The Mischief Maker

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 4

The Mischief Maker

BY ALAN GREY.

BYNOPBIB. Sir Timothy Standlsh made His way leisurely up tile drive to “Tito Haven, known locally as "The Madhouse" or “The Asylum.” Eighteen years ago the gates of this place had opened and closed upon Edmund ltallce, Sir Timothy’s brother-in-law, “I will see the patient,” demanded Sir Timothy of Dr. Brooks, the resident medical superintendent. For some time the two men who were meeting for the first time In 18 years stood eyeing each other In silence. “You've come at last, Timothy. God knows I've spent every minute or the eighteen years In hating you. But I can forgive, now you've come at last.” “I came to tell you of your son, Jimmy,” “You damnahle devil! What mtschiel are you planning now? . . . Listen, Timothy Standlsh. By the aid or God, 111 get out or this living tomb. When I do, call on the Devil you serve to help you—you’ll need him.” Michael Slnding Is the adopted son or Parson Qualle. He Is In love with Margaret Standlsh, but Sir Timothy is opposed to the match. Basil Qualle Is the Parson’s own son, whose wastrel ways Michael shields out or love Tor the Parson. Sir Timothy tell 3 Margaret that hrr cousin, Jimmy Halke, Is returning to them rrom abroad. Titus, Sir Timothy’s servant, .Is misshapen and weak-minded, and is the butt or his master’s cruel Jests. He hugs to himseir a hatred that thrives the moro Tor want or expression. But the thought or what lies Inside his coat pocket calms him. A letter, addressed In a woman's tine handwriting to Sir Timothy Standlsh. A letter twenty years old. Titus had never opened it, but he invested It with a great and secret Importance. It had become a talisman, the symbol o' the great triumph that would one day be his. Efilco Brown, a girl whom Michael has helped to find work as an artist's model, had previously been a nurse at "Tho Haven,” but sympathy lor Edmund Halite, whom she baileved to be no more mad than she was, lost her her job. She confides her story to Michael, who promises to help. They plan to get Edmund Hallco out or “The Haven.”

, Jimmy Halke arrives In town prior to continuing his journey to Arden Hall. He wonders what motive Sir Timothy can have had for recalling him. Michael, to his astonishment, receives an Invitation from Sir Timothy to spend a week or two at Arden Hall with Jimmy. Jimmy believes his rather Is dead,

CHAPTER Xlll.—(Continued.) “So Margaret 'has transferred her allegiance?” He was deaf to Michael’s Quick denial, 'and went on unmoved. "I’m glad to hear It. She will marry J'immy without, shall we say, undue persuasion.” Michael was 'thunderstruck. So that was It. He wanted her to marry Jimmy. He had no Intention of giving his consent. And Michael 'had believed so confidently that all was going 'well. He forced hinrrelf to speak lightly. "I’m afraid you will be disappointed sir. You see, I can’t give Margaret up." "No? Come Into the library, my hoy, and We will discuss that question.” Tho thrill of coming battle ran through Mtch'ael. lie was all eagerness for the fray. Yet Sir Timothy seemed In no hurry to open fire. He helped himself to a whisky and soda, and poured one out for Michael. "Make yourself comfortable, for I have quite a lot to say." He raised his glass an'd sipped the amber liquid appreciatively. "Fifty years old, my boy. What do you think of it?” Michael tried it, and paid due homage to Its mellow old age, reserving his private decision that it was distinctly repellant to his palate. Sir Timothy appeared on the point of commencing his attack, when he was called away suddenly to the ’phone. Was that another call from Jimmy, Michael wondered? Had anything gone wrong? Margaret should be here now. 'lt mast be something important. Sir Timothy was a long time In returning. What a weary business waiting could be I Nothing to do hut sit and wonder helplessly. He was. feeling tired, very drowsy. He pulled himself up with a jerk. Heavens 1 He had almost dropped off. He took another drink from the tumbler with the Idea of rousing himself. And still Sir Timothy did not come It was after ten when Margaret and Jimmy arrived, and the first, thing Margaret did was to look round for Miohael. Since the moment she had waved back to him, she had been eagerly looking forward to the return. She had been awfully unfair lo Michael. Instead of understanding his impatience, she had behaved as though she was quite Indifferent to him. How awful it' lie really believed that.

When the car had broken down, something very like panic had taken hold of her. Michael would believe she was enjoying herself too much with Jimmy to’ bother about him. Much to Jimmy’s amusement she insisted that he should ’phone to Arden Hall.

And then, to add to her aggravation, Jimmy must needs try and flirt with her. She had jumped on him pretty severely, too severely perhaps, for Jimmy was obviously only larking. She‘spoke to him far more bluntly than Michael would have done that morning If he had been allowed to “dispose of the übiquitous Jimmy.” " Sorry an’ all that," said Jimmy, contritely, and then chuckled suddenly. " Poor old Michael. He must have felt like murdering me." Being then in the right mood for confidences, lie had talked to .Margaret of Effie Brown. Ho would like Margaret to meet her. She could lie a real pal and help him if she would. And Margaret willingly promised.

Home at last! What a relief. She must find Michael at.once and tell him everything. She would not spare herself. She would tell him what, an empty day it had been without hijn. But where was Michael? “I'll rout him oul,” Jimmy Volunteered.

