MORNING, .: MAY 8. 1911 ; J ; 4' 1 ijyni , . (f ME-. TALE .;f Mf J V " '. , .';' l&inttlthCtMb'ir Tbw'Korta 'Aiiarlca. Conpaiiy r THE! OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY, ii. . i - w iLi rll. V rll-H r i ' i . SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING INSTALLMENTS --a m a UK V. ,4 ITIwm rafara to a nart f Cnallah collaels I .r.4ui.r ho av kani tin Ihtlr tulnt friend- X hip by aa annual dinner, wblca wmi hav, from It urn, f t th laat anquot. which to attend by th el achent. Ian Juds. h h ebtin a legacy of twntj da. f puHl what I do wlih It. 4. h fellow, an Indian , . . M. A ... Bill f 1 1 . i-.n.a .ari. ur. taliie fnvereblf a propaaal la found a Tontln. eh ''!' ala present t eeatrlbui a Ilk amount. Th tlre jim, ana hundred aa rnty thouaand pound, la to to to la a tar a daal t dlaruaaloa. In, propoaal I arad eon. thews th wlar haa da ar noi very favorably aipo,a toward It. On of them a eeuntry gentleman of aon too rllllant lniill. and already In debt, ha lo mortfaf hi Mial lo th -limit to raw nia nar. . It thn develop tht Rrlnald raraferlh. a fahloahl JtUvmy, who hat marrlad an trvgani woman, la In SIX rultlr. and dtM'Idr that h niait b th' lt of th g!i to " b loft all. Not long afiarward. ("land Uvrdg, who pronnaad ih Tonilna, die l a mailing f lh Six. whll 1 Carnforth wife ha barn rhaparnnlng a auppur party. Cam posed malaly of Ih children of lrn Wlntleehm Colonel V,tnhry and Gurdon who ar alao In tha Toniln. Nnl Wrirr t'halmrra u mniorboallng with Carnforth. and la murder: and cam overboard, carnforth alnk iha boat, and declare, bn h awlma t land, thtt It ha blown up- (CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY) CHAPTER XII (Continued) OU couldn't do anything is," (ltd Qurdon in hit bavy, plethoric e I e t. "Tou couldn't htvt don any rood by glaring." "No," chimed In Win nie, "and. thank Ood, you weren't arownd. too." "If you had found Pater," aald Vam, qultly. "I doubt If you could hava brought him all tn way. H couldn't swim, and you would probably both hava been drowned." Reggie nodded gravely, "tea," ha aald. "It waa touch and go aa It waa. I waa jolly glad f gaufrrel help. In fact I don't know hoar I would hava landed without It. Give ma a drink. Winnie.'' . ha added huaklly, "I'm til to piecea" "hoot old till p, of court you are," aald tb aympathatlo pear, mixing him atlff peg and carrying It ever ta tba couch. "It a enough to ahaka any em erv. -I think Til make drlnki all round." . And, returning to th table, be suited th action t th word,,. ; "Ana wnat aoout in ooayi uked Vam, quietly. jig thr any chute of recovering Itr !. "It may be waihed up on the rocka at th far aid lef th bay." answered Carnforthi "but I doubt It. Bodies hava bet wished up there before, bat I'm frald that ft is mora likely that th currents will arry It Out into tha channel. But I can't aay for .-certain." ' '"' ' Juat aa h finished speaking, thera wit a iltti Up 'on th door, and Lady Guendolin. In black, cam . softly Into th room. , 'rf "I'v oom to send you all away," she said quietly. .' :-' "a I think Beggl haa been talking quit long enough. -.frrDon't your -: .t . Th thre men rose at one. t; Quit right. Lady Ouendolen," said Vam; and he 'walked over to Reggi to aay good-night, taking his '. :" hand and pressing; it warmly. "Poor old Reggie." he " ; -sild, half under his breath. :r - Th other two followed hi eximple, and th three . --left th room togthr. Carnforth held out his arms to hi wife as soon "as they war alone, with his most winning smlls; and he went over to him and knelt besld him, tier eye 41m with tears. , H took her in his arms and kiaaed her passionately, jklaalng her hair, her ryea and. laat of all, her hps. . : Then h became conscloua that ahe was crying, i u sobbing a-reat aobs that shook her whole) body. . Uy, dr"PI(' my aweet. my angel," ha murmurad .'tenderly, in hia big, loving- way r " ;, "Thank God. oh, thank God, you are left to me, r: fr. she aald In a choked voice, amtllng through I , ' .her tears. "I I couldn't have done without you. Tou t , - don t know how much you are to me, my great big, ., atrong huaband." i , Vfcfc A Tump cam into Carnforth' throat; and h kissed I v , ter paaaionately again and again. ' 1 J: "HOW ,AAi1 iha, vmi Ir.ti. m a 1. . . tl ... - ' V . ta i.iT . ntn, na aaia - -V " i'Tr "vm " " an lay. sod Ding j and rahtlng. In hla arma. t - '. ?