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Home My WebLink AboutExeter Advocate, 1908-11-19, Page 7 (2)his father, WAR about to speak, but his hanOlci 'hi* h6art FOr"Aeitr -Or trio after hia trea elianged his mind and. loft the lib- - sonrhe *had lived in dread offth . rary. In the hall he was greeted world gaining - knowledge, of' hi .u.ost effusively by Joel,- who shook ---.; .. dastardly sale, of, his couniry, bu. him warmly by. the -hand. time had lulled him into security "Glad to see you havo managed and it was only 'et rare interval to•get down at last. Your father i that • he ever thought of the * blas ists been very anxious for your deed of his life. He geared fe fet esenco." • breath, and rising unsteadily, hal They moved aside to allow Ack- spirit, , . rowd to pass. ,Harecastle greeted er ' ue gulped it down. a• i him With a surprised nod, as ho . . ,tosrozsvoma7.,4.7.4„..rehivtriardagrtravelluer. • . .4 x • • "I really do not understand you 4., larft'sfilinatolict, 4 , !..7,•,‘‘ "..* .' •'. ' 7 Nr7';' ' .-... , y •• • . + ...... . . , r ;when he had passed out of hearing. long* this *intery ot-i-,1!'--he-tnanege Lg.-stay-at -Iset..,--t--- - ----- - , - • - - • . -, • ,Atillsksit.spAY . 4 II , NettedikreAtilLiM ...... . hot -7 RL a, ,F..erl Cried 2,$ti fie:looked :it: the tete whiali *ere held, up, to•his d . e • another paper rem hi pocket; which Le banded over. "I have carefully decoded the le ters,,azid hero is an -accurate copy s cad make you iv present of it i , you like,• but stay. You knew, th " Prime Minister's handwriting; yo ' had better satisfy yourself that th a k originals were, written by him." ✓ A fear .that .was pitiful had adz f ed hold of the Earl, and it we with difficulty that he read the pa per, owing to the violent tremblin of his hands. The document tut tered to the.floor, and the Earl fel tu 0 - --i'Porgiries-,1"lie-renierked; calm;' 1Y: "That's what they are.'TheY're darned.good'onies,.though...Here''s-ss, ho went on unlocking a small ,sefl —"here are the.: real litle-deedc't No,.yetudon't"—this, auMr. ter•made' eicited.grah,lit,ithem.:, -.Thee Mr. 1Venter began • to•elfer nately itimlora„ and •thrOateit.ii trentlilifig:toneche,tOld tha.it,Ory •,1# i • -,er vet er.. roe ',..44154 ,....,1-,T,Att.`n-Grego.„rY•egisiro--itn-,..apt-des- Aortigogn.01Wv=r44.403•43, K7.7);, ustirty.,. to o 'Weeter:. Is though he hiniselt .drank but spar- ttait••hiUM'40. sake' infOre':'Th�.ittit!lt,..** that:be qb's "Yea, to the life." 4* , tainedin. Writing -a 'pronifisis '---"LOr' • Mr. Craycn buithe Old Siunet- manager; •: at least,.: he 'Wive .,-Now 'set Mine for ,225.00C1.• ; . remember you. He brought you "Of' course, Mr. Craven,. busi- down one day last week; told me nese is loisibess,",*aid Mt...Venter. he wanted to show friend over the ought •to. have some guarantee mine. And you -sold my mine to for this." • . • , this lir, •Craven-. Snakes ! but it's the funniest thing I'veever struck. gay, was . this Craven' a tall chap with an aristocratic diall" •"Yes, yes !" "That's my manager's old chum. My word ! they've' done you „pro -. •per. 'You paid up; bas Craven - kelged - at the -International Bank paid 1" • - — raver i ovirtogit e • .spose ran er all-I-know-of-Iiim,-save-that-h stand- it."--- Ackroyd_rose rwith gave me an excellent cigar." pleasant smile, and walked sloi-vT "I shall place him soon," Joel towards the door. He bad not mis "I am not accustomed to have my word doubted," began Mr. Craven, with a drunken attempt at dignity. Wenter instantly began to paci- fy the injured aristocrat. and even - g tually learned that £30,000 was ashen white, itnd hiahteast heave • **medically. - ti4Sie.._•!-- Apse sO* Ackreyd ran to the drewer. • Y "Pour out . . . a dose. . . or, shall die . my .heisrt!" --.. • tel with the uccessery do'uments as ilia iithie=71*1161•Iiiird / was soon as can'get them in 'order." knocked down for his pains, -Mr. Wenter's first duty nn•reach- "None of your monkey b. -tricks name ,of Vernon. St.