Mystery of Thorncliffe Hall

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17223, 5 October 1927, Page 3

Mystery of Thorncliffe Hall

(COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTER XVI. —Mrs Joyce on the Alert. Mrs Joyce had awake-ned early. Going to Esther's room she surveyed the empty bed for several moments, nodding to it, as though quite understanding the reason for its being unoccupied. "Just what I was afraid of," apostrophised the housekeeper. She returned to her own room to assume some additional clothing, for the morning air was exceedingly searching, and, in her haste, she had merely wrapped a shawl over her shoulders. She went down the hall and found the bolts and bars of the I door secure. Prom there she bur- J ried to-the garden, entrance which was I fast also, and an inspiration prompted a search or the east wing. On reaching the gallery the sound of voices caused her lo stop and. peer forward to where two figures could be dimly seen. Esther was hearing Jasper's amazing revelation. The story of his alleged | crime and death had been told her by Carew, and it was false. Carew knew j that it was untrue, the two servants! who were in league with him knew, and j Mr Hibbert had profited by the deception which had consigned Jasper Hibbert to a living death, and in an attitude of angry alarm Mrs Joyce was J j listening behind the broken door, not |

I twenty feet away. I "Do you know that Mr Hibbert was found dead in his study?" asked Esther breathlessly. "So the woman, Joyce, informed,me, but we need not discuss him. lie does not interest me now. I will reveal myself,—l, Jasper Hibbert. It is a long, long time since I heard my I name. Jasper Hibbert, to whom this house and llicse lands belong, shall J claim them. They will not hang me. |1 am too old for that. They will pity mo the rather for my sufferings." Mrs Joyce could hardly restrain her feelings. She .was shaking with excitement. Mr Garew must be warned at once, and the thought that Esther might betray the secret of the east! wing made her furious. j Jasper was speaking again: "I am sorry you are leaving us, Miss Dean," he said. "It is unlikely j that we shall see each other in futuie,! but I shall never forgot you. I will j show you the .way out of the house, j Secrecy is at an end. Jasper Hibbert Is master here once again. i Mrs Joyce saw them go down (he , 1 stairs, and without waiting a moment j she hurried to the hall, finding Greak j in the act of unlocking the heavy door. ! To him she gave a panting account ofj what she had seen, as they ran back ]

to the east wing. "Miss Dean knows everything. She means to leave the house," gasped the housekeeper. "She's not going to," replied Creak. "Fir see to that." Creak did not say anything more, but turned in the direction of the garden entrance. On reaching the cliff path he crept along it until about mid-way a stout iron bar was seen half hidden in the rank grass. Partly concealed in the ivy was a small door, and, putting the bar through the sockets on the door posts, he went back to Mrs Joyce.

"We shall catch lluun indoors," he grinned. "The old fellow shan't bo allowed to get out any more. I'll go and fetch Mr Carew," he added, "for he ought lo know about this." For once in his life Creak allowed himself to be excited. He could sec the land of promise fading from his sight.

Everything will bo upset if Jasper makes himself known,*' lie told Mrs Joyce.

"lie broke out a week ago," she | i answered, “lie wrenched that door j | apart. Old as he is, lie's mighty strong I jin his hands. Listen,’’ she whispered ; ! breathlessly. j Creak did so, keeping one eye on the i housekeeper. : Esther and Jasper had returned to ! the gallery on finding the door barred, i and Creak could see them through the broken panel. “Pray do not let this alarm you, Miss Dean,’’ he heard Jasper say. “For some reason they have chosen to hinder us l'rom leaving'the house.’’ “I am not so certain that 1 wish to leave it now,” Esther replied. “1 think j I may he of some use here—that I can j help you.” "The law will do that. The law which may condemn me can also destroy the plots of my enemies.. At present I will consider what is best to be done,” and then a tornado of passion broke out. ’“Creak thinks lie has me in his power. Let him beware! Curse him!" lie exclaimed furiously. “You hear that?” whispered Creak softly. “He’s in one of his mad fits,” Mrs j Joyce whispered hack. .Jasper had ceased speaking. Creak i saw him move away with Esther, and I .Mrs Joyce waited before following : them. |