--poor' poor RK'. hat an awful blow to Siumei?ow f0u mu,t hv 'U.it." ah aald, growing '":" "You make up to me for everything, my dirlln;" , ; he aald in a vole fun of ain.rftu !. V:W coiVn'? XS fck hr-aitaln. a.fe and .ounU ' f-I ixt MttlflB t ha.e lived without you. dear" aha In f tona ao rich with tendnrnea and -motion - hl.fiardlr. oanized It; but It thrilled his Whol bdy, filling It with the Joy of llf and maklna hii nteart leap with pride and delight. waning nil - in'Th', WW. th Uckln ot trandn.?. Then sn roa to her feet, practical arain , , . ,i "kow must go and e if your bed T r nlirht Th.. t t you packed off for th night. Then I iniiat 22 nd say. good-night to the othera. ' Thev .a . i ng In the morning." ""' CHAPTER XIII A New Factor in the Situation COLONEL, VAMBERY was never in earlv m. . th morning, and. above all. he n.t.hu'rrVm1? or blng worried bafore breakfwt. Since he had retired from the service, he had reaolutelv re- ;,leU7 JrfM1Bh, to hi room and nev,r ' fS!d.nH T.fI; h? h"d flnlhed his breakfast In i peace and comfort. His tea was broua-ht to him at . ' ' ' ?.n.dhhn S i .'mab:d ln w' own Peculiar lS.urely -r fashion, while his man prepared his bath and laid out his c othea. Then he got up and slipped on a war in alls: ; dress! n gown, preparatory to being shaved AHoeether , the colonel devoted a ull hour to hlj tolfet which allowed 4 Jh-TwarfJrTr rdtr nrt "Ml"" contro Vver the warring forcea at work in th svstam nt a man k would but for force of characte" l.av been a neurotia Invalid. And it waa to thl ,!, V,;., ?J . ,w "f.0"0 i',.' JWa leisurely atart to the day, that he aacrlbed his power to maintain he itnrnfflaH i .""'" y"yr v th utr woVld. a-wya exposeo to ;V tilght' f ., xn "-- gild, returning ' aleep welir caress affectionately. "Did you T ' ' . fpl,ft,ld,J,:uth?nki you- dcar' he answered as ha rat down to th table, "and in consequence I almoin ;;' tael aa though I could eat some breakfast " 'mo"t K;-r It Jff a (ortnla-ht since Jack and he had returned iirora Hinton Magna on the day after the traedv li Carnforth had foreshsdowed, the body of Ptr rh.i . vu.- .. w ' ou, LflUUKn th htAW . vi imvwM 9vv v.av, iibu ifiuinta ita course ono more. Ul'' , a- ,'-Tbat aouno promising," aald Jack, pourlnr out ... hl tea, "and I've put all your horrid letters in vour W-rlttng? table, so that they cannot worry you " r Ur -Thoughtful little girl," said her father lookin. ; .across the table lovingly at her. -You do yo.rbe U spoil me." "t And then; according to his custom, he opened tha '.Morning poat and propped It up beside him. readin! out loud the headings and anything of interest which caught hla eye. Breakfast In Raton place w'as alwav. ' devoted to uutslde topics and current event and r iwhlie It helped Colonel Vambery to . compos his' nerv' f-. '","n tor th wear and tsar 'of the day jack - looked upon It as one of the moat Interesting featuraa of her life. Nothing, ah felt, had contributed so much ' her real education, th education' acquired after h spadework of schooldays, as the talk with hr i father, who explained everything ao Intelligibly .nd offered hr view and. criticism on men and matters in i;v;-v.f csrnrortn noaaed - .' "Thank vnu. ilr " h miA .....r..t- .... t ,V, th room to her as aha went o i nt ii,. a'Z. "cross pounn. j n Diuernes or me tnougnt appalled mm, ana .V. ; Theni aa it closed behind ha thad.Vi groaned aloud, losing hla usual self .control. Curse the t w. taded g vlng wiy thrMlna or 