The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8301, 3 December 1906, Page 2

The Ironmaster's Daughter.

Bv OWEN MASTERS. Avil<r of "Clyda's Love Dream," "Nina's Repentance," "Her Soldier Lover,'' "The Mystery of Woodcroft, " ( ' For Love of Marjorie," etc. ' |i

CHAPTER XXVl.—Continued. "We American girls are independent creatures," she told him smilingly. "'And are afraid of nothing at the push. Why, hundreds of women travel to and from the United States alone in these modern ar.d progressive days. I shall merely tell my servants that I am going on a short visit somewhere." So, at an early hour next morning the carriage was at the door, to carry Pauline and her small amount of luggage to Birmingham railway station.

Charlie 1 was determined to accompany her that far. At the last she almost broke down.

"There, you see what a coward I am after all my boasting ! If it wasn't for troubling my guardian, and making trouble between him and his son, I would content myself with writing." . "It's eight o'clock," said Charlie. "And the train goes just after, nine. A sharp drive." "I can't go without seeing Dick — I won't go!" cried Pauline.

Charlie bit his lips. "Come along then. Wilful worn mi. He won't see you, He's in a den o sleep." He led the way into the sick man's room and motioned the nurse to go. Pauline pressed a swift kiss on Dick's bot brow, and dropped a few tears. Dick stirred, and his lips moved.

"It's a lie! Don't you believe it Pauline. I don't care if you are a nigger. I love you—love you !". ' "Come—come," said Charlie. "You are running all sorts of risks." "You are sure that he'll get better ? Oh, I shall have a terribly anxious time."

"'Ttiere's hardly anything the matter with him. The principle trouble ■will be to satisfy him abo.ut you;" Down-stairs they went, and after a frantic exchange of kisses, Pauline and EnyS' sir id a tearful goodbye. Then there was a scramble for the carriage, for the time was dangerously short. "If you miss the train." said Charlie, "you miss the boat and all this fuss for nothing. I'm anxious to see you off now for the. sake of everybody concerned. Letters would notbe satisfactory and might make a deuce of a tangle." Then he-shouted to the coachman: "Drive fast, or we shall never doit." Pauline waved her handkerchief to Enys, and it continued fluttering until the carriage was lost to sight.

[""The leonmastek's Daughter" was October 17th.]

CHAPTER XXVIII. PLANS ALL AWRY. Pauline Reitz had been reared in the lap of a shrewd business family ; she had been rubbing shoulders for years with the cutest of the cute, and yet she overlooked the simple fact that a saloon passenger with millions of dollars is always "boomed" by the New York press. Such things are of no interest to Britishers, and millionaires and celebrities can do pretty much as they please without being exploited by the papers. The British don't care twopence about the private affairs of anybody, unless their interests are affected. But in America no man or woman is safe from the > pertinacious, insistent reporter. •In Pauline Reitz's case the saloon passenger list had been cabled to New .York, and it was known to her friends days before she, arrived that she was on board the Campania.

Chester Stark received , the first news of Pauline's home-coming from a reporter. That alert gentleman had insinuated his person past a servant, into the library. He wished to see Mr Chester Stark, and his name didn't signify a red cent. He had something to tell Mr Stark about his adopted daughter, Miss Pauline Reitz. Chester Stark and his son Frank were'at breakfast as the time, and both turned exceedingly pale, though from different causes. Both men arose together, and both men hurried to the library, -where the reporter awaited them •with a smiling and' cheerful countenance. "I guess I'm the first here," , he said, reading amaze and apprehension in both faces. "And if this interview can be an exclusive one " "What is it you want?" demanded Frank Stark, with lowering brow. What had happened to Pauline? Was the engagement between her and Dick Tressidy at an end ? Had the news been ferreted out by these ghouls of the press ? •'Oh, Miss Reitz is all right. She is coming home ;in the Campania, and I just wanted a few exclusive notes for the liveliest newspaper in New York, and there's my credentials." He began sharpening his pencil, but Chester Stark took him by the shoulder. ".There must be a mistake. We know nothing of it here." /'There's only one Miss Pauline Reitz of New York, and she's on her way to England. My paper published her picture, and the picture, of the young Englishman, Mr Tressidy, when

the engagement wasanounced. Has the engagement been broken, sir?" «N O —J know nothing! I can tell you nothing." Chester Stark looked helplessly at his son, and Frank turned away to hide an unholy smile. The reporter went away disappointed, but with the resolve to corral Miss Eeitz before she landed. He scented something spicy. "It's a mistake—a mistake," Chester Stark said, for the twentieth time. "You haven't anything, Frank?" •'Not a word. It may be in connection with the death of Mr Tressidy." "Then why didn't she, write, or cable, or something ? Such thoughtless conduct is distressing Uncertainty and ■ suspense are the greatest mankillers going." Chester Stark rushed away to the nearest cable office, while his son went to business, and he revolved the situation in his mind. There was a reply to the cable in the afternoon. Pauline was coming to New York, and that's all he could learn. [to be continued.]