"THE BURNINGHAM CASE."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 14463, 21 December 1915, Page 7

"THE BURNINGHAM CASE."

(By ESTHER MILLER.)

Author of 'The Beautiful Claimant," ''Living Lies," "The Quicksands of Life, ,, etc., etc. (COPYEIGHT.)

OHAPTEB I. LORI) BURNING-HAM PAYS A CALL " Primrose Villas I Yes, sir; the-first to the right and the second to the left* ,. The milkman measured out '' half :i pint ,, with a clatter of cans', to deliver next <loor ; and Lord Burningham walked on. Jt -was rin unknown land to him, and he surveyed it with faint wonder. The tangle of semi-suburban streets, all built after the- same depressing pattern—a portieoed entrance, a bay window, and a. few yards of neglected front "garden ,, between an area and an iron gate —varied only in size. The smallest and cheapest had two rows of windows* above the entrance; the largest ran up to six, smoke-grimed and gaunt. A world of "Apartments to Let, ,, of "Board Residence, ,, oi peeling stucco; 'dirty blinds, and narrow means. A vulgar world, with no dignity about its pretentious poverty, where soiled satin was in more repute than fresh cotton, where torn and sooty curtains* were looped with yellow bows, and gandy ilowcr pots adorned windows which had not been cleaned for months. One could see the men going to the city of a morning in. shiny clothes, after an illcooked slatternly meal, and their women kind parading the adjacent Westboumc Grove in a cheap travesty of last year's mode. Buruiugha.ni, who had chosen to dismiss his hansom at Whiteley's, could scarcely have looked less alien in another planet. He so obviously belonged to the Great West, which is the land of ►Society with tho biggest IS, of tho fashionable clubs, of the best tailors, of opulence and case. From the crown of: his glossy hut to the tips of his boots ho was as well turned out as man t'ould bo, ;\m\ the calm glance- of his steel-blue eyes, the clean-shaven, cynical mouth, the air of breeding combined with assurance, belonged to tho polished man of the world. He was handsome-, eight and twenty, and a bachelor. A physiognomist might have predicted that if he had not been born an earl with lifty thousand a year, ho might have developed the predatory instinct wtih success. As. fortune had kindly intervened he had had no reason to attack his kind. But there were women who said that if lie was as brilliant as a diamond he was as hard, and enemies who declared him dangerous to cross. He had been a good friend, nevertheless, to many of his own sex, ever generous with his cheque-book. He had no mean vices, at any rate, being always the fine gentleman. Ho found Primrose Villas. They differed only from the preceding ''terrace" by being semi-detached. At number two he disturbed a lean cat and rang. What could have brought my Lord Burniugliam so far from i'all Mall this November afternoon. . His wandering wore a secret look, breathed mystery. "The usual "general" of the neighbourhood opened the door after some delay. "I'll enquire, sir." "1 wish to see him on business,'" said his lordship deliberately; • • un business of importance. , ' "Yes, sir." She left him on the doorstep, and he heard the ensuing colloquy at tho dining room door. "There's a gentleman asking for you, sir.'-' "What sort, of a gentleman?" "Oh, a real gentleman, sir." Burniugliam smiled, prodding the doormat with his gold-headed cane. '' Will you please to walk in, sir ? '' lie entered. The room in which he found himself called for little remark. It was shabby, but cleaner than might have been expected, and a bowl of fresh J lowers on the table and a lire in the grate lent it some pretence of cheerfulness. As a background he could not spare it a glance; his penetrating gaze was concentrated upon the man who confronted him —a man a few years older than himself, with strong features somewhat roughly hewn, and a well-shaped head set on broad shoulders:. "Mr Maurice .Deltry?" "Yes, , 'said Deltry in a voice that matched his physiognomy. "I don't think I have the honour of your aequnintauce." "No, but you have heard of me," said the visitor. "I am Lord Burningham. ' 'Burningham! " The dining room lodger started as though he had been shot. Apparently no announcement could have caused him greater concern. He stared, swallowed with a convulsive sound; a little moisture appeared on the broad forehead, which was bronzed by an open air life extending over many years'. "Burningham!" he repeated huskily. "You are surprised to see me?" Lord Burningham studied hia host with his cynical steel blue eyes. "Why? You profess to be my cousin, I understand, born in lawful wedlock; my curiosity was naturally aroused. Now I look at you I perceive something that might be called a resemblance bet wen you and my late Uncle James —the shape of the brows, a turn of the head. It is probably delusive, and you have no trace of Deltry blood in you." Burningham 's half-bantering, halfscornful tone seemed to turn the other man's embarrassment to gall. He regained himself, Hushing. 'So it was curiosity that brought you here!" he said. "One day your "lordship's curiosity will be gratified more fully by facing me in a court of law!" "This meeting satisfies me completely, thanks," said Burningham, with gentle insolence. '' To be plain, I came chiefly upon business —to make you a practical offer. You contend that my uncle, the late Earl, when Mr Deltry, committed the indiscretion of a mesalliance in Australia with a governess — your mother; that he deserted her, and left her to die of a broken heart, and you to bo brought up by charitable friends in ignorance of his degree. In brief, you put forth a claim as my uncle's son to the rank, property and privileges I hold as Earl of Burningham. You are a bold man, Mr —Deltry." "I demand my rights, that is all." "Come, you don't really think you ■are my uncle's legitimate heir?" said Burningham. "It's a little game of bluff, isn't it?" "You'll see when the case comes on," said Deltry unflinchingly. Then they gazed at each other, the two men who might be cousins—gazed as though they would read each other's soul. "Do you know," asked the Earl slowly, "what it costs to fight a case like this?" "Y"es, I have the money, thank you, ,,

