Clover Hawthorne's Fortune.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14056, 13 November 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

Clover Hawthorne's Fortune.

(By Dr. Lechmere Anderson.)

Author of "Amy's Luck," "The Hand of Justice," Lucious Stilly," etc.

CHAPTER X—HUGH'S THIRD ATTEMPT. When Clover left the office that afternoon she felt no surprise at finding Phil waiting for her. "You will give up your work now. Be said, passing her arm through his with an air of proud proprietorship. "Your time is mine." "Until Gerald returns you will let me continue at it? He will only be away a month," she added quickly seeing him about to protest. * '"And after that when will you come tome?" "If the change does him good, whenever you wish," she whispered. He pressed the little gloved-hand that lay upon his arm. ''That will be the dav he comes back." "But Phil, if he is not stronger. vou must not ask me to leave him. Gerald has only me. You will not be angry if I cannot do as you wish at once?" , "I am worse off than Gerald, I have nobody," he answered with pretended sternness.

"You are strong. Yon are not an invalid. I could not leave him," she answered, mournfully. "I never asked you to. 11l or well Gerald shall have a home with us. 1 would not dare to ask you to leave your brother if his health was bad, because I know you would not." "You do not "doubt I love you?" and Clover looked so lovingly into his eyes that Phil could hardly resist taking her in his arms and kissing her: but they were passing Hyde Park corner, and even Phil, hopelessly in love as he was, realised that it was not a wilderness. "I love you all the more for it. :sow, is vour mind at rest? Do you know, the only thing that makes roe resigned to your continuing work is that it will give me the opportunity of seeing vou every day." " "Will bnsine-ss take yon to -Mr. Boulter's so frequently?" she asked, naively. T , „ .. Phil laughed. "If not. I shall wait for vou outside." "Oh! but I could not take you so far out of your way every day." "I have a. secret to tell-you. I am a householder now. This afternoon T took a flat in West Kensington. Of course I won't enter into possession for a week or so," and he went on to tell how he and Gamble had spent the . afternoon. " Gamble jrnntrf me to buy a host of things, but I thought it would be better to leave you to choose." ~ , fi From this their conversation drifted off to a hundred subiects that lovers like to speak about. They had reached West Kensington before Phil recollected about the letter "I cannot understand it,' he said. " but it serves to confirm me m my belief that some day you will set your "I do not want it now. I have everything * wish." The streets were practically ed the lamps few and dimly lighted and—Phil kissed her. "I must really say good-night she aaid. ten minutes later. " Gerald will think that I have run away. Another quarter of an tor pag before Clover joined her brother. tone Whim impatiently waiting for see I ham* been preparing." he said, pointing to a strapped and she answered, bending down to read 'Torquay in the label. " When do. you leave? "If I start immediately after break- - fast it would give you time to see me o&V It seems dreadfully mean my go- ' "iheTnt her head to hide the light that sprang into her eyes At that moment London was the dearest spot on earth to her. . ,„„ , "Did vou do as I wished.- she asked. ""Did you write to Hugh"l did not require to He called this afternoon. He took it better than I expected; he says he will not give and that he will not spenk of Leto you until •^l™ l "™- the Plover's eves sparkled at me thSint when that day came Hugh Tnoug"* renew Ins suit, for £3 \£ -rid could know she was did not mention Dallas "continued Gerald "but Hugh messedthere was a rival in the field |Sps you may change yonr mind before a Louth has passed. It would te * pleasant surprise for me on my "Sever shook her head. She was unpieasantness had tT led the subject to and she <lI^ r f^"i_|i;.. <l »,; m that Corsafer ground bv * e *' n +'""„„„j se the bett bad been unable to rct«„>i h *^^ver ! e*pocted him to, but «.roDo^ou vou will receive.' , T . "p«»nelooe thought so also. I am if ft aves mucl. pleasure a* s£&?£Ei h°p* * ** comc "•?£ it comes I esnect it will 1* at regular intervals, say quarterly or halt - e There Gerald was wrong for next for fifty ponnds. instead oft wentv.the contents were identical to J.e letter *>» t-> the South of France if ?•»* "'•■"' ¥ she said as she held the note in front ° f Gerald eyes brightly-as he Ra »*See at Clover!" he cried breathlessIt as he pointed to the heading on the notr "It » a Bank of the P.mp.re , "ne!* Mr? Boulter's bank! Surely they ought to trace the culprit now. t£T number may have been taken: they may-nay, they are bound to Sow who they paid it to. This is so important, I > feel inclined to postpone must not think of it Your he-.ilth*is far more important than all tie money in the *«•"«• * "You wftf show it to Corbett at oncef" persisted Gerald "TVire § me if Sips him in his I ™U kn<£ I hate wjvertv. I bate yonr daily slavery, I fSETto-—" bu * Gerald's words were cut short by a more than usually painful fit of coughing. He langhed nnrtHessly when the attack had ceased. "After all you are right. Money will be of little value to me unless I aet rid of this, but ever since I heard if this legacy it has haunted me. | "Then we will talk no more about; it" answered Clover, "and accept, thankfully the gifts the gods send j ■OB." - ' Whenever she reached the office she showed the note to Corbett as Gerald bad desired. . He listened with intense interest, but pretended to have little confidence fn being able to track the note.