1,.!".? rr'(,u,1,' Tontine.' He hgd entered Into it lightly, aa a matfer f i V," "she le worth anythli sSvlhin. " V 'c- hardly affecting her Intereeta at all; and now It meant I? i t himself. "What can any one o? anryth?r?wml,.rmur,1 ,f,r "0,hln . hr- Why hsd he been Such a fool I ,f -tert I would rather die Uian lo? lir ? tLM mat- ' 10 hp .nr p"rty ,0 '5' t2'.,n,T But 11 w4 to0 f . cnlnion." AtT or br good now. and It waa no good whining over the Inevitable. r waa i excellent apints aner an unusually rood , sleep, and he kissed Jack warmly a. he ent.rSI Dreaaiaai room in th coxy little house In Eaton nlaea "HOW fit you look this morning T" P.'0 ii as kla r : i S "It seemed aa though the Tontine had t . Such a manner that .they wr i easily assimilated. And in till way not only was her Intelligence and power of thought developed, but sh had acquired by degree the reputation of being well read and equipped to talk Interestingly on all the topics of ih dsy. Break fiat over, Colonel Vambery turned reluctantly to hla correspondence, opening th letters on by on. On tola particular morning, there waa an invita tion or two.. couple of unimportant bill, .a buaineeS Istter of llttl Importance and a big, blue parchment envelope, which he left to the last. "Carter and Inglls," he said to himself as he slit It open "something about Jack's affairs." He took It out and read it, and at he did eo his face grew suddenly drawn and almost haggard, and he bit his Hps Sharply, showing unuaual emotion. "Good God!" he exclaimed, aurprlaed out of him It If, "it can't bs true!" Then he read it over again alowly. "Dear Colonel Vambery (It rati). "I hardly know how to write to you. I hav Juat received a shock which haa almoat paralysed my power of thought, and I am at my wit's end. Mr. Inglls want Sway early In September to Germany for his summer holiday, and did not return a fortnight ago, a arranged, nor have I heard a word from him. Yeater day, before replying to a letter, 1 had to make certain investigation, which showed me at one that aome thin waa radically wrong. 1, therefore. Immediately called in a chartered accountant and went Into every thing thoroughly. To my horror w found that during my lllnegg tlilg summer and my three months' absence from the firm, my partner had emhesxled and disap peared with fund amounting to Cloae on two bun died thousand pounds, Including the ninety-three thou sand pound held In trust for your daughter. To x preas sorrow would be futile. I myself am a ruined and diaaraced man, through no fauH of-nrj-' owri; t shall "be glad if you will e me aa soon aa possible and go Into tne matter, but I fear all la tost. Yours In great distress, "GRAHAM fJARTFB. "P. 8. --We have no Idea of Inglla' whereabouts st all. Probably by now he la In the Btatea or Australia." folonei Vambr-ry bit right through his after-breakfast cigarette, threw It away, and lighted another, atrlk Ing the match almost savagely. Then bn began to think the matter out In all its hearings. Jsrk was ruined, prsctlraliy ruined. All her money inherited from her mother, which he had looked upon to provide for her future when he had gone, had been swallowed up i one guip, ana mere was noinmg leu ror ner except his chance in th Tontine and about eight thousand It waa no b It only meant that now. Instead o rmrdlnr it . lessly. he would be eger to win th Tontine for Jack's sake-eager, In a word, to see his oldest and derest friends die off on by on to provide for her. Th thought waa terrible, degrading, disgusting but He got up from hi chair and began to pace the room agitatedly. It eemed as though th Tontine had brought a curse with it from its Inception. First, poor ctfd Mver. and then Peter, and now Jack' for tune was swallowed up, and her future depended on It And. therefore, he must go on with this hellish gamble In live relentlessly and without remorse for her sake Uood God I the i thought sickened every instinct