"WHISPERING TONGUES,"

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 44, Issue 134036, 2 January 1918, Page 7

"WHISPERING TONGUES,"

By EALPH EODD, Author of "A Step in the Dark, ,, "The Hand on the Strings," "A Marriage by Capture," "A yelvet Knave. , -'

(COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTER XXV.—Continued

"Thank you, Sir Marcus, ,, returned Bγ. Bristow. "I am euro you aro right, and I i'eol that, under the circumstances, the best thing 1 can do is to say good-night. , ' "Best for yourself, or best for Mr Wilmer?" As Hendoraou spoke four pairs of eyes were fixed on him; in all save the squire's there was intense resentment. >mi- Marcus Stethwick was amazed that any man should act with such folly. "Best for all parties, ,7 Bristow returned, trying to speak naturally, but his expression was anxious. Keith Henderson glanced at the clock —surely David Lawrence would not be long now! "Such a charge as you have brought cannot be withdrawn as lightly an you seem to think/ , he said. "You accused Mr Wilmer of an atrocious crime. On hiu behalf 1 ask you for the grounds on which, you based your accusation. ,,, Clifford Bristow moistened his lips. The turn events were taking was as unexpected as unwelcome. "Oh, come, you know the grounds i well enough. It is no good pretending f you were not the iirsl to .suspect the J squire. But there, 1 prefer not to discuss the matter any further. J have apdlogiftd, that's enough." [ ,i!.e moved towards the door. The i three who were watching were quite as'rnished at the swiftness with which .Henderson intercepted him. The instant before lie- had beeu sitting, grave and. ill-right, in his chair: now he stood with his back against the door, :ind there was something menacing in his attitude. '•Listen to me, Dr. Bristow," he said in his deadly level tone. "Still speaking on behalf of Mr Wilmer, 1 refuse your apology. Before you leave this room you will sign a. statement, which will not merely contain a, retraction of this afternoon's charge, but also an explanation of your own conduct.'' , l'Y>r an instant it looked as though IJiistow meant to use violence in order lo get away, lie advanced upon his opponent threateningly, then something made him change his tactics, and he turned I o Sir Marcus. ''[ don't know whether all this has M>iiv approval. ,, he said bitterly. ''It i-.ii "t very polite- ot." this gentleman to I ike matters out of your hands. You aie a. magistrate, ami yon were the .squire's I'rii'iid before ever Mr llenderMiv ciuiie down hero to cause mischief.'' . The little baronet felt that there was a good deal of truth in what the speaker said, but the man by the door never gave him a chance of expressing his opinion. "T will explain my conduct to Sir Marcus after You have explained your purpose in publishing slanders against the squire, of starting rumours of the gravest kind, of dressing up in clothes "which were once Mr Wilmer 's, in order that, by impersonating him, you might give weight to those same rumours.". The other men had jumped up, and had moved instinctively towards the two by the door. Henderson's words, spoken with deliberation, had startled them out of all semblance of judicial calm. '' 1 in persona ting Joe! '' "1 say, you know, this is a bit thick!"' Only the squire was silent; he never took his eyes from Henderson's face. There was something touching in the way he pinned his faith to the man Ursula trusted, the man who was going to put all right. "I shall prove every word I say!" Even Henderson's studied calm could not keep a ring of triumph from his voice. "1 shall prove at the right time that this man obtained a suit of Atr Wilmer 7 s from an old villager named Marly, and that he kept those clothes in an empty cottage which was once an old toll-bar. Bristow could leave- the villago dressed as he is now, masquerade as tho squire " "1 tell you it's a lie," shouted the accused man. He had recovered a little from tho iirst shock. "Wβ shall see why Henderson has invented this vile tale soon, but in tho meantime 1 would remind him that it was he who declared in the lirst instance that Mrs Wilmer had been given poison in a glass of champagne by her husband." "If I suggested anything of tho sort," the other returned very quietly, "it was before 1 knew with absolute certainty that tbo poison Mrs Wilmer took was contained in a dose of medicine prepared by you.'' They one and all heard Clifford Bristow catch is breath. Then the squire seized his arm as ho struck blindly at his accuser. For a moment the two men struggled. It was the second timo that day, though now tho squire only held his captive in a grip there was no shaking off. "Don't be a fool, Bristow," Sir Marcus commanded. '' This is no timo for brawling like drunken bargees. Good heavens, man! .Do you realise what you are charged with? Do you hear what Mr Henderson says?" Bristow had recovered himself with a tremendous effort. "It is easy to say things like that, but before you listen to such a talc, perhaps you will ask Mr Henderson why, in the name of the ridiculous, I should wish to harm my best patient V It was the question which Keith Henderson had dreaded, tho question to which he could find no reply. "There, you see," Bristow went on triumphantly, "ho can't answer! Shall I tell you what he is trying to do? He is trying to draw a herring acroes the trail." The speaker glanced from Sir Marcus to Trehernc, and from Treherne bac kto Sir Marcus. He knew that everything depended upon winning thoso two now; it was no good asking for the time he needed so badly in which to alter his plans; if he was to save his position it must be by a bold move. "It's a fine way of diverting suspicion," the man went on with feverish eagerness. "It wouldn't suit Mr Henderson to have us asking him questions. But if ho thinks to silence me he'll find himself mistaken." "Go on," said Hendorson toraely. '' Lot us hear the worst.'' "Sir Marcus Stethwick," Brisk w broke out passionately, "you aro not the man to-be misled by bluff. It's all very well this fellow pretending to bo j bo confident, but he can't deny that it was he who removed Mrs Wilmor from the Gryphons, and who alone—presumably—knows the particulars of her ■ death. It is quite possible that Mr Hen- , derson has his own reasons for wishing to shield his friend." Each moment the speaker was gaining confidence. "The squire is a rich man,' , he said signifi-

