“THE EVIL THAT MEN DO”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 September 1936, Page 7

“THE EVIL THAT MEN DO”

CHAPTER XYI (Continued).

“You can do better than that,” said the tutor thoughtfully. 1 ‘ Seruddy seems to me a desperate character, and one not likely to be trapped easily. On the other hand, we are not sure that your foster-son is the rightful heir. On the face of it it seems highly probable, but still wc must not overlook the fact that there is always the possibility of our being mistaken. Now, what I shall ask you to do is to accompany me to Dundee, where we will visit a lawyer, a Mr Sutherland, who is deeply interested in this matter, and whose clear-headedness will enable him to point out the proper and judicious course to be pursued.”

At first Peggy did not very readily take to this plan. For one thing, she was not sure whether Le Blanc wais all he represented himself to be. Possibly he divined something of the thoughts which were passing through her mind, for he remarked:

“It is unfortunate that my appearance is calculated to beget mistrust; but you may believe me when I tell you that I only consented to undertake this unpleasant business from a strong ■sense of duty. Accompany me to Dundee, and I pledge myself solemnly that no harm of any kind shall come to you. ”

This argument told with Peggy, and so without further hesitation she decided to accompany the ex-tutor to Dundee.

When they arrived there, and Peggy’s story was related to the lawyer, Mr Sutherland was as much astonished as Le Blanc himself had been, and could not but be struck with the extraordinary chain of circumstances which had so strangely brought the tutor and Peggy together. “I must go to the Red House,” Sutherland declared, “and see Miss Maxwell.”

And at the very first opportunity ho did so, intending to break to Miss Maxwell as gently as possible the fact that she had probably been grossly deceived and defrauded over a long period of years.

On arrival, however, he was shocked to find , that the lady was lying dangerously ill. In fact, it happened that he met the doctor, who had just been ppying a professional visit, and from that gentleman he learnt that the lady was utterly prostrated, and that there were strong possibilities that she would not recover. After much anxious consideration Sutherland decided that for a few days at least he would allow matters to remain in abeyance to see if the lady’s illness took a favourable turn.

This decision, however, was immediately reversed by the appearance on the scene of Walter Maelaren, falsely known as Peter Maxwell, who approached the house as the lawyer was leaving it. Judging from external appearances, married life, so far, had not agreed with young Maelaren. At any rate, the marriage he had secretly contracted Avas well calculated to cause him anxiety, for he Avas under a constant dread that the secret miglft leak out.

His relations Avith his Avife, too, Avere not ■as amicable as he could have A\*ished. Perhaps the Avorst that could be said of Emily Avas that she Avas a

giddy and foolish girl, and rendered infinitely Avorse by her unprincipled and dastardly father. She was impatient, and began to long to enjoy all the privileges Avhicli her position as Avife of the supposed heir Avould give her. Maelaren Avas not sorry to see the laAvyer. It Avas a considerable time since they had met, so, shaking his. hand heartily, he invited him to return to the house, an inAntation Mr Sutherland readily accepted. “I came up to see your aunt, Mr he remarked as he remoA r ed his hat and took a seat; “but I am sorry to learn that she is noAv quite dangerously ill. ’ ’ “Yes, she is in a A r ery Aveak state, < and sometimes I fear she Avill never be better.”

“Ah, it’s sad; but you see she is a ripe age; though it has ahvays' struck me she lias. noA’er been so strong and hale since the terrible death of her brother, avlio Avas so foully murdered in the city of York. I have often felt I should like to have a talk Avith you about that affair, Master Peter, but the opportunity has never presented itself.”

“It Avas indeed terrible,” said Mac laren thoughtfully.

“Have you ever tried to think why your father Avas murdered, and by Avhom?” the laAvyer asked. ■

“Yes, I have often, but Avithout ar riving at anything like a rational the ory. ’ ’

“Do you remember much about it?” “I remember nothing at all.” “That is strange, is it not? Because at the time of his death you must ha\*e been about . seven years of age, and that Avas by no means too young to be deeply impressed by such a terrible event. ’ ’

True. Yet I haA-e no recollections Avliatever on the subject.” TJmpli very singular,” Sutherland remarked. “Do you know, Master Peter, I have heard some ugly rumours in connection Avith your father’s death.”

“Indeed!” cried Maclaren, in obvious alarm that did not escape notice. “What are the rumours, sir?” “Well, you are aware that the affair is shrouded in very much mystery; and I have a strong opinion that there are those living who could tell a startling tale if they could be forced to speak.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Maclai-en as a deadly fear came upon him.

