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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35277-8.txt b/35277-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb7db79 --- /dev/null +++ b/35277-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5500 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Childerbridge Mystery, by Guy Boothby + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Childerbridge Mystery + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Release Date: February 14, 2011 [EBook #35277] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDERBRIDGE MYSTERY *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + The Childerbridge Mystery + + By Guy Boothby, + +_Author of_ "_Dr. Nikola_," "_A Millionaire's Love Story_," "_The Curse +of the Snake_," _etc., etc., etc._ + + + London + F. V. White & Co., Ltd. + 1902 + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER I. + +CHAPTER II. + +CHAPTER III. + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHAPTER V. + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHAPTER VII. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CHAPTER IX. + +CHAPTER X. + +CHAPTER XI. + +CHAPTER XII. + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + + +The Childerbridge Mystery + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +One had only to look at William Standerton in order to realise that he +was, what is usually termed, a success in life. His whole appearance +gave one this impression; the bold unflinching eyes, the square, +resolute chin, the well-moulded lips, and the lofty forehead, showed a +determination and ability to succeed that was beyond the ordinary. + +The son of a hardworking country doctor, it had fallen to his lot to +emigrate to Australia at the early age of sixteen. He had not a friend +in that vast, but sparsely-populated, land, and was without influence of +any sort to help him forward. When, therefore, in fifty years' time, he +found himself worth upwards of half-a-million pounds sterling, he was +able to tell himself that he owed his good fortune not only to his own +industry, but also to his shrewd business capabilities. It is true that +he had had the advantage of reaching the Colonies when they were in +their infancy, but even with this fact taken into consideration, his was +certainly a great performance. He had invested his money prudently, and +the rich Stations, and the streets of House Property, were the result. + +Above all things, William Standerton was a kindly-natured man. Success +had not spoilt him in this respect. No genuine case of necessity ever +appealed to him in vain. He gave liberally, but discriminatingly, and in +so doing never advertised himself. + +Strange to say, he was nearly thirty years of age before he even +contemplated matrimony. The reason for this must be ascribed to the fact +that his life had been essentially an active one, and up to that time he +had not been brought very much into contact with the opposite sex. When, +however, he fell in love with pretty Jane McCalmont--then employed as a +governess on a neighbouring Property--he did so with an enthusiasm that +amply made up for lost time. + +She married him, and presented him with two children--a boy and a girl. +Within three months of the latter's arrival into the world, the mother +laid down her gentle life, leaving her husband a well nigh +broken-hearted man. After her death the years passed slowly by with +almost monotonous sameness. The boy James, and the girl Alice, in due +course commenced their education, and in so doing left their childhood +behind them. Their devotion to their father was only equalled by his +love for them. He could scarcely bear them out of his sight, and entered +into all their sports, their joys and troubles, as if he himself were a +child once more. + +It was not, however, until James was a tall, handsome young fellow of +four-and-twenty, and Alice a winsome maid of twenty, that he arrived at +the conclusion that his affairs no longer needed his personal +supervision, and that he was at liberty to return to the Mother Country, +and settle down in it, should he feel disposed to do so. + +"It's all very well for you young folk to talk of my leaving Australia," +he said, addressing his son and daughter; "but I shall be like a fish +out of water in the Old Country. You forget that I have not seen her for +half-a-century." + +"All the more reason that you should lose no time in returning, father," +observed Miss Alice, to whom a visit to England had been the one +ambition of her life. "You shall take us about and show us everything; +the little village in which you were born, the river in which you used +to fish, and the wood in which the keeper so nearly caught you with the +rabbit in your pocket. Then you shall buy an old-fashioned country house +and we'll settle down. It will be lovely!" + +Her father pinched her shapely little ear, and then looked away across +the garden to where a railed enclosure was to be seen, on the crest of a +slight eminence. He remembered that the woman lying there had more than +once expressed a hope that, in the days then to come, they would be able +to return to their native country together, and take their children with +them. + +"Well, well, my dear," he said, glancing down at the daughter who so +much resembled her mother, "you shall have it your own way. We will go +Home as soon as possible, and do just as you propose. I think we may be +able to afford a house in the country, and perhaps, that is if you are a +very dutiful daughter, another in London. It is just possible that there +may be one or two people living who may remember William Standerton, +and, for that reason, be kind to his son and daughter. But I fear it +will be rather a wrench for me to leave these places that I have built +up with my own hands, and to which I have devoted such a large portion +of my life. However, one can be in harness too long, and when once +Australia is left behind me, I have no doubt I shall enjoy my holiday as +much as any one else." + +In this manner the matter was settled. Competent and trustworthy +managers were engaged, and the valuable properties, which had +contributed so large a share to William Standerton's wealth, were handed +over to their charge. + +On the night before they were to leave Mudrapilla, their favourite and +largest station, situated on the Darling River, in New South Wales, +James Standerton, called Jim by his family and a multifarious collection +of friends, was slowly making his way along the left bank of the River. +He had ridden out to say good-bye to the manager of the Out Station, and +as his horse picked his way along the bank, he was thinking of England, +and of what his life was to be there. Suddenly he became aware of a man +seated beneath a giant gum tree near the water's edge. From the fact +that the individual in question had kindled a fire and was boiling his +billy, he felt justified in assuming that he was preparing his camp for +the night. He accordingly rode up and accosted him. The man was a Foot +Traveller, or Swagman, and presented a somewhat singular appearance. +Though he was seated, Jim could see that he was tall, though sparsely +built. His age must have been about sixty years; his hair was streaked +with grey, as also was his beard. Taken altogether his countenance was +of the description usually described as "hatchet-faced." He was dressed +after the swagman fashion, certainly no better, and perhaps a little +worse. Yet with it all he had the appearance of having once been in +better circumstances. He looked up as Jim approached, and nodded a "good +evening." The latter returned the salutation in his customary pleasant +fashion. + +"How much further is it to the Head Station?" the man on the ground then +enquired. + +"Between four and five miles," Jim replied. "Are you making your way +there?" + +"That's my idea," the stranger answered. "I hear the owner is leaving +for England, and I am desirous of having a few words with him before he +goes." + +"You know him then?" + +"I've known him over thirty years," returned the other. "But he has gone +up in the world while, as you will gather, I have done the opposite. +Standerton was always one of Life's lucky ones; I am one of Her +failures. Anything _he_ puts his hand to prospers; while I, let it be +ever so promising, have only to touch a bit of business, and it goes to +pieces like a house of cards." + +The stranger paused and took stock of the young man seated upon the +horse. + +"Now I come to think of it," he continued, after having regarded Jim +intently for some seconds, "you're not unlike Standerton yourself. +You've got the same eyes and chin, and the same cut of mouth." + +"It's very probable, for I am his son," Jim replied. "What is it you +want with my father?" + +"That's best known to myself," the stranger returned, with a surliness +in his tone that he had not exhibited before. "When you get home, just +tell your governor that Richard Murbridge is on his way up the river to +call upon him, and that he will try to put in an appearance at the +Station early to-morrow morning. I don't fancy he'll be best pleased to +see me, but I must have an interview with him before he leaves +Australia, if I have to follow him round the country to get it." + +"You had better be careful how you talk to my father," said Jim. "If you +are as well acquainted with him as you pretend to be, you should know +that he is not the sort of man to be trifled with." + +"I know him as well as you do," the other answered, lifting his billy +from the fire as he spoke. "William Standerton and I knew each other +long before you were born. If it's only the distance you say to the Head +Station, you can tell him I'll be there by breakfast time. I'm a bit +foot-sore, it is true, but I can do the journey in an hour and a-half. +On what day does the coach pass, going South?" + +"To-morrow morning," Jim replied. "Do you want to catch it?" + +"It's very probable I shall," said Murbridge. "Though I wasn't born in +this cursed country, I'm Australian enough never to foot it when I can +ride. Good Heavens! had any one told me, twenty-five years ago, that I +should eventually become a Darling Whaler, I'd have knocked, what I +should have thought then to be the lie, down their throats. But what I +am you can see. Fate again, I suppose? However, I was always of a +hopeful disposition, even when my affairs appeared to be at their worst, +so I'll pin my faith on to-morrow. Must you be going? Well, in that +case, I'll wish you good-night! Don't forget my message to your father." + +Jim bade him good-night, and then continued his ride home. As he went he +pondered upon his curious interview with the stranger he had just left, +and while so doing, wondered as to his reasons for desiring to see his +father. + +"The fellow was associated with him in business at some time or another, +I suppose?" he said to himself, "and, having failed, is now on his beam +ends and wants assistance. Poor old Governor, there are times when he is +called upon to pay pretty dearly for his success in life." + +James Standerton was proud of his father, as he had good reason to be. +He respected him above all living men, and woe betide the individual who +might have anything to say against the sire in the son's hearing. + +At last he reached the Home Paddock and cantered up the slope towards +the cluster of houses, that resembled a small village, and surrendered +his horse to a black boy in the stable yard. With a varied collection of +dogs at his heels he made his way up the garden path, beneath the +trellised vines to the house, in the broad verandah of which he could +see his sister and father seated at tea. + +"Well, my lad," said Standerton senior, when Jim joined them, "I suppose +you've seen Riddington, and have bade him good-bye. It's my opinion he +will miss you as much as any one in the neighbourhood. You two have +always been such friends." + +"That's just what Riddington said," James replied. "He wishes he were +coming with us. Poor chap, he doesn't seem to think he'll ever see +England again." + +Alice looked up from the cup of tea she was pouring out for her brother. + +"I fancy there is more in poor Mr. Riddington's case than meets the +eye," she said sympathetically. "Nobody knows quite why he left England. +He is always very reticent upon that point. I cannot help thinking, +however, that there was a lady in the case." + +"There always is," answered her brother. "There's a woman in every +mystery, and when you've found her it's a mystery no longer. By the way, +father, as I was coming home, I came across a fellow camped up the +river. He asked me what the distance was to here, and said he was on his +way to see you. He will be here the first thing to-morrow morning." + +"He wants work, I suppose?" + +"No, I shouldn't say that he did," James replied. "He said that he +wanted to see you on important private business." + +"Indeed? I wonder who it can be? A swagman who has important private +business with me is a _rara avis_. He didn't happen to tell you his +name, I suppose?" + +"Yes, he did," Jim answered, placing his cup on the floor as he spoke. +"His name is Richard Murbridge, or something like it." + +The effect upon the elder man was electrical. + +"Richard Murbridge?" he cried. "Camped on the river and coming here?" + +His son and daughter watched him with the greatest astonishment depicted +upon their faces. It was not often that their father gave way to so much +emotion. At last with an effort he recovered himself, and, remarking +that Murbridge was a man with whom he had had business in bygone days, +and that he had not seen him for many years, went into the house. + +"I wonder who this Murbridge can be?" said James to his sister, when +they were alone together. "I didn't like the look of him, and if I were +the Governor, I should send him about his business as quickly as +possible." + +When he had thus expressed himself, Jim left his sister and went off to +enjoy that luxury so dear to the heart of a bushman after his day's +work, a swim in the river. He was some time over it, and when he +emerged, he was informed that his presence was required at the Store. +Thither he repaired to arbitrate in the quarrel of two Boundary Riders. +In consequence, more than an hour elapsed before he returned to the +house. His sister greeted him at the gate with a frightened look upon +her face. + +"Have you seen father?" she enquired. + +"No," he answered. "Isn't he in the house?" + +"He went down the track just after you left, riding old Peter, and as he +passed the gate he called to me not to keep dinner for him, as he did +not know how long it might be before he would be back. Jim, I believe he +is gone to see that man you told him of, and the thought frightens me." + +"You needn't be alarmed," her brother answered. "Father is quite able to +take care of himself." + +But though he spoke with so much assurance, in his own mind he was not +satisfied. He remembered that it had been his impression that the +swagman bore his father a grudge, and the thought made him uneasy. + +"Look here, Alice," he said, after he had considered the matter for some +time, "I've a good mind to go back along the track, and to bring the +Governor home with me. What do you think?" + +"It would relieve me of a good deal of anxiety if you would," the girl +replied. "I don't like the thought of his going off like this." + +Jim accordingly went to the end of the verandah, and called to the +stables for a horse. As soon as the animal was forthcoming he mounted +it, and set off in the direction his father had taken. It was now quite +dark, but so well did he know it, that he could have found his way along +the track blindfolded, if necessary. It ran parallel with the river, the +high trees on the banks of which could be seen, standing out like a +black line against the starlit sky. He let himself out of the Home +Paddock, passed the Woolshed, and eventually found himself approaching +the spot where Murbridge had made his camp. Then the twinkle of the fire +came into view, and a few seconds later he was able to distinguish his +father standing beside his grey horse, talking to a man who was lying +upon the ground near the fire. Not wishing to play the part of an +eavesdropper, he was careful to remain out of earshot. It was only when +he saw the man rise, heard him utter a threat, and then approach his +father, that he rode up. Neither of the men became aware of his approach +until he was close upon them, and then both turned in surprise. + +"James, what is the meaning of this?" his father cried. "What are you +doing here, my lad?" + +For a moment the other scarcely knew what reply to make. At last he +said:-- + +"I came to assure myself of your safety, father. Alice told me you had +gone out, and I guessed your errand." + +"A very dutiful son," sneered Murbridge. "You are to be congratulated +upon him, William." + +James stared at the individual before him with astonishment. What right +had such a man to address his father by his Christian name? + +"Be careful," said Standerton, speaking to the man before him. "You know +what I said to you just now, and you are also aware that I never break +my word. Fail to keep _your_ part of the contract, and I shall no longer +keep mine." + +"You know that you have your heel upon my neck," the other retorted; +"and also that I cannot help myself. But I pray that the time may come +when I shall be able to be even with you. To think that I am tramping +this infernal country, like a dead beat Sundowner, without a cent in my +pocket, while you are enjoying all the luxuries and happiness that life +and wealth can give. It's enough to make a man turn Anarchist right +off." + +"That will do," said William Standerton quietly. "Remember that +to-morrow morning you will go back to the place whence you came; also +bear in mind the fact that if you endeavour to molest me, or to +communicate with me, or with any member of my family, I will carry out +the threat I uttered just now. That is all I have to say to you." + +Then Standerton mounted his horse, and turning to his son, said:-- + +"Let us return home, James. It is getting late, and your sister will be +uneasy." + +Without another word to the man beside the fire, they rode off, leaving +him looking after them with an expression of deadly hatred upon his +face. For some distance the two men rode in silence. Jim could see that +his father was much agitated, and for that reason he forbore to put any +question to him concerning the individual they had just left. Indeed it +was not until they had passed the Woolshed once more, and had half +completed their return journey that the elder man spoke. + +"How much of my conversation with that man did you overhear?" + +"Nothing but what I heard when Murbridge rose to his feet," James +replied. "I should not have come near you had I not heard his threat and +seen him approach you. Who is the man, father?" + +"His name is Murbridge," said Standerton, with what was plainly an +effort. "He is a person with whom I was on friendly terms many years +ago, but he has now got into disgrace, and, I fear has sank very low +indeed. I do not think he will trouble us any more, however, so we will +not refer to him again." + +All that evening William Standerton was visibly depressed. He excused +himself from playing his usual game of cribbage with his daughter, on +the plea that he had a headache. Next morning, however, he was quite +himself. He went out to his last day's work in the bush as cheerfully as +he had ever done. But had any one followed him, he, or she, would have +discovered that the first thing he did was to ride to the spot where +Richard Murbridge had slept on the previous night. The camp was +deserted, and only a thin column of smoke, rising from the embers of the +fire, remained to show that the place had been lately occupied. + +"He has gone, then," said Standerton to himself. "Thank goodness! But I +know him too well to be able to assure myself that I have seen the last +of him. Next week, however, we shall put the High Seas between us, and +then, please God, I shall see no more of him for the remainder of my +existence." + +At that moment the man of whom he was speaking, was tramping along the +dusty track with a tempest of rage in his heart. + +"He may travel wherever he pleases," he was muttering to himself, "but +he won't get away from me. He may go to the end of the world, and I'll +follow him and be at his elbow, just to remind him who I am, and of the +claims I have upon him. Yes, William Standerton, you may make up your +mind upon one point, and that is the fact that I'll be even with you +yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Childerbridge Manor is certainly one of the finest mansions in the +County of Midlandshire. It stands in a finely-timbered park of about two +hundred acres, which rises behind the house to a considerable elevation. +The building itself dates back to the reign of Good Queen Bess, and is +declared by competent authorities to be an excellent example of the +architecture of that period. It is large, and presents a most imposing +appearance as one approaches it by the carriage drive. The interior is +picturesque in the extreme; the hall is large and square, panelled with +oak, and having a massive staircase of the same wood leading from it to +a music gallery above. There are other staircases in various parts of +the building, curious corkscrew affairs, in ascending which one is in +continual danger of knocking one's head against the ceiling and corners. +There are long, and somewhat dark corridors, down which it would be +almost possible to drive the proverbial coach and four, whilst there are +also numerous secret passages, and a private chapel, with stained glass +windows connected with the house by means of a short tunnel. That such a +mansion should be provided with a family ghost, goes without saying. +Indeed, Childerbridge Manor is reputed to possess a small army of them. +Elderly gentlemen who carry their heads under their arms; beautiful +women who glide down the corridors, weeping as they go; and last but not +least, a deformity, invariably dressed in black, who is much given to +sitting on the foot rails of beds, and pointing, with the first finger +of his right hand, to the ceiling above. So well authenticated are the +legends of these apparitions, that it would be almost an impossibility +to induce any man, woman, or child, from the village, to enter the gates +of Childerbridge Manor after dusk. Servants who arrived were told the +stories afloat concerning their new abode; and the sound of the wind +sighing round the house on a gusty night immediately set their +imaginations to work, with the result of their giving notice of their +intention to leave on the following morning. "They had seen the White +Lady," they declared, had heard her pitiful death cry, and vowed that +nothing could induce them to remain in such a house twenty-four hours +longer. In fact, "As haunted as the Manor House" had become a popular +expression in the neighbourhood. + +When the Standerton's reached England, they set to work to discover for +themselves a home. They explored the country from east to west, and from +north to south, but without success. Eventually Childerbridge Manor was +offered them by an Agent in London, and after they had spent a +considerable portion of their time poring over photographs of the house +and grounds, they arrived at the conclusion that they had discovered a +place likely to suit them. On a lovely day in early summer they +travelled down from London to inspect it, and were far from being +disappointed in what they saw. + +When they entered the gates the park lay before them, bathed in +sunlight, the rooks cawed lazily in the trees, while the deer regarded +them, from their couches in the bracken, with mild, contemplative eyes. +After the scorched up plains of Australia, the picture was an +exceedingly attractive one. The house itself, they could see would +require a considerable outlay in repairs, but when that work was +accomplished, it would be as perfect a residence as any that could be +found. The stables were large enough to hold half a hundred horses, but +for many years had been tenanted only by rats. The same might be said of +the buildings of the Home Farm! + +"However, taking one thing with another," said Mr. Standerton, after he +had inspected everything, and arrived at a proper understanding of the +possibilities of the place, "I think it will suit us. The Society of the +neighbourhood, they tell me, is good, while the hunting is undeniable. +It is within easy reach of London, and all matters taken into +consideration, I don't think we shall better it." + +In this manner it was settled. A contract for repairs and decorations +was placed in the hands of a well-known Metropolitan firm, a vast amount +was spent in furnishing, and in due course Childerbridge Manor House was +once more occupied. The County immediately came to call, invitations +rained in, and having been duly inspected and not found wanting, the +newcomers were voted a decided acquisition to the neighbourhood. William +Standerton's wealth soon became proverbial, and mothers, with +marriageable sons and daughters, vied with each other in their +attentions. James Standerton, as I have already said, was a presentable +young man. His height was something over six feet, his shoulders were +broad and muscular, as became a man who had lived his life doing hard +work in the open air, his eyes were grey like his father's, and there +was the same moulding of the mouth and chin. In fact, he was an +individual with whom, one felt at first glance, it would be better to be +on good terms than bad. + +One evening a month or so after their arrival at the Manor House, Jim +was driving home from the railway station. He had been spending the day +in London buying polo ponies, and was anxious to get home as quickly as +possible. His horse was a magnificent animal, and spun the high dogcart +along the road at a rattling pace. When he was scarcely more than half a +mile from the lodge gates of his own home, he became aware of a lady +walking along the footpath in front of him. She was accompanied by a +mastiff puppy, who gambolled awkwardly beside her. As the dogcart +approached them the puppy dashed out into the road, directly in front of +the fast-trotting horse. As may be imagined the result was inevitable. +The dog was knocked down, and it was only by a miracle that the horse +did not go down also. The girl uttered a little scream, then the groom +jumped from his seat and ran to the frightened animal's head. Jim also +descended to ascertain the extent of injuries the horse and dog had +sustained. Fortunately the former was unhurt; not so the author of the +mischief, however. He had been kicked on the head, and one of his +forepaws was crushed and bleeding. + +"I cannot tell you how sorry I am," said Jim, apologetically to the +young lady, when he had carried her pet to the footpath. "I am afraid I +was very careless." + +"You must not say that," she answered. "It was not your fault at all. If +my silly dog had not run into the road it would not have happened. Do +you think his leg is broken?" + +Jim knelt on the edge of the path beside the dog and carefully examined +his injuries. His bush life had given him a considerable insight into +the science of surgery, and it stood him in good stead now. + +"No," he said, when his examination was at an end, "his leg is not +broken, though I'm afraid it is rather badly injured." + +In spite of the young lady's protests, he took his handkerchief from his +pocket and bound up the injured limb. The next thing to be decided was +how to get the animal home. It could not walk, and it was manifestly +impossible that the young lady should carry him. + +"Won't you let me put him in the cart and drive you both home?" Jim +asked. "I should be glad to do so, if I may." + +As he said this he looked more closely at the girl before him, and +realised that she was decidedly pretty. + +"I am afraid there is nothing else to be done," she said, and then, as +if she feared this might be considered an ungracious speech, she added: +"But I fear I am putting you to a great deal of trouble, Mr. +Standerton." + +Jim looked at her in some surprise. + +"You know my name, then?" he said. + +"As you see," she answered, with a smile at his astonishment. "I called +upon your sister yesterday. My name is Decie, and I live at the Dower +House, with my guardian, Mr. Abraham Bursfield." + +"In that case, as we are neighbours," said Jim, "and I must claim a +neighbour's privilege in helping you. Allow me put the dog in the cart." + +So saying he picked the animal up and carried it tenderly to the +dogcart, under the seat of which he placed it. He then assisted Miss +Decie to her seat and took his place beside her. When the groom had +seated himself at the back, they set off in the direction of the Dower +House, a curious rambling building, situated in a remote corner of +Childerbridge Park. As they drove along they discussed the +neighbourhood, the prospects of the shooting, and Jim learned, among +other things, that Miss Decie was fond of riding, but that old Mr. +Bursfield would not allow her a horse, that she preferred a country life +to that of town, and incidentally that she had been eight years under +her guardian's care. Almost before they knew where they were they had +reached the cross roads that skirted the edge of the Park, and were +approaching the Dower House. It was a curious old building, older +perhaps than the Manor House, to which it had once belonged. In front it +had a quaint description of courtyard, surrounded by high walls covered +with ivy. A flagged path led from the gates, which, Jim discovered +later, had not been opened for many years, to the front door, on either +side of which was a roughly trimmed lawn. Pulling up at the gates, the +young man descended, and helped Miss Decie to alight. + +"You must allow me to carry your dog into the house for you," he said, +as he lifted the poor beast from the cart. + +A postern door admitted them to the courtyard and they made their way, +side by side, along the flagged path to the house. When they had rung +the bell the door was opened to them by an ancient man-servant, whose +age could scarcely have been less than four-score. He looked from his +mistress to the young man, as if he were unable to comprehend the +situation. + +"Isaac," said Miss Decie, "Tory has met with an accident, and Mr. +Standerton has very kindly brought him home for me." Then to Jim she +added:--"Please come in, Mr. Standerton, and let me relieve you of your +burden." + +But Jim would not hear of it. Accompanied by Miss Decie he carried the +animal to the loose box in the deserted stables at the back of the +house, where he had his quarters. This task accomplished, they returned +to the house once more. + +"I believe you have not yet met my guardian, Mr. Bursfield," said Miss +Decie, as they passed along the oak-panelled hall. Then, as if to excuse +the fact that the other had not paid the usual neighbourly call, she +added: "He is a very old man, you know, and seldom leaves the house." + +As she said this, she paused before a door, the handle of which she +turned. The room in which Jim found himself a moment later was a fine +one. The walls, like the rest of the house, were panelled, but owing to +the number of books the room contained, very little of the oak was +visible. There were books on the shelves, books on the tables, and books +on the floor. In the centre of the room stood a large writing-table, at +which an old man was seated. He was a strange-looking individual; his +face was lined with innumerable wrinkles, his hair was snow-white and +descended to his shoulders. He wore a rusty velvet coat and a skull cap +of the same material. + +He looked up as the pair entered, and his glance rested on Jim with some +surprise. + +"Grandfather," said Miss Decie, for, as Jim afterwards discovered, she +invariably addressed the venerable gentleman by this title, though she +was in no way related to him, "pray let me introduce you to Mr. +Standerton, who has most kindly brought poor Tory home for me." + +The old man extended a shrivelled hand. + +"I am happy to make your acquaintance, Mr. Standerton," he said, "and I +am grateful to you for the service you have rendered Miss Decie. I must +apologise for not having paid you and your father the customary visit of +courtesy, but, as you have perhaps heard, I am a recluse, and seldom +venture from the house. I trust you like Childerbridge?" + +"We are delighted with it," Jim replied. "It is a very beautiful and +interesting old house. Unfortunately, however, we have been able to +gather very little of its history. I have heard it said that you know +more about it than any one in the neighbourhood." + +"I do indeed," Mr. Bursfield replied. "No one knows it better than I do. +Until a hundred years ago it was the home of my own family. My father +sold it, reserving only the Dower House for his own use. Since then the +estate has fallen upon evil times." + +He paused for a moment and sat looking into the fireplace, as if he had +forgotten his visitor's presence. Then he added as to himself: + +"No one who has taken the place has prospered. There is a curse upon +it." + +"I sincerely hope not," Jim answered. "It would be a bad look out for us +if that were so." + +"I beg your pardon," the old man returned, almost hastily. "For the +moment I was not thinking of what I was saying. I did not mean of course +that the curse would affect your family. There is no sort of reason why +it should. But the series of coincidences, if by such a term we may +designate them, have certainly been remarkable. Sir Giles Shepfield +purchased it from my father, and was thrown from his horse, and killed +at his own front door. His son Peter was found dead in his bed, some say +murdered, others that he was frightened to death by something, or +someone, he had seen; while his second son, William, was shot in a duel +in Paris, the day after the news reached him that he had come into the +property. The Shepfields being only too anxious to dispose of it, it was +sold to the newly-made Lord Childerbridge, who was eager to acquire it +possibly on account of the name. He remained two years there, but at the +end of that period he also had had enough of the place, and left it +quite suddenly, vowing that he would never enter its doors again. After +that it was occupied off and on by a variety of tenants, but for the +last five years it has been unoccupied. I hear that your father has +worked wonders with it, and that he has almost turned it into a new +place." + +"He has had the work done very carefully," Jim replied. "It is very +difficult to repair an old mansion like Childerbridge without making +such repairs too apparent." + +"I quite agree with you," said the old man drily. "Your modern architect +is no respecter of anything antiquated as a rule." + +"And now I must bid you good-evening," said James. "My father and sister +will be wondering what has become of me." + +He shook hands with Mr. Bursfield, who begged him to excuse him for not +accompanying him to the door, and then followed Miss Decie from the +room. They bade each other adieu at the gate. + +"I hope your dog will soon be himself again," said Jim, in the hope of +being able to prolong the interview, if only for a few moments. "If you +would like me to have him for a few days I would do what I could for +him, and I would see that he is properly looked after." + +"I could not think of giving you so much trouble," she returned. "I +think he will be all right here. I feel certain I shall be able to do +all that is necessary. Will you give my kind regards to your sister? I +should like to tell you that I admire her very much, Mr. Standerton." + +"It is very good of you to say so," he replied. Then clutching at the +hope thus presented to him, he added, "I trust you and she will be great +friends." + +"I hope so," said Miss Decie, and thereupon bade him good-night. + +As he went out to his cart he felt convinced in his own mind that he had +just parted from the most charming girl he had ever met in his life. He +reflected upon the matter as he completed the short distance that +separated him from his home, and when he joined his sister in the +drawing-room later, he questioned her concerning her new acquaintance. + +"She must lead a very lonely life," said Jim. "I was introduced to the +old gentleman she calls grandfather, and if his society is all she has +to depend upon, then I do not envy her her lot." + +His sister had a suspicion of what was in his mind though she did not +say so. Like her brother she had taken a great liking to the girl, and +there was every probability, as time went on, of their becoming firm +friends. + +"It may interest you to hear that she is coming to tea with me on +Thursday," said Alice. + +Jim _was_ interested, and to prove it registered a mental vow that he +would make a point of being at home that day. As a matter of fact he +was, and was even more impressed than before. + +From that day Miss Decie spent a large proportion of her time at the +Manor House. In less than a month she had become Alice's own particular +friend, and Jim felt that the whole current of his life had been +changed. What Mr. Bursfield thought of the turn affairs had taken can be +seen now, but at the time his views were only a matter of conjecture. +That Jim and Miss Decie had managed to fall in love with each other was +quite certain, and that William Standerton approved of his son's choice +was another point that admitted of no doubt. Helen Decie with her pretty +face, and charming manners, was a general favourite. At that stage their +wooing was a matter-of-fact one in the extreme. Jim had no rival, and at +the outset no difficulties worth dignifying with the name. He was +permitted unlimited opportunities of seeing the object of his affections +and, when the time was ripe, and he informed her of the state of his +feelings towards herself, she gave him her hand, and promised, without +any hysterical fuss, to be his wife, with the full intention of doing +her utmost to make him happy. + +"But, Jim," she said, "before you do anything else, you must see Mr. +Bursfield and obtain his consent. He is my guardian, you know, and has +been so good to me that I can do nothing without his approval." + +"I will see him to-morrow morning," Jim replied, "and I fancy I can tell +you what his answer will be. How could it be otherwise when he knows +that your happiness is at stake?" + +"I hope it will be as you say," she answered, but not with her usual +cheerfulness. "Somehow or another grandfather always looks at things in +a different light to other people." + +"You may be sure I will do my best to get him to look at it as we want +him to," her lover returned. "I will bring every argument I can think of +to bear upon him." + +Needless to say, Mr. Standerton, when he heard the news, was delighted, +while Alice professed herself overjoyed at the thought of having Helen +for her sister. In Jim's mind, however, there was the remembrance of +Abraham Bursfield, and of the interview that had to be got through with +that gentleman. + +"It's no use beating about the bush or delaying matters," he said to +himself. "I'll walk back with Helen and get it over to-night instead of +to-morrow morning." + +He informed his sweetheart of his intention. She signified her approval, +and together they strolled across the Park towards the little gate that +opened into the grounds of the Dower House. It was a lovely evening, +and, as you may suppose, they were as happy a young couple as could have +been found in the length and breadth of England. Their engagement had +scarcely commenced, yet Jim was already full of plans for the future. + +"I shall take you from that dreary old house," he said, nodding his head +in the direction of the building they were approaching, "and we will +find a place somewhere in the neighbourhood. How you have managed to +exist here for eight years I cannot imagine." + +"It has been dull certainly," she answered, "but I have the house and my +grandfather to look after, so that my time is fairly well taken up." + +"You must have felt that you were buried alive," he answered. "In the +future, however, we'll change all that. You shall go where, and do, just +as you please." + +She shook her head. + +"To make you happy," she said, "will be enough for me." + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +On reaching the house, Jim bade the butler inform his master that Mr. +Standerton would like to see him. Isaac looked at him as if he were +desirous of making sure of his business before he admitted him, then he +hobbled off in the direction of his master's study, to presently return +with the message that Mr. Bursfield would see Mr. Standerton if he would +be pleased to step that way. Jim thereupon followed the old man into the +room in which he had first made Abraham Bursfield's acquaintance some +four months before. As on that memorable occasion, he found that +gentleman seated at his desk, looking very much as if he had not moved +from it in all that time. + +"I wish you good evening, Mr. Standerton," he said, motioning his +visitor to a chair. "To what may I attribute the honour of this visit?" + +"I have come to you on a most important errand," Jim replied. "Its +purport may surprise you, but I hope it will not disappoint you." + +"May I ask that you will be good enough to tell me what that errand is," +said the old gentleman drily. "I shall then be better able to give you +my opinion." + +"To sum it up in a few words," Jim answered, "I have this afternoon +asked Miss Decie to become my wife, and she has promised to do so. I am +here to ask your approval." + +Bursfield was silent for a few moments. Then he looked sharply up at the +young man. + +"You are of course aware that Miss Decie is only my adopted +granddaughter, and that she has not the least shadow of a claim, either +upon me, or upon such remnants of property as I may possess." + +"I am quite aware of it," Jim replied. "Miss Decie has told me of her +position, and of your goodness to her." + +"The latter of which she is endeavouring to repay by leaving me to spend +the rest of my miserable existence alone. A pretty picture of gratitude, +is it not? But it is the world all over!" + +"I am sure she will always entertain a feeling of profound gratitude +towards you," protested Jim. "She invariably speaks of you with the +greatest affection." + +"I am indeed indebted to her for her consideration," retorted the other +with a sneer. "Unfortunately, shall I say, for you, I prefer something +more than words. No, Mr. Standerton, I cannot give my consent to your +engagement." + +Jim could only stare in complete astonishment. He had never expected +this. + +"You do not mean that you are going to forbid it?" he ejaculated when he +had recovered somewhat from his surprise. + +"I am reluctantly compelled to admit that that _is_ my intention. +Believe me, I have the best of reasons for acting thus. Possibly my +decision may cause you pain. It is irrevocable, however. At my death +Helen will be able to do as she pleases, but until that event takes +place, she must remain with me." + +He took up his pen as if to continue his writing, and so end the +interview. + +"But, Mr. Bursfield, this is an unheard-of determination," cried the +young man. + +"That may be," was the reply. "I believe I have the reputation for being +somewhat singular. My so-called granddaughter is a good girl, and if I +know anything of her character, she will do as I wish in this matter." + +Jim rose to his feet and crossed to the door as if to leave. When he +reached it, however, he turned and faced Mr. Bursfield. + +"You are quite sure that nothing I can say or do will induce you to +alter your decision?" he enquired. + +"Quite," the other replied. + +"Then allow me to give you fair warning that I intend to marry Miss +Decie," retorted Jim, who by this time had quite lost his temper. + +"You are at liberty to do so when I am dead," Mr. Bursfield replied, and +then continued his writing as if nothing out of the common had occurred. + +Without another word Jim left the room. He had arranged that he should +meet Helen in the garden afterwards. It was with a woe-begone face, +however, that he greeted her. + +"While he lives he absolutely refuses to sanction our engagement," he +began. "For some reason of his own he declines to consider the matter +for a moment. He says that at his death you are at liberty to do as you +please, but until that event occurs, you are to remain with him. I +consider it an act of the greatest selfishness." + +Helen heaved a heavy sigh. + +"I was afraid he would not look upon it as favourably as we hoped," she +said. "I will see what I can do with him, however. I know him so well, +and sometimes I can coax him to do things he would not dream of doing +for any one else." + +"Try, darling, then," said Jim, "and let us trust you will be +successful." + +They bade each other good-night, and then James set off on his walk +across the Park. Dusk was falling by this time, and the landscape looked +very beautiful in the evening light. As he strode along he thought of +his position and of the injustice of Bursfield's decision. Then he fell +to picturing what his future life would be like when the old man should +have relented and Helen was his wife. He was still indulging in this +day-dream when he noticed a shabbily-dressed man standing on the path a +short distance ahead of him. Somehow the figure seemed familiar to him, +and when he drew nearer he could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment. The individual was none other than the man he had seen +lying beside the camp fire on the banks of the Darling River, and who, +on a certain memorable evening, had caused his father so much emotion, +_Richard Murbridge_. Whatever Jim's feelings might have been, Murbridge +was at least equal to the occasion. + +"Good evening, Mr. Standerton," he began, lifting his hat politely as he +spoke. "You are doubtless surprised to see me in England." + +"I am more than surprised," James replied, "and I am equally astonished +at finding you on my father's premises after what he said to you in +Australia. If you will be guided by me you will make yourself scarce +without loss of time." + +"You think so, do you? Then let me tell you that you have no notion of +the situation, or of the character of Richard Murbridge. Far from making +myself scarce, I am now on my way to see your father. I fear, however, +he will not kill the fatted calf in my honour; but even that omission +will not deter me. Tenacity of purpose has always been one of my chief +characteristics." + +"If you attempt to see him you will discover that my father has also +some force of character," the