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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-2-24, Page 7THE BRUSSELS POST L.ve9 The Tyrant "Tell her-4AI her that I'll come back emue day!" be said, hoarsely. "Anil—rued don't let her forget me." "There's no fear of that," mid the mother, with a sigh. "We shan't any of qs. forget you, from Miss Vancourt downwards. I'm mire she'll de sorry you've gone." "Will she? 'Why should she?" he asked, with a gruesome attempt to laugh. Mrs. Martin went to the eupboard and drew a glints of ale and offered it to him; a slight thingenough; but it nearly broke Jack. Tie drank it with the lump in his throat incon- veniently large, and he went with him to the gate, and held out bier hand. Jaek took it, then he bent down and kissed her on the forehead, mue- toyed "Good-bye," slung his knap- sack on his back and strode off; as unhappy a wretch as any of us de- serve to be: •and that is saying a great deal. CHAPTER XXIII. It was not a particularly bright .evening at the Towers. Esther was silent and thoughtful, and sat in a corner of the drawing -room with n book, which she looked at but did not read. It is always painful to make a fool of yourself, but is doub- ly painful to feel conscious that you have done so. And Esther had more than a suspicion that in giving Sel- by Layton "a hope she had commit. ted that -folly which is described as cutting off your nose to spite you.]: face. But Selby Layton was behaving admirably. By neither word or look did he remind Esther of What had passed between them that morning; indeed, although he was as .attentive as usual, he managed to infuse an additional respect into his manner which was intended to soothe Esther and set her doubts anl fears at rest; and he partially succeeded, though Esther's words and manners when she spoke to him were full of that reserve which, without being actual coldness, is sufficient to keep a man at arm's length. Mr. Layton sang as sweetly as ever that evening, and seemed quite at his ease; but every now and then he glanced at the clock, and when, at a quarter to ten, Esther said ehe was tired and was going to her room, he rose and opened the door with an affectation of reluctanee which only just concealed his relief. "I think I shall smoke my cigar on the terrace; the night is so fine," he said, as he held her hand and be- stowed a slight pressure upon it, which she did not return. "1 think I should put an overcoat on, Mr. Layton," said Miss Worces- ter. "The nights are rather chilly, and I fandy you gentlemen often catch cold by going into the air met of a hot room in yur evening dress." "Thank you. Yes, it would be wise," he said.. "Good -night, and happy dreams," he murmured, look- ing up at them with a tender allelic. When they had gone the tender smile fled, and was replaced by a look of -anxiety which made his face haggard and worn. "But for that devil in human form I could count myself npon the brink of success to -night," he muttered. "Shall I draw bask while there time?" He had asked himself, this quo. tion a hundred times sinue his meet. ing with Denzil; but, though pru- dence whispered "Yes!" ambition and greed urged him on. Now, as once more he asked himself the ques• tibn, be looked round the magnifi- cent room, thought of all it repre- sented, and cast prudence' aside. "After all, it's only -a queation of price," he muttered. "If I can make it worth his while to hold his tongue —and he'll do anything for money— Yes, I'll risk it. D-11 it! I can't go back nOW,, nOW that I'm within sight of the goal! There's tele much Letterheads Envelopes Billheads And all kinds of Businese Stationery minted at The Post Publishing House. We will do a job that will do credit to your business. Look over your stock of °Mee Stationery arid if it requires nepleniehing call us, by telephone 81. The Post Publishing House at stake, the pi•izit is too large. Van - 'Tart Toweree-and the girl, ley Heaven! sin, counts with me; elm'e worth all the rest put together. Y. I'll risk it—I've got to!" • He went into the hall humming a song, and put on 11 light overcoat and a bowler hat. "I'm golog to stroll on the ter- race, Palmer," he Raid. "Pray don't elf up for me if- I'm tempted to be late. T can let myself in, and will lock and bar the door properly." "Very good, sir," said Palmer. "I've taken the spirit -stand into the billiard