THE INVESTMENTS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20041, 2 September 1920, Page 5

THE INVESTMENTS

s ■ © © By © 2 ■ © © JOSEPH HOOKING. ©

© I © CHAPTER V. When he came down the following morning, ho found Dick already at tha breaitiast table. My native air has mad© a now man of mb already,” ho laughed. “I’m as nu,ugry us a Cog, unu when I saw that breakfast was ready 1 couldn’t wait.” '‘ That's good. i wish I could say the same." - “ lon look washed-out, old man. Didn't you sleep F’ - “ Not until after four o’clock. I couldn’t help trying to fathom what von Said." . “ Dot any where F” “ Not yet.” ‘■ .Let’s forget it all for-a hit. The spirit of tho country has got hold of hie, and 1 want to go and see Trocarrol. Of course it’ll not bo pleasant, to see strange people masters of your old home, but from what you say they look at things tho right way, and I’m just longing to be there.” “ All ‘right, we’ll drive over at once. I'm sure the Churchills will understand.'' N-o thought of secret papers disturbed Dick irscarrel’a mind that morning. He fras too busy scanning the countryside. He knew every lane, every field, every copse, and every cottage between Restormel and Trecarrcl, and as ho saw, a great love surged up in his heart , for the scenes of his boyhood. " I envy you old'.man.” he cried as they rede along. “By Jove, I’d bo glad to be wounded like you, if it meant that I could spend a few months down here. Look there’s the old church where Parson Wise usefhtn officiate, Good old sport was Wise, wasn’t ,110. Couldn’t preach for nuts, hut I’d rather trust to his Judgment about a horse, or a dog than any man I know. How he did love the sound of dog g( didn’t he? When he got too old to ride after the bounds, be used to got out his old grev mare, and watch li’™/- rom point to point. Yes, there’s the vicarage among the trees and by Jove T believe that’s old Zneky Read.' I thought he was dead. Why. he must bo near eighty.” And so on. At ©very turn in tho road at the sight of overv cottage some trH, memory came surging back. ''hen they came to Trecarrel gates, however, he became suddenly silent. His taco was hard* and set ns they went up the drive, and when the old granite built mansion suddenly burst into view no gave ai kind of gasp. “H’s beastly.hard luck, Frank,” hd said between his set teeth. “Oh, why am I so blessedly poor?” ‘‘Marrya rioli wife.” advised Prank. Id do almost—anything to be able to hvo there when I wanted. Why. don t you remember when wo climbed time old chestnut tree and' ?” lie did not .finish the sentence for at that moment they drew up at the d-or which wan opened as if by magic. They had barely alighted when Mr Churchill appeared. „. bbiia is what I call real good ,or you, cried the American heartily. I said to mother and Virrv while we were having breakfast, that although you were hero yesterday, we’d drive over find see you this morning. What’s that you say? Mr Trecarrel? I’m proud to see you, sir. Now lot’s have a clear understanding right away. This is your house all tho time, and you are master hero. Wo are only guests to whom in your kind hospitality you’ve given house room. Qome right in. v }rry! v Here's Sir Frank Restomel, V/ho has brought over Mr Trecarrel. the Owner of the house. By tho way. Sir Frank, I’ve two friends who weren’t hero when you called yesterday. They came down by the Cornish Riviera Express from London, One’s a French- • man, and the other’s an American. Mr Arnold, this is Sir Frank Restormei, and Mr Trecarrel; this gentleman-is Mr Seth T. Arnold, of the State of Connecticut, and this gentleman is Monsieur Julps Renaud, who is, I bolievo, connected with the famous Renaud cars.’