Dearer than Life

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16834, 28 June 1926, Page 3

Dearer than Life

By EDGAR PICKERING. Author of "Love, the Conejueror," “The Secret Foe,” "Murder Will Out," &a., &o.

CHAPTER XXI.— (Continued) — Norah Goes to Paradise Grove. "The question of payment was yours, Miss Trcvclyan," lie answered. "I had no intention of mentioning it. No definite sum, I mean, at least. I should leave that to Mr Staunton." "Has litis information anything to do with Mrs Denis Monlford?" "In a way. Not immediately, but perhaps you had better look at this before I say anything further," and he placed a sheet of paper on the fable. He was within reach of her as she bent down lo read the indistinct writing, and the next moment his hand was pressing a saturated handkerchief on her moulh. Although sin l struggled to release his hold witli a desperate strength, she was powerless lo resist —then her breathing suddenly ceased—fessop's evil face had disappeared and she was lying buck in the chair unconscious. Lifting her in his arms he went downstairs to the front door. A taxi was seen coming across the Grove and the driver stopped as Jcssop hailed him. A few words passed and placing Norah in the cab it was driven away in the direction of the river, whence the sound of a steamer's siren came on the night wind as the taxi reached the docks.

The "Eagle" was ploughing her way through Ihc North Sea when Norah opened her eyes. For a few moments she lay trying to recall her dazed senses; but the effort made her brain throb painfully. The last thing she recollected was her struggle with Jessop. After that everything was a blank. A woman had come into the close cabin. She had brought a cup of tea which Norah drank thirstily. "I'm glad you're better," said the stewardess. "Where am I?" asked Norah. "You'll be at St. Malo in an hour." Norah lay very still when the stewardess had gone. It would have been lo no purpose lo have questioned the woman. She realised that in a curious way, and a lassitude oppressed her, bringing strange reeling of indifference lo her surroundings. That would pass off soon she reasoned to herself. Meantime, .sin; had no desire to move nor to try to think. She must have slept, for the sun was shining into her berth when she opened her eyes again. Her mind was clearer now, and also her memory. Anything would be belter than

lying in the hot little berth, and she

went on deck. The keen wind restored the colour to her cheeks and courage to her heart. There was a feeling of having awakened from a horrible nightmare, and then the realisation came that, except for a few shillings, she was without money. She would speak to the captain of the steamer and explain the situation or go lo the British Consul on landing, lie would help her. But the captain was not lo be seen, and Ihe British counsul would have to be found. Jessop, what happened in the room in Paradise drove, the. sudden attack he had made upon her, took a secondary place in her thoughts. Lucius would deal with Mr Jessop. It was comforting lo remember lhat. SI. Malo and its picturesque old walls were coining into view as the gossamer mist lifted, and above them rose tier after tier of quaintly gabled houses and the towers of churches, tinged golden in the sunshine. Upon the tree-bordered quay which the steamer was approaching, she could see people moving to and fro, and at the end of ttie quay a romantic old castle from which a little company of diminutive soldiers were marching out. The sight seemed to emphasise her loneliness and her helpless position.

"Is this your first visit to St. Malo, my dear?"

Norah turned sharply in being addressed by a sedate middle-aged woman at hjr elbow.. The stranger's wrinkled face was not a pleasant one, but her tone was friendly, and at that moment Norah was in such a disconsolate state of mind that human companionship was grateful. "I don't think it ought to be called a visit," she answered. "I had no choice in coming." "You've no friends to meet you, I hope?"

"'I don't know anyone in the place, and as soon as possible I shall go back to London."

"That is very strange. You will excuse mo asking, for 1 am a much older woman than you, but, why did you come? St. Malo isn't quite the place-for you to be alone in, my dear. I live here and may be of service to you."

"I shall be much obliged if you will direct me to Ihe English Consul. I may as well explain lhat 1 have no money nor a ticket." It seemed to Norah a; she said this lhat the woman's eyes twinkled — that her exclamation of surprise was not genuine, but the impression disappeared quickly. "That is most unfortunate. I really can't understand how you could have been so thoughtless, my clear." Norah flushed with annoyance.

