THE INVESTMENTS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20042, 3 September 1920, Page 5

THE INVESTMENTS

JOSEPH HOOKINS.

CHATTER V. “ God never gave me a sou,” said tho lady, but if Ho had, 1 could have wished for nothing better thau one lino that young man.’ “I should say that the other, Mr Treoarrel, is the cleverer- of the two,’’ remarked Mr Arnold. “ .[ have my doubts about that,” remarked Mr Churchill. “ I gueas Sir 'Frank Rostomel wasn’t away from homo when brains were served out.” Throughout the evening Miss Virry Churchill seemed in a very thoughtful mcod.. She took but little part in tho conversation, and although she was tho only mo of her family who spoke Trench fluently, she paid but little heed to M. Renaud, who seemed hurt at her ao- ■ sent-niindedneßß. When ten o’clock camo sue pleaded a headache, and went to her room, which hart been fitted up for her aa a boudoir, and rung for her maid. “Howard,” said Miss Churchill, “take down my hair, and talk to me. I’m kind of tired, and nervy.” “I’m sorry for that, Mibb,” replied the maid. “I hope you had a pleasant afternoon.” In some ways very pleasant; but I feel rather strange in England, and 1 don’t know whether I get 6n with tho people or not.” / The girl mode no reply, but procced'•cd to .take down hor young mistress's luxuriant tresses. “ You’ve been maid to several English ladies, haven’t you, Howard?,’ , “ To throe—that is before I came to you Miss Churchill.” “Well, I’m glad you were recommended to me, and that you were able •to come. I hope you will stay a long time. How do you like the idea of going to America when we leave here?” Tho girl gave no reply, and Miss Churchill thought she felt her hands tremble. .*" You don't answer, Howard. lo anything the matter?” “Mo miss—that is- No nothing, , miss,*’ J Virry Churchill turned, and; looked at her maid intently. “There ia something tho matter, Howard. Why you are tumbling, child 1 I know what it ia. You are cooped up too much indoors; you got scarcely any fresh air. There is not tho slightest reason for you to stay in {to much. I shall insist on your going out for a walk every day.” ; “I’m quite well,” replied tho girl. •“I don’t want to gd out.” “ Don’t want to go out? Of course that’s unnatural in a girl like you. You look positively palo 'and ill.” i Tho girl had, good features, and would have been quite good-looking but for her complexion, which suggested bad health, and her hair, which, although . apparently abundant, was utterly without lustre. She was evidently nearsighted, too, for she wore thick "lasses “No, I don’t wish to go out?’ and her voice was husky. “ I would rather hot.”' * “But why?” The girl dropped her brushes, ,aud Sobbed bitterly. “Look here, Howard—” and tho 'American girl ’was thoroughly aroused “ you mudt tell me the meaning of this. You are unhappy, aren’t you?” The girl nodded. ( “.Tell me what'a troubling vou.” \ “I dare not.” . " ,■ “my?” \ “I am afraid.” < “ ifraid of what?” ' “ I’m afraid to toll you. You have been so kind to me, and trusted mo so completely.” \ “Of course I’ve ben kind, and naturally I’ve trusted you. Yon wero re- . commended to mo by an English lady, I who spoko of you in tho highest terms. 1 Have you done anything to forfeit my trusty “.Mo-yes, I don’t know, and ” again the girl sobbed bitterly—“ that’s why I'm so miserable,” she added. ! “ Come, now, I guess I’m going to got at tho bottom of this,” and Virry ■Churchill shook back hor hair, which fell in beautiful masses over her neck and shouldorß “I' like you much, Howard, and I’m net going to have you miserable: If you’ve done Anything wrong tell me. You’ll not find mo hard.” “I’ve not done anything wrong—noj in tho way you think; but you’ve always been s ogood to mo and—and I wouldn’t mind if I hadn’t got so fond of 1 .yon. That’s why I’ve hated to deceive you.” “Drniivo mo. In what way have you deceived mo?” Tiro girl was silent. ; “ Why have you deceived me?” “ Will you keep my secret if I toll ' you?” i What woman won’t promise to keep * secret when her onriodtv is aroused? And Virry Churchill’s curiosity was raised to a high pitch, at that moment. “Of course I’ll Teen jour secret—now, what is it?” “I’ve been afraid to tell you because—” she hesitated and her oyer, showed fear through her thick glasses. “ because—no German is safe in this country.” Miss Virry Churchill was silent a few seconds during which timo sho looked steadily at her maid’s face. | “I could not keep silent any longer, ’ wont on the maid. *m wanted you to know, and yet I was afraid. I did not know how' you would take it. What should I do if you exposed mo? These English intern Germans. ,1 am told that men and women aro landed in camps like flocks of sheep. But f hoped you’d understand. You aro an American, and I’m told that many Americans arc favourable bo tho Fatherglri'did aofc immedi*

