The Brussels Post, 1925-10-14, Page 7� -- are so scattered.— But I will find gut
Ant Esther paid -no hard. The
and make a',Heti on one condition, "beautiful voice' was helding her in
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Miss Vuncourt," thrall, The notes were xieh unti llq-
„ ?,t lel end the phrasing perfect. Mr.
• r look- 1
' ho ok
Whatis that, asked l♦sL , 1 Selby Layton et, and Air. Selby Lay-
ing up quickly, • ton uwuy from, the piano, were two
"That ou exce t ono person,"Cita 'orient stole
e d e a "49°1r' different arsons,
c,y ;;?F sh s ld,""Who into Nether's face, her eyelids droop-
ed, that, ed, and her bosom heaved slowly,
"Selby Layton," he said, in A low and every fibre of her being respond
• voice, ed to the Nod of melody which float -
Esther coloured, ed, now soft and tender, now deep
"What must you think of Pte? It'. and .tioJemn, through the large room.
was as if I had been offering you Afr, Selby Layton appeared—ap-
money!” she said, quickly. ","But 1 ponred—quite unconscious of the of
didn't even knave that youwere feat he was producing, and hang
poor," quite easily, looking before him as
Hylaughed with an admirable' as- L. he were remember
ber the
sumptlon of frankness, words of the song, and as if he were
•; "I am as poo' as the proverbial doing the most notified thing in the
97 Ontario St, Phone 17 t .Stratford
church mouse," he said, lightly. "I world. When the exquisite nags of
1j trust I am also honest; but certainly
t the finale, had died away, Esther went
, I am proud. So exclude Selby straight up to the piano.
iton from the list; that
is d. S ""Wh ^didn't You say Yau satt6 like
Esther !Painted her head. She did 3 '
• 1 1 Th —like n Sims ltaeves'i" bhu said.
\` ! na4 snow what
V.
say, ere was
1 she looked up. the sweet smile and a little air of
ove, The Tyrant
silence for a moment or two, Then Selby Layton looked up at lei with
I "This must be a secret betwwen stirpt•ise.
us, please; Mr, Layton. 1 do not wish "It a good thing Sims Reeves can't
anyone to know of my idea;" hear you, Miss Vancourt. He'd be
Sheglanced at Miss Worcester, almost ant
s shocked as I a," he said.
'' i 1 nodding ver her knitting, and Selby "But I'm glad you liked the song,"
CHAPTER V Cont'd), large income, have I not?" ` Layton, with inward exultation, bow- be added, as he rose.
"Dani think of getting up!" she
who identified hem and supplied , "Very;igone might,. without crag yes yes; I quite understand, he said almost imperiously. "You ought
Messrs. Floss & •Floss, the lawyers, gerating, call it immense, said ASF, murmured. "You
With the' n f t' d f" Selby L yton with a soft smile but th' k T 1 tl h t t
may trust The. I to lie chained to a piano,"
i in information an proof."
e y a , , in 'now exec y w a t you wait i
Esther bent over the piano• and suppressing a sigh of envy, 1 Rather like a monkey!" he re-
touched
g g To benefit those of the family who
touched the keys -softly, 1 "Very well, then; why shouldn't 1; need assistance without letting them' torted, with a pleasant laugh; but he
"Poor fellow!" she said, in a low devote half of it to—to the others know from whence it comes.' resumed his seat and sang again.
voice. "To lose his life just as it had'who were left nothing'?" Esther nodded. This time it was just a sine de bale
become worth living!" I Mr. Selby Layton was filled with
?lr. Layton lobked down sympath- horror at the idea, for to him such a
etically, then his lip twisted; and Es- proposal seemed absolutely;wicked.
ther, who was quick -eyed, looked at '"If you could afford it,' lie said,
hint enquiringly. l thoughtfully, "The gratitude is on my side_- "You'd make a fortune on the
"`Don't you think so?" she asked. I "Afford it!—just now you said my for your trust and confidence in me, stage," she said, in her abrupt fash
Selby Layton seemed to hesitate, income was immense," remarked Es- he said, very sweetly. ion.
"He was very ill with fever—so thee. Esther threw her head back with He smiled a rhodest repudiation:
the police said :when he was shot, "AE, yes; but so also is the estate, an ah" of relief. "Oh, no; I assure you not! . There
and would not, in all probability, and it will take a large sum of .non- "Do you care for music?" she ask- are thousands of better voices."
have lived. I am afraid he had lived ey to keep it going." ed. "If so, I will. play for you. 1 Esther shook her head.
rather a wild life." I Esther sighed and laughed with a am afraid you will find it very dull "i know. I"—with mock cense-
Esther's fingers stopped as if she touch of impatience. "You are al- and slow here." quence--taught music, you know."
were interested. most as bad as Mr. Floss!" she ex- - She did' not wait for him to pro- He was hunting amongst the music
"How do you know that?" she ask- claimed. test, but began to play, He went to and held up a song.
ed. , "Oh, not quite, I hope," he said,'a chair, and leant back, and begged "Will you do me the great favor?"
