Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, April 9, 1898, Page 6

THE $ WRIIOK RIO Mik EGRET OF A LONELY HOUSE. E SFO IMO EOE OE OE IO POE EOE CHAPTER VII (Continued.) 1 “Are you st hood?’ inquired Pansy, who felt re-° lieved to have some rational person to | talk with. “Yes, for a few days—possibly for a week,” he said, looking down, appreci- atively into her lustrous ey “I hope I may have the pleasure and your sister in your walks oc ally during my s! e ‘oO, We never go out,” said Paz nd this is not my sister, but my cous- | in. No, Il do not th shall | jon- | meet. We must wish you good day now,” she said, bowing graciously to | her newl, yund acquaintance, and s hand through her arm. Do not go for a mo- med the girl, loosing her hand from Pansy’ m, and pointing excitedly toward: gig which was de- scending the precipitous road from the village of Craigeerie. “Wait until tha ed the bottom of the hill! ‘ou must not let them see you, or you will do us—me—incalculable harm!” With a swift gesture she drew Gcef- fry Carslake under the shadow of the and stood before him with eyes e and terrified as those of a startled fawn. He loked utterly mystified, and re- mained perdu at her peremptory bid- ding. Pansy looked half-vexed, half-piti- ful at her cousin’ ‘itement, and, in answer to Goeff inquiring gaze, lightly touched her forehead, “It’s all right now,” she said, strok- ing the girl’s hand reassuringly. ‘Mr. ———" She paused, and looked at the strange drawing E he hastened to r lake, at your service. t liberty to go ey You see,” she n, “my cousin, Mr. angers, and went on to exp ‘Thunder, is av has some inhospitable views on the subject of belated travelers. Elsie thought it were better that he should not see you.” “You are very good, and I am greatly obliged at your kindness in directing me,” he said, with grave courte: xe! think you said that St. Lawrence church lies over there, and is about four miles distant?” ie nodded. it isJonger ke again bowed low to and, vaulting lightly into the meadow, turned once more ere he reached the road to raise his hat “I like him,” observed Elsie, to whom the s' | zy gallantry came ilke an ir “I hope he will find what he wan t the church. Ah! how different he is from the only spen I know.” “I think we 1 better separate now, dear,” said Pan “I will go towards the kitchen garden.” “And I to the malt house. think I have been spending the time with Rover, as usual. Pansy, 1 wonder shall we ever see him again?” “I do not think it probable, dear”’— thinking how impressionable v this wild, unconventional little maiden. Yet she herself retained a very pleas- ing recollection of Goeffry C: ike’s mellow voice and speaking e; He, in his turn, was devoured by cu- Tiosity to ertain the reason of El- sie’s wild alarm, which had even, he They will , and find out what his game is. “Well,” commented Mordant, watch- ng in the neighbor- | ing his companion’s face by the light of the dying fire, “you told me yesterday that you would unfold your plans to Me on the evening of Desrolles’ visit. As it is, you have told me the bare facts of the case, that is all.” “I have no plans as yet,” said lergus, testily, though he winced under the calculating gaze of his friend. “I must see the fellow first alone. Of course, you are at liberty to hear all that pass- es, but you must not appear on the scene until later. I must’see him first If his demands are too exorbitant, which I shrewdly expect they will be, then—” Again he paused, and looked furtively nt Mordant. “Well, you kuow we have both risked and suffered too much to have our substance squandered by a vagabond like Desrolles. We must pro- tect our interests.” “Certainly—by all means,” observed Mordant, “I begin to follow you. Then, if you want my services, 1 shail be within call. Hush! I hear a step on the walk outside.” He started up and listened. “Yes; here he comes, it I mistake not. within earshot all the time, and if you want me you can rap upon the table—- thus.” As he spoke he disappeared behind the curtains of the oriel window, and Fergus Thunder stood awaiting his vis- itor alone. In another moment the glass doors leading into the garden were pushed open, and a short, thick-set man, with keen, dark eyes, and a heavy black moustache waxed into sharp points, entered the room. “Ah! my friend! Punctual to my ap- pointment!” he exclaimed, throwing aside his