. The latter of the two strangers was a- young man, of perhaps twenty-eight yearn of ago, whoso nationality was writ large upon him. , The other waa a middle-aged man whose 'dress and accent also proclaimed his country. He told the two young men that he’d come from “ Noo Yark,” and that he did not mean to give tho British Government any rest until he was supplied with a “ pass to visit the fighting line.” ‘l’m keen to see this skirmish.” assented Mr Seth T. Arnold, “and I want to see how the Britishers stage. I guess too that I’ll get the French Government to let mo see Verdun, and' Rhenns, for thpso places have got on my imagination real strong.” The Frenchman did not talk much. Ha said he felt nervbus about his Engalthough ho read Jhe language well. Frank gathered that M. Jules Renaud waa doing work for tim French Government and had been visiting London in connection with it. Presently Mrs Churchill and Virry came into the room and immediately plans were made by. which the whole party were to come to Restormel that afternoon. , ‘ “I can’t tell you how tickled I am at the thought of coming,” said Mr Seth T. Arnold, when at length everything was settled. “I guess Sir Frank 'that wo Americans can give you points m most things, but when it comes to old houses, wo have to sing small. I we’ve done our host in the way of faking ’em; but they are not the real thing. That s why I’m so keen to seel a real old place that existed before ■ America waa known.” Prank waa not long in seeing that Dick Irecarrel was much impressed by Misa Churchill, and gracious as she had ; been to him the previous day her demeanour towards Did; scorned oven more friendly, 1 “ I’ve felt ever since I’ve been here that I wanted to meet vou and anclegise to you, .Mr Trecarrel,” and her great eyes flashed into his as she spoke, | but all the time .1 was afraid.” J “Afraid of what?” asked Dick, ( i,T Afraid you wouldn’t forgive mo. \ Afraid you’d regard mo as an interiiopter and parvenu who had no real '. feeling for this lovely old house. If it torero mine, 1 should bo proud.” L “ in yours,” replied Dick, j* 1 * and; I’m glad it is.” . .“You don’t feel angry with "us, Ituon?-^ ’ ! “Idid before I came into the bouse,” Was Dick’s reply, “ bub nob now.” I “ That’a real nice of you. Of course, , St’s not ours at all. It isn’t right ft ! should. It just naturally belongs to i an old family like yours; but I’m glad to bo hero, and I just lovo it. The first three days I was here I did no- | thing but wander from room to room i trying to absorb tbs atmosphere, to bej cbmq a part of it. My maid asked | mo if I were ilk or if anything were f t-lio matter. Of course she couldn’t {understand, although in many things she’s very intelligent.” “It goes-without saying,” remarked ■ Dick, “that I’m glad you like tha (liouse. It’s natural I should lie. My [people built it ages ago, and tho family ffiae lived 1 hero oyer since. Whou first it was put up, it was called Trecarrel fHall, but somehow tho ‘Hall” got j dropped, and it was just called Tro- > carrel.” f “ And the family, I’m told, have wlwaya been spoken of as' ’ Tho Treoarrels of Trecarrel.’ It must be just JoToly.” ( j'l was going to .ceay,” went oa pm* ■” &&& Although w h&ve always

been proud of our house, and while we are glad you appreciate what you call ‘ tho atmosphere ’ of the various rooms, it is quite a modern place compared with Restormel. Prank has the*'advantage of us there. Some ray that some parts of Restormel arc as old as the ruins of Eestonnol Castle np by Lostwithiel. I expect I shall feel quite jealous when you go there.” “ Tell mo about it,” cried tho girl eagerly. *' I daren’t. I shouldn’t do it justice. That must be left to Frank. You see the foundations are full of secret passages, mysterious crypts and that sort of thing.” “ And docs Sir Frank know all about them?” “ Trust Prank for that. Years ago ho offered to take me through them.” “ And did you go?” “ Tcs, to some of them. But,” and Dick laughed heartily, “Frank played me a trick.” “A trick? Sow?” . “Dli, he got mo down there, and just as I was beginning to realise what a musty business I was in for, he blew oflt tho candle, and left' mo in the dark. I toll you it was the most eerie business imaginable. I kept on shouting to him to tell me where ho was: but he made no sound whatever. All the ghost stories I ever heard came into my mind, and I fancied I could see hundreds of dead -and buried Restormels jibbering at me, and threatening mo.” “ And how did it end?” " Oh. he was near me all the time, and when ho thought I had enough of it, ho struck a light and led me out, but 1 was days before I got over the fright.” And you’vo never been down since?” Dick shook his head. “It was worse than being in the Catacombs of Home,” he declared. I do hope he’ll take me down,” cried the girl, “do you think lie will?” “ Of course he will,” replied Dick confidently. “This afternoon? Oh, you must help me to persuade him.” “He won’t need any persuasion. J say, Frank, J’ve been telling Miss Churchill about the trick you played me down among the foundations ol your house years ago, nnd/she ” “ I’m just crazy to see them,” cried the girl. “ You will take mo down, won’t you, Sir Frank?” ' “Why not?” was Frank’s reply. ‘ Not thatyou’ll be rewarded for your trouble, Miss Churchill, It is very cold, very mildewy, and there are hosts of spiders.” “ 1 don’t trouble a bit about -spiders, not a little bit. Have you a family ghost?” “ I've never seen one, although an old servant told mo about a year ago that she once saw- my greaf grandmother’s ghost leave the dining-room and vanish through the collar door.” “ Oh, I should like to ‘alk with her. Is she still alive?” She was pensioned more than twenty years ago, and must be between seventy and eighty, but she’s a wonderful old soul. I’ve no doubt she’d enjoy a talk with you.” “Now that’a just lovely. Father did you hear that?” “Hear what, Virry?” “ Sir Frank and Mr Trecarrel have been telling me such wonderful things. Restormel is haunted, and this afternoon 1 he’s going to take mo through the secret passages down in the foundations of the house. I’m just too excited for words.” “ I guess I don’t see anything to be excited about in that,' Virry,” replied Mr Churchill, “Df course, if it’ll cjvo you pleasure. I’m very glad Sir Frank’s going to show you round. But T guess it’s not in my lino of business.” , “ But it is in mine,” cried Mr Arnold. “ I guess I’m American bom and bred, and I don’t put much stock on old things as a rule. But old bouses are a weakness of mine, and if Sir Prank’ll take me too, I’ll' just be too proud for anything.” • ‘Of course, I’ll be very pleased,” was Frank’s reply. “ But really there’s nothing to see. Of course, it’s a very old house-, and I suppose the foundations are in some ways unique, ‘they are associated with some interesting historical events, too; but the ordinary visitor sees nothing but a number of gloomy cellars,” “ That’s settled then,” remarked the American; “and I guess that Seth T. Arnold’ll make a good story of it when he gets back to ‘ Noo Yark ’ State.” Just before noon, in spite of tho insistent invitations that the two young men should stay to lunch, they started on their return journey. “ Well, if you will * go, you will,” said Mr Churchill. “You may expect the whole party of us over about half-past three then.” When Frank and Dick were comfortably ensconced in tho carriage, the former, on putting his hand in the pocket of his “ British warm ” for his gloves, felt a letter which ho had no remembrance of putting there. On looking at the envelope he saw that it was sealed with red sealing wax, and with a start lie rend tho words: “To bo opened in private.” Vrank gave a hasty glance at Dick, who at that moment was gazing at the old trees in the park, whereupon he supped the letter back in his pocket without a word. The moment they arrived at Restortnel ho hurried to his bedroom and broke the seal. He found half a sheet of paper on which was written these words;— “Bo careful. Do not on any account allow visitors to go over the house, especially the foundations.”

CHAPTER VI. Frank’s first impulse was to rush to Dick and show him this strange missive. But he refrained. He wanted to think quietly, to understand what lay at the back of what ho . had read, before speaking to his friend. . Ho did not recognise the handwriting- It was in a bold masculine hand, and written with a broad-pointed penThere was no address, date, or signature. For a long time Frank stood’ looking at it with utter bewilderment stamped on his face. Who could have written it, and what was the ‘motive which prompted it? He was sure the letter had not been in his pocket when he left home that morning. Ho perfectly remembered _ clearing out his pockets before starting, consequently someone must ha ve placed it there while it hung in Mr Churchill’s cloak-room. He recalled the slightest incidents associated with his entrance to the house; remembered that the servant had taken his overcoat from him in the hall, and took it to the cloak-room. After that ire did not see it ntrain until just before his return. No member of the Churchill household could have done it. _ They had not left the room in which lie had met them during the whole of the visit. Besides Miss Churchill had expressed great eagerness to see the house; so had Mr Arnold. Whoover had done it, therefore, must have been someone whom he had not seen. But whop The Churd'ills had brought all their servants with the exception of the Hendys, an old couple who had remained there ever since Mr I recarrel died.. He was perfectly certain they would never think of sending such a warning. Besides it was written by ap educated person. Again and again ho read it. “ Be careful. Do not on any account allow visitors to go over the house, especially the foundations.” . “ Especially the foundations.” Wliy the foundations? The warning scorned foolish, and yet h P was troubled, Ho could not help remembering that his quandom visitor*Mr Spettigew", who was so anxious to see over” the house, referred to the foundations and expressed a great desire to see them. ’ A thousand questions came rushing into his mind only to remain unanswered. Everywhere lie turned he seemed to bo faced with a- blank wall over wlpch ho could not look, and through which ho could not see- For the more ho thought the more was he convinced that the warning was not only serious, but important. The lunch gong sounded, and almost mechanically he found his way downstairs, where Dick awaited him. Throughout lunch they chatted about tno Churchills and their visitors, and then when the servant bad left {hem Frank passed Dick the letter. , *' I found this mysteriously placed in the pocket of mv ‘British warm,’ ” lie remarked as he did so. “ It was not there when I went to Trccarrel this morning, I found it there immediately on leaving.” Dick read the superscription, noted the words written just above tho seal, and then perused the contents. _ “ What do you make of it?” asked Frank. Dick was silent. Doubtless lie, like Frank, was trying to understand. " Of course, yon know you are under a promise to show the Churchills over the whole place in two hours from now,” he remarked presently, “The question to be settled first is, ‘ Are we to regard this seriously or otherwise?’” “I’m goin'g to-regard-it seriously,” replied Frank. “You can’t, my dear fellow. You’l! look like a fool. You’ve just promised them, and yoit can’t break your word on account -of a thing like that.” f “I’ll manage that, never fear. Mean, .while you must help me to find out who wrote it.” “ But how can you manage it?” . " I’m a wounded man. * I’m only just recovering. My ride this morning has irritated the_ wounds, and 1 must keep in my chair for a hit. Of course, I cannot let them go down to the foundations- without myself being their guide- Consequently the visit must be postponed-” “What, their visit here?” and Dick looked sadly disappointed. “Oh, no. Only their inspection of the house.” r ‘ { B'd- surely you don’t suspect the Churchills of anything wrong? Whv. man, I vo seen their credentials, which are of the most unimpeachable nature. Mr Churchill is one of the best known men in the United States. Hcndy has seen all the papers. Ask him to’ show them to you.” “ Oh, I’ve no doubt -about them, and doubtless I’m a fool; but there’s something uncanny about this all the same. I daresay I’m in a nervous sort of condition, and may be you’ll laugh at what Pm going to tell you, but it’s bothered me all the same.” Whereupon he related tho conversation he had had with Abel Bimney and emphasised the old man’s statement about the man he had seen in the grounds. “But, my dear fellow,” cried Dick,

"what have the Churchills got to do with thatP You couldn’t conceive, yon simply couldn’t imagine Miss Churchill to he in some secret plot. She’s not that sort, and she’s the only one who expressed any eagerness to see the house. Her father, yon remember, expressed no curiosity whatever.” “ Mr Seth T. Arnold did.” ‘‘Oh yes, he did; but as you saw, ho is an out and out American, with an accent, that you can cut with a knife. The Frenchman showed' no interest at all. You surely tlon’t connect them with any German spying do youP It really won’t do. I’m as much down on that sort of. thing as any man, hut this is a bit too thick. Wo are not children Frank.” “ I tell you plainly, I don’t suspect the Churchills of anything of the sort; indeed, I should be prepared to assort rny convictions to the contrary. But there’s the letter of warning. What doss it mean? I haven’t been'to the front for nothing, Dick. It’s common talk out there that the German Secret Intelligence Department is the most perfect in the world. Things have leaked out in a most wonderful way.” Dick laughed heartily. “What"in heaven’s. name has the German Secret Intelligence Department to do - with the foundations of this old shanty?’? he cried. “Maybe nothing,” replied Frank; “ most probably nothing. All I’m going to do is to adopt a negative attitude and make it impossible for anyone to seo over the house, until ” “Until what?” asked Dick, as Frank hesitated. “Until Pve thoroughly examined everything myself, and read all my father’s papers.” If either Frank or Dick had had tho shadow of a suspicion about any one of the Churchill's party, that suspicion would have been dispelled on their arrival. _No sooner did they hear of Frank’s indisposition than they gave up all thought of carrying out their purpose. Of course he must not tako any exertion until he felt completely better, and as his presence to such nil expedition was simply indispensable, it must be postponed to another day. “ Of course, I shall have to give up the idea entirely, Sir Frank,” said Mr Seth T. Arnold. “I am only a bird of passage, and must be off to-morrow. I can’t deny that I’m disappointed, but to see such a. place as this without you to guide me, and explain everything to me would be worse than roast lamb without mint sauce.” ‘ That simile is not worthy of you, Uncle Seth,” laughed the girl. “It just isn’t;” I can’t think of another,” replied Mr Arnold, “ except the one about Hamlet with Hamlet left out.- and as I va used that twice to-day already, I was ashamed to trot it out a third time. Anyhow, Sir Frank, it I happen to bo in this neighbourhood again ~I expect it’ll be in about three months time—l may have better luck. But perhaps by then you’ll he well enough to get back to the lighting.” Even although they wore denied tho privilege they expected, the visit was quite a success. After ten Dick took Virry Churchill for a walk in the grounds, from which she could see the house from various angles. She expressed herself delighted with its lichencovered Avails, its quaint mullioncd windows, and its picturesque aspect genorally, but she showed no anxiety for a closer inspection, neither did she ask Dick any questions about its peculiarities or its history. Shortly after tea they departed in the large powerful car, which Mr Churchill was evidently very proud of. I admire American Institutions, and Amei ican inventiveness,” ho said as Frank looked at it through the open wmdpw; “ but we’ve no car manufactured in America that can touch this. It cost a pot of money, but I wanted it, and so I got it. It mops up a sight of petrol, but a Rolls Royco is a Rolls Royco when all is said and „done. lours are some hills in Cornwall'; but tho way she wont up on top gear, without a wheeze or a knock, Was just beautful. Took them at forty miles an hour, sir! And we were no light weight either. Five of us besides the chauffeur, and three of us heavy weights —that’s good enough for mo.” “Virry,” remarked Mrs Churchill, as thej- left the house; “ those are two very nice young men. I’vo heard Bbout old English families being very proud and exclusive; but I felt quite at home with them.” But the girl said nothing. .... She might not have heard her mother’s words. “ I guess Sir Frank needs a lot of nursing, though,” she went on. “He looks very pale and thin, and I’m sure ho was in pain. I wonder if he’d come over to Trecarrel for a week. I’d just love to nurse him and feed him up.” “I guess you’d like him for a son ” said Mr Arnold. ’ (To be continued.)