“A Plunge Into the Unknown,"

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 47, Issue 14546, 8 December 1921, Page 7

“A Plunge Into the Unknown,"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL AEEANGEMENT. .

THRILLING STORY OP ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE— '

By CHARLES D. LESLIE, Author of '“A Wild Wager," "Loved for Herself," "The Errington ’ Pearls Mystery," "The Power of the Purse," etc.

(COPYBIGHT.)

CHAPTER Xll—Continued. It was so comfortable in bed that Eva felt averse to quitting it, and when finally she rose she did not hasten, and was indeed only half dressed when Bennett returned with the news that she was wanted immediately. Mrs DieksonDickson and Mr Mailing had arrived. Eva was startled. “Isn’t Mrs Tourmaline coming to speak to me here,” she asked; she had, in fact, been expecting a visit from her hostess. “.No, miss; she ’s in her boudoir with Mrs Diekson-Dickson and Mr Mailing.” With Bennett’s assistance Eva got into her plain tailor-made, gave herself a final glance in the long mirror, and followed the servant to the sittingroom. Mrs Diekson-Dickson sat in an armchair, looking grim and vengeful, close by her, posing elegantly on the hearthrug, stood Mr Mailing, even more carefully groomed than usual. On the sofa opposite reclined the hostess, apparently quite at her ease, making play with a scent bottle, and casting amused glances at her former friend. Some ten minutes had elapsed since their arrival, and the situation, so far as the visitors were concerned, was getting strained. Their hostess puzzled them exceedingly. She had received them as though it were an ordinary call. • “Mv dear Henrietta, how nice to see you so early. llow is your headache?” ' each had been her greeting. “Thank you, it still lingers, but 1 had to come after the extraordinary

I communication Mr Mailing lias made I to me.” I ‘‘Oh, yes, I remember; be lias a silly idea ]’ve been passing off a strange I woman for Eva Doulton. ” Mrs TofirJinaline east a. careless smile at that I gentleman, which signefied that his I vagaries amused her. "As if I would Ido such a thing.” "But you have, dear lady,” Mr MalI ling pointed "The lady who was in Mrs Dickson-Diekson’s house last night, who passed for Lady Doulton, I attended the meeting of ‘The Society/ I and afterwards appeared at the eonI cert, was an impostor.” I "So you said last night, and I warnI cd you if you repeated it in public I I would make you sorry you levelled such | accusations against me.” } "You said you could give proofs,” [said Mrs Dickson-Diekson; "that is why ll've come. For I'm very curious to 'hear them. I may add, besides Mr Mailing ’s discovery, I have independently the best, of 'reasons for knowing you introduced an unknown woman in,.to my house last night.” ‘• Well, well! ” said Mrs Tourmaline equably, "we will see. One of us has made a*mistake. It may be me, after ail.” "You take it very lightly, Madge. "You take it very tragically, Henrietta.”

"I do,” grimly _replied the .other, "and so will you before I’ve done. 'Where is this young woman?” "Eva Doulton? Dressing, L presume. I _asked her to be ready at ten o’clock, and I’ve sent Bennett to expedite her. Eva is a lazybones about getting up, you know.” Mrs Dickson-Diekson put her. lips .•lose together and relapsed into silence. Mr Mailing gazed at his carefullymanicured finger-nails, and wished the young lady would hurry. A mere man, .involved in a women’s quarrel, has alwuvs a feeling of inferiority or rather of 'helplessness. The division of sex is never greater than in the difference between 'masculine and feminine quarrels. But, after a few apparently interminable minutes had ticked by, Eva entered. "Good morning, my dear Eyfi!” said Mrs Tourmaline politely'.' /"I' hope you slept well?”"y es _thank you.” Eva smiled at her hostess and bowed slightly to Mrs Dickson-Diekson, who retorted with a hard stare. Mr Mailing the girl ignored. ■ "'This is not Lady Doulton!” stated Mrs Dickson-Diekson. "This is not Lady Doulton,” echoed Mailing. "Oli come.” remonstrated Mrs Tour-, maline in a gentle voice. "Don’tspeak so rashly. Take a good look at her before you decide.” She sat up, a malicious smile on her face, while the other -two continued to stare hard at Eva, who could not. help colouring under their intense scrutiny. "This is the lady who was at Mrs Dickson-Diekson’s last night,” said Mr Mailing, "and she is not Lady Doulton, though I grant the likeness is amazingly close. However, Mrs Tourmaline, it will be easy to put the matter beyond doubt. Send for Lord Doulton, whom this lady ran away from last night. I am perfectly willing to accept his word on the matter.” ‘• Well- —well!” said Mrs Tourmaline. "I see it’s no good trying to deceive von. You ’re so clever, Mr Mailing, and dear Henrietta, who really isn’t sure herself, accepts your word. I will keep up the deception no. longer. Let me introduce Miss Eva Wantage, temporarily' residing at Higligatc, and following the occupation of a governess. She is, as you see, exactly like Eva Doulton, so I engaged her yesterday to impersonate our absent friend.” "Yes, and fraudulently carried your candidates at the election by her aid,’’ Mrs Dickson-Diekson burst out indignantly. "What are you going to do about it?” asked the other woman with polite curiosity "You must acknowledge your deception at a special meeting of ■ The Society,’ and resign your membership. ‘The Society,’ as a whole, shall decide whether further steps are, to be taken.” "I shall not resign.” "You will brazen it out?” cried Mrs Dickson-Diekson in amazement. "I shall call a meeting of 'The Society’ for to-night, tell them what you have done—”