traveling coat and approach- ing the fireplace where a handful of embers still smouldered. “You ex- pected me? Yes? Then why didn’t you keep in the fire? The wind is enough to cut one’s eyes out. Well, how has the world wagged with you all these years? You don’t look the in- ralid you led me to believe you were,” he said, scanning Fergus Thunder's hard, evil face mistrustfully. ‘So you and that very ill-favored devil, Mor- dant Cain, parted company years ago, or so I understood from your communi- cations?” Fer gus motioned his interlocutor to a seat, but ignored his last remark. “How am I? As well as 1 can ex- pect to be, suffering weight of a crime of which | am inno- cent, but for which I have had to pay so dearly.” “Innocent!” laughed Desrolles, cyn- feally. “Innocent, my friend, when 1 discovered you and Caliban (a fancy name for your accomplice) actually en- gaged in dispatching your victim? Ah! but conceive the effrontery of your vaunted innocence!” “Well,” continued Thunder, sullenly, “innocent or guilty, I can submit to your blackmailing no longer. I grant- ed you an interview on purpose thar we might come to a definite under- standing.” “You granted, my friend?” interrupt- ed Desrolles, shrugging his shoulders. “Surely, it is for me to dictate and you to comply! Now I want a bulk sum down—a good, substantial sum, cer- tainly. But if you agree to the amount I will write for you an acknowledg- ment of the same, and absolve you recalled, communicated it to the other, | from any further trouble in this mat- through whose delicate skin the sud- den color had flushed hotly The father he walked the more ¢b- stinately determined was he to see more of his enchanted prince: She as young. delightfully pretty, that ady his interest was keenly alr aroused. CHAPETR VIII. Late one night, after the girls and Salome had retired, Fergus Thunder and Mo nt sat talking together over the dying embers of the fire. They were occupying one of the rare- ly-used parlors on the ground floor. The room “garden-room,” by virtue of the long French windows, from whence access to the grounds could be gained. | The night was cold and gusty, the nature of the subject under d sion would not appear to be very en- livening, if one might judge from the , and | visible in the faces of both. A long silence was broken by Mor- dant drawing out his watch. “Pshaw! it is past twelve! Too late for your expected visitor, Fergus. He is not such a fool as to come here alone, and at such an hour, depend on it.” | “He will come—he has his own ends to serve,” id Fergus, confidently. My course of action is thi Desrolles wrote to me the day before yesterda from Lendon. He had come from Par. fs a week before, and announced his in- tention of traveling down to Craigeerie for a personal interview with me. He would not care to commit to paper all that was in his mind tos but he had terms to propose to me which I might, or might not, see were to my interest.” “Does he know I still live here?’ in- quired Mordant. “I hope you were not fool enough to admit there would be a third person present at the inter- view?” “Bah! No; that is our trump card. lieves you and I parted com ago. Yet I have never definitel, him as much. I wrote in answer to his letter that I should be willing to see him, but that for reasons which would explain when we met, I coulda not receive his visit during the day- time—that I was in failing health, ana a mere ghost of my former self—that my days were restiess, my nights sleep- iess, so heavily did the shadow of the past encom! me.” Fergus paused to laugh, sardonically at this imagin- ary picture of himself. “I went on to say that he would find me awoiting him in the room with the French win- -dows that overlook the lawn at a little For what do you take me? He united money, Elsie, is of age, after which time she is | fortune. ion of brooding care which was during the n ter.” He paused, but as his vis-a-vis made no sign, he proceeded, with a quiet smile of confidence: By the terms of the wills of your de- ceased wife and her brother, { gather that you have the command of their until your daughter, to have sole and absolute use of her ‘This much, my friend, | have ascertained by applying at Doctor's Commons to see the original docu- ments.” “Well?” questioned Fergus, “and since you know so much, what use are you going to make of your informa- had originally been called