“THE MYSTERY OF THE MARSH”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20075, 11 October 1920, Page 5

“THE MYSTERY OF THE MARSH”

'(By JAMES BLTTF' A SENSATIONAL STORY OP ADVENTURE, CHAPTER VIII. A MATTER 01' LAW. _ Rogor Geldart wasted no time on m spm into Norwich, Ho had hoped that Cicely Spurrell would; hare 14 i ri ?- ht «° P° baok with her so t ! W r d to Builaceby, bo might have had Violet to himself. Restrained by Cicely’s pr t . Benco from open love-making,' ho was eager to get into Norwich as soon tl ? c ™ ld - Although the letter from his solicitors. Messrs Renton and R-ahho, which he had receded tint dld n °- suggC3t thot there nas anything serious the matter, the 0. Wf,s , uneas J’- Hobvao anxi: had I ni, cxclM «ge of marshes which old T™ Q arra ”ff«i Iwtivceß him and un ( m.S-i SpiirrC sI V?V k! he P«t through fn thi l l ™ p T J fr ;UKI an - v hitch in *f 6 title meant delay. That there could lie northing renllv wrong m Ins title he did not believe for t GVe f t i l?,eßS he T, ' a3 fidgety, nd the slate of his nerves made him laguie that Cicely looked at him in a E S*? T di ff tod had some aUem-,T l 71 1 e° nceni,n / his recent .ml Jim M,° l,ra " f '“ r b ™ lh '> r •mr' off ’/"* !l ° ' ir " TC preflndol him T- w carnation between Ami il K V° et) V, ’ I '° aat bc3i( lo him. fretfJT 21 16 realised this, he was temS trf )CCaU i S8 + 1 !°. glrl mnd& nn atcatnstmnbf C t0 +T h,m - since the catastiophe on the dam Violet had nZ°f i qmCi ?; than her wont, which irritation. anot 10P «*«« for Roger-, 1, irSt ,l to th ® ° fficC his SOliuors, and made an apnointnient to call again at half-past two* after lunch. Ho thought that while ho was with his Elf T'° et bo ab, ° t(> detfl cli lwr,self fiom Cicely, and with that end m now, he said to the latter as they roso from table, “ I daresay von iyll have some shopping to do, 6is‘ie. If so it will be all right if you are back at th o earage by half-past three." As the party left the restaurant he whispered m Violet's ear, “I shan’t bo more than a few minutes at my lawyers . Give her the slip if yon can and jmect me against the Bank at you.” 1 IIaVS a ° niething to sa 3’ to Violet nodded, and Roger went To Keep his appointment a little cheered oy her apparent acquiescence in his plan. What took place between Roger and his solicitors will be better gathered trom the narration of the interview between Tom Spurrell and Nurse and muse, the Spurrell lawyers, which was destined to take place but a few minutes later than that of Roger with Ronton and' Gabbe. As young Tom and Jim Stokes raced up the drive to Builaceby Hall the former said, " I say, Jim, I think wo won t say anything to the governor about our suspicions. It would only upset him, and it is only surmise as yet. “Just 88 you like, Tom. Rut it is onore than surmise. I looked at the wheel /marks too, and there was no sign of a side slip.” , 6 . V/hy, hallo!’’ cried the cheer/ voice of old Tom Spurrell, as he came limping into the hall. “What’s up? I told you you were not careful enough. Tom I suppose you’ve nearly killed Jim. “It was not his fault at all,” declared the girl hotly. “I mean,” she controlled, warned by a glance from Aom, "that he could not help Roger’s car side slipping and sending us into the dyke.” “So that, was it I” said the old gentleman. " But It was careless of you, boy, to run so close to the car. 1 thought you knew better than that. It is & nuisance too, because it is important that one of us should sec Nurse and Nurse this afternoon, and 1 don t want to go with my knee inclined to swell.” Oh, I can go if Jim will drive me over in her car,” said Tom. “Wi'l you, Jim?” . Now Jim did not think he ought to risk hurting his shoulder by motoring so soon after his smash. Chi the other hand, she did not like to oppose him. “Bo you think you ought to go?” she asked. “Lord, bless my heart alive!” cried the old gentleman. “The boy isn’soft. But, hallo 1 what’s wrong with your arm? And where is the machine?” “ Oh, ,1 strained my shoulder a bit when_ the old bike went into the dvke Noggin was passing and tie d r-c ] let him ’to please him. But I’m’ all fight, father. Of course I can go,” “The first thing you’d better "both of you do is to get into dry things and then come down and have a" good lunch. Btick up, now. Here, Turn, have a stiff drink before you go, and you’d better have a taste too, young lady.” In spite of her opinion that old beer was better than spirits as a, warmth giver, Jim realised that something more than warmth was needed alter the shock. _ And she did not demur to swallowing a liqueur glass full of fine old brandy, while Tom took off nearly half a tumbler of the stimulant without turning a hair/and feeling all the better for it. Now that the verve and glow of the run home were over both he and the girl felt the reaction, and were glad of the pick-me‘-up. It enabled them to hurry through their hot baths and dressing, so that they were down to lunch in less than an hour from their return to the hall “If you run across the other lot in Norwich,” said the squire, as Jim tool: her seat at the wheel of her car, ‘ ‘ yon might bring Cissie homo with you. I don’t quite like her being with Roger when his ear has got a side-slipping mood on.” “And Violet too?” asked Tom the younger. “ Oil, she can look after herself,” cried Jim impatiently. “ Besides, she would not change cars anyhow ” How Tom seemed to cling to his lov* for Violet, thought the girl, And ho,v unworthy Violet was of such love. Indeed, sinco his return homo Tom s heart had shown signs of reverting to its former slavery, mid the thought of Violet with Roger was wormwood to him. Jim saw that this was so, and determined to do her best to turn the hear.' of the man she loved in a. direction, at once more promising to. its owner and more satisfactory to her. She was tenderness itself to the young fellow, and he could not but be touched by her solicitude. It was so strange for tomboy Jim to exhibit anxiety on account of such a trifle, as a shoulder that Torn could not hut notice it. He was touched by it, and inwardly contrasted her kindness with the indifference, towards his accident which Violet had displayed. “ You’ll let me know if I am going too fast, if the ear jara 'vonr aim.’’ “My dear girl.” said Tom, " T’m I'eally nil right now bar a. little stiff, ness. Let her out. I know you like to move.” " We’ll go the same way. shall we? And ‘sec if we con get round Half-way Corner without a. skid, eh?” “ Skid!” "Well, ‘kid,’ if yon like it better But I say, Tom, what was his game? Did he want to clear you out of the way, or roe?” “Oh, mol I believe ho wanted to get Vi to himself, and thought Cissie would come back with us. Ho can’t have believed that the thing would turn out as serious as it did. I’ve thought over it, and I can’t believe he really meant ” (To he continued.)