room, sir." "Ah, thank you, Palmer," he said. "Yes, 1 think 1 will take a mule and whisky. Please don't trouble; 1 can get it myself." TTe took a glass of cognac neat, in- stead of the comparatively hartaless soda -and -whisky, and still humming., went through the open window On 1.0 the terrace. Be sauntered up and down for a few minutes; then, limit- ing at the window to see that he was not observed, he went down the steps, and keeping within the shad- ow of the shrubbery as far as pos- sible, struck into the woods. Denzil was approaching the weeds from the other side. -His meeting with Transom and the knowledge of jack Gordon's presence in Vancourt had, for all his bravado, consider- ably affected him, and as he made his way through the trees and the thick undergrowth, he. looked about him cautiously. He had seen enough of Jack's cool intrepidity on the night of the murder in the hut to feel assured that if he met his form- er victim and chum of the murdered man, that he, the murderer, would receive little mercy at Jack's hands; and every now and then his hand wandered to the revolver in the belt he wore under his waistcoat, and at every sound he heard in the covert his lips tightened and his seowl grew darker:- Pfe reached the pool at lest, and looked round with something like a shudder; for the weirdness of the scene, the almost stagnant water with its coating of green upon which the moonbeams fell with a ghastly light, impressed even his callous nature. "A nice place for a murder," he muttered. "Is that hound going to keep me hanging about long, I won- der? He'd better not." "That hound" was approaching al- most as stealthily as Denzil had done and he had almost reached the pool, when by a sudden gleam of moon- light, he saw a gun leaning up a- gainst a tree. The sight startled him as much as the footprint on the nand startled Robinson Crusoe; anti with the quick suspicion of the guil- ty who "fears an officer in every bush," he stopped, and looking round hien apprehensively, listened, holding his breath. The hoot of an. owl that new from a tree across the pool sent hie- heart into his mouth, but there were no sound of feet. steps, no sign of the owner of the gun. At last he took it up and ex- amined itmechanically; and as he was doing it, he heard a movement in front of him. He had only time Lo drop the gun in the undergrowth before Denzil's tall figure came into the even., rain -washed moonligth. Selby Layton waited for him, with hate and loathing in his heart, but a forced smile on his face. "So here you are at last!" said Denzil, with barely suppressed Sav- agery. "Why the devil didn't you keep your time? Do you think this is the kind of .place to keep a man waiting in?" "I beg a thousand pardons, mY dear Denzil," said Layton, moving away :from 'the gun, which was COM- Pletely concealed by the bracken. "As you say, itis not a cheerful place"---ehe looked round with a slight shudder—"and On sorry I was detained and found it impos- sible to leave the house earlier; but I trust 2 have not kept you long. I'm afraid my stay must be meas- ured by minutes—" "Yon cango the moment you have come to my terms; for the male ter of that, you ean go 110W, if you like. Pin indifferent. I hold all the cards, Selby, as you know; an I've got you under my foot, Mb a toad under a harrow." Ile smiledin his sardonic fashion, and nodded at Sidby Layton, threat. on ingly. "Yon put the position rougtuy, not to say dearselye My dear Denzil; but forgiehe me if 1 venture to say thnt you exaggerate the condition of affairs between us. As a matter of feet, t, tan not at all sure that I am, as you put it, tender your foot." . Denzil shrugged -his ehoultleta. "Ole, very well, if that's you- line. Well, stick to it, Mile With YOU to the heneef And tell Mist Vaneontt what 1 kne*.", "And atter; tal.'thi,'Fitenelt nei .aid Selby, almost sweetly. Denzil glowered at him. "After? W(41,7—I imagine that einte game will have been pretty will sweated. Look here, Selby, we may as well save time by eorainp: to the point. T. know your game. 1 ve kept lily eyes and oars open ein(() I've been in this cnreed place, ttrel know you're after this young girl, mistrese of the Towne, nod of Veneourre Denney. Don't taint the trenbli• to deny IL" "I deny, assert, nothing," slid Layton, • still smoothly. "Salmi -me Ton are right in your surmiste—" Denzil cut in with