other replied. "What is more, I refuse to +allow you to do so. I am not going to permit him to be worried by you +again." + +"My young friend, you little know with whom you are dealing," Murbridge +retorted. "I have travelled from the other side of the world to see your +father, and if you think you can prevent me you are much mistaken. What +is more, let me inform you that you would be doing him a very poor +service by attempting to keep us apart. There is an excellent little inn +in the village, whose landlord and I are already upon the best of terms. +The Squire, William Standerton, late of Australia, but now of +Childerbridge, is an important personage in the neighbourhood. +Everything that is known about him is to his credit. It would be a pity +if----" + +"You scoundrel!" said Jim, approaching a step nearer the other, his +fists clenched, as if ready for action, "If you dare to insinuate that +you know anything to my father's discredit, I'll thrash you to within an +inch of your life." + +Then a fit of indescribable fear swept over him as he remembered the +night in Australia, when his father had shown so much agitation on +learning that the man was on his way to the station to see him. What +could be the secret between them? But no! He knew his father too well to +believe that the man before him could cast even the smallest slur upon +his character. William Standerton's name was a synonym for sterling +integrity throughout the Island Continent. It was, therefore, impossible +that Murbridge could have any hold upon him. + +"You had better leave the place at once by the way you came into it," +Jim continued, "and take very good care that we don't see any more of +you." + +"You crow very loud, my young bantam," returned Murbridge, "but that +does not alter my decision. Now let me tell you this. If you knew +everything, you would just go down on your bended knees and pray to me +to forgive you for your impudence. As I said a moment ago, it's not the +least use your attempting to stop me from seeing your father, for see +him I will, if I have to sit at his gate for a year and wait for him to +come out." + +"Then you'd better go and begin your watch at once, for you shall not +see him at the house," retorted Jim. + +"We'll see about that," said Murbridge, and then turned on his heel, and +set off in the direction of the Park gates. James waited until he had +seen him disappear, then he in his turn resumed his walk. He had to make +up his mind before he reached the house as to whether he would tell his +father of the discovery he had made or not. On mature consideration he +came to the conclusion that it would be better for him to do so. + +For this reason, when he reached the house he enquired for his father, +and was informed that he had gone to his room to dress for dinner. He +accordingly followed him thither, to discover him, brush in hand, at +work upon his silver-grey hair. That night, for some reason, the simple +appointments of that simple room struck Jim in a new and almost pathetic +light. Each article was, like its owner, strong, simple and good. + +"Well, my lad, what is it?" asked Standerton. "I hope your interview +with Mr. Bursfield was satisfactory?" + +"Far from it," Jim replied lugubriously; and then, to postpone the fatal +moment, he proceeded to describe to his father the interview he had had +with the old gentleman. + +"Never mind, my boy, don't be down-hearted about it," said Standerton, +when he had heard his son out. "To-morrow I'll make it my business to go +and see Mr. Bursfield. It will be strange if I can't talk him into a +different way of thinking before I've done with him. But I can see from +your face that there is something else you've got to tell me. What is +it?" + +Jim paused before he replied. He knew how upset his father would be at +the news he had to impart. + +"Father," he said, "I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you. I've been +trying to make up my mind whether I should tell you or not." + +"Tell me, James," answered the other. "I'll be bound it's not so very +bad after all. You've probably been brooding over it, and have magnified +its importance." + +"I sincerely hope I have. I am afraid not, however. Do you remember the +man we saw at Mudrapilla in the Five Mile Paddock, the night before we +left? His name was Murbridge." + +The shock to William Standerton was every bit as severe as James had +feared it would be. + +"What of him?" he cried. "You don't mean to say that he is in England?" + +"I am sorry to say that he is," Jim returned. "I found him in the Park +this evening on his way up to the house." + +The elder man turned and walked to the fireplace, where he stood looking +into it in silence. Then he faced his son once more. + +"What did he say to you?" he enquired at last, his voice shaking with +the anxiety he could not control or hide. + +"He said that he wanted to see you, and that he would do so if he had to +wait at the gates for a year." + +"And he will," said Standerton bitterly; "that man will hunt me to my +grave. I have been cursed with him for thirty years, and do what I will +I cannot throw him off." + +James approached his father, and placed his hand upon his shoulder. + +"Father," he began, "why won't you let me share your trouble with you? +Surely we should be able to find some way of ridding ourselves of this +man?" + +"No, there is no way," said Standerton. "He has got a hold upon me that +nothing will ever shake off." + +"I will not believe, father, that he knows anything to your discredit," +cried Jim passionately. + +"And you are right, my lad," his father replied. "He knows nothing to my +discredit. I hope no one else does; but--but there--do not ask any more. +Some day I will tell you the whole miserable story. But not now. You +must not ask me. Believe me, dear lad, when I say that it would be +better not." + +"Then what will you do?" + +"See him, and buy him off once more, I suppose. Then I shall have peace +for a few months. Do you know where he is staying?" + +"At the 'George and Dragon,'" Jim replied. + +"Then I must send a note down to him and ask him to come up here," said +Standerton. "Now go and dress. Don't trouble yourself about him." + +All things considered, the dinner that night could not be described as a +success. William Standerton was more silent than usual, and his son +almost equalled him. Alice tried hard to cheer them both, but finding +her efforts unsuccessful, she also lapsed into silence. A diversion, +however, was caused before the meal was at an end. The butler had +scarcely completed the circuit of the table with the port, before a +piercing scream ran through the building, followed by another, and yet +another. + +"Good heavens! What's that?" cried Standerton, as he sprang to his feet, +and hurried to the door, to be followed by his son and daughter. + +"It came from upstairs, sir," said the butler, and immediately hurried +up the broad oak staircase two steps at a time. His statement proved to +be correct, for, on reaching the gallery that runs round the hall, he +found a maid-servant lying on the floor in a dead faint. Jim followed +close behind him, and between them they picked the girl up, and carried +her down to the hall, where she was laid upon a settee. The housekeeper +was summoned, and the usual restoratives applied, but it was some time +before her senses returned to her. When she was able to speak, she +looked wildly about her, and asked if "_it was gone_?" When later she +was able to tell her story more coherently, it was as follows. + +In the fulfilment of her usual duties she had gone along the gallery to +tidy Miss Standerton's bedroom. She had just finished her work, and was +closing the door, when she saw, standing before her, not more than +half-a-dozen paces distant, the little hump-backed ghost, of which she +had so often heard mention made in the Servants' Hall. It looked at her, +pointed its finger at her, and a second later vanished. "She knew now," +she declared, "that it was all over with her, and that she was going to +die. Nothing could save her." Having given utterance to this alarming +prophecy, she indulged in a second fit of hysterics, on recovering from +which she was removed by the butler and housekeeper to the latter's +sitting-room, vowing as she went that she could not sleep in the house, +and that she would never know happiness again. Having seen her depart, +the others returned to the dining-room, and had just taken their places +at the table once more, when there was a ring at the front door bell, +and in due course the butler entered with the information that a person +"of the name of Murbridge" had called and would be glad to see Mr. +Standerton. James sprang to his feet. + +"I told him he was not to come near the place," he said. "Let me go and +see him, father." + +"No, no, my boy," said Standerton. "I wrote to him before dinner, as I +told you I should, telling him to come up to-night. Where is he, +Wilkins?" + +"In the library, sir," the butler replied. + +"Very well. I will see him there." + +He accordingly left the room. + +A quarter of an hour later James and Alice heard Murbridge's voice in +the hall. + +"You dare to turn me out of your house?" he was saying, as if in a fit +of uncontrollable rage. "You forbid me to speak to your son and +daughter, do you?" + +"Once and for all, I do," came Standerton's calm voice in reply. "Now +leave the house, and never let me see your face again. Wilkins, open the +door, and take care that this man is never again admitted to my house." + +Murbridge must have gone down the steps, where, as Wilkins asserted +later on, he stood shaking his fist at Mr. Standerton. + +"Curse you, I'll make you pay for this," he cried. "You think yourself +all-powerful because of your wealth, but whatever it costs me, I'll make +you smart for the manner in which you've treated me to-night." + +Then the door was closed abruptly, and no more was seen of him. + +William Standerton's usually rubicund face was very pale when he joined +his son and daughter later. It was plain that the interview he had had +with Murbridge had upset him more than he cared to admit. Alice did her +best to console him, and endeavoured to make him forget it, but her +efforts were a failure. + +"Poor old dad," she said, when she bade him good-night. "It hurts me to +see you so troubled." + +"You must not think about it then," was the answer. "I shall be myself +again in the morning. Good-night, my girl, and may God bless you." + +"God bless you, father," the girl replied earnestly. + +"I do wish you'd let me help you," said Jim, when he and his father were +alone together. "Why did you not let me interview that man?" + +"It would have done no good," Standerton replied. "The fellow was +desperate, and he even went so far as to threaten me. Thereupon I lost +my temper and ordered him out of the house. I fear we shall have more +trouble with him yet." + +"Is it quite impossible for you to tell me the reason of it all?" James +asked, after a moment's hesitation. + +"Well, I have been thinking it over," said his father, "and I have come +to the conclusion that perhaps it would be better, much as it will pain +you, to let you know the truth. But not to-night, dear lad. Let it stand +over, and I will tell you everything to-morrow. Now good-night." + +They shook hands according to custom, and then departed to their +respective rooms. + +Next morning James was about early. He visited the Stables and the Home +Farm, looked in at the kennels, and was back again at the home some +three-quarters of an hour before breakfast. As he crossed the hall to +ascend the stairs, in order to go to his own room, he met Wilkins coming +down, his face white as death. + +"My God, sir," he said hoarsely, "for mercy's sake come upstairs to your +father's room." + +"What is the matter with him?" cried James, realising from the butler's +manner that something terrible had happened. + +But Wilkins did not answer. He only led the way upstairs. Together they +proceeded along the corridor and entered the Squire's bedroom. There +they saw a sight that James will never forget as long as he lives. His +father lay stretched out upon the bed, dead. His eyes were open, and +stared horribly at the ceiling, while his hands were clenched, and on +either side of his throat were discoloured patches. + +These told their own tale. + +_William Standerton had been strangled._ + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +It would be almost impossible to describe in fitting words the effect +produced upon James Standerton, by the terrible discovery he had made. + +"What does it mean, Wilkins?" he asked in a voice surcharged with +horror. "For God's sake, tell me what it means?" + +"I don't know myself, sir," the man replied. "It's too terrible for all +words. Who can have done it?" + +Throwing himself on his knees beside his father's body, James took one +of the cold hands in his. + +"Father! father!" he cried, in an ecstasy of grief, and then broke down +altogether. When calmness returned to him, he rose to his feet, clasped +the hands of the dead man upon the breast, and tenderly closed the +staring eyes. + +"Send for Dr. Brenderton," he said, turning to Wilkins, "and let the +messenger call at the police-station on the way and ask the officer in +charge to come here without a moment's delay." + +The man left him to carry out the order, and James silently withdrew +from the room to perform what he knew would be the saddest task of his +life. As he descended the stairs he could hear his sister singing in the +breakfast-room below. + +"You are very late," she said, as he entered the room. "And father too. +I shall have to give him a talking-to when he does come down." + +Then she must have realised that something was amiss, for she put down +the letter which she had been reading, and took a step towards him. "Has +anything happened, Jim?" she enquired, "your face is as white as death." +Then Jim told her everything. The shock to her was even more terrible +than it had been to her brother, but she did her best to bear up +bravely. + +The doctor and the police officer arrived almost simultaneously. Both +were visibly upset at the intelligence they had received. Short though +William Standerton's residence in the neighbourhood had been, it had, +nevertheless, been long enough for them to arrive at a proper +appreciation of his worth. He had been a good supporter of all the Local +Institutions, a liberal landlord, and had won for himself the reputation +of being an honest and just man. + +"I sympathise with you more deeply than I can say," said the doctor, +when he joined Jim in the library after he had made his examination. "If +there is anything more I can do to help you, I hope you will command +me." + +"Thank you," said Jim simply, "there is not anything however you can do. +Stay! There is one question you can answer. I want you to tell me how +long you think my father has been dead?" + +"Several hours," replied the medical man. "I should say at least six." + +"Is there any sort of doubt in your mind as to the cause of his death?" + +"None whatever," the other replied. "All outward appearances point to +the fact that death is due to strangulation." + +At that moment the police officer entered the room. + +"I have taken the liberty, Mr. Standerton," he said, "of locking the +door of the room and retaining the key in my possession. It will be +necessary for me to report the matter to the Authorities at once, in +order that an Inquest may be held. Before I do so, however, may I put +one or two questions to you?" + +"As many as you like," Jim replied. "I am, of course, more than anxious +that the mystery surrounding my father's death shall be cleared up at +once, and the murderer brought to Justice." + +"In the first place," said the officer, "I see that the window of the +bedroom is securely fastened on the inside, so that the assassin, +whoever he was, could not have made his entrance by this means. Do you +know whether your father was in the habit of locking his door at night?" + +"I am sure he was not. A man who has led the sort of life he has done +for fifty years does not lock his bedroom door on retiring to rest." + +"In that case the murderer must have obtained access to the room through +the house, and I must make it my business to ascertain whether any of +the windows or doors were open this morning. One more question, Mr. +Standerton, and I have finished for the present. Have you any reason to +suppose that your father had an enemy?" + +Jim remembered the suspicion that had been in his mind ever since he had +made the ghastly discovery that morning. + +"I have," he answered. "There was a man in Australia who hated my father +with an undying hatred." + +"Forgive my saying so, but a man in Australia could scarcely have +committed murder in England last night." + +"But the man is not in Australia now. He was here yesterday evening, and +he and my father had a quarrel. The man was ordered out of the house, +and went away declaring that, whatever it might cost, he would be +revenged." + +"In that case it looks as if the mystery were explained. I must make it +my business to discover the whereabouts of the man you mention." + +"He was staying at the 'George and Dragon' yesterday," said Jim. "By +this time, however, he has probably left the neighbourhood. It should +not be difficult to trace him, however; and if you consider a reward +necessary, in order to bring about his apprehension more quickly, offer +it, and I will pay it only too gladly. I shall know no peace until this +dastardly crime has been avenged." + +"I can quite understand that," the doctor remarked. "You will have the +sympathy of the whole County." + +"And now," said the police officer, "I must be going. I shall take a man +with me and call at the 'George and Dragon.' The name of the person you +mentioned to me is----" + +"Richard Murbridge," said Jim, and thereupon furnished the officer with +a description of the man in question. + +"You will, of course, be able to identify him?" + +"I should know him again if I did not see him for twenty years," Jim +answered. "Wilkins, the butler, will also be glad to give you evidence +as to his coming here last night." + +"Thank you," the officer replied. "I will let you know as soon as I have +anything to report." + +The doctor and the police agent thereupon bade him good-day and took +their departure, and Jim went in search of his grief-stricken sister. +The terrible news had by this time permeated the whole household, and +had caused the greatest consternation. + +"I knew what it would be last night," said the cook. "Though Mr. Wilkins +laughed at me, I felt certain that Mary Sampson did not see the Black +Dwarf for nothing. Why, it's well known by everybody that whenever that +horrible little man is seen in the house death follows within +twenty-four hours." + +The frightened maids to whom she spoke shuddered at her words. + +"What's more," the cook continued, "they may talk about murderers as +they please, but they forget that this is not the first time a man has +been found strangled in this house. There is more in it than meets the +eye, as the saying goes." + +"Lor, Mrs. Ryan, you don't mean to say that you think it was the ghost +that killed the poor master?" asked one of the maids, her eyes dilating +with horror. + +"I don't say as how it was, and I don't say as how it wasn't," that lady +replied somewhat ambiguously, and then she added oracularly: "Time will +show." + +In the meantime Jim had written a short note to his sweetheart, telling +her of the crime, and imploring her to come to his sister at once. A +servant was despatched with it, and half-an-hour later Helen herself +appeared in answer. + +"Your poor father. I cannot believe it! It is too terrible," she said to +her lover, when he greeted her in the drawing-room. "Oh! Jim, my poor +boy, how you must feel it. And Alice, too--pray let me go to her at +once." + +Jim conducted her to his sister's room, and then left the two women +together, returning himself to the dead man's study on the floor below. +There he sat himself down to wait, with what patience he could command, +for news from the police station. In something less than an hour it came +in the shape of a note from the inspector, to the effect that Murbridge +had not returned to the "George and Dragon" until a late hour on the +previous night, and that he had departed for London by the train leaving +Childerbridge Junction shortly before five o'clock that morning. +"However," said the writer, in conclusion, "I have wired to the +Authorities in London, furnishing them with an exact description of him, +and I have no doubt that before very long his arrest will be effected." + +With this assurance Jim was perforce compelled to be content. Later came +the intimation from the Coroner to the effect that the Inquest would be +held at the George and Dragon Inn on the following morning. + +Shortly after twelve o'clock Wilkins entered the study with the +information that a person of "_the name of Robins_" desired to see his +master on an important matter, if he would permit him an interview. + +"Show him in," said Jim, forming as he did so a shrewd guess as to the +man's business. + +A few moments later a small, sombrely-dressed individual, resembling a +Dissenting minister more than any one else, made his appearance in the +room. + +"Mr. Standerton, I believe," he began, speaking in a low, deep voice, +that had almost a solemn ring about it. + +"That is my name," the other replied. "What can I do for you?" + +"I am a Scotland Yard detective," the stranger replied, "and I have been +sent down to take charge of the case. I must apologise for intruding +upon you at such a time, but if the murderer is to be brought to +justice, no time mast be lost. I want you to tell me, if you will, all +you can about the crime, keeping nothing back, however trivial you may +consider it." + +James thereupon proceeded to once more narrate what he knew regarding +the murder. He discovered that the detective had already been informed +as to the ominous suspicion that had attached itself to Murbridge. + +"The first point to be settled," he said, when James had finished, "is +the way in which the man got into the house. You have not +cross-questioned the domestics upon the subject, I suppose?" + +James shook his head. + +"I have been too much upset to think of such a thing," he answered. "But +if you deem such a proceeding necessary, you are, of course, quite at +liberty to do so. Take what steps you think best; all I ask of you is to +find my father's murderer." + +"I presume you heard nothing suspicious during the night?" + +"Nothing at all. But it is scarcely likely that I should do so, as my +room is in another part of the house." + +"Who is responsible for the locking up at night?" + +"The butler, Wilkins." + +"Has he been with you any length of time?" + +"We ourselves have only been a few months in England," Jim replied, "but +since he has been in our service we have found him a most careful and +trustworthy man. There cannot be any shadow of suspicion against him." + +"Very likely not," the detective answered. "But in my profession we +often find criminals in the most unlikely quarters. Mind you, sir, I +don't say that he had anything to do with the crime itself. It is not +outside the bounds of possibility, however, that his honesty may have +been tampered with, even to the extent of leaving a window unfastened, +or a door unlocked. However, I have no doubt I shall soon learn all +there is to be known about Mr. Wilkins." + +When he had asked one or two other important questions, he withdrew to +question the servants. From the account James received of the +examination later, it would not appear to have been a very successful +business. + +Wilkins asserted most positively that he had made every door and window +in the house secure before retiring to rest. He was as certain as a man +could be that no lock, bolt, or bar had been moved from its place during +the night, and the housekeeper corroborated his assertions. The +detective's face wore a puzzled expression. + +"I've been round every flower-bed outside the windows," he said to the +police inspector, "and not a trace of a footprint can I find. And yet we +know that Murbridge was away from the inn at a late hour, and there's +evidence enough upstairs to show that somebody made his way into Mr. +Standerton's room between midnight and daybreak. Later I'll go down to +the village and make a few enquiries there. It's just possible somebody +may have met the man upon the road." + +He was as good as his word, and when he returned to the Manor House at a +late hour he knew as much about Richard Murbridge's movements on the +preceding evening as did any man in the neighbourhood. + +Jim dined alone that night, though it would be almost a sarcasm to +dignify his meal with such a name. He had spent the afternoon going +through his father's papers, in the hope of being able to discover some +clue that might ultimately enable him to solve the mystery concerning +Murbridge. He was entirely unsuccessful, however. Among all the papers +with which the drawers were filled, there was not one scrap of writing +that could in anyway enlighten him. They were the plain records of a +successful business man's career, and, so far as Murbridge was +concerned, quite devoid of interest. I do not think James Standerton +ever knew how much he loved his father until he went through that +drawer. The neat little packets, so carefully tied up and labelled, +spoke to him eloquently of the dead man, and, as he replaced them where +he had found them, a wave of intense longing to be revenged on his +father's cowardly assassin swept over him. He was in the act of closing +the drawer, when there came a tap at the door, and Wilkins entered to +inform him that the detective had returned and was at his service, +should he desire to see him. + +"Show him in, Wilkins," said James, locking the drawer of the table, and +placing the key in his pocket as he spoke. + +The butler disappeared, to return a few moments later accompanied by the +individual in question. + +"Well, Mr. Robins," said Jim, when they were alone together, "what have +you discovered?" + +"Nothing of very much importance, sir, I am afraid," the other replied. +"I have found out that Murbridge left the park by the main gates almost +on the stroke of half-past eight last night. I have also discovered that +he was again seen within a few minutes of eleven o'clock, standing near +the small stile at the further end of the park." + +"I know the place," Jim replied. "Go on! What was he doing there!" + +"Well, sir," continued the detective, "that's more than I can tell you. +But if he were there at such an hour, you may be sure it was not with +any good intention. I have made enquiries from the keepers, and they +have informed me that it is quite possible to reach the house by the +path that leads from the stile without being observed." + +"It winds through the plantation," said Jim, "and it is very seldom +used. Lying outside the village as it does, it is a very roundabout way +of reaching the house. What have they to say about him at the inn?" + +"Not very much, sir. But what little they do say is important. The +landlord informs me that immediately after his arrival in the village he +began to ask questions concerning the Squire. There is no doubt that +your father was his enemy, and also that Murbridge cherished a bitter +grudge against him. He did not tell the landlord who he was, or what his +reasons were for being in the neighbourhood. It is certain, however, +that had your father not been living here he would not have come near +the place. On receipt of Mr. Standerton's letter, he set off for the +house, and did not return to the inn until a late hour. In point of +fact, it was between twelve and one o'clock when he _did_ come in. The +landlord is unable to give the exact time, for the reason that he was +too sleepy to take much notice of it. He does remember, however, that +Murbridge was in a very bad temper, and that he was excited about +something. He called for some brandy, and moreover stated that his +holiday was at an end, and that he was leaving for London by the early +train next morning. This he did. That is as far as the landlord's tale +goes. It seems to me that, unless we can prove something more definite +against him than the evidence we have been able to obtain up to the +present moment, it will be difficult to bring the crime home to him." + +"But we must prove more," cried Jim, with considerable vehemence. "I am +as certain in my own mind as I can be of anything that he was the man +who killed my father, and if it costs me all I am worth in the world, +and if I am compelled to spend the rest of my life in doing it, I'll +bring the crime home to him somehow or another. It is impossible that he +should be allowed to take that good, honest life, and get off scot +free." + +"I can quite understand your feelings, sir," said the detective, "and +you may rest assured that, so far as we are concerned, no stone shall be +left unturned to bring the guilty man to justice. Of course it is full +early to speak like this, but if you will review the case in your own +mind, you will see that, up to the present, there is really nothing +tangible against the man. We know that he hated your father, and that he +stated his intention of doing him a mischief, and also that on the night +he uttered this threat the murder was committed. From this it would +appear that he is responsible for it. But how are we to prove that he +got into the house? No one saw him, and there are no suspicious +footprints on the flower-beds outside. At the same time we know that he +did not return to the inn until a late hour, and that, when he did, he +was in an excited state. Yet why should he not have gone for a walk, and +might not his excitement be attributed to resentment of the treatment he +received at your father's hands? I am very much afraid it would be +difficult to induce a Jury to convict on evidence such as we are, so +far, able to bring against him. However, we shall hear what the Coroner +has to say to-morrow. In the meantime, if you do not require my presence +longer, I will return to the inn. It will be necessary for me to be +early astir to-morrow." + +James bade him good-night, and when he had departed, went upstairs to +his sister's room. He found her more composed than she had been when he +had last seen her, and able to talk of the dead man without breaking +down as she had hitherto done. He informed her of the detective's visit, +and of the information he had received from him. It was nearly midnight +when he left her. The lamp in the hall was still burning, and he +descended the great staircase with the intention of telling Wilkins that +he could lock up the house and retire to rest. To his astonishment, when +he reached the hall, he beheld the butler standing near the dining-room +door, his face as white as the paper upon which I am now writing. + +"What on earth is the matter, man?" asked James, who, for the moment, +was compelled to entertain the notion that the other had been drinking. + +"I've seen it, sir," said Wilkins in a voice that his master scarcely +recognised. "I'd never believe it could be true, but now I've witnessed +it with my own eyes." + +"Witnessed what?" James enquired. + +"_The ghost_, sir," Wilkins replied; "the ghost of the Little Black +Dwarf." + +Jim was in no humour for such talk then, and I very much regret to say +he lost his temper. + +"Nonsense," he answered. "You must have imagined that you saw it." + +"No, sir, I will take my Bible Oath that I did not. I saw it as plain as +I see you now. I'd been in to lock up the dining-room, and was standing +just where I am now, never thinking of such a thing, when I happened to +look up in the gallery, and there, sir, as sure as I'm alive, was the +ghost, leaning on the rail, and looking down at me. His eyes were +glaring like red-hot coals. Then he pointed upwards and disappeared. I +will never laugh at another person again, when they say that they have +seen him. May God defend us from further trouble!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +The inquest on the body of William Standerton was held next morning at +the George and Dragon Inn in the village, and was attended by more than +half the Neighbourhood. The affair had naturally caused an immense +sensation in all ranks of Society, and, as the Coroner observed in his +opening remarks, universal sympathy was felt for the bereaved family. +Wilkins, who had not altogether recovered from the fright he had +received on the night before, was the first witness. He stated that he +had been the first to discover the murder, and then informed the coroner +of the steps he had immediately taken. Questioned as to the visit paid +to the Squire by Murbridge, he said that the latter was in a great rage +when turned away from the house, and on being asked to do so, repeated +the words he had made use of. In conclusion, he said that he was quite +certain that no door or window in the house had been left unfastened on +the night in question, and that he was equally certain that none were +found either open, or showing signs of having been tampered with in the +morning. Jim followed next, and corroborated what the butler had said. A +sensation was caused when he informed the Coroner that Murbridge had +threatened his father in his hearing in Australia. He described his +meeting with the man in the park before dinner, and added that he had +forbidden him to approach the house. Examined by the Coroner, he was +unable to say anything concerning the nature of the quarrel between the +two men. The doctor was next called, and gave evidence as to being +summoned to the Manor House. He described the body, and gave it as his +opinion that death was due to strangulation. Then followed the police +officer. The landlord was the next witness, and he gave evidence to the +effect that the man Murbridge had stayed at the inn, had been absent on +the evening in question from eight o'clock until half-past twelve, and +that he had departed for London by the first train on the following +morning. The driver of the mail-cart, who had seen him standing beside +the stile, was next called. He was quite sure that he had made no +mistake as to the man's identity, for the reason that he had had a +conversation with him at the George and Dragon Inn earlier in the +evening. This completing the evidence, the jury, without leaving the +room, brought in a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person or +persons unknown," and for the time being the case was at an end. + +"You must not be disappointed, my dear sir," said Robins, afterwards; +"it is all you can possibly expect. The jury could do no more on such +evidence. But we've got our warrant for the arrest of Murbridge, and, as +soon as we are able to lay our hands upon him, we may be able to advance +another and more important step. I am going up to London this afternoon, +and I give you my assurance I shall not waste a moment in getting upon +his track." + +"And you will let me know how you succeed?" + +"I will be sure to do so," Robins replied. + +"In the meantime, there can be no harm in my putting an advertisement in +the papers, offering a reward of five hundred pounds to anyone who will +give such information as may lead to the discovery of the murderer." + +"It is a large sum to offer, sir, and will be sure to bring you a lot of +useless correspondence. Still, it may be of some use, and I would +suggest that you send it to the daily papers without delay." + +"It shall be done at once." + +Jim thereupon bade the detective good-bye, and returned to the house to +inform his sister of what had taken place at the inquest. She quite +agreed with him on the matter of the reward, and an advertisement was +accordingly despatched to the London newspapers, together with a cheque +to cover the cost of the insertions. + +Next day the mortal remains of William Standerton were conveyed to their +last resting-place in the graveyard of the little village church. After +the funeral Jim drove back to the Manor House, accompanied by his +father's solicitor, who had travelled down from London for the ceremony. +He was already aware that, by his father's death, he had become a rich +man, but he had no idea how wealthy he would really be, until the will +was read to him. When this had been done he was informed that he was +worth upwards of half-a-million sterling. He shook his head sadly: + +"I'd give it all up willingly, every penny of it," he answered, "to have +my father alive. Even now I can scarcely believe that I shall never see +him again. It seems an extraordinary thing to me that the police have, +so far, not been able to obtain any clue as to the whereabouts of +Murbridge. Look at this heap of letters," he continued, pointing to a +pile of correspondence lying upon the writing table, "each one hails +from somebody who has either seen Murbridge or professes to know where +he is to be found. One knows just such a man working in a baker's shop +in Shoreditch; another has lately returned with him on board a liner +from America, and on receipt of the reward will give me his present +address; a third says that he is a waiter in a popular restaurant in +Oxford Street; a fourth avers that he is hiding near the Docks, and +intends leaving England this week. So the tale goes on, and will +increase, I suppose, every day." + +"The effect of offering so large a reward," replied the lawyer. "My only +hope is that it will not have the effect of driving him out of England. +In which case the difficulty of laying hands upon him will be more than +doubled." + +"He need not think that flight will save him," Jim replied. "Let him go +where he pleases, I will run him to earth." + + * * * * * + +Helen had spent the day at the Manor House, trying to comfort Alice in +her distress. At nine o'clock she decided to return to her own home, and +Jim determined to accompany her. They accordingly set off together. So +occupied were they by their own thoughts, that for some time neither of +them spoke. Jim was the first to break the silence. + +"Helen," he said, "I cannot thank you sufficiently for your goodness to +Alice during this awful time. But for you I do not know how she would +have come through it." + +"Poor girl," Helen answered, "my heart aches for her." + +"She was so fond of our father," James answered. + +"Not more than you were, dear," Helen replied; "but you have borne your +trouble so bravely--never once thinking of yourself." + +The night was dark, and there was no one about, so why should he not +have slipped his arm round her waist. + +"Helen," he said, "the time has come for me to ask what our future is to +be. Will you wait for Mr. Bursfield's death before you become my wife, +or will you court his displeasure and trust yourself to me?" + +"I would trust myself to you at any time," she answered. "But do you not +see how I am situated? I owe everything to my Guardian. But for his care +of me in all probability I should now be a governess, a music-mistress, +or something of that sort. He has fed me, clothed me, and loved me, +after his own fashion, for a number of years. Would it not, therefore, +seem like an act of the basest ingratitude to leave him desolate, merely +to promote my own happiness?" + +"And does my happiness count for nothing?" Jim returned. "But let us +talk the matter over dispassionately, and see what can be done. Don't +think me heartless, Helen, when I say, that you must realise that Mr. +Bursfield is a very old man. It is just possible, therefore, that the +event we referred to a few moments ago may take place in the near +future. Now, owing to my father's death, I ought not to be married for +some time to come. I propose, therefore, that we wait until, say, the +end of six months, and then make another appeal to your guardian? It is +just possible he may be more inclined to listen to reason then. What do +you say? + +"I will do whatever you wish," she answered simply. "I fear, however, +that, while Mr. Bursfield lives, he will take no other view of the +case." + +"We must hope that he will," Jim replied. "In the meantime, as long as I +know that you are true to me, and love me as I love you, I shall be +quite happy." + +"You do believe that I love you, don't you, Jim?" she asked, looking up +at her lover in the starlight. + +"Of course I do," he answered. "God knows what a lucky man I deem myself +for having been permitted to win your love. I am supremely thankful for +one thing, and that is, the fact that my father learnt to know and love +you before his death." + +"As I had learnt to love him," she replied. "But there, who could help +doing so?" + +"One man at least," Jim replied. "Unhappily, we have the worst of +reasons for knowing that there was one person in the world who bore him +a mortal hatred." + +"Have you heard anything yet from the police regarding Murbridge?" + +"Not a word," Jim answered. "They have given me their most positive +assurance that they are leaving no stone unturned to find the man, but, +so far, they appear to have been entirely unsuccessful. If they do not +soon run him down I shall take up the case myself, and see what I can do +with it. And now here we are at the gate. You do not know how hard it is +for me to let you go, even for so short a time. With the closing of that +door the light seems to go out of my life." + +"I hope and pray that you will always be able to say that," she answered +solemnly. + +Then they bade each other good-night, and she disappeared into the +house, leaving Jim free to resume his walk. He had not gone many steps, +however, before he heard his name called, and, turning round, beheld no +less a person than Mr. Bursfield hurrying after him. He waited for the +old gentleman to come up. It was the first time that Jim had known him +to venture beyond the limits of his own grounds. The circumstance was as +puzzling as it was unusual. + +"Will you permit me a short conversation with you, Mr. Standerton?" Mr. +Bursfield began. "I recognised your voice as you bade Miss Decie +good-bye, and hurried after you in the hope of being able to see you." + +For a moment Jim hoped that Mr. Bursfield had come after him in order to +make amends, and to withdraw his decision regarding his marriage with +Helen. This hope, however, was soon extinguished. + +"Mr. Standerton," the old gentleman continued, "you may remember what I +told you a few evenings since concerning the proposal you did me the +honour of making on behalf of my ward, Miss Decie?" + +"I remember it perfectly," Jim replied; "it is scarcely likely that I +should forget." + +"Since then I have given the matter careful consideration, and I may say +that I have found no reason for deviating from my previous decision." + +"I am sorry indeed to hear that. The more so as your ward and myself are +quite convinced that our affections are such as will not change or grow +weaker with time. Indeed, Mr. Bursfield, I have had another idea in my +mind which I fancied might possibly commend itself to you, and induce +you to reconsider your decision. You have already told me that Miss +Decie's presence is necessary to your happiness. As a proof of what a +good girl she is I might inform you that, only a few moments since, she +told me that she could not consent to leave you, for the reason that she +felt that she owed all she possessed to you." + +"I am glad that Helen has at least a spark of gratitude," the other +answered with a sneer. "It is a fact that she does owe everything to me. +And now for this idea of yours." + +"What I was going to propose is," said Jim, "that in six months' time, +or so, you should permit me to marry your ward, and from that day +forward should take up your residence with us." + +The old man looked at him in astonishment. Then he burst into a torrent +of speech. + +"Such a thing is not to be thought of," he cried. "I could not consider +it for a moment; it would be little short of madness. I am a recluse. I +care less than nothing for society. My books are my only companions; I +want, and will have, no others. Besides, I could not live in that house +of yours, were you to offer me all the gold in the world." + +Here he grasped Jim's arm so tightly that the young man almost winced. + +"I have, of course, heard of your father's death," he continued. "It is +said that he was murdered. But, surely, knowing what you do, you are not +going to be foolish enough to believe that?" + +"And why not?" Jim enquired in great surprise. "I can do nothing else, +for every circumstance of the case points to murder. Good heavens! Mr. +Bursfield, if my father were not murdered, how did he meet his death?" + +The other was silent for a moment before he replied. Then he drew a step +nearer, and, looking up at Jim, asked in a low voice: + +"Have you forgotten what I said to you concerning the mystery of the +house? Did I not tell you that one of the former owners was found dead +in bed, having met his fate in identically the same manner as your +father did? Does not this appear significant to you? If not, your +understanding must indeed be dull." + +The new explanation of the mystery was so extraordinary, that Jim did +not know what to say or think about it. That his father's death had +resulted from any supernatural agency had never crossed his mind. + +"I fear I am not inclined to agree with you, Mr. Bursfield," he said +somewhat coldly. "Even if one went so far as to believe in such things, +the evidence given by the doctor at the inquest would be sufficient to +refute the idea." + +"In that case let us drop the subject," Bursfield answered. "My only +desire was to warn you. It is rumoured in the village that on the night +of your father's death one of your domestics was confronted by the +spectre known as the Black Dwarf, and fainted in consequence. My old +man-servant also told me this morning that your butler had seen it on +another occasion. I believe the late Lord Childerbridge also saw it, and +in consequence determined to be rid of the place at any cost. No one has +been able to live there, and I ask you to be warned in time, Mr. +Standerton. For my own part, as I have said before, though it is the +home of my ancestors, I would not pass a night at Childerbridge for the +wealth of all the Indies." + +"In that case you must be more easily frightened than I am," said Jim. +"On the two occasions you mention, the only evidence we have to rely +upon is the word of a hysterical maid-servant, and the assurance of a +butler, who, for all we know to the contrary, may have treated himself +more liberally than usual, on that particular evening, to my father's +port." + +"Scoff as you will," Bursfield returned, "but so far as you are +concerned I have done my duty. I have given you your warning, and if you +do not care to profit by it, that has nothing to do with me. And now to +return to the matter upon which I hastened after you this evening. I +refer to your proposed marriage with my ward." + +Jim said nothing, but waited for Mr. Bursfield to continue. He had a +vague feeling that what he was about to hear would mean unhappiness for +himself. + +"I informed you the other day," the latter continued, "that it was +impossible for me to sanction your proposal. I regret that I am still +compelled to adhere to this decision. In point of fact, I feel that it +is necessary for me to go even further, and to say that I must for the +future ask you to refrain from addressing yourself to Miss Decie at +all." + +"Do you mean that you refuse me permission to see her or to speak with +her?" Jim asked in amazement. + +"If, by seeing her, you mean holding personal intercourse with her, I +must confess that you have judged the situation correctly. I am desirous +of preventing Miss Decie from falling into the error of believing that +she will ever be your wife." + +"But, my dear sir, this is an unheard-of proceeding. Why should you +object to me in this way? You know nothing against me, and you are aware +that I love your ward. You admitted, on the last occasion that I +discussed the matter with you, that Miss Decie might expect little or +nothing from you at your death. Why, therefore, in the name of +Commonsense, are you so anxious to prevent her marrying the man she +loves, and who is in a position to give her all the comfort and +happiness wealth and love can bestow?" + +"You have heard my decision," the other replied quietly. "I repeat that +on no consideration will I consent to a marriage between my ward and +yourself. And, as I said just now, I will go even further, and forbid +you most positively for the future either to see or to communicate with +her." + +"And you will not give me your reasons for taking this extraordinary +step?" + +"I will not. That is all I have to say to you, and I have the honour to +wish you a good evening." + +"But I have not finished yet," said Jim, whose anger by this time had +got the better of him. "Once and for all, let me tell you this, Mr. +Bursfield: I have already informed you that I am determined, at any +cost, to make Miss Decie my wife. I might add now, that your tyrannical +behaviour will only make me the more anxious to do so. If the young lady +deems it incumbent upon her to await your consent before marrying me, I +will listen to her and not force the matter; but give her up I certainly +will not so long as I live." + +"Beware, sir, I warn you, beware!" the other almost shrieked. + +"If that is all you have to say to me I will bid you good evening." + +But Bursfield did not answer; he merely turned on his heel and strode +back in the direction of the Dower House. Jim stood for a moment looking +after his retreating figure, and when he could no longer distinguish it, +turned and made his way homewards. + +On reaching the Manor House he informed his sister of what had taken +place between himself and Helen's guardian. + +"He must be mad to treat you so," said Alice, when her brother had +finished. "He knows that Helen loves you, and surely he cannot be so +selfish as to prefer his own comfort to her happiness." + +"I am afraid that is exactly what he does do," said Jim. "However, I +suppose I must make allowances. Old age is apt to be selfish. Besides, +we have to remember, as Helen says, that she owes much to him. No! we +will do as we proposed, and wait six months, and see what happens then!" + +But though he spoke so calmly he was by no means at ease in his own +mind. He was made much happier, however, by a note which was brought to +him as he was in the act of retiring to rest. + +It was in Helen's handwriting, and he tore it open eagerly. + + "My own dear love," it ran, "Mr. Bursfield has just informed me + of what took place between you this evening. It is needless for + me to say how sorry I am that such a thing should have + occurred. I cannot understand his behaviour in this matter. + That something more than any thought of his own personal + comfort makes him withhold his consent, I feel certain. + Whatever happens, however, you know that I will be true to you; + and if I cannot be your wife, I will be wife to no other man. + + "Your loving Helen." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +While the letter from Helen cheered James Standerton wonderfully, it did +not in any way help him out of his difficulty with Mr. Bursfield. The +latter had most decisively stated his intention not to give his consent +to the marriage of his adopted granddaughter with the young Squire of +Childerbridge. What his reasons were for taking such a step, neither Jim +nor Helen could form any idea. It was a match that most guardians would +have been only too thankful to have brought about. In spite of Helen's +statements, he could only, after mature consideration, assign it to the +old man's natural selfishness, and, however bitterly he might resent his +treatment, in his own heart he knew there was nothing for it but to wait +with such patience as he could command for a change in the other's +feelings towards himself. He had the satisfaction of knowing, however, +that Helen loved him, and that she would be true to him, happen what +might. He was not a more than usually romantic young man, but I happen +to know that he carried that letter about with him constantly, while he +had read it so often that he must have assuredly known its contents by +heart. All things considered, it is wonderful what comfort it is +possible for a love-sick young man to derive from a few commonplace +words written upon a sheet of notepaper. + +After the momentous interview with Mr. Bursfield, the days went by with +their usual sameness at Childerbridge. No news arrived from the +detective, Robins. Apparently it was quite impossible for him to +discover the smallest clue as to Murbridge's whereabouts. To all intents +and purposes he had disappeared as completely as if he had been caught +up into the skies. The reward, beyond bringing a vast amount of trouble +and disappointment to Jim, had not proved of the least use to any one +concerned. + +Numerous half-witted folk, as is usual in such cases, had come forward +and given themselves up, declaring that they had committed the murder, +but the worthlessness of their stories was at once proved in every case. +One man, it was discovered, had been on the high seas another had never +been near Childerbridge in his life; while a third, and this was a still +more remarkable case, was found to have been an inmate of one of Her +Majesty's convict establishments at the time the murder was committed. + +"Never mind," said Jim to himself; "he must be captured sooner or later. +If the police authorities cannot catch him, I'll take up the case +myself, and run him to ground, wherever he may be." + +As he said this he looked up at the portrait of his father, which hung +upon the wall of his study. + +"Come what may, father," he continued, "if there is any justice in the +world, your cruel murder shall be avenged." + +Another month went by, and still the same want of success attended the +search for Murbridge. + +"Alice, I can stand it no longer," said Jim to his sister one evening, +after he had read a communication from Robins. "I can gather from the +tone of this letter that they are losing heart. I ought to have taken up +the case myself at the commencement, and not have wasted all this +precious time. The man may now be back in Australia, South America, or +anywhere else." + +Alice crossed the room and placed her hand on his shoulder. + +"Dear old Jim," she said, "I am sure you know how I loved our father." + +"Of course I do," said Jim, looking up at her. "No one knows better. But +I can see there is something you want to say to me. What is it?" + +"Don't be angry with me, Jim," she replied, seating herself on the arm +of his chair "but deeply as that man has wronged us, I cannot help +thinking that we should not always be praying for vengeance against him, +as we are doing. Do you think it is what our father, with his noble +nature, would have wished?" + +Jim was silent for a moment. The desire for vengeance by this time had +taken such a hold upon him, and had become such an integral part of his +constitution, that he was staggered beyond measure by her words. + +"Surely you don't mean to say, Alice," he stammered, "that you are +willing to forgive the man who so cruelly killed our father?" + +"I shall try to forgive him," the girl replied. "I say again, that I am +sure it is what our father would have wished us to do." + +"I am no such saint," Jim returned angrily. "I wish to see that man +brought to justice, and, what's more, if no one else will, I mean to +bring him. He took that noble life, and he must pay the penalty of his +crime. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, was the old law. Why +should we change it?" + +Alice rose and crossed the room to her own chair with a little sigh. She +knew her brother well enough to be sure that, having once made up his +mind, he would carry out his determination. + +On the morning following this conversation, Jim was standing after +breakfast at the window of his sister's boudoir, looking out upon the +lawn, across which the leaves were being driven by the autumn wind. His +brow was puckered with thought. As a matter of fact, he was wondering at +the moment how he should commence his search for Murbridge. London was +such a great city, and for an amateur to attempt to find a man in it, +who desired to remain hidden, was very much like setting himself the +task of hunting for a needle in a bundle of hay. He neither knew where +or how to begin. While he was turning the question over in his mind, his +quick eye detected the solitary figure of a man walking across the park +in the direction of the house. He watched it pass the clump of +rhododendrons, and then lost it again in the dip beyond the lake. +Presently it reappeared, and within a few moments it was within easy +distance of the house. At first Jim had watched the figure with but +small interest; later, however, his sister noticed that he gradually +became excited. When the stranger had passed the corner of the house he +turned excitedly to his sister. + +"Good gracious, Alice!" he cried, "it surely cannot be." + +"What cannot be?" asked Alice, leaving her chair, and approaching the +window. + +"That man coming up the drive," Jim replied. "It doesn't seem possible +that it can be he, yet I've often boasted that I should know his figure +anywhere. If it were not the most improbable thing in the world, I +should be prepared to swear that it's Terence O'Riley." + +"But, my dear Jim, what could Terence be doing here, so many thousand +miles from our old home?" + +But Jim did not wait to answer the question. Almost before Alice had +finished speaking he had reached the front door, had opened it, and was +wildly shaking hands with a tall, spare man, with a humorous, yet +hatchet-shaped face, so sunburnt as to be almost the colour of mahogany. + +The newcomer, Terence O'Riley, was a character in his way. He boasted +that he knew nothing of father or mother, or relations of any sort or +kind. He had received his Hibernian patronymic from his first friend, a +wild Irishman on the diggings where he was born. He had entered William +Standerton's service at the age of twelve, as horse-boy, and for upwards +of thirty years had remained his faithful henchman. In every respect he +was a typical Bushman. He could track like a blackfellow, ride any horse +that was ever foaled, find his way in the thickest country with unerring +skill, was a first-class rifle shot, an unequalled judge of cattle, a +trifle pugnacious at certain seasons, but, and this seems an anomaly, at +other times he possessed a heart as tender as a little child. When +William Standerton and his family had left Australia, his grief had been +sincere. For weeks he had been inconsolable, and it meant a sure +thrashing for any man who dared to mention James' name in his hearing. + +"What on earth does this mean, Terence?" asked Jim, who could scarcely +believe that it was their old servant who stood before him. + +"It means a good many things, Master Jim," said Terence, with the drawl +in his voice peculiar to Australian Bushmen. "It's a longish yarn, but, +my word, I _am_ just glad to see you again, and, bless me, there's Miss +Alice too, looking as pretty as a grass parrot on a gum log." + +With a smile of happiness on her face, that had certainly not been there +since her father's death, Alice came forward and gave Terence her hand. +He took it in his great palm, and I think, but am not quite sure, that +there were tears in his eyes. + +"Come in at once," said Jim. "You must tell us your tale from beginning +to end. Even now I can scarcely realise that it is you. Every moment I +expect to see you vanish into mid-air. If I had been asked where you +were at this moment, I should have said 'out in one of the back +paddocks, say the Bald Mountain, riding along the fence on old Smoker, +with Dingo trotting at his heels.'" + +"No, sir," Terence answered, looking round the great hall as he spoke, +"I sold Smoker at Bourke before I came away, and one of the overseers +has Dingo, poor old dog. The fact of the matter was, sir, after you left +I got a bit lonesome, and the old place didn't seem like the same. I had +put by a matter of between four and five hundred pounds, and, thinks I +to myself, there's the Old Country, that they say is so beautiful, and +to think that I've never set eyes on it. Why shouldn't I make the trip, +and just drop in and see the Boss, and Master Jim, and Miss Alice in +their new home. Who knows but that they might want a colt broken for +them. As soon as I made up my mind, I packed my bag and set off for +Melbourne, took a passage on board a ship that was sailing next day, and +here I am, sir. I hope your father is well, sir?" + +There was an awkward pause, during which Alice left the room. + +"Is it possible you haven't heard, Terence?" Jim enquired, in a hushed +voice. + +"I've not heard anything, sir," Terence answered. "I was six weeks on +the water, you see. I _do_ hope, sir, there is nothing wrong." + +Jim thereupon told Terence the whole story of his father's death. When +he had finished the Bushman's consternation may be better imagined than +described. For some moments it deprived him of speech. He could only +stare at Jim in horrified amazement. + +"Tell me, sir, that they've got the man who did it," he said at last, +bringing his hand down with a bang on the table beside which he was +seated. "Tell me that they're going to hang the blackguard who killed +the kindest master in all the world, or I'll say that there's not a +trooper in England that's fit to call himself a policeman." + +The poor fellow was genuinely affected. + +"They haven't caught him yet, Terence," said Jim. "The police have been +searching for him everywhere for weeks past, but without success." + +"But they must find him, run him down, and hang him, just as we used to +string up the cowardly dingoes out back when they worried the sheep. If +I have to track him like a Nyall blackfellow, I'll find him." + +"Terence, I believe you've come at the right time," said Jim, holding +out his hand. "Seeing the way the police Authorities are managing +affairs, I've decided to take up the case myself. You were a faithful +servant to my father, and you've known me all my life. You've got a head +on your shoulders--do you remember who it was that found out who stole +those sheep from Coobalah Out Station? Come with me, old friend, and +we'll run the villain down together. _I_ would not wish for a better +companion." + +"I'm thankful now that I came, sir," Terence replied. "You mark my +words, we'll find him, wherever he's stowed himself away." + +From that day Terence was made a member of the Childerbridge household. +In due course, accompanied by Jim, he inspected the stables and was more +than a little impressed by the luxury with which the animals were +surrounded. + +"Very pretty," he muttered to himself, "and turned out like racehorses; +all the same, I wouldn't like to ride 'em after cattle in the Ranges on +a dark night." + +The sedate head coachman could not understand the situation. He was +puzzled as to what manner of man this might be, who, though so poorly +dressed, while treating his master with the utmost respect, conversed +with him on terms of perfect equality. His amazement, however, was +turned into admiration later in the day when Mr. O'Riley favoured him +with an exposition of the gentle art of horse-breaking. + +"He's a bit too free and easy in his manners towards the governor for my +likin'," he informed the head gardener afterwards, "but there's no +denyin' the fact that he's amazin' clever with a youngster. They do say +as 'ow he did all Mr. Standerton's horse-breaking in foreign parts." + +It soon became apparent that Terence was destined to become one of the +most popular personages at Childerbridge. His quaint mannerisms, +extraordinary yarns, and readiness to take any sort of work, however +hard, upon his shoulders, won for him a cordial welcome from the +inhabitants of the Manor House. As for Jim and Alice, for some reason +best known to themselves they derived a comfort from his presence that +at any other time they would scarcely have believed possible. + +On the day following Terence's arrival James stood on the steps at the +front door, watching him school a young horse in the park. The +high-spirited animal was inclined to be troublesome, but with infinite +tact and patience Terence was gradually asserting his supremacy. Little +by little, as he watched him, Jim's thoughts drifted away from +Childerbridge, and another scene, equally familiar, rose before his +eyes. He saw a long creeper-covered house, standing on the banks of a +mighty river. A man was seated in the verandah, and that man was his +father. Talking to him from the garden path was another--no less a +person than Terence. Then he himself emerged from the house and stood by +his father's side--a little boy of ten, dressed in brown holland, and +wearing a broad-brimmed straw hat upon his head. Upon his coming his +father rose, and, taking him by the hand, led him down to the +stock-yard, accompanied by Terence. In the yard stood the prettiest pony +that mortal boy had ever set eyes on. + +"There, my boy," said his father, "that is my birthday present to you. +Terence has broken him." + +And now here was this self-same Terence in England, of all places in the +world, making his hunters for him, while the father, who all his life +had proved so generous to him, was lying in his grave, cruelly murdered. +At that moment Alice came up behind him. + +"What are you thinking of, Jim?" she enquired. + +"I was thinking of Mudrapilla and the old days," he answered. "Seeing +Terence out there on that horse brought it back to me so vividly that +for a moment I had quite forgotten that I was in England. Do you know, +Alice, that sometimes a wild longing to be back there takes possession +of me. If only Helen were my wife, I'm not quite certain that I should +not want to take you both back--if only for a trip. It seems to me that +I would give anything to feel the hot sun upon my shoulders once again, +to smell the smoke of a camp fire, to see the dust rise from the +stock-yards, and to scent the perfume of the orange blossoms as we sit +together in the verandah in the evening. Alice, that is the life of a +man; this luxurious idleness makes me feel effeminate. But there, what +am I talking about? I've got my duty to do in England before we go back +to Mudrapilla." + +At that moment Terence rode up, very satisfied with himself and with the +animal upon whose back he was seated. He had scarcely departed in the +direction of the stable before Jim descried a carriage entering the +park. It proved to be a fly from the station, and in it Robins, the +detective, was seated. + +"Good afternoon, sir," he said, as he alighted; "in response to your +letter, I have come down to see you personally." + +"I am very glad you have done so," Jim replied, "for I have been most +anxious to see you. Let us go into the house." + +He thereupon led the way to his study, where he invited the detective to +be seated. + +"I hope you have some good news for me," Jim remarked, as he closed the +door. "Have you made any discovery concerning Murbridge?" + +The detective shook his head. + +"I am sorry to say," he answered, "that our efforts have been entirely +unsuccessful. We traced the man from Paddington to a small eating-house +in the vicinity of the station, but after that we lost him altogether. +We have kept a careful watch on the out-going ships, tried the hotels, +lodging-houses, Salvation Army Shelters and such places, and have sent a +description of him to every police station in the country, but so far +without an atom of success. Once, when the body of a man was found in +the river at Greenwich, I thought we had discovered him. The description +given of the dead man tallied exactly with that of Murbridge. I was +disappointed, however, for he turned out to be a chemist's assistant, +who had been missing from Putney for upwards of a fortnight. Then a man +gave himself up to the police at Bristol, but he was found to be a mad +solicitor's clerk from Exeter. This is one of the deepest cases I have +ever been concerned in, Mr. Standerton, and though I am not the sort of +man who gives up very quickly, I am bound to confess that, up to the +present, I have been beaten, and beaten badly." + +"You are not going to abandon the case, I hope?" Jim asked anxiously. +"Because you have been unsuccessful so far, you are surely not going to +give it up altogether?" + +"The law never abandons a case," the other observed sententiously. "Of +course it's quite within the bounds of possibility that we may hit upon +some clue that will ultimately lead to Murbridge's arrest; it is +possible that he may give himself up in course of time; at the present, +however, I must admit that both circumstances appear remarkably remote." + +"Well," returned Jim, "I can assure you that, whatever else happens, _I_ +am not going to give up. If the authorities are going to do so, I shall +take it up myself and see what I can do." + +There was a suspicion of a smile upon the detective's face as he +listened. Was it possible that an amateur could really believe himself +to be capable of succeeding where the astute professionals of Scotland +Yard had failed? + +"I am afraid you will only be giving yourself needless trouble," he +said. + +"I should not consider it trouble to try and discover my father's +murderer," Jim returned hotly. "Even if I am not more successful than +the police have been, I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that I +have done my best. May I trouble you for the name of the eating-house to +which Murbridge proceeded on leaving Paddington?" + +Taking a piece of paper from the writing-table, Robins wrote the name +and address of the eating-house upon it, and handed it to Jim. The +latter placed it carefully in his pocket-book, and felt that he must +make the house in question his starting point. + +When the detective took his departure half an hour later, Jim gave +instructions that Terence should be sent to him. + +"Terence," he began, when the other stood before him, "I am going up to +London to-morrow morning to commence my search for Murbridge. I shall +want you to accompany me." + +"Very good, sir," Terence replied, "I've been hoping for this, and it'll +go hard now if we can't track him somehow. But you must bear in mind, +sir, that I've never been in London. If it was in the Bush, now, I won't +say but what I should not be able to find him, but I don't know much +about these big cities, so to speak. It will be like looking for a track +of one particular sheep in a stock-yard after a mob of wild cattle have +been turned into it." + +Jim smiled. He saw that Terence had not the vaguest notion of what +London was like. + +That evening he informed Alice of the decision he had come to. She had +been expecting it for some days past, and was not at all surprised by +it. She only asked that he would permit her to accompany him. + +"I could not remain here," she said, "and I'll promise that I'll not be +in your way. It will be so desolate in this house without you, +especially as Mr. Bursfield will not allow Helen to visit us, and I have +no other companion." + +"By all means come with me," said Jim, "I shall choose a quiet hotel in +the West End, and you must amuse yourself as best you can while I am +absent." + +Later in the evening he wrote a note to his sweetheart informing her of +his decision, and promising to let her know, day by day, what success +attended his efforts. + +Next morning they left Childerbridge Station at eleven o'clock for +London. As the train steamed out of the village past the little +churchyard, Jim looked down upon his father's grave, which he could just +see on the eastern side of the church. + +"Dear father," he muttered to himself, "If have to devote the rest of my +life in bringing your murderer to justice, I'll do it." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +It was considerably past midday by the time Jim and his sister, +accompanied by Terence, reached London. On arriving at Paddington, they +engaged a cab and drove to the hotel they had selected, a private +establishment leading out of Piccadilly. Terence's amazement at the size +of London was curious to witness. Hitherto he had regarded Melbourne as +stupendous, now it struck him that that town was a mere village compared +with this giant Metropolis. When he noted the constant stream of +traffic, the crowds that thronged the pavements, and the interminable +streets, his heart misgave him concerning the enterprise upon which he +had so confidently embarked. + +"Bless my soul, how many people can there be in London?" he asked, as +they drove up to the hotel. + +"Something over five millions," Jim replied. "It's a fair-sized +township." + +"And we are going to look for one man," continued the other. "I guess it +would be easier to find a scrubber in the mallee than to get on the +track of a man who is hiding himself here." + +"Nevertheless we've got to find him somehow," said Jim. "That's the end +of the matter." + +After lunch he sent word to Terence that he wished him to accompany him +on his first excursion. Up to that time he had formed no definite plan +of action, but it was borne in upon him that he could do nothing at all +until he had visited the eating-house to which Murbridge had been traced +after his arrival at Paddington Station. They accordingly made their way +to the house in question. It proved to be an uninviting place, with a +sawdust-covered floor, and half-a-dozen small tables arranged along one +side. On the other was a counter upon which were displayed a variety of +covered dishes and huge tea cups. At the moment of Jim's entering the +proprietor was giving his attention to a steaming pan of frying onions. + +"What can I do for you, sir?" he asked, as he removed the frying-pan +from the gas and came forward. + +"I want five minutes' conversation with you in private, if you will give +it to me," Jim replied, and then in a lower voice he added: "I stand in +need of some information which I have been told you are in a position to +supply. I need not say that I shall be quite willing to recompense you +for any loss of time or trouble you may be put to." + +"In that case I shall be very happy to oblige you, sir," the man replied +civilly enough. "That is to say, if it is in my power to do so. Will you +be good enough to step this way?" + +Pulling down his shirt-sleeves, which until that moment had been rolled +up, and slipping on a greasy coat, he led the way from the shop to a +tiny apartment leading out of it. It was very dirty and redolent of +onions and bad tobacco. Its furniture was scanty, and comprised a table, +covered with American cloth, a cupboard, and two wooden chairs, upon one +of which James was invited to seat himself. Terence, who had followed +them, took the other, while he surveyed its owner with evident +disfavour. + +"And now, sir," said that individual, "I should be glad if you can tell +me what I can do for you. If it's about the Board School election, well, +I'll tell you at once, straight out, as man to man, that I ain't a-goin' +to vote for either party. There was a young wagabond that I engaged the +other day. He had had a Board School edecation, and it had taught him +enough to be able to humbug me with his takings. Thirteen and +elevenpence-'alfpenny was what he stole from me. And as I said to the +missus only last night, 'No more Board School lads for me!' But there, +sir, p'raps you ain't a-got nothing to do with them?" + +"I certainly have not," James replied. "I am here on quite a different +matter. Of course you remember the police visiting you a short time +since, with regard to a man who was suspected of being the murderer of +Mr. Standerton, at Childerbridge, in Midlandshire?" + +"Remember it?" the man replied, "I should think I did. And haven't I got +good cause to remember it? I was nigh being worritted to death by 'em. +First it was one, and then it was another, hanging about here and asking +questions. Had I seen the man? Did I know where he had gone? What was he +like? Till with one thing and another I was most driven off my head. I +won't say as how a detective oughtn't to ask questions, because we all +know it's his duty, but when it comes to interferin' with a man's +private business and drivin' his customers away from the shop--for I +won't make no secrets with you that there is folks as eats at my table +as is not in love with 'tecs--well, then I say, if it comes to that, +it's about time a man put his foot down." + +"My case is somewhat different," said James. "In the first place, I am +not a detective, but the son of the gentleman who was murdered." + +"Good gracious me! you don't say so," said the man, regarding him with +astonishment and also with evident appreciation. "Now that makes all the +difference. It's only fit and proper that a young gentleman should want +to find out the man who, so to speak, had given him such a knock-down +blow. Ask me what questions you like, sir, and I'll do my best to answer +'em." + +"Well, first and foremost," said Jim, "I want to know how you became +aware that the man in question hailed from Childerbridge? He wouldn't +have been likely to say so." + +"No, you're right there," the man replied. "He didn't say so, but I knew +it, because after he had had his meal, my girl was giving him 'is +change, I saw there was a Childerbridge label on the small bag he +carried in his hand. I put it to you, sir, if he hadn't been there, +would that label have been on the bag?" + +"Of course it would not. And he answered to the description given you?" + +"To a T, sir. Same sort of face, same sort of dress, snarly manner of +speaking, spotted bird's-eye necktie and all." + +"It must have been the man. And now another question. You informed the +police, did you not, that you had no knowledge as to where he went after +he left your shop?" + +The man fidgetted uneasily in his chair for a moment, and drummed with +his fingers upon the cover of the table. It was evident that he was +keeping something back, and was trying to make up his mind as to whether +he should divulge his information or not. + +Here James played a good game, and with a knowledge of human character +few people would have supposed him to possess, took from his pocket a +sovereign, which he laid on the table before the other. + +"There," he said, "is a sovereign. I can see that you are keeping +something back from me. Now, that money is yours whether you tell me or +not. If it is likely to affect your happiness don't let me know, but if +you can, I shall be glad if you will tell me all you know." + +"Spoken like a gentleman, sir," the other replied, "and I don't mind if +I do tell you, though it may get me into trouble with some of my +customers if you give me away. You see, sir, round about here in this +neighbourhood, a man has to be careful of what he says and does. Suppose +it was to come to the ears of some people that it was me as gave the +information that got the bloke arrested, well then, they'd be sure to +say to 'emselves, 'he's standin' in with the perlice, and we don't go +near his shop again.' Do you take my meaning, sir?" + +"I quite understand," James replied. "I appreciate your difficulty, but +you may be quite sure that I will not mention your name in connection +with any information you may give me." + +"Spoken and acted like a gentleman again, sir," said the shopman. "Now +I'll tell you what I know. I didn't tell the 'tecs,' becos they didn't +treat me any too well. But this is what I _do_ know, sir. As he went out +of the door he asked my little boy, Tommy, wot was playing on the +pavement, how far it was to Great Medlum Street? The boy gave him the +direction, and then he went off." + +"Great Medlum Street?" said James, and made a note of the name in his +pocket-book. "And how far may that be from here?" + +"Not more than ten minutes' walk," the other replied. "Go along this +street, then take the third turning to your left and the first on the +right. You can't make no mistake about it." + +"And what kind of a street is it?" Jim enquired. "I mean, what sort of +character does it bear?" + +"Well, sir, that's more than I can tell you," said the other. "For all I +know to the contrary, it's a fairish sort of street, not so fust-class +as some others I could name, but there's a few decent people living in +it." + +"And do you happen to have anything else to tell me about him?" + +"That's all I know, sir," said the other. "I haven't set eyes on him +from that blessed moment until this, and I don't know as I want to." + +"I am very much obliged to you," said Jim, rising and putting his +pocket-book away. "You have given me great assistance." + +"I'm sure you're very welcome, sir," replied the man. "I am always ready +to do anything I can for a gentleman. It's the Board School folk +that----" + +Before the man could finish his sentence, Jim was in the shop once more, +and was making his way towards the door, closely followed by Terence. + +"Now the first question to be decided," he said, when they were in the +street, "is what is best for us to do? If I go to Great Medlum Street, +it is more than likely that Murbridge will see me and make off again; +while, if I wait to communicate with Robins, I may lose him altogether." + +Eventually it was decided that he should not act on his own initiative, +but should communicate with Detective Robins, and let him make enquiries +in the neighbourhood in question. A note was accordingly despatched to +the authorities at Scotland Yard. In it James informed them that it had +come to his knowledge that the man Murbridge was supposed to be residing +in Great Medlum Street, though in what house could not be stated. Later +in the day Robins himself put in an appearance at the hotel. + +"You received my letter?" James asked when they were alone together. + +"I did, sir," the man answered, "and acted upon it at once." + +"And with what result?" + +"Only to discover that our man has slipped through our fingers once +more," said the detective. "He left Great Medlum Street two days ago. Up +to that time he had lodged at number eighteen. The landlady informs me +that she knows nothing as to his present whereabouts. He passed under +the name of Melbrook, and was supposed by the other lodgers to be an +American." + +"You are quite certain that it is our man?" + +"There can be no doubt about it. He went to the house on the day that +the murder was discovered. Now the next thing to find out is where he +now is. From what his landlady told me, I should not think he was in the +possession of much money. As a matter of fact, she suspected that he had +been pawning his clothes, for the reason that his bag, which was +comparatively heavy when he arrived, seemed to be almost empty when he +left. To-morrow morning I shall make enquiries at the various +pawnbrokers in the neighbourhood, and it is just possible we may get +some further information from them." + +Promising to communicate with Jim immediately he had anything of +importance to impart, Robins took his departure, and Jim went in search +of Alice to tell her the news. Next day word was brought to him to the +effect that Murbridge had pawned several articles, but in no case were +the proprietors able to furnish any information concerning his present +whereabouts. Feeling that it was just possible, as in the case of the +eating-house keeper near Paddington Station, that the detectives had not +been able to acquire all the knowledge that was going, Jim, accompanied +by the faithful Terence, set off in the afternoon for number eighteen, +Great Medium Street. It proved to be a lodging-house of the common type. + +In response to their ring the door was opened by the landlady, a voluble +person of Irish descent. She looked her visitors up and down before +admitting them, and having done so, enquired if they stood in need of +apartments. + +"I regret to say that we do not," said Jim blandly. "My friend and I +have come to put a few questions to you concerning----" + +"Not poor Mr. Melbrook, I hope," she answered. "Is all London gone mad? +'Twas but yesterday afternoon, just when I was settin' down to my bit o' +tea that a gentleman comes to make enquiries about Mr. Melbrook. I told +'im he'd left the house, but that would not do. He wanted to know where +he had gone, and when and why he had left, just for all the world as if +he was his long-lost brother. Then this morning another comes. Wanted to +know if I knew where Mr. Melbrook pawned his clothes? Did he appear to +be in any trouble? Now here you are with your questions. D'ye think I've +got nothing better to do than to be trapesing round talkin' about what +don't concern me? What's the world coming to, I should like to know?" + +"But, my good woman, I am most anxious to find Mr. Melbrook," said Jim, +"and if you can put me into the possession of any information that will +help me to do so, I shall be very pleased to reward you for your +trouble." + +"But I've got nothing to tell you," she replied, "more's the pity of it, +since you speak so fair. From the time that Mr. Melbrook left my house +until this very moment I've heard nothing of him. He may have gone back +to America--if he was an American as they say--but there, he may be +anywhere. He was one of them sort of men that says nothing about his +business; he just kept himself to himself with his paper, and took his +drop of gin and water at night the same as you and me might do. If I was +to die next minute, that's all I can tell you about him." + +Seeing that it was useless to question her further, Jim pressed some +coins into the woman's willing hand, and bade her good-day. Then, more +dispirited by his failure than he would admit, he drove back to his +hotel. Alice met him in the hall with a telegram. + +"This has just come for you," she said. "I was about to open it." + +Taking it from her, he tore open the envelope, and withdrew the message. +It was from Robins, and ran as follows:-- + +"Think am on right track--will report as soon as return." + +It had been despatched from Waterloo Station. + +"Why did he not say where he was going?" said Jim testily, "instead of +keeping me in suspense." + +"Because he does not like to commit himself before he has more to +report, I suppose," said Alice. "Do not worry yourself about it, dear. +You will hear everything in good time." + +A long letter from Helen which arrived that evening helped to console +Jim, while the writing of an answer to her enabled him to while away +another half-hour. But it must be confessed that that evening Jim was +far from being himself. He felt that he would have given anything to +have accompanied the detective in his search. He went to bed at an early +hour, to dream that he was chasing Murbridge round the world, and do +what he would he could not come up with him. Next day there was no news, +and it was not until the middle of the day following that he heard +anything. Then another telegram arrived, stating that the detective +would call at the hotel between eight and nine o'clock that evening. He +did so, and the first glimpse of his face told Jim that his errand had +as usual been fruitless. + +"I can see," he said, "that you have not met with any success. Is that +not so?" + +"I'm sorry, sir," the man answered. "Information was brought me the day +before yesterday that a man answering in every way the description of +the person we wanted had pawned a small portmanteau at a shop in the +Mile End Road, and on making enquiries there, I heard that he had come +to lodge at a house in one of the streets in the vicinity. Accompanied +by one of my mates, I went to the house in question, only to discover +that we were too late again, and that the man had left for Southampton +that morning, intending to catch the out-going boat for South Africa. +Procuring a cab, I set off for Waterloo, and on my arrival there sent +that telegram to you, sir, and then went down to Southampton by the next +train. Unfortunately the two hours' delay had given him his chance, for +when I reached Southampton it was only to find that the vessel had +sailed half-an-hour before. I went at once to the Agent's office, where +I discovered that a man whose appearance tallied exactly with the +description given had booked a steerage passage at the last moment, and +had sailed aboard her. But if he's got out of England safely, we'll +catch him at Madeira. The police there will arrest him, and hold him for +us until we can get him handed over. He does not know that I am upon his +track, and for that reason he'll be sure to think he's got safely away." + +"We must hope to catch him at Madeira then. The vessel does not touch at +any port between, I suppose?" + +Robins shook his head. + +"No, Madeira is the first port of call. And now, sir, I'll bid you +good-night, if you don't mind. I've had a long day of it, and I'm tired. +To-morrow morning I've got to be abroad early on another little case +which is causing me a considerable amount of anxiety." + +Jim bade him good-night and then went in search of his sister, only to +find that she had a bad headache, and had gone to bed. After the +excitement of the day bed was out of the question, so donning a hat and +coat he left the hotel for a stroll. He walked quietly along Piccadilly, +smoking his cigar, and thinking of the girl who had promised to be his +wife, and who, at the moment, was probably thinking of him in the quiet +little Midlandshire village. How delightful life would be when she would +be his wife. He tried to picture himself in the capacity of Helen's +husband. From Helen his thoughts turned to Murbridge, and he tried to +imagine the guilty wretch, flying across the seas, flattering himself +continually that he had escaped the punishment he so richly deserved, +finding more security in every mile of water the vessel left behind her, +little dreaming that justice was aware of his flight, and that Nemesis +was waiting for him so short a time ahead. + +Reaching Piccadilly Circus, he walked on until he arrived at Leicester +Square. As the sky had become overcast, and a thin drizzle was beginning +to fall, he called a hansom, and bade the driver take him back to his +hotel. The horse started off, and they were soon proceeding at a fast +pace in the direction of Piccadilly. Just as they reached the Criterion +Theatre, a man stepped from the pavement, and began to cross the road. +Had not the cabman sharply pulled his horse to one side, nothing could +have saved him from being knocked down. So near a thing was it that Jim +sprang to his feet, and threw open the apron, feeling sure that the man +was down. But near though it was, the pedestrian had escaped, and, +turning round, was shaking his fist in a paroxysm of rage at the cabman. +At that moment he saw Jim, and stood for a second or two as if turned to +stone; then, gathering his faculties together, he ducked between two +cabs and disappeared. + +_That man was Richard Murbridge!_ + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Before Jim could recover from his astonishment at seeing the man whom he +had been led to believe was upon the high seas, standing before him, the +cabman had whipped up his horse once more, and was half across the +Circus. Springing to his feet, he pushed up the shutter, and bade the +driver pull up as quickly as possible. Then, jumping from the cab, he +gave the man the first coin he took from his pocket. + +"Did you see which way that fellow went we so nearly knocked down?" he +cried. + +"Went away towards Regent Street, I believe," answered the cabman. "He +had a narrow shave and it isn't his fault he isn't in hospital now." + +Jim waited to hear no more, but made his way back to the policeman he +had noticed standing beside the fountain in the centre of the Circus. + +"Did you see that man who was so nearly knocked down by a cab a few +minutes ago?" he enquired, scarcely able to speak for excitement. + +"I did," the officer answered laconically. "What about him?" + +"Only that you must endeavour to find him, and arrest him at once," said +Jim. "There is not a moment to be lost. He may have got away by this +time." + +"And he's precious lucky if he has," said the policeman. "Never saw a +closer thing in my life." + +"But don't you hear me? You must find him at once. Every second we waste +is giving him the chance of getting away." + +"Come, come, there's no such hurry: what's he done that you should be so +anxious to get hold of him?" + +By this time Jim was nearly beside himself with rage at the other's +stupidity. + +"That man was the Childerbridge murderer," he replied. "I am as certain +of it as I am that I see you standing before me now." + +"Come, come, Sir, that's all very well you know," said the policeman, +with what was plainly a kindly intent, "but you go along home and get to +bed quietly; you'll be better in the morning and will have forgotten all +about this 'ere murderer." + +After which, without another word, he walked away. + +"Well, of all the insane idiots in the world," muttered Jim, "that +fellow should come first. But I am not going to be baulked; I'll search +for Murbridge myself." + +He thereupon set off along Regent Street, but before he had gone half +the length of the street the folly of such a proceeding became apparent +to him. He knew that Murbridge had seen him, and, for this reason, would +most likely betake himself to the quiet of the back streets. To attempt +to find him, therefore, under cover of darkness, and at such an hour, +would be well-nigh an impossibility. Then another idea occurred to him. +Hailing a cab, he set off for Scotland Yard. On arrival there, he handed +in his card, and in due course was received most courteously by the +chief officer on duty. He explained his errand, and in doing so showed +the mistake under which Detective-sergeant Robins had been and was still +labouring. + +"He shall be communicated with at once," said the official. "I suppose +you are quite certain of the identity of the man you saw in Piccadilly +Circus, Mr. Standerton?" + +"As certain as I am of anything," Jim replied. "I should recognise him +anywhere. I was permitted a full view of his face, and I am quite sure +that I am not making a mistake. If only the cabman had pulled up a few +moments earlier, I might have been able to have stopped him." + +"In that case, you should be able to give us some details of his present +personal appearance, which would afford us considerable assistance in +our search for him." + +"He was wearing a black felt hat, and a brown overcoat, the collar of +which was turned up." + +The officer made a note of these particulars, and promised that the +information should be dispersed in all directions without loss of time. +Then, feeling that nothing more could be done Jim bade him good-night, +and drove back to his hotel. In spite of the work he had done that day +he was not destined to obtain a wink of sleep all night, but tumbled and +tossed in his bed, brooding continually over the chance he had missed of +securing his father's murderer. If only he had alighted when the cabman +first stopped, he might have been able to have secured Murbridge. Now +his capture seemed as remote as ever; further, indeed, than if he had +been, as Robins supposed, on board the vessel bound for South Africa. + +Jim had just finished his breakfast next morning when Robins called to +see him. + +"This is a nice sort of surprise you have given us, sir," said the +detective, when he had made a few commonplace remarks, "I mean your +seeing Murbridge last night; I don't know what to think of it. It seems +to me to be more of a mystery than ever now." + +"The only thing you can think of it is that Murbridge is in London, and +not on board the mail boat as you supposed," Jim replied. "You must have +got upon a wrong track again. I suppose there is no further news of him +this morning?" + +"There was none when I left the Yard," the other replied. "At present we +are over-hauling all the doss-houses and shelters, and it is possible we +may make a discovery before long. When you think of the description we +have of him--a man wearing a brown coat and a felt hat--it is not very +much to go upon. There must be hundreds of men dressed like that in +London. If only we had a photograph of him it would make the labour a +good deal easier." + +This set Jim thinking. In the lumber-room at Childerbridge there was, as +he remembered, a number of cases containing books, photograph albums, +etc., which his father had brought with him from Australia, but which +had never been unpacked. He recalled the fact that his father had told +him that he had been on intimate terms with Murbridge many years before. +Was it not possible, therefore, that among his collections there might +be some portrait of that individual. He felt inclined to run down and +turn the boxes over. What was more, if he did so, he might chance to +obtain an interview with Helen. He explained his hopes with regard to +the photograph to the detective, who instantly agreed that it might be +worth his while to make the search. + +"In that case I will go down by the eleven o'clock train, and if I +discover anything, I will wire you and post the photograph on to you by +the evening mail." + +"It is unnecessary for me to assure you it would be an inestimable help +to us in our search," the other answered; "we should have something more +definite to go upon then." + +True to this arrangement, therefore Jim, Alice, and Terence returned to +Childerbridge by the morning train. A carriage met them at the station, +and in it they drove through the village. As they were drawing near the +park gates, an exclamation from Alice roused Jim from the reverie into +which he had fallen, and caused him to glance up the lane that led from +the main road. To his unspeakable joy, he discovered that Helen was +coming towards them. In a moment the carriage was stopped, and Jim +alighted and hastened to meet her. + +"My darling," he cried, "I never counted upon having the happiness of +seeing you so soon. This is most fortunate." + +"But what brings you back to-day, Jim?" Helen replied. "From your letter +I gathered that I should not see you for at least a week. There is +nothing wrong, I hope?" + +She scanned his face with anxious eyes, and as she did so it occurred to +Jim that she herself was looking far from well. + +"Nothing is the matter," he answered. "We have merely come down to try +and find some photographs that would help us in our search. But, Helen, +you are not looking at all well. Your face frightens me." + +"I am alright," was the reply. "I have been a little worried lately +about my grandfather, and that probably accounts for my appearance, but +we will not talk of that now. I must say 'How do you do' to Alice." + +She accordingly approached the carriage, and held out her hand to her +friend. They conversed together for a few moments, and then Alice +proposed that Helen should return with them to the Hall, but this being, +for more reasons than one, impossible, it was arranged that Jim should +see her home across the park, a suggestion which, you may be sure, he +was not slow to take advantage of. They accordingly watched the carriage +pass through the lodge gates, and then themselves set out for the Dower +House. As they walked Jim told his sweetheart of the ill success that +had attended his mission to London. + +"But, Helen," he said at last, as they approached the house, "you have +not told me what it is that is worrying you about your grandfather. I +hope he has not been making you unhappy?" + +She hung her head but did not answer. + +"Ah, I can see that he has," he exclaimed, "and I suppose it was +something to do with me. I wonder whether I should be right if I +hazarded a guess that Mr. Bursfield had been trying again to force you +into giving me up? Is that the case, Helen?" + +"I am afraid in a measure it is," she replied, but with some diffidence. +"You may be quite sure, however, that whatever he may do it will not +influence me. You know how truly I love you?" + +"Yes, I know that," he answered, "and I am quite content to trust you. I +know that nothing Mr. Bursfield can say will induce you to do as he +proposes." + +"Remember that always," she said. "But, oh, Jim, I wish he were not so +determined in his opposition to our marriage. Sometimes I feel that I am +acting not only like a traitor to him, but to you as well." + +"That you could never be," Jim returned. "However, keep up a good heart, +dear, and you may be sure all will come right in the end. In the future +we shall look back upon these little troubles, and wonder why we so +worried about them." + +A few minutes later they reached the gates leading into the grounds of +the Dower House. Here Jim bade his sweetheart good-bye, and, having +arranged another meeting for the morrow, set off on his walk to his own +home. Immediately upon his arrival there, he made his way, accompanied +by Alice, to the lumber-room on the top story of the house, in which the +boxes he had come down to over-haul had been placed. How well he could +recall the day in Australia on which his father had packed them. Little +had he imagined then that those boxes would next be opened in order to +discover a portrait of the same kind father's murderer. When the first +box had been overhauled it was found to contain unimportant papers +connected with the dead man's various properties in Australia. In the +second was a miscellaneous collection; which consisted of a variety of +account books, with specimens of ore, wool, and other products of the +Island Continent. It was not until they had opened the third box that +they began to think they were on the right track. In this were a few +engravings, perhaps half-a-dozen sketch books, filled with pen-and-ink +drawings by Jim's mother, upwards of a hundred novels between thirty and +forty years old, and at the bottom a large album filled with +photographs, each of which looked out upon a forgetful world from a +floral setting. Jim took it to a window, where he sat down on a box to +examine it. + +To my thinking there is nothing more pathetic than an old album. What +memories it recalls of long-forgotten friends; as one looks upon the +faded pictures, how clearly old scenes rise before one. + +On the first page was a photograph of William Standerton himself, taken +when he was a young man. His coat was of a strange cut, his trousers +were of the peg-top description, while a magnificent pair of "Dundreary" +whiskers decorated his manly face. With a sigh Jim turned the page, to +discover a portrait of his mother, which had been taken on her wedding +day. Then followed a long succession of relatives and personal friends, +each clad in the same fashion, and nearly all taken in the same +constrained attitude. But examine each picture as he would, no +representation of the man he wanted could he discover. + +"Well, I'm afraid that's all," said Jim to Alice, as he replaced the +album in his box. "I am disappointed, though I cannot say that I hoped +to be very successful. I shall have to write to Robins and tell him that +I have found nothing." + +Having relocked the boxes, they descended to the hall once more. It was +growing dark, and the dressing bell for dinner had already sounded. They +accordingly separated, and went to their respective rooms. If the truth +must be confessed, Jim was more disappointed by the failure of his +search than he cared to admit. + +"It would have been of inestimable value," he said to himself, "to have +a portrait of Murbridge just now." + +He had tied one end of his tie and was in the act of performing the same +operation with the other, when he stopped and stared at the wall before +him with half-closed eyes. + +"By Jove!" he said, "I believe I've hit it. I think I know where there +is a portrait of him." + +He recalled a scene that had taken place at Mudrapilla one winter's +evening, many years before, when Alice and he were children. The lamp +had been lighted, and to amuse them before they went to bed, their +father had promised a prize to whichever one of the pair should +recognise and describe by name the greater number of the portraits in +the very album he had been looking through that afternoon. Jim +remembered how on that occasion he had chanced upon a certain _carte de +visite_, showing a tall young man leaning, hat in hand, against a marble +pillar. + +"Who is this, father?" He had enquired for he was not able to recognise +the individual portrayed in the picture. + +"Do not ask me," returned his father in a tone that the children never +forgot, so stern and harsh was it. Then, drawing the portrait from the +page, he placed it in the pocket at the end of the book. After that the +game had recommenced, but was played with less vigour than before. + +"I wonder if it could have been the same man?" said Jim. "I cannot +remember father ever having expressed such a dislike for any one else +save Murbridge. After dinner I'll go up and endeavour to find it. It was +there for many years, for I can recall how I used to creep into the +drawing-room and peep at it on the sly, wondering what sort of villainy +he had committed that was sufficient to prevent his name being mentioned +to us. Poor father, it is certain that he was not deceived in him after +all." + +Throughout dinner that evening his mind dwelt on the remembrance of that +scene at Mudrapilla, and as soon as they rose from the table he begged +Alice to excuse him, and went upstairs candle in hand, to recommence his +search. He left his sister in the drawing-room, and the household were +at supper in the servants' hall, so that, so far as the disposition of +the house went, he had all the upper floors to himself. Entering the +lumber-room, he knelt down and unlocked the box which contained the +album. To take the book from the box, and to turn to the pocket in +question was the work of a moment. It had been placed there for the +purpose of holding loose photographs, and it extended the whole width of +the cover. With a half fear that it might not be contained therein, Jim +thrust his hand into the receptacle. He was not to be disappointed this +time, however, for a card was certainly there, and he withdrew it and +held it up to the light with a feeling of triumph. Yes, it was the +picture he remembered, and, better still, _it was the portrait of +Richard Murbridge_. Though it had been taken when the latter was a young +man, Jim recognised his enemy at once. There was the same crafty look in +his eyes, the same carping expression about the mouth. The man who had +been so nearly knocked down by the cab on the previous evening was the +same person who, in the picture, posed himself so gracefully beside the +marble pillar "This must go to Robins to-night," said Jim, to himself, +"copies of it can then be distributed broadcast. It will be strange +after that if we do not manage to lay hands upon him." + +So saying, he replaced the album in the box, locked the latter, and then +placed the photograph in his pocket, and prepared to return to Alice +once more. As he descended the stairs, he extinguished the candle, for +the hanging lamp in the hall below gave sufficient light for him to see +his way. He was only a few steps from the bottom when a curious noise, +which seemed to come from the gallery above, attracted his attention. It +resembled the creaking of a rusty hinge, more than anything else. He had +just time to wonder what had occasioned it, when, to his amazement, he +became aware of a little black figure passing swiftly along the corridor +in the direction of the further wing. A moment later it had vanished, +and he was left to place such construction as he pleased upon what he +had seen. For a space, during which a man might have counted twenty, he +stood as if rooted to the spot, scarcely able to believe the evidence of +his senses. + +"Good heavens! The Black Dwarf," he muttered to himself. "I must find +out what it means." + +Then he set off in pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover +some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had +seen. The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion +of the house, was quite empty. Like the remainder of the building, it +was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though +richly carved. He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then +to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an +occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could +hear nothing. At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps +led to the domestic offices below. These he descended, and having +reached the servants' hall, called Wilkins, the butler, to him. When the +latter emerged, Jim led him a short distance down the passage before he +spoke. + +"Wilkins," he said, "do you remember the night when you thought you saw +the Black Dwarf on the landing?" + +"I shall never forget it, sir," the other replied. "I can never go along +that corridor now without a shudder. What about it, sir?" + +"Only that I have just seen the figure myself," James replied. "I had +been up to the lumber-room, and was descending the stairs when it passed +along the further side of the gallery, in the direction of the west +corridor. Now, Wilkins, I have come down to find out whether you would +be afraid to come upstairs with me in order that we may discover whether +we can come to any understanding of the mystery?" + +"Yes, sir, of course I will come with you," said Wilkins. "At the same +time I am not going to say that I am not a bit frightened, for it would +not be the truth. However, sir, I am not going to let you go alone." + +"Come along then," said Jim, "and bring a light of some kind with you." + +Wilkins procured a candle, and then they ascended to the floor above. As +they reached the corridor Jim turned and caught a glimpse of his +companion's face. It looked very white and frightened in the dim light. + +"Cheer up, my man," said he; "if it's a ghost it won't hurt you, and if +it's a human being you and I should be more than a match for him." + +As he said this he opened the door of the first room on the corridor. It +was empty, and quite devoid of either the natural or the supernatural. + +"Nothing here," said Jim as they passed out into the passage, and into +the next room. This was used as a sewing-room for the female servants, +and was furnished with a long table and half-a-dozen chairs. They +explored it thoroughly, and having done so, voted it above suspicion. +The next room was a bedroom, and had only been once used since the +Standertons had come into possession of the house. The walls were +panelled, and there was a curious recess on the side opposite the door. +Jim overhauled each panel, and carefully examined the recess, but +without discovering anything suspicious. Thus they proceeded from room +to room searching every nook and cranny, and endeavouring in every +possible way to account for the creaking noise which had first attracted +Jim's attention. The carving of the corridor itself was carefully +examined, every panel of the wainscoting was tested, until at last, +having reached the gallery of the hall, they were compelled to own +themselves beaten. The fact that they had not been able to discover +anything only added to Wilkins' belief in the supernatural agency of the +Dwarf. Jim, however, had the recollection of that creaking hinge, before +mentioned, continually before him. There might be ghostly bodies he +argued, but he had never heard of ghostly hinges. + +"Well, it doesn't appear as if we are destined to capture him to-night," +said Jim, when they had finished their labours. "Now one word of advice; +just keep the fact of his appearance to yourself, Wilkins. If the +maid-servants come to hear of it we shall have no end of trouble." + +Wilkins promised that he would say nothing about the occurrence, and +then returned to the Servants' Hall, leaving Jim standing on the gallery +ruminating on the behaviour of the figure he had seen. + +"One thing is quite certain, and that is the fact that he disappeared in +the corridor," he said to himself reflectingly. "Now I wonder where he +came from?" + +The only room on that side of the gallery then in use was Alice's +bedroom, and to this Jim forthwith made his way. It was a strange scene +that met his eyes when he opened the door. As he had good reason to +know, Alice was always a most methodical and neat young lady; now +everything was in confusion. The drawers of the dressing-table stood +open and their contents were strewed upon the table and the floor. The +writing-table in the further corner of the room was in much the same +condition, while the wardrobe doors were open, and the dresses, which +usually hung upon the pegs, were piled in a heap upon the floor. + +"Good gracious! what on earth does this mean?" said Jim to himself as he +gazed upon the scene of confusion. "Has Alice gone mad, or has the Black +Dwarf been trying to see how untidy he can make the place? She must not +see the room in this condition, or it may frighten her." + +Thereupon he placed the candle upon the table and did his best to +restore something like order. This task accomplished, he went downstairs +to the drawing-room, where he found his sister seated beside the fire +reading. + +"You have been a long time upstairs," she remarked. "What have you been +doing?" + +For a moment Jim had forgotten the important discovery he had made. In +reply he withdrew the photograph from his pocket and handed it to her. +She took it with what was almost a shudder. Somewhat to Jim's surprise, +she returned it without commenting upon it. He replaced it in his +pocket, also without a word, and then stood before the fire, wondering +how he should tell her of what he had seen. He knew it would cause her +some uneasiness, but at the same time he felt that he ought to place her +upon her guard. + +"Alice," he said at last, "do you make a point of locking your bedroom +door at night?" + +"Lock my bedroom door at night?" she repeated. "No! Why should I?" + +"I can't exactly say why you should," he answered, "but I want you to do +so for the future. This is a big, lonely house, and we have to remember +that you and I are the only people on this side. I wish my room were +nearer yours, but as it is not, I think it would be safer if you were to +do as I suggest." + +"But what makes you say this to-night?" she asked. "What is it, or who +is it, you suspect?" + +"I suspect nobody," he replied. "You must not think that. But there are +such people as burglars, and it would only be an ordinary act of common +sense to make yourself safe, while you are permitted the opportunity. +Ever since that terrible night I have been nervous about you, and for +that reason I have decided upon something, which at first you may think +strange." + +"What is it?" she enquired. + +"For the future," he answered, "I intend that Terence shall sleep in the +room next to yours. Then, if any one makes trouble, and help were +needed, we should have a sure ally at our beck and call." + +"But I hope no one will ever attempt to make trouble, as you describe +it," she replied, looking at him with startled eyes as she spoke. + +"I also sincerely hope not," he continued. "Now I am going to see +Terence about the matter." + +He thereupon left her, and went to his study and rang the bell. On the +butler making his appearance he instructed him to bring O'Riley at once. +A few minutes later Terence put in appearance. + +"You had better remain also, Wilkins," said Jim. "Just close the door +behind you, in case any one should chance to overhear us. Now, Terence, +I have something to say to you. Doubtless, since you have been in the +neighbourhood, you have heard certain stories connected with this house. +I suppose you have been told that it has the reputation of being +haunted." + +"Lor' bless you, sir," Terence replied, "I've heard all sorts of yarns +about it. There's folk down in the Township yonder, as would no more +think of coming up here after dark than they would of lying down in +front of the train and having their heads cut off." + +"You're not a believer in ghosts, I suppose?" + +"Not as I knows on," said Terence candidly. "Though I don't mind sayin' +as how there are things as have never been explained to my satisfaction. +'Twas said, as you may remember, sir, as how there was a ghost of an old +man to be seen, some nights in the year, waiting to get over at the +Thirty-Mile Crossing up the river. Then there was the ghost outside +Sydney, that used to get on the fence beside the road, and ask everybody +who would listen to him to have him properly buried." + +James knew that the man before him was as brave as a lion. He was the +possessor of nerves of iron, and did not know the meaning of the word +fear. + +"Well," he went on after a moment's pause, "the long and the short of +the matter is, Terence, some little time ago a maid-servant saw what she +thought to be the ghost of the Little Black Dwarf up in the gallery +outside. Wilkins here was the next to see it. I thought at the time he +must have been mistaken, but this evening I know that he was not, for I +have seen it myself." + +"You don't mean that, sir?" said Terence, while Wilkins plainly showed +the triumph he felt. "And what may he have been like, sir?" + +"I had no time to see that," Jim answered. "He disappeared into the +western corridor almost as soon as I caught sight of him. At the same +time I heard the sound of a creaking hinge. What would you think of +that?" + +"I should say that it was no ghost, sir," said Terence. "I've been told +that this old house is full of secret passages, and, if you ask me, I +should say it was somebody playing a game with you." + +Wilkins stared disdainfully at him. He was quite convinced in his own +mind of the ghostly nature of the mysterious visitor. + +"I am inclined to agree with you, Terence," Jim replied. "The more so +as, since I parted with you, Wilkins, I have made a curious discovery. +At what time was Miss Alice's room made tidy?" + +"While you were at dinner, sir, according to custom," replied the +butler. "I saw the maid coming out just as I left the dining-room, and +she would not be likely to leave it----" + +"To leave it in an untidy state?" Jim put in. + +"Of course she would not, sir," the other replied. "She would hear of it +from the housekeeper if she did. No, she's a nice, steady girl, sir, and +I'm told she does her work to the best of her ability." + +"Well, it seems curious that when I entered the room after you had left +me, I found it in a state of the wildest confusion. The contents of the +drawers of the dressing-table were lying scattered upon the floor, as +were the dresses in the wardrobe. Now I feel quite certain in my own +mind that it was from Miss Alice's bedroom that the figure I saw +emerged. I am equally sure of one thing, and that is that it is no +ghost--at least," and he added this with a smile, "no respectable ghost, +of course, would dream of playing such tricks with a lady's wearing +apparel." + +"Then, sir, whom do you suspect?" Wilkins enquired. "I can assure you +that none of the staff would dare to take such a liberty." + +"I am quite sure of that," Jim replied. "Yet the fact remains that +somebody must be, and is, responsible for it. Now what I intend to do is +to lay myself out to capture that somebody, and to make an example of +him when I have got him. For that reason, Terence, I am going to ask you +to sleep in the house, in the room next to that occupied by Miss Alice. +It will go hard, then, if between us we cannot lay our hands upon the +gentleman, whoever he may be, who is playing these tricks upon us." + +Terence willingly agreed to the proposal, and that night occupied the +room in question. His watchfulness availed him nothing, however, for no +further sign of the Black Dwarf. + +Next morning Robins received the photograph of Murbridge, and from that +moment Jim awaited tidings from him in a fever of expectation. Day after +day, however, went by, and still no good news came to reward his +patience. The only consolation he derived was from sundry mysterious +interviews which he had with Helen in a wooded corner of the park. With +the cunning of lovers they had arranged a plan of meeting, and those +little _tête-à-têtes_ were to Jim as the breath of life. No sooner was +one at an end than he hungered for the next. But he was destined ere +long to receive a fright, such as he had never received in his life +before. Winter was fast approaching, and the afternoons drew in quickly. +When he reached the rendezvous on this occasion it was nearly five +o'clock, and almost dark. Helen had arrived there before him, and he +discovered her pacing up and down the little glade, in what was plainly +an agitated frame of mind. + +"Oh, I am so thankful that you have come, Jim dear," she said, as she +came forward to greet him. "I have been counting the minutes until I +should see you." + +"Why, what on earth is the matter?" he asked, placing his arm round her +waist and drawing her to him. "You are excited about something. Tell me, +dear, what it is." + +"Something so dreadful that it has upset me terribly," she answered. "I +scarcely know how to tell you." + +He led her towards a fallen tree upon which they had often seated +themselves on previous occasions. + +"Now let me know everything," he said. + +She looked about over her shoulder in a frightened way. Then she began +almost in a whisper: + +"Jim, what I have to say to you concerns my grandfather. I am very much +alarmed about him." + +"I hope he has not been making himself disagreeable to you again on my +account," Jim replied. Then he continued angrily: "If so, I think I +shall have to call upon him." + +"Hush, hush," she said, "do not speak so loud, you do not know who may +be listening." + +"I will be all discretion, dear, now go on!" + +"Well, this afternoon I was playing the piano in the drawing-room when a +message was brought to me by Isaac to the effect that my grandfather +desired to see me in his study at once. I went to him there, to find him +seated at his desk as usual, at work upon his book, the 'History of the +County,' you know. He signed to me to be seated by the fire, and when I +had done so resumed his writing, not putting down his pen until I had +been some minutes in the room. Then he looked at me with a very +thoughtful face, in which I imagined I could detect an expression that I +had never seen there before. Taken altogether, his manner frightened me. +It was so strange, and so utterly unlike himself, that I did not know +what to think. Then he took off his spectacles, and laid them on the +desk before him, remarking as he did so, 'I am given to understand that +you are still in correspondence with Mr. Standerton, Miss?' Then, before +I could answer him, he continued--'and I hear that you have secret +meetings with him in the park. Is this so?' I admitted that it was, and +went on to say that as we were betrothed I could see no harm in it." + +"And what did he say to that?" + +"He rose from his chair and paced the room for a few minutes without +speaking. Then he reseated himself. As he did so he said, 'You are _not_ +engaged, and you know it as well as I do. Never let me hear you say such +a thing again.' After that he began to pace the room once more, and +finally hurled at me such a torrent of abuse that I was almost stupefied +by it. He accused me of the most outrageous things, until I could bear +it no longer, and rose to leave him. By this time, as you may suppose, I +had come to the conclusion that the life of retirement he had lived for +so long had turned his brain. No man could have said the things he did +without his mind being a little affected." + +"My darling, this is more serious than you suppose," said Jim anxiously. + +"But you have not heard the worst yet. It appears that before I had +entered the room he had drawn up a document which he now desired me to +sign. It was to the effect that I would bind myself never to speak to +you or see you again, and contained my promise that I would abandon all +thought of ever becoming your wife. 'Sign that,' he said, 'or the +consequences will be more terrible than you suppose. I am an old man, +but remember even old men can be dangerous at times.' With that he +handed me a pen, but I refused to take it." + +"And then?" + +"I cannot tell you how he looked at me as I said it. I could never have +believed that his face could have undergone such a change. But I still +refused to sign the document, and at last he discovered that it was +impossible to force me to do so. 'Very well,' he said, 'since you +refuse, the consequences of your action be upon your own head.' With +that, opening the door, he bade me leave him. You can imagine for +yourself how thankful I was to do so." + +"And then you came on here," said Jim. "You were most imprudent, dear. +He may try to revenge himself upon you when you return to the house." + +"I don't think he will hurt me," she replied. "I am only afraid for +you." + +"There is no need for fear on my account," Jim answered, with a short +laugh. "I do not think it is possible for the poor old gentleman to do +me any harm. But the idea that you are shut up in the house with a +madman, for a madman he must surely be, frightens me beyond all measure. +You must see for yourself that you have no longer any reason to remain +with him. He has threatened you, and that will be sufficient excuse for +you to leave him." + +"No, no," she answered, shaking her head. "If he is losing his reason, +he should not be blamed, and it is all the more necessary for his +comfort that I shall remain with him. I feel sure I shall be quite safe. +He is angry with me at present, but he will calm down. It is above all +necessary, however, that you should not come near him. It will only +irritate him and make him more excited than before. Think how good he +has been to me, dear, for the past eight years, and try not to be angry +with him." + +"But I am not angry with him," said Jim. "I am only trying to be just. +One thing is quite certain, I shall know no peace as long as you are in +that house with him." + +"Will it satisfy you if I give you my promise that, should he become +very bad, I will at once send for you?" + +"If you persist on going back there, I suppose I must be content with +that promise," Jim replied, but with no good grace. "And now you had +better be running in. If he finds that you are out, he might suppose +that you are with me, and have another paroxysm of rage. In that case +there is no knowing what might happen." + +Helen accordingly bade him good-bye and left him, returning by the path +to the Dower House. Jim watched her until she had disappeared and then +turned homeward with a heavy heart. He felt that he had already enough +anxiety upon his shoulders without this additional burden. He had never +trusted Mr. Bursfield, but he was at a loss to understand his present +malignity, unless it were to be accounted for by the fact that his brain +had given way. + +When he reached his home he let himself in by a side door, and made his +way to the drawing-room, where he found Alice. + +"How late you are," she said. "The gong sounded some time ago. You will +scarcely have time to dress." + +"Then dinner must wait," replied Jim. "Alice, I have bad news for you." + +"Why, what is the matter now?" she asked. + +Jim thereupon proceeded to furnish her with an abstract of his interview +with Helen. She heard him without a word, but it was to be easily seen +how distressed she was for her friend. + +"My dear Jim," she remarked when he had finished, "this is indeed +serious. What do you propose doing?" + +"I scarcely know," Jim answered. "The case is an extremely delicate one. +The old man has taken a decided dislike to me, and if I interfere +between Helen and himself it will have the effect of adding to his wrath +and do more harm than good. And yet I cannot allow her to remain there, +and perhaps run a daily risk of her life." + +"What does she think about it herself?" + +"She has an absurd notion that her duty lies in standing by Bursfield in +his trouble. That, of course, is all very well in its way, but no one +could possibly expect her to turn herself into a keeper for a madman." + +Alice, seeing the tired look on his face, crossed the room and placed +her arm round his neck. + +"Dear old Jim," she said, "you must not worry yourself too much about +it. All will come right in the end. Helen is a girl of very marked +character, and it is quite probable that, under her influence, Mr. +Bursfield's condition may improve. Were I in your place, I should trust +matters to her for a little while. You know that she loves you, and you +may be quite sure that she will keep her promise, and let you know +directly anything is very wrong. But there! what am I thinking about? I +should have told you when you first came in that there is a telegram +waiting for you. Here it is." + +As she spoke she took an envelope from the mantelpiece, and handed it to +him. + +"I wonder who it is from?" he remarked as he tore it open. + +Having withdrawn the contents, he read as follows:-- + + "Standerton, Childerbridge. + + "Murbridge found. Come at once. + + "13, Upper Bellington Street. ROBINS." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +"Murbridge found," said Jim to himself as he stood holding the telegram +in his hand. "At last, thank goodness, at last!" + +Alice, however, said nothing. She had more of her dead father's +forgiving spirit in her, and she was aware that he would have been the +last to have desired vengeance on his assailant. + +"What do you mean to do?" she asked. + +"Catch the 8.40 train up to Town," said Jim, "and see Murbridge as soon +as possible. The telegram says 'Come at once.' That is sufficient +evidence that there is no time to be lost. Perhaps he has been wounded +in a desperate struggle with the police. In fact, there are a thousand +possibilities." + +He gave the necessary instructions for dinner to be hurried forward, his +bag to be packed, and the carriage to be ready immediately afterwards to +take him to the station. + +"You will not mind being left alone for one evening, will you, Alice?" +he said to his sister, half apologetically. "Terence will be in the +house and will keep a careful eye upon you. If you think you will be +lonely I will take you up to Town with me, drop you at the hotel, and +then I will go on to Upper Bellington Street." + +Alice, however, would not hear of this arrangement. She declared that +she would be quite content to remain where she was. + +"Besides," she said, "if any news were to come from Helen, I should be +here to receive it. It would not be wise for both of us to be away at +this juncture." + +Jim thereupon went out and sent word to Terence to come to him in his +study. + +"I am called up to Town to-night, Terence," he said, "and I am going to +leave Miss Alice in your charge. I know she could not be in a better." + +"You may be very sure of that, sir," Terence replied; "I wouldn't stand +by and see anything happen to Miss Alice, and I think she knows it." + +"I am sure she does," Jim returned, and then went on to explain the +reason for the journey he was about to undertake. + +An hour and a-half later he was seated in a railway carriage and being +whirled along towards London at something like fifty miles an hour. If +ever a young man in this world was furnished with material for thought, +James Standerton that evening was that one. There was his errand to +London in the first place to be considered, the singular behaviour of +the Black Dwarf a few nights before for another, and the declaration +that Helen had made to him that afternoon for a third. In the light of +this last catastrophe the finding of the man whom he felt sure was his +father's murderer sank into comparative insignificance. + +What if the madman should wreak his vengeance upon her? What if in a +sudden fit of fury he should drive her from his house? If the latter +were to come to pass, however, he felt certain that the place she would +fly to would be the Manor House, and in that case Alice would take her +in and Terence would see that she was safe from the old man's fury. + +It was nearly eleven o'clock when he reached Paddington. Hailing a cab, +he bade the man drive him first to his hotel, where he engaged his usual +room. When he had consulted a directory, he made his way into the street +again. His cabman, whom he had told to wait, professed to be familiar +with Upper Bellington Street, but later confessed his entire ignorance +of its locality. Jim set him right, and then, taking his place in the +cab, bade him drive him thither with all speed. Once more they set off, +down Piccadilly, through Leicester Square, and so by way of Long Acre +into Holborn. Then the route became somewhat more complicated. Through +street after street they passed until Jim lost all idea of the direction +in which they were proceeding. Some of the streets were broad and +stately, others squalid and dejected, some wood paved, others +cobble-stones, in which the rain that had fallen an hour previous stood +in filthy puddles. + +How long they were driving, Jim had no sort of idea, nor could he have +told you in what portion of the town he was then in. At last however +they entered a street which appeared to have no ending. It was illumined +by flaring lamps from coster barrows, drawn up beside the pavement, +while the night was made hideous by the raucous cries of the vendors of +winkles baked potatoes and roasted chestnuts. + +"This is Upper Bellington Street, sir," said the cabman, through the +shutter. "At what number shall I pull up?" + +"Thirteen," Jim replied; "but you will never be able to find it in this +crowd. Put me down anywhere here, and I'll look for it myself." + +The cabman did as he was directed, and presently Jim found himself +making his way along the greasy pavement--which even at that late hour +was crowded with pedestrians--in search of the number in question. It +was as miserable an evening as ever he could remember. A thin drizzle +was falling; the sights and sounds around him were sordid and depressing +in the extreme; while the very errand that had brought him to that +neighbourhood was of a kind calculated to lower the spirits of the +average man to below the mental zero. + +After an examination of the numbers of the various houses and shops in +the vicinity, he came to the conclusion that Thirteen must be situated +at the further end of the street. This proved to be the case. When he +reached it, he knocked upon the grimy door, which was immediately opened +to him by a police officer. + +"What is your name?" asked that official. + +"James Standerton," Jim replied. "I received a telegram from +Detective-sergeant Robins this evening asking me to come up." + +"That's all right, sir," the man answered. "Come in; we have been +expecting you this hour or more." + +"But how is it your prisoner is here, and not at the police station?" + +"I doubt if he'll ever trouble any police station again," returned the +officer. "He's just about done for. In fact, I shouldn't be surprised if +he wasn't dead by now." + +"What is the matter with him?" + +"Pneumonia, sir, the doctor says. He says he can't last out the night." + +At that moment Robins himself appeared at the head of the dirty stairs +that descended to the hall, and invited him to ascend. Jim accordingly +did so. + +"Good evening, Mr. Standerton," he said, "I regret having to inform you +that we have caught our bird too late. We discovered him at midday, and +he was then at the point of death. He was too ill to be moved, and as he +had no one to look after him, we got a doctor and a nurse in at once. +But I fear it is a hopeless case." + +"Will it be possible for me to see him, do you think?" + +"Oh yes, sir; he's been calling for you ever since we found him, so I +took the liberty of telegraphing to you to come up." + +"I am glad you did," said Jim. "There are some questions I must put to +him." + +"In that case, please step this way, sir, and I'll speak to the doctor. +You shall not be kept waiting any longer than I can help." + +He led Jim along the landing, then opened a door and disappeared into a +room at the further end. While he was absent Jim looked about him and +took stock of his position. The small gas-jet that lit up the well of +the staircase, served to show the dirty walls in all their dreariness. +The sound of voices reached him from above and below, while the cries of +the hawkers in the street came faintly in and added to the general +squalor. Then as he stood there he recalled that first meeting with +Murbridge beside the Darling River. In his mind's eye he saw the evening +sun illumining the gums on the opposite bank, the soft breeze ruffling +the surface of the river, an old pelican fishing for his evening meal in +the back-water, and lastly, Richard Murbridge stretched out beside his +newly-lighted fire. This would be their third meeting; and in what a +place, and under what terribly changed circumstances! He was indulging +in this reverie when the door opened once more, and a small, grey-haired +man emerged. + +"Good evening, my dear sir," he said, "I understand that you're Mr. +Standerton, the son of the man the poor wretch inside is suspected of +having murdered. However, they have captured him too late." + +"You mean, I suppose, that he will not live?" said Jim, interrogatively. + +"If he sees the light of morning I shall be very much surprised," said +the doctor; "in point of fact he is sinking fast. You wish to see him, +do you not?" + +"I do," said Jim. "There is some mystery connected with him that I am +very desirous of clearing up." + +"I see," said the medico, "and in that case I presume that you would +wish to see him alone?" + +"If you can permit it," Jim replied. + +"I think it might be managed," answered the other. "But if you will stay +here for a moment I will let you know." + +He returned to the room, and when he stood before Jim once more, invited +him to follow him. He did so, to find himself in a small apartment, some +ten feet long by eight feet wide. It was uncarpeted, and its furniture +consisted of a broken chair, a box on which stood an enamelled basin, +and a bed which was covered with frowsy blankets. On this bed lay a man +whom, in spite the change that had come over him, Jim recognised at once +as being Richard Murbridge. A nurse was standing beside him, and Robins +was at the foot of the bed. + +"Do not make the interview any longer than you can help," whispered the +doctor, and then beckoned to the detective and the nurse to leave the +room with him. They did so, and the door closed behind them. Then Jim +went forward and seated himself upon the chair by the bedside of the +dying man. The latter looked up at him with a scowl. + +"So they sent for you after all?" he said in a voice that was little +above a whisper. "They even took that trouble?" + +"I received the message just before dinner, and came away immediately +afterwards." + +"Left your luxurious mansion to visit Upper Bellington Street? How +self-denying of you! Good Lord, to think that it should be my luck to +die in such a hole as this! I suppose you know that I _am_ dying?" + +"I have been informed that your recovery is unlikely," Jim replied. +"That fact made me doubly anxious to speak to you." + +There was a little pause, during which Murbridge watched him intently. + +"You mean about the murder, I suppose?" he whispered. + +"Yes!" Jim answered. "God forgive me for feeling revengeful at such a +moment, but you took from me and my sister the kindest and best father +that man ever had." + +"You still think that it was I who committed the murder, then?" + +"I am certain of it," Jim answered. "You were at the house that night; +you cherished a deadly hatred against my father; you vowed that you +would be even with him, happen what might, and you ran away from +Childerbridge immediately afterwards. Surely those facts are black +enough to convict any man?" + +"They would have gone some way with a Jury, I have no doubt," the other +replied. "But, as a matter of fact, I did _not_ commit the murder. +Bitterly as I hated your father, I am not responsible for his death." + +Jim looked at him incredulously. + +"Ah, I can see you do not believe me. Now, listen, James Standerton, and +pay attention to what I say, for I shan't be able to say it again. I've +been a pretty tough sort of customer all my life. There have not been +many villainies I haven't committed, and still fewer that I wouldn't +have committed if they tended to my advantage. The record I shall carry +aloft with me will not bear much looking into. But on the word of a +dying man, may"--(here he swore an awful oath which I feel would be +better not set down)--"if I am not absolutely guiltless of your father's +death. Will you believe me now?" + +But still Jim looked incredulous. + +"Ah, I can see that you still doubt me. How can I convince you? Think +for a moment, what have I to gain or lose by saying such a thing? I +shall be gone hence in a few hours, perhaps minutes. Even if I were the +murderer, the police could not take me now. With old Bony behind me I +can laugh at them and at you." + +"But why did you run away if you were innocent?" + +"Because I saw what a hole I had got myself into. You remember that I +went up to the house and had an interview with your father? He turned me +out, and in the hearing of yourself and the servant I vowed to be even +with him. That vow I certainly should have kept, had not somebody else +that night stepped in and took the case out of my hands. When I left the +house, I went for a long walk. I knew my own temper, and also that I +dared not trust myself with human beings just then. Good heavens, man! +You don't know how desperate I was. I had followed your father to +England, and the voyage had taken nearly all my money. What little was +left I spent in liquor, and then went down to Childerbridge to screw +more from your father. He refused point blank to help me except on +certain conditions, which I would not comply with. Knowing his +stubbornness of old, I cleared out of Childerbridge by the first train, +vowing that I would be even with him by some means. Then in an evening +paper I saw that he had been murdered. In a flash I realised my +position, and saw that if I was not very careful I should find myself in +Queer Street. Then came your reward, and from that moment I hid myself +like a 'possum in a gum log. I didn't care very much about my miserable +neck, but--but--well, you see, strange though it may seem, I was a +gentleman once." + +Jim did not know what to say. If this man's tale were true, and it bore +the impression of truth, then they had been on a false scent from the +first. + +"I wonder what your mother would have said had she been alive to see it +all," said Murbridge, after a pause. "Good Lord, to think that Jane +Standerton's brother should end his days in a hole like this." + +"What?" cried Jim, scarcely believing that he had heard aright. "Whose +brother did you say?" + +"Why, your own mother's to be sure," returned Murbridge. "Do you mean to +say that your father never told you after all?" + +"Can such a thing be possible?" Jim continued, in an awed voice. + +"Yes; I am Jane Standerton's brother sure enough. If you look in that +old bag under the bed, you will find evidence enough to convince you of +that fact. My real name is Richard McCalmont, though you wouldn't think +it to look at me, would you? That was how I got my hold upon your +father, don't you see? I was convicted of forgery at the age of +twenty-one"--(the man spoke as if he were proud of it)--"and did my +three years. For a while after that I went straight, but at twenty-six +there was another little mistake, with the details of which I will not +trouble you, but which was sufficient, nevertheless, to again cause me +to spend some years in durance vile. At the age of thirty-two they tried +to convict me of an Insurance Fraud, combined with a suspicion of +murder. They would have done so but for certain technicalities that were +brought forward by my Counsel, who, by the way, was employed by your +father. You see I am perfectly candid with you." + +"And you are my mother's brother?" said Jim slowly, as if he were still +trying to believe it. + +"And your father's brother-in-law, too. And your uncle. Don't forget +that, James," said the other. "Lord! How your father hated me! On +certain occasions I made it my custom to call upon him in a friendly +way. At the end of my last term of exile, I found that my sister was +dead, and that you and Alice were growing up. It was my desire to play +the part of the kindly uncle. But your father made himself +objectionable, and vowed that if ever I dared to betray my relationship +to you he would cut off supplies. As there was never a time in my life +in which I did not stand in need of money, I was perforce compelled to +deprive you of a life's history that would certainly have proved +interesting, if not instructive, to you. However, I now have the +satisfaction of knowing that I shall not die without having accomplished +that task." + +Here he was interrupted by a violent fit of coughing, which left him +speechless for upwards of a minute. As for Jim, he was thinking of the +mental agony his father must have suffered, year after year, with this +despicable creature, the brother of the woman he loved so fondly, +continually holding this threat over his children's heads. + +"God help you for a miserable man," he muttered at last. "Why didn't my +poor father tell me this before? He might have known that this would not +have made the least difference." + +"He was too proud," replied the other, when he recovered his speech. +"Well, it doesn't matter much now, and in a little while it will matter +still less. The police and I have been on the most friendly terms all +our lives, and it gives one a homely sort of feeling to know that even +my last moments will be watched over by their tender care." + +He tried to laugh at his own hideous joke, but the attempt was a +failure. + +"For my mother's sake, is there anything I can do for you?" Jim +enquired, drawing a little closer to the bed. + +The other only shook his head. The effort he had made to talk had proved +too much for him, and had materially hastened the end. + +Seeing that his condition was growing desperate, Jim rose and went in +search of the doctor. He found him in an apartment close at hand. + +"I believe he is sinking fast," said Jim. "I think you had better go to +him." + +The doctor accordingly returned to the sick-room, leaving Jim alone with +Robins. + +"Well, sir," asked the latter, "did he confess?" + +"We have been deceived," said Jim. "The man is as innocent of the crime +as I am. I am convinced of that!" + +"God bless my soul, you don't mean to say so," said the astonished +detective, and asked the same questions Jim had put to the dying man. +Jim answered them as the other had done. + +"Well, this is the most extraordinary case I have ever had to do with," +said Robins. "If Murbridge had wanted to place a halter round his neck +he could not have gone to work in a better fashion. If he is not the +man, then where are we to look for the real murderer?" + +"Goodness only knows," replied Jim. "The case is now shrouded in even +greater mystery than before." + +Half an hour went by, then an hour, and still they waited. At two +o'clock the doctor rejoined them. + +"It is all over," he said solemnly. "He is dead." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Between the time of Murbridge's funeral and his own arrival at +Childerbridge, Jim had plenty of leisure to consider his position, and +to make up his mind as to how much he should let Alice know of the +other's story. + +After mature consideration, he decided that he had better tell her +everything. Yet it had been such a painful shock to himself that he +could well understand how it would affect her. + +It was mid-morning when he arrived at Childerbridge, and Alice had +walked down to the gates to meet him. He alighted from the carriage on +seeing her, and they strolled across the park together. + +"I have been so anxious to hear from you," she said, linking her arm +through her brother's. "What have you to tell me? Did you find that +wretched man?" + +"Yes, I found him," he answered, "and he was dying." + +She paused for a moment before she put the next question. + +"And did he confess?" + +"No," said Jim. "I firmly believe I wronged him in suspecting him of--of +what happened. But I made another discovery, and one, I fear, that will +cause you some astonishment and not a little pain. I learnt from him +that his name was not Murbridge, but McCalmont." + +"McCalmont?" she echoed, as if she did not understand. "But that was our +mother's maiden name." + +"Exactly," said Jim, "and he was her brother!" + +Alice looked at him in horrified surprise. + +"Oh, Jim," she answered, "surely such a thing cannot be possible?" + +"I am afraid it is only too true," Jim replied. "His story was most +circumstantial. He was our mother's youngest brother, and was, I am very +much afraid, a disgrace to the family." + +"But if he had been our mother's brother, why did he entertain such a +deadly hatred for our father?" she asked. + +"For the simple reason that father had been successful, while he had +been the reverse," Jim replied. "I rather fancy the poor old governor +had helped him out of one or two of his worst scrapes, and such being +the perverse nature of mankind, he hated him for the very benefits he +had received from him." + +They walked some distance in silence. + +"Poor, wretched man," said Alice at last. "Oh, Jim, you don't know how +thankful I am that he was not the author of that terrible crime. And +now, before we say anything further, there's one thing I must talk to +you about." + +"What is that?" he enquired. + +"It is about Helen," she answered. "I met her in the village this +morning. I don't want to frighten you, but she is looking very ill. She +seems to have come to look years older within the last few days. There +is a frightened expression on her face that haunts me even now." + +Jim was troubled. This was bad news indeed. + +"Did she give you any reason for it?" he enquired. + +"She tried to account for it by saying that her grandfather had not been +at all well lately, and that she had had rather a trying time with him." + +"Alice," said Jim, after the short pause that ensued, "I have come to +the conclusion that old Bursfield is insane. Helen did not tell you, I +suppose, that he uttered all sorts of threats against me the other day. +For some reason or another he has taken an intense dislike to me." + +"She said nothing about it," Alice answered. "I am sorry for her. What +is best to be done, do you think?" + +"It is difficult to say," Jim answered. "One thing is quite certain. She +cannot go on living with him if he is to continue in this strain. Under +such circumstances there is a limit even to a woman's fidelity. I must +endeavour to see her as soon as possible." + +"Would it do for me to go and see her, do you think?" asked Alice. "I +should then be able to tell you something definite about Mr. Bursfield's +condition." + +Jim shook his head. + +"No," he said, "such a thing would not be wise. I must think the matter +over and see what is best to be done." + +By the time he reached the house he had arrived at a conclusion. + +"Do you remember, Alice," he said, "that clever young doctor that we met +at the Caltrops on the evening that we dined with them, soon after our +arrival in England? His name was Weston. Mrs. Caltrop declared that, +before many years were past, he would be a recognised authority on +mental diseases." + +"I remember him quite well," Alice answered. "He took me in to dinner, +and was so interested in Australia. He had a brother in Sydney, I think. +What about him." + +"Well, I have made up my mind to telegraph to Mrs. Caltrop for his +address, and having got it, to wire and ask him to come down and see Mr. +Bursfield. He would be able to tell me then whether or not it is safe +for Helen to go on living with him. If he says not, then she must leave +him at once." + +"I should think it would be a very good plan, provided always that you +can get Mr. Bursfield to see him. You will find that the difficulty." + +"Not at all," Jim answered. "I have a scheme that I think will answer. +At any rate we will try it." + +A telegram was accordingly despatched to Mrs. Caltrop, asking her to +forward the address of the doctor in question. This done, Jim sent for +Terence. + +"Well, Terence," he said, when the latter made his appearance, "any sign +of the Black Dwarf during my absence?" + +"Never a one, sir," Terence replied. "I kept my eyes and ears open all +night, and waited about after dark, but there's not been so much as a +mouse stirring." + +"I am glad to hear it," Jim remarked, and then gave Terence a brief +description of his visit to London, and of what he had discovered there. + +"Then if it wasn't he as did it," said Terence, "who could it have +been?" + +Before he answered, Jim looked at the door, as if to make sure that it +was closed. + +"Terence," he said, "I am gradually coming to the conclusion that the +Black Dwarf, whoever he may be, was responsible for it." + +"I've thought of that myself, sir," Terence replied. + +"In the first place, he was seen by one of the maid-servants in the +gallery on the night that my father was murdered." + +"Don't they say, sir, as how another gentleman was murdered in the same +way in this house?" + +"I believe there is some legend to that effect," said Jim, "but how true +it is, I cannot say. I don't think, however, we need take that +circumstance into consideration." + +"Then what are we to do, sir?" + +"Watch and wait until we catch him," Jim replied. "When we've done that +we shall be satisfied whether he is flesh or blood or not, and if he is, +by what right he dares to enter my house." + +There was a lengthy pause, then with a diffidence that was somewhat +unusual with him, Terence said: + +"You'll excuse me, sir, I hope, for saying such a thing, but between you +and me, sir, I cannot help thinking that we was happier at Mudrapilla." + +Jim heaved a heavy sigh. A longing to be back in the old home, and to be +engaged in the pursuits he had been brought up to from a boy, had been +with him a great deal of late. + +"Yes," he said. "I think we were happier at Gundawurra. I must go back +there soon, Terence, if only for a whiff of Bush air. I am very much +afraid that playing the fine gentleman in England does not suit me." + +When the other had left the room, Jim lay back in his chair and fell +into a reverie. He closed his eyes, and was transported back to the old +home where he had been born, and where he had spent his happiest days. +How sweet it would be to settle down there some day, with Helen as his +wife. He tried hard to realise the day's work upon the run; the +home-coming at night, to find Helen at the gate waiting for him; the +evenings spent in the cool verandah, with the moon rising above the +river timber. Then he came back to the very real anxieties of the +present. An hour later a message came from Mrs. Caltrop. It was as +follows: + + "Doctor Weston, Harley Street." + +Whereupon he took another telegraph form and wired to the doctor to the +effect that he would be grateful if he could make it convenient to +travel down to Childerbridge that afternoon. In order that the latter +might understand from whom the message emanated, he added the words, +"Met you at dinner at Mrs. Caltrop's." Luncheon was scarcely finished +before a message arrived from the doctor saying that he would endeavour +to be at Childerbridge at four o'clock. Accordingly at half-past three +Jim drove to the railway station to await his coming. Punctual to the +moment the train steamed into the station, and he looked about among the +passengers for the man he wanted. + +Presently he descried him coming along the platform--a tall, +good-looking man, resembling a soldier more than a Harley Street +physician. + +"Mr. Standerton, I believe," he said as he approached Jim. + +"And you are Doctor Weston, of course," the latter answered with a +smile. + +"Now," said the doctor, "I will commence, Mr. Standerton, by saying that +it is absolutely necessary that I should catch the six o'clock train +back to London." + +"I will arrange that you do so," Jim replied, and then the doctor +surrendered his ticket and they strolled out of the station. "Now, +perhaps, I had better tell you my reasons for asking you to come down +to-day. Shall we walk a little way along the road. I have no desire to +be overheard. I will now make you acquainted with the facts of the case, +in order that you may go direct to the house of the gentleman I want you +to see." + +"He is not a member of your own family, then?" the doctor enquired. + +"No, he is no sort of relation. In fact, I had not seen him until a few +months ago." + +They paused beside a gate and faced each other. + +"I gather that it is rather an unusual case?" the doctor remarked. + +"A very unusual one," Jim replied. "The matter stands in this way. I am +engaged to a young lady who is the adopted granddaughter of the +gentleman in question." + +The doctor nodded, but said nothing. He listened attentively, while Jim +told his tale, explained his fears for Helen's safety, and described the +threats the old gentleman had made use of concerning himself. + +When he had finished Dr. Weston drew some lines on the ground with the +point of his umbrella, as if he were working out a difficult +calculation. + +"This is certainly a singular case, Mr. Standerton," he said at last. +"You are not connected with this gentleman in any way, and he, not +approving of your marriage with his granddaughter, has forbidden you his +house. The young lady's only reason for believing him to be a little +weak in his intellect is his treatment of you. I really do not know +whether, under the circumstances, I should be justified in seeing him." + +Jim's heart sank. He had not looked at the matter from this point of +view. Observing his disappointment, the doctor smiled. + +"Nevertheless," he continued, "I will see him, provided you will give me +your promise that my report shall be considered a purely confidential +one." + +"Am I to understand that I am not to acquaint Miss Decie or my sister +with your decision?" + +"Of course, I will allow you to tell them, and equally, of course, +provided it goes no further." + +"In that case I will give you my promise most willingly," said Jim. + +"And now the question comes as to how I can obtain my interview with +him." + +"I have thought out a plan that should enable you to do that," Jim +replied. "I happen to know that for a long time past he has been engaged +in writing a history of the neighbourhood, and my house in particular +which at one time was the property of his family." + +"Quite so; and the ruins a mile or two back, what are they called?" + +"Clevedon Castle," Jim answered. "I believe it was destroyed by +Cromwell." + +"That should answer my purpose. And now with your permission I will +drive to his house--not in your carriage, but in a cab. I shall see you +afterwards, I presume?" + +"I will wait for you here, or at my own house, whichever you please," +said Jim. + +"Your house, I think, would be better," the doctor answered. "I will +drive there directly I leave Mr.----. By-the-way, you have not told me +his name or given me his address." + +Jim furnished him with both, and then the doctor hailed a fly and drove +away. + +It was nearly half-past five before Jim was informed by Wilkins that Dr. +Weston had called, and that he had been shown to the study. + +He immediately proceeded thither, to find the doctor sitting before the +fire. + +"Well, Mr. Standerton," he began, "I have seen Mr. Bursfield, and have +had rather a curious interview with him." + +"And what decision have you come to?" + +"Well, I think your supposition is correct. Not to be technical, I might +say that he is not really responsible for his actions. While we +discussed archæology, and the history of the neighbourhood, he was +rational enough, but when I chanced to touch upon this house, and your +connection with it, his whole demeanour changed. If I were in your place +I should avoid him as much as possible, for there can be no doubt that +he would do you a mischief if he could. As for Miss Decie, I would not +advise you to persuade her to leave him, at least not at present. It +would in all probability immediately produce unfavourable results, and +in so doing might snap the frail link that still connects him with +Sanity. The influence she exerts over him, where you are not concerned, +is undoubtedly a beneficial one." + +"Am I to consider that she is safe with him?" + +"I should say so," the doctor replied. "Of course, if he has many more +of these paroxysms of rage it might be necessary for her to leave him. +But she must be the best judge of that. Doubtless you can arrange that +with her. And now I must be getting back to the railway station; if I +wish to catch my train I have not much time to lose." + +"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Doctor Weston," said Jim gratefully. +"I cannot say that you have made my mind easier, but you have at least +let me know exactly how matters stand with Mr. Bursfield." + +"I am glad to have been of service," said the doctor. + +James handed him an envelope containing his fee, and escorted him to the +door. When he had seen him depart he returned to the drawing-room and +communicated his intelligence to his sister. + +"Poor Helen," said Alice, "it is no wonder that she looks anxious. What +will you do now, Jim?" + +"I must take the night to think the matter over," he answered. "Since +the old man is undoubtedly mad, and not only mad, but dangerously so, I +cannot bear to contemplate her remaining with him, and yet I have no +desire to hasten the crisis." + +All the evening Jim brooded over the matter, imagining all sorts of +dangers for the woman he loved. At last the time came for them to retire +to rest. He was in the act of lighting Alice's candle in the hall, when +the sound of steps on the gravel path outside attracted his attention. + +"Good gracious!" cried Jim, "who on earth can it be at this time of the +night?" + +So saying, he hastened to the door. The lights from the hall shone on +the steps, and showed him Helen Decie, standing, bareheaded, before him. +For a moment the shock at seeing her there at such an hour, and in such +a plight, deprived him of speech. Alice was the first to break the +silence. + +"Helen, my dear girl," she cried, "what does this mean?" + +Then Helen stepped into the hall, and James closed the door behind her. +He had scarcely done so, before she gave a little cry and fell to the +floor in a dead faint. Picking her up, Jim carried her to the big settee +in the centre. + +"My poor girl," he cried, "what has he done to you?" Then, turning to +Alice, he added, "What can have happened?" + +She did not answer him, but sped upstairs to her bedroom, to presently +return with a bottle of smelling salts. Under their restorative +influence, consciousness very soon returned, and Helen looked about her +in a dazed fashion, as if she could not realise where she was. + +"Do you feel well enough to tell what has taken place, dear?" Jim asked, +when she had so far recovered as to be able to sit up. "What has brought +you here bareheaded at this time of night?" + +"My grandfather has turned me out of his house," she answered +falteringly. + +"Turned you out of the house?" repeated both Jim and Alice together. +Then Alice added: "Surely not? He ought to be turned out himself." + +"You must not be angry with him," said Helen. "I really don't think he +knows what he is doing." + +"But this is an unheard-of thing," Jim said angrily. "He must have taken +leave of his senses." + +"He accused me of being in league with you to poison him, and bade me +come to an instant decision as to whether I would give you up or leave +the house." + +"And my noble girl refused to give me up?" said James, kissing her hand. + +"Helen acted nobly," said Alice. "Never mind, dear, you know where your +real friends are, don't you?" + +"But whatever shall I do?" the girl put in. "He bade me leave the house +and never come back again." + +"We will arrange all that to-morrow," Jim replied. "For to-night, Alice +will take care of you. Do not worry, dear heart, all will come right in +the end." + +Then he proceeded to inform her of Dr. Weston's visit that afternoon, +and of the report that gentleman had given of the old gentleman's mental +condition. + +"I cannot tell why," she said, "but I had some sort of suspicion that he +came for that purpose. Poor grandfather, how sad it is to think of his +being like this. Since he does not know what he is doing, we should not +be angry with him for acting as he did." + +At this juncture Alice departed to make arrangements for her friend's +comfort for the night. + +"Oh, Jim dear, what do you think will become of me?" Helen asked. "Think +for me, for I cannot think for myself." + +"I think I can hazard a very good guess what your fate will be," said +Jim. "To-morrow morning I shall go up to London to obtain a special +license, and the day after you shall become my wife." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Unexpected as the events of the evening had been, Jim Standerton, as he +stood in his bedroom before retiring to rest, could not declare that he +altogether regretted the turn they had taken. On the morrow he would go +to London, and afterwards, armed with the Law's authority, he would make +Helen Decie his wife without delay. From that moment Mr. Bursfield might +do his worst. Before retiring to his room he had visited Terence, and +had received from him a positive assurance that so far all was right for +the night. Knowing that he might trust the latter implicitly, he had +given him an account of what had happened that evening. + +"The sooner, sir, they put that old man under lock and key the better it +will be for everybody," said Terence. "Let him just come playing his +little game round here, and he'll have me on his track like a Nyall +blackfellow." + +Half-an-hour later, Jim was in bed and asleep, dreaming that he was back +in the Bush once more, and that he and Terence were chasing wild horses +through a mountain range, and that, on the foremost horse, Helen was +seated, clinging to his mane, as if for dear life. He was galloping +after her as fast as his horse could carry him, when suddenly a hand +clutched him by the throat, and tried to lift him out of the saddle. + +At that moment, however, he woke to find that this was no dream, but the +most horrible reality he had ever known in his life. Bony fingers were +clutching tightly at his windpipe, rendering it impossible for him to +breathe. He endeavoured to rise and to seize his assailant, whoever he +might be, and throw him off. But his efforts were unavailing. Still +those talon-like fingers retained their hold; try as he would he could +not weaken their terrible grip. Little by little he felt himself +sinking. The room was in such total darkness that it was impossible to +discover whom his antagonist might be. In the last extremity of his +agony he rolled from the bed and lay helpless upon the floor, entangled +in the clothes. With the fall, his assailant lost his grip of his +throat. Then something must have startled him, for a moment later the +door opened, and he was gone. Disengaging himself as quickly as possible +from the bed-clothes, Jim staggered to his feet, half stunned by the +fall and the terrific conflict in which he had so lately been engaged. +As soon as he recovered he lit a candle, hastened to the door, opened it +and passed out into the gallery. No one was to be seen there, but he had +not gone many paces before he heard the same clicking noise that had +arrested his attention on the first occasion of his seeing the Black +Dwarf. Making his way round the gallery, he reached the room occupied by +Terence. The door stood ajar, and from the noises that proceeded from +within, he gathered that his trusty servant was not only in bed, but +fast asleep. He crossed and shook him by the shoulders. + +"Get up, Terence," he whispered softly. "Get up at once." + +"What's the matter?" asked the half-awakened man. "Why, it's you, sir. +Is there anything wrong?" + +"I should rather think so," Jim replied. "Look at my throat and see if +you can detect any marks upon it." + +The other held up the candle as he was directed. On either side of his +throat were a number of bruises and scratches, and some of the latter +were bleeding profusely. + +"My gracious, sir!" said Terence; "it looks as if somebody had been +trying to strangle you." + +"You've hit it exactly," Jim replied. "Good heavens! Terence, I've been +nearly murdered. You've no idea what a fight of it I've had in the dark. +The man, whoever he was, finding that he couldn't finish me, bolted, and +has gone down some secret passage in the gallery. Terence, we must catch +him somehow." + +Terence sprang out of bed, and while he was dressing, Jim hastened back +to his room and also donned some clothes. This done, he returned to +Terence's bedroom, to discover that worthy in the act of lacing his +boots. + +"It's a funny business this, sir!" Terence remarked. "I wish I had been +behind that gentleman when he was trying to settle you. I'd have given +him one for his precious nob, ghost or no ghost." + +"I expect you would. Now be as quick as you can, for there is not a +moment to lose if we want to catch him." + +Terence immediately announced himself as ready, and then, taking their +candles, they set off round the gallery towards the corridor where Jim +felt sure his mysterious assailant had disappeared. Inspection showed +them that the door of the stairs at the further end, leading down to the +domestic offices, was securely fastened on the other side. Having made +sure of this, they tried, as on a previous occasion, the various rooms +along the corridor, searching each one most carefully. But no success +attended their efforts. + +"It is quite certain that he is not in any of these rooms," said Jim. +"Now what we have to do is to discover the entrance to that secret +passage. I shall not rest content until we have found that." + +They accordingly returned to the corridor, where they set to work once +more to over-haul the wainscotting. Beginning at one end, they worked to +the other; their efforts, however, met with no more success than they +had done in the searching of the rooms. Every panel of the wainscotting +seemed as hollow as its fellow--each projection as firmly secured. + +"And yet I am as certain that it is somewhere about here that he +disappeared," said Jim. + +At the entrance to the corridor from the gallery were two square pillars +elaborately carved with fruit. Jim had explored his side, having pressed +and pulled every pear and apple, with the usual result. Suddenly Terence +touched him on the arm. + +"Look here, sir," he whispered, "what's this? It seems to me that this +grape is not very firm." + +Jim turned to him and knelt down beside the bunch of fruit indicated. It +certainly did seem as if the lowest grape of the bunch were loose. It +shook under his finger, and yet showed no sign of coming off. + +"I believe we've got it at last," he said, pressing upon the grape, as +he spoke, with all his strength. Yet it did not move. He endeavoured to +push it in the direction of the gallery, but still it remained +immovable. He tried forcing it from him towards the corridor, when to +his amazement it left its place and moved half an inch or so away. As it +did so there was a heavy creaking noise, and a portion of the panelling +of the corridor, some three feet in width and six feet high, swung +inwards, disclosing a black cavity, which might either have been a well +or a staircase. Both men drew back in astonishment, half expecting that +Jim's assailant, if he were concealed within, would dash out upon them. + +"We've found the place at last," said Jim. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, we +shall be able to solve the mystery of the famous Childerbridge ghosts. +Hold your candle aloft, Terence, so that we can see what we are doing, +and we'll descend and discover where it leads to." + +"Let me go first, sir," Terence returned. "After the fight you had +upstairs, you may not be up to the mark, and I'm dying to have a turn +with him, if he's as big as a church." + +But Jim would not hear of this, and bade the other follow him. Holding +their lights aloft, they descended the narrow stone steps. They were +longer than they expected to find them, and when they reached the bottom +Jim knew that they must be some distance beneath the level of the +foundations of the house. They were then standing in a passage, some +four feet wide by seven in height. The walls and ceiling were of brick, +the floor composed of huge blocks of stone. Everything reeked with damp +while the air was as close and musty as a vault. Being resolved to leave +no part of it unexplored, Jim pushed on closely followed by Terence. For +economy's sake they blew out one of the candles, not knowing how far +they might have to travel, or what might happen to them by the way. They +had not been more than three minutes in the passage before Jim stopped, +and turning to his companion, held up his hand. + +"What's up?" he asked. + +A sound as of heavy blows upon stone reached them from above. + +"I can tell you what it is, sir," said Terence, after a moment's +reflection. "It's the horses, and it means that we're under the +stables." + +"In that case it must run the entire width of the house and burrow under +the courtyard. It means also that the direction is due east. This is +growing interesting. Come along." + +After this discovery they pushed on with increased speed, but the +passage showed no signs of coming to an end. The air was close, but now +and again draughts poured in upon them to prove that though they could +not see them, there must be vent holes somewhere. + +"I wouldn't have believed such a place could have existed," said Jim. +"It seems as if we have come miles. By Jove, what's that?" + +As he spoke the light of his candle shone upon a dark mass huddled upon +the floor. A second later it became apparent that it was the figure of a +man. + +"Take care, sir," said Terence, as Jim hastened towards the prostrate +form, "it may be the man we want, and he's as like as not shamming." + +"We'll soon find that out," answered Jim, and knelt down beside the +prostrate figure. + +While Terence held the candle, Jim rolled the figure over until they +were able to see the face. Then he uttered a cry of horror. _The man +lying before them was none other than Abraham Bursfield!_ + +"Good heavens, this is too terrible," said Jim, after the long pause +which followed, during which he had assured himself that he had made no +mistake as to the other's identity. "Is he dead, do you think, Terence?" + +"Quite dead, sir," Terence replied, after he too had knelt down and +examined him. "If he's the man who tried to kill you, he'll never do any +more mischief to anybody again." + +But Jim did not answer. A sickening feeling of giddiness was taking +possession of him. If it were Abraham Bursfield who had done his best to +murder him that night, it was only logical to conclude that he was also +the man who had murdered his father. Doctor Weston had declared him to +be a madman that afternoon. Now he had certainly proved himself to be +one of the most dangerous type. If that were the case what a narrow +escape Helen had had. + +"What's to be done, Terence?--what's to be done?" Jim asked almost +piteously. "We could not have made a more terrible discovery." + +"There'll have to be an Inquest, sir," said Terence. + +"When it will be found that he entered my house and endeavoured to +murder me. Then it will be remembered how my father died. Two and two +will be put together, and the terrible truth will come out. That would +break Miss Decie's heart." + +"Good heavens! sir, I see what you mean," said Terence. "I never thought +of that." + +"He was mad, Terence, hopelessly mad, and therefore not responsible for +his actions. Poor Miss Decie!" + +"Aye, poor young lady. If she was so fond of the old gentleman, it would +break her heart to know what he has been trying to do." + +"She must never know," said Jim, who by this time had made up his mind. +"I can trust you, Terence." + +"To the death, sir, and I think you know it. I've served you, sir, and I +served your father before you, and I don't think you ever found me +wanting. Tell me what you think of doing." + +"We must get him back to his own house, if possible," said Jim, "and let +him be found dead there. No one but our two selves will know the truth, +and if we keep silence, no one need ever know that we found him here. I +cannot let Miss Decie be made more unhappy than she is." + +"I don't know but that you are right, sir," Terence answered. "But how +are we going to get him to the Dower House?" + +"We must go along the passage and see where it leads to. If I am not +mistaken it will take us there. This place must have been made years +ago, when the two properties were one. We will leave the body here, and, +if I am right in my conjecture, we can come back for it." + +They accordingly allowed the remains of Mr. Bursfield to lie where they +had found them, and proceeded on their tour of exploration. As it +transpired, they had still a considerable distance to go before they +reached the end of the tunnel. At last, however, they found themselves +at the foot of a flight of stone steps, similar to those by which they +had descended at the Manor House. + +"Tread very quietly," Jim whispered to his companion. "We must on no +account rouse the servants." + +They noiselessly ascended the stairs until they found themselves at the +top, and confronted by a door. + +"I'll get you to stay here, Terence," Jim whispered, "while I open this +door and see where we are." + +He soon discovered what appeared to be a spring in the middle of the +door, and when he had pressed it, had the satisfaction of seeing the +door swing inwards. Shading the candle with his hand, Jim stepped into +the room he found before him. His surprise at finding himself in Mr. +Bursfield's study, the same room in which he had his last unpleasant +interview with the old gentleman, can be better imagined than described. +The secret door, he observed, formed part of the panelling on one side +of the fireplace, a fragment of carving in the setting of the +chimney-piece being the means of opening it. The old man's papers and +books were littered about the table just as he had left them; a +grandfather clock ticked solemnly in the further right-hand corner, +while a little mouse watched Jim from beneath the sofa, as if it were +endeavouring to ascertain his errand there at such an hour. + +Having made sure of his whereabouts, Jim returned to the passage, +closing the door carefully behind him. + +"We must lose no time," he whispered to Terence; "it is already a +quarter to three. Heaven grant that Isaac, his man-servant, does not +take it into his head to look in upon his master during the night. He +would then find him absent, and that would make it rather difficult to +explain the fact of his being found dead in his chair in the morning." + +By this time their first candle had expired, and it became necessary to +light that Terence was carrying. + +"If we are not very careful we shall be compelled to make our way back +in the dark, after we have carried him up here," said Jim. "This candle +will scarcely see us through." + +"Never mind that, sir, so long as we can get him in here safely," said +Terence. "I have got a box of matches in my pocket, and we can fumble +our way back somehow." + +They accordingly set off, and in due course reached the place where they +had left the old man's body. + +"How are we to carry him?" asked Jim. + +"Oh, you leave that to me, sir. I can manage it," answered Terence. "If +you'll go ahead with the light, I'll follow you." + +So saying, he picked up the frail body, as if its weight were a matter +of no concern to him, and they set off on their return journey to the +Dower House. If the distance had appeared a long one before, it was +doubly so now. At last, however, they reached the steps, climbed them, +and a few moments later were standing in the dead man's study once more. +In spite of his assertions to the contrary, it was plain that his +exertions had taxed Terence's strength to its utmost. Between them they +placed the body in the chair before the table. + +This done, they left the room as quietly as they had entered it, and +made their way down the steps once more. Jim's prophecy that the return +journey would have to be made in darkness was fulfilled, for they had +scarcely reached the place where they had discovered the body ere the +candle fluttered out and they found themselves in inky darkness. + +Terence struck a match, but its feeble flicker was of little or no use +to them. Fumbling their way along by the wall they continued to +progress, until a muttered exclamation from Terence, who was leading, +proclaimed the fact that they had reached the steps at the further end. + +"Bad cess to 'em," said he, "I've barked my shins so that I shall have +good cause to remember them to my dying day." + +He thereupon lit another match, and by means of this modest illumination +they climbed to the door in the corridor above. + +"Heaven be thanked! we're safe home once more," said Jim, as they +stepped into the passage. "I trust I may never experience another night +like this." + +Whispering to Terence to follow him quietly, he led the way round the +gallery and downstairs to the dining-room, where he unlocked the +Tantalus and poured out a glass of spirits for Terence and another for +himself. Both stood in need of some sort of stimulant after all they had +been through. + +"Not a word must be breathed to any living being of this, Terence," he +said, as he put his glass down. "Remember, I trust my secret to you +implicitly." + +"I give you my word, sir, that nobody shall ever hear it from me," +answered Terence, and then the two men solemnly shook hands. + +"Now, before we go to bed, I'll get you to come to my room and have a +look at my throat," said Jim; "it's uncommonly sore." + +This proved to be the case. And small wonder was it, for the finger +marks were fast turning to bruises, while the scratches showed up as +fiery-red as ever. Jim shuddered again and again as he recalled that +awful struggle and compared his escape with his father's cruel fate. + +"Another moment and in all probability he would have done for me too," +he said to himself, and then added somewhat inconsequently, "Poor +Helen!" + +When his wounds had been dressed, he despatched Terence to bed; for his +own part, however, he knew that sleep was impossible. In fact, he did +not attempt to seek it, but seating himself in a comfortable chair, +proceeded to read, with what attention he could bestow upon the +operation, until daylight. + +When the sun rose he dressed himself and went out, wearing a scarf +instead of a collar, in order that the wounds he had received might not +be apparent to the world. The memory of that hateful passage under the +park haunted him like an evil dream. He determined to have it closed at +once for good and all. While he remained the owner of Childerbridge no +one should ever set foot in it again. He was still wondering how he +could best carry out the work without exciting suspicion or comment, +when he observed an old man crossing the park towards him. As he drew +nearer, Jim became aware that it was old Isaac, Mr. Bursfield's +man-servant and general factotum. It was also to be seen that he was in +a very agitated state. + +"God have mercy upon us, sir!" he said, as he came up to Jim; "I've had +such a fright. Is Miss Helen with you?" + +"She is," Jim replied, and then endeavouring to speak unconcernedly, he +added--"Has Mr. Bursfield sent you to find her?" + +"The poor gentleman will never send me on another errand," Isaac replied +solemnly; "he has been sent for himself. He is dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +"What's that you say?" cried Jim, trying to appear as if he were +scarcely able to believe that he heard aright. "Do you mean to tell me +that Mr. Bursfield is dead?" + +"Yes, sir," said the old man; "when I went into his study this morning +to open the shutters, I found him seated at his table in the arm-chair +stone dead. I ran up at once to Miss Helen's room to tell her, only to +find that her bed had not been slept in. Me and my wife searched the +house for her, but she is not to be found anywhere. Oh, sir, what does +it all mean?" + +"It means that Miss Decie came to my house last night at about eleven +o'clock. Mr. Bursfield's condition was such that she was afraid to +remain in the house with him any longer. You must have noticed that he +has been very strange of late?" + +"The poor old gentleman has been ailing for some days past," Isaac +replied. "He always was quick tempered, but for the last month or so he +doesn't seem to have been able to control himself. Perhaps it isn't +right for a servant to say it, sir, but there 'ave been times lately +when I 'ave been afraid that his reason 'ave been a-failing him. There +was a time when he couldn't make enough of Miss Helen, but lately he's +been scarce able to speak civil to her. It's a sad thing, sir, a very +sad thing, especially for a servant that's worked for him true and +faithful for nigh upon forty years." + +"His fit of rage last night must have hastened the end," said Jim. "The +news you bring will affect Miss Decie very painfully. You had better go +back and send at once for the doctor; I will return to the Manor House +and tell Miss Decie." + +"I humbly thank you for your kindness, sir," the man replied. "I will do +what you say, and perhaps you will be kind enough to come over later." + +When he had extracted the other's promise he hobbled off, and Jim +returned to his own house. He found Helen and Alice in the hall, +standing before the great fireplace in earnest conversation. He bade +them as cheery a good morning as was possible under the circumstances, +and when he had done so his sister enquired why his throat was wrapped +up so closely. + +"It's a trifle sore this morning," Jim replied, with some truth. "That's +all. It will be all right very soon." + +He then suggested that they should go in to breakfast. He had determined +to break the news of Mr. Bursfield's death to Helen after the meal. This +he did with great gentleness. The shock, however, was a severe one, +nevertheless, but she did her best to meet it bravely. + +"Poor old grandfather," she said after a while, "I always feared that +his death would come like this. Oh how sorry I am that he should have +died believing that I had ceased to love him." + +"He could not have done that," Jim replied. "In his inmost heart he must +have known that your affection was one that could never change." + +She shook her head, however. + +"Will you take me to him?" she enquired, and Jim, feeling that it would +not be wise not to do so, consented to go with her to the Dower House. +Side by side they crossed the park by the path they had come to know so +well, entered the house by the little postern door, and were met in the +hall by the village