- John • "Not a cent!" - Mr. Wenter said confidently. "His face leaves calculated, for as soon as his han rather an unpleasant impression touched the knob, the Earl calle eiPou my mind. But come along, to him iterempterily. y disnisktorzaeskjetter...wil• Lbe J.Le.,tkeOkea.r„Tou ' ' - d Ackroyd did as he was bade, an d his victim drank the medicine. He anxiously gazed at the Earl d ing his•office was to turn up an 1107,." Gregory- said. English Peerage, by which he found 'I'll have the law on -you," yel- that Vernon St. John Craven was led Wenter. • "Where's your mane - - Joel wouldt take no refusal, but moreto the chair.- lieked his arm in that of the plun- ger man and led him on to the ter- • race. Rebekah was looking..ber • )est The -walk' had given: licts;1* color, or 'was it the.pre.ssuii * of Barecastlo's hand t He seemed un- __/eignedly-iileliedt:te see her. Ho would have given,anythiorto bT al ughti---; but he did `not care to 'be guilty of rudeness, so he -did - his best -to -be pleisant. But even Joel seemed to notice bis absent-mindedness; and locked at him curiously. "Is there any truth in Hare - castle's engagement to .Ethel Feth- erston 1" Joel asked -himself, but * 'he found that he could not make up his mind as to the answer to She question. Aftdr a while Harecastle excused . . lumself and retired to his own room. Ho was utterly beivildered at his father's action in refusing to consent to so suitable an engage - Pent, and bo wracked his brain to think what could bo animating him in his opposition, but without sue- CH.APTER V. , The Earl was thankful to have 1,cen able to put an end to the in- , terviow with his son, for bo Ilse- -, bust! that the attitude that he had takes up must appear inexplicable. --lie-decided-to-consult- with Joel: - )10' did not intend to bo absolutely . frank with him, but merely to hint -that there was a difficulty.with re- gard to the projected marriage. • ' take A scat 1" Ackroyd asked •.- suavely. "Certainly. Very remiss not to have asked you. .Now tell me whet 1 can do for .You,", he asked with •. cold courteq. • ' 441-111Ilstlirst- trotibi e. you with a ;,S• • 4ittio-of-my--Priiate-history.--1Quitot - recently I have been engaired by Mr. Felix Shelby .to assist him. in • sorting the private wipers Of the late Prime Minister. * •• Ackrbyd carefully watched his victirn, but the Earl bad not whol, ly lost the self•eontrol glrfn td him .his diplomatic training, and"he, ..lookedyc.almli and coldlt at hid • • ,wisitor. • • • ‘ • -7'-"•Altiong s-theserptipers -1- I- ,-,haeo • found certain letters', which I think )otir`lordship will find interest you ereonallY.1 ---"In-what- way, Mr. Ackroyd1"-- . "These letters refer -to a matter • Which took place some thirty years •„„, . "Wither ancient history, IS it • • nal" the Earl interrupted. His Ackroyd was in no,.baste.to be .gin. Ho leant:. back comfortably "Would yOui%Iilship smoke_Mind, if t can' think:so much be ter...with a ajar. mouth, :an I lin desirous. oVilialing-- with, yo ,•• -•-•• ge4Y'ss_.139_14;Plei, _ The- Estil- moticsni,d to the cigars and with cli-Ylips alid.strained-ey watched _hie visitor ono. .• "As I was saying, onie Y-0 lOrt thirty, I beliove,-;ii ccereetsom thirty year* ago yoUr loriliblp wa intrusted by the 'British Govern ment with the charge of in import ant nertiatiOn at St. Petersburg Ain I right1":Aekroyd asictl 'cheer fully. - . ..notl•of .his head 'swat;:isits,,only answer, for I- was itteiPable,o speech. f "you carried out'Your work sue- . cessftilly, that is from the Russian point of view. It appear" that shoe this timo you'.were engaged to bo Married to a lady of .wealth. Your own affairs were very much involv cd; and you found that it would be quite impossible to carry through this marriage without a very- large sum of money. Your estates were entailed, and you- could not. raise the money in any direction • even the Jews failed you. Accordingly i; became 'necessary, .to smother your cOnscienie, anctyou'decided to accept an offer inacle-t& yoieb Russians:" - Ackroyd ceased speaking, and looked gravely at list Ecarl. There WAR menace in his voice as he con- tinued.: "That offer was nothing More or loss than the sale of your country.'' Tho