“STORM DRIVEN,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 December 1932, Page 7

“STORM DRIVEN,”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

COPYRIGHT.

CHAPTER XXI. Tony walked into the coffee-room of the Golden Lion and ordered! tea. He had successful established his identity and left his solicitors in London to communicate with the authorities. A'ow it was 01113- a matter of waiting until the warrant was issued and served on him. It might take two days, perhaps less. lie had acted precipitately but it was the only way, and he was not regretting it. He watched the little Devonshire maid spread the tea. things on the spotless white cloth—a dish of old-fashioned farthing buns, home-made

jam and clotted cream. Jle poured the tea. from the quaintly-shaped china pot into his cup, spread the cream and jam on one of the buns, wondering what it would feel like when he was no longer a. free man. It was funny how important trifles suddenly become funny how he noticed every detail of the table, of the room, and of the view outside. He was appreciating the charm of ordinary things that usually passed unnoticed—the jolly shape of the tea-pot, the smooth arms of the carved oak chair in which he sat, and the texture of the table-cloth. The beauty of the moorlands glowing in the evening light struck deep into his soul, and beyond them lay the gaunt prisons of Princetown hiding their prisoners! “You didn’t stop long up to London, then, sir?” the girl said, resting her hands on her hips and looking at him appreciatively. He was a nice figure of a man, she thought; and there was some mystery about him. “No—and I’m glad to be back; but you’d better tell Mr Am cry I'm afraid I shall bo leaving in a day or two.”

“lie’ll be sorry to hear that, sir. But there, I dare say you find it dull in these parts. I must say sometimes I’d bo glad of a bit of excitement.” lie smiled. “Perhaps vou’ll get it!”

Yes, there would be plenty of excitement all over Devonshire when the news came out that Tony Maimvaring, risen from the dead, had been arrested for the murder of his father; but they’d all be on his side, for they were loyal, these Devonshire folk. He wondered why lie felt so calm; why he had the power to enjoy the cakes and cream and jam so heartily. His trial seemed too remote and fair off to be real; and he’d been living so long on memory that now he had to face facts they were as unsubstantial as ghosts. Perhaps when he had seen Pat and told her who ho. was, lie would come to life again. That was the only fact his mind could hold-—that he was going to see Pat and tell her who he was. It took him ten minutes to walk to- Dane Court, although lie tried to dawdle. One of the gardeners was mowing the lawn; the machine made a pleasant sound, the grass smelt sweet. When he rang the bell he wondered what he would do if Deering was there. As the butler showed him into the hall, Brandt came out of the library. Tony knew by tho expression on his face that- something was wrong. He thought —“Deering has forestalled me!” “Hullo, Dawson. I’m glad to see you,” Brandt cried. “Come in, will you ?’ ’

He closed the door behind them, gave Tony a searching glance. “1 thought perhaps you were in this plot.” “Plot?” The telephone bell rang. Asking Tony to excuse him a moment Brandt answered it. The scraps of the onesided conversation he heard told him nothing. When Brandt replaced the receiver he remained sitting at the bureau. Outwardly he was calm, but Tony could sec that something had happened which stirred him deeply. He had what is called in the States, a poker face; the years spent in playing the great financial game had robbed it of all expression, but there was something in those steely eyes which showed he had received an unexpected hurt.

“This plot you spoke of—nothing to do with me, is it?” Tony asked. “I thought so when I heard you'd disappeared, but I’m not sure now. 1 got the news only an hour ago. It's Pat, you know.” He spoke slowly in jerky sentences. “Yes, go on!”

“She and Peering!—l understood they were driving across to Tavistock this morning to lunch with some friends. I had to go up to North Bovey to see about rebuilding one of the farms. I got back at four o’clock and found this letter from Pat.” He took a note from his pocket. “It was lying on the hall table. She and Peeringof course, you must have seen he was in love with her? He’d been trying to persuade her to marry him, but I don’t think she could get this other man, Mainwaring, you know, out of her heart. She loved him very dearly!” Tony walked over to the bureau. ‘‘Tell me what’s happened.” “She’s run away with Peering. Read her letter if you like. She simply says he's getting a special license in London; they’re to be married to-morrow, —spending their honeymoon at Baveno on Lake Mnggiora in Italy. I don’t undcirstuiul it, Dawson. Why did they run away? L've never thwarted her in anything.” Tony read tlie letter; only the bare facts that Brandt had told him—except for the postscript: “Don’t be hurt, father, and, of course, there mustn’t be any fuss about what I’ve done. It was the only way—to take the plunge like this; otherwise 1 might go on waiting all my life.” Brandt said; “I’ve telephoned Plymouth, and 3-lxeter, but can’t get any information.” 110 got up, forced a smile to Iris lips: “F don’t know why I should trouble you with such a very personal matter, Dawson. .Somehow it’s rather a knock-out blow.” Tony nodded. Knock-out blow! A blow below the belt! Within forty-eight hours ho would be arrested—and helpless.

“J must just sit tight and wait, til! she writes me from Baveno. If she loves him, that’s all that matters. AY ill you stay and have a Pit of dinner with me, IJawsan? 1 shall be feeling lonely.”