‘'Yes, you'd best fetch Mr Carew,” j she said. ‘M can deal with tlic old man. | Goodness knows I've learnt how to do . that ait tlie many years I've looked , after him.” i ‘•You're not afraid?” t never was yet, and I'm not going ' to begin now.” " \ 'i on shan l he left alone long,” answered Creak, and with Ibis he hastened on his errand to Carew. the end of the gallery was in deep gloom Generations had passed since m light of day had shone there. The rooms on either side were in the darkness of a perpetual night, save one. where the shutter of the window had ! rotted from its fastenings. In this ! tsther could see, in the faint light I *T? e J rom t!le narrow easement, an old-fashioned tabic and chair and a ! truckle bed standing in (lie corner. ... er , C ’ aniif l unbroken silence and sohtude, Jasper liihbert had lived, known only to his gaolers. Years in which his mind lost its power of will i and ac ion, becoming at length so weak i that all desire for release from a situ- i ation at first believed impossible fo r i bun to endure, had been lost, yo ac- I had Jle J, -'‘°nie to this life in : oath that even the transient return j of reason brought only a dread. But I wUh the cunning 0 f his disordered | hi am lie bad planned revenge On liis I

. Cornelius had deceived and ! ~h :d , Jl , rn and used the wealth to I '\h j ch he had no claim. His meeting with Esther had wrought Ln ?f, Cgo m iiim ' K * sweet J'acc arid I fecntic manner revived memories long stored^!' J ) OP U ' C linie ljein «' if ' rcsloied him to sanity. lo 'remain 8 rssr- 1,0 ~

wini . P Vl, - geiJ t 0 see *°" f™m Hi' l nd<AV, he went on. "Yo-i wcrc passing my prison-house " IonLHTV^ bCV ihu *toS someone had eniiv ? ' r" Jied Ksllle, '> a«'"08t «li'lo,;a hO *L of possibilities wavo of herself. Gerald must be old of her discovery. She would go to him. °

"i will come here ajuifl as soon j*

(By EDGAR PICKERING.) Author of "Th© Secret Foe," "murder Will Out," "Love, the Conqueror." Etc., Eta,

possible," she added. "Mrs Joyce will not dare to keep me from coming." "Mrs Joyce will dare to do a great deal more than that," muttered the housekeeper to herself, "and you don't pass'this way, my young lady, until you go with me." With this she bolted the gallery door.

CHAPTER XVII. Gerald Pays Another Visit to th© Hail. The adjourned inquest was to be held at the village inn, where Gerald lodged, for Garew had objected to the Hall being used again for. the purpose | of the inquiry, and the landlord was ! nothing loth to having it held in his tap-room. It would bring custom and be more convenient for everyone than toiling up the hill to the old mansion that was rather to be shunned now. The blinds had remained down from the day of Mr Hibbert's funeral. Nobody was to be seen about, save the curious people, who found a sort of pleasure in invading the grounds, which anyone might do who chose u> go through the broken wall of the. park. The more adventurous of them had trespassed up to the hall door. On reaching the lodge gates, Gerald found them still locked, but Creak had promised to leave the garden entrance open, and crossing the park, he found the butler standing at the door.

"I thought you had left ;s, sir," he said. '"I am obliged lo wait—you knowwhy, Creak. "True, sir," replied the butler, mournfudy. "it's been a terrible business, and brought a deal of trouble." "I hear Mr Carew has come into the property," said Gerald. "So the lawyer told us, sir, and that Mrs Joyce and me have, been left a trifle each. I'm thinking of leaving service," answered Creak, in a tone ot resigned melancholy. "You'll take a public house, like nosl butlers do with their savings."

"I haven't the heart, sir," was Urn reply. ".No energy. I'm thinking of my poor master and his cruel cud." "For which someone will be called to account," continued Gerald. "Mark me that the man who killed Mr Hibbert will be found out some day." "The place doesn'l seem the same now Mr Hibbert's gone," mourneu Gr.'ak. "i suppose you know Miss Dean has left us unbeknown, sir?" "Mian Dean gone? Where?" exclaimed Gerald, startled by this unexpected news.

"'Yesterday, sir. Mrs Joyce went to Miss Dean's room with an early cup of lea, as usual, and was never mure surprised in her life Lo tind she wasn't I here. The bed hadn't been slept hi. and we concluded she'd left overnight." "What did you do?"

"What could we do, sir? Miss Dean was free, to go if she chose. There was nothing to keep her from going, but the nrysLeriousness of it surprised us. There wasn'l any reason for her leaving without a word lo me or to Mrs Joyce." "Have you made any inquiries as to where Miss Dean went?" (To be continued to-morrow)