“ THE TURN OF THE TIDE.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 10

“ THE TURN OF THE TIDE.”

OUR SERIAL.

By FRED M. WHITE. CH APTER XXContinucd. « Tic looked at the porter again. Ho saw a man with a auspiciously red face, and a pair of red eyes which told their own tale. Was it possible, he thought, to make it worth the porter’s while to say nothing of this visit? “Yes, 1 know Mr Gilmour was late that night,” he said. “ Was lie at all —well, yon know what I mean?” The porter grinned, and nodded his head. “ Been up to some lark. J think, sir.” he sai.d “Gome in with a shabby suit of clothes, arid looked as if he had been sweeping a chimney. And in a rare bad temper, too. ’E would never ? ave woke me up unless ’o’d been obliged to, sir.” “ Yes, I think I could tell you a good deal about that,” Ellis said. “ Yoi never know what these respectable people are up to, porter. I should like to have a bit of fun with Mr Oil - rnour over this. Only I don't want him to know it.” “ Sort of pulling is leg. I suppose,” the porter chuckled. “Yes. that’s it. Anyway, T have his key, and I will give it back to him when the proper time comes. But T don’t want you to tell him that till I see you again. Don't you say anything about it. anti here's a pound note for you. If you are discreet there will be another when the joke is finished.” The porter gave the desired assurance, and Ellis went his way on exceedingly good terms with liimselt. He had established an important fact, and one that might be of great value a little later on. He could quite under- \ stand why Gilmour. had preferred to obtain a spare latch-key in preference to calling up his housekeeper. No doubt that worthy woman would be prepared to swear that her employer had not been off the premises after dinner on the night in question, and. moreover, make that declaration firmly believing it to be true. Ellis was therefore feeling very pleased with himself when he turned into the Club House to find Patricia Langley and Geoffrey Rust awaiting him at the luncheon table. But there was no sign of Vera, and. moreover, a message had come from her to the effect that she had been detained at home in attendance on her adopted father, who was still confined to the house, and who was not quite so well as he had been. Vera hoped to join them in the course of the after-

“ That’s rather annoying.” Ellis said. “ 1 suppose we shall have to play a three hall, but that's a mere detail. Geoff, have you said anything to Pat on the subject we were speaking about?” “ Yes. I have.’ 7 Rust replied. “We have just been talking about it. I think that Vera ought to know that we have taken Patricia into our conenee.” “ I cannot understand it.” Pat said. “I can’t make it out at all. To me it’s absolutely incredible. I have never seen my father in a fit state to She stopped abruptly, and her colour changed. For quite suddenly there flashed into her mind the recollection of that occasion when she had seen him standing before the fireplace in the little sitting room looking into the glass and apparently shaking his fist ai, some imaginary enemy. “Go on.” Geoffrey said enc-ourag- j “Perhaps I had better tell you,'' Pat said. “It is a very small matter, but in the face of what Geo ft' has been telling me. rather significant.” Slio told them her story in a few words, and her companions exchanged glances. For this did not sound very like a man who had lain helpless for at least three years, and unable even to eat his own .food without assistance.” “ Yes, it is significant,” Rust said thoughtfully. “1 think. Pat, when you get back this afternoon, you had ! better tell your father what Vera says, and give him the opportunity of taking you into his confidence, if lie will. At any rate, we can’t do any more till we see Vera. Let's have our lunch now, and go out and play our round.” It was nearly four o’clock before! Vera came on the course, by which) time the match was finished, and Pat on her way homewards, for (she had felt compelled to get back and give her father his tea without waiting for her friend.

“ If there is anything particular, you can come along and see me. Geoff.” she said. “I am sorry to have missed Vera this afternoon, but I really must get away.” Vare came, looking pale and distracted, and indeed she had had anything but a pleasant time since breakfast. Croot was still confined to the house, j and chafing against his captivity. He j j wanted to get back to work again, and | Vera had found his irritability exceedngly trying. He did not want to be left alone; indeed, at first he had al most forbidden her to leave the house. : But perhaps the sight of her pale face had had its proper effect, for lie suddenly changed bis mind and ordered her to go for a walk. Whatever his vices might be. and however deeply he was in crime, there was no question of his affection for Vera. It was the one bright spot in an otherwise selfish and unscrupulous life. And Vera felt this, and was not ungrateful, though she was exceedingly unhappy, and from time to time she recalled certain little incidents from the past which assumed a strange significance in view of what Patricia had told her on the occasion ol j their last meeting. She seemed to ffeel. the coming j trouble,' the vague, inta-ugible catas- ; trophe that hovered over the house, j though she could not have said what it ' was, and why this thing, haunted her. But haunt her it did. and she was bearing the marks of it as she joined the other two on the Club House verandah. There was no one else there, therefore they could talk quite freer). •What have you done, Jack?’ 3 she j asked. “ Well, not very much in your ab- i senoe.” Ellis said. “ Pat knows now j what you told me. and she is a.s mysti- ! j tied as you are. f wish she- could have ; | stayed and talked it over with us. but she said that .she had to get back, and \ if we really wanted her site would come j out again after tea.” ; “Hadn’t 1 better go and see her?” i Vera asked. “Yes, you might do that after we j are gone. I must get- away by the 5.15. j What are vou going to do. Geoff?” I “Oh, T am in no hurry/' Rust rei plied. “ 1 rathe: thought of staying down here till Monday, putting up at | the hotel.” ' (.To bo Continued.) j