiv and uKe him oideis that fhis "lvm 'is- not 'to be left alone even while-the v orknifii go to dinner.'' "Quite light, Mr . I'll yee to that, s-ir.V. "'And Paikei, have a ladder biuught heie now, -«ith i-ome clem cloths'tied over tlie upper £i)ds . I -want, to examine that venlHalrr . His loidship found some spots on that picture last night! and thought that raindrops must •! <ive come in. No, I sln]l examine lfe nvji-elf. I ,ie things here aie of too prelti value to, tiust to anyone else'tf opinion." • Thu- "it -nas that in the iimplett J possible

war Walter Lance made an examination of the dome. When he found that it was easy for him to get, through the opeii panel on to- the lvof lie was certain t'..ut his conjectuie was correct; but theie .was ii 6 ■ anyw-here that.• anybody, had been Nov. could he subsequently find any mark in the hard gravelled ■ pal'-' of the garden withuut. ,: •After breakfast, ■whieh- was served ill his own sitting r00m,., he frittered away nearly an hour, making ■ excuses to himself for frequently' going through the halls; "but; he did not meet Veia . At last he gave up hope. He went into the conservatory, crowded with tie rarest bloom.; ; •he-shdolc Instead, hurried-out. of-the house, j'umped into ir Wnsom'aid returned again within three minutes, with the air of one 'who has achieved some'liiug. In t'..e shelter of his 'own room he drew from his pocket a tiny bunch' of. sweet-smelling . English violet.:', which- had cost him just threepence ; these he placed in a. little box; ivhic'iji'he sealed, addressed; and,then licging for his' valet, sent -.'it/to Vera's maid for;', her mistress. - - After that, he; went, to- his ■■i'Lbrd;;Bavenspui--.-\vas-- awaken He answered eager inquiries as'to his. health .with an' >'imp'atienc*: absb]uf.e}j r foreign to. - his nature, 5 and seemed dispesed' to repeat "the attempt of the: night before. He actually tried to laugh, off- everything .as : ;a 'dream; biithe' could .rot 'persist-.ivit;'ithose candid clear eye r s. of- his looking Straight into';his. '/' ■':;.-" x: ■■'■■':'■■ ':■■'. " : .\. " : .' '" ,; , .''". '■'■■■ "It's all/right : ;ui7cle^""'cried;Walter.-'"I acceptywhat '.'..' ■ : \ !' ■' ■'■ "'.'Thank Walter,;" your foolish ideas wiir-go^ho"'further?'': ; ( ; ;,'-,■',;''"' ■".*,•■:.-' ..'■■■ ■ / ' ".' ■••' ; '"-2f0';?.?''. : ''' : ': : " :,: -''-: i':: -yS\'r'- J\';" .-.Eordrßavienspur rodderd approval,'though, well! •:awarettliaf.''his >aephew;-;w:as;: bnly •pretending ;to:■:believe '.what he said..' ■: ■■ ■**■ "T' : stall "rest Quietly. :all; ; ddy, y; :he v ;csn- ; itinued;'; '.'''unlessU : po-r.''>Belahay-s- .'matter,. Vera '''shall s '"'feftd'-'t-o-me'; tliis'f atfternb'ori, 'ftnd ■ p' : !:hall;; : b ; e'. 'all f ■ ; . ; The se'n^Ms.J'-^y^>;^-^V'.^^' : ;' : -'--!'' : '""'-."'': " :; . : «^:Be^ieveiiry6up v ',6ut;-sto-nighty ■ tip"; tlie:house ;frojiji.'time on'ntlie; ;te^phpiie;" ''■ ■'•: :;-" !Nb; ffrofish ; - -anxieties,' ! J" cried ;;hi3 uncl^e inipatiently. ■! "IrHell yoii:' I 'shall be ' all ■right toiriigt't." •';■'. .-v'*:'*■■: ;:-' 1 :-' .■■'-'»';■■"■ -,':';'';•