an oath. "1 am right, and you know it. I --ne you with her this morning. be. fore you saw me, end your face— BO! I upy the girl! But it'a no businese of mine. You may marry her, or anyone else you've set your mind on, SO long ne you square me." "If my memory does not deceive T gave you a hundred pounds only a short time ago." Denzil laughed coolly. "That's gone." "A large sum,". murmured Selby Layton, "Large or small, it's gone, and T• don't want to hear you caekle alma it!" retorted Denzil. "What 1 want is to mine to business with you as sharp as poesible. What you Want is that I should hold my tongue. P1/ I.10 it for a consideration." "Name -it!" said Layton. . "A thousand pounds down and five hundred a year paid on this day of the month." Selby Layton laughed softly. "My dear Denzil, that is really preposterous !" "Is it?" retorted Denzil, coIcilv. "All right! Am I to take it that you refuse? Out with it! I want to know ono way or 'the other," "And if I refuse?" Denzil eyed him savagely. "Then T go up to the house to- morrow morning and tell the girl what a d—d hound and scoundrel you are. tell her the whole story And it will sound Well, Won't it? I'll tell her that Mr. .Selby Lay- ton who has been passing as a high- minded gentiman, and who wants to marry her, is married already. That he ran off with a simple country girl who was idiot enough to believe in him, and mingled her under a false 1101116." Selby Layton was very pate, but he smiled with the ugly twist of his lip. "And if I deny it, which I eseure you., my dear Dena., I should do, whom do you think she will believe; me, the gentleman, the man of posi- tion and honor, or—comparisons are' invidious; ,make • that between you and me, your position and char- acter, and mine, for yourself, my dear Denzil." "So that is your game, is It?" said Denzil, with smouldering fury. "It's a poor one and wouldn't do you credit. You :forget I've the certifi- cate." Layton shrugged his shoulders. "In which my real name doesn't appear. You would want witnesses to identify; the bride is dead." "Not she!" said Denzil. my sister and your wife, is alive right enough," "I was informed she was dead," said Selby Layton, as coolly as lee could, "I prefer to believe—" "Blair! But it's no use. I ean peoduce Madge in four-andetwenty hours, on my honor." Selby sneered. "Forgive me, but the guarantee is insufficient, my dear Denzil, Proof —proof is what I want." Denzil thrust his hand in his pock - at and derwout a letter. "You shall have it." "A forgery, no doubt! It does in- finite credit to your ingenuity, but it is not flattering to my perspicac- ity!" Denzil thrust it out. "Curse your smooth tongue!" he said, with an outburst of passion. "Read it, look at it! You know her handwriting too well to be deceived by a forgery. And look at thatl" It was g photograph of a still young but vulgar looking woman, dressed yilely, with the face and air Of the lower class Selby Layton looked and shudder- ed. "Taken, as the letter says, only a month agar said Denzil, "You re. cognize her? You can't -help it; it's 04•0441400,00,00:048•00+.04.04,401.0000 I WANTED, 0+ t Highest market prices t e, See me or Phone No, 2x, Bens- sels, and T will call and get 1, 2°° • !tidos, 0 I M. Yofillek .104.41".00•011,4•004+040+01,0•4••441 Id '/10 you l'etiot. -.1 it, . !, • 1 •22 " Lost. nraf F•ourid " of our oaraw. y:a: :waie 11111 11 you tillit't•tiu: tiarit,re o•••• 51211, ir you wish it: folf.; use oar Ci2222'2iisr .2., MIEFker.'"•:.".•••• Madge all over," he chuckled. 'Are you satisfied now, you—you unbe- lieving Jew?" Layton moistened his lips. "The proof seems adequate," he veld. "Yes; I admit it. But you must acquit me of any intention to deceive Miss Vancourt. Of course now I know poor Madge is really Denzil had been watching him closely, and Selby Layton's eyes fell under the scrutiny. Denzil laughed. !Not good enough!" he said. "I can read you like a book. You don't mean to chuck up the thing, Why should you? Madge thinks you are dead. She read of the death of`Adol- pbus Robinson' in the papers some kind friend sent her—you worked that very well, Selby—and there's no one to tell her the truth and unde- ceive her but myself and you. You, I take it, won't be in a hurry to rush into her arms, and I—oh, I'm mum as death if you make it worth my while." Layton gnawed at his lip with his eyes fixed on the