of decency In his body. Weil. Mr Hi Of Sll he must see RasreMe. anA mil T..u. fthy hadn t he done so long ago? carter and Inglls naa peen his fatber-ln-law's solid tor snd his wife's, and It would hav beem lm. "wi. do0l,,,rJ,t.h.0,,Vbe,rnlrtK'vl""ls,,l8 x3rhm .J AlllnI-l-J?venthin wou,d hv b Li1!? A.h'fSlh w.here now. for a piece of u,gw,,,,,i ,i,ueii, or wnatever it might be called, it waa all lost, every penny of it. His thoughts were suddenly Interrupted by the un-' announced entrance of Cyril Ourdon, and with a hia? effort Colonel Vambery pulled himself together "Hallo., Squirrel, where did you spring from?" he said in a level voice. "Home, sir," h.o.i... i w.nrf r..iv,ri.,f .a.rir. HniwsrM fvni mrnmntiv ,t - - - "I me that you were in her7" ' ,ojr lu . - iu ,ci ivu, ant e A Ua. a I .a "Well, what do you want to see me about?" asked the other man, nof unkindly, divining at once what n wanted. 1 "Weil, sir. It was Jack who cent me to you " went on Cyril with a little smile, plunging boldfv into T hi hi'rt 'i..,hins'!: "and ""ured me that you were always kind where her wishes oT.rZ.A n?V. . truth Is that down at Uncle Reggie's we saw a good dea,J..J each. other, and we came to the conclusion that "," WBne"?c" oiner ana tnat it was no good pre- tending we d dn't, I took your advice, sir. ha .Ton- ' tlnued hurriedly, before the colonel could speak "and i staia ngnt away irom Jack. For thr whoia months I never saw or gpoke or Wrot to hef; but It only a?ot worse. 1 tried to sow my wild oats, but 1 really bsdn't got the heart or the Inclination to. Tou mustn't think ma fool or a milksop, but I couldn't look at any one but Jack Will you give her to me when when I'm in a position to keep her?" .. Cyril paused, out of breath. He did not remember ever having made such a long speech, and he was re lieved that It waa over. Colonel Vambery did not reply for a moment. He was In many waya far from displeased; -and. in addition to hia fondness for Cyril ha jlked the straightforward, manly tone of his request.' "My dear boy?' he said at laat, "there 1m nothing I ahouid like better In many ways, but but I don't know that it will ver be possible. Can you keen a sec ret If I take you Into my confidence?" Cyril's face fellfis he nodded7 gravely, "Well, only this very morn Ing I received s letter to sty that, .on of the partnerg In a big firm of solicitors haa bolted with some two brought a curw with it from its Inception." hundred thousand pounds, which Includes the whole el Jack's own fortune. Mine, with the exception of a very few thousands, Is la well, tied up In such a way that I cannot will it as I would like, and it may never come to Jack, so sh will, in all probability, be practically penniless." Colonel Vambery bit his Hp sharply to keep back any algn of his feelings. "I don t want Jaqk a money," said CyrlJ qultly. " want Jack." "Tea, I know that, my dear boy; I know that wall enough, but no on can live without money. Witham Regis, your father telle me, Is heavily Involved, ad to clear It you muat marry money. That la where money becomes a necessity. Tou haven't the money, and never will have, to keep a wife; and Jack haa not got the money now to do her share." ' Cyril frowned sharply. It was cold comfort to a man in love, to a boy In the first Impetuous ardor of his life's great passion. "Things can't bs aa bad as you say, sir," be said, clutching at a straw. "Th future may " "Yes, ys," brok In Colonel Vambery, "th futur may prove brighter than the present. You and Jack muat wait and see you muat wait and . If things hsd been otherwise, I would gladly hav aald yea." Then he laid an encouraging hand on Cyril's shoulder. 'You hav my best wish, my dear boy. You can't imagine what this blow is to me. But run along now. as I have to go out on bualneaa. You may come and eae Jack tomorrow when I hav told her all; but at present I see little hope. Ooodby, squirrel: I know you'll be a man and play the game, whatever happens." "Thank you, air.'r aald Cyril warmly, returning the preaaure of hla hand. "I'll play the giftn." And without another word he left th room with a Queer Jook of determination, on hi fac.