Earl shrank back as, though struck' by a blow. His 'color .cartio and went; his fingeit clutched the rentlilecistieleu dr- His, tormentor -waited for hint to speak, but vein'. ' 'Row: do you know thist" "he at last managed.to-tittor, but his voice' quavered, and he -appeared to hired aged suddenly by year*. , 4!You. received the price of your treaion,..your'affairs were arranged and the marriage took Ake. But Nemesis was, on' "your track'• the trsthutetion came to theknowledge Of our Russian Ambassador. It was •confided by hint 'solely to the late Prime lifinister.: _HO sent for interview -nit& liaVe beCe•Tpainful Lo you." • • f The Earl ehuchlored, and clutched the emit of•his altar, • ' • "You were allowed to retire, and since then you have Heed and en- tered •the . respect of your Many money that he was to gain. Death - or even a senots• nine's • would • ruin hit'plans, 'and 'be would have tu go 'etapty away. ts,' He watched the effect of the -drug, " and the color gradually -returned u to the Earn; face, but Ins lips were - - 4•I am beeten," the Earl said, a ..oticieg. "What it -your pricel" t 'am sorry to kayo 'caused you :all this distress. would:that I ✓ could have - entirely avoided the a necessity of - this interview. • I am s a pocir man, my lard; my life has been .full -of• vicissitudes, ,and I am • on my beam ends." • • • "For Qod's sake, .cut the cackle. - How much, maul" the Earl said • fiercely. ... • • „ "I want fifty thousand pounds," 1. the other.•.said with.deliberiitien., 'Yon' are- mad -mad," the Earl shrieked -shrilly; "I am 'a poor man." t "That is my price," he said fiiii••• ly. • "You low blackmailer I -Get out _ of my houlso! • I Will :send forflie You are ••enly fit for gaol, you coward!'" . "Softly, my.lord, you are not one who Should throw stones," Ackroyd said in a silken voice.. „• "11 you had a thousand pounds,' I might have been able to manage it,!.! the Earl said tare calmly.: 1."I lin perry to hare called ou nanca, but you drove me. to it. I will give you :a thousand .pounds." • • Ackroyd rose to his feet. tilt! laughed contemptuously, as the Earl Produced a cheque book. , "It is more than I can afford. I sin.in debt, and havo had to 'bor- rew mope); myself." "That sum :would .not last.mis nx menthe, and I have made up , .111Y-4%11,12CLAO-itttitDM-TOILAMMO:- Istirurto-iceep-tne-ja-c fort• for. the rest of my life. You must really be • more generous, Lord Wolierholme. ani not ails-, ing for a tithe of. the sum. that you received for your freachery, and you' have had the use of that for more thin • thirty years. They did not make . you disgorge, you knoW. YOu'Inest really be more . gener- "I cannot sustain this interview much longer. I have had an. agi- . tating day, and • 1 am far *from Wong. I will,•give you- five thou- e_ind..pOrindi,"7heald-desperistely; • -11I-Iiiiiirnained -my-prices—which- lit a Moderate ona,,-when you -think 'what ,I. am. selling. means your geed -name—niore . than Tour son, too, would ba..! ostracized if this were known. There would .be a•public otitery, . 'for 'the laSt thing' fronds." -The EarI autnine4 up *11 his cour- age Anilrrose-fromis seit.( ,liaie':lietined. 'with c.chnness tc abaso1uniny, and 1 Can only think that this:is...An vattelept-to blitekniail '."Bet you w'll not succeed; the *hole story ist -Merit of I'your Ackroyd Smiled pteasantly• "I speak of whet..I know to be the truth.".. he answered qui stly.! The Earl laughed Scornfully. Ifo had clecided to fight: for he felt it extremely bnprobnhln Chet the Primo Minister could lose° tort evi- dence to,Convictitiin, and *list oho, heti he to fear 1 • "f •think it unnecessary' to pro- long this interview," ho said with an effort at Calmness: - ' ' - "Just -as s-dit ter:. CrfectLindifferesetOtv,-11)04- there are' th•Ose •yrlio. will :reels' ics it with welcome after- -0 kiliti;,:tkirje•rsis,!..;e7.• •••• •,.• • !?..1hathittlei'Youltpciiltikli!'„Aitl_ iferfiktiat-ia ,eagerly.-•• : ;• #'AL.th`e; outset .