LOVE, THE CONQUEROR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 14

LOVE, THE CONQUEROR.

M -I \!i KI VL. ]

By

CARLTON DAWE

Author of t-iFp “The Temptation of Selma.'* {LG S 7 "i.'nryaie j n London." “V*r- jF# W?j| Eii'ia." “ A Tangled Marriage,” ,'j” *• Stranger Than Fiction,” &c. yb

CHAPTER XII [. (Conti nut 1 cl.) ]lc frankly admitted that he had seen more beautiful women than < 'hire Mallaston. Xcither in face nor figure did she approach that ideal which every man enshrines in his heart, and which he ultimately knows to be a dream. Vet there was that in her. or about her, which to him made an irresistible appeal. When she was close to him lie trembled; could scarcely refrain from touching her. His blood leaped at the thought of contact; his fingers tingled. Site was what he called “ class.” He never attempted to define the meaning of the word, but he had no doubt as to what it meant. In every way a desirable woman. Darling and she had been for another run in her two-seater. He had seen them go, a look of deep meaning in his eyes: when he heard, of their return that look deepened. Presently he would have somethinig to say, something very important. How carelessly people made their way through life, when at every turning fate was waiting 1 with a villainous frown. It would be a pity to bring fear into those eyes, rob them of their flashing independence, their superb disdain, lower that proud head. Yet if all this had to be? Life was full of adventure. fie began affably, was most excruciatingly polite, and clumsily ineffectual. Xor did he deceive her. .Site was prepared for this interview; knew from what her father had said that she j would have to endure it. otherwise she could not have borne with him. For lie was destiny writ large and horrible; yet not so largely or so menacingly as he may have imagined. She was still whirling through the raw countryside listening to a man, suddenly grown communicative, who spoke, of wide sunlit spaces and the mad gallop of hoofs, lie had brought her down a big bunch of mimosa fresh from the South of France, and she was wearing a sprig of it at her breast. With the fragrance of the bloom in her nostrils it, was easy to visualise the scenes lie spoke of. And now she was looking into little red eyes, but with no undue fear. It seemed as though much of his terror had departed from him: the grim spectre conjured tip by her father was a hobgoblin with a lighted candle. This strange exaltation, disdain of danger, or ignorance of it, was not subjected to any process of analysis; probably she was only partly aware of it. Mr Glegg was one of those afflictions which we are taught patiently to endure. “Enjoyed your run?’’ he asked casually. “immensely.” “When are you going to take me?” “1 thought you detested motoring in an open car in winter." “There are occasions when even an open car, in winter, may not be without its attractions. Mr Darling seems to be of that opinion.” The blood flushed her face; a hot retort sprang to her lips. But she remembered tin's man had to be endured ; her father's warning rang dis- : cordantly in her cars. “You sec, the country’s all new and j strange to him,” she explained, “and he finds it most interesting.” “Different, I suppose, from his part of Australia?” There was the suggestion of amusement in his tone. “Entirely.” “Tell me. my dear " she noted the familiar address, but did not dare resent it---“do you think it very wise to be seen so much with one of whom < you know so little?” Had she not been prepared for all contingencies there might have been an explosion here. As it. was she mere- ( lv shrugged her shoulders. Yet there was a strange glow of secret satisfac- ; tion in the thought that there was someone in the world who aroused resentment and uneasiness in this redoubtable personage. "In some cases a little knowledge , may not be a misfortune.” ( lie accepted the hit with no particular grace, though his smile of confidence never flickered. Site was sharp. ( too! Well, he liked them sharp; site would the. more readily realise her position and his power. ITe had no ( objection to a battle of wits, especially when he knew that the result was a foregone conclusion. “That is why I think it a solemn ' and imperative duty to warn you." lie said gravely, in his best chairman-like ( manner. “If an excuse is led for any action I have taken, the explana- ‘ tion will be found in my devotion, to “I feel sure you would find no difficulty in justifying any action y< a 1 might take.” And still he did r.ot flinch, v 1 ast outwardly. In the same impressive, ohairinan-like tone, he continued. “Xat'arally. in the ordinary course of < business, I had to make careful inquiry > as to the value of our friend's silver mine before l could lend my name to « the scheme. In the v ■ •.tr •. <if • ucii in- i quiries several rather start-in ; ia t-• have come to light.” ‘'Surely I have been misinformed? T ; was under the impression that Mr i>: r- ] ling had no intention of floating a company." lie smiled. "Probabl I- - inis ’in r he has not: certainly he has no- with me. That mine is about as valuable as its owner, and as dangerous » > \ hose who are connected with either.” "But why tell me all this; why not tell Mr Darling ?” “I intend to at tire very first opportunity.” “Is opportunity wanting? ‘ I do not forget that we are guests. ' Besides, his case can wait, but yours is l different. You know’ of my hopes. < lure, and that f am jealous of every glance, every smile you give to another/’ “I thought we had already discussed this matter." “IN c must always discuss it. unt:' •> -jii i ron ise to be my win " "I t bought 1 had also made t hat clear f shall never marry. "Why not ? he snapped. “That is an impertinent question.” "But natural. Why should Van no! marry; what is there to prevent your marriage? There must be a cause, a reason? ' 1 j “If there were, that w edd be enliiciy

