The evening world. Newspaper, March 30, 1916, Page 17

A Romance of Buried Treasure and of a Strange Quest. PDING CHAPTERS, yweth hag secured 3 in hin father's mon Colliver and. his CHAPTER VI. The Writing Upon the Clasp. ASPER," said my uncle make nonsense. i “And to mine, uncle.” is evidently but of the clasp which your father @iscovered. That's as plain as day- Might. The question is, become of the other half; of the hook that should fit into this eye?” What thas Ing forward over the table, “two FS are possible. bottom of the sea, with the rest freight of the Belle Fortune, or is in Colliver’s possession.” “Uncle,” 1 interposed “the secret of the upon my grandfather's key. y Was to be taken down when that undertook the task of discov. the secret should have returned sed the threshold of Lantrig. my father reshold of Lantrig”——— drew a chair under and mounted it. When first my returned he iron key upon rising to my eat Ruby is its hook, giving ict injunctions that no one should ‘There it hung now, scarcely to be ween for cobwebs. Its hour had como the handle were engraved capitals the initials A. T. date MDCCCXII ‘om handle to wards, + @ following sentence non either BOIS SET BANDS AND THY A DEAD MAN ‘This was al! jas the sum of all the vain quest on UPON THE ‘hy house is set fend even no th Amos Trenow pes by a de: ‘on whom our hopes irs a pitiful corps gmockery more flendisi? eruelty of the words broke in upon once again I seemed to hear the ful ery from Ng its Voices rang as though Amos were making merry im jest—the slaughter of his son's wi White with turned and hurled the Ret the rovuim intu CHAPTER VII. Search for Fortune. EEING that not profess to be an autobi- had crumbled awa 1 man," and even now hell over his events connected with Ruby of Ceylon, | conce entitled to the do some violence to the art of the tor, and here ask leave to pass y. with but slight 2 hey buried my father and mother rrydew raised th: and ery, but ba sailor Georgio [thodojani was ne /eeen again from the moment when his / evil face leered in through the window of Lantrig. Lantrig, for which my father had given his life, was gold to strangers. The proceeds gale (and they were small ind incle Loveday put carefully ly A ehould be cast upon the world to hen I was a fwenty, my uncle and aunt died. om nd I went to London to tiv preservation medicine—and wrote Mime, I also studied ie " led my odd hours in peacsial wey. To flud Sim and to kill him was my Life atm. Qll probability he was living in Lon- ‘or at least visited the metror on, So 1 passe foaming the streets in search of him ofitiess employment cnou, @ dingy garret, looking out, when Wa grimy panes allowed, above one of the many squalid street @he main artery of the Strand, my story begins anew. Fortune had dealt us some rough jocks, We were dressed, ft, to sult the furniture, and did We were fed, accord- to a nicety, ing to the same uu me; but not often in saying that |, rather fast; prospect before us. yrs had reached a crisis ‘Spe house will now go into the mation of supply. The exchequ r tains sixteen and eightpence balf- “Rent having been duly lay and receipt given.’ “Receipt given,” I echoed. “Really, when one ¢omes to think of it, the situation is striking Jasper Trenoweth, in the Great Ruby of Ceylon, yr treasure too paltry to mention, r of starving I, Thomas Loveday, author eesca; A Tragedy,’ and other terpieces too numerous to with every prospect of sharing The situation ts striking, jasper, youl allow.” ing’s search, lil have one more eve- T said, “and then coma oe and see this miserable farce of starvation out.” Don't be a fool, Jasper. ficult, I know, to perish on sixteen and elgitpence 4 the odd coppers spoil the ef- Bull we might bestow them on squeamish beggar and redeem ning “Tom,” I said suddenly, “you lost a Jot of money once over rouge-et-noir.” “Don't remind me of that, Jasper. ter" le ‘ “At @ gambling hell off Lelcester Square. But why — “Should you know the place again? Could you find it?" Easily," Then let us go and try our luck oad atm with this miserable sum.” “1 agree,” sald ‘Tom sadly, We took our hats, extinguished the —— candle, and stumbled down the stairs into the night —anrnennts ee the days of which I write Leicester Square has greatly changea, Then it was an intricate and, by nicht, even @ dangerous q ter, chiefly given over to foreigners. As we trudged through innumerable by- RUN In THE streets and squalid alleys T wondered