doctor whom Isaac had summoned. + +"My dear Miss Decie," he said as they shook hands, "will you accept my +heartfelt sympathy for you in your trouble. I fear it must have been a +terrible shock." + +"It has affected me more than I can say," she answered. "I had no idea, +though I was aware that his heart was in a very weak state, that the end +was so near." + +"One thing I can tell you if it will make you any happier," said the +doctor, "and that is, that I am certain his end was a peaceful and +painless one." + +Thanking the doctor for his sympathy, Helen left the room and went +upstairs to the dead man's bedroom. Jim and the doctor went into the +study. + +"I suppose it will be necessary to hold an Inquest," said Jim, when they +were alone together. + +"I am very much afraid so," the doctor replied. "But it will be quite a +formal affair. There are two circumstances, however, Mr. Standerton, +about the affair, that I must confess puzzle me more than a little." + +Jim felt himself turning cold. Had he left anything undone, or had he +made any mistake? + +"What are those two circumstances?" he enquired. + +"Well, in the first place," said the doctor, "the old gentleman seldom +went outside the house, not once a month at most, and only then on fine +days. Yesterday, his man-servant tells me, he did not stir beyond the +study door. Isaac is certain that he was wearing his carpet slippers at +dinner time, and also when he looked in upon him before retiring, yet +when he was found this morning he was wearing boots." + +"That is most curious, certainly," said Jim, "but I must confess I fail +to see anything remarkable in it." + +"Not perhaps in the fact of his wearing the boots," said the medical +gentleman, "but there is another point which, taken in conjunction with +it, makes one pause to think. On the first finger of the right hand I +found that the nail had been recently broken, and in a painful fashion. +What is more, the second and third fingers had smears of blood upon +them. Now with the exception of the nail to which I have alluded and +which did not bleed, he had not a trace of a wound on either finger. +That I am quite certain of, for I searched diligently. Moreover, there +is not a trace of blood upon the table at which he was seated. And there +is one thing stranger still." + +"What is that?" + +"As you are aware, it commenced to rain at a late hour last night. +Unfortunately I know it, for the reason that I was compelled to be out +in it. The roads were plastered with mud. Now though Mr. Bursfield, for +some reason of his own, had put on his boots, he could not have ventured +outside, for there is not a speck of mud upon them. In that case, why +the boots, and where did the blood come from?" + +"You are perfectly sure that he died of heart disease?" + +"As sure as I can be of anything," said the doctor. "Nevertheless, it's +altogether a mysterious affair." + +This also proved to be the opinion of the Coroner's Jury, and as there +was no one forthcoming to clear it up, a mystery it was likely to remain +for all time. Had the Coroner and his Jury, however, known the history +of the bruises under the thick bandage which the young Squire of +Childerbridge wore round his throat, they would have been enlightened. + +As nobody was able to account for anything save the doctor, however, a +verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned, and three days +later, Abraham Bursfield was laid to rest with his forefathers in the +little churchyard, scarcely fifty paces away from the grave of the man +who had fallen by his hands. + +"Jim," said Alice on the evening of the funeral, when they had brought +Helen back to the Manor House, "I have a proposal to make to you. I am +going to suggest that I should take Helen away for a few weeks to the +seaside. The anxieties and sorrow of the past two months have been too +much for her. I can see that she stands in need of a thorough change. If +you have no objection to raise, I thought we could start to-morrow +morning. We shall be away a month, and by that time she should be quite +restored to health." + +"And pray what am I going to do with myself while you are away?" he +asked. "I gather you mean when you say that you are both going away that +I am not to accompany you?" + +"No; all things considered, I think it would be better not," said Alice. +"But if you are very good you shall come down to us for two or three +days during the month. Then if Helen agrees, and I have no doubt you +will be able to induce her to do so, you could obtain a Special License, +and be quietly married at the end of that time." + +Jim, who regarded it quite possible that the marriage might be postponed +for some time, clutched eagerly at the straw of hope held out to him, +and willingly agreed to her suggestion. + +"And now one other matter, Alice," he said. "I, on my side, have a +proposal to make. Whether you will prove as complaisant as I have done +is another matter." + +"What is your proposal?" + +"It can be resolved into one word," he answered, "That word is +Mudrapilla." + +He heard her catch her breath, and then she looked pleadingly at him. + +"Jim," she whispered, "Oh Jim, dear, you don't mean it, do you?" + +"If you and Helen will accompany me, I do," he answered. "Terence I am +quite sure will not object. Will you agree, my sister?" + +The answer she vouchsafed might have meant anything or nothing. It +was:-- + +"Only to think of seeing dear old Mudrapilla again!" + +So it was settled. Helen and Alice departed next day to a tiny seaside +place in Devonshire, where Jim was under orders to join them for three +days at the week end once during their stay. As soon as they were gone, +he in his turn set off for London. His first act on reaching the City, +and when he had deposited his bag at the hotel, was to drive to the +office of the Estate Agent with whom his father had negotiated the +purchase of Childerbridge. That portly, suave gentleman received him +with the respect due to a man worth half a million of money, and the +owner of such a palatial mansion and estate. + +"But, my dear sir," he began, when he had heard what James had to say, +"you surely don't mean to say that you are desirous of selling +Childerbridge. You have only been there a few months." + +"I am most anxious to be rid of the place as soon as possible," Jim +replied. "As you may suppose it has the most painful recollections for +me. Besides I am thinking of returning to Australia almost immediately, +and scarcely know when I shall visit England again." + +"In that case I must do the best I can for you," said the other. "At the +same time I feel that I should warn you that the Estate Market is not in +a very flourishing condition at present, and that a large number of +properties that have been placed upon the market have not sold nearly as +well as they should have done." + +"I must take my chance of not getting its value," said Jim. "Find me a +purchaser and I don't think he will be able to complain that I have not +met him fairly." + +The agent promised to do his best, and for the next fortnight Jim amused +himself in a lazy fashion travelling about England, purchasing a variety +of stock for his Australian stations, and longing for the time to come +when he should be at liberty to present himself in Devonshire. At last, +however, the day arrived. It was morning when he left London, it was +evening when he reached his destination. It was winter when he left +Waterloo, dull, dismal and foggy; when he reached Devonshire it was, in +his eyes at least, perpetual summer. Both Helen and Alice were at the +railway station to greet him, and immediately he saw them he realised +the fact that a change for the better had taken place in his sweetheart. +The old colour had come back to her cheeks, the old sparkle was in her +eyes. She greeted him very lovingly, but if possible a little shyly. +There were such lots of news to hear, and still more to be told, that it +seemed as if they would never have done talking. + +The village had proved itself a delightful little place. It was far from +the track of the tripper, and had not then been spoilt by the wealthy +tourist. High cliffs hemmed it in on either side, and the sea broke upon +the beach of shingles. They returned to their lodgings for tea, a +charming thatched cottage, within a stone's throw of the primitive +little jetty, beside which the fisher boats were moored. Afterwards the +lovers went for a walk upon the cliffs. + +"Helen, my darling," said Jim, "I can scarcely realise that it is only a +fortnight since I saw you. It seems as if years had passed. You can have +no idea how happy it makes me to see you looking like your own dear self +once more." + +"I could not help being well here," she answered. "Besides, Alice has +been so good and kind to me. I should be ungrateful indeed were I to +show no improvement." + +But Jim had not brought his sweetheart out on the cliff to discuss his +sister's good qualities. + +"Helen," he said at last, "is it possible for you to be my wife in a +fortnight's time?" + +He took her little hand in his and looked into her eyes. The veriest +tyro might have seen that the young man was terribly in earnest. + +"It might be possible," she said softly, but without looking at him. +"Are you quite sure you _do_ wish it?" + +"If you talk like that I shall go back to London to-night," he answered. +"You know very well that to make you my wife has been my ambition ever +since I first saw you." + +And then he went on to tell her of his dreams, winding up with this +question--"I wonder whether you will like Australia?" + +"I shall like any place where you may be," she replied. + +Could any young woman say more to her lover than that? At any rate Jim +appeared to be satisfied. + +On the Monday following he returned to London to learn from the agent +that a probable, though unexpected, purchaser had been found for +Childerbridge. He proved to be a wealthy American, who was not only +prepared to take over the estate at a valuation, but also to purchase +the furniture and effects as they stood. + +On the day following the receipt of this news, Jim travelled down with +the would-be buyer, conducted him over the property, and was in a +position to assure himself, when the other had departed, that +Childerbridge would be very soon off his hands. To the agent's horror +the matter was conducted on both sides with unusual promptness, and in +consequence, when, a fortnight later, Jim stepped into the Devonshire +train with a special marriage license in his pocket, the sale was as +good as effected. + +The wedding was solemnised next day in the quaint little village church, +and excited no comment from the humble fisher folk. The only persons +present were the bride and bridegroom, Alice, and the family lawyer, who +had travelled down from London expressly to give the bride away. Then, +no impediment being offered, James Standerton, bachelor, took to himself +for wife Helen Decie, spinster. The worthy old gentleman pocketed his +fee with a smiling face, congratulated both parties, and then hurried +off to another parish to bury a fisherman who had been drowned in the +bay a few days before. An hour later Jim and Helen started for Exeter, +_en route_ for Scotland, while Alice accompanied the lawyer, whose +wife's guest she was to be, to London, to wait there until her brother +and sister-in-law should return from the north. + + * * * * * + +Four years have elapsed since that terrible night when Abraham Bursfield +was found dead in the secret passage leading from Childerbridge Manor +House to the Dower House in the corner of the Park. Those four years +have certainly worked wondrous changes in at least four lives. One short +sketch must serve to illustrate this fact, and to bring my story to a +conclusion. The scene is no longer laid in England but on a rough Bush +track on a very hot Australian afternoon. A tall good-looking man is +jogging contentedly along, apparently oblivious to all that goes on +around him. It is easily seen that he and his horse are on the very best +terms with each other. He passes the Pelican Lake, descends into the +hollow of what was perhaps a continuation of the same lake, and on +gaining the summit of the next rise finds himself looking upon what, at +first glance, would appear to be a small village. This village is the +station of Mudrapilla, and the giant gums which can just be discerned +some five miles or so to the right, indicate the spot where on a certain +eventful evening, James Standerton first came face to face with Richard +Murbridge. This same James Standerton, for it is he who is the rider of +the horse, increases his pace as soon as the station itself comes into +view. He passes the men's quarters, the store, the blacksmith's shop, +and finally approaches a long and extremely comfortable looking +one-storied residence, whose broad verandahs are confronted by orange +groves on the one side, and the brave old river on the other. As he +rides up one of the overseers emerges from the barracks, and hastens +forward to greet his employer, and to take his horse from him. That +overseer is no less a person than our old friend, Terence O'Riley, +looking just the same as ever. Jim gives him a few directions concerning +the sheep in the Mountain Paddock, which he has visited that afternoon, +and then dismounts and strolls on through the gates, and up the garden +path towards the house. In the broad verandah a lady is seated in a long +comfortable chair, and playing beside her on the floor is a chubby +urchin upwards of two years of age. Helen, for as may be supposed, it is +none other than she, rises on hearing her husband's step on the path, +and catching up the infant brings him forward to greet his father with a +kiss. + +"I didn't expect you for half-an-hour at least, dear," she says, when +she in her turn has kissed him. "The boy and I have been patiently +awaiting your arrival. Did you meet the mail?" + +"I did," he answered, "and I opened the bag upon the road. There are two +letters for you, one I see is from Alice." + +"And you?" she asks, as she takes the letters from him. + +"Well, I had one of some importance," he replied. "It is from +Fairlight--my old solicitor in England, you remember him--and what do +you think he tells me?" + +Helen, very naturally, could not guess. + +"Well, he says that Childerbridge Manor was burnt down by fire three +months ago and totally destroyed. The American, the owner, is going to +rebuild it at once on a scale of unparalleled magnificence." + +There was a pause for a few moments, then Helen said:-- + +"What do you think about it, Jim?" + +"All things considered I am not sorry," he answered. "Yet, perhaps, I +should not say that, for it brought me the greatest blessing a man can +have." + +"And that blessing?" she asked innocently. + +"Is a good wife," he answered, stooping to kiss her. After which he +disappeared into the house. + +"And pray what does Alice say?" he asked, when he returned a few minutes +later. + +"She gives us such good news," Helen replied. "She and Jack will spend +Christmas with us. She declares she is the happiest woman in the world. +Jack is a paragon." + +In case the reader should fail to understand who Jack is, I might remark +that he is no less a person than Jack Riddington, the overseer, +mentioned at the commencement of my story, and who was supposed to be +Jim's best friend. Alice, after they were engaged, admitted that she had +always entertained a liking for him, while it was well known that he had +always been head over ears in love with her. During Jim's absence in +England he had come into a large sum of money, had purchased a station +one hundred and fifty miles south of Gundawurra, had married Alice +within six months of her return, and was now living a life of undoubted +felicity. + +"They may be happy," said Helen, "but they can never be as happy as we +are. That is quite certain, husband mine." + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Childerbridge Mystery, by Guy Boothby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDERBRIDGE MYSTERY *** + +***** This file should be named 35277-8.txt or 35277-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/2/7/35277/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Childerbridge Mystery + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Release Date: February 14, 2011 [EBook #35277] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDERBRIDGE MYSTERY *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>The Childerbridge Mystery</h1> + +<h2>By Guy Boothby,</h2> + +<h3><i>Author of</i> "<i>Dr. Nikola</i>," "<i>A Millionaire's Love Story</i>," "<i>The Curse +of the Snake</i>," <i>etc., etc., etc.</i></h3> + + +<h3>London<br /> +F. V. White & Co., Ltd.<br /> +1902</h3> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Childerbridge Mystery</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + + +<p>One had only to look at William Standerton in order to realise that he +was, what is usually termed, a success in life. His whole appearance +gave one this impression; the bold unflinching eyes, the square, +resolute chin, the well-moulded lips, and the lofty forehead, showed a +determination and ability to succeed that was beyond the ordinary.</p> + +<p>The son of a hardworking country doctor, it had fallen to his lot to +emigrate to Australia at the early age of sixteen. He had not a friend +in that vast, but sparsely-populated, land, and was without influence of +any sort to help him forward. When, therefore, in fifty years' time, he +found himself worth upwards of half-a-million pounds sterling, he was +able to tell himself that he owed his good fortune not only to his own +industry, but also to his shrewd business capabilities. It is true that +he had had the advantage of reaching the Colonies when they were in +their infancy, but even with this fact taken into consideration, his was +certainly a great performance. He had invested his money prudently, and +the rich Stations, and the streets of House Property, were the result.</p> + +<p>Above all things, William Standerton was a kindly-natured man. Success +had not spoilt him in this respect. No genuine case of necessity ever +appealed to him in vain. He gave liberally, but discriminatingly, and in +so doing never advertised himself.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, he was nearly thirty years of age before he even +contemplated matrimony. The reason for this must be ascribed to the fact +that his life had been essentially an active one, and up to that time he +had not been brought very much into contact with the opposite sex. When, +however, he fell in love with pretty Jane McCalmont—then employed as a +governess on a neighbouring Property—he did so with an enthusiasm that +amply made up for lost time.</p> + +<p>She married him, and presented him with two children—a boy and a girl. +Within three months of the latter's arrival into the world, the mother +laid down her gentle life, leaving her husband a well nigh +broken-hearted man. After her death the years passed slowly by with +almost monotonous sameness. The boy James, and the girl Alice, in due +course commenced their education, and in so doing left their childhood +behind them. Their devotion to their father was only equalled by his +love for them. He could scarcely bear them out of his sight, and entered +into all their sports, their joys and troubles, as if he himself were a +child once more.</p> + +<p>It was not, however, until James was a tall, handsome young fellow of +four-and-twenty, and Alice a winsome maid of twenty, that he arrived at +the conclusion that his affairs no longer needed his personal +supervision, and that he was at liberty to return to the Mother Country, +and settle down in it, should he feel disposed to do so.</p> + +<p>"It's all very well for you young folk to talk of my leaving Australia," +he said, addressing his son and daughter; "but I shall be like a fish +out of water in the Old Country. You forget that I have not seen her for +half-a-century."</p> + +<p>"All the more reason that you should lose no time in returning, father," +observed Miss Alice, to whom a visit to England had been the one +ambition of her life. "You shall take us about and show us everything; +the little village in which you were born, the river in which you used +to fish, and the wood in which the keeper so nearly caught you with the +rabbit in your pocket. Then you shall buy an old-fashioned country house +and we'll settle down. It will be lovely!"</p> + +<p>Her father pinched her shapely little ear, and then looked away across +the garden to where a railed enclosure was to be seen, on the crest of a +slight eminence. He remembered that the woman lying there had more than +once expressed a hope that, in the days then to come, they would be able +to return to their native country together, and take their children with +them.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, my dear," he said, glancing down at the daughter who so +much resembled her mother, "you shall have it your own way. We will go +Home as soon as possible, and do just as you propose. I think we may be +able to afford a house in the country, and perhaps, that is if you are a +very dutiful daughter, another in London. It is just possible that there +may be one or two people living who may remember William Standerton, +and, for that reason, be kind to his son and daughter. But I fear it +will be rather a wrench for me to leave these places that I have built +up with my own hands, and to which I have devoted such a large portion +of my life. However, one can be in harness too long, and when once +Australia is left behind me, I have no doubt I shall enjoy my holiday as +much as any one else."</p> + +<p>In this manner the matter was settled. Competent and trustworthy +managers were engaged, and the valuable properties, which had +contributed so large a share to William Standerton's wealth, were handed +over to their charge.</p> + +<p>On the night before they were to leave Mudrapilla, their favourite and +largest station, situated on the Darling River, in New South Wales, +James Standerton, called Jim by his family and a multifarious collection +of friends, was slowly making his way along the left bank of the River. +He had ridden out to say good-bye to the manager of the Out Station, and +as his horse picked his way along the bank, he was thinking of England, +and of what his life was to be there. Suddenly he became aware of a man +seated beneath a giant gum tree near the water's edge. From the fact +that the individual in question had kindled a fire and was boiling his +billy, he felt justified in assuming that he was preparing his camp for +the night. He accordingly rode up and accosted him. The man was a Foot +Traveller, or Swagman, and presented a somewhat singular appearance. +Though he was seated, Jim could see that he was tall, though sparsely +built. His age must have been about sixty years; his hair was streaked +with grey, as also was his beard. Taken altogether his countenance was +of the description usually described as "hatchet-faced." He was dressed +after the swagman fashion, certainly no better, and perhaps a little +worse. Yet with it all he had the appearance of having once been in +better circumstances. He looked up as Jim approached, and nodded a "good +evening." The latter returned the salutation in his customary pleasant +fashion.</p> + +<p>"How much further is it to the Head Station?" the man on the ground then +enquired.</p> + +<p>"Between four and five miles," Jim replied. "Are you making your way +there?"</p> + +<p>"That's my idea," the stranger answered. "I hear the owner is leaving +for England, and I am desirous of having a few words with him before he +goes."</p> + +<p>"You know him then?"</p> + +<p>"I've known him over thirty years," returned the other. "But he has gone +up in the world while, as you will gather, I have done the opposite. +Standerton was always one of Life's lucky ones; I am one of Her +failures. Anything <i>he</i> puts his hand to prospers; while I, let it be +ever so promising, have only to touch a bit of business, and it goes to +pieces like a house of cards."</p> + +<p>The stranger paused and took stock of the young man seated upon the +horse.</p> + +<p>"Now I come to think of it," he continued, after having regarded Jim +intently for some seconds, "you're not unlike Standerton yourself. +You've got the same eyes and chin, and the same cut of mouth."</p> + +<p>"It's very probable, for I am his son," Jim replied. "What is it you +want with my father?"</p> + +<p>"That's best known to myself," the stranger returned, with a surliness +in his tone that he had not exhibited before. "When you get home, just +tell your governor that Richard Murbridge is on his way up the river to +call upon him, and that he will try to put in an appearance at the +Station early to-morrow morning. I don't fancy he'll be best pleased to +see me, but I must have an interview with him before he leaves +Australia, if I have to follow him round the country to get it."</p> + +<p>"You had better be careful how you talk to my father," said Jim. "If you +are as well acquainted with him as you pretend to be, you should know +that he is not the sort of man to be trifled with."</p> + +<p>"I know him as well as you do," the other answered, lifting his billy +from the fire as he spoke. "William Standerton and I knew each other +long before you were born. If it's only the distance you say to the Head +Station, you can tell him I'll be there by breakfast time. I'm a bit +foot-sore, it is true, but I can do the journey in an hour and a-half. +On what day does the coach pass, going South?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow morning," Jim replied. "Do you want to catch it?"</p> + +<p>"It's very probable I shall," said Murbridge. "Though I wasn't born in +this cursed country, I'm Australian enough never to foot it when I can +ride. Good Heavens! had any one told me, twenty-five years ago, that I +should eventually become a Darling Whaler, I'd have knocked, what I +should have thought then to be the lie, down their throats. But what I +am you can see. Fate again, I suppose? However, I was always of a +hopeful disposition, even when my affairs appeared to be at their worst, +so I'll pin my faith on to-morrow. Must you be going? Well, in that +case, I'll wish you good-night! Don't forget my message to your father."</p> + +<p>Jim bade him good-night, and then continued his ride home. As he went he +pondered upon his curious interview with the stranger he had just left, +and while so doing, wondered as to his reasons for desiring to see his +father.</p> + +<p>"The fellow was associated with him in business at some time or another, +I suppose?" he said to himself, "and, having failed, is now on his beam +ends and wants assistance. Poor old Governor, there are times when he is +called upon to pay pretty dearly for his success in life."</p> + +<p>James Standerton was proud of his father, as he had good reason to be. +He respected him above all living men, and woe betide the individual who +might have anything to say against the sire in the son's hearing.</p> + +<p>At last he reached the Home Paddock and cantered up the slope towards +the cluster of houses, that resembled a small village, and surrendered +his horse to a black boy in the stable yard. With a varied collection of +dogs at his heels he made his way up the garden path, beneath the +trellised vines to the house, in the broad verandah of which he could +see his sister and father seated at tea.</p> + +<p>"Well, my lad," said Standerton senior, when Jim joined them, "I suppose +you've seen Riddington, and have bade him good-bye. It's my opinion he +will miss you as much as any one in the neighbourhood. You two have +always been such friends."</p> + +<p>"That's just what Riddington said," James replied. "He wishes he were +coming with us. Poor chap, he doesn't seem to think he'll ever see +England again."</p> + +<p>Alice looked up from the cup of tea she was pouring out for her brother.</p> + +<p>"I fancy there is more in poor Mr. Riddington's case than meets the +eye," she said sympathetically. "Nobody knows quite why he left England. +He is always very reticent upon that point. I cannot help thinking, +however, that there was a lady in the case."</p> + +<p>"There always is," answered her brother. "There's a woman in every +mystery, and when you've found her it's a mystery no longer. By the way, +father, as I was coming home, I came across a fellow camped up the +river. He asked me what the distance was to here, and said he was on his +way to see you. He will be here the first thing to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"He wants work, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"No, I shouldn't say that he did," James replied. "He said that he +wanted to see you on important private business."</p> + +<p>"Indeed? I wonder who it can be? A swagman who has important private +business with me is a <i>rara avis</i>. He didn't happen to tell you his +name, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he did," Jim answered, placing his cup on the floor as he spoke. +"His name is Richard Murbridge, or something like it."</p> + +<p>The effect upon the elder man was electrical.</p> + +<p>"Richard Murbridge?" he cried. "Camped on the river and coming here?"</p> + +<p>His son and daughter watched him with the greatest astonishment depicted +upon their faces. It was not often that their father gave way to so much +emotion. At last with an effort he recovered himself, and, remarking +that Murbridge was a man with whom he had had business in bygone days, +and that he had not seen him for many years, went into the house.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who this Murbridge can be?" said James to his sister, when +they were alone together. "I didn't like the look of him, and if I were +the Governor, I should send him about his business as quickly as +possible."</p> + +<p>When he had thus expressed himself, Jim left his sister and went off to +enjoy that luxury so dear to the heart of a bushman after his day's +work, a swim in the river. He was some time over it, and when he +emerged, he was informed that his presence was required at the Store. +Thither he repaired to arbitrate in the quarrel of two Boundary Riders. +In consequence, more than an hour elapsed before he returned to the +house. His sister greeted him at the gate with a frightened look upon +her face.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen father?" she enquired.</p> + +<p>"No," he answered. "Isn't he in the house?"</p> + +<p>"He went down the track just after you left, riding old Peter, and as he +passed the gate he called to me not to keep dinner for him, as he did +not know how long it might be before he would be back. Jim, I believe he +is gone to see that man you told him of, and the thought frightens me."</p> + +<p>"You needn't be alarmed," her brother answered. "Father is quite able to +take care of himself."</p> + +<p>But though he spoke with so much assurance, in his own mind he was not +satisfied. He remembered that it had been his impression that the +swagman bore his father a grudge, and the thought made him uneasy.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Alice," he said, after he had considered the matter for some +time, "I've a good mind to go back along the track, and to bring the +Governor home with me. What do you think?"</p> + +<p>"It would relieve me of a good deal of anxiety if you would," the girl +replied. "I don't like the thought of his going off like this."</p> + +<p>Jim accordingly went to the end of the verandah, and called to the +stables for a horse. As soon as the animal was forthcoming he mounted +it, and set off in the direction his father had taken. It was now quite +dark, but so well did he know it, that he could have found his way along +the track blindfolded, if necessary. It ran parallel with the river, the +high trees on the banks of which could be seen, standing out like a +black line against the starlit sky. He let himself out of the Home +Paddock, passed the Woolshed, and eventually found himself approaching +the spot where Murbridge had made his camp. Then the twinkle of the fire +came into view, and a few seconds later he was able to distinguish his +father standing beside his grey horse, talking to a man who was lying +upon the ground near the fire. Not wishing to play the part of an +eavesdropper, he was careful to remain out of earshot. It was only when +he saw the man rise, heard him utter a threat, and then approach his +father, that he rode up. Neither of the men became aware of his approach +until he was close upon them, and then both turned in surprise.</p> + +<p>"James, what is the meaning of this?" his father cried. "What are you +doing here, my lad?"</p> + +<p>For a moment the other scarcely knew what reply to make. At last he +said:—</p> + +<p>"I came to assure myself of your safety, father. Alice told me you had +gone out, and I guessed your errand."</p> + +<p>"A very dutiful son," sneered Murbridge. "You are to be congratulated +upon him, William."</p> + +<p>James stared at the individual before him with astonishment. What right +had such a man to address his father by his Christian name?</p> + +<p>"Be careful," said Standerton, speaking to the man before him. "You know +what I said to you just now, and you are also aware that I never break +my word. Fail to keep <i>your</i> part of the contract, and I shall no longer +keep mine."</p> + +<p>"You know that you have your heel upon my neck," the other retorted; +"and also that I cannot help myself. But I pray that the time may come +when I shall be able to be even with you. To think that I am tramping +this infernal country, like a dead beat Sundowner, without a cent in my +pocket, while you are enjoying all the luxuries and happiness that life +and wealth can give. It's enough to make a man turn Anarchist right +off."</p> + +<p>"That will do," said William Standerton quietly. "Remember that +to-morrow morning you will go back to the place whence you came; also +bear in mind the fact that if you endeavour to molest me, or to +communicate with me, or with any member of my family, I will carry out +the threat I uttered just now. That is all I have to say to you."</p> + +<p>Then Standerton mounted his horse, and turning to his son, said:—</p> + +<p>"Let us return home, James. It is getting late, and your sister will be +uneasy."</p> + +<p>Without another word to the man beside the fire, they rode off, leaving +him looking after them with an expression of deadly hatred upon his +face. For some distance the two men rode in silence. Jim could see that +his father was much agitated, and for that reason he forbore to put any +question to him concerning the individual they had just left. Indeed it +was not until they had passed the Woolshed once more, and had half +completed their return journey that the elder man spoke.</p> + +<p>"How much of my conversation with that man did you overhear?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing but what I heard when Murbridge rose to his feet," James +replied. "I should not have come near you had I not heard his threat and +seen him approach you. Who is the man, father?"</p> + +<p>"His name is Murbridge," said Standerton, with what was plainly an +effort. "He is a person with whom I was on friendly terms many years +ago, but he has now got into disgrace, and, I fear has sank very low +indeed. I do not think he will trouble us any more, however, so we will +not refer to him again."</p> + +<p>All that evening William Standerton was visibly depressed. He excused +himself from playing his usual game of cribbage with his daughter, on +the plea that he had a headache. Next morning, however, he was quite +himself. He went out to his last day's work in the bush as cheerfully as +he had ever done. But had any one followed him, he, or she, would have +discovered that the first thing he did was to ride to the spot where +Richard Murbridge had slept on the previous night. The camp was +deserted, and only a thin column of smoke, rising from the embers of the +fire, remained to show that the place had been lately occupied.</p> + +<p>"He has gone, then," said Standerton to himself. "Thank goodness! But I +know him too well to be able to assure myself that I have seen the last +of him. Next week, however, we shall put the High Seas between us, and +then, please God, I shall see no more of him for the remainder of my +existence."</p> + +<p>At that moment the man of whom he was speaking, was tramping along the +dusty track with a tempest of rage in his heart.</p> + +<p>"He may travel wherever he pleases," he was muttering to himself, "but +he won't get away from me. He may go to the end of the world, and I'll +follow him and be at his elbow, just to remind him who I am, and of the +claims I have upon him. Yes, William Standerton, you may make up your +mind upon one point, and that is the fact that I'll be even with you +yet!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p>Childerbridge Manor is certainly one of the finest mansions in the +County of Midlandshire. It stands in a finely-timbered park of about two +hundred acres, which rises behind the house to a considerable elevation. +The building itself dates back to the reign of Good Queen Bess, and is +declared by competent authorities to be an excellent example of the +architecture of that period. It is large, and presents a most imposing +appearance as one approaches it by the carriage drive. The interior is +picturesque in the extreme; the hall is large and square, panelled with +oak, and having a massive staircase of the same wood leading from it to +a music gallery above. There are other staircases in various parts of +the building, curious corkscrew affairs, in ascending which one is in +continual danger of knocking one's head against the ceiling and corners. +There are long, and somewhat dark corridors, down which it would be +almost possible to drive the proverbial coach and four, whilst there are +also numerous secret passages, and a private chapel, with stained glass +windows connected with the house by means of a short tunnel. That such a +mansion should be provided with a family ghost, goes without saying. +Indeed, Childerbridge Manor is reputed to possess a small army of them. +Elderly gentlemen who carry their heads under their arms; beautiful +women who glide down the corridors, weeping as they go; and last but not +least, a deformity, invariably dressed in black, who is much given to +sitting on the foot rails of beds, and pointing, with the first finger +of his right hand, to the ceiling above. So well authenticated are the +legends of these apparitions, that it would be almost an impossibility +to induce any man, woman, or child, from the village, to enter the gates +of Childerbridge Manor after dusk. Servants who arrived were told the +stories afloat concerning their new abode; and the sound of the wind +sighing round the house on a gusty night immediately set their +imaginations to work, with the result of their giving notice of their +intention to leave on the following morning. "They had seen the White +Lady," they declared, had heard her pitiful death cry, and vowed that +nothing could induce them to remain in such a house twenty-four hours +longer. In fact, "As haunted as the Manor House" had become a popular +expression in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>When the Standerton's reached England, they set to work to discover for +themselves a home. They explored the country from east to west, and from +north to south, but without success. Eventually Childerbridge Manor was +offered them by an Agent in London, and after they had spent a +considerable portion of their time poring over photographs of the house +and grounds, they arrived at the conclusion that they had discovered a +place likely to suit them. On a lovely day in early summer they +travelled down from London to inspect it, and were far from being +disappointed in what they saw.</p> + +<p>When they entered the gates the park lay before them, bathed in +sunlight, the rooks cawed lazily in the trees, while the deer regarded +them, from their couches in the bracken, with mild, contemplative eyes. +After the scorched up plains of Australia, the picture was an +exceedingly attractive one. The house itself, they could see would +require a considerable outlay in repairs, but when that work was +accomplished, it would be as perfect a residence as any that could be +found. The stables were large enough to hold half a hundred horses, but +for many years had been tenanted only by rats. The same might be said of +the buildings of the Home Farm!</p> + +<p>"However, taking one thing with another," said Mr. Standerton, after he +had inspected everything, and arrived at a proper understanding of the +possibilities of the place, "I think it will suit us. The Society of the +neighbourhood, they tell me, is good, while the hunting is undeniable. +It is within easy reach of London, and all matters taken into +consideration, I don't think we shall better it."</p> + +<p>In this manner it was settled. A contract for repairs and decorations +was placed in the hands of a well-known Metropolitan firm, a vast amount +was spent in furnishing, and in due course Childerbridge Manor House was +once more occupied. The County immediately came to call, invitations +rained in, and having been duly inspected and not found wanting, the +newcomers were voted a decided acquisition to the neighbourhood. William +Standerton's wealth soon became proverbial, and mothers, with +marriageable sons and daughters, vied with each other in their +attentions. James Standerton, as I have already said, was a presentable +young man. His height was something over six feet, his shoulders were +broad and muscular, as became a man who had lived his life doing hard +work in the open air, his eyes were grey like his father's, and there +was the same moulding of the mouth and chin. In fact, he was an +individual with whom, one felt at first glance, it would be better to be +on good terms than bad.</p> + +<p>One evening a month or so after their arrival at the Manor House, Jim +was driving home from the railway station. He had been spending the day +in London buying polo ponies, and was anxious to get home as quickly as +possible. His horse was a magnificent animal, and spun the high dogcart +along the road at a rattling pace. When he was scarcely more than half a +mile from the lodge gates of his own home, he became aware of a lady +walking along the footpath in front of him. She was accompanied by a +mastiff puppy, who gambolled awkwardly beside her. As the dogcart +approached them the puppy dashed out into the road, directly in front of +the fast-trotting horse. As may be imagined the result was inevitable. +The dog was knocked down, and it was only by a miracle that the horse +did not go down also. The girl uttered a little scream, then the groom +jumped from his seat and ran to the frightened animal's head. Jim also +descended to ascertain the extent of injuries the horse and dog had +sustained. Fortunately the former was unhurt; not so the author of the +mischief, however. He had been kicked on the head, and one of his +forepaws was crushed and bleeding.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you how sorry I am," said Jim, apologetically to the +young lady, when he had carried her pet to the footpath. "I am afraid I +was very careless."</p> + +<p>"You must not say that," she answered. "It was not your fault at all. If +my silly dog had not run into the road it would not have happened. Do +you think his leg is broken?"</p> + +<p>Jim knelt on the edge of the path beside the dog and carefully examined +his injuries. His bush life had given him a considerable insight into +the science of surgery, and it stood him in good stead now.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, when his examination was at an end, "his leg is not +broken, though I'm afraid it is rather badly injured."</p> + +<p>In spite of the young lady's protests, he took his handkerchief from his +pocket and bound up the injured limb. The next thing to be decided was +how to get the animal home. It could not walk, and it was manifestly +impossible that the young lady should carry him.</p> + +<p>"Won't you let me put him in the cart and drive you both home?" Jim +asked. "I should be glad to do so, if I may."</p> + +<p>As he said this he looked more closely at the girl before him, and +realised that she was decidedly pretty.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid there is nothing else to be done," she said, and then, as +if she feared this might be considered an ungracious speech, she added: +"But I fear I am putting you to a great deal of trouble, Mr. +Standerton."</p> + +<p>Jim looked at her in some surprise.</p> + +<p>"You know my name, then?" he said.</p> + +<p>"As you see," she answered, with a smile at his astonishment. "I called +upon your sister yesterday. My name is Decie, and I live at the Dower +House, with my guardian, Mr. Abraham Bursfield."</p> + +<p>"In that case, as we are neighbours," said Jim, "and I must claim a +neighbour's privilege in helping you. Allow me put the dog in the cart."</p> + +<p>So saying he picked the animal up and carried it tenderly to the +dogcart, under the seat of which he placed it. He then assisted Miss +Decie to her seat and took his place beside her. When the groom had +seated himself at the back, they set off in the direction of the Dower +House, a curious rambling building, situated in a remote corner of +Childerbridge Park. As they drove along they discussed the +neighbourhood, the prospects of the shooting, and Jim learned, among +other things, that Miss Decie was fond of riding, but that old Mr. +Bursfield would not allow her a horse, that she preferred a country life +to that of town, and incidentally that she had been eight years under +her guardian's care. Almost before they knew where they were they had +reached the cross roads that skirted the edge of the Park, and were +approaching the Dower House. It was a curious old building, older +perhaps than the Manor House, to which it had once belonged. In front it +had a quaint description of courtyard, surrounded by high walls covered +with ivy. A flagged path led from the gates, which, Jim discovered +later, had not been opened for many years, to the front door, on either +side of which was a roughly trimmed lawn. Pulling up at the gates, the +young man descended, and helped Miss Decie to alight.</p> + +<p>"You must allow me to carry your dog into the house for you," he said, +as he lifted the poor beast from the cart.</p> + +<p>A postern door admitted them to the courtyard and they made their way, +side by side, along the flagged path to the house. When they had rung +the bell the door was opened to them by an ancient man-servant, whose +age could scarcely have been less than four-score. He looked from his +mistress to the young man, as if he were unable to comprehend the +situation.