“I should be very sorry to say anything that might give you pain, and which I had no warrant for, but I am sure you -will admit that, if a great wrong has been done to anyone, we ought to try to undo it if it comes in our way.” Maclaren felt sick and faint, and it seemed to him as if ugly

BY R. DONOVAN,

(To be Continued.!

black shadoAvs AA’ere creeping up and enveloping him. “For my oaa’ii part,” the laAvyer Avent on, “I think a Avrong has been done. ’ ’

“Good heavens, Mr Sutherland, do not torture me,” Maelaren faltered, •evidently suffering great emotion. “So far as I am concerned I can lay my hand on my heart and solemnly assert that I am unconscious of having been a party to any Avrong.” “I am quite sure of that, my dear young felloA\ r ,” said Mr Sutherland A'ery kindly. “I am quite sure of that,” he repeated, “and therefore you Avould be deserving of pity. I frankly confess that my object in coming here to-day Avas to talk to Miss MaxAvell on this very subject, but her illness has frustrated my plan. Noav, certain things have come to my knoAvledge quite recently in a very strange manner, and I feel that I should be altogether Avanting in duty as a Christian man if I did not seek to proA T e the falseness or correctness of Avhat I have heard.”

He paused, and Maela ren leaned back in his chair and coA 7 ered his face with his hands, then presently he said, “Pray don’t spare my feelings; I Avill die a dozen deaths rather than keep anyone out of his honest rights.” “Bravely spoken,” exclaimed the laAvyer, “and. the sentiment does you credit. Noav, Ainthout Avisliing in any Avay to be offensive, I should like to ask you Avhether it has never occurred to you that you are other than what you seem, and unwittingly keeping another man out of his laAvful rights?” “No —on my soul, no! ” Maelaren exclaimed Avith great earnestness. “But noAV Avhat before has been only vagueness to me takes dreadful shape and form, and a ghastly fear comes over me that you have some potent reason for saying this.” “I confess that I have a potent reason, and I am going to ask you, if you Avere convinced that you had no claim upon this property, and that Miss MaxAvell AA'as not your aunt, Avlxat course you Avould pursue?” Maelaren Avas deathly pale, and he seemed as iof he Avere cliokinog, but he managed to falter, “I Avould Avallc out at once, even if I Avent to my death. ’ ’

“That is nobly spoken,” said the laAvyer Avith something like enthusiasm, ‘ ‘ and you Avould Avin the sympathy and compassion of all honest men. For my OAvn part, I pity you from the bottom of my heart, for I believe there has been a diabolical conspiracy; that you are not Peter Maxwell at all, but have been substituted for the real heir, avlio lives, and is coming to .claim his OAvn. ’ ’

“HeaAmn help me!” the unhappy youth moaned. Mr Sutherland Avas greatly moved. “I think,” he said after a time, “that you should not alloAv this matter to affect you too deeply, seeing that blame cannot attach to you. I need scarcely say, so far as I am concerned, you may count on my influence, if it may be of service.” ' Maelaren staggered to liis feet. His eyes Avere blinded Avitli tears, but he grasped the laAvyer ’s hand and stammered, “You are a noble, generous man; but, I pray you, leave me for the present. ’ ’ For some time after Sutherland had gone Walter Maelaren continued prostrate Avith grief. He felt incapable almost of thinking. So suddenly and unexpectedly and Avith such force had the bIoAV come upon him that he felt mentally stunned. As he gradually recovered from the terrible shock, passion and ,anger took possession of him, and with clenched teeth he cursed Mark Wilson for having brought this blight upon him. I ‘X Avill Avring his guilty knoAvledge from him, even if I have to strangle him!” lie muttered.

Stirred by a sudden sAveep.of passion he Avent out to confront Wilson at once. When he reached tlio house he found Wilson at home, and as good iuclc would have it Emily Avas out, Wilson suav, as soon as Walter entered, that something W£l3 WWmg, and his Howard’s heart leapt into lii§ ifiOUth. “You look out of sorts to-night,“ lie ventured.

“I haven’t come here to bandy civilities Avith you,” Walter exclaimed angrily. “I have come to demand certain knoAvledge from you, and if you refuse to give it to me —curse you, I’ll kill you. ” “What do you mean?’* Wilson gasped rather than spoke. “You are using strong language; lioav are yo'tl going to justify it?” “lloav haA r e you the effrontery to ask such a question as that?” cried Walter Avith increased passion. “You lcnoAv lioav I am going to justify it. Who am I, and Avhat am I? Ans Aver me.that question.” Some of Wilson’s self-possession had come back again, though liis face Avas bloodless; but the first shock being over audacity came to his aid.

“Please let me know What all this means! ” he demanded. * 1 t have I done that you suddenly treat me in this way ?■ ’ > “Done! What have you not done? I have learnt that you are a smoothfaced villain, that for years you have practised a cruel deception upon Miss Maxwell; that I have no claim whatever upon her, and that there is strong probability that your hands are stained with the blood of her brother, my reputed father, but who, as. you know only too well, was not my father, at all.”