"However. I will do my best," lie said "if yoii will trust it to my caro 1 will take it into the bank and see what thev may know of it. It is just possible they nwy U- able to supply the information we require. But when Corbett left her. .nsfead of <l..ii.- what he said, he went t.. his private room ami opening a ledger turned to almost the last entered item. For a moment he compared some fi.Ti, r ,.s entered there with tin- number of the note. Opposite the hgures was written: For private u.-e. Ihe note was the identical one lie had "liven to Gamble the day before on Mr. Boulters instructions . . Not knowing what to make ol ii. he carried the note to Mr. Honker. Hugh was at work in his lather's room. Thev listened silently to Ins story. Mr." Boulter affected to treat the matter lightly. "If Gamble chooses to spend his monev in this way he is welcome to. If it eases his co-science lie can give it all. but anparon'lv he is not so conscience-racked a* t'lal. "He sent all we paid l< : "i yesterday," corrected Corbett. " What shall I tell Miss Hawthorne:-" "Tell her/' laughed Hugh, "that we are very hopeful of being able to trace the note." Mr. Corbett paid no heeu to Hugh. "What shall I say," he repeated. "You can say nothing else,-" said Mr. Boulter wearily. " I wish I had not trusted the story to that fellow," said Hugh, scowlingly, as Corbett left the room. "He lias cot no more pluck than a mouse. "He has the pluck to wish to do right; it is more than we can say." For a little Mr. Boulter sat in deep thought. ~ ~ "I believed T could trust Gamble, ho said, speaking more to himself than Hugh, "but now I am convinced he is paving the way to revealing all. Have you done anything about the matter'we spoke of yesterday?" he added,"lowering his voice to a whisper. "I know where to lay my hands on a man." "Then see liim at once, pay him any sum he demands. We must obtain possession of the receipt within a week: Gamble will not keeo silence longer," and rising to his feet Mr. Boulter pased up and down the roon l . "Can you trust this man?" he asked, pausimr in front of Hugh. "I shall not trust him with much. T shall only tell him T want a letter Gamble carries. I will not even let him think. I am the principal. He is a racing tout, professional pick-pocke+. and billiard marker. I have found him useful iir the first eanacitv. we will test his second now. I snoke to him last night about the matter: tins evening T mean to point Gamble out to him."

"You will lie careful. Hugh!" cried Mr. Boulier. nervously. "I can take care of myself," answered Hugh, as he left the room. Leaving the office he found his way to a low-class billiard room. Save for a small delicate, almost comsumptivelooking man the place was empty. His sharp beady eyes glistened like needles a< be recognised Htigh. ,: You have not been long in turning up. T suppose its about that prigging job," he said, making no endeavour to modulate his voice. "Confound you, Joe! can't you he more discreet?" retorted Hugh, savagely. '• Who knows how many ears might hear?" The man addressed as Joe smiled blandly. "Bless yer innerceme, there's nobody but prigs comes here, barring a copper or two to look for them, but its too soon for either one or t'other yet. They're night birds is my customers, .and the, cops know they won't snare them in the. light." HLs talk was richly interspersed with slang, and occasionally an oath garnished his sentences, but both may be omitted here. "It all depends on the sum you pay whether I'm on or not," 'he said at last, and picking up a billiard cue lie began knocking the balls about. Hugh had no idea what sum would temps him. " Will ten pounds do?" he asked. " —And three are twelve," said Joe, picking the red ball out of a top corner pocket, and spotting it again complacently, repeated the stroke. Hugh knew —he had heard and watched the play with some interest — but as time after time the red went down only to be respotted, he grew impatient. "What do you say?" he asked. "Forty-eight," said Joe. referring to the score, and ceasing his play for a moment to chalk his cue he turned to Hugh: "I am letting the balls decide. It's forty-eight pounds just now."

"Stop jostling and come to business-, I am.impatient to be off." "There's no one keeping you." Just as Joe was about to resume his play Hugh laid his hand upon his arm. "Name your figure," he said angrily, "I have no time to waste." With a steady hand Joe plaved his stroke. For a moment the ball hung over the pocket as if it had ceased to move, but the next it disappeared. "Fifty-one. Bless you, what's the hurry? I won't go on all night." Joe was right, for the nest >shot he failed to score. "Fifty guineas—that's the figure, and the money down." he said. " Give it or keep it, it's all the same to me. Even although it is only a letter as you say"—and Joe looked keenly at Hugh—"it's five years to me if I'm caught. The money is little enough for the risk, and I suppose I am not debarred from perquisites." " What do you mean?" With a quick movement unseen to Hugh. Joe slipped the former's watch from his pocket and held it before his eves. "This and" —as Hugh, took the watch —"this," and with his "other and lie showed a silver cigarette case. •' Personal belongings, that's what I mean by perquisities." "They might run us into danger if they were traced." replied Hugh, thoughtfully inwardly rejoicing at the thought that were Gamble plundered it would divert suspicion from him. Were the receipt alone taken, Gamble would know at once who was the thief. "Trust me for that," answered Joe, nonchalantly. •'■'lf y° u do, it is at your own risk; otherwise I have no objections." "You cannot say fairer, but now the main part of th« business is decided, how is the thing to he carried out? The actual work you may leave to me. but I don't know the man." Before they parted it was arranged that they should watch each evening in the street where Gamble lived. Soon they would be certain to see him. Fortune favoured them that very night. Just as Hugh had begun to weary of his task ho descried Gamble leaving his house. Hastily drawing Joe into the shadow of a doorway they waited until he passed. "Will you be able to recognise him again?" whispered Hugh. ""•'lf the job's to be done," retorted Joe, fhere's no time like the present," and'he s peered up and down the street. Save for Gamble's slowly retreating form it was deserted. " It's just the ticket." he said gloatingly. "What do you mean to do?" asked Hugh, nervously, looking down at his companion's puny figure. " You are not able to tackle him alone." As Hugh spoke Joe pulled him further into the gloom. The glowing point of Gamble's cigar showed that ho was returning. Apparently he was en-

joying an evening cigar before ■vturning in for the night, "If you wait here you'll see," replied Joe, his breath coining hot and quick. "Remember, if you fail, you get no help from me," whispered* Hugh, warningly. "It would ruin all if he guessed I had a hand in it."

Joe made no reply. Step by step Gamble drew nearer." As he approached them be laughed lightly at some thought that struck him, and for an instant he stood with his back towards them, idly surveying the sky. Hugh felt ii movement at his side. His nerves wore on the rack, and almost involuntarily lie laid his hand upon Joe's arm to restrain him. but Joe had merely looked to see if the coast was clear. As Gamble moved away, he stole steadily after him. Hugh hardly trusted himself to breathe as ho watched the silent, pan-ther-like figure. For an instant Joe paused, then with a swift rush and .spring that can only be compared to a tiger leaping on its victim, he was on Gamble. With lightning speed he twined a silken scarf round his neck, and twisted it in his iron grip. No Indian Thug could have done the work more quickly or with more deadly effect.

TTnablc to utter a cry Gamble tore at the encircling cord that was so swiftly choking him, hut soon his efforts seased, his face blackened, his eyes protuded, from their sockets, his lips grew blue and swollen, and without a moan he fell back motionless. With practical hands the thief searched pocket after pocket,, chuckling to himself as lie removed a well-filled purse. At last content with his gains lie unfastened the band round Gamble's throat and with scientific knowledge jerked rapidly upon the protruding tongue. A faint sigh followed. "Have, you got. the letter?" demanded Hugh, in an anxious whisper. " T have got everything he has, but there is no letter." With a furious oath Hugh fell lino-i his knees beside the body and dived a hand into Gamblers breast pocket. It was empty. "Help me to search for it," he cr ; ed fiercely. "It must be somewhere, ho always carries it with him. There must 1)0 a ermccnKl pocket ab~ut hic\nt," and with furious haste he felt here and there. His rough handling helped to restore Gamble. Dimly lie began to realise what hud happened. " "It isn't there, von need not; "disturb yourself." he heard Joe say. " Paper is easily found yon bear the crackle." "Tt must be : be told me he never went without it," retorted Hugh, his heart sinking at the thought of the risk he had run for'nothing. Had Gamble been .fully conscious he would probably have stifled th" chuckle he emitted at Hugh's words. Too weak to struggle to his feet, he raised himself uoon an elbow. * " I will have to increase my price sentence terminated with a groan, fur unable to restrain his rage and terror at being recognised, Hugh seized his heaving walking stick aiul struck him on the head with the. full force of his arms, struck again, and yet again, and this time the stick broke into fragments in his hand. Hardened as he was Joe sank hack appalled.

