"The Falconhurst Mystery"

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13982, 19 November 1919, Page 7

"The Falconhurst Mystery"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. A POWERFUL STORY OF ABSORB ING INTEREST,

By EDWARD PICKERING. Author of "Murder Will Out," "A Winning Hazard," "Was She Guilty?" "A Witness from the Dead," etc.

CHAPTER XlX.—Continued

(COPYRIGHT.)

Ten o'clock was striking as Dorm.an got out of the taxi in which he had driven t» Mrs Ellison's, and in a few minutes he was shown into the tiny drawing room where she was sitting by the blazing fire, ftnd Dornian, cynical by nature, i could not resist the cli-arm of her welcome. She was a veritable picture of lovely womanhood, and the touch of her soft hand thrilled him as he had never been moved before.

"The room is too hot for me," he said. "Perhaps you won't mind leaving the door open."

"Not in the least. There are only you and me in the house, except my maid," she replied laughingly.

"You're in very comfortable quarters," he went on, after resuming his seat.

"It's fearfully dull," she laughed. "I'm far more lonely than I was living in my little cottage near Falconhurst. I wish"l was back there —it was a very happy time I spent. Do you recollect my meeting you?" "I've very good cause to remember," answered Dorinan. "I would much rather forget that time." "It was a fortunate one for you. looking at it from one point of view." "You mean my reconciliation with Sir Brooke. Yes, I'm glad to remember we were friendly when we saw the last of each other." "And now that you've come into your kingdom, Faleonhurst will be your homo, I presume." "I don't intend to dispossess Devaync and his wife," replied Dorinan, and Mrs Ellison gave him a look of astonishment. "You know what people hint about Adrian Devayne," she said.

"His wife told me. It's the blackest, lie scandal ever invented," he retorted.

"Now I've made you angry, Gilbert, , ■' she retorted in a rallying tone, "I don't believe a word of it myself. You're not cross with mcV

"Why should I be? I'm delighted to- know you don't believe Adrian, is a guilty man. And that reminds me. Have you any idea what became of that hang-dog fellow Penkridge, who quitted Falconhurst rather suddenly?" "Gilbert, I want you to protect me against that man," she exclaimed. "He is my bete noir. He has had the unutterable presumption to fall in love with me, and I'm being persecuted by his coming here."

"I'll forgive him for falling in love with you," and Dornian bestowed a look of undsiguised admiration on the beautiful woman who had appealed to him for his protection. "You ought to be flattered."

"Don't jest about it," she went on. "Because I'm being worried out of my life. I shouldn't wonder if it was Penkridge himself who started that horrible talk about Adrian Devayne."

"If he were worth powder and shot we would bring an action for libel against the scoundrel," replied Dorinan. "Short of that, what can I do?'"

"You can forbid him from coming here," a n< l Irs Ellison looked him'in the face meaningly. "You can have the right if you wish "

Dormaii ignored the hint and turned the conversation upon a less significant topic, and Mrs Ellison gave a glance at the mantelpiece clock.

Penkridge would not come that night, she thought with a. feeling of intense relief.

And it was at that moment the man whom she dreaded with an unconquerable fear was ascending the steps of the house.

tcry, but there's no getting her to do it." i

Penkridge, who had been too constant a visitor.to surprise the servant by his late arrival, was about to go upstairs when she hindered him.

"I will see Mrs Ellison, ,, and Hostor said this in a toiiQ that caused John Sebastian Boyce to give a sigh of admiration. '•It'll be risky, Mrs Devaync." "I've my husband's good name io think of, not of myself/" she answered. "]N!~ow tell me what you have found out." Mr Boyce opened his jacket book, taking out the fragment of cloth Hester had discovered in the library, which he spread carefully on the table, keipine his stumpy forefinger on it, as though for safety. "I've found the coat that bit of cloth belonged to, ma'am," he said cautiously. "The man who's -wearing it is clerk to Mr Ezra. Ezra, the lawyer, who ought to be in—well, here nineteen out of every twenty lawyers ought to be if justice was done them. That's going off the question, but I've had experience of lawyers and prefer burglars, who don "it protend to bo honest." After this little outburst Mr Boyce resumed his professional '•aim. 1 ' This clerk is a timid, inoffensive little fellow, quite incapable of hurting a soul, and I'll wager he hasn't been out of London since he was breeched, if you'll excuse the remark, Mrs Devayne. But he's wearing a coat that the murderer of Sir Brooke Devayne wore before him, or I'll eat my hat. It was given him out of charity by one of Mr Ezra's clients." Tie.paused, and Hester, with her ehm vesting on her interlaced fingers, waited for him to continue. "One of Ezra's clients," he repeated. "Now, from what you've told me, Mrs Devayne, regarding the astonishing will that's been discovered relative to Sir Brooke's property, and how it affects Mr Gilbert Dorman, I fancy that he's been a fairly constant visitor to Mr Ezra. That would only be expected, and naturally. Suppose this now," and Mr Boyce edged his chair closer to the table. "Suppose Mr Dorman. had noticed Mr Ezra's clerk—and nobody could help doing that when they're once seen hi m —i IG might have said to himself, 'I've no need for that coat that's hanging on a nail in my bedroom, and he's a poor chap who's in need of one, so he shall have it. . That's how I reason the affair out.^'

"You mean that Mr' Gilbert Dorman murdered Sir Brooke," replied Hester, not in the least moved by Mr Boyee's

explanation

(To be-Continued"). ■

"Mrs Ellison is engaged, Mr Penkridge,'' she said. "A gentleman called a little while ago, but I will, say you're here." "Do you know who the gentleman is?" he asked. "A'stranger to me, sir." "Don't trouble , Mrs Ellison, then," answered Penkridgc, and his fears were alive again. "11l go into the room next the drawing room and wait until Mrs Ellison is disengaged. I hope she- is better." "The mistress,' siri" exclaimed the girl. "She is quite well —I never knew her half so merry as she is this evening. '' Penkridgo made no answer, although his , scowling face darkened and he stopped abruptly upon coming outside the drawing room door. Dornian was speaking. "SoVou find your friend, Mr Jasper Penkridge, rather a nuisance?" he heard Dornian say laughingly. "Don't call him my . friend, Gilbert," replied Mrs Ellison indignantly. "I want to get rid of hini now. There's a way of doing that which Mr Penk"ridge would not like. That's if he persists in annoying me. I hate him. I shall only be satisfied when he has left England—or is dead." CHAPTER XX. Once again Mr Royce was in the lowpitched dining room at Falconhurst, and Hester was listening to him with rapt attention. Devayne was not at home, having gone into Devonshire to make arrangements for removing to their new residence. "I'm very glad Mr Devayne is away,' , Hester had said, "and that we are leaving Falconhurst. He Las told me some oL ! the gossip, but I've heard more thnn mere hints and innuendoes, and I will not rest —I will not shrink from any danger, in proving how wicked they are." "When you say that, Mrs Devayne," replied Mr Eoyce, "you're forgettiag mo. You'll want me, and I'm not saying that with the idea of being paid for it. I'm on my motile, mam. John Sebastian Royce is not to be defeated, and I'm on a certain track. But a woman's a, difficult subject to tackle, especially when she's suspicious and on her guard. I'm referring to Mrs Ellison — she's capable of clearing up this mys-