if Tom had not forgotten his way, At STORE AND length, however, We turned up a blind alley, lit by one struggling gasjet, and knocked at a low door. It was opened almost immediately, and we groped our Way up another black passage to a second door, Here Tom gave three knocks, very loud and distinct. A volce cried, “Open,” the door swung back before ua, and a blaze of light flashed in our faces. CHAPTER VIII. The Luck of the Golden Clasp. S the door swung back I be- came conscious first of a flood of light that completely dazzied my eyes, next of the buzz of many voices that confused my hearing. slower degrees, how- ever, the noise and glare grew famil- jar and my senses were able to take int strange scom 1 stood in a large room furnished | after the fashion of a drawing rooin ®nd resplendent with candles and bilding. The gu 8 Were about thirty in number, ar from the ap! ance | judged them to beiong to very | different usees Of BoCIEL Some were poorly and even miserably at. | tired, others adorned with gorgeous nd not a few with valuable jewelry rho quests were grouped around a ing behind their enai ue table; [4 itwselé was oblong in shape, and at its head sat the most extraordinary W ra nit nad ever t jot to behold. Sne was of immense age, and so wrink| hat her face ie ba very network of deeply p nes, Her complexion even in t He light, was of u deep yellow, such as is rarely nin the ad face 4 Wwe Saas beauty deep yet and as they Mashed to the fuces of h ever to wink an instant their look of in- ange tense aler Hut what Was most noteworthy in this strange Woman was neither her World Daily Magazine, Thursday, March © THAT HORRID WOMAN | | DON'T WANT HER TO SEE NE ) | DON'T NEED To, (CAN HIDE RIGHT ———_ WHEN SHE ( HAS PASSE eyes, her wrinkles nor her color but the ama: quan Jews hat she wor there beneath the gla delabrum she positively blazed with upon the black and red spac Mean- out the ( |, While the won stood by the door @ hush fell but as the needle went round once of th pany; men and women nore, slackened and stopped secined to cateh their breath and bend time amid deep and desperate execra- G 1 like to lose to so proper a . But what did mixture of exclamations and d.si man » mn Cie Da Then pues vt wt 1 looked back at ‘fom, who merely hope of treasure. the tabla speak, and when she spoke nodded, and put my first balt-crown her words were addressed to w m the space marked by ninc- Moone iat eenitninen narie You teen. LT lost, And [ lost thrice again is, if any one nt well, #2 Succession. My last half-crown i Nt. far the Wah is winning but youvare Was gone. i was penniless. ‘The for the bank is winning; bt hone the less welcom welcomed, We toc ‘The game is waiting; are you « stepped for n to wa never seen roulette played else where, “Is It,” she whispered in my ear, .(“Yes," said #0 do not know ae ie Bonen ‘re give me another chance.” grently vary, bi lis is w w “TL give ne ce," re Lele which Tate at eat: Ah, it ie hard with halt a sover I give nothing, least of all chance, as oblong, W s lined to the with of sn to break the bank, But eee, have ®¢ replied. about a foot around the edge with YOU nothing —nothing? Vor I feel as | “Well. can you tell mo wort! , green baize, and on this w luck were going to leave me.” Worth anything heaps of gold and silver, some gre less, Sun ecenive WAS a . In which « large needle revolve upon a pivet at a turn of the han whole looked Hke a large ship's #, but instead of north, sout nd west, the table around the piled vor bo: Her voix theti but in her es there glanced it, and as she hot the faintest spark of mercy, [ time I fancied 1 each space —the figures froin 1 to 3 gone. T have not one penny left in tt for aim and ending in 0, so that in all there the world and asked: Were thirty-seven spaces, the one bearing the cipher being opposite to woman who presided, Ags You to pity me, but" you not the the game began again the players , but you are wrong. T staked their money on one or you: I pity you all, Fools, fool of these spaces, TI also gather call you all, and yet I make my ued they could stake on either black « ing Out of you, So you cannot pl Ke, D 0 or again On Che of Ln three dosens— she added, as she set the game going ,,,"Not exactly 1 to 12, 18 to M4, 25 to 35, When all the Once again, “What will you do?” but 1? you think it worth anything ney was staked, orward, and with the woman bent sweap of ner arm After that?” equivalent.” Bue (hh Hasdle ehiGrine