“The House on the River,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 December 1925, Page 7

“The House on the River,”

(PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ABEANGEMENT.)

DRAMATIC STORY OP STRONG LOYE INTEREST,

(By Fred M. White.) Author, of “The Cardinal Moth,” “The Crimson Blind,” “The Man Called Gilray,” ete., etc.

(COPY RIGHT. 1 )

OITAPTER. XXr. —Continued

"When the liqueurs and coffee arrived, and the party had the room to themselves, Ennie insisted upon Quint removing" his wig and straggly beard, and laughingly presented him to her !'hidler in his own particular personality. Brrr, behind his cigar, watched the young people narrowly, and saw enough in that quick way ot his to realise bow matters stood.

“Guess I’m ;i queer sort of parent,” ho said. “But I always was a bit sentimental. And why not ! The British Bin pi re was built on sentiment, and so was the United States. But, see here, there is a.- long row to hoe before we can get down to romance. Now, you just sit over there, Quint, and listen to what I have to say. Tell me everything that has happened in tlie- last month or so, and don't leave out any details. ’ ’

It was a different Barr that was speaking now, and Quint fell in with his mood. He told him everything that had happened, to which Barr listened without comment until Quint began to speak about the letter from Claw which had been addressed to Geere at the old house on the river.

“Oh, hero's the runner-up! ’' the first [speaker laughed. ‘‘l didn't notice you for the moment, Knderby. After you left, the Club House Mill thy came in. You know Mnltbv, of

“All, now we are getting down to brass tacks,” he said. ‘‘Say, can you remember the names of any of the securities that Claw stated were paying no dividends.”'

course.' ’ “Everybody does,” Etiderby growl

“Yes, I can remember a few of them,-’’ Quint said. With that he mentioned half a dozen names, whilst Barr listened with a curiously dry smile on his face.

“Well, Mn It by says that- Quint used to play at Lossie under the name of Edwards, lie did that because he didn’t want the University authorities to know how much golf he was playing. Maltby is quite sure of this, because he turned out in a tournament at Lossie that Quint won, calling himself Edwards. Maltby says that he saw Quint play a few strokes to-day, and recognised his style. "When he found that Quint called himself Edwards', of Lassie, he knew beyond a doubt what was going on. It’s, the finest joke 1 have heard for years.’’’

“Paying- no dividends, eh?'-’ lie drawled. “Why, that group practically belongs to me. And there isn’t a 1-nie dog amongst them. Gilt-edged, every one, and paying anything from twenty to five and twenty per cent. Aly dear boy, it seems to me that we have got Claw and his friend Enderby bv the short hairs. That letter is enough to damn Claw in any court of justice. We can make our own terms and get those warrents withdrawn tomorrow. ’ ’

<; A joke ! ! ’ Enderby cried. ‘‘You i-all it a joke, do you? I’ve been swindled out of that cup.”

“I fin re say we could,” Quint said coolly. ‘‘But, as a bit of a tighter myself, that wouldn’t suit, my book at all. Wo must have this out in open court. You are a man of .the world, Mr Barr, and you know that certain people will talk unless wo deprive them, of every excuse from scandal. We. must proceed from our side, and have a case that will be reported in all the papers. 'Don't forget we've got hold of Kent, and that he will do anything for money. Besides, he has Somerset’s original drawings, not that we can’t do without them, but if they come into our possession again Claw and Co. will have had all their- trouble for nothing.” i “Spoken just as I like to hear a young man speak.” Barr said enthusiastically. “It was always my policy to take the war into the enemies’ camp, and if we don’t make those two skunks sit up, then my name isn't Barr. We'll have to lay a trap for them, a trap that they-’]] walk into blindfold! I don’t think you’ll find there is much tight left in Claw whan he comes up against me. I’ll turn the thing over in my mind, and before you go to-night it’s hard if I don’t hit on something. I think I’ll go and take a turn along the road and see ho.w London looks by lamplight.” With that Barr lighted a fresh cigar and strolled out of the room, leaving Ennie and Quint alone together.

"Isn’t lie a dear old man,’” Ennie said in a voice that was none too steady.. "Now, is there another parent in the world who would have belinv-, ed like that?’’