ground. "Are you Miro 00 one knows of my identity with—with the man whose name appears in this certifi- cate?" he asked. "Certain!" responded Denzil. "Who s-hould? You played your cards too well. Madge herself has no suspicion that she married you under a false name You're dead as far as she is concerned; and if it hadn't been for my meeting you ac- cidently a year after you bolted from her, I shouldn't know it. No, there's no (Me in this little business but our two selves, Selby; and there will be no suspicion—" "Suspicion!" echoed Selby, with a gesture of impatience and resent- ment. "The air must be full of stts- picion. Was there nothing suspic- ious in your stopping -me and detain- ing me this morning? Miss Van - court noticed it and asked questions. YOur presence in the place is in it- self suspicious; no do-nbt you have been seen coming here, may have been watched, 'followed." He look- ed around as if he expected to see or hear the watcher. Denzil shook his head. "No one saw me, no one followed me. 211 take my oath on that;" he said. "I've staYed at the little inn 071 the road—the 'Black Crow'; I told the landlord that I was an ar- tist; I've spoken to no one else. And I've paid my hill and am supposed to be on rey way to London by this time. No, there is no need to talk of suspicion. We're alone here, and no one has followed me: do you think I shouldn't know?" He laughed scornfully, and eyed the downcast Layton who still gnaw- ed softly at his nether lip., "Don't be a fool, Selby," he ee- sumed, after a pause. "I know what you're thinking. That I shall be a kind of nuisance to you, that I shall be forever blackmailing you—" "Yon do indeed read' trey thoughts, my dear Denzil," said Selby, with a sneer. "You're wrong," nrotested Den- zil, coolly. "Ill bhp my oath"—. Selby Layton's sneer grew Move mocking—"that this is the last time I will badger you, rye reasons of my own. for wishing to get met of this cheesed country. You know some 'em; but not all I mean to go back to Australia and buy a farm with this thousand pounds," "And lose it—" "Very likely; that's why 2 insiet upon the five hundred a year," re- toiled- Denzil. "I shall have enough to live on whatever happens. What stops you from coming to terms? You ought to jump at it. ' I might have asked you for ten times the amount, for half of what you're go- ing to make; and, by .God, I will, too, if you haggle Much longee. And you can't refuse me!" His anger was Re was Me. patient to be gone. jack Gordon's face, his voice -a -which he had beand through the dear Only a feW hones, ago --haunted bine and filled him with a vague.. dread whielt, the Weird mad 'ghastly plapo -itt _WO Ott stood' awravated. "Can t hot?" murmured Layton, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, fl)2(i, "No!" :untried lemzil. "Do you think I shan't put the screw on? Do yeti thiek I shall be eatisfied with 1411 to tho air' at TT," house there? No!" He swore an awful oath. "I'll go -straight to :widen evil set her on your traek, And junto -for you! She'll elaine -you and Melte on her righte. Arid de you know what that - aiuults?" He laughed sertIonicellY -and nYed Layton ingly, and Laytou's lave grew whinge the twist of his lie more marked. "You know whet sh was when you gave her the elle. She's worse now, ten times won,,2 ! nmke a nice wife for—what was it? ---a gentleman of ithareeter and poet. tion IT•-• litilnhod again. "Tim my soul, I'm half tempted ue (luck away what I may Inako out •01200, to withdraw my offer, and to go 1,0 Madge. The fun of the thing mead be -worth something." The sweat stood in big drofis (111 S.dhy Layton's forehead. "You forget the risk to youreelf in this amiable threat, my dear Den- zil," he said, in a low voice "Oh, no, I don't! But I've taken riks before 110W; and perhaps I'm desperate. I've had a rough time lately—bot that won't interest you; much you'd care for that! Come, I'm sick of this palaver! Make up your mind one way or the other. Come to my terms and you're free to marry this girl and collar the swag; refuse, and, by God! I'll show you up and set'Madge, on you!" The words sent a thrill, a shudder through Selby Layton. He raised his eyes, they were bloodshot with the strain he had undergone, and looked steadily, with a curious ex- preesion at his tormentor. "Your argument is concinsive and irrefutable, my dear Denzil; and I agree with what