- - - CHAPTER XIV Love 'and Law AFTRR Cyi for a tt thinking FT BR Cyril had gone, Colonel Vambery sat still few mlnutesr" smoking a cigarette and herd. At laat hs rang th hU with a touch of decision. 'Ask Miss Vambery to speak to m a minuU," he Slid to the man, when h appeared; and he lit another cigarette In preparation for Jack arrival. A minute later ah entered th room with a happy, confident smile. "What ia It you want, daddy dear?" ah ajked. Idea Ing him aa ahe sat down beside him. "I'm sfrald I hav bad news for you. my darling," he said gravely; and then he paused for a moment. Jacqueline looked up at him anxiously, but did not speak. Her silence pleased him. It waa a testimonial to his training, and he was delighted to ae her preparing herself without protest or flinching -for whatever it might be. "Yes," he went on quietly, but in a vole whloh be trayed the depth of his feelings to her quick ear, "It is very bad news about imoney matters." "Is that all?" exclaimed Ui girl quickly, apparently relieved. Colonel "Vambery , noted her remark mentally, hut went straight on. - , "Under your mother's marriage settlement thr wa the sum of close on a hundred. thousand pounds left In trust for you, This, morning I have received a letter from Mr.' Carter, of Carter ami Inglla, th solicitors, to the whola of it. and a lot more ol ten me tnat nia scounaret or a partner nas noiteo-witn besides. Whether any of it can be saved from th wrack 01 outer peopis s money Reggie about It at once. It Tg my rittle eapiUI Is so tied Up i pose of a few thousands of It remains to be seen, and l am going 10 consult unci a a tern me thai T am A l a tern me mow o me, a that 1 am only free to dls- nose of a few thouaand of It at my death exceot under f It at my death except under certain contingencies; and it is gall and bitterness to m to think that you, who were so wen provided (or, may be without proper dowry or provision a my death," "Poor old daddy,'r Said Jack softly, rising and putting her arm round him. "Don't don't worry about me. Jl'ra sure to be all right, and U pains m So to ee how you feel it." The colonel pressed her closely to him as he went on. ."If things are as bad as they seem, it will make art immediate difference to us in lota of ways, aa th us of the money was mlne'for life, and goes largely to keep up this house, the horses and everything else; but that Is a minor point. It Is the future which is troubling m." There was silence for a minute JSek felt bewildered at the euddenne of the blow, but did. not comprehend it fully. To her, so far in life, money had been merely counters, easily obtained and meant to be ppent. Sh had never known the want or it, ana consequently ji4 never wanted it; and she could not express an opinion without thin klna- It over carefully, " Ther i u IZth-r side to the oueaUod.'f continued her father,4ylng her very cloiy.."X hav just had a visit from .Cyril" hr oulcfc blush told him all he desired to know "ana ne asxea me ii t naa any oujecuun i ma mar but nice, clean, sound Englishman, a good sportsman and a gentleman hi etry sens of th wprd, and. Ills father and 1 sre the Oldeet friend in the World, ; But" here Colonel Vambery's votes fell, and he hesitated a second "bat h must marry moriey-. M has no money to keep a wife. Wlthsm Hegls Is heavily Involved,-1 know f and if CyHt . doean t marry money well, the place will have to be sold, and there won't btnuch left out of thtngs for him. Dear, you know I would do anything In the world for; roil, but Whet csn I HO or say tmar tne circumstance r wis perfectly frank with Squirrel and told him all I s perfectly fn told vou. and have told you, and I added that ther con id ft no que- v tlnn at anv anaaerrtnt betwaear you-at presen ii, at any rate. We must wait and how thing turnout Is rying you jn due coursa if you were agreDj.