The CARNATION CLUB

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15867, 13 December 1923, Page 3

The CARNATION CLUB

BY COL. HENRY CURTIES

CHAPTER.—XXXVIII Lord Leopold Speaks.

Five days after, Branter, who imd been a constant visitor to the invalid, entered Borrocfoilc's room; the latter was sitting up in an easy chair by the fire, smoking a pipe. He did not greet Branter with any warmth. "Now," he saM when the latter had closed the door, "you promised me that to-day, I being now out of the doctor's hands, you would explain certain matters to me. At your request and in addition being almost helpless here in the hands of two nurses, I have refrained from taking any step, but I tell you straight that I have made up my mind to go back to Loudon to-morrow and lay the whole matter before the commissioner at Scotland Yard." Branter s-hook his head.

"I am sure you won't," he replied. "Do you threaten me?" asked Borrodaile; "arc you too one of this murder gang?"

"You are entirely wrong," was the answer, "I belong to no murder gang. You ought to be very thankful that 1 was here, otherwise ycu weuld have followed Rigby to another world."

"Is he dead?" asked Borrodaile. "He died yesterday morning,' answered the other.

"Did he regain consciousness ? M Borrodaile asked. "Yes."

"And make any further statement?" "As far as I am aware," Branter answered, " —and my information onlv comes from newspapers —he made no further statement. Though he seemed penitent and ready to throw light on the case if he could, he appeared to know nothing; he had apparently been made a tool of."

"Well," proceeded Borrodaile, "I shall do what I said to-morrow." "I have a counter proposition to make," suggested Branter. "You are much rur. down and want a rest. It happens that I have several invitations to shooting parties in Norfolk and Lin coin share, and I always have the privilege of bringing another gun. I propose that you come with me." "Certainly not," snapped Borrodaile. "I shall go to London and have Miss Harcourt arrested." Branter shook his head again. VI know you will not do anything of the sort," he said. "What do you mean?" asked Borrodaile angrily. "Do you intend to keep me a prisoner here?" "What, in the Grand Hotel at Scarborough?" Branter asked: "is that a feasible suggestion? You arc as free as the air. Do as you like. "Then you suggest that knowing what I do, and having suffered what I have done at this woman's hands, I should let this murderess Moana Harcourt go?" "I suggest nothing," was the reply, "except that you will do nothing to cause the arrest of Miss Harcourt." "Why not?"

Branter came close to Borrodaile and bent over him; his placid face was quite close to his. -You asked me once," he whispered, "if certain eventualities arose whether I would speak." "Yes, I remember it." Brantev walked to the door, opened it and looked into the corridor to see if anyone was near; it was empty. He came back, closed the door, locked it, and returned to Borrodaile. ' "Draw your chair closer to mine, before the lire," he said, taking a seat. "I am going to speak now.' Two hours later Borrodaile crossed from the sitting-room to his bedroom to dress for dinner for the first time since Ms illness. His face wore an amazed expression. He was followed into the room by Wilson, Lord Leopold's valet. i "His Lordship requested me to ask you, sir," he said, "whether you have a gun with you?" "No," replied Borrodaile abstractedly, "I have not." * "It will not matter, sir, his Lordship says," replied the valet, "because he has two pairs with him and one pair is quite at your service." "Please thank Lord Leopold for me." was the answer. "His Lordship has also requested me to make arrangements for the journey to his Lordship's the Marquis of Chettingham's to-morrow, sir, and to take the tickets. The nearest station, sir, is Cromer, and his Lordshin's car will meet us there." Borrodaile took out his note-case, and handed the man a five pound note "That will suit me well," he said. "Please get my ticket." "May I pack your luggage, sir? Wilson 'asked. "His Lordship requested me to offer my services." "Thank you," replied Borrodaile mechanically, "I shall be very much obliged." . , , Borrodaile went to the window and looked out; a big moon was shining down on the moving waters of the sea. he turned away from it with a sort aversion and went and sat by he Are fl = the valet laid out, his clothes fm dinner. He looked into the red coa « as if he saw a whole host of sad memories there. Then something cold and soft nuzzled into the hand hanging b! paT had 'sneaked in to offer sympathy.

CHAPTER XXXIX. "I WILL STILL LOVE YOU." "You know I never question one of your actions. Mono.'? 'Roland said, "therefore I have no desire to knov> what visits you have paid during your absence. I made a pact w th you when we became engaged, that I would trust you implicitly and as. no questions." She lay in his arms, and looked up and kissed him. ' "I thank you for your trust, she said. "You shall .not regret it. The evenings were too chilly for the terrace now; their favourite resort was the Palm Court at the end I of the hall, where they could sit hidden by the palms, while Lady Alicia true to her Victorian training, imagined that she kept watch as chaperonc, sitting in a big arm-chair by the fire-place in the drawingroom. "Only six weeks now, darling, Roland whispered, "and you will be mine altogether. . She pressed % his hand and said nothing. "Only six weeks," he repeated, drawing her close to him. She disengaged herself and looked i straight in his face. i 'But you must remember, Roland," she said, "that before we are man and wile, JL JttJtf jor,amis£d..JLc: ieJl 2AH

.something. Perhaps you will refuse to marry me then?'' He drew her lo him again. "Nothing, nothing in this world shall part us," ho whispered, "whatever you may have to disclose to me, we will lake each other for better for worse." Lady Alicia in the drawing room mused alone! " I shall be very glad when my chaperonage is at an end, and my promise to the dear dead Duchess fulfilled,' she ruminated. "These latter day girls are not understandable. For Mona to absent herself for a whole fortnight, without a maid, and to give no account of herself on her return except to say she had been paying visits, is to me a proceeding which in the old days would have put, her outside the pale of society. And for Roland to be perfectly satisfied with the arrangement is equally marvellous. Is this sort of thing going on when they arc married, I wonder? There is nothing to be said, of course. The girl is her own mistress in a few months, and can do what she likes. Well," concluded Lady Alicia, rising and looking at the clock, "I only hope and pray it may turn out well for my poor boy." The "poor boy," however, appeared to be quite content with the situation sitting in the Palm Court with Mona. "Then it is settled," said Roland, "that we let my mother have the house in Berkeley Square and his place for life, and that we usually live in your house in Grosvenor Square, and your two country places. Of course, we can always'have the use of my two houses when we want them. In any case, we should come here for the shooting." "Yes, by all means," answered Mona, "I would not turn dear Lady Alicia out of her old homes for the world. It is a good tiling I have other houses, isn't it? You don't mind coming to live in my houses, do you, Uoland?" There was a look of mischief in her lovely prey eyes as she spoke. For answer he took her in his arms and kissed her again. "I would live with you," he said fervently, "in a palace or in a cottage." "You have never seen my house in ttte North, have you? And we have only run down for the day to Courthurst in the New Forest." "But that was quite enough to show me its loveliness," Roland answered,' "in summertime. It was a dream."

They sat in silence for some time, and then the discreet, distant cough of Lady Alicia warned them that it was time to say good-night. He took her in his arms and held her there, her face to his; then to his surprise he felt a tear upon his check. "What is the matter, darling?" he asked. She drew herself away from him and looked into his face, the tear still on the sweet contour of her cheek. "If it should be that I am fortunate enough to be your wife," she said, "I will be the most loving, faithful wife a man ever had; if I cannot weather the storm of the awful revelations I have to make to you. and have to live ray life alone, then I will still love you always, as I do now, for you have trusted me." And his answer was always the same: "Nothing in this world will ever part us." (To be continued to-morrow.;