grace I may. A. thmisand pounds—" "Your cheque will do," broke in Denzil, with a smile. "I can almost see it in your breast -pocket. Yes, a cheque will do. I'm not afraid of your stopping it." Selby Layton shrugged his should- ers. "I will admit that I cerne pre- pared for some demand from you," he said, as he took out the cheque- book and Stylographie pen, flu knelt and wrote with the hook on • his knee, and handed up the -cheque. Denzil took it, and folding it, elipped it iuto his trousers' pooket: it IS aim aye the .eufeitt pocket, "And now a word or tWo On a Alien of paper, prmuleing that five hundred ft year," he said, "I've 110 paper—is it mete -entry?" ciehed 8,11;y Leyton, moodily. "My word is ae good ne my bond, my their Denzil." "T pref,r the bond," remarked Denzil. "Here, I've a sheet of pap - or. Half of Madge's letter will (1o. And I'll firaW it OUL Girt, hohl of the pen!" Layton gore him the pen, and 1),..rmil knelt on one knee and Spruad Out the paper on the other. Tho nmonlisht was now pouring: on both mem with a light ahnotn, as clear as day. A silence reigned for a mom., ent, as Denzil wrote: - "I, Selby Layton, promise to pay Denzil Mayhew the sum of flee lain - tired pounds ;mi. annum for consid- elation duly received—I ehould make ie geed lawyer's clerk, eh, Sel- by?" he put in, with a laugh—the Inugh of the man who has won. "By Coorge! I ought to have made it five thousandi" He looked round with a smile— the smile that the vanquished find it so hard to bear: if the harrow could smile as it passed over the toad, would not the toad turn? This toad did. He stooped down and felt amongst the bracken until his hand closed over the barred of the gun. .His breath came fast, hie teeth clenched, He opened them to murmur: "You have forgotten to say 'for my life,' my dear Denzil." "So I have! Good of you to re- member it!" responded Denzil, with a sneer. "For my life—" As Denzil bent to write the aerate Selby rose, swung the gun eve this shoulder, and brough•t the stock with terrific force down upon • the head of the kneeling man. Denzil fell forward with an inar- ticulate cry, then he stagyered to his feet, and with outstretched hands felt, in a blind kind of way, for his assailant. Layton raised the gun again and struck with all his force, and Denzil went down like an ox in the sham- bles. (To Ile (1ontinued). Young Husb)tntl: "Last night when I came home. my wife had my chair druwn up befm•a the fire, my slippers ready for ine to put 017, and—" Old Friend: "How did you like her 110W hat ?"--Life. 011bliiESti CARDS HE industrial Mortgage and Savings Company, of Sarnia Ontario, ar, v1(1.5111 to edvanee money on Mortgagerg on vig,d Inttati. Partici; des/ring 101511e0 trn l'artn Inortp 0110 whll 01400 apply to .1571158 euwan, Sotirm th, Ont., who will far. ni.di rat,' »rid allwr pa, //mann/. Tho Industrial Mortgago . and Ba.vInga Company al4d,W 4,1<vaver AGENT FOR fire, Automobile aod Mod In, ICOMPANIES For Brussels and vicinity Phone 647 JAM Es* PA' FADZEAN— Agent Hawick Mutual fire Insurance Company ., Also Hartford Windstorm and Tornado Insurance Phone 42 Box 1 TurriberrY atreet, Brussels LIND, SUTHERLAND & SONS LIMITED ifxsu exclf GEARAPJFI OXIMPaz D. M. SCOTT &ICAMSNI:1 arefffeeVESS PRICES MOOERATE Forrere:Amltany p erl1to apesigvegii,g.73& T, T. RAE Al. 0. P„, efl S. 0. 82. 0 82., Village of Bruasels. Physician, Surgeon, Amoucheur Office at residence, oppoalte Meiv ItIe Olouroh. William street. DR, WARDLAW Boner graduated. ?ifiwt,irioaatart,offiVeterinary college. Dev.e. oe opposite Flour MU, Bthel. TV. Jr. &MMUS, BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, CONVEYANCER, NOTARY PUBLIC LECKIE BLOCK - BRUSSELS inerlaTIO 7777 77.77.77.7.7 r, Because it secures the best distribution. 2. Because it is read. Because it is regular. It takes years of effort to work up a news- paper's subscription list and the advertiser gets:the advantage every week. And whereas probably not more than one bill out of three is read, everyypaper is read by three or four persons. For reaching the people of Brussels and.Brus- sels district, there is no medium to compare with THE BRUSSELS POST. t, It covers the field. 2. It is a paper that is read through, 3. Its readers belong to the purchasing class. The Quality of a Paper is Reflected °Oils gAdvertising---If Business needs Stimulating try Advertising in The Brussels ,EXt.