“The Courage of Love,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 20 January 1932, Page 7

“The Courage of Love,”

PUBLISHED®BY SPE CIAL ARRANGEMENT.

COPYRIGHT.

CIIABTER XXVl.—Continued. She also had provided a small felt hat. The hat that Diana had worn that memorable day when she had gone to Middleston had been all crushed and bloodstained when the girl had arrived in London. She felt that Diana was trembling in every limb and so she supported her when they were coming down the stairs. When they got into the hall the girl clung to the housekeeper. “I am afraid,” she whispered. “I am so frightened.” Then Belly had come out of the sitting room and stood looking at her. “All ready?” ho asked. “Well, come right along. We’ve got a goodish way to go, and I’ve no time to lose. ’ ’

The man who was driving the ear was the one whom he called Austin a few nights before. A man who always signified disaster to Miriam .Stanton. She saw a sneer and a smile on this man’s face as he looked at her and then looked at Diana. But he played his part outwardly; he touched his cap when Belly spoke to him, and he received the order where to drive in the same respectful fashion. In the car Belly tried to be affectionate and cordial to Diana. '“Ah, you’re looking a bit better,’’ he said. “That’s how your father will want to see you when he comes back. ’ ’ It was, as it happened, a very unfortunate remark. Diana’s face Hushed suddenly, and her eyes became full of light for a moment. “Father!’’ she said. “Daddy! But when is Daddy coming? It’s such a long time! I thought he would have been back before now.’’ “Oh, he’ll be here pretty soon,” said Belly, cursing himself for his foolishness, “and you’ve got to look brisk and bonny when he comes. You must get a. little more llesh on your bones, and have some colour in your cheeks. You know, you’re looking like a 1 ghost just now.” The colour faded out of Diana’s face. She answered him in a pathetic way.

“That’s just what I am —a ghost. I am full of memories, and nothing is clear. I wish I knew what is happening to me. I wish —I wish I could get out of these shadows. lean trust you,” she said suddenly, putting her hand out and slipping it into Mrs. Stanton’s, “but I don’t know you,” she added, turning to Belly. “I don’t know you, and yet somehow I feel I have known you somewhere else. Yoif arc so strong, so big. I think you arc a very cruel man. ” Belly turned on her with a scowl. “Stow that!” lie said. “I don’t want to hear no tomfoolery from you! ” Diana drew back from him, and her hand gripped Mrs. Stanton’s. Her voice was clear and proud as she answered him. “You must not speak like that to me,” she said. “You aro not only cruel, but rude. What is my father doing with such men as you? What can ho have in his mind to leave me. with you? Oh, Daddy, if you arc alive, why don’t you come back?”

This evidence that the mind of the girl was moving, working, that light was breaking through her darkness, was something for which Belly was not prepared; it might mean danger, lie stopped the car suddenly. “Y'ou go right on,” he said to the man who was-driving. “You know what you’ve got to do. I’ll take a fpvi—l’ve got to call somewhere.”

lie suddenly felt that he could not sit in the small space that the car afforded with this girl looking at him and saying such accusing things. They had driven into a different and a better neighbourhood, and he got out and walked a little way whilst the car drove on at an easy pace, moving through certain streets until they came into the West End,

Here Austin, as the pretended chauffeur, slackened. Ho was before his time, and he drove along leisurely quite ignorant of the fact that he was being followed very closely by a taxi-cab in which there were two young men. “It’s like a dream, Martin,” Hugh Waverley said once in a low voice. “Just to think that she is there in that car only a few yards away front me!” “Brace up, old chap!” said Martin Joyce. “Keep your head —we are not through with it yet, you know. Oh, I don’t doubt young Stanton; as a matter of fact, lie’s got Oarrett there to keep him going if he should begin to wilt. And don’t forget that your new friend, Miss Lottie Barter, will be on the scene too. It strikes me that she is a young woman who won't be dismissed very lightly.” “Yes, but it’s all so confused, Martin. God grant it will lie all right. But it isn’t going to be easy. I do trust Stanton,” Hugh said “and no doubt Garrett is straight in this. He’s a rough fellow, but he’s been very frank with me. I suppose he is not what the world would call a very holiest kind of man for a friend, but I trust him; I believe in him.”

“That’s all right, then,” said Joyce. “Now, then, we're getting near the place. Polly has risked a good deal, you know. He didn't dare put the announcement of this marriage out for all the world round this neighbourhood to read, so lie has had to get a special license which has cost him a pretty penny. I wonder where he is! lie wasn’t in the car when we passed it just now. Now, then, here we are, Hugh! Pul] yourself together, man! Remember what you’ve got at stake.” As the car in front of them slid almost noiseleslv to the pavement in front of a big building the cab stopped also.

