Fine Feathers.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 27 (Supplement)

Fine Feathers.

!t!!llllllllllllllliilillllllllll!lllllllllll!ll!l!3 “ STAR’S ” NEW SERIAL.

By

EFFIE ADELAIDE ROWLANDS

Author of " A Bunch of Blue Ribbons,” “ The Man From the West,” “ Brave Love,” etc.

CHAPTER XlX.—(Continued)

How it was going to be brought about Lionel Crafter did not know at that moment, but as he got into his little two-seater car and drove away he was turning over in his mind all manner of ways iri which he could discredit Angleton. His mind was a jumble of ideas, jealous plans, stung

vanity and hatred for the young man who, in his arrogance, he determined had supplanted him.

And then all at once there flashed across his mind the thought that in some way or other he might utilise Antoinette Minster. He had, of course, carefully kept away from her. He had not even sent her a word. He wanted her to realise that he so thoroughly disapproved of what she had done, that he had put her out of his thoughts. But now, as he drove back to his rooms, she came very clearly into his mind. And he remembered, with a new rush of jealousy, how warmly Tony had spoken about Sir Bryan, and what a high opinion she had of the young man.

Since that day when he had seen Bryan and Mary walking together, this girl (who was so beloved by his old uncle, and who had snubbed him and put him so definitely outside even a pretence of friendship) had become to Lionel Crafter the one most desirable creature on earth.

It was not merely her beauty and her personal attraction which drew him. It was the spirit in this girl which not only roused his anger and stung his vanity, but it served as a kind of reproach to the young man, for there was everything in and about Mary that was lacking in himself. And though as a general rule Lionel did not trouble himself very much about the moral aspect of affairs, circumstances forced this on him now. And it was certainly unpleasant for one so vain, and so sure of himself, as he generally was, to have to confess that, he cut a very sorry figure in the eyes of Mary Pagent. As it happened when he got back to his rooms, he found another little letter from Tony. She did not write in any sense reproachfully, she wrote almost with a note of authority. “ I want to see you,” she scribbled. “ Please let me know when and where we can meet. There is something I want to say to you, something that must be said. Of course, I know perfectly well that you want to shirk seeing me, my dear Lionel, but we cannot always do what we want to do in this life, you know. So please let me hear from you by return.” As he took up this letter his valet said to him in a quiet voice: “ Miss Minster left that note herself. She was in a motor-car; I think it was Sir Bryan Anglcton’s car.”

Lionel dismissed his man with a curt nod of his head, but this information set his mind working still more closely about the suggestion that Tony could be of some use to him. Driving in Bryan Angleton’s car! That showed that she and Bryan had come together, and were probably seeing one another very frequently. There was no manner of doubt in Lionel’s mind that Angleton would undoubtedly try to help the girl. And he wondered a little savagely what Tony had said to her cousin about himself. A little while ago he would never have doubted her, but now that he had treated her so badly he must be prepared to find a change in her. In fact, this little note brought that home to him in none too pleasant a fashion. Still, as he rang for his man to bring him some whisky and soda, and he lay back in a chair smoking thoughtfully, the knowledge that Antoinette Minster and Bry_n Angleton were friendly and were meeting one another grew more and more into the conviction in his mind that this in itself might be used very subtly and very surely as a means to divide Mary Pagent from the man she loved. CHAPTER XX.

It was the outcome of that dinner with Basil Gospard and all that the young man had told her which had suddenly determined Tony to get in touch with her cousin. She wrote and asked him to come to see her. And Bryan answ r ered the letter in person. When he found her in a very shabby lodging, he just sat down and he stared at her. lie saw that she was changed. She looked wasted, her eyes were too big, and the rouge on her cheeks stood out too plainly. He was kindness itself to her, and when he spoke he was careful not to let her know that he felt that she had made a very big mistake. On the contrary, he did his best to let her understand that he was absolutely on her side, and that there was nothing he would not do to be of use to her. In fact he was so gentle, so full of sympathy, that the tears sprang into Tony’s eyes, and just for a little while she found it almost difficult to speak. Then she began to ask Bryan about himself, and what he was doing, and if he had news of Lady Angleton, and such like. lie told her that he was in his grandmother’s very bad books, and he also confessed frankly that he really could not stay at Brecklev when she, Tony, was not there. This cheered up Tony a little bit, and she laughed. “And what about dear Frances:" Didn’t she console you for my absence?” Bryan shook his head, and lit a cig “Why no, Tony, and you know that very well. As a matter of fact, I thought at first you were a little prejudiced against Miss Ilylton, but J have come to the conclusion you have summed her up pretty correctly. I don’t like her. And now look here, dear old thing,” Bryan went on, “I want to j have a serious talk to you. You mustn’t stay in a place like this. What do you mean by not letting me know where you were? You must look upon me as your brother, Tony, and you must let me take care of you. It’s all very well, my-dear child, being independent, and I very much respect and honour your spirit, but let’s be sensible, too! You know a s well as I do that it was not the wisest thing on earth to cut yourself adrift from the old lady as you have done. Besides,” Bryan said this very gently, "I have my own theory about her where you are concerned. I believe she is really fond of you, Tony.” (To be eonl#iwd.)