SCARHAVEN KEEP

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12435, 28 September 1918, Page 12

SCARHAVEN KEEP

CHAPTER XTV. (continued). " Not for myself," sho answered, giving him a warning look and glancing «t Mrs Ureiylo, wiho was_ talking eagerly to Mr Dcnnie and Gilling. '' But my mother if) not as strong as sho looks,' and it would bo a blow to her to lcavo this plane, and wo aro tho Sq'ain.Vs tonnnts, anil therefore at Chntfield'tj mercy. And you know that Oh.itueld <]<>ca as ho likes! Now do you understand?" "It maddens mo to think that, you should bo at Chntficld's mercy I" muttered Copplestone: " Hut do you really mean to say that if—if ' Ohatiiold thought you—that is, yiour motherwore mixed up in anything relating to tho clearing up of this affair ho would "

“ Drive us out without uiercy,” replied Audrey. “That’s dead certain.” “ And that your cousin would lot him!” exclaimed Copplcstone. “Surely notl” “ I don’t think tho Squire has any control over Chatfiold,” sho answered. “You have soon them together.” "If that’s so,” said Gopplesloiro, “I shall begin to think there is something queer ‘about tho Squire in tho way your mother suggests. It looks as if Oil at field had iv hold on him. And in that case ”

Ho suddenly broke oIT ns a sin art automobile drove up to tho cottage dioor and set down a tall, distinguished looking ma.u who after a glance at tho little house walked quickly up tho garden. Audrey’s face showed surprise.

“ Mother!” she enid, turning to Mrs Greyle. “Thoro’s Lord Altmoro hero I Ho must want you Or shall 1 go?”, Mrs Greyle quitted fclio room Hastily. The others heard her welcome the visitor,' load him nip the tiny hall; they hoard a door shut. Audrey looked at Copplostouo.

“ You’ve heard of Lord Altmoro, haven’t you?” she said. .“He’s-our biggest man in these parts—he owns all the country at the back, the mountains, valleys, everything. The Greyle land shuts him off from the sea. In tho old days, Groyles and Altmores used to fight over their boundaries, and ”

Mrs Greyle suddenly showed herself again and looked at* her daughter. "'Will you come here, Audrey?” she said. “ You gentlemen will excuse both of us for a few minutes P” Mother and daughter went away, and the two young men drew up their chairs to tho table at which Mr, Deiuiie sat and exchanged views with him on tho curious situation. Half-an-hour went by; then steps and, voices were heard in the hall and the garden; Mrs Greyle and Audrey were seeing their visitor out to his car. In a few minutes tho car sped away, and they came back to' the parlour. One glance at their faces showed Gilling that some new development had cropped up and he nudged Copplestono. “Here is remarkable news!” said Mrs Greyle as she went back to her chair. “Lord Altmore called to tell me of something that he thought I ought to know. It is almost unbelievable, yet it is a fact. Marston Greyle —if ho i$ Marston Greyle I —has offered to sell Lord Altmore the entire Scarhaven estates, by private treaty. Imagine it!—the estate,which has belonged to the Greyles for five hundred years!”CHAPTER XV. THB OABtEOKAM- itlOH NEW TOBg. The two younger men received this announcement with no more than looks of astonished inquiry, but the elder, one coughed significantly, had further recourse to his snuff-box and turned to Mr&. Greylo with a knowing glance. “My dear lady I” he said .impressive-, ly. ‘‘Now this is a matter in which' I believe I can be of service—real service 1 _ You may have forgotten the fact—it is all so long ago—and perhaps I never mentioned it in the old days—but tho truth is that before 1 wont on the stage, I was in tho law. Tlie fact is, 1 am dub? and fully qualified solicitor—though,” he added, with % dry chuckle, “it is a good five and twenty. years since I paid the six) pounds tor the necessary annual certificate, But I have not forgotten my law—or some of it—.and no doubt I can 1 furnish up a little more, if necessary. You say that Mr Marston Greyle. the present owner of Scarhaycn. has offered to sell his estate to Lord Altmoro? But—-is not tho estate entailed?”

"No! 0 replied Mrs Greyle. "It is not.” Mr Donnie’s face fell—unmistakably. He took another pinch of snuff and shook his head.

” Then in that case,” he said drily, "all the lawyers in the world can’t help. It’s his—absolutely—and he can do what ho pleases with it. Five hundred years, you say? Remarkable!— that a man should want to sell land his forefathers have walked over for half a thousand years! Extraordinary!”