"I met a man who had been out in with his sweet amble. "I was merely her to play again; and she was about But Esther shook her head.
the same parts, and had heard of Sir suggesting that a half is a large a- to do so, when she said,' as if she "I'd rather not."
himself—and my informant told me ""Well, then, a third, a quarter—"Perhaps you play or sing? Pray
"That is it exactly!" she said, lad; but what a ballad Mr Selby
quickly, and in as low a voice. J Layton made of it! The tears were
ani,very grateful to you, Mr. Lay- not far from Esther's eyes as she
ton." listened.
John—Arthur Burton, as he called mount -possibly too large." had suddenly thought of it He turned over the music again and
found a duet,
that Arthur Burton was one of the what I can afford" said Esther, net- do so, if you do. "Then'will you sing this with me?"
ro
maddest of the ad, that all sorts of patiently. "I thought you would help He shrugged his shoulders anolo- il„ „,.;,rl, ,,,,,, ,„ntly.
stories were told of hint. A sort of me to do this without Mr. Floss know- getieally, and hesitated, but got up Esther stun act her shoulders and
desperado, I gathered, Ho had for Ing anything about it. I suppose T at last and went to the piano. went reluctantly to the piano. The
companion—'chum' they call it—a can spend this money how I please, , There were many persons who dis-
man as reckless and wild as himself, if I keep up the estate properly?" liked, not to say bated, Mr. Selby that, duet weMrnt
elby
but startfuli been
'I suppose it was the man who was Certainly; he said. "And 1 shall Layton; but no one had- ever possess the liters. : erase of the
with him when he was killed." be more than glad to help you, Need ed the .temerity to deny that he was theMerin
ted his voice to hers through -
di
word—sub-
"What was. his name—this `chum' I say that I am also proud of your ,n musician. Esther had moved away, orout the d,h s of f'
of Arthur Burton's—it leso difficult confidence, Miss Vancourt?" . expecting the kind of performance on„Y m "she said
to remember that Burton was Sir His voice was as soft as the note
John Vancourt,” Esther said, thought- of a flute, and he bent forward with
fully. a smile sweeter than ever. Esther
"I don't know," replied Selby Lay. nodded.
ton. My informant—tile man -who "It's very good of you. I am afraid
told me all this—did . not know his it will give you a great deal of trouble
name; and, strange to say, the police, —I haven't realised yet how much,
in their information, failed to give for the idea has only just come into
it. Either they did not know it, or my head. But I thought you would
they had forgotten it" be able to find out which of them
"What became of him—this other were in need of money, assistance.
man?" asked Esther, musingingly. You, know them, perhaps; I don't,
"I should like to see hint, to hear all yuo see."
about Sir John." "I em ashamed to say that I don't,"
Selby shrugged his shoulders he said "I have lived far apart, they
"He diappeared rather suddenly,
and could not be found, though the
police wanted his evidence in the case,
'They searced for him, but could not
trace him. I imagine it is easy for a
4 nun to hide himself out there; there
are plenty of persons willing to aid
'him in escaping, disappearing."
Esther's brows came together.
"Why should he want to disappear
--escape?" she murmured, more to
herselfthanto itIr.'Layton.
"Ile smiled and shrugged his
shoulders again.
"No doubthe had sufficient reit-
sons," he said. "But he is of no im-
portance-"
"He was Sir John's friend and com-
panion—was present at brie death,"
said Esther, in a low voice.
"Ah, yes, yes; just so!" murmured
Mr. Layton, sympathetically. `I
know that there was plenty of proof
of Sir Joint's death without the miss-
ing man's evidence. There is no gees-
' tion as to your right of possession,
Miss Vancourt."
"No; I suppose not," said Esther, 1
with a sigh. "Is that all you heard,
Mr, Layton?"
"That is all," he said, after a mom-
ent's pause, as if he were thinking
"I thought you would like to hear it."
"Thank you, yes, I am greatly
obliged to you. L•wonder whether l
could ask you to add to the obliga-
tion?"
She looked up at him with sweet
gravity, and Selby Layton's eyes
sparkled. Therewas nothing he de-
sired more than to place the heiress
of Vancourt Towers under a real or
supposed obligation to him.
"I should be greatly honoured and
greatly pleased if I could be of the
slightest service to you, Miss Van -
court," he said ,with just the proper
amount of eagerness.
Esther hesitated a moment or two,
touching the keys too softly to pro-
duce any sound.
"As you know, Mr, Layton," site
said, at last, and with a faint touch
of color in her face, "I have inherit-
ed—have got --the whole -everything
that was Sir Richard's --the land and
the (louse and the money,"
"Yes," he said, simply. "And I
think it could not have fallen into
better hands."
"And I think it could scarcely have
fallen into worse!" said Esther, flush-
ing. "A young girl, unaccustomed to
wealth :But we won't argue that;
you would stick to your assertion for
the sake of politeness—what I want-
ed to say was, that I wanted to share
some of the money with the other
relations." j
Mr. Layton inclined his head.
"All remote ones,". he murmured,
"so remote that there ie no one to
succeed to the baronetcy, and it
therefore extinct."
"There are none more remote than
I am," said Esther, "arid they have a
right to feel disappointed and ne-
glected, Now, I want to make it up
to thenn a little,"
"9'es, yes," he murmured. "The
Lawyer, Mr, Floss-
-"Won't bear of it, site said, "and
I"—she laughed -"am terribly afraid
of that old man."
Mr. Layton smiled,
"He is rather fearsome," he admit-
ted.
tether laughed again.
"Ile has a way of knitting )lie
brows and saying 'Tut, diel' which
tills my soul with awe, He knit hie
brows posy much, and said "rut, tut.'
four, distinct times when 1 told him
what 1 wanted to do. /to said I was
too young, had to right to play the
part of a female Quixote; and, in
ahotty browbeat line, ,Best 1 have a.
the piano which men generally treat au are nursing e, ,
us to; but as Selby 'Layton struck the laughing. No, I won t sing again;
first chords of an accompaniment, she I think I'm tired."
; tumid her head with a sharp and sud- Miss Worcester rose and rolled up
don surprise and interest; and as the her knitting.
song progressed, her eyes began to "You know your room, Mr. Lay -
deepen to a violet hue; for the man ton. I hope everything is comfort -
not only had an exquisite voice, but able."
played and sang, like an artist. And He bowed and accompanied them
with Esther music was a pasieon. to the hall, and Esther pointed to
Miss Worcester, roused and start- the door of the billiard -room.
led, raised her eyebrows and whisper- "You will find there the things
fed: the soul of a man loveth before he
"My dear Esther, what a beautiful goes to bed, Mr. Layton," she said,
voice l" • as she wished him good -night.
Le,
Enve .? f
.he
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The ?Let Feb ishing huge
young lady ruled over his land ani.
Is ;t: nt his money, c
saiel to himso himself. ""It'sfor her work," he' tl
er s sake -;the brother who gave his
life for mo. But it's been a .queer per-
formance to -day all through! I won-
der if there's a scene in which dinner
contne in, for I'm precious hungry:'
At that moment, as if she had read
his thoughts, Mrs. Martin came to the
door and timidly called him in, and
Jack found a substantial meal await-
ing him.
"I thought you might be hungry,"
she said, apologetically,
"Mia, Martin, you have just saved
m life, but it's by the narrowest
sq eek!said Jack, he at down
and fell -to, "I ought to be used to
feeling, half -famished, for there have
teem clays in my life 'when everything
hnu necuvred but meals, You don't
mind ray giving Bob this bine? Ice's
a perfect gentleman and will take it
on the neat." '
Mrs. Martin shook her head,
"I'm glad you're going to stay, Mr.
Mr, Selby Layton held the sinal ,
warm hand, and would have liked to
press it; bet there was something in
the calm which checked him.
But he went off to the billiard -
room very well pleased with himself;
and as he mixed. a glass of soda and
whisky, and lit one of thu choice (lav
anas which Sir Richard had left with
the rest of his worldly goods, to Miss
Esther. Vancourt, he smiled complae-
ently.
"Not bad for one night. I'm in her
confidence and charged with a secret
mission ; and my voice did its little
part, Not bad by any means, How
bcautiful she is! I've always had a
fancy for a good-looking wife. The
girl satisfies my artiJtic sense." He
looked round the room critically. "All
very good, excepting the frieze; I
should alter that!"
When Esther had almost driven
her aunt out of her room, she • stood
in a- dressing -gown before the glass
humming softly the notes of Mr. Sel-
by Leyton's ballad, and thinking of
the scheme for benefiting Sir Rich-
ard's poor relations; but suddenly her
mind switched off, and with a start
she remembered the stalwart young
man of whom she had seen so m_tch
that rine. She wont to '-h„ 1..t'' ,a'
nud dr,.w the curtain back a little
and looked out.. She could see the
roof of the. home farm quite plainly
in the moonlight, and she stood and
looked at it dreamily for a minute.
or two; then, with a sudden gesture
of impatience, she let the curtain fall
back to its place,, and turned away,
as if she were annoyed at herself for
thinking of him.