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cantly. "Mrs Wilmer has died under mysterious circumstances; more than that, .she was hurriedly buried in a foreign hind. 1 tell you, Sir Marcus, there is a great deal more in this than you have any idea of. We aro as yet only on tho fringe of as black a, mystery as ever startled England.-" The unhappy chairman of Quarter Sessions seemed to be lost in an impenetrable Jog; he wan in the agonising throes of intense perplexity. The subject matter of the affair was bud enough, but this swift exchange of charge and counter-charge bewildered him; these sinister hints chilled his blood. .From somewhere out in the park there came tho sound of it, motor horn, but Sir Marcus was too engrossed to notice it. "Dr. Bristow," he begun, "a moment ago \'. understood you to withdraw your shocking allegations. ,, "Now, perhaps," Henderson interposed, "you will understand why 1 took it upon myself to interfere. Dr. Bristow's •sudden change of front did not deceive me, because 1 was satisfied that ho only intended to wait for :i bettor opportunity of working the squire harm. Unless I am much mistaken, hist latest idea is to link, my name with Wilniiu-"s, and to accuse us both of having—he hesitated —"well, in plain language, uT having murdered Mrs Wihner." Trelienie and Sir ..Marcus were really shocked —(he squire h;td actually laughed! They neither of them believed for a moment that Henderson, the Hurley street specialist, or their old friend, the M'.F.H., were guilty, yet surely it was no laughing matter. "You may try to carry it off with a high hand, but there's a good deal you will have, i<) explain all the same," said Bristow defiantly. "Tho circumstances connected with Mrs Wilmer's death "Bnl she isn't, dead,'" interrupted Keith Henderson quietly. '•Unless I am much mistaken Mrs Wilmer will be here in a moment now." The speaker never even glanced to see how his amazing announcement had aiVeeted two of his hearers. All his attention was 'lixeii upon Clifford Brislow; he was trying to define wfiefher astonishment, liisnppointnierl or fear predominated in the m:m's expression at flint moment nl' revelation.