ately answer. Evidently she was thinking deeply. "And you hoped I should bo one who would be favourable to the Fatherxliuid." "I' did not know, but I hoped xcu might." J Again the American was silent. She seemed to bo trying to mako up her mind. " !>o you mean," E he said presently, that—that you are a—strong patriot —that you love the Fatherland vciv much?" * The girl nodded. "How much?" Tho question came out sharp and sudden as a pistol shot. Her voice had a metallic ring. " How much?" she repeated as the' other remained silent. " I love my country enough to servo, to suffer, to die for it?" was tho reply. Virry Churchill cast a swift glance around the room, and seemed to be listening eagerly, then she went to the door, opened it, and peered alone; the corridor outside. Satisfying herself that no ono was near, sho carefully closed the door and came back to wliero the girl stood. " Has your country made any use of you?" sho demanded. The girl nodded. Sho appeared afraid to sneak. "■Often?" ." , AVha . fc c , ould J do - They seemed to think me clever. And—and it waa all tor tho Fatherland. I would die for my country. That was why" I wanted to conic here?" ''Here? "What here in Cornwall?" . Yes." "Bub why in Cornwall?" Because I think thero is work to do hero. But tell me—you will not betrav . me, will you? I havo nothing against you. You are nn American. I have learnt to love you. it is only England that every German hates, must hate! You promised to kep my secret, didn't you? r I Again tho American girl became silent. Evidently her maid's revelation liad come to her as a. great shock, and sho ?eemed undetermined what to do. 'Look hero. Mary Howard," she said at length, "I don't understand una. J-kidy Eustace spoko of you aa an English girl,, and certainly your manner of speech is English. 'You havo no German accent and never onco havo I ! u r , d , you utt<3r a German word." I "Try me In German," said the i girl, with' a proud smile. " You know j German, for I've seen you reading Gorman books. .Try mo?" " Then how did you mako Lady Eustace oelieve you were English?" This she asked in German. . "Aro. Germans-fools?" and sho spoke m the same language. " "When Germany prepares for war, sho prepares for war- docs not begin a week;before it breaks out. One year—ten tears—forty years?" ''.But you tpeak English perfectly." Because I have lived in - England so much; because I havo always passed ffi» an English girl. I learnt to bo a lady a maid that I might B ervo my country. But have I not laughed v w'hen J havo seen how they have been duped? I havo heard Lady Eustace speak of Germans as butchers, savages, peoplo who know nothing of decency,'and sho nas thought I agreed with her; V /hilc all tho time-—! But so mo day she will know! Somo day the Kaisef will own Buckingham Palace, and rule over England, and then—then I will tell her." "But how could you a German get places in England as an English girl?" _ As though it were not easy! As though my people do not mako plans! As though they do not prepare the way ror every contingency." Her fear had gone now. A sliffht colour appeared in her sallow unhealthy cneeks, and her eyes flashed through her thick spectacles. Sho spoke freely too, spoko in passionate, Tolublo German. , For some time Vim' Churchill looked into the fire, thou sho turned to her* maid very sternly. ** Tlxis is a serious matter." she W « ot ,«>. ur 3«. lam not English, but we are living m England, and be ' fore l know, what to do with ,A i must know more, I must look deeply into your mind." Vi Again she went to the deer, and looked into the corridor; then, Win" stood before tho maid. - t CHAPTER VII. " Then Mary Howard- is not your mmo a* allr 1 " she questioned, and her voice was Hard. "Xo." ' What is it?" "I will draw, you a curiosity," said ho girl, w.th a laugh. SU O unfastenhi- L 3 \ ■ ? nd , (lreW ' forth « fi ™» boi from which, she producod a disc On tins ainc tho Prussian Eario was •stamped,.also tho figures 777. "Then you are an accredited German spy.-" "My number is 777,"'5h0 hur.-Wi and thoro was bitter mockery in her voice. J e " And you are not ashamed of it?" ' Ashamed when my country i 8 a t »vnr! Ashamed when the greatness, no gory, not only oi my own p , but tho welfare ol the world, depends -on our victory! Hid I not toll you tnnt 1. loved my country enough to se'rvo her, to suffer for her, \p die for her?" "But this docs not toil me vo'ur name—your real name." ' %i "Oh, but I havo not shown you ail You seo I am making my confidence in you complete, because 1 trust you. You promised to keep my secret, promised not to betray me. Look .Miss Churchill --read this," and from a hidden recess of tho little box she extracted a slip of paper, thai as tissue uapcr, but seemingly as hard as steel. ' | " Hold it to the light," she whisj pared. " There !. read!" ; And Yirvy Churchill road. It stated that Frauiein Bertho Bluoher was an "agent of Germany, and might be trusted by all who loved the Fatherland. Eagerly sho took the paper from the American girl's hands, and having carefully folded it up, sho replaced it with tho disc back into the box. ".Now you know my name, don't you?" sho said, almost fiercely. "Now yeu. know vvhjf \ aw afraid to be