"Please do not think I have come to SI. Malo of my own accord," she replied. "As I told you just now I was not given the choice and was not aware of being on the steamer until a little time ago." "Now you won't, think me inquisitive," continued the stranger, after another expression of astonishment, "but what you have told me is very extraordinary, and one can't help being curious. Do you mind telling me your name? Mine, is .lansen, but I'm English. My dear husband, who has ben dead these five years, was Flemish. I'm a lonely old widow," and she put a black-bordered handkerchief to her eyes, whereupon Norah could not resisl a feeling of compassion as she answered. "Norah Trevelyan. What a pretty name." exclaimed Madam. "It reminds me of someone I knew before I was married. She and I were like sisters. She is dead also, anil I am like you. 1 have no friend. .Mynheer .lansen left mi; his money, but I have have no pleasure in it. now he has gone," and the black-bordered handkerchief came out again. The steamer was alongside the quay liy this time, and, amidst the confusion of people going ashore. Noruh's anxiety returned. How was she lo explain to the man at the gangway? "I don't know in the least, "what to do," she said. "They will think 1 want to cheat.'' '■l will pay." replied Madam. "No, no, I do nol want to be thanked. It is nothing, rny dear." Norah would have rejected (his sort of assistance from a stranger under any oiher circumstances, but. Mil- position was too desperate tu al-

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low her t.o refuse the offered money. "I will t-eturn it directly I .get home," she said. "Jt is very good of you to lend it mo." "J)o not say a word about that. It is a pleasure to help anyone who is i» a liUle difficulty. Your luggage, my dear. "We must sec after it." "I haven't any," and for the first time a faint smile came to Norau's lips. "Come then, we must not linger," went on Madam. "My house is not far away. You shall stay there until the sleamcr leaves." Norali had hesitated but a moment If she rejected the invitation she would be without shelter. The next moment, she was following Madam across the gangway. Sho said something to the ticket-taker in passing, and then they went through an imf posing gateway in the high wall, coming to a steep, tortuous street, walking between ancient, houses many storeys high, that almost shut out the sunlight as the topmost nodded close, to their oposite neighbours. Midway Madam Jansen turned into a still narrower street, which was climbed by some rougli steps, and Norah followed with a sense of being lost that made the companionship of Ibis stranger imperative, although she felt a growing dislike to her companion. Madam had panted up the nearly perpendicular street and had no breath for talking until the last of the steps were reached, when she stopped. "We arc close to my house now," she said. "You will be pleased to see my little home, Miss Trevelyan," and nothing could have been more pleasant than her manner. Her beady eyes had sent out a little glint, and her wrinkled cheeks puckered into a grin as she spoke. "You knew 1 had been carried on board the steamer, I suppose?" replied Norah. "I have no recollection of it. bid you notice anyone with me?"

"My dear, I see nothing after I am once in the cabin. J am obliged to go to London twice a year, or I would never go. it is business related to my late husband's affairs. No. 1 did not see you until this morning." iNorah did not ask any more, and they went on, higher and higher, reaching a small square at last. To have found tier way back to the quay undirected would have been impossible to Norah owing to the intricate way by which she had arrived at Madam .lansen's house, which stood in a corner of the square. She had seen old houses in coming, but this one looked so ancient, so weather-worn and decrepit, thai it arrested her attention as none of the others had done. The quaint window in the steeply-slanting roof; ttie mouldering, carved woodwork of the overhanging front; the narrow doorway that Time had pressed askew; the air of melancholy hanging over the house, gave it a forbidding, threatening look, as if some dreadful deed had been enacted behind those latticed windows and left its impress on the place.

Nol a sound disturbed flic heavy silence, save' the harsh creak of the lock, us Madam opened the crooked door. The houses formed an irregular square which appeared to be empty, for no sign of life could be seen nor heard in them, and Norah drew hack a step on being invited to enter a gloomy passage. "Do you live here by yourself?" she asked, Riving a glance towards the repellant interior. "My servant comes back to-mor-row," answered Madam, rather sourly, "and I shall be leaving the house soon. My husband died in it —in the room overhead. I have never cared for the house since." They were inside It by this time, and she led the way to a winding staircase up to a room that sent out a damp, cold breath when the door was opened. It was furnished barely, the floor and panelled walls being thick with dust. Upon the carpetless boards lay a splash of crimson cast from a coloured, window that bore the crest, of some long dead inhabiter of the house, and the ruddy mark was like a blood-stain in Norah's lively imagination.

"You get a good view of the town from here," said Madam, going to the window and throwing open one of the complaining lattices. Norah joined her, stepping aside from the red stain, and Madam moved to the yawning fireplace, where lay the ashes of a fire.

From the window the glittering water of the harbour coukl bo seen, and, between this and the house, rose an interminable succession of roofs whilst below lay the square, glowing white in the sunlight, silent and deserted. And as Norah looked clown into it, an e.j.inciilation of surprise and consternation sprang from her lips as she drew away. Someone had passed across the square, fixing his gaze upon her for a moment. '•What is it'.'" demanded Madam shrilly. "Why did you cry out?" "Someone 1 knew in Kngland wont, by," replied Norah, with a feeling of sickening horror. (To be continued to-morrow.)