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replied the claimant. "You needn't think I am a beggar because I'm here. It's economy. I've been saving for three years , —since I discovered who my father was, and you refused to acknowledge me. 1 am ready for the battle you have forced. 1 wanted to come home without, any fuss and step quietly into my father's place, and iincl a younger kinsman's hand extended to welcome me. We might have been friends then —and 1 should have done my best, to make up your loss" to you. Hut you chose to sneer at my story and treat me as a. swindler. Remember in the future it wasn't I who put the gloves on, but you.' 7 Lord Burninghain swung' his elegant boot and smiled. He did not seem at all put out or even disturbed by the vehemence of his opponent. "Of cours'o, 1. expected you to assume the injured role,'' he said. "It isn't likely you would admit to me that you had doubts, much less that you knew for a fact that you were the son, we will say, of Nobody of Nowhere. But it doesn't matter. The point is, will you ever prove your case.'" "We shall see," said the claimant. "Then you will waste what little means yon have," pursued the Earl tranquilly, "in the vain pursuit of a shadow. What, folly! You would do much better to come to terms with me." He paused a moment. "J will give you ten thousand pounds to abandon your claim, hand over all your papers to me, and return to your business in Australia." "Ah!" cried the other man, "you are not afraid of mo, 1 am bound to lose —but you want to buy me. That's very strange." "Not at all," said Lord Burningham, with a slightly wearied air, as of one bored by prolonged discussion of a matter of no importance "I have calculated that to defend the suit would cost me several thousand pounds 1 prefer to spend the money in avoiding it and saving myself the trouble and annoyance, even though 1 should be enriching a, probably undeserving object My point of view is' clear and logical, I til ink" "Quito clear to me," said the claimant emphatically; "I decline the offer" "Don't be precipitate,' , suggested Burniugliam "You may regret it Ten thousand pounds! Let tho idea sink into your mind. A smart business man might turn it into a fortune; a man of modest views, satisfied with a security, a competence, might even sell his business and retire into the country with such a comfortable sum to invest." "It would be deaj- at the price of an earldom .and iifty thousand a year." "But you haven't got the earldom and the iifty thousand a year!" said Burningham, "and you'll never have them. I shall not repeat this offer —or raise it —so don't be rash. Perhaps you would like to think it over?" He glanced at the black slate clock on the mantelpiece. "I have half an hour to spare. "'' You have a young wife, I believe? Consult her, by all means, if you please." "It is unnecessary," replied Deltry. "My wife is one with me in the matter. She would not advise me to sell my rights for any sum." "You may bo mistaken there. A woman likes to feel secure. Suppose you were to die when your madness had ruined you; what would become of her then?" (To be Continued.)