THE DAUGHTER OF A PRODIGAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3224, 22 May 1911, Page 3

THE DAUGHTER OF A PRODIGAL

BY BERTHA M. CLAY, Authoress of “The Ironmaster’s

Daughter,” Etc.’ !

CHAPTER XIV.

MR- BARKER’S QUALITY

Half-an-lwur later Julian Trederoft jumped into his big automobile and drove away. From the- library window Vera saw him go, wondering at the almost joyous light in his eyes. The wind ivas blowing in savage little* gusts and the rain came pelting down. Soon the windows were blur.red, and the light grew pallid. Vera shivered. From golden warmth the weather had changed to cold and gloom in a single night. She sat down in an easy chair a nd tried to read but her mind, wandered continually! She could hear Mr Barker moving about in the adjoining study. He was whistling a melancholy refrain, and she felt aggrieved a nd irritated. Presently there came a knock on the dividing door, and the secretary pushed it open a few inches. “May I come in, Miss Hope? I beg your pardon, but I turned the knob' before I remembered that you had dispossessed me. I used to -work here until you came, then the governor banished -me to the smaller room.”

Vera looked up quickly, fancying that she detected a note of resentment in his purring voice.

“A : h, I’ve offended l you, and lam sorry. I merely wished to say that 1 am ordered off to the Exton works to check the new machinery. A lot i know about machinery ! And look at the weather. The governor’s a- queer stick. Fancy flying away in an open car in this rain and driving himself. This sort of thing happens twice every month. I suppose you have no idea where he has gone?” “Is it the correct thing to discuss one’s employer in this way?” Vera asked coolly. “Mr Trcdcroft- is such a queer chap,” fawned- Barker. -“But wait, until you’ve been here as long as I have.” Ho passed his fingers through his hair and sighed wearily. “It’s sheer waste of time and energy, this waltzing off every day. Now if I felt sure of the governor’s movements I should know -what to do. Maybe you could help me ? He pretends that lam in his confidence, but I know different.” “You are paid to do as you are told,” Vera reminded him-acidly. “If you don’t like the work you are free to resign.”

“True, but I don’t want to go away from this place.” His expressionless face lighted up for a moment. “I am very much attached to Mr Trcdcroft, and for his .own sake .1 wish; to keep a watch upon his movements.” He lowered his voice. “Miss Hope, lam afraid sometimes that he is mad. His schemes for wrecking Jabez Corston are terrible to contemplate, and to my mind amount to wholesale murder.” “Then vqu are in Mr Tredcroft’s confidence?’’ Vera’s lip curled. “Miss Hope, I should prefer to have a working understanding with you. I am positive that Mr Tredcroft is suffering from some malignant form of insanity, and I will not remain passive while you are being drawn into the maelstrom of liis influence.”

“Good gracious! Whatever are you talking about?” “I know perfectly -well what I am talking about,” he- answered serenely. “Mr Trederoft’s past is an open book to me, and his future is not hard to read.” There was a short silence. The girl’s heart seemed to be surging up into her throat.

‘Of course, I shall be bound to repeat to Mr Tredcroft all that you have said,” she spoke at last. Her voice was faint and quavering, -but - she regarded the secretary with haughty contempt. ;i “I don’t think you'ihave sunk so low,” he taunted. “A spy—a tell-tale. No, I won’t believe it.”

Vera decided to leave the library, and go to her roo-m. She- was more disturbed than she liked! to admit. Disdainfully she moved toward the door, but he intercepted her with amazing swiftness.

“Miss Hope, I beg of you ” lie pleaded; then be jauntily tossed his head, and his -lips assumed l a determined line. “This show of superb scorn,” he said, “is very well done for a lady’s companion, but you bad better drop it or you will give the game away. When you came here I was under the- impression that you and I could work together. I soon discovered that I was utterly mistaken, and my humiliation was beyond words.’’ , Vera listened, arid althought there was a sound like clashing cymbals in her. ears, she heard every word.

“You have accused Mr Tredcroft pf madness,”, she answered, ‘and I begin to fear that there are others similarly afflicted in this house.”

“I agree with you most- heartily,” be retorted. -. -<

She crimsoned with anger. ‘‘Will you permit me to pass, or must I ring for the servants?”'“No, I want you to sit down and listen to what I have to say. Eevery word is in. vouir interests. But for you I should have gone to the works, and in disobeying the commands of Mr Tredcroft I run the risk of losing touch with the prettiest bit of mystery that has ever fallen to the lot'of a Secret Service .man to solve.” For a full minute there was a tense silence. Vera, stared at Barker with dilating eyes. Then she went back to her chair and' her face cleared. She was determined to be loyal to Mr Trod-

croft. This man little dreamed> how much she knew! “Am I to understand that you are a policeman ?” slie asked, with a touch of scorn.

‘Something akin to one, Miss Hope, and when you came I was under the impression for a short while —a very short while, mind you—that you were here in the interests of someone for whom you cared.” “Oh,” she said faintly. His face was inscrutable, but she realised that behind his assumed mask of languid indifference there existed an enormous power. “I was mistaken,” lie continued, “and the problem became vexatious. Why should a beautiful young woman —highly accomplished, well-endowed, be satisfied with the life of a companion to a malicious, fault-finding old woman? The rift came soon enough, when 10, and behold the aristocratic companion, becomes confidential amanuensis to-.the most '.ruthless scoundrel in all England! The reason is not far to seek, Miss Hope.” *

There was a significance in his tone that made her start up angrily. “My patience is nearly exhausted,” 6lie flamed.

“The reason is not far to seek, Miss Hope,” he repeated. “He believes himself to 1 e in love with yon, and you are fascinated by his personality, his talk of physical affinity, and yearning and cleaving of souls. This man is a natural criminal, ‘and every instinct bristles with rascality. A forger, thief, Anarchist and murderer ! And now, for the mere sake of gratifying you, he is planning the ruin of Jabez Corston, and if the lives of a hundred innocent miners stand between him and his object he will sacrifice them without a pang. These mysterious journeys. Bah ! Some woman is the lode-star, and but for frightening the quarry before my proofs are in my hand, I would have the >Himber of Iris car and a description of the scoundrel ’phoned or telegraphed to every police station in England.” No longer was Barker listless or languid. He paced the floor with swift, elastic steps; his eyes flashed', and every feature was eloquent. All at once his man net changed, and lie'was.his placid self again. He spoke gently—swiftly. “Miss Hope, I can see that you are overwhelmed, and while satisfied that I have done a very important duty, 1 feel that I have been prefessioually indiscreet. I have broken my great' rule — never to trust a woman. ’ ’

Vera flashed qpon him a glance of disdain.

“You talk very well for a policeman, hut I don’t believe a word that you have

said. I shall lay the whole case before Mr Tredcroft,” slie replied with decision. A thoughtful smile played over his face. “I don’t think you will do anything of the kind. If I had an atom of doubt I should bring other arguments ” A knock on the door interrupted liis speech, and he glided across the room to open it. A footman was standing there, salver in hand, upon which lay a card. “I told the gentleman that Mr Tredcroft was not at home,” the servant said, “ and he asked for you.” “Mr John Tenby,” Barker read aloud. He glanced back at Vera, his face alight with malice. She was shrinking in her chair, ashy pale', and trembling. “It’s aU right,iMiss Hope,’’. Barker said, “I‘II 'keep him out of the way. I'm sure you won’t betray me to the governor now!” (To-be continued to-morrow.)