- -, "Well?' ashed jack witn a little eaten m ner prcata, without looking ur as her father went on, . "Thera. is no one I am fonder of than Cyril. He'l at tha meantime. I told him h might coma and ae you tomorrow, if b liked. X couldn't da more " ' Jack did not speak for a minute, fih could not trust her voice. , "You ar a dear, good old daddy," ah aald at last, -in a tiuaky llttl whlaper, "and I'll try Jo b good, too. I I wouldn't do anything to harm Squlrr-l; but I may . hep, -mayn't l,, , J..,:-: . --1 , . ; ' -; And, throwing her arma round big neck and kissing . him hurriedly, ah ran out of 4h room , without waiting ; for Ms answer. -, ', 5 , , ' ",:,', "Poor little girl,'' h murmured to hlmaelf. suppress j ing a lump in bis 'own throat. "sh's a good plucksd 'un, it vr fhra waa on." . ; ' . And for 4 few'minutes he sat with his fac buried In ; his hands, too ngroasd even to amok a clgarett, ' . Half an hour liter' he waa driving In, hanam to Cimforih s offlce, eager to ee him ks th on man who ' could help tf anything could be don. . H found Reggl In., but h bad to kick hla he Is Impitlently In th bandsom wilting room whll h dig. posed of a ooupl pf clients who were walttnf. To ' table was littered with tha dailies and (lluatfated papers; ' but Colonel Vambery, though, outwardly cool and aeif posssed as ever, was In no mood to read. ' . At last, ftr half in hour's waiting, which seemed1 i Ilk A week in hia impatience, be was shown Into Reggie ! . ,ntpii ,vuh t. Hikti, w,.i ia viu uiiuiui, ,uii;4( varpvi and easy .chairs, bad very llttl f th conventional offlc appearance about it. It waa on of Carnforth fads to bav bil own sanctum Ilk aa ordinary library, and to transact hla business with cheats aa far aa poealbl on friendly Mnes. Beajdea, luxury round him was esaential to th sensual Instincts of his nature; and ha hated bard chairs, ugly furniture and UnoUUrn with ail hi heart and soul. ' "8o sorry to keep you waiting, old chip," ho x ' claimed, advancing to meet Vambery with his Mgiharfd extended In welcome, "but I had a coup! of Important peopl her by tap pointmvnt, whom I bad to e. What can I do for you f" H pointed to an armcnalr facing his own, And pushed a sliver box of cigarettes In th colonel' direction. "If a very serious matter, I'm afraid, my 6ar Reggie." said vain, lighting a cigarette and Inhaling a large puff. "Carter writes me that hla- partner, Inglla, baa bolted with cloae on two hundred thouaand pound. Including th whol of my little Jack's fortune." Reggie whistled. It felt a queer little nervoug clutch at his heart. "Th damned scoundrel!" he exclaimed gharpit. "But perhipa thing ar not aa bad aa they seem. Tell m ail about It" J X '- i w. "'Tliank God, oh, thank God, you are left Vam showed : him the letter he had received from Carter, atd went Over the whole affair step by step, Reggie following every word closely and nodding all the timd. It was 4 llttl. trick of his when thinking closely. "It looks bad he said, as the other concluded, "but I can't eipress a proper opinion till I have seen Carter. I'll interview him at once and advise you before you see him.. ." . Tin personally' very sorry for .poor Carter,' said Vam generously. "Bo am f, on th fac of it," agreed Carnforth? "but if th worst of a partnership,, you take over the re-' aponslbllity of another man's sing as welt as his sine cures. I have always hated the Idea of th responsi bility of a partner. But In the- present eas It . Is you I'm worrUd about. I'm awfully sorry for you, eld chap," Tie concluded sympathetically. The colonel shrugged his shoulders. "It's Jack I am worried about myself, Nothifia-'l had enough for a solicitor who betrays his clients confidence and mbxale their money. He ought to be shot The constant reveltlone, one ori top of the other, will make th public devilish ahy ot solicitor all round that's my opTnion.r - . . While he wa Speaking Beggl found himself flush ing undsr th unconscious caatlgation, and rose from . hla chair on th pretense of looking lor matches. . "I quite agree with you, my dear Vam," h ald, with his back turned to him.- , , "I wish, t4 heaven I had bad th power to nut the whol affair into your hinds year ago, Reggie,'' went dn the othr bitterly. "Then. I could have been sure that it wobld all right" M ' . . '4 . ? "I wish you bad," answered Carnforth heartily, re suming his, seat. . . ; . . "Now, a it is. I shall-hot hav enough to leave . Jack, depently off. In fact, she will be practically pniilsA unless unless-wejl, I happen to win th . Heaatle turned to him with hi most cbarmiiie smile gnd patted him encouragingly on the back , with a big, sympathetic hand. . "Jack is my goddaughter, old .chap," he said gently, "and a tipeolaf favorite of mine, Younay trust me to ' do my best for her, whatever haprra, so don't worry ' too much on that head. I have no children lit my' own, and that makes It all1 the carter. " , - ; ' ; The, colonel grasped hi hand warmly 'without , woro, ana tor a moment neitner spoK. -- Then Vam broke the silence. . "Any word of poor old Peter's body?" h asked. i Keftgl shook nl head sadly. . . .. "No, and I'm afraid there's no earthly chance now. It would have been washed up long egoif it war going to ne." Then he added, as th e coioner ros -to to Witham Heal go, "w in way. i m gowg aewn t 111 lllf "Vir" i vv , wv- - - ii at fllL week. jot ti daya to ahoot-wlth-th 14 lokai,' CHAPTER XV : . . AnNUncxpected Development,' XRNFORTH af still in hi chair forborne tlm after, Colonel Vambery; bad left him, chawinj th nd of hi clga and. thinking. , " Th (allure of a well-known Arm like Cart -and Inglts for a larg amount had com 4 a grea, . ahock to' Mm, aa b knew It would m'ekn that a lot c , paopl. would overhaul thelr-affalr ffora an Infectlou nee of ' narvoueneia, and look into i things mor Tloiely. for d while at any rata. It waa a aerfous blo to tn prestig of solicitors In general, . and woulJ rv to remind th uniuspactlng publlo hew far the i wr at th marvy of an uoicfubuloua. ittofney: and he realiied. that t him hlmaelf, is things stood, I might prove a a;rat source of aaalety and .danger. H knsw.hls publlo so wU and played tbm so tactfull: that In th ordinary way be felt that he hkd but llttl to fear from ever being prad, or vn Mnconven lently queatloned. vBut, pa the other hand, knowing ..bis publlo as wsll aa he did, he waa awere that tb publicity which would be given to the large failure o Carter and Inglls would be sure to unnerve certain even Of hla Own clients who read about It-eipeciall) women, who would be anxloue to have everythlm examined to reassure themselves. It was a altuatlot be bad not counted upon at the minute, hut one foj which he must prepare himself.' Therj he rang the bell for his typist, and dictated a personal Utter to Mr. Carter, .Informing him that hla . client, Colonel Vambery, had placed hie Interests In hi hands, and that b would call upon him th aet morn ing at eleven, If convenient when he would be glad II Mr. Carter would have ill the necessary-papers ready; and as he dictated the letter, h ami Jed grimly to him self. JJI best Jin of self-protection is to he active in tb pursuit of others. He wished 1 his heart that the ' Carter and Inglla failure had not taken place at all, or at lent bad- been postponed a few month, aa ono again he felt that hla hand waa being forced; but aa .matteta Stood. he muat what capital he could make out of 1U It was the AfSt point of his policy In life. In hla philoso phy of logical materialism, to make capital out of every-l thing, and In the most charming manner poaalbls to turn! everything eofely t hia own advantage. As It was, th Vmbry marriage aettlement occupied I a conalderable amount of hi tlm during