the | tion?” “This much,” continued Desrolles, smiling; “you are in the receipt, until | the young lady is of age, of a very handsome income, the greater part of cus- | which you are doubtless putting by gainst a rainy day—eh, is it not so? Now you must raise for me somehow, t month, fifteen thou- sand pounds! Nay’—holding up his hand to arrest the words on the other’s lips—“with fifteen thousand pounds 1 can embark upon a most highly-lucra- tive enterprise, which, if successfully worked, will bring me both wealth and position. That sum you must find within the next month.” “And if [ refuse, emphatically, what then?” said Fergus, keeping a watch- tul eye upon the oriel window, the cur- tains of which swayed a little. Then I ¢an furnish particulars to Scotland Yard, which will be damna- tory enough to hang both you and your friend Caliban,” said Desrolles, sar- donically. “Mind, 1 do not wisn to do this, tor a ‘live dog is better than a dead lion, but I am determinea you shall not play fast and loose with me Hirteen thousand pounds, or’—tapping a pocketbook he carried in his breast pocket—“two little harmless-looking articles I have carried about with me ever since the night of that unfortun- e little occurrence, shall be lodged at ‘otland Yard, together with all the information my excellent memory can furnish.” He looked up smilingly at Fergus, but with a certain confidence that his terms would be complied with, that rated Fergus. Desrolles had ed himself with his back to the Now, mind, I shall be } 1am, under the ; clemency extended by a cat to a half- dead mouse. “I am in no hurry.” “Were I to consider from now until next year, my answer would be the same. I cannot, nor will I pay you a sum out of the remnant of the fortune that your insatiable demands have still left me.” As he spoke, his eyes encountered those of Mordant Cain. A momentaty glance of intelligence between them, the curtains were put aside, and the latter advanced stealthily a step for- ward into the room. “It were a pity that a higbly-re- spectable individual like you, my friend, should end your days on the gallov in truth, it pains me to dwell upon such a painful contingency. You will spare me the necessity of so do- ing, Iam sure. Come, let us settle the matter amicably. If you will arrange when and how the money is to be paid, I will undertake to hand over to you these insignificant though incriminat- ing little articles, which are ali that now exist between you and immunity from the terrors of the law.” Desrolles, as he spoke, drew out his pocketbook and held up to lergus ‘Thunder a letter, yellow with age, and | stained with a dark blur ,which had once been blood. It was addressed to “James Wendle,” and was written and igned by Fergus himself. ‘Che other icle was a scarf-pin, of opals and diamonds, with the initials, “J. W.” engraved on the back. “You recognize these, my friend? The letter was written by you asking ninteview with your late wife’s broth- er, at the turnstile leading to the Marsh fields. It happened that he was found the following morning with his head battered in, just beyond that very turnstile. The opal pin he was known to have worn the day of his death. The evidence is, I think uu will admit, sufticiently damnato: He replaced the letter and the scart- pin, and raised his smiling eyes to Fergus’ face, but something he saw re- flected there startled the smile from his lips. Instinctively he started up, and glanced behind him. “You here?’ he faltered, huskily, as he was confronted by Mordant’s evil ; face. “Stand aside and let me pass!” he said, gathering courage from the mere desperation of his position—it was the courage of despair, though, for none knew better than he how | much these men would benefit by his death and disappearance. “You have had your day—it is shori- ened by your own indiscretion in play- ing into the enemy’s hand. It is our turn now,” Mordant Cain id his | voice vibrating with the ng re- | pression he was putting upon himself. | “Give me the letter and the rf-pin, , or I will run you through! 