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“You will do nothing of tlie kind.” “And why not?” cried the other | shrilly. | “Because, Henrietta, you did the I same thing yourself a month ago at ! Queen’s Gate. Mr Le Vitro was coni fined to his room and unable to leave j it. Mr Mailing engaged an actor to l impersonate him, who voted at that meeting as Miss Wantage did last night. You set the precedent; I follow it. So T don’t think you can afford to make a, public accusation against me.” i CHAPTER XIII. 1 Mrs Tourmaline, having thrown her bomb, leaned back and surveyed its resnltt hrough half-closed eyes. The explosion, metaphorically speaking, that followed, was all that she could desire, blowing her adversaries into fragments. .They were silenced, defeated, routed. Their faces betrayed their (die 2 rin. Mrs Dicksou-Dickson could for

. a brief while have dispensed with her artificial complexion, a warm natural colour dyed her cheeks, and she strangled a groan in her -throat. Mailing set his teeth, scowled darkly, and cursed his luck under his breath. The man was the more discomfited. The idea was his, the polt his handiwork, and now lie was revealed as- a trickster wli-Q.se plans have miscarried; worse, the secret lie shared'with Le Vitre and the lady was now worth nothing. He had reckoned it an asset of no inconsiderable value. He eoubl not conceal his rage, and, if looks could''slay, the glance he flung at Mrs Tourmaline would have laid her dead among the sofa cushions. But Mrs Dickson-'Dickson was only temporarily discomfited. It is always annoying to be found out; for a minute she looked foolish, and then she rallied herself. "My dear Madge, how clever you are!” she cried. "However did you 'get Aviso’ to our little game? Do tell ifle. ” Eva, a silent spectator of the scene, heard Mrs Tourmaline’s revelation with the utmost relief. It explained her employer's apparent foolhardiness, and partly justified her in Avliat was, the girl Avas guiltily aware, an unjustifiable trick. She hadn’t liked her role at all, and nothing but the extremity of her needs had led her to accept it, Slie glanced radiantly at the Victorious figure oil the sofa, and obeying a gesture seated herself beside her. "I’m so glad I can be Eva Wantage again,” she said. Mrs Tourmaline, patting her arm caressingly, looked across the room at her defeated rival. "I’m afraid I can’t claim much

cleverness, Henrietta. I’d heard the day o four meeting that Mr Le Vitre Avns down Avith an attack of pleurisy, and so was surprised to see him present. Driving home, I recalled a certain oddness in hisappearance, and the idea that someone Avas impersonating I him crossed my mind. There my cleverness. as you call it, ended. 1 sent for a private detective, one of those l people who advertise in the daily pap T era. T told him my suspicions, and ask- | od him to look into the matter. He! dirl so, and soon diseoA’cred that Air Le ! Vitre never left tiie house on the eA r en- I ing lie Atms supposed'to be at Queen’s! Gate, Avheve the meeting was held. I Then my detective got on the track of j a man looking like ati actor, Avho called j upon Mr Le Vitre earlier that day. j The n#n, judiciously plied with drink, - let out the AA’hole Story, and when sober next day for' the trilling sum of five pounds put his signature to a statement. confessing what he had done. I hold tills confession. Your fault. my dear Henrietta, or rather Air ATali‘ng's, lay in not choosing your tool av ill) sufficient care. In possession of the secret I hadn't :lhe smallest oompunetion in paying you .batik, in your s own coin.” \ (To be Continued.}. •