fe jon Lshrugged my shouldera. Very well: it might be worth threa sent the needle spinning round upon do not #0 yet. Sit beside me Pounds—perhaps more; but you can Thrice she did this, thrice the eager fo" 4 While and watch; it ia only For. stake it for that 1f you will, its misston faces bent over the revolving needle, tube that ma and each time LT gathered from the Would willingly murmurs aroun: < hud won ae pe" the end of the With her yellow face, her wrinkles and Marked 13 third round the hostess looked up and innumerable @id to Loved “You have been here before, 4 me your enemy. I be all at once?” have lost to nate. Come and sit ne muy break this run of luck, Teen _f dered in this way. Lam old, you eee, *arcely looked 4 tiring of it. Or batter stitt, wot Very old; older even than you could Watching the faces i amblers with that dark hands f but I triumph over youth none @ friend of yours kues o stake would decide betw. to stake for you. Have vou ever the less, Sometimes J feel an if I fed Goat for me, but My passion had fallen upon an anti- climax, and I was even yawning when pinved beforett asked, turning ts 8 the young lives of others.” me. She delivered these confidences I shook my head, without a change in her motionless All the better. Fortune always f@¢@ and still [ atared, fascinated, favors beginners. andif it does, tshall “It is @ rare drink, this yellow be well recompeised to have so hand. blood; and all the sweeter when it some a youth beside me," and with comes from youth. I have had but @ paid the woman, this she turned to the game again. ‘op from you, but I like you, never- {swith you." “You have the money, Jasper; take theless. Oh, yes, I can pity; my ‘ her advice if you really mean to play Heart ts always full of pity, this farce out. Take the seat if you here drinking gold, Your friend te get a chance, and play your own charming boy, but I like you better game." and now you will go. These partings Again the bank hal won. At the are very cruel, are they not?” the murmur of Once more 1 ah which he gathered in the Winnings. same as ever. I merely looked up in and again Tom I was aroused from my st muttered curse, as a gray headed No Jam not mocking you, T would change nan staggered up from his chair bee should like you to win--once: T say And now the o side the strange woman and left the it, and am perfectly honest table, with desperate exes and stupld You would be beaten tn the gait. As he rose the jewelled fingers it would p made A slight motion, and L dropped — "Goodby, into the vacant se. The bank was still winning. At shoulder 1 dared pot look in bis snd, Dut the numbers T said, and rose to go, front of 11. ‘Tey '# left hand rose a swelling face. All hope was As she sat pile of gold and silver that Ume after wealth, all—Stay! of the can- time absorbed all the smaller heaps in my waistcoat pn Clasp. h had scarcely spoken, me as any sign of the t Ruby this worth something ess only laughed and a ured them at thus defeated, # leaning back indifferent to inter, aw (she added) some of thi t times Thad put the buckls down coin into my pookets As she caught my eyes she pulled nd iw pencil heap of coins atm young man. “Jasper Trenoweth,’ Again I fancied I c room, and said ' ove . rs rried it ever sin intently over the table. ‘Thers s-she turned to me and said: Uncle Loveday H Pic tora some one calle ‘Now is your time to break tho father's journal t number on and th if vou wish Play boldly; [ ni buzz of veices broke ut aarad ‘ matter now? 4 few hours I should be beyond the time it seeme as well fing this accursed clasp after jaughed a tranquil laugh and. sald ding name, that Ty + it a lucky one?" Never until now,” § the rest?) For aught I knew it might yet win something back to me: " ts only less danger A queer-sou' At least [ would try may 1 look at yoman sald: I sank back into he woman turned her eyes upon me Fi carelessly, and said: to the centre of the room and ing to stake this time hat’ hank ai oon?" oh the game, T have 1 stammered out a negative What, back axain so soon my chatr again are careful, | see; why don't you stak full minute and then hand was laid on shoulder, and this time his voice ing in through th cessories “is it that you cannot?” aback by her coldness, the blinds, giving a ghastly floor strewn the siens and re ry of play, Il was the yellow face of the pitiless Natt, It was madness. ‘ot is > fry A i As I said this T held out the cls the ceignt TeBeWered, "ROthIng