"I am sine jou will," Lis nephew, speaking' with mine confidence than he felt—is he huiyed awaj / Duung met of thaU da; Walter was seaichir.g for his brilliant and 'eccentuc fiiend, VenaKes. ~This wed-known |ouinal ist carefulh' concealed his address fiom eveiybody,. simply he Lved mj'steiy, and a. do/,eji "haunts" had to be inspected befoie 4ie, J 'wai? finally km to eai t J

" Come and dme," said Walkei As he well knew that lis hiend corsideied that the only dinnei was a steak thicker than it was long and a bottle of port, he led the -way to the ore lestauiant that could piowJe these two things to perfection

Then' con\eisation was almc. t entirelj of the Deldhay m"idei Venab'e-., a specialist io ciune, had a t eoij As it afteiwards, tuineJ, out to b? ent'nely ■wiong, we need not gi\e it heie Venub'es was greatlj luteiested in the widow "Xe\ei saw hei," he said, " b"t I under stand that .he is a beautiful woman with loTge dark eyes I know a chap stopping at the Giand He has seej hei since the muidei'—passed hei u the hall. Absolutely fiozen, he said—seemed to mo\ e like an automaton, ,ind looked like a glost " ' e met hei p~or ladj',' saad Lance oC" me "

"Wheie''"' askel "Yeiicibles. "To the Impeiial Pfil.ide Theatie "

" oh, light. Ytu want to see that chap, I told you aboul—Valdo It'« an turn, awfuljy ile\er IJeie. wait er, some disinfectants " ' The waiter proniptlj bi<,ugh f a huge box of fine 1< okmg ( (Cigais Yeual>'es often wett to mrist, pepulrai place*., wheie the >-moke of shag and othei pungent things perfumed the air^ Within ten minutes t.ey weie m 1 the hall in Yauxhall-bndge load. place iiY<u, Jaige ■enough, and by no means lacked aitistic fiinsn. At one time it had been ian actual theatie,»run by some enthusiast a Mew \o the elevation of the misses and the pioducing of high class plajs at popul ir prices. The expei mient had ended m a g -istly f.uluie, and now a >Jirewd. haid headed publican n the Lcighbouihiod wa.» malviiig his foi tune by the simp'e lxpedient of gmng his pa ions e\acth what they lequned "What pait cf the house -hall we tii '' Wiltei askeJ.

"We Ciin'fe du bfitei than (he pit,' Veil db'es replied. "Illat will cost jm__sis: pence, or peihips, if jou like (o be ex uavagaut ie t.pi ha\e >.i box foi half aciown b-till, ne don't want to make omsehes conspicuous The pit is quite good erough for n-,e. You ciu i moke heie. you know. and l dn k_ too for the mattei of (hat. Bud I should adwte you to tiy the latlei evpenment" The house was fouly well rilled ps the two friends entered and took then *-eits The audience for Ihe most pari were le spectable enough, 'but the air wa& blue "Put on youi cigji, Lanie," said Ven•ib'et.; "lf-Vou lei it go lut, jou'will be asphyxiated." ( \ . A consttint fu'ilade of -chaft went on between the stage/and the-.iudicnce. In .deed, the .utists, foi the most pait, appealed to be on the most tnendly tonus with the 'habitues of the tlieahe. A dieuy-lookmg comeJuu n<w *inging one of tjbet uie\j.table patter songs, full of the >ime feeble illusion i to dunk * without which songs of that kind ne\ei appealed -Ix> be complete The .audience listened stolidly eTough > ' "A»e they nevei goisg io liie of this kind of thing*" Waitei asked his companion ' "Is theie nothing humouious in the world outside the 1 legion Of too much 'beei ' Tliese people sadden me." "Oh, they .\re all light," Venab'a, said, cheeifully. "Iliey 1 J/ie quite happy m their own particulai way. I have long ceased to look foi anything fiesh on the music hall stage An oiigmal artist and an onginal manuei wouldn't be tolejated •• The dieaiy song came to an end at length; then it was followed by two so called sisleis, who, in shoit skirts aDd kuge picture hxts, difcoui l ed of the joys of country life* in a pecuh ir j aggressn e Cockney accent The whole (hirg was dull and -depiestmg to the last clegiee, and Waitei began to legiet his lo'ss of time He noticed fiom his piogiamme that Valdo was down lather late, so tlieie w is roth isg foi it but to I,'ci sess his soul in pntience till the time came It was a little, past ten o clock before (he stafie was cleared, and the attendant s , m their grimy, unifoiins, began to eiect a <-enes ot fine wiie's miming fiom Hie ioof to the flooi. Then theie i\« jn extra llouiish fiom the nggie»sr\e oichestw, and a i Inn man, dieted cntne'j in black, came o'i the stage He w.'s letencd with gicat enthusiasm and the 'smiting of glasses upon the tabes Evidently V.ddo hid es'ab ' h ei himself ;s a him wiih the the Impellal Palace Theatre All Waitei'- apathy had \auif.hcd now, as he turned to tie -U>»e and scrutinized the .mob it long and cajefully. So far as he could judge. Ya'do was no Englishin.in with a foi sign name bu.i i geni'inc foieignei, pie umabrr of Italian birth. TJie man was lot tali or paitirulaih bioidj but he was well piopoiti ned, and gne the idea of one possessed of consldeiable physical stlength In. particular,,, Walter nh (iced how long hi- aims weie, and how the muscles stood ouL between lii» 'shoulders . to the lest the man looked mild enough, and his daik (southern fate was