“You’ll wait here,” said Joyce to

BY MADAME ALBANESI. (Author of “Love’s Harvest,” “The Road to Love,” “The Way to W’in,” etc).

'To be ContinuM)

the driver. “I don’t think we snail be very long, but I’m not quite sure. But you must be here when we come out. You understand?” ‘•I understand, guv’nor!” said the taxi-driver, lie had already been given a pound note, so lie was not going to lose veiy much if he stood mere all Joyce and Hugh paused to watch what happened with the car. Austin got down, and, as he opened the dooi, he took Diana, by the arm, and pulling her out of the car, hurried her towards the door of the town hall. She did not struggle, but turned round and held out her hand to Mrs. Stanton, who pressed closely to her, clinging to taut hand.

It was with difficulty that Joyce restrained his companion from rushing forward and- taking the girl in Ins arms. “Wait!” lie said. “Wait!” CHAPTER XXVII. Although he urged his friend to wait, Martin Joyce drew Hugh on, and they followed closely behind Diana and Mrs Stanton. It appeared that the gill made no effort to free herself from the grasp of Austin’s hand on her arm; in fact she seemed to be really very weak and feeble, and had to be suppoited up the steps and along the passage until they reached a certain dooi. Outside this door Austin paused and when he suddenly realised that there were two men standing quite near, looking at him intently, a queer expression swept into his face. “Take hold of her. I’ll be back in a minute,” he whispered to Mrs. -Stanton.

And he slipped past Hugh and Martin Joyce and hurried out of the building. On his way down the steps, he encountered Francis Stanton. The young man was not alone, there was a girl with him; a girl who had her hand slipped through the young man's arm in a very affectionate and intimate fashion.

“Hallo, Austin!” said Francis Stanton. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” But Austin did not pause to answer, he made his way in a great hurry to the car, clambered into the driver’s seat, and drove off almost immediately. “He’s wise to something,” said Francis Stanton to the girl beside him. And then added shrewdly, “I expect we’ve seen the last of Austin for some time to come!” A statement that was made a fact a few hours later when an empty car was found deserted in a side

street and taken possession of by the police. And Lottie Barter laughed up at him.

“Well, he don’t count, does he? It’s the big boss we’ve got to deal with. You’re not getting the wind up, are you, Frankie? You know you look a bit pale. ’ ’

“Well, you don’t know this man Telly, I do,” said Francis Stanton in a low voice. “I don’t mind telling you I’ll be precious glad when this businesi is over!” As they passed into the building, two or three men followed them very closely and walked behind in a seemingly indifferent manner until they came to that group outside the uoor. Then Martin Joyce looked at these three men, and gave them a nod. Then he whispered to Hugh: “I think wo had better go inside. 1 don’t think there is anyone in this room, but wo may as well get out of the passage. We don’t want to attract too much attention.” And then it was that Hugh went forward, and taking one of Diana's bands in his slipped it through his arm. The girl was almost in a fainting condition, and the heart of the man who loved her beat hurriedly, and with deep anxiety, as he realised her physical weakness. But Miriam Stanton had her arm round Diana. “Come darling,” she said, “lean on me. I’m here. I’ll take care of you.” And then she spoke to Hugh. “Do you know her, sir ’” she asked. Hugh nodded his head. “Yes.”' In a voice choked with emotion he added: “She belong to me —she is going to be my wife.” They led Diana into the room, and Miriam drew forward a chair. At that moment Pelly appeared towering 'behind the men who were standing about the doorway. His expression was ugly; lie looked about him like an animal scenting enemies, and as he saw Hugh Waverley bending over Diana he moved forward swiftly but before he had taken more than a few steps, the three men who had been brought oil to the scene by Mar;tin Joyce, stepped; forward, and one of them tapped him on the arm. “ Your name George Polly ” he queried. “I have a warrant here for your arrest. ’ ’ Pelly turned with a snarl ready to fight, and at that moment he caught sight of Francis Stanton and the girl who was with him.

He advanced on Stanton. “So you have done me in, have you? You ! ”

And as ho spoke he put his haittl into an inside pocket and brought out a revolver, But before lie could use it, the plain-clothes men had closed on him, and one of them had caught hold of his wrist, and with a swift movement had jerked the pistol out of his hold.