CHAPTER VI.
When Esther and Miss Worcester had
driven away, Jack stood at the gate
and looked after them with anything
but a pleased expression of counten-
ance. For, though he had obtained
employment, it was the last place
he would have chosen.
It was all very well to give up his
estates to a young lady, but he had
not calculated on having to spend
some time in looking on while the
"Ne.
Sh, hesitated,
"Gordon ---Jack Gordon," said Jack,
helping himself to a slice of the home -
cured ham.
"I don't know what we should have
done if you hadn't come as you did.
It's Providence, I supose."
Jack thought that market day. and
whisky had something to do Withit,
but didn't say so. .
"Our last foreman looked after.
the farm almost entirely; for Martin
She paused again, but Jnck under-
stood.
gder-
stood. m
"I'll do .y 'best, -Mrs. Martin," he
said. c'1 think I can say I understand
farming. But Martin must please
make allowance for my shortcomings,
15 was very good of Mee Vancourt
to recommend me—and on such slight
acquaintance. It seems to me that
you are all veryconfidin ': for how
do ou know I san't murder you all,
in your beds and bolt or With the—
the spoons?"
Mrs. Martin smiled, and did not
Appear to think the question required
an answer.
"She is a very kind young lady,"
she said, "Poor thing!"
Jack looked np from the plate,
"Poor thing!"
"Yes," said Mra. Martin, with a
sigh. "Sire is quite a girl, to have
80 much money and responsibilities
s
laid upon hero"
"Oh, she'll bear up under it, you'll
see " amid Jerk, cheerfully-. thinking
how well he could have endured the
weight of Vancourt Toetels'Itnd Sir
Richard's thousands. "And now, as
1 ani sorry .to say, I cannot eat any
more, l think I will go round the
farm, if I may." k.
"I'll call "fleorg13 %Ifd- he'll' show
You," said Mrs. Martin. `He'll show
you the foreman's cottage, You can
sleep there there isn't room here—
but you may have your ,meals here,
for a time, at any rate. - 1, bon you
will be comfortable'.
Jack laeghed easily.
"I've slept i, a the *witted often,
and not hi the best.'o`f 1vearier, to be-
very
every particular; and I expected noth-
ing bettor than a shake -down ip a hay-
loft,
ayloft, where Bob and I lfave'llept sev-
eral times, and -like tops." • •
He lit his pine—askingg permission
first, Mrs; -Martin noticed—and went
out, followed by Bob. As his firm.
step sounded on the sanded floor, Net -
tie's voice called out in a thin treble;
(Continued Next Week)
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More gleeful slobs -trotters on Cite "Empresa of
France," Wearing Mandarin coats they bought in Peking.
Jim Barnes. Jock Hutchison, Phil- Taylor
and Dave Black, famous U.S. golfers who are
coming to Victoria, B.C., shortly to play a
return match.
•
IIMMENNIMINIMMOMMISIMMIW
77
Cricket is becoming more popular than ever with
the ladies in England. Here a fair batawoman is
scoring a boundary In a match to decide the cham-
pionship of the Cobham Ladies'. Cricket Club. •
/Tom'Mix.
popular merle
star photographed
with his wife, on the
Canadian 'Pacific Sto-
llen when they visit-
ed Montreal
1\ _ recently.
Fair trioncrs•
in merry mond.
be board the
Canadian ro'
rifle S.S. Em'
Press o f
France. which
has lust con -
eluded its tour
of the world.
S i:r !tarry
Lauder. re-
nowned Scotch
tomadlan,
meets name
friends inn the
Philippine . Is-
lands who ac-.
cnmpnnied .the
Empress of
Franco" en
het trip
around the
world.
1»
yw \ 3i, € ii i `ti.,3 1 i R sd.
„,n. x t'•ss s, 4,0,.,•:.,”ll
1 ? b,q !yt..I?7,;Y.disti3•
,' 1
arcgtx,,,
Tea latest addition
to the Canadian Pa,
till( ileal of eoiet-
'wire Stmetnera. the
'"PrIsienth Htahleah"
...which fila rucoeee+
RASP tompteted itd
fusldah vYyate an Or
Vietatia, Bent 41%
Vsse*strer Beata.
Daimsllahn, exhthlted Ss F. Wardell
C,uft', Dot, Show at the natal A5sIo
(mai Han. London, *island, They *lilt
seven Pttresa