4} | think to receive aay quarte: | have never given any.” He advanced, and Desrolles retreat- ed, clasping his hand over the breast pocket of his coat. Could he but make his escape into the grounds, he felt that he could outdistance them both, ; and put a mile between them in an in- | eredibly short space. “Give me the letter and the pin, and you are free to go,” repeated Mordant. “Don’t think to escape us now! Were I to hang for it, you should never get away alive with James Wendle’s prop- erty.” | He made a step forward, and Des- | rolles, feigning to trip over some im- pediment in his way, made a snatch at the handle of the glass door, and was | already half-way across the threshold when Mordant, drawing his hand rap- idly from behind him, levelled a pistol figure and deliberately fired. With one sharp yet strangled cry, Desrolles fell forward, and lay, face downwards, clutching spasmodically at the gravel, on which he had fallen. “Hush!” whispered Fergus, holding up a warning finger, his face ghastly, ; his lips bloodless and compressed. | “Do you hear anyone moving in the house? They must have heard that shot—it was loud enough to have awakened the dead!” Mordant, too, was listening intently, but keeping an eye on the recumbent man, who, however, after the first brief struggle, lay still. | “There was no weapon I could have used with such good effect,” he said, creeping back into the room, and lay- ing aside the still smoking revolver. “He was fleeter than I, and were he to have escaped into the shrubbery, he | would have given us both the slip. Bah! I believe, man, you're fright- ened at the sight of a little blood! ‘Chere is not so much here as there was | down by the turnstile twelve years | ago,” he said, returning to where Des- rolles , and lifting his head to look into | his already glazing eyes. “He is dead. | You must help me to carry him in. We will consider, by-and-by how best to dispose of the body.” Fergus, who was still trembling, more, perhaps, with excitement than fear, lent a hand, and between them they carried their victim into the room, and laid him down on the floor. A few minutes sufficed to remove his effects from his pockets, and the letter and ring by which Desrolles had held their lives in his hand, were put away under lock and key. They found that he had five ‘pounds in gold and fifteen in notes upon him. “He is not the man to have taken the numbers of the notes. They’re safe enough.” commented Mordant, thrust- | ing the roll into his pocket. Suddenly he turned, startled, towards the garden door. “Hush!” he said. “I thought I heard someone outside!” As he spoke, a figure clad in white, flitted into the room, like a white moth attracted by the light. | “Good Heavens!” exclaimed Fergus, | under his breath. “It is Elsie! She has been walking in her sleep again. See, she has on only her night-clothes!” “Take her away—quickly—any where anywhere before she awakes!” said Mordant, excitedly. The girl's soul was still sleeping, al- though her eyes were wide open and sightless. Fergus approached her, and endeavored to draw her out agin into the grounds. The touch of his hand upon her arm, however, startled her from her coma- tose state. Her eyes, now wide open , and terror-stricken, fell upon the up- turned face of the dead man. “Help! help! murder!” she shrieked, | | | | ovel window. He repeated his ques- starting back, and pointing to the tion. “L refuse, absolutely and uncondi- tionally,” said Fergus, a fierce light smoulcering in his eyes, that would have warred most men of “breakers ahead.” “Do your worst!” Lah! you are excited. Take time ploodstains upon Desrolles’ breast. “ah! I shall go mad. ‘The horrible sight! Help! help!” Mordant ground his teeth with rage, and approaching, seized the frantic girl, and thrust a handkerchief into her mouth to still her ravings. ast twelve oa the evening of Friday,” , to consider,” said Desrolles, with the: ‘Kep her quie, you fool!” “he ex- | ‘ claimed. fiercely, “or she will fix the halter about our necks!” Kut Elsie’s voice had died away. Her father caught her in his arms as she fell forward. He hastily drew the handkerchief from her mouth, for her face darkened and a spasm passed across it that distorted the girl’s fea- ne into something infinitely unfamil- jar. “She is not fainting; it is a fit!” said Fergus, iz a terror-stricken voice, as he peered into the blue distended eyes, that seemed fixed and vacs “Good Heavens! what shall we do? “Peace, you fool,” whispered Mor- dant. “It is fortunate for us that the child is as she is; she will recover by- andby. If I am not mistaken, this is similar attack to the one she had when she was a child. It looks like an epi- leptic seizure. When she recovers