„Of tisus inter4eW the third son of a duke, He also gert What's his name!' Saitr S. Denbig Castle. "That means eleven thousand for me " hes- •mhttered, rapturously. "Another deal like' this and I can ...7..tHeisialt3=antLyolczairlizittmi him Smith, but that's not his pro- per name," said- Gregory. "Now hook it, while you're safe." Mr. Wenter, tears of rage and retire," fear pouring .down -his face, gath- vied up hut useless papers and ran. He called on Mr.- Gregory thattne.. reached Limbula to find the, afternoon_ and told him • that hal train got,e. Ho raved like a matt..., could -not-find a purchaser for -the Titian, and. Was within an ace of. Old Somerset MIne, but that ho spending the night in jail. But at was willing to .buy it himself. length he :spent a sleepless ..night "I cannot give more than fifteen thousand," he said. travelled to Sydney by the first up "Then you can reckon the deal is, off," remarked Mr. Gregory, calmly. , • Then followed a period of bag - e ling. Slowly Mr. Gregory's lim- At was lowered and •Mr. Wenter's In the only hotel at bulbuls, ani train in the morning. On the way hu got out at the station nearest Jed e Witmore's house, and called cn that gentleman. To his horror the judge disclaimed all'knowledge of• the transaction. and speedily proved to Mr. Wenter'that he was not in Sydney on that particular day. - Off bolted Mr. 1 -Venter in• to Syd- , hey. The eolicitor's office was not Yet open, Belie went on to the ship- ping company's office, where he in- quired after Mr. Craven. Hero lin met with another rebuff, for he noon for the'title-deeds to be trans- ferred to Mr, Wenter'i,name, and then the Wily" scamp withdrew. "Hang him."' he muttered, vin- dictively. "That only means eight thousand now. Well, make Craven weigh out , for expenses, received a totapy fresh address. Ho neyway.!' found a new Mr. Craven, utterly On the following afternoon Mr. unlike his client. This. gentleman Wenter• entered- the- office of Mr. admitted having made a confidant John Rankin, a solicitor, and found c,t a Mr. Brown on the way out Mr. Gregor waiting. With him whose•description tallied with that was a..gentleman whom he reeog- of Mr. Wenter's client. • nixed as Judge Witmore, a mag- Off he rushed -to the hotel where istrate, who lived some miles out the fictitious Mr. Craven had put of Sydney and who was much re- up, to find that his client had never spected. The 'transfer was. made- and 'Mreettilbrenuerdnieb." 4ad• paid_ his bill froni title -deeds handed over, Judge, Wit- . Mr. Wenter was almost • brokeni More signing as witness. Then, down by the tittle be reached the! police -station. He told the whole story,. and efforts were made to trace "Mr. Gregory" and "Mr. Craven" .without success.' , A few months later aletter reach- ed Mr. penter froin London. It ran as.follows:— Ton -years ago two young .men, hose-mames-need-not-be-mention- RS. GERTRUDE McKIERN- -rsinittsagialsokshosAtr. • skiiia;•-Kiss.1 write*: • - la:suffered Nary' much with a. se - 111WORTASTRiatiWialeYWNIRIFZIMX4' ways complaie'ng of feeling tired ::, ) and drowsy. When my mother ' suggested and nsisted on my tak- ing a few belt es ef Peres*. I -did. its, and in a short time I felt like a new person. My mother praises it very highly_go,d_so_st " • - ------Canidenee-tif-re4sPliii.7-7—•----,,= rs. . -Ji-3nes, Burning Springs, Ky., writes: - ' "We have been using Peruna for - ' ,'•-•,:' - -. some time and heave no hesitancy ,, .y• in recommending it for the thou- • .• ,,,•-',..' sand and one ailments of human- ity. • ,;- "From a personal test I shall not . -•, -:--• csitate-to -recommend it„-- especially --•-s.--k`:' ..,,, tc. all suffering wumen. "Peruse haw gained full coal- ,-.--- (fence and a permanent stay in our home." • , A Great Tonle. . Mrs. Anna Linder, R. R. 5, Das. id!, Minn., writes: 'I took Perim. and am well: I would.not be with- out that great tonic for ton times - ;,"s• it cost." , as though ho was tearing out his heart -strings.. Mr. Wenter produc- ed notes for £18,000 and handed them over to Mr..Gregory. Following this transaction Mr. %Venter sought Mr. Craven, but was Informed that the latter bad gone away for the week -end and wou Id- no tr-bo-b ack-ei rt t I -Mond ay-af o • r. en er was ore- , landed -at Sydney wit.h a consul -- ed ,to•wait,' but he wrote a note to arable amount of money, ithinist all his client'•statitr .that he..