THE HEART OF A GIRL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3526, 17 May 1912, Page 3

THE HEART OF A GIRL.

BY HENRY FARMER,

Author of “The Money-Lender,” “12a, Quiltry Street/’ “Bondage,” etc. (Published by Special Arrangement.) COPYRIGHT—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CHAPTER IV. (Continued). It'was the smile of a brave heatt, trying to hide or distract attention from set teeth. And when she saw Hilary she would endeavor tp make a more real smile of it than she was doing at this present moment. The train was moving again, t She had read all tlnuje was to read in the imper. Opening her purse, she found herself counting her money mechanically, minus the sovereign borrowed by her brother Philip- It was a. miserable thing t’o have to Worry about money at such a time; hut it was impossibleyto gauge the length of her stay in Hasted, and again, as she forced herself to make calculations she recalled Michael Thorne’s sermon on the virtues of money. The man’s powerful personality had impressed itself upon her on the previous night as it had never done before. Her father was in his debt; Beryl owed her present improved position to him ; and now it looked as if Phihlip would obtain a situation in liis offices. Except herself and her mother, the family was dependent on the man, and Queenie realised that, save Beryl, who was really -worth her money—she could not keep the word “money” out of her reflections —neither her father nor her brother could either he profitable or even useful assets to such a man as Michahel Thorne. At the same time, analysing the man’s conduct, it was impossible to take exception to it. In fact, really, she ought to he grateful to him!

As well as being continually held up by the fog the train was a slow one and stopped fit several stations. It was past ten o’clock when it rolled into Hasted Junction.

Hasted, though not’ the capital county town, was quite a. big place. Queenie, not knowing where she 1 would stay the night, put her valise in the cloak-room, though it seemed almost a criminal waste of time, and then drove in a cab to the Town Hall. It was a quarter to eleven by the big clock.

Quite a. crowd had gathered outside, and Queenie attracted some attention, as she sprang from the cab. Hasted was proud of its Town Hall, a big modern affair, with many entrances’. The crowd and a couple of constables indicated the entrance to the court. Farther along, a blue lamp, white-let-tered, proclaimed the police-station to be included in the block of buildings- “ Not even standing room!” said One of the constables when Queenie demanded admission.

“But,” she said quite simply ancl directly, at the same time : surreptitiously opening her purse, “I’m Mr Stamnore’s fiancee !” The constable shook liis head. “I’m sorry, miss, but ”

She slipped half-a-crown into his hand, a trick of her brain recalling Michael Thorne’s words on the power of money. ,

“Well, I’ll see what I can do, though I won’t promise. Come along with me, miss!” The constable led the way along a corridor and paused at a massive oa'k door. He pulled it open. The constable- who should have been outside bad slipped within. Queenie could see nothing hut a human wall of men’s backs.

“A young lady,” whispered the constable to liis fellow. “Mr Stanmore’s young lady, in fact!” He winked. The other constable stepped out. “I’m afriad I should lie exceeding my dooty, miss—same time—” His right hand assumed a convenient attitude. The other constable looked into vacancy as Queenie again had recourse to her purse-

It is the excepiio:fii that proves the rule. The. Hasted police were a somewhat corrupt lot.

“This way, miss! I’ll do my. best for you !” She followed the man in; the mas-j sive door closed behind her. She was! in one of the entrances to the court| Her view' was blocked by men, policcf and others, wedged tightly in front oil her. She rose on tiptoe. There' were three magistrates on the raised bench. Then she caught a, glimpse, of the man she loved,' standing in the dock, a constable Beside it. He was looking very white and dark-rimmed about the eyes, liis attention seeming to he concentrated on am elderly woman who had just finished saying something in the witness-box. Queenie rose higher on her toes and put her hands on the shoulders of men, in front of-her. She wanted him to see her, know that she was there—mot white-faced and trembling, hut smiling and confident, and utterly disbelieving the charge, regarding it as ridiculous. She' must not depress, but encourage him., “Would you mind ”

The man in front, one of the men whose shoulder she had used as a support, turned, ' He was keenly interested, hut something about her expression affected him.

‘‘Stand in front of mo!” lio whispered, and gave placo to her. She could see.better now. The witness-box was empty. Hilary had altered his position, was leaning his 'elbows on the ledge of the dock. -But he would not look her nay she wanted to call to him or wave, /but such conduct might entail hei& removal from court. A name was called out; a man in a blue-serge suit entered the witnessbox, took the oath, and informed the Bench that he was Detective-sergeant Gummer.

After having explained how lie had, been summoned to the bank premises, ' and described the condition of the dining-room in which the alleged outrage was supposed to , have taken place, ho stated that in company with Inspectors Fostick and Travers ho had interviewed Mr. Stan more, who had made a statement after having been cautioned. Then lie read the prisoner’s statement. ‘‘On the night of the 17th I told my housekeeper, Mrs Horton, that she could go to bed. That was about ten o’clock. At the time I was writing a letter. It was, a. long letter, and I broke off in the middle of it to take my usual last look round the hank premises for the night. I returned to the dining-room, satisfied that all was secure, and was continuing with my letter, when I heard a knock on th front door. There is a knocker as well as a hell. When I opened the door I recognised the man outside as my half-brother, a man named Roy Standard, though I had not seen him for several years. In fact, I had heard that lie died in San Francisco. More than once, before his disappearance, I had helped him. He told me that ho had only just returned to England, that he was penniless practically, and had tramped most of the way to Hasted, where he heard 1 was, in the hope of obtaining assistance. I asked him into the- din-ing-rdom, and as he was looking ill got out whisky and soda for him. I mixed him a drink and one for myself. I remember leaving him for a moment to get a spare pipe for him, and I assert that he must have drugged my drink. On mv return, he proceeded to tell me a long story. I became drowsy, but it was late, and I had had a hard day’s work. The suspicion of foul play came to me too late. I can remember making an effort to rise from my chair, go for Roy Stannard, and shout; then everything became blank. When I recovered somewhat, I realised that I was gagged and hound, and feeling weak and ill; but iny first clear recollection is of Mrs Horton bending over me. After she had released me and given me brandy, I realised that the ban!: keys had been taken from my pocket, and I tried to get to the strong-room, but I fainted again.” Then Detective-sergeant Gummer described having found a finger-print, the print of an ink-stained finger, on the strong-room door. He had also found a piece of blotting-paper in the dining-room with a similar fingerprint corresponding t 6 the prisoner’s, which iiad been taken. When he had asked the prisoner to account for the finger-print, the latter stated that the fountain pen with which he was writing on the night of the/robbery leaked, and that when lie took his last look-round he must have tested the strong-room door from sheer force of habit. Ho could remember having inked his fingers while writing, and drying them on the blotting paper. The prisoner, stated Gummer, had furnished him with a description of Roy Stannard, which was being circulated throughout the United Kingdom, but so far the police had failed to obtain any evidence of anyone answering the description having been seen in Hasted. Active inquiries, however, were still being made. In answer t-o a question from one of the magistrates, the detective stated that the strong-room lock was a combination one, and that the possession of the key was not in itself sufficient to open it. (To be continued daily.)