Tony didn’t move. 7Te dropped Pat’s letter on 1 lie bureau. Ho was ire covering from the blow; his brain was searching for an -opportunity 1o hit back; not in self-defence, but to save Pat. Those last lines of her postscript told him everything he wanted to know

BY ARTHUR APPLIN. (Author of “The Woman Who Doubted,” “Adventuro for Two,” “Her Hidden Husband,” etc).

doing? ’ ’ “I am following them. lie looked at Brandt; knew he’d have to risk it: fell him everything. “Deering musn’t marry her. She doesn’t love him. And lie's- ro.ttcn, anyway.” Brandt rose slowly, no expression on the grey mask that hid his- feelings. “ You don’t know Deering well enough

!o sav that, Dawson. And what reason liave you for thinking she doesn’t love iim ? ’ ’

“Because she loves me!” Brandt stared at him with his steely eyes, wondering what his bluff meant. At the same time suspicion entered his mind. Dawson had always puzzled him. “Who arc you?” “I am, Tony Maimvaring; went down in the Bolivia; I was saved, but when I came to New York and was -waiting to sec Pat, I found my name among those missing, also that a. coroner’s jury had returned a verdict of murder against me. So I cleared out again—but I couldn’t keep away, couldn’t forget.” Briefly lie told him the events of tile last two days. “I’m going to stop that marriage, Brandt; when I come back I’ll take my trial.” Brandt didn’t reply. He stood quite still, staring at Tony; it was only seconds but it seemed like agios. “Will you order the ear round, Brandt? If not, I’ll go in_ to Exeter

and hire. It’s no use trying to stop me.” Brandt knew lie wasn’t bluffing now. Tt was Deering who had bluffed and got away with it. But Brandt was thinking -only of his- daughter. She meant, more to him than anything in the world, more than, his millions, since he had made them for her, having no son. With tho child-like faith of the American in the almighty dollar he believed money could protect her against all evil and give her all good. Yet, he and his millions were helpless to protect her at this crisis. As. far as he knew there was nothing against Deering—nothing from a worldly point of view. Pat. must have cared a little or she wouldn’t- have run away with him. He said: “See here, Dawson, you say you love Pat? Don’t you love her enough to give her up? Go back to the country you adopted four years ago and leave her in peace to make her own life here. Perhaps I wouldn’t have chosen Deering for a son-in-law, but she’ll make! a success of the marriage. If you interfere now, even if you’re in time to stop it, are you going to make- her happy ? Think of her feelings when she discovers your identity —when you’re arrested; the agony of the long trial, and even if you’re acquitted, tho world may not. acquit you. And your children- ” “I have thought! Life’s taught me one thing; love lasts longer and counts more than money and public opinion. For a woman it is the whole meaning of life.” Brandt went over to the fireplace and rang the bell. He told the butler t-o order the Rolls Rovce round at once.

“Thanks,” Tony said. He picked up the Continental Bradshaw. Brandt asked him his plans—if lie expected to find them in London. “That was my first idea but one might search all the hotels and ring up every registrar without success. I shan’t miss any chances —but if chance doesn’t help mo I shall fly straight to Baveno. They’re sure to go to the big hotel on the lake-—here it is, The Grand. ’ ’

“In that case,” Brandt said, “I’ll come as far as London with you and make inquiries there while you go straight through to Italy. If I find them I’ll telegraph. I'm with you, Mainwaring! ” Tony hold out his hand. “Thank you, but don’t- give me my name until I’ve earned it—and made it clean again. ’ ’ They stopped at the Golden Lion for a few minutes while Tony threw some things into a bag. Brandt told the chauffeur to drive .at. top speed. “Don’t take chances but kt her out when you c-an.” The chauffeur grinned; ho had seen T'at and Peering go off together in the Bentley and lie had told the head groom he shouldn’t be surprised if something was up. Now lie was .sure. The old story; two men and one- woman. He was putting his money on Dawson, the outsider. He had got what tie groom called bone and breeding. They crawled through the narrow streets of Exeter, but when the- main road stretched 1 before them the speedometer mounted rapidly and touched seventy Give. They spoke- hardly tit all. Once when sweeping o-ut of the v-illov iij). to Salisbury Plain, Brandt said:'

love vour England: there’s something about it that gets hold of one—and won't let go.” Tony nodded. “Yes, it’s a great country! And yet, we don’t know how to govern ourselves er to enjoy ourselves. 1 think we've just got the virtue of the land —we're calm and patient. ’ ’ (To bo continued.)

—the only way ... to take the plunge . . . otherwise I might go on waitingall my life. Waiting! Knowing he would never come back, vet unable to forget him. The feeling of exultation Tony had experienced when he had taken charge of the runiiTunner, and got. the crew under control, returned to him now. “Why—Dawson, what’s got you? You look glad!” “Glad! If I had Deering here now I’d —. They left after lunch, you say?” Tony glanced at the clock. “They’ll motor straight up to London. He wouldn’t have been able to arrange for a special license; that would delay them forty-eight hours. Did they take the Rolls Roy-ce?” “No, Deeriug’s two-seater, a Bentlev —fast. What arc you thinking of