•wreathed in aw amiable smile. <Be proceeded i;o'\v, with the aid of an attendant, to faster. two small canvas fiamest'- hj:.« shoulders. These he thru shed up and down with his uiiiiis, much as ■a cock Haps his wings before • crowing. Then, with an agile leup (lorn the ■stage, the. man proceeded to sail up slowly fiom the floor to the Hies. " That's clever," Venables exclaimed. "It-.iu.ks to me an if our friend has solved the art of the flying machine. Dut one never knows. 1 daresay it is no more than some ingenious trick. This speech a-ppeared to be lcsenled by a respectable-looking mechanic who was occupying the next seat to Venable-. ■ " Nothing of the kind, - ' the man said, indignantly. " I've been here three nights now, and I know something about mechanic's, too. If you think that wire; are used you are just mistaken. A frjend of mine is stage carpenter here, and he tcld ■■me all about it. Depend uptai it, that chap has got. ihe knack right enough." The performer fluttered down again from the wingi; as lightly and easily as he bad risen, .and a tremendous outbreak of, applause followed. When the din had died a.way,i the s'age! manager came forward and invited any of the audience who chose to come .up and See for themselves that everything was fair and legitimate, and that no mechanism had been employed. The/intelligent mechanic turned to Venables with ■»■.. defiant smile.

'■' Now m your chance; giiv'nor," he exclaimed. "You and smell-it out lor Yourself." ' "'.•..'•'.'•

. Yesables \youkl have declined the- offer,but already .Walter had risen eagerly, from his seat.'. 'The opportunity was 'too good to be wbste- su'clr a, chance would be the height of folly : A moment or two- later tJie two; friends were tin, the otage:■■'■■"■fhey stood there whilst the performer went 'through another series;• of graceful ''performances; - but they-,;could 'Se3'-nothing■ which suggested- mechanical;, contrivance of aSy' kind.i Then the".whole cracetul act .came, to an end at. lerjgfh, and 'Valdo stood.there.bowing and;smiling, when were" removed:'' /''-''• ;! ,.i.:: -■ ■■■■'■' Let's haven, chat with'him,"' Ver<a.blea whispered; •" Aparti from the thing be-. decidedly interesticg, ..there.'ought to be some goocl•' here. = ■ Prpper'y worked, Siguor.Valdo .ought. t<> . be.'iw.qrth.'a., couple r of .obiuhms-.tq'ane.".' ". j'-V';r.>; I'",. .- .";'

asro, on his leturn to London, gave ,i> Pi ess tlie btjgg nvuuger piicLed up his eus. He was nrt insen ible io the v.ilue of a "ood adveitisement. He suggested a mo-\c t- his piivate office, . wheic it would be possible-to interview quietly. " JCothing I should like bettei," Walter said eagerly. "Perhaps you Mill oome with us, and ~j(iiu «r in a b'Jltle of chainpag:e" (To be continued.)