my concern. And now if you have finished your interrogation I should jike to join my guests.” “One moment, ' he said sharply, now j very red and extremely angry, casting aside the mood amiable. "You have trifled too long with me, mocked at my pretensions. sneered at imfection. Yet Jamie Glegg can be a good friend, and he Avishes to be one to you and yours. But he must have fair dealing, cards down un the table and no chicanery. You arc not a child, and you know exactly hoiv things stand. Once more \ offer you my name, my fortune and a lifelime of devotion.” " You arc very kind.” .she admitted, though with much reluctance, “ real lamuch kinder than 1 deserve, but it just can’t be.” “There is another?” She shook her head. “ There is no other.” Y ou arc sure?” “Of that T am very sure.” Wearily she looked round as if for succour or escape. She Avas paying dearly for her lather’s folly. lie might at have spared her this intolerable ordeal. “ Then it is not on account of the man you met in Australia?” " The man I met in Australia.” she echoed, a puzzled, curious look in her eyes. “ I met no man in Australia who could influence m\ r decision, or mv life.” Jamie was at his old game again of cat and mouse, tiger and antelope. The paAv was ever extended, the claw unsheathed, but ho hated to bring it doAvn and so end the victim’s misery. The fun was in the performance: when the curtain finally descended things grew a bit flat and stale by comparison. Yet I seem to have heard of someone who might.’ She looked at him in frank amazement. “ Someone who might have influenced mv life?” ” Precisely.” Gloselv he Ava teheed the mental process by which she tried to fathom his meaning. Some man in Australia! Absurd ! “ So you have been making inquiries about me. too? It was very thoughtful of you. Naturally I appreciate your interest.” “ EAvrything concerning you must be of interest to me. But you misjudge I , me. In seeking to prcser\-c you and ! yours my investigations could not stop j ■ at the Silver Gully Mine: they had to penetrate Mr Darling’s previous haunts.” She stifled a yawn. ” All this is very tiresome.” “ Perhaps the interest is to urine.” His tone immediately arrested her attention. " Then 1 may take it that the unknown of whom I am so unreasonably jealous is a myth?” " I see no reason Avhy 1 should assure ; you one Avay or the other." Y'et she was unaccountably nervous, troubled beyond all comprehension. ! There Avas something almost demonia- | cal in the man’s insistence. He was i torturing her, torturing her terribly, and he kneAV it. And she could neither turn on him nor flee. He smiled, hesitated for a moment as if the better to take aim, then launched his shaft. “Did you ever hear <4 a drunken j ruffian called Stevens, who was local Ia- ! knoAvn as Bob the Boundary Rider : | Flic started, turned suddenly pale a: death.h but could make no reply. “ l see by your face that, my information is correct, and that my question docs not require an answer.” (To be continued.) A