th nest few! days, and he began to aee a poaslblllty of saving a cr- tain amount out or th wreckage from Investment whlchl Inglla had not been able to, or would not be able to, realise; but It waa only a email part of th whol. Meanwhile, to each of hla client, a he aw them, he dilated upon th Iniquity of th Canter and Inglla fail ure, and explained the leading "part he waa taking in th matter. Carter, he pointed out. would probably hava to bear tb brunt of criminal proceeding: but he would undoubtedly xet off. All th fault lay with tb abscond ing Inglla. and he personally was vary orry for Carter I nimaeii; oui n pnvwaa wiv iuiij vi u uiuni m partner. )o with a few tactful phrases h ent eaoh on away, relying more Implicitly than ever upon him a a confi dential financial advlaer and Impreaeed by hia probity and high moral standard. But dangsr cam from a totally unexpected quarter in me ena. A week later he waa aittlng In hi room at th office. when a card was brought to him. On It was the name I of "Mr. Andrew Batrd." and In the corner. "Measra Hla browa met In a sharp, pusslsd frown. The name 4 to me, dear I' the Mid in choked voice," of the firm waa familiar, to him. They wer Bcotok solicitors in a big way, who had tha reputation of being very smart. But he could not flic 'Mr. Balrd'a business with himself or connect it with anything In particular. "Aik Mr. fiaird to be good enough to 1st me know What his business Is," he Slid to the office bo; and he spent th Interval until hie return trying to think what could have brought him. The boy. brought back a not marked "Prlvat." and lnsi(l weralh word "The Macandrew Trust, Instructed uf rirm. iviacanarew. . 'srnforth started Then he recovered himself. "gJiow Mr. Balrd in in flv minutes' time," he said, as he dismissed the boy, He set his teeth with a snap as th door closed, and hie flee assumed It ugliest expression. Suddenly and unexpectedly, for the first time sine the commencement of hi systematic scheme of embesslement,, h found h mself face to face with rsal danger, and pitted against him was on-f tha smartest Arms In town, who had th nam of driving a very hard bargain for their clients. He was taken aback for the moment by th absolute unexpectedness of th source of th danger. "m. Mf"-. Macandrew wa a widow of aeventy year of age, living in a ddur, gray castle in th Highland; and he was the Sol trustee of her Interest under her hus- -J"'.. u,, vywaiu ui vweniy jvais nm lamer, ana lj after hjm, had administered her affairs, writing her quarterly and sending her dividends. These she hud alwaysacknowledged with a letter of thanks, expressing her extreme sense of. bbllo-atlon to them. Kn hpriV 1 was po woman of business, and for nearly ten years she had not been south, The consequence was that from complete sense of security he had drawn heavily upon her estate until there was very little Of It left. In itself 1 ,"J' matter qr some thirty thousand pounds; but he did .not for the life of him see where or how he was going io replace it-at the minuie. battle sbranjr into his eyes. ''.Aa .Mr... Balrd 'entered, he rose and greeted him yith his most charming smile, extending hlsOiand .Ttrdiaily. 'Qlad , to malt your acquaintance, Mr, Balrd," h - Said, motioning him Into a chair. "Needless to sav you are well known to aie by name.!' "And you better still to me, Mr. Carnforth." said the Scotch lawyer, determined not tob outdone in , cpurty. He wa rmin of Just ovr to, ' with a closely trimmed arav beard and- a aharo nale nt hi.i -'eyes, which missed very little. Then ther wa a slight paus whll the two men eyed each other; and Carnforth had an unpleasant feeling that he wa beinsr ubjctd, to a keen analysis by a neman 'worthy of hi steel. But not for a single second did his mil rtlax, or any sign of his inward .- feeling show Itself. . , . . " - (CONTINUED HKXT-1ntVAn ' ' ' rii L I . to bear tb brunt of criminal proceeding : but h would :