ON THE BRINK OF A CHASM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3337, 2 October 1911, Page 3

ON THE BRINK OF A CHASM.

| (By L. T. Meade, author of “A Son of Ishmael.’ ’ *etc.) A RECORD OF PLOT AND PASSION. CHAPTER LXV. TELL ME AT ONCE. : The man whipped.'up-liis horse and in ai short time the cab drew’ up at the familiar door. Barbara got out, ran up the steps, and rang the bell. The servant, who 'knew her well, opened the door. He started quite perceptibly wheni lie saw her. i “Is Mrs Pelham in?” asked Barbara. “YeSj Lady Pelham, but—” “I must see her immediately.” ‘‘l will let 'her know that you have called, Lady Pelham.” The man’s face was certainly queer. He stood in such a. position that Barbara had almost to push past him into the hall. • “Don’t keep me,” said Barbara. “I will go and see Mrs Pelham without being announced. Is she in the draw-ing-room?” “I believe so, my lady. But if you will excuse me. my lady—” Barbara did net hear, and was already half-way up the stairs. The next moment she had entered the well-known drawing-room. Mrs Pelham was seated with her back to the door, busily writing. The widow’s little figure looked alert, even the back of her head seemed full of a new resolution. Barbara went silently up to her and touched her on the arm. Mrs Pelham turned with a start. When she saw Barbara she turned white. “You, you have come here?” she said. “Yes, lam here, Mrs Pelham. Can you tell hie -where Dick is?” “But don’t you know anything, Barbara ?” said the widow. “Not yet, but I will know. Put mo out of suspense. Tell me at once.” “Barbara, I cannot. I wish you had not come. This is dreadful.” “Tell me at once, Mrs Pelham. Do you think I have no sense? Don’t you laiow that I have got both strength and courage? I am well aware that something dreadful lias happened. What is it?” “1 suppose I must tell you, but I wish someone else would. Your husband”— Mrs Pelham paused to wet her lips. They were already so dry she could scarcely bring out the words: “Yes?” said Barbara. “Your husband—Dick, has been—” ‘Yes?” “Arrested.” “Arrested l ! My husband arrested! What for? Oh, for pity’s sake tell me quickly!” “Yes, Barbara, I will—that is, I will try. I ‘know it is an awful shock for you, poor girl! Barbara, your husband, Dick, has been arrested on suspiioon of having—— “Yes, yes, on suspicion of what?” “Of having murdered I my little Piers!” „ j “Oh, Mrs Pelham, what utter nonsense!” said Barbara. The accusation was so monstrous, so unfounded, that her first feeling was one of relief. She eveni gave a strange and hollow laugh. “What nonsense!” she repeated. “Dick accused of murdering Piers! Dick, wh’o loved him! Mr* Pelham, has anyone gone mad?” “My poor child, I donlt wonder at your taking it like this. |l felt as you do at the first moment, bult it is all too, too true. I thought, of course, you must knew by this time.;’ “Tell- me more —tell me quickly. Where is Dick now?” “He was examined before ..the magistrates this morning, Barbara. I' was there—l had to be present. ITo is remanded until—until—” “I do not understand,” said Barbara. “It is so ridiculous. 1 know you are trying to tell me the most awful thing in. the world, but it is so utterly false that I cannot feel anything at all.” . : She laughed again, and her laugh. was hollow. “Just tell me the wliole story from beginning to end,” she said. -•- “I. will, dear. I ami most terribly sorry for you.” “But are you: not sorry for him? You surely do not believe it?” “Oh my poor Bargain, my poor Barbara.!”' • “I think you must have gone mad, too,” said Barbara. “Such a monstrous accusation, and yet you look solemn, as if it were true! - What lias become of. the laws of England when they accuse the most innocent mam in the world?” , /. . “Barbara, dear, I am bound to say that the circumstantial evidence is very, very grave. Oh, it has all come suddenly, and 1 had to prosecute. Yes, I know I am your enemy, Barbara.” “Then you have done this?” said Barbara, slowly. - She backed away from Mrs Pelham, her face as white as death. The. arrows were beginning now to pierce her soul. “You have done' this?” she repeated l .- ' ! - “How could I help it, Barbara? My only childl And it seems to> me to be so abundantly proved. Dick gave- him that last dose of medicine. Someone put into the 'medicine—hyocene. It is dreadful stuff—a most fatal poison. It lias been proved, or almost proved, that Dick did. it.”

“And they say that Dick gave the : medicine -with, that dreadful poison ein? it. to Piers, and you believe it—you thiiiilc he did it? Put Piers was supposed to die of heart diseased’ ‘ ‘This particular medicine would, af- - ■ m mu

. j feet the heart strongly, and the disease which, was mentioned in tho death certificate would to AH! appearance occur. It was a clever scheme. Barbara, circumstantial evidence is heavy against your husband.” • j “I know now what something Dick said, in his letter ,/this morning means,” said Barbara. T ‘The machinations of the Avickedi’ I know Avhat that expression means now.”j (To be continued to-morrow.)