In ion mashed BHEnY ap. fe the raya of the wan tender and eympa- Overhead, She turned her eyes u did winnings w eandelabram sat ax IMpassive as + of her flashing gems. a very goddess of won, and now It was but replenisied Sat for a moment stunned and help- interest within them less, and then she resumed kleain, liswever, nl, and at a level with the compass, Can T lend to you?” atantly as she sald: Kked out into alternate spaces “No, for L have no chance of re- “Let me look at Fed And Black, hearing—one on paying. ‘Tole was my all: and it has 2 handel 1¢ to hor ent, ached the dov when ‘Tom whisp “He on your guard; that no! then turned ; “Is thts all of it? "lL thank you. T could not expect s*#ims only one-half of a clasp, ther part?" I shook my head, and she contin- . swung open the door into the darkness as 1 did 40 1 heard one quic Again she laughed ‘ou are brave, powell, and Indeed worth the win to-night, but myself violently struck uy “Tt la beautifully worked, and esama valuable. Do you wish me to buy tt?" th rd Tom rush past me crashing blow wdily lose to ‘And. deal on I with @ vengeance, Still, [ should vent ob allt 1 should like to stake it against an ss that clasp of yours 6 of my winnings on this time all the round to see the is soul put any this turn of the whe outer door, but im that ins’ see, through the open door the glare of all the candies, the fgur’ of the yellow woman atill sitting mo tioniess and calm. ou.” "Yes, let me have tt over at ono that the bank — She looked so curious, sitting there Teatd, and placed it on the red square ens into the bright daylight famonds, that I . She nodded, and bending over the into the atreet, across it y could only sit and stare, tabi, et ie painter on ite round “ haw 2 t nis time I felt quite c id cool, nd, if “Ihave seen many a desperate boy.” 41 the intoxication of play a gor I remember rightly, were unfortn- continued this extraordinary WomAn, from ine and left my nerves ateade r me when ‘sitting beside me in that very chair. [rom Ay tha teadis wwung inca tT you have @ chance, and perhaps you Al, Muny a young life have I mur- un die round, “blood and But biack is Death, and Death shall the coin should tumble out and lovers’ Nps. tore on, although not a footatep fol nee Tom struck my assallan of fortune I could ent ith of the crowd om pulled u Phe streets are wonderfully quiet,” amall pile of gold and silver at announced that I had won, » the lick has changed at “Be brave while it ely were the words out of + heard something r beating all the whil Tn answer T again placed the clasp reiulir T sit upon the number 13 stooped, and picked and somehow ipon me that she knew it too came darting across my nt-up cries orth from thirty pairs of white and thie time heavily. Tom laid his hand upon my shoulder and said “this ts strange.” “Let us go," bu k my head and went on left hand of our hostess stood a stolid ‘There was not a trace of mockery — Time after time I won now man holding a small shovel, with in her voice, and her eyes were the pile beside me became imme whispered in por by a reply, but she divined my thoughts, that we had won enough and that hick hortly hers surrounded me in nut ft. @ amall crowd and began to atake on T looked and saw a short alit ace just above the heart UP, A soverelen A clinking on to ause, but as T turned to our hostess rose above the Tom pleked and handing ved enouga i ase me while it lasted.” where T would th brought a maanet to t for Tom's hand was already on my are if t hnous pie bo, L9ib | would follow the e THE | || great serial. Renee: plece of motal In your breast pocket. Let me see it for a moment.’ We looked at it together, and there, surely enough, almost in the centre of the clasp, was a deep dent. We were silent for a minute or so, and then Tom said | “Lat us get home. Tt would not lo for us to be seen with this money about us." We eros Strand, and turned off it to the door of our lodgings | ‘There L stopped “Tom, Lam not coming tn. 1 shail take along walk and a bath to get | this fearful night out of my head | You can take the money upstairs and J put it away somewhere in hiding Stay, 1 will keep a coin or two. Take |the rest with you.” | ‘Tom looked up at the gleam of mun shine that touched the ehimney pots shove, and decided J "Well, for my bed: anit so will you, “No. F will t ek this evening, so let the fatted calf be prepared, I | must get out of this for awhile.” ure You going any whe T don't care, Up | the river, perhaps." t, Tam going to if you are wise.” ma to go with | you?” |" "No, T had rather be alone, ‘Tom T have been a fool. T led you into hole whence nothing but a marvelc chance has delivered us, and Tow: you an apology, And- Tom, Tals owe you my Hf “Not to me Jasper: to the elvap. “To you,” Elusisted, “Tom, T have heen a thouglitle 1, and ‘Tom that Was a splendid blow of your He laughed, and ran upstairs, whi 1 turned a gloomily saunte | down the deserted etreet | CHAPTER 1X, Tells an Old Story. took boat far 1 the river and for an hour that after nt lay dre on the say bank, list blackbirds’ songs and doz ing. Presently another song, so by, brought me wide awake A rl was singing * May er the dawn ws the esas of lim hone ae @ glass Me Nhe mire Aol bout the es em on hh eparkled with fire, Power af the Mai Mint of The volce quivered, trailed off and stopped. 1 heard a rustling of leaves to the right, and then th same ve y out th prose very agitated d piteous prose-—"Oh, my boat, my boat! What shall 1 do?" 1 jumped to my feet, caught a slinpse of something in white, and of tled but appealing eyes, then here, al- ready twenty yards downstream, Pluctdly floated the boat, its painter trailing from the bows, and its whole wurely but xt village eat hand hot youth behave with tdi d 1 do two sta tere down to the bank behavior potnting to a i finn resolve to visit the My own Hat when ¢ thought in a like case ninety-nine in a hundred wou I took off my coat, hoes and as the vé ed please do not trouble,” plunge the water, The refrac vat, Once on its way, Was in great hurry, and allowed Itself to be overtaken with great good hum 1 clambered tn over the sterp, caught up the seuils whieh lay across the thwarts, and, dripping but triumphant, brought my captive back to hore I thank yout 1 was red as t looked up, t must be remembered that [had te stoop to make the boat fast. If my eyes had a tendency to look again, it must be borne in mind that the wi from my hair was drip ping into them ‘They gazed for a moni and this was what they saw At first only another pair of eyes, f dark gray eyes twinkling with “ 4 touch of merriment, though full at the same of honest gratitude, 1t was some time before T clearly une those eves belonged to at face the fairest that » summer day. First, ped } » that vis uty, ft saw only an exquisite figure draped in a dress of nd filmy stuff, and ewathed around the shoulders with a downy shawl, white alas, aero which fell hing lock of way- nin the kiss Ing brown, shining of the now drooping Y Then the gaze fell lighted upon a little foot thrust slightly f ward for steadiness on the bank's verge, and there sted So, for all power T had of speech might we have stood until to-day had not the voice repente “How can T thank you T looked up, Ye » was beautt ful, past all cr n-not all, but in pose and figure en beyond words, Under the brim of her straw nt the waving hair fell loosely, but 1 fe the broad over lashes of deepest w, archin J had scarcely spoken to woman be for ver to beau Tongue-tled Iripping, [at there, yet was half inclined to run awa And yet, why did you make your self ko wet? Have you no boat? Ia that. your boat lying there under e bank? There was an amused Somehow | f lly gutity. She must have mistak ny glances, for khe went on "Ia it that you wish" ind began to sea the pocket of er gown ‘0. no." Lerted, “not that." T had forgotten ty my h raggedness of now hideously emphanized Of course she took me Why not? T looked ike @ny power of attraction, but our hoat- « giance at the woman whom I had man sow had you not carried that one. But as the thought flashed upon solemn orders not to open it until a certain date— Would you obey those orders? Perhaps you ample of the hero of a I’ you should receive a mysterious sealed box, with By W. B. M. Ferguson Next Week's Complete Novel in The Evening World. Here is a story—by the author of “Garrison’s Finish” | —that is not only alive with mystery and suspense, but which is altogether “different.” Don’t forget to read it. You can’t afford to miss this SON mo It brought unutterable humilia- tion, She must have divined some- thing of the agony in my eyes, for a tiny hand was suddenly laid on my arm and the voice said “Please forgive me; T was stupid and am so sorry. But it was odd to swim when y boat was close hand, was it no I looked, faltered, met her honest glance, and we both broke out into shy laughter, A mad desire to seize he little hand that for a moment had rexted on my arm caught hold of me. Yes, it) was odd,” 1 answered slowly and with difficulty; “but tt xeemed—the only thing to do at the time." She laughed a low laugh again. “Do you generally bel ike that?” You see, you took me by surprise.” Where were you when I first called?” she asked, : “Lying in the grass close by.” “Then’—with a vivid. bhi must have’— “Heard you singing? Yes." Why dit you not warn me that f had an audience?* “Mecause in the first place, I was too late, When you began I was"—— “What?” she asked as [ hesitated. “Asleep.” “And [ disturbed you. I am so sorry.” “ not.” 1 must go, sir 1k thanked you as far as Lean, and"—- And what?” Forgive me that LT was about to ffer you money.” The hat's brim bent now, but unde: It L could see the honest eyes full of pain ‘Forgive you!" Terted. “Who am I to forgive you? You wore right; I am no better than a beggar.” The red Ups quivered and broke into a smile; a tiny dimple appeared, vanished, and reappeared; the hat's brim nodded again, and then the eyes sparkled into laughter “A sturdy beggar, at any rate It was the poorest Ittle joke, but is not exacting of wit, Again we both laughed, but this time with more relief, and yet the embarrase- mant that followed was greater. “Must you go?" I asked, as I bent own to pull the boat in, I really must,” she answered aby- and then as she pulled out a uny watch at her watst—"Oh! I am late— so late, I shall keep mother waiting and make her lose the train. What shall 1 do? Oh, pray, sir, be quick. A mad hope coursed through me; L pointed to the boat and sald: “I have made it so wet. If you ere late, better let me row you. Where are you going?” atiey! but I cannot” —— ar am golng to Streatiey. Please let me row you; I will not speak if you wish it.” Over her face, now so beautifully agitated, swept the rarest of blushes “Oh, no, It 18 not that; but I can man. ago quite well”—her manner gave the lle to her bra words—“and I ehail not mind the wet “If T have not offended you, let m ‘No, no. Phen I have offended.” Vlease do not think so." “| shall if you will not let me row.” Before my persistency she wavered and was conquered. “But my boat?” she said. ‘I will tow it behind,” and tn the glut success of my hopes I allowed no time for further parley, dut an off for my own boat, tled the two together, and gently helped her to her eat. Was ever moment so sweet? Did ever little palm rest fo more eager hand than hers in mine during that one heavenly moment? Did ever heart beat so tumultuously ae aipe, as I pushed the boat from under the bows and began to row? Somehow, as we floated up the etill river, a hush fell upon us. She was idly trailing her hand in the stream and watching the ripple as it broke and sparkied through her fingers. Her ong lashes drooped down upon her k and veiled her eyes, while I eat drinking in her beauty and afraid by # word to break the spell Presently ee glanced up, met my burning eyes, and looked down abashed “Forgive me, I could not hetp tt.” Another sentence. ‘Then——= “BStreatley! So soon! We are in time, then.” Mumbly my heart thanked her fe those words. “So soon.” I gave her my hand to help her ashore, and, as T did ao, said: “You will forgive me?” ‘For getting wet in my service? What ip there to forgive” “You often come here?" “Oh, no! Sunday {# my holiday; I am not so idle always. But mother loves to come here on Sundays. Ab how I have neglected her to-day!” “One moment,” sald IL, hoarsely “Will you-can you—tell me your name?" “They call me Clatre,” she said “Claire,” | murmured, half to my self And yours?” she asked “Jasper—Jasper ‘Trenoweth.” “Then goodby, Mr, Jasper Treno- weth ‘and once more I thank you.” She was gone; and standing stupid and alone T watched her gracefu figure fade into the shadow and take with it the light and Joy of my life “Jasper,” said Tom, as I lounged into our wretched garret, “have you ever known what it is to suffer from the responsibility of wealth? I do not mean @ few paltry sovereigns; but do you know what it {s to live with say, three thousand four hundred and sixty-five pounds thirteen and si pence on your conselence?” No," I said; "I cannot eay that 1 have. But why that extraordinary sum?” “Recause that ts the eum which has been banging all day around me as 4 millstone, Because that ta the ex- act amount which at present makes me fear to look my fellow man tn the face.” I simply stared (To Be Continued.)