</p> + +<p>"Isaac," said Miss Decie, "Tory has met with an accident, and Mr. +Standerton has very kindly brought him home for me." Then to Jim she +added:—"Please come in, Mr. Standerton, and let me relieve you of your +burden."</p> + +<p>But Jim would not hear of it. Accompanied by Miss Decie he carried the +animal to the loose box in the deserted stables at the back of the +house, where he had his quarters. This task accomplished, they returned +to the house once more.</p> + +<p>"I believe you have not yet met my guardian, Mr. Bursfield," said Miss +Decie, as they passed along the oak-panelled hall. Then, as if to excuse +the fact that the other had not paid the usual neighbourly call, she +added: "He is a very old man, you know, and seldom leaves the house."</p> + +<p>As she said this, she paused before a door, the handle of which she +turned. The room in which Jim found himself a moment later was a fine +one. The walls, like the rest of the house, were panelled, but owing to +the number of books the room contained, very little of the oak was +visible. There were books on the shelves, books on the tables, and books +on the floor. In the centre of the room stood a large writing-table, at +which an old man was seated. He was a strange-looking individual; his +face was lined with innumerable wrinkles, his hair was snow-white and +descended to his shoulders. He wore a rusty velvet coat and a skull cap +of the same material.</p> + +<p>He looked up as the pair entered, and his glance rested on Jim with some +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Grandfather," said Miss Decie, for, as Jim afterwards discovered, she +invariably addressed the venerable gentleman by this title, though she +was in no way related to him, "pray let me introduce you to Mr. +Standerton, who has most kindly brought poor Tory home for me."</p> + +<p>The old man extended a shrivelled hand.</p> + +<p>"I am happy to make your acquaintance, Mr. Standerton," he said, "and I +am grateful to you for the service you have rendered Miss Decie. I must +apologise for not having paid you and your father the customary visit of +courtesy, but, as you have perhaps heard, I am a recluse, and seldom +venture from the house. I trust you like Childerbridge?"</p> + +<p>"We are delighted with it," Jim replied. "It is a very beautiful and +interesting old house. Unfortunately, however, we have been able to +gather very little of its history. I have heard it said that you know +more about it than any one in the neighbourhood."</p> + +<p>"I do indeed," Mr. Bursfield replied. "No one knows it better than I do. +Until a hundred years ago it was the home of my own family. My father +sold it, reserving only the Dower House for his own use. Since then the +estate has fallen upon evil times."</p> + +<p>He paused for a moment and sat looking into the fireplace, as if he had +forgotten his visitor's presence. Then he added as to himself:</p> + +<p>"No one who has taken the place has prospered. There is a curse upon +it."</p> + +<p>"I sincerely hope not," Jim answered. "It would be a bad look out for us +if that were so."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," the old man returned, almost hastily. "For the +moment I was not thinking of what I was saying. I did not mean of course +that the curse would affect your family. There is no sort of reason why +it should. But the series of coincidences, if by such a term we may +designate them, have certainly been remarkable. Sir Giles Shepfield +purchased it from my father, and was thrown from his horse, and killed +at his own front door. His son Peter was found dead in his bed, some say +murdered, others that he was frightened to death by something, or +someone, he had seen; while his second son, William, was shot in a duel +in Paris, the day after the news reached him that he had come into the +property. The Shepfields being only too anxious to dispose of it, it was +sold to the newly-made Lord Childerbridge, who was eager to acquire it +possibly on account of the name. He remained two years there, but at the +end of that period he also had had enough of the place, and left it +quite suddenly, vowing that he would never enter its doors again. After +that it was occupied off and on by a variety of tenants, but for the +last five years it has been unoccupied. I hear that your father has +worked wonders with it, and that he has almost turned it into a new +place."</p> + +<p>"He has had the work done very carefully," Jim replied. "It is very +difficult to repair an old mansion like Childerbridge without making +such repairs too apparent."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you," said the old man drily. "Your modern architect +is no respecter of anything antiquated as a rule."</p> + +<p>"And now I must bid you good-evening," said James. "My father and sister +will be wondering what has become of me."</p> + +<p>He shook hands with Mr. Bursfield, who begged him to excuse him for not +accompanying him to the door, and then followed Miss Decie from the +room. They bade each other adieu at the gate.</p> + +<p>"I hope your dog will soon be himself again," said Jim, in the hope of +being able to prolong the interview, if only for a few moments. "If you +would like me to have him for a few days I would do what I could for +him, and I would see that he is properly looked after."</p> + +<p>"I could not think of giving you so much trouble," she returned. "I +think he will be all right here. I feel certain I shall be able to do +all that is necessary. Will you give my kind regards to your sister? I +should like to tell you that I admire her very much, Mr. Standerton."</p> + +<p>"It is very good of you to say so," he replied. Then clutching at the +hope thus presented to him, he added, "I trust you and she will be great +friends."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," said Miss Decie, and thereupon bade him good-night.</p> + +<p>As he went out to his cart he felt convinced in his own mind that he had +just parted from the most charming girl he had ever met in his life. He +reflected upon the matter as he completed the short distance that +separated him from his home, and when he joined his sister in the +drawing-room later, he questioned her concerning her new acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"She must lead a very lonely life," said Jim. "I was introduced to the +old gentleman she calls grandfather, and if his society is all she has +to depend upon, then I do not envy her her lot."</p> + +<p>His sister had a suspicion of what was in his mind though she did not +say so. Like her brother she had taken a great liking to the girl, and +there was every probability, as time went on, of their becoming firm +friends.</p> + +<p>"It may interest you to hear that she is coming to tea with me on +Thursday," said Alice.</p> + +<p>Jim <i>was</i> interested, and to prove it registered a mental vow that he +would make a point of being at home that day. As a matter of fact he +was, and was even more impressed than before.</p> + +<p>From that day Miss Decie spent a large proportion of her time at the +Manor House. In less than a month she had become Alice's own particular +friend, and Jim felt that the whole current of his life had been +changed. What Mr. Bursfield thought of the turn affairs had taken can be +seen now, but at the time his views were only a matter of conjecture. +That Jim and Miss Decie had managed to fall in love with each other was +quite certain, and that William Standerton approved of his son's choice +was another point that admitted of no doubt. Helen Decie with her pretty +face, and charming manners, was a general favourite. At that stage their +wooing was a matter-of-fact one in the extreme. Jim had no rival, and at +the outset no difficulties worth dignifying with the name. He was +permitted unlimited opportunities of seeing the object of his affections +and, when the time was ripe, and he informed her of the state of his +feelings towards herself, she gave him her hand, and promised, without +any hysterical fuss, to be his wife, with the full intention of doing +her utmost to make him happy.</p> + +<p>"But, Jim," she said, "before you do anything else, you must see Mr. +Bursfield and obtain his consent. He is my guardian, you know, and has +been so good to me that I can do nothing without his approval."</p> + +<p>"I will see him to-morrow morning," Jim replied, "and I fancy I can tell +you what his answer will be. How could it be otherwise when he knows +that your happiness is at stake?"</p> + +<p>"I hope it will be as you say," she answered, but not with her usual +cheerfulness. "Somehow or another grandfather always looks at things in +a different light to other people."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure I will do my best to get him to look at it as we want +him to," her lover returned. "I will bring every argument I can think of +to bear upon him."</p> + +<p>Needless to say, Mr. Standerton, when he heard the news, was delighted, +while Alice professed herself overjoyed at the thought of having Helen +for her sister. In Jim's mind, however, there was the remembrance of +Abraham Bursfield, and of the interview that had to be got through with +that gentleman.</p> + +<p>"It's no use beating about the bush or delaying matters," he said to +himself. "I'll walk back with Helen and get it over to-night instead of +to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>He informed his sweetheart of his intention. She signified her approval, +and together they strolled across the Park towards the little gate that +opened into the grounds of the Dower House. It was a lovely evening, +and, as you may suppose, they were as happy a young couple as could have +been found in the length and breadth of England. Their engagement had +scarcely commenced, yet Jim was already full of plans for the future.</p> + +<p>"I shall take you from that dreary old house," he said, nodding his head +in the direction of the building they were approaching, "and we will +find a place somewhere in the neighbourhood. How you have managed to +exist here for eight years I cannot imagine."</p> + +<p>"It has been dull certainly," she answered, "but I have the house and my +grandfather to look after, so that my time is fairly well taken up."</p> + +<p>"You must have felt that you were buried alive," he answered. "In the +future, however, we'll change all that. You shall go where, and do, just +as you please."</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>"To make you happy," she said, "will be enough for me."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p>On reaching the house, Jim bade the butler inform his master that Mr. +Standerton would like to see him. Isaac looked at him as if he were +desirous of making sure of his business before he admitted him, then he +hobbled off in the direction of his master's study, to presently return +with the message that Mr. Bursfield would see Mr. Standerton if he would +be pleased to step that way. Jim thereupon followed the old man into the +room in which he had first made Abraham Bursfield's acquaintance some +four months before. As on that memorable occasion, he found that +gentleman seated at his desk, looking very much as if he had not moved +from it in all that time.</p> + +<p>"I wish you good evening, Mr. Standerton," he said, motioning his +visitor to a chair. "To what may I attribute the honour of this visit?"</p> + +<p>"I have come to you on a most important errand," Jim replied. "Its +purport may surprise you, but I hope it will not disappoint you."</p> + +<p>"May I ask that you will be good enough to tell me what that errand is," +said the old gentleman drily. "I shall then be better able to give you +my opinion."</p> + +<p>"To sum it up in a few words," Jim answered, "I have this afternoon +asked Miss Decie to become my wife, and she has promised to do so. I am +here to ask your approval."</p> + +<p>Bursfield was silent for a few moments. Then he looked sharply up at the +young man.</p> + +<p>"You are of course aware that Miss Decie is only my adopted +granddaughter, and that she has not the least shadow of a claim, either +upon me, or upon such remnants of property as I may possess."</p> + +<p>"I am quite aware of it," Jim replied. "Miss Decie has told me of her +position, and of your goodness to her."</p> + +<p>"The latter of which she is endeavouring to repay by leaving me to spend +the rest of my miserable existence alone. A pretty picture of gratitude, +is it not? But it is the world all over!"</p> + +<p>"I am sure she will always entertain a feeling of profound gratitude +towards you," protested Jim. "She invariably speaks of you with the +greatest affection."</p> + +<p>"I am indeed indebted to her for her consideration," retorted the other +with a sneer. "Unfortunately, shall I say, for you, I prefer something +more than words. No, Mr. Standerton, I cannot give my consent to your +engagement."</p> + +<p>Jim could only stare in complete astonishment. He had never expected +this.</p> + +<p>"You do not mean that you are going to forbid it?" he ejaculated when he +had recovered somewhat from his surprise.</p> + +<p>"I am reluctantly compelled to admit that that <i>is</i> my intention. +Believe me, I have the best of reasons for acting thus. Possibly my +decision may cause you pain. It is irrevocable, however. At my death +Helen will be able to do as she pleases, but until that event takes +place, she must remain with me."</p> + +<p>He took up his pen as if to continue his writing, and so end the +interview.</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Bursfield, this is an unheard-of determination," cried the +young man.</p> + +<p>"That may be," was the reply. "I believe I have the reputation for being +somewhat singular. My so-called granddaughter is a good girl, and if I +know anything of her character, she will do as I wish in this matter."</p> + +<p>Jim rose to his feet and crossed to the door as if to leave. When he +reached it, however, he turned and faced Mr. Bursfield.</p> + +<p>"You are quite sure that nothing I can say or do will induce you to +alter your decision?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"Quite," the other replied.</p> + +<p>"Then allow me to give you fair warning that I intend to marry Miss +Decie," retorted Jim, who by this time had quite lost his temper.</p> + +<p>"You are at liberty to do so when I am dead," Mr. Bursfield replied, and +then continued his writing as if nothing out of the common had occurred.</p> + +<p>Without another word Jim left the room. He had arranged that he should +meet Helen in the garden afterwards. It was with a woe-begone face, +however, that he greeted her.</p> + +<p>"While he lives he absolutely refuses to sanction our engagement," he +began. "For some reason of his own he declines to consider the matter +for a moment. He says that at his death you are at liberty to do as you +please, but until that event occurs, you are to remain with him. I +consider it an act of the greatest selfishness."</p> + +<p>Helen heaved a heavy sigh.</p> + +<p>"I was afraid he would not look upon it as favourably as we hoped," she +said. "I will see what I can do with him, however. I know him so well, +and sometimes I can coax him to do things he would not dream of doing +for any one else."</p> + +<p>"Try, darling, then," said Jim, "and let us trust you will be +successful."</p> + +<p>They bade each other good-night, and then James set off on his walk +across the Park. Dusk was falling by this time, and the landscape looked +very beautiful in the evening light. As he strode along he thought of +his position and of the injustice of Bursfield's decision. Then he fell +to picturing what his future life would be like when the old man should +have relented and Helen was his wife. He was still indulging in this +day-dream when he noticed a shabbily-dressed man standing on the path a +short distance ahead of him. Somehow the figure seemed familiar to him, +and when he drew nearer he could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment. The individual was none other than the man he had seen +lying beside the camp fire on the banks of the Darling River, and who, +on a certain memorable evening, had caused his father so much emotion, +<i>Richard Murbridge</i>. Whatever Jim's feelings might have been, Murbridge +was at least equal to the occasion.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Mr. Standerton," he began, lifting his hat politely as he +spoke. "You are doubtless surprised to see me in England."</p> + +<p>"I am more than surprised," James replied, "and I am equally astonished +at finding you on my father's premises after what he said to you in +Australia. If you will be guided by me you will make yourself scarce +without loss of time."</p> + +<p>"You think so, do you? Then let me tell you that you have no notion of +the situation, or of the character of Richard Murbridge. Far from making +myself scarce, I am now on my way to see your father. I fear, however, +he will not kill the fatted calf in my honour; but even that omission +will not deter me. Tenacity of purpose has always been one of my chief +characteristics."</p> + +<p>"If you attempt to see him you will discover that my father has also +some force of character," the other replied. "What is more, I refuse to +allow you to do so. I am not going to permit him to be worried by you +again."</p> + +<p>"My young friend, you little know with whom you are dealing," Murbridge +retorted. "I have travelled from the other side of the world to see your +father, and if you think you can prevent me you are much mistaken. What +is more, let me inform you that you would be doing him a very poor +service by attempting to keep us apart. There is an excellent little inn +in the village, whose landlord and I are already upon the best of terms. +The Squire, William Standerton, late of Australia, but now of +Childerbridge, is an important personage in the neighbourhood. +Everything that is known about him is to his credit. It would be a pity +if——"</p> + +<p>"You scoundrel!" said Jim, approaching a step nearer the other, his +fists clenched, as if ready for action, "If you dare to insinuate that +you know anything to my father's discredit, I'll thrash you to within an +inch of your life."</p> + +<p>Then a fit of indescribable fear swept over him as he remembered the +night in Australia, when his father had shown so much agitation on +learning that the man was on his way to the station to see him. What +could be the secret between them? But no! He knew his father too well to +believe that the man before him could cast even the smallest slur upon +his character. William Standerton's name was a synonym for sterling +integrity throughout the Island Continent. It was, therefore, impossible +that Murbridge could have any hold upon him.</p> + +<p>"You had better leave the place at once by the way you came into it," +Jim continued, "and take very good care that we don't see any more of +you."</p> + +<p>"You crow very loud, my young bantam," returned Murbridge, "but that +does not alter my decision. Now let me tell you this. If you knew +everything, you would just go down on your bended knees and pray to me +to forgive you for your impudence. As I said a moment ago, it's not the +least use your attempting to stop me from seeing your father, for see +him I will, if I have to sit at his gate for a year and wait for him to +come out."</p> + +<p>"Then you'd better go and begin your watch at once, for you shall not +see him at the house," retorted Jim.</p> + +<p>"We'll see about that," said Murbridge, and then turned on his heel, and +set off in the direction of the Park gates. James waited until he had +seen him disappear, then he in his turn resumed his walk. He had to make +up his mind before he reached the house as to whether he would tell his +father of the discovery he had made or not. On mature consideration he +came to the conclusion that it would be better for him to do so.</p> + +<p>For this reason, when he reached the house he enquired for his father, +and was informed that he had gone to his room to dress for dinner. He +accordingly followed him thither, to discover him, brush in hand, at +work upon his silver-grey hair. That night, for some reason, the simple +appointments of that simple room struck Jim in a new and almost pathetic +light. Each article was, like its owner, strong, simple and good.</p> + +<p>"Well, my lad, what is it?" asked Standerton. "I hope your interview +with Mr. Bursfield was satisfactory?"</p> + +<p>"Far from it," Jim replied lugubriously; and then, to postpone the fatal +moment, he proceeded to describe to his father the interview he had had +with the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, my boy, don't be down-hearted about it," said Standerton, +when he had heard his son out. "To-morrow I'll make it my business to go +and see Mr. Bursfield. It will be strange if I can't talk him into a +different way of thinking before I've done with him. But I can see from +your face that there is something else you've got to tell me. What is +it?"</p> + +<p>Jim paused before he replied. He knew how upset his father would be at +the news he had to impart.</p> + +<p>"Father," he said, "I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you. I've been +trying to make up my mind whether I should tell you or not."</p> + +<p>"Tell me, James," answered the other. "I'll be bound it's not so very +bad after all. You've probably been brooding over it, and have magnified +its importance."</p> + +<p>"I sincerely hope I have. I am afraid not, however. Do you remember the +man we saw at Mudrapilla in the Five Mile Paddock, the night before we +left? His name was Murbridge."</p> + +<p>The shock to William Standerton was every bit as severe as James had +feared it would be.</p> + +<p>"What of him?" he cried. "You don't mean to say that he is in England?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say that he is," Jim returned. "I found him in the Park +this evening on his way up to the house."</p> + +<p>The elder man turned and walked to the fireplace, where he stood looking +into it in silence. Then he faced his son once more.</p> + +<p>"What did he say to you?" he enquired at last, his voice shaking with +the anxiety he could not control or hide.</p> + +<p>"He said that he wanted to see you, and that he would do so if he had to +wait at the gates for a year."</p> + +<p>"And he will," said Standerton bitterly; "that man will hunt me to my +grave. I have been cursed with him for thirty years, and do what I will +I cannot throw him off."</p> + +<p>James approached his father, and placed his hand upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Father," he began, "why won't you let me share your trouble with you? +Surely we should be able to find some way of ridding ourselves of this +man?"</p> + +<p>"No, there is no way," said Standerton. "He has got a hold upon me that +nothing will ever shake off."</p> + +<p>"I will not believe, father, that he knows anything to your discredit," +cried Jim passionately.</p> + +<p>"And you are right, my lad," his father replied. "He knows nothing to my +discredit. I hope no one else does; but—but there—do not ask any more. +Some day I will tell you the whole miserable story. But not now. You +must not ask me. Believe me, dear lad, when I say that it would be +better not."</p> + +<p>"Then what will you do?"</p> + +<p>"See him, and buy him off once more, I suppose. Then I shall have peace +for a few months. Do you know where he is staying?"</p> + +<p>"At the 'George and Dragon,'" Jim replied.</p> + +<p>"Then I must send a note down to him and ask him to come up here," said +Standerton. "Now go and dress. Don't trouble yourself about him."</p> + +<p>All things considered, the dinner that night could not be described as a +success. William Standerton was more silent than usual, and his son +almost equalled him. Alice tried hard to cheer them both, but finding +her efforts unsuccessful, she also lapsed into silence. A diversion, +however, was caused before the meal was at an end. The butler had +scarcely completed the circuit of the table with the port, before a +piercing scream ran through the building, followed by another, and yet +another.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! What's that?" cried Standerton, as he sprang to his feet, +and hurried to the door, to be followed by his son and daughter.</p> + +<p>"It came from upstairs, sir," said the butler, and immediately hurried +up the broad oak staircase two steps at a time. His statement proved to +be correct, for, on reaching the gallery that runs round the hall, he +found a maid-servant lying on the floor in a dead faint. Jim followed +close behind him, and between them they picked the girl up, and carried +her down to the hall, where she was laid upon a settee. The housekeeper +was summoned, and the usual restoratives applied, but it was some time +before her senses returned to her. When she was able to speak, she +looked wildly about her, and asked if "<i>it was gone</i>?" When later she +was able to tell her story more coherently, it was as follows.</p> + +<p>In the fulfilment of her usual duties she had gone along the gallery to +tidy Miss Standerton's bedroom. She had just finished her work, and was +closing the door, when she saw, standing before her, not more than +half-a-dozen paces distant, the little hump-backed ghost, of which she +had so often heard mention made in the Servants' Hall. It looked at her, +pointed its finger at her, and a second later vanished. "She knew now," +she declared, "that it was all over with her, and that she was going to +die. Nothing could save her." Having given utterance to this alarming +prophecy, she indulged in a second fit of hysterics, on recovering from +which she was removed by the butler and housekeeper to the latter's +sitting-room, vowing as she went that she could not sleep in the house, +and that she would never know happiness again. Having seen her depart, +the others returned to the dining-room, and had just taken their places +at the table once more, when there was a ring at the front door bell, +and in due course the butler entered with the information that a person +"of the name of Murbridge" had called and would be glad to see Mr. +Standerton. James sprang to his feet.</p> + +<p>"I told him he was not to come near the place," he said. "Let me go and +see him, father."</p> + +<p>"No, no, my boy," said Standerton. "I wrote to him before dinner, as I +told you I should, telling him to come up to-night. Where is he, +Wilkins?"</p> + +<p>"In the library, sir," the butler replied.</p> + +<p>"Very well. I will see him there."</p> + +<p>He accordingly left the room.</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later James and Alice heard Murbridge's voice in +the hall.</p> + +<p>"You dare to turn me out of your house?" he was saying, as if in a fit +of uncontrollable rage. "You forbid me to speak to your son and +daughter, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Once and for all, I do," came Standerton's calm voice in reply. "Now +leave the house, and never let me see your face again. Wilkins, open the +door, and take care that this man is never again admitted to my house."</p> + +<p>Murbridge must have gone down the steps, where, as Wilkins asserted +later on, he stood shaking his fist at Mr. Standerton.</p> + +<p>"Curse you, I'll make you pay for this," he cried. "You think yourself +all-powerful because of your wealth, but whatever it costs me, I'll make +you smart for the manner in which you've treated me to-night."</p> + +<p>Then the door was closed abruptly, and no more was seen of him.</p> + +<p>William Standerton's usually rubicund face was very pale when he joined +his son and daughter later. It was plain that the interview he had had +with Murbridge had upset him more than he cared to admit. Alice did her +best to console him, and endeavoured to make him forget it, but her +efforts were a failure.</p> + +<p>"Poor old dad," she said, when she bade him good-night. "It hurts me to +see you so troubled."</p> + +<p>"You must not think about it then," was the answer. "I shall be myself +again in the morning. Good-night, my girl, and may God bless you."</p> + +<p>"God bless you, father," the girl replied earnestly.</p> + +<p>"I do wish you'd let me help you," said Jim, when he and his father were +alone together. "Why did you not let me interview that man?"</p> + +<p>"It would have done no good," Standerton replied. "The fellow was +desperate, and he even went so far as to threaten me. Thereupon I lost +my temper and ordered him out of the house. I fear we shall have more +trouble with him yet."</p> + +<p>"Is it quite impossible for you to tell me the reason of it all?" James +asked, after a moment's hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have been thinking it over," said his father, "and I have come +to the conclusion that perhaps it would be better, much as it will pain +you, to let you know the truth. But not to-night, dear lad. Let it stand +over, and I will tell you everything to-morrow. Now good-night."</p> + +<p>They shook hands according to custom, and then departed to their +respective rooms.</p> + +<p>Next morning James was about early. He visited the Stables and the Home +Farm, looked in at the kennels, and was back again at the home some +three-quarters of an hour before breakfast. As he crossed the hall to +ascend the stairs, in order to go to his own room, he met Wilkins coming +down, his face white as death.</p> + +<p>"My God, sir," he said hoarsely, "for mercy's sake come upstairs to your +father's room."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with him?" cried James, realising from the butler's +manner that something terrible had happened.</p> + +<p>But Wilkins did not answer. He only led the way upstairs. Together they +proceeded along the corridor and entered the Squire's bedroom. There +they saw a sight that James will never forget as long as he lives. His +father lay stretched out upon the bed, dead. His eyes were open, and +stared horribly at the ceiling, while his hands were clenched, and on +either side of his throat were discoloured patches.</p> + +<p>These told their own tale.</p> + +<p><i>William Standerton had been strangled.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p>It would be almost impossible to describe in fitting words the effect +produced upon James Standerton, by the terrible discovery he had made.</p> + +<p>"What does it mean, Wilkins?" he asked in a voice surcharged with +horror. "For God's sake, tell me what it means?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know myself, sir," the man replied. "It's too terrible for all +words. Who can have done it?"</p> + +<p>Throwing himself on his knees beside his father's body, James took one +of the cold hands in his.</p> + +<p>"Father! father!" he cried, in an ecstasy of grief, and then broke down +altogether. When calmness returned to him, he rose to his feet, clasped +the hands of the dead man upon the breast, and tenderly closed the +staring eyes.</p> + +<p>"Send for Dr. Brenderton," he said, turning to Wilkins, "and let the +messenger call at the police-station on the way and ask the officer in +charge to come here without a moment's delay."</p> + +<p>The man left him to carry out the order, and James silently withdrew +from the room to perform what he knew would be the saddest task of his +life. As he descended the stairs he could hear his sister singing in the +breakfast-room below.</p> + +<p>"You are very late," she said, as he entered the room. "And father too. +I shall have to give him a talking-to when he does come down."</p> + +<p>Then she must have realised that something was amiss, for she put down +the letter which she had been reading, and took a step towards him. "Has +anything happened, Jim?" she enquired, "your face is as white as death." +Then Jim told her everything. The shock to her was even more terrible +than it had been to her brother, but she did her best to bear up +bravely.</p> + +<p>The doctor and the police officer arrived almost simultaneously. Both +were visibly upset at the intelligence they had received. Short though +William Standerton's residence in the neighbourhood had been, it had, +nevertheless, been long enough for them to arrive at a proper +appreciation of his worth. He had been a good supporter of all the Local +Institutions, a liberal landlord, and had won for himself the reputation +of being an honest and just man.</p> + +<p>"I sympathise with you more deeply than I can say," said the doctor, +when he joined Jim in the library after he had made his examination. "If +there is anything more I can do to help you, I hope you will command +me."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Jim simply, "there is not anything however you can do. +Stay! There is one question you can answer. I want you to tell me how +long you think my father has been dead?"</p> + +<p>"Several hours," replied the medical man. "I should say at least six."</p> + +<p>"Is there any sort of doubt in your mind as to the cause of his death?"</p> + +<p>"None whatever," the other replied. "All outward appearances point to +the fact that death is due to strangulation."</p> + +<p>At that moment the police officer entered the room.</p> + +<p>"I have taken the liberty, Mr. Standerton," he said, "of locking the +door of the room and retaining the key in my possession. It will be +necessary for me to report the matter to the Authorities at once, in +order that an Inquest may be held. Before I do so, however, may I put +one or two questions to you?"</p> + +<p>"As many as you like," Jim replied. "I am, of course, more than anxious +that the mystery surrounding my father's death shall be cleared up at +once, and the murderer brought to Justice."</p> + +<p>"In the first place," said the officer, "I see that the window of the +bedroom is securely fastened on the inside, so that the assassin, +whoever he was, could not have made his entrance by this means. Do you +know whether your father was in the habit of locking his door at night?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure he was not. A man who has led the sort of life he has done +for fifty years does not lock his bedroom door on retiring to rest."</p> + +<p>"In that case the murderer must have obtained access to the room through +the house, and I must make it my business to ascertain whether any of +the windows or doors were open this morning. One more question, Mr. +Standerton, and I have finished for the present. Have you any reason to +suppose that your father had an enemy?"</p> + +<p>Jim remembered the suspicion that had been in his mind ever since he had +made the ghastly discovery that morning.</p> + +<p>"I have," he answered. "There was a man in Australia who hated my father +with an undying hatred."</p> + +<p>"Forgive my saying so, but a man in Australia could scarcely have +committed murder in England last night."</p> + +<p>"But the man is not in Australia now. He was here yesterday evening, and +he and my father had a quarrel. The man was ordered out of the house, +and went away declaring that, whatever it might cost, he would be +revenged."</p> + +<p>"In that case it looks as if the mystery were explained. I must make it +my business to discover the whereabouts of the man you mention."</p> + +<p>"He was staying at the 'George and Dragon' yesterday," said Jim. "By +this time, however, he has probably left the neighbourhood. It should +not be difficult to trace him, however; and if you consider a reward +necessary, in order to bring about his apprehension more quickly, offer +it, and I will pay it only too gladly. I shall know no peace until this +dastardly crime has been avenged."</p> + +<p>"I can quite understand that," the doctor remarked. "You will have the +sympathy of the whole County."</p> + +<p>"And now," said the police officer, "I must be going. I shall take a man +with me and call at the 'George and Dragon.' The name of the person you +mentioned to me is——"</p> + +<p>"Richard Murbridge," said Jim, and thereupon furnished the officer with +a description of the man in question.</p> + +<p>"You will, of course, be able to identify him?"</p> + +<p>"I should know him again if I did not see him for twenty years," Jim +answered. "Wilkins, the butler, will also be glad to give you evidence +as to his coming here last night."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," the officer replied. "I will let you know as soon as I have +anything to report."</p> + +<p>The doctor and the police agent thereupon bade him good-day and took +their departure, and Jim went in search of his grief-stricken sister. +The terrible news had by this time permeated the whole household, and +had caused the greatest consternation.</p> + +<p>"I knew what it would be last night," said the cook. "Though Mr. Wilkins +laughed at me, I felt certain that Mary Sampson did not see the Black +Dwarf for nothing. Why, it's well known by everybody that whenever that +horrible little man is seen in the house death follows within +twenty-four hours."</p> + +<p>The frightened maids to whom she spoke shuddered at her words.</p> + +<p>"What's more," the cook continued, "they may talk about murderers as +they please, but they forget that this is not the first time a man has +been found strangled in this house. There is more in it than meets the +eye, as the saying goes."</p> + +<p>"Lor, Mrs. Ryan, you don't mean to say that you think it was the ghost +that killed the poor master?" asked one of the maids, her eyes dilating +with horror.</p> + +<p>"I don't say as how it was, and I don't say as how it wasn't," that lady +replied somewhat ambiguously, and then she added oracularly: "Time will +show."</p> + +<p>In the meantime Jim had written a short note to his sweetheart, telling +her of the crime, and imploring her to come to his sister at once. A +servant was despatched with it, and half-an-hour later Helen herself +appeared in answer.</p> + +<p>"Your poor father. I cannot believe it! It is too terrible," she said to +her lover, when he greeted her in the drawing-room. "Oh! Jim, my poor +boy, how you must feel it. And Alice, too—pray let me go to her at +once."</p> + +<p>Jim conducted her to his sister's room, and then left the two women +together, returning himself to the dead man's study on the floor below. +There he sat himself down to wait, with what patience he could command, +for news from the police station. In something less than an hour it came +in the shape of a note from the inspector, to the effect that Murbridge +had not returned to the "George and Dragon" until a late hour on the +previous night, and that he had departed for London by the train leaving +Childerbridge Junction shortly before five o'clock that morning. +"However," said the writer, in conclusion, "I have wired to the +Authorities in London, furnishing them with an exact description of him, +and I have no doubt that before very long his arrest will be effected."</p> + +<p>With this assurance Jim was perforce compelled to be content. Later came +the intimation from the Coroner to the effect that the Inquest would be +held at the George and Dragon Inn on the following morning.</p> + +<p>Shortly after twelve o'clock Wilkins entered the study with the +information that a person of "<i>the name of Robins</i>" desired to see his +master on an important matter, if he would permit him an interview.</p> + +<p>"Show him in," said Jim, forming as he did so a shrewd guess as to the +man's business.</p> + +<p>A few moments later a small, sombrely-dressed individual, resembling a +Dissenting minister more than any one else, made his appearance in the +room.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Standerton, I believe," he began, speaking in a low, deep voice, +that had almost a solemn ring about it.</p> + +<p>"That is my name," the other replied. "What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"I am a Scotland Yard detective," the stranger replied, "and I have been +sent down to take charge of the case. I must apologise for intruding +upon you at such a time, but if the murderer is to be brought to +justice, no time mast be lost. I want you to tell me, if you will, all +you can about the crime, keeping nothing back, however trivial you may +consider it."</p> + +<p>James thereupon proceeded to once more narrate what he knew regarding +the murder. He discovered that the detective had already been informed +as to the ominous suspicion that had attached itself to Murbridge.</p> + +<p>"The first point to be settled," he said, when James had finished, "is +the way in which the man got into the house. You have not +cross-questioned the domestics upon the subject, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>James shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I have been too much upset to think of such a thing," he answered. "But +if you deem such a proceeding necessary, you are, of course, quite at +liberty to do so. Take what steps you think best; all I ask of you is to +find my father's murderer."</p> + +<p>"I presume you heard nothing suspicious during the night?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all. But it is scarcely likely that I should do so, as my +room is in another part of the house."</p> + +<p>"Who is responsible for the locking up at night?"</p> + +<p>"The butler, Wilkins."</p> + +<p>"Has he been with you any length of time?"</p> + +<p>"We ourselves have only been a few months in England," Jim replied, "but +since he has been in our service we have found him a most careful and +trustworthy man. There cannot be any shadow of suspicion against him."</p> + +<p>"Very likely not," the detective answered. "But in my profession we +often find criminals in the most unlikely quarters. Mind you, sir, I +don't say that he had anything to do with the crime itself. It is not +outside the bounds of possibility, however, that his honesty may have +been tampered with, even to the extent of leaving a window unfastened, +or a door unlocked. However, I have no doubt I shall soon learn all +there is to be known about Mr. Wilkins."</p> + +<p>When he had asked one or two other important questions, he withdrew to +question the servants. From the account James received of the +examination later, it would not appear to have been a very successful +business.</p> + +<p>Wilkins asserted most positively that he had made every door and window +in the house secure before retiring to rest. He was as certain as a man +could be that no lock, bolt, or bar had been moved from its place during +the night, and the housekeeper corroborated his assertions. The +detective's face wore a puzzled expression.</p> + +<p>"I've been round every flower-bed outside the windows," he said to the +police inspector, "and not a trace of a footprint can I find. And yet we +know that Murbridge was away from the inn at a late hour, and there's +evidence enough upstairs to show that somebody made his way into Mr. +Standerton's room between midnight and daybreak. Later I'll go down to +the village and make a few enquiries there. It's just possible somebody +may have met the man upon the road."</p> + +<p>He was as good as his word, and when he returned to the Manor House at a +late hour he knew as much about Richard Murbridge's movements on the +preceding evening as did any man in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>Jim dined alone that night, though it would be almost a sarcasm to +dignify his meal with such a name. He had spent the afternoon going +through his father's papers, in the hope of being able to discover some +clue that might ultimately enable him to solve the mystery concerning +Murbridge. He was entirely unsuccessful, however. Among all the papers +with which the drawers were filled, there was not one scrap of writing +that could in anyway enlighten him. They were the plain records of a +successful business man's career, and, so far as Murbridge was +concerned, quite devoid of interest. I do not think James Standerton +ever knew how much he loved his father until he went through that +drawer. The neat little packets, so carefully tied up and labelled, +spoke to him eloquently of the dead man, and, as he replaced them where +he had found them, a wave of intense longing to be revenged on his +father's cowardly assassin swept over him. He was in the act of closing +the drawer, when there came a tap at the door, and Wilkins entered to +inform him that the detective had returned and was at his service, +should he desire to see him.</p> + +<p>"Show him in, Wilkins," said James, locking the drawer of the table, and +placing the key in his pocket as he spoke.</p> + +<p>The butler disappeared, to return a few moments later accompanied by the +individual in question.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Robins," said Jim, when they were alone together, "what have +you discovered?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing of very much importance, sir, I am afraid," the other replied. +"I have found out that Murbridge left the park by the main gates almost +on the stroke of half-past eight last night. I have also discovered that +he was again seen within a few minutes of eleven o'clock, standing near +the small stile at the further end of the park."</p> + +<p>"I know the place," Jim replied. "Go on! What was he doing there!"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," continued the detective, "that's more than I can tell you. +But if he were there at such an hour, you may be sure it was not with +any good intention. I have made enquiries from the keepers, and they +have informed me that it is quite possible to reach the house by the +path that leads from the stile without being observed."</p> + +<p>"It winds through the plantation," said Jim, "and it is very seldom +used. Lying outside the village as it does, it is a very roundabout way +of reaching the house. What have they to say about him at the inn?"</p> + +<p>"Not very much, sir. But what little they do say is important. The +landlord informs me that immediately after his arrival in the village he +began to ask questions concerning the Squire. There is no doubt that +your father was his enemy, and also that Murbridge cherished a bitter +grudge against him. He did not tell the landlord who he was, or what his +reasons were for being in the neighbourhood. It is certain, however, +that had your father not been living here he would not have come near +the place. On receipt of Mr. Standerton's letter, he set off for the +house, and did not return to the inn until a late hour. In point of +fact, it was between twelve and one o'clock when he <i>did</i> come in. The +landlord is unable to give the exact time, for the reason that he was +too sleepy to take much notice of it. He does remember, however, that +Murbridge was in a very bad temper, and that he was excited about +something. He called for some brandy, and moreover stated that his +holiday was at an end, and that he was leaving for London by the early +train next morning. This he did. That is as far as the landlord's tale +goes. It seems to me that, unless we can prove something more definite +against him than the evidence we have been able to obtain up to the +present moment, it will be difficult to bring the crime home to him."