known. Think what the discovery of that upon me would mean! The English are very foolish, but they shoot spies." " Yea, but still I don't understand "; and by this time Virry Churchill seemto have overcome her astonishment somewhat. " You told me just now that you had a special reason for wanting to como to Cornwall. What was that reason? 1 ' " Because I believed that I could serve my country." "How? This is an out of the way part of England, and although the coast might bo made use of, it is so well guarded that no enemy could use it." , " What my country makes up its mind to do, my country does," cried the girl. "But that is not my work." " What is your work?" The girl hesitated. " I have told you much," she said; "I have tokl you bocauso I trust you. You are not like these stupid, unimaginative pigheaded English. You aro American. Tou know many of my people there. I have watched you for days, wondering whether 1 could trust you, whether I could dare to tell you what I have told you. And.you have promised not. to betray me, ( promised never to tell." " But I 'have not promised to keep you," said the American girl, " I must think about that.'.' "What, send me away! Ah, Miss Churchill, you-would not, you could not! I serve you faithfully, I betray you in nothing, I trust you ho much—bo much l_ Could you use my trust in you tq drive me away from you? No, nol" " But you came to mo under false pretences, under a false name." "Have I not been a good maid to you? Were you ever suited better? Was your hair ever done so beautifully? Were your dresses ever looked after better, put on so skilfully? Besides, have i not confessed? If I had not made up my mind to servo you faithfully should I have told you what I have? Besides, you are not English, you do not lovo the English." " How do you know? What do you mean?" "America does not lovo England. America has twenty million Gorman*) living there. When Americans go to Germany, to Berlin, they arc feted, they are treated as friends. Did I not hear the Kaiser Bay with my own ears, that America has no truer friend than Germany? Why should 3xlll love.England? England is nothing to you. Besides when Germany wins, America will have need of the friendship of Germany 1 So V' "But tell me why you wished to come to Corn wall.. Tell me of the work you have hero." "You promise again that you will not betray me, that you will breathe to no enemy of Germany a word of what I have told you?" Virry Churchill hesitated a fey/ seconds before replying, and when she did speak her voice was hoarse. It might have been that she doubted the wisdom of her words. " No," she said, "I will not betray you." "That 33 well. Th-n l<V.e;i. I wanted to come to Cornwall because I believe there is something 11; Cornwall that the Kaiser would give miiiious of marks to get." "In Cornwall?" "In Cornwall. Ach! you aro surprised! 1 can trust you fully now. I look into your eyes, and your eyes tell me what your words have spoken. Listen," and her voice sunk to a whisper. "Eight, nine months ago papers, secret papers, were brought from Berlin to London. They were lost, stolen. The cleverest men in Germany have tried to find them; they have tailed.' The cleverest German detective in England was set to work, and he employed 'scores of agouts—men and women. Ah, you understand! If I iind them, if 1 restore them i get—ah, 1 shall ho rich! While I was in iierr Schneider's employment I found out much. Not enough to iind them, but to put me on what the English call tli© scent." "And you think they have been brought to Cornwall?'' " Who knows?" and tho girl laughed. I " .Hut where do you think they are?" j " Wncre have you been to-day?" she asked, vfith a laugh. j. o-day? I havo been to tea at Sir r-rauk Rest-ormel's house." "And the house is called Kestortnot?" "bum There's nothing in that. He is a friend of tho man who owns this house. But what of it? Do von mean to say that Sir Frank Reutormel has them?" "And if he had," said the girl contemptuously, "do you think lie would keep them? He 13 a soldier, he would give tnem to his Government, and the uriusn Government would give a King's ransom for them. Besides he is not like {ill these stupid English squires, thick-headed, stupid? But wns not his father a. clover man? Was he not murdered? Who murdered | him 1" a, " who?" a.-dced the 'American girl, whose lips weio dry, and her eyes hard "Do tho sons of " the Fatherland trouble about the life of an Englishman, a thousand, a, million of them, if they stand in tho way of her will.' her purposes?" ' "Then " 'Ah, you see. You understand," and uio German girl's voice, was eager " But Sir John Beslonnel was killed in London." "iAd he not have a, confidential roJctr* Has that valet ever heard of since? But German agents havo si way of discovering oronle of making them tell what they know"" "But if this man has ' i o id yo-tr Jnends. why do they not make xuo ' o t their knowledge?' 1 "But are the directions clear? .\ secret chamber in the foundations of Kcstormel House; is that onoiHi? It is a Dig house, the foundations must bo big." L "Bow do you know? Have vou seen the house? You are afraid* to go out." "I will make full confession. I hn. T been there more than once L n «- wight, the night before, the moon wt Might, it was almost like day, and J