“But what on earth are we to do with a fellow like that?” Enderby growled. “I begin to think that he’ll Blip through our fingers after all. And he will if you don t get hold of Kent. By the way, have you heard anything of him ! ’ ’

"Oil, don’t ask mo,” Quint said. ‘‘l don’t quite know where I am. This tins been one of the maddest days in my life. The more I think of it the more amazing it all seems. When I set out this morning, like another .Jason after the Golden Fleece, I never expected to run up against the- American father of romance and be taken to his bosom like this. And you must be a very amazing person, Ennie, for him to trust you so implicitly. And 1 never thanked him for the way he treated me. At any rate, I expected that he would forbid me seeing you till everything was cleared up. And 1 suppose that he knows I haven't a penny in the world, and no likelihood of ever having cue. ’ ’

“There is nobody like him,” Ennie said enthusiastically. “You see, he's such a wonderfully [shrewd judge of a man, and people say that he lias never made a mistake. I don’t think. he would be happy unless he thought you were doing something. That ’s the Ama icon way, Michel. Even if lie gave me half his money to-morrow he would be greatly disappointed if you didn’t go on with your profession.”l

“T don't think he need worry about that,” Quint said earnestly. “I’ve had a lesson, Manic. I’m not going to idle any more. I don ’t say I’m going to give a]) my sports, because I couldn’t, but I’ll take my degree next term and start practice in some neighbourhood where I can get my golf and tlm other outdoor exercises. But don’t let us talk about myself,’’ Mimic laughed merrily.

“Always the same, Miehel,' ’ si, ■ don’t let us count our chickens before they are hatched. And, Michel, you’ve forgotten something. ’ ’’ “I’m sorry,” Quint said, as he kissed her.

(To be Continue a.)

CHAPTER XXII. Enderby turned his back upon the Sandmouth. golf links with rage an i bitterness in his heart. The possession of the Gold Cup had grown to bo something of an obsession with him, and the 'oss of it at the hand of some obscure golfer from an out of the way Scotch course had wounded him deeply. lie

had had it almost within his grasp, ho had never played better in his life, and but for the intrusion of this outsider everything would have gone his way. He turned his back upon his companions and drove in solitary state to the station. He would have taken a carriage to himself, if possible, but just at the last moment a little knot of excited golfers got into his compartment and all of them began talking at once. Evidently something had happened in the Club House after Enderby had left it, and it was some little time before eh began to grasp the cause of all the turmoil.

“I tell you it's ;i fact,” the man opposite him cried. “I had it from Maltby, who has played on every course in Scotland, lie ain’t much of a performer, but he knows more about clubs, and players than any man in EnlamL And he only “spotted it quite by accident. He is prepared to take his oath that Edwards is an assumed name, and that the man who won the Gold Cup today is no other than our old friend Michel Quint.” “What's that?” Enderby cried breathlessly.

•“Upon my word, T can't see it,” the other man said. “Quint has won it twice, and to-day ho has won it for the third time, tie’s done nothing wrong. It’s quite a recognised thing for a man to play under an assumed rame, and, moreover, he played as a member of a recognised elub. Of course, I know all about the trouble hanging over the poor old chap, but, whatever his morals may be, you can’t deny that lie’s a dandy golfer, and that he has won the cup honestly enough. But, lord! Just think of the cheek of the man! Coming down here in disguise and playing under the eyes of a score of men who knew him intimately.” But Enderby was not disposed to carry the conversation anV further, lie buried himself behind the paper and resigned himself to his own bitter and humiliating thoughts. They were with him all the evening, he took them to bed with him, and they were with him all the next day. Once more Quint had got the better of him, and though it seemed that lie held Quint’s future in the hollow of his hand, he was getting nervous and frightened. So that soon after eleven o ’clock the following morning he presented himself at Claw’s office’, and told the story of the Gold Cup to Claw’s secret delight, though lie was free enough with his condolences.

"I’m afraid 1. haven’t,” Claw confessed. ‘‘After that fiasco the other night I put the matter into the hands of Roberts, who is by way of being a sort of private detective. He lias done other work of the same sort for me, and a year or so ago, when I began to suspect that Kent was playing me false, l put Koberts on to him, and he did his work excellently. I am expecting him round at any moment, and if vou like to wait you will hear what he has to say. It was Koberts who found out that Kent was, in the habit of frequenting that public house in Wapping.” A quarter of an hour later the man called Roberts presented himself to make his report. ‘‘J am sorry to say I haven't been able to do anything, sir,” he said. "I am afraid that when you gentlemen went, down to Whipping the other night you were spotted. 1 If you remember, Xh- Claw, I warned you not to go.” ‘‘Never mind about that,” Claw said impatiently. “Have you got anything to report?” ‘‘Nothing of any practical use, l am Borrv to say. I have been hanging about the Crow and Gate for the last day or two, but I have seen nothing of Kent. I managed to get into the bedrooms at the risk of my life/and 1 am quite sure that there is no one hiding there now. It’s my opinion, gentlemen, that Kent has. been got out of the wav. There is somebody working against vou, and until J know all the circumstances of the case I am powerless). Perhaps you might be disposed to tell me something about the peopb; whose interest it is to get Kent out ol the way.”