OUR NEW SERIAL THE YOUNG ARCHDUCHESS

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 25 May 1922, Page 3

OUR NEW SERIAL THE YOUNG ARCHDUCHESS

(By

WILLIAM LE QUEUX)

CHAPTER XIX. (Continued). After a little more personal conversation, they drifted to the subject of Colonel Ashdown, whose trial was so close at hand. This was due to a random question put by Vincent as to whether Mrs Somers had lately seen Geradine Torella. “ I saiw her a few days ago,” was Mabel’s answer. “ She is frightfully depressed about her dear old guardian. She adores him as if she were his own daughter, although, naturally, she strenuously denies that there is any relationship between them. Of course, you know the general opinion in the neighbourhood was that she was his illegitimate daughter; that Mrs Ashdown knew it and hated her in consequence.”

Vincent knew he was treading on very delicate ground, he felt he must exercise great caution. Not even to the woman who had promised to marry him would he divulge professional secrets. “Yes, of course, I heard the rumour, but I don’t attach any importance to it. I am inclined to think the Colonel’s own explanation was the true one.” Mabel looked at him searchingly. She was not very brainy or very profound, but she was full of common-sense and she had exceedingly keen instincts. “ Of course for a long time I have guessed that, if there is a mysteryj about Geradine Torella, and that there is a mystery nobody doubts, you know more about it than anybody, except perhaps the Colonel and her present guardians.” Vincent fenced with his usual ease. “ What in the world made you think anything so ridiculous? ” “It is not ridiculous at all,’’ flashed Mrs Somers a little sharply. “You were in and about Market Harborough for an unconscionable time. As soon as Geradine leaves, you leave too.” She was shrewder than he thought “ I told you my business there was to lie in wait for your foreign, friend, Madame Thirska.” “ Yes, I know all about that,” rejoined Mabel swiftly. “And so far, so good. But on the first day I call on Geradine in London, you make your appearance ; you want to leave a message for her new guardian, Monsieur Renoir. It is evident then that you are pretty well acquainted with the whole entourage- And once, when I was out walking one morning in Market Harborough, although you did not see me, I espied you and the Colonel talking together very earnestly in an out of the way spot, where you thought

you were safe from observation.” Vincent looked a little nonplussed, Mabel noted his confusion and followed up her advantage. “ Of course, I don’t pretend to be at

all clever. I know a good many of my kind friends think I have no brains at all. But I can put two and two together as well as most people. And again I say you know the whole truth about Geradine Torella, if anybody does. You will admit I have pretty good evidence to go upon, haven’t I, even if I don’t happen to possess your wonderful detective instinct? ”

He felt himself pushed into a corner by this apparently mercurial young woman, who seemed able to reason and think pretty clearly when it came to the point.

“ I’ll be quite frank with you, dear I do know all about Miss Torella, but it is a professional secret. You wouldn’t think much of me if I were to disclose what I do know, even to you, would you? ”

Mabel was mollified at once. “I am not sure I should. I might think you were a bit untrustworthy in other things. I ought not really to have pressed you so much, it was very bad taste on my part. And now, let us talk about the darling old Colonel. Of couse they won’t find him .guilty? ” “Why not?” asked Vincent shortly. “To most people it seems a pretty clear case. I admit there are certain complexities in it, but the revolver he gave up was his own weapon and he did. not stay to face the music. Why are you so sure they will not find him guilty? ”

In her reply, Mrs Somers did not show quite the same powers of clear thinking that she had exhibited a few seconds earlier.

“Oh, I can’t say—a sort of instinct. Of course he was not a man to kill anybody in cold blood.”

“ I don’t suggest he killed him in cold blood. He killed him when he was in a condition bordering on frenzy, after a violent quarrel in which his passions were heated to fever point.” It was a long time before Mrs Somers spoke again. When she did, the tears were running down her cheeks, out of compassion for her old friend. “ Oh, it will be a wicked, wicked thing. Has it ever occurred to you that it was most unlikely that he should carry a revolver about with him in his dress-clothes? ”

Vincent looked at her searchingly. She was certainly displaying considerable intelligence again. “ Of course, it has occurred to us But do you advance any theory? Do you suggest that Hugh shot himself? ”

Mabel wrung her hands. “ I don’t know what to think or what to suggest. Of one thing I am certain, my dear old friend was not a murderer.”

“In intention, certainly not,” answered Vincent as he rose. The conversation had agitated her very much, as was only natural, considering

that she had known the Colonel all her life and that he had been a. second father to her. “ Well, we shall do our best for him, Mabel, of that you may be sure. We have got Hawksley to lead and young Basil Long, one of the cleverest chaps at the Bar, for his Junior. But the devil of it is they can’t make the Colonel speak. He alone could tell us the events of that night. All he will says is, ana he keeps repeating it : ‘ I killed him.’ Long, who, by the way, is in love with Miss Torella, thinks his mind has gone.” “Ah, then, you will get him off on that? ” cried Mrs Somers anxiously. “ Perhaps—to confine him to a living tomb,” answered Vincent gloomily. “Heis a strong, healthy man. I should think he would prefer death itself to that.” The lovers parted. Vincent had made the running very fast for fear he should lose her. But they were both very circumspect. Not a word of the future arrangements was to be breathed to a soul. Vincent did not propose to visit at the flat except at very occasional intervals. They could meet once or twice a week and lunch and dine at restaurants far from the beaten track. He had always been pood at mystery and intrigue, and she seemed ready to become an apt pupil, under the able tutelage of the man she loved. Continued in to-morrow’s Advertiser.