The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8276, 1 November 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Aut h tr of " Clyda's Love Dream," " Nina's .Repentance," "Her Soldier Lover, ' "The Mystery of Woodcraft," " For Love of Marjorie," etc.

["The Ironmaster's Daughter" was commenced on October 17th.]

CHAPTER X.— Continued. Bill Hebden, the lake prizefighter, had been made overseer of tbe works while iu the course of demolition and reinoval, and a linge gang of men was working night and day. •You will have to keep your eyes open, sir,' liill said one day. •The folks from the cottages have a grudge against you, and they heave arf bricks very suddenly sometimes. None of tne men are real workers—only hangers-on. 1 Dick did not pay muoh attention to tbe threats, bat more than one missile hurtled past his head from unseen hands. In the meantime, matters were being pushed forward with eleotrio speed. The old ohain works were gone—the long row of cottag«s were gone—and instead a vast xange of modern factories was growing—growing until they would completely overshadow tbe dwarf Tressidy's works adjoining. Huuderds of tons of the latest machinery and appliances lay at th«j wharf and the . railway siding, swathed iu miles of bandages. An arm of workmen was toi'ing under the eyes of experts—architects, builders, engineers, and foremen of every department. The beat skill that money conld command was being employed, and, based upon Chester Stark's advice, Dick bad planned every foct of the new mammoth works. There were iron and braes foundries'; forges and rollingmills; engineering, from thH turning of a screw to the building of a locomotive, or a steel bridge to span the widest river in Great liritain. And almost everything was driven— everything manufact ured—by electricity, and this modern power was produced by tbe specially installed plaufc at the new works.

well eauoated. And I know that she is fond of her father, nrd, like him, very ambitious. Why, she is clever enough to entangle Xreaeid? himself. I tell you it will be a master stroke to get a spy into the office.' 'A great Idea,' Chi is roared. He slapped Weeks on the back. 'And my Hilda is the very girl for the job—if we only have the luck to get her into it.' He paced to and fro in deep thought. •I don't see why it cannot be done. Nobody knows her hereabouts, as you say, she is a fine young woman, andjjdoes credit to her father, bhe was adopted by some supposed wealthy people for her beauty, and grace, ani they ceitainly did well by her while they lived. Then she married thnt literary fellow, who taught ber shorthand and typewriting, and died, leaving her next tojpenniless in a year after the marriage. Why on eartb didn't I think of it? She can apply in ber own name—Hilda Craven, and if she is Hucoesafuli get lodgings somewhere near home. Look bare, Weeks, I am going to wire to Hilda now.' And away he went. (To be Continued*)

Small wonder that tbe neighbouring ironmasters hegan to feel uueasy. ' What manner of man was this Dick Tressidy? A magician—a modern Aladdin! His palaces seeded to grow In a single night—his corning were already the talk on the countryside, and were gradually reaching to the limits of the empire—to the limits of the commercial world. Messrs Isaacs, Stanley and Weeks had held many councils of war. From the windows of the private office they could -see the great new factories overshadowing their own. The tall chimneys shot up like arrows, hundreds of feet aoove their cracked and blackened pigmies. And the new machinery whioh was on trial worked easily—almost noiselessly—desperately in earnest —desperately efficient and true. 'I hear there is going to be a sky sign a hundred yards long,' said Obris Stanley gloomily. 'lf be uses the name of Tressidy we will go for him." 'No,' decided Isaacs, 'that would be playing into his hands. 'We havo got the old connection.' 'lt will melt like mists if he undersells ue. Ut would have been the wiser policy to let bim have this plant. He would have paid fifty thousand for it, and now the lot will not fetch half in the open market.' 'I wactod to sell,' sighed Weeks. 'You!' snorted Stanley. 'Look here, lasacs, you have got to find eome uash for new machinery, it' we can only put in bit to go or\ with——' 'I intend doing so; aod, I may as well ba uandid with you, I sink or swim here. 1 dare not back out if I would. We are in desperate straits, but it is three to one, and surely you can devise something: Tressidy swore to ruin us and wo are lighting in self-defence. All is fair,* he added significantly. 'He has plenty of enemies—among tbe workers who do not want work. Now, you and Weeks think it over.' Lucas Isaacs quitted the otfioe, and entered bis carriage. He trembled visibly, and bis face was careworn. He glanced at the arches of the new factory, and a shiver penetrated to his very spine. '1 will stick at nothing,' he muttered. 'lf I can only make them understand. It is an eye for .an eye—u tooth for a tooth.' He. lay back and reflected, one hand shading his ayes, 'Yep, it will be better to wait events—just a little longer. I will see what their course of action ia before outlining mine.' That very day Edward Weeks sa»v an advertisement in u daily paper that riveted his attention. It was a very commonplace advertisement roo, and ran: 'Lady shorthand typewriters wanted. Must be sjiait and accurate. Great speed not essential. Apply personally to 'Eresaidy's Eagle Workf, any morning between eleven and 'twelve o'clook.' Mr Weeks showed the advertisement to Chris Stanley, and Stanley swore. 'Now,' snid Weeks, 'if we could manage to got some one in the office whom wo could trust—Tressidy's office I moan. A typewriter has Jots of opportunities, and if she is pretty, she can bamboozle tbe clerks. It would He the thin end of the wedge.' 'l3y George, you are right!' growled Stanley. 'Jiat the weJgo is a mighty thin 'one.' 'We may be able to learn something ol Treaty's plans and esti- j mates,' purred Weeks. 'liut wherf's the gr.-l?' 'Your daughter, Hilda. Tressidy has never seen her, and she is tbe handsomest young woman under heaven. She has always lived away from home, and been thoroughly