I * i went around the house, looking, watching, it i could spend a night there —if- 1 had time to grope around all the secret passages, .1 might—who knows? I might serve my country, l might get -the Jiaiser's thanks, and reward." "iiut as you said the house is large, it may be cellared everywhere. '}■■• hiding place' may be secret, it may i ■-. cunningly hidden. Do you knoiv enough to go straight to the spot?" Ihe spy shook her head. " Success will depend on a quick eyo,. and a clever brain," 3110 said. " And do you think Sir Frank Rfstormel has any idea of—of those seci.-r documents?" asked Miss Churchi'l. "If he had, would he not have founr, them? .Besides, who knows of th : loss but my own people? German■• does not proclaim her plans and h*-: secrets from tho housetops.." " 'J'hen you think Sir Frank Restormel's father got hold <of these irarw/. tant papers, and that ho sent his cor:- ' hdential valet to Cornwall with them that the Germans, suspecting him, mur dered him in order to get them, an'; then when they could get nothing, followed the valet,i"' "Some of this is certain, some of it only guesswork. But we believe we have traced them here, in fact, wc Know we have." " iiy means of the yalet, you said, iiut where is the valet now?'"' " 1 do not know, ''but there are those who know." "And—thoy havo made the vsVf confess?" .j.Here- was a strange look in the girl spy's eyes as she nodded her head. "How was he made to confess?" "1 may not tell that. But when one means fails then another can be tried." " Still Ido not understand. If your people have this valet in their power, why do they not bring him here, and make him show them tho hiding place?" " If they could do that, should I bo needed? No, no—l havo thought of that. .But there is- much Ido not know. Perhaps—who knows—Bruvard the valet is hi Germany, and cannot be brought into the country. Perhapsother things. But tho papers are there-on tho foundations of that old house, and they are worth millions. And—" the girl's voice .became hoarse as she continued, "secrets of state are there, German plans are there, and they must be found. Oh, I wish I had your opportunities!" "My opportunities? Whvp" *' You are a friend of Sir Frank Restormel. He has visited- you to-dav and you havo visited him. "You could hnd means to get into these secret passages and hiding-places. Oh, if you would only nelp me! Why, think I' Y'qu, with your beautiful face, vour fascinating ways, could make him'fall m lovo with you. You could twist lam around your fingers. So!" " Havo you ever seen Sir Frank Resforme!?" and Miss Churchill turnea sharply upon her maid. i " I saw him from that' window toaay.. Ido not understand him. Yes, he is a _thick-headed English squire; but ho is oiio of those quiet, strong men. Perhaps he is cleverer than one tamks." ? ' I think 1 will go to bed; Howard. I final! no I want you any more to-night But- no not be frightened, I will keep my promise." if you would only help me. If you would, I believe I should succeed.^' " How could I help you? Have"you - any plans?'.' " Yes, I have many plans; but 1 am alone, and one feels so helpless when one is alone." " Good-night, Howard," said . the American girl, "I'm glad you've been honest with me, and told me these things. Perhaps I shall understand you better in the future." The Garman girl left the room quietly, carefully closing Ahe door behind her. When she found her way to her oivn room, she locked her own door, and Bat for a .long time gazing into the fire. Presently a smile came, over her face, as though she were amused, then she went to the dressing-table and looked for a long time in the glass. As for Virry Churchill, she did not go to bed as she had announced. Her face was difficult to read. It might seem as though the revelations of her maid had given her much food for thought, for her eyes suggested wonder and indecision. ■ Opening the window she looked out into tho silent night. Overhead the moon shone so brightly that the stars scarcely appeared; only a breath of wind stirred tho leafless branches of the tree?. Suddenly she started. She thought liho heard noises beneath her. She listened intently. Yes, her father and their two visitors were walking up the drive; evidently they had wished to smoke their cigars in the open air before retiring to rest. She heard nonicono open the front door and enter. Virry Churchill hastily donned a dress-ing-gown and silently found her way downstairs The next morning, while Frank and Dick were finishing tiicir breakfast, they heard 1 the nound of wheels on ttie drive. On looking out they saw Mr Churchill's Rolls koyce car. in which the owner, and his two visitors were seated, i " Ah. Sir Frank," cried Mr Churchill, as Frank appeared, "lovely morning, i isn't it? Wo are just off to London, i and thought-we'd just drop in and say good morning. No, we mustn't stay 1 a minute or we shall miss the train." | "isn't this rather sudden?" asked Frank. " You tsaid nothing about it yesterday." " Wei!, as T told you, I knew I should have to go soon; but I didn't quite know when. Ah for my friends here, they hoped to stay a few days longer, but .-his morning's mail knocked their plans on thi* head.'' i "It was kind of you to call anyhow." j (To be coniiuued.)