she will know nothing of what has passed. In the meantime, we must put her away somewhere where Solome can at tend her until she is better. If Philip- pa was to see her in her present con- dition, she might have her suspicions aroused by the girl’s ravings. Can’t you suggest something, man, or must I be responsible for all, while you play the craven?” “We might put her, for the night, in- to the sacristy of the chapel,” falterea Fergus, doubtfully. The chapel was an ivy-clad structure, partially in ruins, on the estate. It was about a hundred yards from the house, and surrounded by yews and ey- ergreen oaks. A desolate spot enough, and one but seldom visited by the fam- ily. The sacristry of which Fergus spoke was in tolerably good preserva- tion, and the keys of the stout, iron- clamped doors hung, rusty and disusea, in the kitchen of the Manor. “A gloomy hospital enough,” said Mordant, with a mirthless laugh; “but it must suffice for the nonce. We must arouse the worthy Salomé, and put her in possession of the unforeseen circum- stances. She will hardly thank us for extending her duties as jailer to the sacristy; but she is unrivalled at keep- ing a secret, especially when one is in a position to make it worth her while. Yes; for a night or two, if Elsie is well wrapped up, she will take no harm, after which we must arrange to board her out, far away in some remote country village.” “sand how are we to dispose of that?’ demanded Fergus, pointing to the dead body of Desrolles. “Murder is not easily hidden. Heaven! how my brain whirls. I cannot think!” “fam thankful to say I am still in possession of my wits, and can act for us both, or we should be in a sorry plight, with all this impedimenta to dispose of,’ said Mordant, with tierce contempt. First, we will take the g' ‘l, arrange for her comfort as as is consistent with the nature of her sur- roundings, secure the door of the sac- risty, and descend into the erypt of the chapel. Behind a heap of ruined de- bris there is the entrance to a vault, of which no one but our, two selves knows of the existence. Therein, with befitting respect, we can lay the re- mains of our late lamented friend and somewhat extortionate annuitant. Re- quiescat in pace! 2 ee ae oe * * * The night was wild and gusty, and the old Manor seemed filled with fear- some and strange sounds. Pansy, awaking suddenly, she searce knew why, lay for a long time sleep- less, listening to the howling of the wind, and with a nameless fear ov- pressing her; she wished she had her cousin Elsie to bear her company; but at length, youth and a clear conscience lulled her to rest, and she slept soundc- ly. CHAPTER VIII. “Where is Elsie, Salome?’ asked Pansy, entering the kitchen at break- fast time the following morning. “I have been tq her room, and the door is locked and I cannot make her answer.” Salome was unusually silent, pale and unapproachable that morning. There were dark circles around her eyes, and a heavy frown upon her brow. “Elsie is not well,” she answered, shortly. “I have been up all night with her, and I am relieved to say she has fallen asleep. I must request you, Philippa, to refrain from disturbing her, or, indeed, attempting to see her. If she is excited, she will lose what lit- tle sense she has. It is one of her old attacks again, and nothing but rest and complete silence will bring her round. You understand, she is, under no circumstances, to be disturbed.” “Yes,” said Pansy, much mystified at her cousin’s sudden indisposition, “though when she wakes I should like to go and keep her company, if I may.” “But you may not,” said Fergus, mo. rosely. “She managed to exist before you came, without any other compan- ion than her sister. We shall have you ill on our hands, too, if you mope up in a sick room, Let us have breakfasi, Salome—Mordant will have his in his own room.” The unappetizing meal progressed in silence, and, though Pansy dared make no further comment, her thoughts were busy. She and Elsie had become fast friends, and the girl’s illness caused her real sorrow. She wandered away, later on, toward the orchard. During the past fortnight their acquaintance with Geoffrey Cars- lake had ripened into friendship. El sie, who had chanced to see him a day or two after their first meeting, paused to talk to him, pleased at the novelty of a handsome face and pleas- ant manner. At first Pansy was dis- posed to chide her for so unconvention- ala proceeding; but the monotony and repression of the life at Black Tarn de- moralised even her. “Why should they net evchange a few civilities with this pleasant young stranger, who always treated them with the kindliest courte- sy?’ And so it came about that Geof- | frey Carslake still remained at the vil- ‘lage inn at Craigeerie—nay, that tne prospect of leaving grew daily more distasteful. q No Prince Charming of fairy lore was ever a more devoted knight than Geoffrey. He was at an age when to fall in love was as natural and inhe- rent as to inhale the perfume of spring flowers—and, in truth, Pansy herselt, in her character of the Enchanted Princess, had begun to feel the glam- our of love’s young dream, although not a word touching upon the subject had as yet been spoken between them, (To be Continued.) é HOW? By snerine 5 o « and subduing the pain. hat’s the way ST, JACOBS OIL <vn=> NEURALGIA, Yo Be Encouraged. Mother—What dces that young Light- ly mean, coming here this evening. Daughter—I think he means business, mamma.—Detroit Free Press. DO NOT DELAY. An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure. Swanson Rheumatic Cure Co., Chi- cago. Dear Sirs: I used one bottle of your “5 Drops,” and it did me more good than any medicine I ever used. It did me more good than all the medi- cine I have taken from the doctors for two years, besides suffering the entire time. In three days after I commenced using the “5 Drops” my pains all dis- appeared. 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Honsemaid—Oh, I didn’t mind it, mum, but the mistress didn’t like ii.— ‘Tid-Bits. As public platforms, those on the street cars are rather unsteady, according to some men’s standpoint. Coe’s Cough Balsam Is the oldest and best. It will break uv a coid quicker than anything cise. Itis always raliable, Try it. Fountains couldn't play if it wasn’t for the waterworks. Kuhn's Rheumatic Cure is guaran- teed to cure any case of Rheumatism or we will refund you your money. Price, $1.00 per bottle. Kuhn’s Rheumatic Cure Co., 366 Van Buren St., Chicago, IL. A product of the ground—sausage_ Star Tobacco is the leading brand of the world, because it is the best. Naturally, the place for much of the city’s leafy embroidery is on her out- skirts. Educate Your Bowels With Cascarets. Candy Cathartic cure constipation forever, 10c, 25e. If C. C. C. fail, druggists refund money. Who says bicycles have anything to do with making spinsters? ~ QVERWORKED WOMEN. — Letters to Mrs. Pinkham From Women Who Have Been Helped From Sickness or Health. The ordinary every-day life of most of our women is aceaseless treadmill of work. How much harder the daily tasks become when some deratigement of the female organs makes every movement painful and keeps the nervoussystem unstrung! The following letter from Mrs. WALTERS. Banta, ff Sparkill, N. Y., tells the story of many women, and shows them how to get relief: “Dear Mrs. PrinkuAm:—I cannot thank you enough for all Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound hasdone forme. WhenI wroteto youl had suffered for years with falling, in- flammation and ulceration of the womb; my back ached, and I was so much distressed I could scarcely walk. I ‘was a burden to myself and did not eare whether I lived or died. “T have taken five bottles of your medicine and it has done wonders for me as all my friends ean testify. Ican now do my own work, and do not know how to express my gratitude to you for the good your medicine and advice have done me, I owe my life to Mrs. Pinkham.” Mrs. Pinkham’s counselisoffered free to all women who need advice about their health. Her address is Lynn, Mass. Mrs. P. H. Hurcucrort, Kel lerton, Iowa, tells here in her own words how Mrs. Pinkham helped her: “Dear Mrs. Prncaam:—I was in q very bad condition before I wrote to you and began the use of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound. I did notknow whattodo. Isuffered terribly every month, when on my fi feet would have such a bearing-down feeling, was very weak, womb was: swollen, back ached, appetite was very poor, also had trouble with my head. | Ihave taken several bottles of your Compound and cannot say enough in its; favor. It helped more than all the doctors.” 4 Lydia€. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound; a Woman’s RemedyforWoman’siils. J y | t ;