" You've done it now ! There's murder on your hands!" At the word murder all trace of pissum left Hugh's face, f.-ar t'ok p >sses«ion of him. ami be trembled convulsively. "What shall we do?"-lie cried. Joe. who had already recovered himself, answered promptly: "The sooner we put miles belween us and him the better, is the only ad-» vice I. have to "give,"" arid he was about to net on his words when he in his turn stood 1 error-stricken. At the far end of the street, 'he light of a policeman's lamp was visible, and at the other a passenger E-cane without observation seemed impossible, but Joe's wits were read v. The few yards thev had gone had brought them in front of Gamble's door—it was open. "Quick, help mo with him." he whispered, hoarsely, nlacinir a band under Gamble's shoulder, and together ihov dragged tho body into the ho"se j and pushed it into a dark corner beside the stairs.

To the guilty men each moment felt a lifetime. "If either of onics in here" whispere l Joe. "T'H take rare rf »>lm." and holding no his scarf in readiness he stood behind the dorr listening eagerly till the sound of footsteps drew near, passed "n-1 then died iwnv in the distance. With a sign to Hugh to stand still he partially opened the door and peered out. Oiice more the street was empty. Without a glance at the huddled body of their victim thev stole away. Not until they had gone more thin a mile did Hugh venture to spenk. "Are you sure he was dead?" ho asked. Joe laughed callously. "I would not worry about that now, it's too late to mourn. He's dead sure enough. When you struck a second time you struck a corpse. After all it was the safest thing to do: 'dead men tell no tales.' But we need not walk so fast, there's no one looking for us—yet. The hue and cry won't get up until they find it,"and he accompanied the words with a backwar wave of his arm. "I need not tell you to keep a still tongue between your teeth," said Hugh, as they readied a corner where their paths diverged, "wo are both in the swim." Joe grinned uneasily. ."No. if it's a hanging business I reckon you hang alone." "If I dance, I will dance with a partner," answered Hugh menacingly, as he hurried off to his rooms. Mr Monitor's residence. linmia Manor, was seven or eight miles out of London. Its quietness and seclusion did not suit Hugh's mode of living, and he had taken these rooms in town which lie, as a rule, occupied. When ho found himself alone, his fears overcame him, each sound reechoed Gamble's piteous groan,, every belated wayfarer was a, detective already upon his track. Ho shunned policemen as if a plague infected tliem. If he had to meet one ho raised his hand involuntarily to shield his features. His pace was almost a run till he approached his rooms, when in became so slow that it appeared as if he wished his walk had been longer. The thought of being alone indoors appalled him: he dared not face si litude. A fast man about town, he knew many hauntu where he could meet the kind of company he wanted. Finding a. cabman sleeping upon his box, he roused him and bade him drivo to one. The creaking cracking wheels revolved to the word Murder. lie pressed his fingers to his ears to close out the sound that'only, sang in his brain. It but grew the. louder. "My God! Will we never be there!" he called, putting his head out of the window. Whether his cry diverted the cabman's attention from his horse, or whether sleep again hail overtaken him, in turning a corner the wheel collided with a. lamp post and the horse fell heavily. There was a .sound of crackling wood that told of a broken .shaft. Befoi,. Hugh well realised what had occurred, a policeman had thrown back the dour and Hashed his lamp inside. In terror Hugh huddled into the cor-Uf.-r then gathering him-cll together

he sprang rudely out. With a muffled oath lie tossed the man some money and stalked rapidly away. Reaching his destination he hesitated whether to enter. His guilty soul asked him whether they would shrink from him, would know instinctively that he had blood upon his hands. Almost as if he expected them to be stained he looked at them. The glove on his right, was split, from the force with which ho had dealt the blow. Hastily removing it ho threw it from him. Five minutes later ho was seated at a green table, playing recklessly, not for money or the excitement of the game, but to drive the maddening fear from his mind. Anxiously he watched the clock, terrified lest the game should cease before daybreak. With daybreak he thought he could bear the horror, could decide what course to follow.

The pile of coins before him grew larger and larger. Nothing ho could do was wrong, said the croupier, forcced a smile in to his evil face, but the smile died still-born, for Hugh's fnco had grown ghastlv. White and haggard, with large beads of perspiration standing on his brow, his eyes burning and bloodshot, ho looked hideous.

"What is the matter? You don't look fit to play?" cried the man, involuntarily rising from his chair. "Mind your game," answered Hugh roughly, and threw a larger stake than he had yet risked upon the board in front of him.

The spinning ball was red in colour. As it whirled rapidly round it appeared to Hugh as- if a river of blood swam before his eyes. He closed them to shut out the sight. For an' instant players held thenbreath as the ball slowly approached the number Hugh had staked upon. "The Bank is broken. Play is over for the night," and pushing a heap of gold towards Hugh, the croupier rose from his seat.

Davlight had not broken as Hush \mwillinsly Heft thn room. _Hc pursed the good luck thnt had given him into the streets again, but until morning dawned lie haunted them. Then, utterly worn out, racked in body and mind, lie ventured into his rooms, mid throwing himself undressed upon his bed tried to find oblivion in sleep. Just as Hugh sank into the slumber in which he was to repeat a hundred times the tortures of his waking hours. Jack Gamble's consciousness returned. For two hours before, sundry moans and uneasy tossings of his hotly had proclaimed the fact that the blows he had received had not succeeded in killing him. Gathering himself slowly and unsteadily to his feet h<* pressed his hand to his throbbing head and looked about, him woiKleringly. His face was flushed and bloated, a slight inequality of the pupils gave an odd expression to his eyes, one side of his body felt asleep. "Drunk again," he muttered, speaking thickly and somewhat , indistinctly, looking down at the bare stones. "It was not just the softest bed to choose. I'd best he getting home." Iteaching the outer door he stood for a second with his hand upon the knob. "I seem to know this place. Someone J knew lived in a house like this." and again he plaeed his hand to his head.

" I must have dreamt it," lie concluded, and swaying from side to side he staggered into the street. The cool morning air seemed to revive him, for he walked • more. steadily, hut. the curious look of bewilderment had not left his face as he reached the corner of the street. "Strange! I don't remember being here before. What an effect di|ink h:is! One forgets everything. I will forget mv own -name. yet. -My 0- ! f wish I could. To think that I have come to this. Ah! Jack (iambic was a good name to choose. Jack Fool! Jack Spendthrift! Jack Drunkard.!- It combines the three. Bah! Always the same. Drunk at night, to wake only to drink again. What a beast I am!" '• What on earth are you yarning about,, mister P" queried a policeman, coming up behiiid him and glancing at his flushed face and dishevelled clothes. "Six o'clock in the morning and not in bed ; at your age, too: you ought to be ashamed." Gamble's clothes, soiled by the damp mud of the street when he had fallen, had also acquired a coat" of dust from the passage where he had passed the night. It was little wonder if the constable took him for a drunkard staggering home after a mouth's debauch. With an attempt at dignity Gamble tried to draw himself up only to fall forward into the policeman's arms. "Hold up, mister, if you are so precious fond of me, I'll have to keep you company—to the station. Take my tip, make your legs your friends." "Not much to depend on," he added, laughingly, as Gamble acted upon his advice. Slowly and painfully Gamble struggled on until at last, on reaching a low and wretched locality, his eyes briiibthened. " Home at last," he muttered in a tone of relief. •■ I began to think I'd' never reach it. It's curious drink never alfected me like 'his before. It feels as if it were weeks since I was here."

Holding on tn :i lamp-post- to steady himself and looking Howards, he murmured u:it ln-i it-ally: "I don't know that you'll i hink, my word worth much, hut I don't remember flint. I ever broke if to a m-ii, iind I'm not going to begin now. I .shall not <lrink again." He walked a few yards further on and entering a low door, crawled painfully, dragging a leu; hehind him, no a long Highlit of rickety stairs until at last he reached a squalid attic. It was the room Phil had once brought him to. No one had occupied -it since (iambic had deserted it. Swing the few .sticks of furniture left behind, the other inmates of the house had supposed he would return, and had respected his few pieces of property. He tumbled rather than fell into a chair. "Phil Dallas! Where have I heard that name? All! He was — Tuts! I can't remember. Jack Gamble's drunk." With a low moaniiik cry he fell face downwards on the floor. A neighbour found him there .soon afterwards and called a dispensary doctor in. "Apoplexy,"- muttered the surgeon, after a brief examination. "The case is dangerous, be must not. he moved. I will call hack again tonight," and after giving a. few general directions lie left upon his rounds, without having noticed a depression upon (iambic's skull, caused by the first blow Hugh Monitor had struck. (To be. Continued.) noMiißßManu