"Bid Lord Altmore say if any reason had been given him as to wbv Mr Greyle wished to sell?” asked Gilling. " Yes.” replied Mrs Greyle, who was obviously greatly upset by the recent news. "He did. Mr Greyle gave ns his reason that the North does not suit him, and that ho wishes to buy an estate in the South of England, He approached Lord Altmoro first because

BY J. S. FLETCHER,

it is well known that, the Altntores hare always been anxious to extend their own borders to the coast.”

“Does Lord Altniore want to buy?” asked Colling. _ * i “It is very evident that ho would bo quite willing to buy,” said Airs G revlo.

“IVhat made him conic to you," continued Gilling. “Ho must have had some reason.”

. “ lie had a reason,” Airs Groyle an sweml, with n glance at Audrey. “Ho knows tho family history, of course—ho is very well aware that my daughter is at present tho heir apparent. He therefore thought we ought to know of this offer. But that, is not quite all. Lord Alttnore has, of course, read tho accounts of tho inquest in this morning’s paper. Also his steward was present at tho inquest. And from what no has read, and from what his steward told him. Lord Altmore, .thinks there is something wrong—ho thinks, for ■instance. v.iiat Mansion Grcyle should explain this mystery about tho meeting with Bassett Oliver .in America.’ At any rate, ho will go no further in any negotiations until that mystery is 'properly cleaved V.p._ Shall 1 tell you what Lord Altmoro said on that point? He said-—”

“ la it worth while, mother?” interrupted Audrey. “It was only ‘ his opinion,” ’•‘lt is worth while—amongst ourselves," insisted Mrs Greylc. " 'Why hot? Lord Altmoro said—in so many words— 1 1 have a sort of uneasy feeling, after reading the evidence at that inquest, ami hearing what my steward’s impressions were, that this man culling himself Marston Groyle may not bo Marston Greylo at all and I shall want good proof \that he is before I oven consider the proposal he has made to me.’ There! So—what’s to be, done?”

“The law, ma’am,” observed Mr Donnie, solemnly, “ ilm law must step in. You.must get an injunction, ma’am, to prevent Mr Marston Greyle from dealing with the property, until his own title-to it has been established. That, at any rate, is my opinion.” “May'l ask a question?” said Copplestonc, who bad boon listening and thinking intently. " Did Lord Altmore say when this offer was made to him?”

“Yes,” replied Mrs. Greyle. "A week ago.” “A week ago!” exclaimed Copplostono. “That is, before last Sundaybefore tho Bassett Oliver episode, ’.then —tlie offer to sell is quite independent of that affair!”

“Strange—and significant!” mutteied Gilling. He rose from his chair and loo'ked at his watch. “Well,” he went.on, “ I am going off to London. Will you give me leave, Mrs Greyle, to report all this to Sir Oresswell Oliver and Mr Petherton? i They ought to know.” “I’m going,, too,” declared Copplestone, also rising. “Mrs Greyle, I’m sure, will entrust the whole matter to us. And Mr Bennie will trust us with those papers.” “Oh, certainly, certainly,” asserted Mr Deiuiie, pushing his packet across the table. “ Take care of _ ’em, my boy—ye don’t know how important* they may turn out to be.” ‘‘And—Mrs Greyle?” asked Copplestone.

“Tell whatever you think it best to tell,” replied Mrs Greyle. “My own opinion is that a lot will 1 have to be told—and to come out, yet,” “We can catch a train in threequarters of an hour, Copplestone,” said Gilling. “Let’s get back and settle up with Mrs Wooler and bo off.” - Copplestone contrived to draw Audrey aside. “This isn’t goed-byej” he whispered, with a meaning look. "You’ll see mo back here before many days are over. But listen—if anything happens here, if you want anybody’s help—in any way—you know,what I mean—promise you’ll wire to me at this address. Promise—or I won’t go.” “Very well," said Audrey, “I promise. Put—why shall l you come bach?” “Tell you when I come,” replied Copplestone with another look. “But —I shall oome—and soon. I’m only going because I want to be of use—to yon. : An hour later he and Gilling were on their way to London, and fronf opposite corners of a compartment which they had contrived to get to themselves, they exchanged looks. ’ “This is a queer business, Oopplestone!” said Gilling. “It strikes me it’s going to be a big ohe, too. And —it’s coming to a point round Squire Greyle.”. 1 ■ ' (To be continued.)