She could hear him trying one place afleranolher and calling out cheerily " Michael”. Now he was speaking to tin 1 Imllor. She caught the reply. “ lie did go to the library soon after dinner, sir. 1 can't say that. I’ve seen him since.” .Margaret Jumped up to go herself. Hi! must he reading. Hut il was strange that he had not answered Jimmy's call. ‘‘•Hello 1 . . so there you are.” That was Jimmy already inside Ihe room. Dead silence, and I hen Jimmy’s voice again in helpless dismay. "What the ! Oh, Lord!” lie heard Margaret coming, and rushed to (he door to prevent her entering. “My mistake,” ho said, wilh a forced laugh. ” He's not lliere.” "Jimmy, he is. Let me in." Margaret had difficulty in controlling herself, if jimmy kept her hack a moment longer, she. would do something foolishly hysterical. " Let me pass."

Author of "Conscience Money," "Patricia's Chauffeur," Eta, (An enthralling story, full of thrilling incidents.)

To he coiilinucil.)

She raised one imperious arm. Jimmy stood aside and she saw. Michael was. there. He had fallen forward across the table, and he was still, so deathly still. A sharp little cry escaped her, and she ran forward and stooped over him, put her arm under his head and tried to raise him. Rut it rolled horribly, and she released him in panic. " Oh, Jimmy. He’s dead.” Jimmy gave an odd sort of laugh. It was meant to be reassuring, but somehow it lacked conviction. "Dead I Oh Lord, no. lie's—well, the fact Is, Margaret, now for goodness sake, old girl, look on the funny side of it— the fact is he's what you might call 1 blotto “Intoxicated? Michael drunk?" "Paralytic, In fact," agreed Jimmy, now more cheerfully since Margaret seemed to be taking it so quietly. “ Nothing in that though. Been like it myself. You know, fed up and nothing to da- A drink or two sort of absent-mindedly, and before you know where you are, well—you don’t. All accidental so to speak.' Margaret’s Intense relief was succeeded by a feeling of shame and disgust. She could smell the strong fume's of whisky. Tho half-empty decanter, and the glass beside his outstretched arm, told their own tale. Could this be Michael, the fine, clean Michael she loved—’this animal thing. It was as though she had clasped a lovely ro'se to her heart and felt it change to a loathsome, hideous creature. Something seemed to he dying In her. She choked back a dry little sob, and forced herself to throw her arm across his shoulders. “ We must do something for him,” she said. Jimmy lent a hand, and heaved him upright Into the chair. Michael’s head fell back upon her shoulder, and at the touch of it resting there so helpless, so like a stricken child, all Margaret's disgust was drowned In a wave of pity. “ Oh, Michael, Michael," she whispered, under her breath, and drew his head down upon her breast protectingly. “ He’ll have to sleep It off,” said Jimmy. “ Leave him to me, Margaret. I'll get Titus to give me a hand and we’ll carry him up to his room."

It was at this moment Sir Timothy came in silently. He seemed to take In the situation very qulokly. Margaret, waited, tense and hostile, expecting some cold expression of disgust. But Sir Timothy stood in silence for some time, and continued to smile serenely, "An enjoyable day, I hope,” he remarked at last. " Slnding appears to have consoled himself very effectively." “ Gripes," muttered Jimmy, as Sir Timothy turned and walked calmly out. “ What’s the old devil made of, ice or asbestos? ” When Jimmy had succeeded in getting the Inert Michael safely into bed, he came down again to the library in an unusually thoughtful mood. He. had remembered a casual remark Michael had made about whisky, and Jimmy was puzzled. If Michael had wanted to drown his cares, he would have chosen anything but whisky. The top of his shirt, too, vJas saturated—that was queer In a way. There was a vague notion in his head. He wanted to have a look round. He wanted to taste the remaining contents In that glass. But the glass, he found, was no longer there, and the decanter had been refilled.

He sought out Margaret. “ Has your dear father and my damned uncle got it in for Michael for any reason?’’ he asked abruptly. "Why do you ask?” asked Margarot, all her old fc'ars re-awakened. “ Oh, nothing much. Only I could swear somebody’s done the dirty on Michael." “ What do you mean Jimmy? Tell me quickly. Tell me what you suspect." She waited, but Jimmy made no reply, "Is It this? " she asked quietly. " You think my father has deliberately made Michael drunk?” “No, I don’t think that,” said Jimmy.

" Father doesn’t want me to marry michael. He hasn’t said so, but I know it. Oil, Jimmy, don’t keep anything from me. I’m frightened for Michael, for both of us.” “ Then I’m right," answered Jimmy with conviction. " Michael was not drunk, he was drugged. A littlo stunt to put you off, so to speak.”

"If I believed that," said Margaret in a low passionate voice, “ I would run away with Michael tomorrow."

That night when he retired Jimmy eyed askanefif the Silver-hound decanter at his bedside. Evidently Sir Timothy was out (to / Indulge his little weaknesses, for from tho first night or his arrival, the decanter had stood there with Its friendly welcome. Every night lie had taken his nightcap. To-night lie was not so sure. He could delect nothing amiss with It—a tiny sip. No, for to-night he would leave it.. He was getting Into bed when he noticed the key on the floor just protruding under the connecting door between ids bedroom and tho next where Margaret was sleeping. It must have fallen out and somehow got knocked under. Ills thought's liinicd |o the happy old days of fun and play, the time honoured last drowsy call lo Margaret: “ Goo’-nlglit, sleep light. Lois nl fun in the mnrnin’ Goo'-night." It was jolly, very jolly lo lie hack in Die same old rooms they had used as kids,

ijlo began to dose oIT. He was almost asleep when somelliing roused him, Someone was moving in the corridor. Surely Hint was the sound of furtive shuffling steps lie had heard? Or had he dreamt it? lie, listened inlenlly. hid ail was dead silence. No, lie must have been mistaken. He I unit’d over ami in less Ilian two iniiiules was sound asleep.