•bad se- I of:which was'fieceed from them by cured the:mil:1'0er and that; Mr. Venter. So .they resolved'to he. would call aid see him on- the get level Some day. .7 Tho Chance following Monday. He carried out am° when a sudden strike of gold this promise; but on arriving at the was made in the Old Somerset hotel *as presented with-• a leWr Mine. from ,Mr.'''Ciaveii; in which the - One of these youeg. men, svho ter laid he had forgotten Mr. 'Wen-- called himself Smith, was mine -tteti•sddreini "'Jut would Mr. Wen- manager to Mr. Jaelc Gregoi7; the ter go on to LiMbuli; as be -(Mr. other, :who bad taken the, namci- of Creven) had gone to see the mine. Brown, had returned to ngl.and. Mentally confounding ,the energy Ilrown' came .out•to•Australia in or - of his client, ¥r Wenter.letIout .4asst* work with Smith In getting even -Withlik.'Wenter.. • ,part mine- at -about- 'revert:eel iiik—Work had ceased for the clay, but there were . several miners standing around the Old Somerset shaft. - "Is there -ii Xr. Craven anywhere abouty do you know!' he asked. ; !,Test ask Jack Gregory,"said tbe nian...:11e,knows moat every- body' about,'' 4 ,• _"Whdt, tan he be doing barer iVenter thought as he hurried along he had- net !right still to ,be 'taking Out gold, Me 'yipped. atthe door -and 'ss -voice -1:seder-hint brawny ,man". sat before ,a table filed -up withAiuggets. ' • "I'm looking for. Mr. Jack Gre- gory." said Wenter. "Then you needn't look no "fur- ther, for you're looking at hini."2 • "Eht" gasped Wcntci'. "You ro joking, 'I suppose.' I want the Mr t Gregory who, owned the/Old ,Someiset Mine'- •' - • "Well, l'in Jack Gregory who own s the -Old Somerset." , "Veit .own itt" cried 'Weskit'. "Why, it' belongs to me.", : • The; man' gazed at, him* tritically, pleojc-a.s.thougli.yotere.soberT2 c'but. you talk as:though 4'eit're\stlly'drurik.•'• I -own the,Old ;VAL(Ake- a, .ploy. wes to. act,as a green., new-coiner, but to learn something' en reete to satisfy •,Mis ,Wenter's suspiciens. `Prior to his arrival, Hmith went in- to. Sydney with' the Old -Somerset title -deeds, which be .shoed Ms. Wenter. „Afterwards he' had them very' earefilllysopied.. ,11,ien Smith called on Mr. Venter and agreed to buy the mine (foe •twenty-six thou, sand pounds, thpugh b. hardy pos, reseed -.1wetity-six-Ahousised epence: _1t*,wits 1Smith, 'who is al taltnted amatursctor,whcinadeupaa JIzdge ill'itmore, and, so gave a fin. li, Thesttite Mr.'Wenter was kept waiting :Nvhile. Smith and -Brown. made ,traCks, but both' Smith ,and Brown -wish they had been present when • the cute Mr.'Wenter iewed' ,the -real, " Mr. Gregory—it must, have been very funny.• ' Cheer up, old friend; we have of morejban-even:- We trust other poor wretches you _have driven to deloperation wilt also get even with you sone dar•-• • st • • -Tours gratefully, . He was rather given to lite -hours . and his wife remonstrated with him, so he promised her fa:thfullY that ho' would reform. It would have been right if his friendtsp.1.-s had not heard of it "So. John 11. *has ernied, has • het Hinpli-, 7.1111'11 zee." - They "saw" . him in . procession. First. he met one old chums -then another, and -It never dawned upsn him that • • it was a conspiracy. ' The 'first ,.night • that John *II. reached home after he had 'midis that promise, to his . wife, it was very late, or rather t it was very early. In fact, it was early mem- ing. He took off his boots, inanig- ed to hang his hat Up, and walked softly into the room where his wife shi,nbered. So far all was good. 11, divested himself of his coat, ' and just as he vias hanging it on the, gas -bracket his. wife woke up. • "Why, . John 1" she exclaimed ; • "what on earth. are you getting up. sc. early., for 1" . • equal -to. the' occasion. house in a country town on --which aias .„. • - sAiii0pott • • ' " pointed ,t are -hard.. .1yrfitriO7rtiiit.7' Oft,ititittlhCyr:ear laughed torte 11! Is-the-tronblell.littshavos,