</p> + +<p>"But we must prove more," cried Jim, with considerable vehemence. "I am +as certain in my own mind as I can be of anything that he was the man +who killed my father, and if it costs me all I am worth in the world, +and if I am compelled to spend the rest of my life in doing it, I'll +bring the crime home to him somehow or another. It is impossible that he +should be allowed to take that good, honest life, and get off scot +free."</p> + +<p>"I can quite understand your feelings, sir," said the detective, "and +you may rest assured that, so far as we are concerned, no stone shall be +left unturned to bring the guilty man to justice. Of course it is full +early to speak like this, but if you will review the case in your own +mind, you will see that, up to the present, there is really nothing +tangible against the man. We know that he hated your father, and that he +stated his intention of doing him a mischief, and also that on the night +he uttered this threat the murder was committed. From this it would +appear that he is responsible for it. But how are we to prove that he +got into the house? No one saw him, and there are no suspicious +footprints on the flower-beds outside. At the same time we know that he +did not return to the inn until a late hour, and that, when he did, he +was in an excited state. Yet why should he not have gone for a walk, and +might not his excitement be attributed to resentment of the treatment he +received at your father's hands? I am very much afraid it would be +difficult to induce a Jury to convict on evidence such as we are, so +far, able to bring against him. However, we shall hear what the Coroner +has to say to-morrow. In the meantime, if you do not require my presence +longer, I will return to the inn. It will be necessary for me to be +early astir to-morrow."</p> + +<p>James bade him good-night, and when he had departed, went upstairs to +his sister's room. He found her more composed than she had been when he +had last seen her, and able to talk of the dead man without breaking +down as she had hitherto done. He informed her of the detective's visit, +and of the information he had received from him. It was nearly midnight +when he left her. The lamp in the hall was still burning, and he +descended the great staircase with the intention of telling Wilkins that +he could lock up the house and retire to rest. To his astonishment, when +he reached the hall, he beheld the butler standing near the dining-room +door, his face as white as the paper upon which I am now writing.</p> + +<p>"What on earth is the matter, man?" asked James, who, for the moment, +was compelled to entertain the notion that the other had been drinking.</p> + +<p>"I've seen it, sir," said Wilkins in a voice that his master scarcely +recognised. "I'd never believe it could be true, but now I've witnessed +it with my own eyes."</p> + +<p>"Witnessed what?" James enquired.</p> + +<p>"<i>The ghost</i>, sir," Wilkins replied; "the ghost of the Little Black +Dwarf."</p> + +<p>Jim was in no humour for such talk then, and I very much regret to say +he lost his temper.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," he answered. "You must have imagined that you saw it."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I will take my Bible Oath that I did not. I saw it as plain as +I see you now. I'd been in to lock up the dining-room, and was standing +just where I am now, never thinking of such a thing, when I happened to +look up in the gallery, and there, sir, as sure as I'm alive, was the +ghost, leaning on the rail, and looking down at me. His eyes were +glaring like red-hot coals. Then he pointed upwards and disappeared. I +will never laugh at another person again, when they say that they have +seen him. May God defend us from further trouble!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>The inquest on the body of William Standerton was held next morning at +the George and Dragon Inn in the village, and was attended by more than +half the Neighbourhood. The affair had naturally caused an immense +sensation in all ranks of Society, and, as the Coroner observed in his +opening remarks, universal sympathy was felt for the bereaved family. +Wilkins, who had not altogether recovered from the fright he had +received on the night before, was the first witness. He stated that he +had been the first to discover the murder, and then informed the coroner +of the steps he had immediately taken. Questioned as to the visit paid +to the Squire by Murbridge, he said that the latter was in a great rage +when turned away from the house, and on being asked to do so, repeated +the words he had made use of. In conclusion, he said that he was quite +certain that no door or window in the house had been left unfastened on +the night in question, and that he was equally certain that none were +found either open, or showing signs of having been tampered with in the +morning. Jim followed next, and corroborated what the butler had said. A +sensation was caused when he informed the Coroner that Murbridge had +threatened his father in his hearing in Australia. He described his +meeting with the man in the park before dinner, and added that he had +forbidden him to approach the house. Examined by the Coroner, he was +unable to say anything concerning the nature of the quarrel between the +two men. The doctor was next called, and gave evidence as to being +summoned to the Manor House. He described the body, and gave it as his +opinion that death was due to strangulation. Then followed the police +officer. The landlord was the next witness, and he gave evidence to the +effect that the man Murbridge had stayed at the inn, had been absent on +the evening in question from eight o'clock until half-past twelve, and +that he had departed for London by the first train on the following +morning. The driver of the mail-cart, who had seen him standing beside +the stile, was next called. He was quite sure that he had made no +mistake as to the man's identity, for the reason that he had had a +conversation with him at the George and Dragon Inn earlier in the +evening. This completing the evidence, the jury, without leaving the +room, brought in a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person or +persons unknown," and for the time being the case was at an end.</p> + +<p>"You must not be disappointed, my dear sir," said Robins, afterwards; +"it is all you can possibly expect. The jury could do no more on such +evidence. But we've got our warrant for the arrest of Murbridge, and, as +soon as we are able to lay our hands upon him, we may be able to advance +another and more important step. I am going up to London this afternoon, +and I give you my assurance I shall not waste a moment in getting upon +his track."</p> + +<p>"And you will let me know how you succeed?"</p> + +<p>"I will be sure to do so," Robins replied.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, there can be no harm in my putting an advertisement in +the papers, offering a reward of five hundred pounds to anyone who will +give such information as may lead to the discovery of the murderer."</p> + +<p>"It is a large sum to offer, sir, and will be sure to bring you a lot of +useless correspondence. Still, it may be of some use, and I would +suggest that you send it to the daily papers without delay."</p> + +<p>"It shall be done at once."</p> + +<p>Jim thereupon bade the detective good-bye, and returned to the house to +inform his sister of what had taken place at the inquest. She quite +agreed with him on the matter of the reward, and an advertisement was +accordingly despatched to the London newspapers, together with a cheque +to cover the cost of the insertions.</p> + +<p>Next day the mortal remains of William Standerton were conveyed to their +last resting-place in the graveyard of the little village church. After +the funeral Jim drove back to the Manor House, accompanied by his +father's solicitor, who had travelled down from London for the ceremony. +He was already aware that, by his father's death, he had become a rich +man, but he had no idea how wealthy he would really be, until the will +was read to him. When this had been done he was informed that he was +worth upwards of half-a-million sterling. He shook his head sadly:</p> + +<p>"I'd give it all up willingly, every penny of it," he answered, "to have +my father alive. Even now I can scarcely believe that I shall never see +him again. It seems an extraordinary thing to me that the police have, +so far, not been able to obtain any clue as to the whereabouts of +Murbridge. Look at this heap of letters," he continued, pointing to a +pile of correspondence lying upon the writing table, "each one hails +from somebody who has either seen Murbridge or professes to know where +he is to be found. One knows just such a man working in a baker's shop +in Shoreditch; another has lately returned with him on board a liner +from America, and on receipt of the reward will give me his present +address; a third says that he is a waiter in a popular restaurant in +Oxford Street; a fourth avers that he is hiding near the Docks, and +intends leaving England this week. So the tale goes on, and will +increase, I suppose, every day."</p> + +<p>"The effect of offering so large a reward," replied the lawyer. "My only +hope is that it will not have the effect of driving him out of England. +In which case the difficulty of laying hands upon him will be more than +doubled."</p> + +<p>"He need not think that flight will save him," Jim replied. "Let him go +where he pleases, I will run him to earth."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Helen had spent the day at the Manor House, trying to comfort Alice in +her distress. At nine o'clock she decided to return to her own home, and +Jim determined to accompany her. They accordingly set off together. So +occupied were they by their own thoughts, that for some time neither of +them spoke. Jim was the first to break the silence.</p> + +<p>"Helen," he said, "I cannot thank you sufficiently for your goodness to +Alice during this awful time. But for you I do not know how she would +have come through it."</p> + +<p>"Poor girl," Helen answered, "my heart aches for her."</p> + +<p>"She was so fond of our father," James answered.</p> + +<p>"Not more than you were, dear," Helen replied; "but you have borne your +trouble so bravely—never once thinking of yourself."</p> + +<p>The night was dark, and there was no one about, so why should he not +have slipped his arm round her waist.</p> + +<p>"Helen," he said, "the time has come for me to ask what our future is to +be. Will you wait for Mr. Bursfield's death before you become my wife, +or will you court his displeasure and trust yourself to me?"</p> + +<p>"I would trust myself to you at any time," she answered. "But do you not +see how I am situated? I owe everything to my Guardian. But for his care +of me in all probability I should now be a governess, a music-mistress, +or something of that sort. He has fed me, clothed me, and loved me, +after his own fashion, for a number of years. Would it not, therefore, +seem like an act of the basest ingratitude to leave him desolate, merely +to promote my own happiness?"</p> + +<p>"And does my happiness count for nothing?" Jim returned. "But let us +talk the matter over dispassionately, and see what can be done. Don't +think me heartless, Helen, when I say, that you must realise that Mr. +Bursfield is a very old man. It is just possible, therefore, that the +event we referred to a few moments ago may take place in the near +future. Now, owing to my father's death, I ought not to be married for +some time to come. I propose, therefore, that we wait until, say, the +end of six months, and then make another appeal to your guardian? It is +just possible he may be more inclined to listen to reason then. What do +you say?</p> + +<p>"I will do whatever you wish," she answered simply. "I fear, however, +that, while Mr. Bursfield lives, he will take no other view of the +case."</p> + +<p>"We must hope that he will," Jim replied. "In the meantime, as long as I +know that you are true to me, and love me as I love you, I shall be +quite happy."</p> + +<p>"You do believe that I love you, don't you, Jim?" she asked, looking up +at her lover in the starlight.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," he answered. "God knows what a lucky man I deem myself +for having been permitted to win your love. I am supremely thankful for +one thing, and that is, the fact that my father learnt to know and love +you before his death."</p> + +<p>"As I had learnt to love him," she replied. "But there, who could help +doing so?"</p> + +<p>"One man at least," Jim replied. "Unhappily, we have the worst of +reasons for knowing that there was one person in the world who bore him +a mortal hatred."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything yet from the police regarding Murbridge?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word," Jim answered. "They have given me their most positive +assurance that they are leaving no stone unturned to find the man, but, +so far, they appear to have been entirely unsuccessful. If they do not +soon run him down I shall take up the case myself, and see what I can do +with it. And now here we are at the gate. You do not know how hard it is +for me to let you go, even for so short a time. With the closing of that +door the light seems to go out of my life."</p> + +<p>"I hope and pray that you will always be able to say that," she answered +solemnly.</p> + +<p>Then they bade each other good-night, and she disappeared into the +house, leaving Jim free to resume his walk. He had not gone many steps, +however, before he heard his name called, and, turning round, beheld no +less a person than Mr. Bursfield hurrying after him. He waited for the +old gentleman to come up. It was the first time that Jim had known him +to venture beyond the limits of his own grounds. The circumstance was as +puzzling as it was unusual.</p> + +<p>"Will you permit me a short conversation with you, Mr. Standerton?" Mr. +Bursfield began. "I recognised your voice as you bade Miss Decie +good-bye, and hurried after you in the hope of being able to see you."</p> + +<p>For a moment Jim hoped that Mr. Bursfield had come after him in order to +make amends, and to withdraw his decision regarding his marriage with +Helen. This hope, however, was soon extinguished.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Standerton," the old gentleman continued, "you may remember what I +told you a few evenings since concerning the proposal you did me the +honour of making on behalf of my ward, Miss Decie?"</p> + +<p>"I remember it perfectly," Jim replied; "it is scarcely likely that I +should forget."</p> + +<p>"Since then I have given the matter careful consideration, and I may say +that I have found no reason for deviating from my previous decision."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry indeed to hear that. The more so as your ward and myself are +quite convinced that our affections are such as will not change or grow +weaker with time. Indeed, Mr. Bursfield, I have had another idea in my +mind which I fancied might possibly commend itself to you, and induce +you to reconsider your decision. You have already told me that Miss +Decie's presence is necessary to your happiness. As a proof of what a +good girl she is I might inform you that, only a few moments since, she +told me that she could not consent to leave you, for the reason that she +felt that she owed all she possessed to you."</p> + +<p>"I am glad that Helen has at least a spark of gratitude," the other +answered with a sneer. "It is a fact that she does owe everything to me. +And now for this idea of yours."</p> + +<p>"What I was going to propose is," said Jim, "that in six months' time, +or so, you should permit me to marry your ward, and from that day +forward should take up your residence with us."</p> + +<p>The old man looked at him in astonishment. Then he burst into a torrent +of speech.</p> + +<p>"Such a thing is not to be thought of," he cried. "I could not consider +it for a moment; it would be little short of madness. I am a recluse. I +care less than nothing for society. My books are my only companions; I +want, and will have, no others. Besides, I could not live in that house +of yours, were you to offer me all the gold in the world."</p> + +<p>Here he grasped Jim's arm so tightly that the young man almost winced.</p> + +<p>"I have, of course, heard of your father's death," he continued. "It is +said that he was murdered. But, surely, knowing what you do, you are not +going to be foolish enough to believe that?"</p> + +<p>"And why not?" Jim enquired in great surprise. "I can do nothing else, +for every circumstance of the case points to murder. Good heavens! Mr. +Bursfield, if my father were not murdered, how did he meet his death?"</p> + +<p>The other was silent for a moment before he replied. Then he drew a step +nearer, and, looking up at Jim, asked in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Have you forgotten what I said to you concerning the mystery of the +house? Did I not tell you that one of the former owners was found dead +in bed, having met his fate in identically the same manner as your +father did? Does not this appear significant to you? If not, your +understanding must indeed be dull."</p> + +<p>The new explanation of the mystery was so extraordinary, that Jim did +not know what to say or think about it. That his father's death had +resulted from any supernatural agency had never crossed his mind.</p> + +<p>"I fear I am not inclined to agree with you, Mr. Bursfield," he said +somewhat coldly. "Even if one went so far as to believe in such things, +the evidence given by the doctor at the inquest would be sufficient to +refute the idea."</p> + +<p>"In that case let us drop the subject," Bursfield answered. "My only +desire was to warn you. It is rumoured in the village that on the night +of your father's death one of your domestics was confronted by the +spectre known as the Black Dwarf, and fainted in consequence. My old +man-servant also told me this morning that your butler had seen it on +another occasion. I believe the late Lord Childerbridge also saw it, and +in consequence determined to be rid of the place at any cost. No one has +been able to live there, and I ask you to be warned in time, Mr. +Standerton. For my own part, as I have said before, though it is the +home of my ancestors, I would not pass a night at Childerbridge for the +wealth of all the Indies."</p> + +<p>"In that case you must be more easily frightened than I am," said Jim. +"On the two occasions you mention, the only evidence we have to rely +upon is the word of a hysterical maid-servant, and the assurance of a +butler, who, for all we know to the contrary, may have treated himself +more liberally than usual, on that particular evening, to my father's +port."</p> + +<p>"Scoff as you will," Bursfield returned, "but so far as you are +concerned I have done my duty. I have given you your warning, and if you +do not care to profit by it, that has nothing to do with me. And now to +return to the matter upon which I hastened after you this evening. I +refer to your proposed marriage with my ward."</p> + +<p>Jim said nothing, but waited for Mr. Bursfield to continue. He had a +vague feeling that what he was about to hear would mean unhappiness for +himself.</p> + +<p>"I informed you the other day," the latter continued, "that it was +impossible for me to sanction your proposal. I regret that I am still +compelled to adhere to this decision. In point of fact, I feel that it +is necessary for me to go even further, and to say that I must for the +future ask you to refrain from addressing yourself to Miss Decie at +all."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that you refuse me permission to see her or to speak with +her?" Jim asked in amazement.</p> + +<p>"If, by seeing her, you mean holding personal intercourse with her, I +must confess that you have judged the situation correctly. I am desirous +of preventing Miss Decie from falling into the error of believing that +she will ever be your wife."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear sir, this is an unheard-of proceeding. Why should you +object to me in this way? You know nothing against me, and you are aware +that I love your ward. You admitted, on the last occasion that I +discussed the matter with you, that Miss Decie might expect little or +nothing from you at your death. Why, therefore, in the name of +Commonsense, are you so anxious to prevent her marrying the man she +loves, and who is in a position to give her all the comfort and +happiness wealth and love can bestow?"</p> + +<p>"You have heard my decision," the other replied quietly. "I repeat that +on no consideration will I consent to a marriage between my ward and +yourself. And, as I said just now, I will go even further, and forbid +you most positively for the future either to see or to communicate with +her."</p> + +<p>"And you will not give me your reasons for taking this extraordinary +step?"</p> + +<p>"I will not. That is all I have to say to you, and I have the honour to +wish you a good evening."</p> + +<p>"But I have not finished yet," said Jim, whose anger by this time had +got the better of him. "Once and for all, let me tell you this, Mr. +Bursfield: I have already informed you that I am determined, at any +cost, to make Miss Decie my wife. I might add now, that your tyrannical +behaviour will only make me the more anxious to do so. If the young lady +deems it incumbent upon her to await your consent before marrying me, I +will listen to her and not force the matter; but give her up I certainly +will not so long as I live."</p> + +<p>"Beware, sir, I warn you, beware!" the other almost shrieked.</p> + +<p>"If that is all you have to say to me I will bid you good evening."</p> + +<p>But Bursfield did not answer; he merely turned on his heel and strode +back in the direction of the Dower House. Jim stood for a moment looking +after his retreating figure, and when he could no longer distinguish it, +turned and made his way homewards.</p> + +<p>On reaching the Manor House he informed his sister of what had taken +place between himself and Helen's guardian.</p> + +<p>"He must be mad to treat you so," said Alice, when her brother had +finished. "He knows that Helen loves you, and surely he cannot be so +selfish as to prefer his own comfort to her happiness."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that is exactly what he does do," said Jim. "However, I +suppose I must make allowances. Old age is apt to be selfish. Besides, +we have to remember, as Helen says, that she owes much to him. No! we +will do as we proposed, and wait six months, and see what happens then!"</p> + +<p>But though he spoke so calmly he was by no means at ease in his own +mind. He was made much happier, however, by a note which was brought to +him as he was in the act of retiring to rest.</p> + +<p>It was in Helen's handwriting, and he tore it open eagerly.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"My own dear love," it ran, "Mr. Bursfield has just informed me +of what took place between you this evening. It is needless for +me to say how sorry I am that such a thing should have +occurred. I cannot understand his behaviour in this matter. +That something more than any thought of his own personal +comfort makes him withhold his consent, I feel certain. +Whatever happens, however, you know that I will be true to you; +and if I cannot be your wife, I will be wife to no other man.</p> + +<p>"Your loving Helen."</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + + +<p>While the letter from Helen cheered James Standerton wonderfully, it did +not in any way help him out of his difficulty with Mr. Bursfield. The +latter had most decisively stated his intention not to give his consent +to the marriage of his adopted granddaughter with the young Squire of +Childerbridge. What his reasons were for taking such a step, neither Jim +nor Helen could form any idea. It was a match that most guardians would +have been only too thankful to have brought about. In spite of Helen's +statements, he could only, after mature consideration, assign it to the +old man's natural selfishness, and, however bitterly he might resent his +treatment, in his own heart he knew there was nothing for it but to wait +with such patience as he could command for a change in the other's +feelings towards himself. He had the satisfaction of knowing, however, +that Helen loved him, and that she would be true to him, happen what +might. He was not a more than usually romantic young man, but I happen +to know that he carried that letter about with him constantly, while he +had read it so often that he must have assuredly known its contents by +heart. All things considered, it is wonderful what comfort it is +possible for a love-sick young man to derive from a few commonplace +words written upon a sheet of notepaper.</p> + +<p>After the momentous interview with Mr. Bursfield, the days went by with +their usual sameness at Childerbridge. No news arrived from the +detective, Robins. Apparently it was quite impossible for him to +discover the smallest clue as to Murbridge's whereabouts. To all intents +and purposes he had disappeared as completely as if he had been caught +up into the skies. The reward, beyond bringing a vast amount of trouble +and disappointment to Jim, had not proved of the least use to any one +concerned.</p> + +<p>Numerous half-witted folk, as is usual in such cases, had come forward +and given themselves up, declaring that they had committed the murder, +but the worthlessness of their stories was at once proved in every case. +One man, it was discovered, had been on the high seas another had never +been near Childerbridge in his life; while a third, and this was a still +more remarkable case, was found to have been an inmate of one of Her +Majesty's convict establishments at the time the murder was committed.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Jim to himself; "he must be captured sooner or later. +If the police authorities cannot catch him, I'll take up the case +myself, and run him to ground, wherever he may be."</p> + +<p>As he said this he looked up at the portrait of his father, which hung +upon the wall of his study.</p> + +<p>"Come what may, father," he continued, "if there is any justice in the +world, your cruel murder shall be avenged."</p> + +<p>Another month went by, and still the same want of success attended the +search for Murbridge.</p> + +<p>"Alice, I can stand it no longer," said Jim to his sister one evening, +after he had read a communication from Robins. "I can gather from the +tone of this letter that they are losing heart. I ought to have taken up +the case myself at the commencement, and not have wasted all this +precious time. The man may now be back in Australia, South America, or +anywhere else."</p> + +<p>Alice crossed the room and placed her hand on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Dear old Jim," she said, "I am sure you know how I loved our father."</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," said Jim, looking up at her. "No one knows better. But +I can see there is something you want to say to me. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be angry with me, Jim," she replied, seating herself on the arm +of his chair "but deeply as that man has wronged us, I cannot help +thinking that we should not always be praying for vengeance against him, +as we are doing. Do you think it is what our father, with his noble +nature, would have wished?"</p> + +<p>Jim was silent for a moment. The desire for vengeance by this time had +taken such a hold upon him, and had become such an integral part of his +constitution, that he was staggered beyond measure by her words.</p> + +<p>"Surely you don't mean to say, Alice," he stammered, "that you are +willing to forgive the man who so cruelly killed our father?"</p> + +<p>"I shall try to forgive him," the girl replied. "I say again, that I am +sure it is what our father would have wished us to do."</p> + +<p>"I am no such saint," Jim returned angrily. "I wish to see that man +brought to justice, and, what's more, if no one else will, I mean to +bring him. He took that noble life, and he must pay the penalty of his +crime. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, was the old law. Why +should we change it?"</p> + +<p>Alice rose and crossed the room to her own chair with a little sigh. She +knew her brother well enough to be sure that, having once made up his +mind, he would carry out his determination.</p> + +<p>On the morning following this conversation, Jim was standing after +breakfast at the window of his sister's boudoir, looking out upon the +lawn, across which the leaves were being driven by the autumn wind. His +brow was puckered with thought. As a matter of fact, he was wondering at +the moment how he should commence his search for Murbridge. London was +such a great city, and for an amateur to attempt to find a man in it, +who desired to remain hidden, was very much like setting himself the +task of hunting for a needle in a bundle of hay. He neither knew where +or how to begin. While he was turning the question over in his mind, his +quick eye detected the solitary figure of a man walking across the park +in the direction of the house. He watched it pass the clump of +rhododendrons, and then lost it again in the dip beyond the lake. +Presently it reappeared, and within a few moments it was within easy +distance of the house. At first Jim had watched the figure with but +small interest; later, however, his sister noticed that he gradually +became excited. When the stranger had passed the corner of the house he +turned excitedly to his sister.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Alice!" he cried, "it surely cannot be."</p> + +<p>"What cannot be?" asked Alice, leaving her chair, and approaching the +window.</p> + +<p>"That man coming up the drive," Jim replied. "It doesn't seem possible +that it can be he, yet I've often boasted that I should know his figure +anywhere. If it were not the most improbable thing in the world, I +should be prepared to swear that it's Terence O'Riley."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear Jim, what could Terence be doing here, so many thousand +miles from our old home?"</p> + +<p>But Jim did not wait to answer the question. Almost before Alice had +finished speaking he had reached the front door, had opened it, and was +wildly shaking hands with a tall, spare man, with a humorous, yet +hatchet-shaped face, so sunburnt as to be almost the colour of mahogany.</p> + +<p>The newcomer, Terence O'Riley, was a character in his way. He boasted +that he knew nothing of father or mother, or relations of any sort or +kind. He had received his Hibernian patronymic from his first friend, a +wild Irishman on the diggings where he was born. He had entered William +Standerton's service at the age of twelve, as horse-boy, and for upwards +of thirty years had remained his faithful henchman. In every respect he +was a typical Bushman. He could track like a blackfellow, ride any horse +that was ever foaled, find his way in the thickest country with unerring +skill, was a first-class rifle shot, an unequalled judge of cattle, a +trifle pugnacious at certain seasons, but, and this seems an anomaly, at +other times he possessed a heart as tender as a little child. When +William Standerton and his family had left Australia, his grief had been +sincere. For weeks he had been inconsolable, and it meant a sure +thrashing for any man who dared to mention James' name in his hearing.</p> + +<p>"What on earth does this mean, Terence?" asked Jim, who could scarcely +believe that it was their old servant who stood before him.</p> + +<p>"It means a good many things, Master Jim," said Terence, with the drawl +in his voice peculiar to Australian Bushmen. "It's a longish yarn, but, +my word, I <i>am</i> just glad to see you again, and, bless me, there's Miss +Alice too, looking as pretty as a grass parrot on a gum log."</p> + +<p>With a smile of happiness on her face, that had certainly not been there +since her father's death, Alice came forward and gave Terence her hand. +He took it in his great palm, and I think, but am not quite sure, that +there were tears in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Come in at once," said Jim. "You must tell us your tale from beginning +to end. Even now I can scarcely realise that it is you. Every moment I +expect to see you vanish into mid-air. If I had been asked where you +were at this moment, I should have said 'out in one of the back +paddocks, say the Bald Mountain, riding along the fence on old Smoker, +with Dingo trotting at his heels.'"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," Terence answered, looking round the great hall as he spoke, +"I sold Smoker at Bourke before I came away, and one of the overseers +has Dingo, poor old dog. The fact of the matter was, sir, after you left +I got a bit lonesome, and the old place didn't seem like the same. I had +put by a matter of between four and five hundred pounds, and, thinks I +to myself, there's the Old Country, that they say is so beautiful, and +to think that I've never set eyes on it. Why shouldn't I make the trip, +and just drop in and see the Boss, and Master Jim, and Miss Alice in +their new home. Who knows but that they might want a colt broken for +them. As soon as I made up my mind, I packed my bag and set off for +Melbourne, took a passage on board a ship that was sailing next day, and +here I am, sir. I hope your father is well, sir?"</p> + +<p>There was an awkward pause, during which Alice left the room.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible you haven't heard, Terence?" Jim enquired, in a hushed +voice.</p> + +<p>"I've not heard anything, sir," Terence answered. "I was six weeks on +the water, you see. I <i>do</i> hope, sir, there is nothing wrong."</p> + +<p>Jim thereupon told Terence the whole story of his father's death. When +he had finished the Bushman's consternation may be better imagined than +described. For some moments it deprived him of speech. He could only +stare at Jim in horrified amazement.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, sir, that they've got the man who did it," he said at last, +bringing his hand down with a bang on the table beside which he was +seated. "Tell me that they're going to hang the blackguard who killed +the kindest master in all the world, or I'll say that there's not a +trooper in England that's fit to call himself a policeman."</p> + +<p>The poor fellow was genuinely affected.</p> + +<p>"They haven't caught him yet, Terence," said Jim. "The police have been +searching for him everywhere for weeks past, but without success."</p> + +<p>"But they must find him, run him down, and hang him, just as we used to +string up the cowardly dingoes out back when they worried the sheep. If +I have to track him like a Nyall blackfellow, I'll find him."</p> + +<p>"Terence, I believe you've come at the right time," said Jim, holding +out his hand. "Seeing the way the police Authorities are managing +affairs, I've decided to take up the case myself. You were a faithful +servant to my father, and you've known me all my life. You've got a head +on your shoulders—do you remember who it was that found out who stole +those sheep from Coobalah Out Station? Come with me, old friend, and +we'll run the villain down together. <i>I</i> would not wish for a better +companion."</p> + +<p>"I'm thankful now that I came, sir," Terence replied. "You mark my +words, we'll find him, wherever he's stowed himself away."</p> + +<p>From that day Terence was made a member of the Childerbridge household. +In due course, accompanied by Jim, he inspected the stables and was more +than a little impressed by the luxury with which the animals were +surrounded.</p> + +<p>"Very pretty," he muttered to himself, "and turned out like racehorses; +all the same, I wouldn't like to ride 'em after cattle in the Ranges on +a dark night."</p> + +<p>The sedate head coachman could not understand the situation. He was +puzzled as to what manner of man this might be, who, though so poorly +dressed, while treating his master with the utmost respect, conversed +with him on terms of perfect equality. His amazement, however, was +turned into admiration later in the day when Mr. O'Riley favoured him +with an exposition of the gentle art of horse-breaking.</p> + +<p>"He's a bit too free and easy in his manners towards the governor for my +likin'," he informed the head gardener afterwards, "but there's no +denyin' the fact that he's amazin' clever with a youngster. They do say +as 'ow he did all Mr. Standerton's horse-breaking in foreign parts."</p> + +<p>It soon became apparent that Terence was destined to become one of the +most popular personages at Childerbridge. His quaint mannerisms, +extraordinary yarns, and readiness to take any sort of work, however +hard, upon his shoulders, won for him a cordial welcome from the +inhabitants of the Manor House. As for Jim and Alice, for some reason +best known to themselves they derived a comfort from his presence that +at any other time they would scarcely have believed possible.</p> + +<p>On the day following Terence's arrival James stood on the steps at the +front door, watching him school a young horse in the park. The +high-spirited animal was inclined to be troublesome, but with infinite +tact and patience Terence was gradually asserting his supremacy. Little +by little, as he watched him, Jim's thoughts drifted away from +Childerbridge, and another scene, equally familiar, rose before his +eyes. He saw a long creeper-covered house, standing on the banks of a +mighty river. A man was seated in the verandah, and that man was his +father. Talking to him from the garden path was another—no less a +person than Terence. Then he himself emerged from the house and stood by +his father's side—a little boy of ten, dressed in brown holland, and +wearing a broad-brimmed straw hat upon his head. Upon his coming his +father rose, and, taking him by the hand, led him down to the +stock-yard, accompanied by Terence. In the yard stood the prettiest pony +that mortal boy had ever set eyes on.</p> + +<p>"There, my boy," said his father, "that is my birthday present to you. +Terence has broken him."</p> + +<p>And now here was this self-same Terence in England, of all places in the +world, making his hunters for him, while the father, who all his life +had proved so generous to him, was lying in his grave, cruelly murdered. +At that moment Alice came up behind him.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of, Jim?" she enquired.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of Mudrapilla and the old days," he answered. "Seeing +Terence out there on that horse brought it back to me so vividly that +for a moment I had quite forgotten that I was in England. Do you know, +Alice, that sometimes a wild longing to be back there takes possession +of me. If only Helen were my wife, I'm not quite certain that I should +not want to take you both back—if only for a trip. It seems to me that +I would give anything to feel the hot sun upon my shoulders once again, +to smell the smoke of a camp fire, to see the dust rise from the +stock-yards, and to scent the perfume of the orange blossoms as we sit +together in the verandah in the evening. Alice, that is the life of a +man; this luxurious idleness makes me feel effeminate. But there, what +am I talking about? I've got my duty to do in England before we go back +to Mudrapilla."</p> + +<p>At that moment Terence rode up, very satisfied with himself and with the +animal upon whose back he was seated. He had scarcely departed in the +direction of the stable before Jim descried a carriage entering the +park. It proved to be a fly from the station, and in it Robins, the +detective, was seated.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, sir," he said, as he alighted; "in response to your +letter, I have come down to see you personally."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad you have done so," Jim replied, "for I have been most +anxious to see you. Let us go into the house."</p> + +<p>He thereupon led the way to his study, where he invited the detective to +be seated.</p> + +<p>"I hope you have some good news for me," Jim remarked, as he closed the +door. "Have you made any discovery concerning Murbridge?"</p> + +<p>The detective shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say," he answered, "that our efforts have been entirely +unsuccessful. We traced the man from Paddington to a small eating-house +in the vicinity of the station, but after that we lost him altogether. +We have kept a careful watch on the out-going ships, tried the hotels, +lodging-houses, Salvation Army Shelters and such places, and have sent a +description of him to every police station in the country, but so far +without an atom of success. Once, when the body of a man was found in +the river at Greenwich, I thought we had discovered him. The description +given of the dead man tallied exactly with that of Murbridge. I was +disappointed, however, for he turned out to be a chemist's assistant, +who had been missing from Putney for upwards of a fortnight. Then a man +gave himself up to the police at Bristol, but he was found to be a mad +solicitor's clerk from Exeter. This is one of the deepest cases I have +ever been concerned in, Mr. Standerton, and though I am not the sort of +man who gives up very quickly, I am bound to confess that, up to the +present, I have been beaten, and beaten badly."</p> + +<p>"You are not going to abandon the case, I hope?" Jim asked anxiously. +"Because you have been unsuccessful so far, you are surely not going to +give it up altogether?"</p> + +<p>"The law never abandons a case," the other observed sententiously. "Of +course it's quite within the bounds of possibility that we may hit upon +some clue that will ultimately lead to Murbridge's arrest; it is +possible that he may give himself up in course of time; at the present, +however, I must admit that both circumstances appear remarkably remote."</p> + +<p>"Well," returned Jim, "I can assure you that, whatever else happens, <i>I</i> +am not going to give up. If the authorities are going to do so, I shall +take it up myself and see what I can do."</p> + +<p>There was a suspicion of a smile upon the detective's face as he +listened. Was it possible that an amateur could really believe himself +to be capable of succeeding where the astute professionals of Scotland +Yard had failed?</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you will only be giving yourself needless trouble," he +said.</p> + +<p>"I should not consider it trouble to try and discover my father's +murderer," Jim returned hotly. "Even if I am not more successful than +the police have been, I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that I +have done my best. May I trouble you for the name of the eating-house to +which Murbridge proceeded on leaving Paddington?"</p> + +<p>Taking a piece of paper from the writing-table, Robins wrote the name +and address of the eating-house upon it, and handed it to Jim. The +latter placed it carefully in his pocket-book, and felt that he must +make the house in question his starting point.</p> + +<p>When the detective took his departure half an hour later, Jim gave +instructions that Terence should be sent to him.</p> + +<p>"Terence," he began, when the other stood before him, "I am going up to +London to-morrow morning to commence my search for Murbridge. I shall +want you to accompany me."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir," Terence replied, "I've been hoping for this, and it'll +go hard now if we can't track him somehow. But you must bear in mind, +sir, that I've never been in London. If it was in the Bush, now, I won't +say but what I should not be able to find him, but I don't know much +about these big cities, so to speak. It will be like looking for a track +of one particular sheep in a stock-yard after a mob of wild cattle have +been turned into it."</p> + +<p>Jim smiled. He saw that Terence had not the vaguest notion of what +London was like.</p> + +<p>That evening he informed Alice of the decision he had come to. She had +been expecting it for some days past, and was not at all surprised by +it. She only asked that he would permit her to accompany him.</p> + +<p>"I could not remain here," she said, "and I'll promise that I'll not be +in your way. It will be so desolate in this house without you, +especially as Mr. Bursfield will not allow Helen to visit us, and I have +no other companion."</p> + +<p>"By all means come with me," said Jim, "I shall choose a quiet hotel in +the West End, and you must amuse yourself as best you can while I am +absent."</p> + +<p>Later in the evening he wrote a note to his sweetheart informing her of +his decision, and promising to let her know, day by day, what success +attended his efforts.</p> + +<p>Next morning they left Childerbridge Station at eleven o'clock for +London. As the train steamed out of the village past the little +churchyard, Jim looked down upon his father's grave, which he could just +see on the eastern side of the church.</p> + +<p>"Dear father," he muttered to himself, "If have to devote the rest of my +life in bringing your murderer to justice, I'll do it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + + +<p>It was considerably past midday by the time Jim and his sister, +accompanied by Terence, reached London. On arriving at Paddington, they +engaged a cab and drove to the hotel they had selected, a private +establishment leading out of Piccadilly. Terence's amazement at the size +of London was curious to witness. Hitherto he had regarded Melbourne as +stupendous, now it struck him that that town was a mere village compared +with this giant Metropolis. When he noted the constant stream of +traffic, the crowds that thronged the pavements, and the interminable +streets, his heart misgave him concerning the enterprise upon which he +had so confidently embarked.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul, how many people can there be in London?" he asked, as +they drove up to the hotel.</p> + +<p>"Something over five millions," