MORNING, .: MAY 8. 1911
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ijyni , . (f ME-. TALE .;f Mf J
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" '. , .';' l&inttlthCtMb'ir Tbw'Korta 'Aiiarlca. Conpaiiy r
THE! OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY,
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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
: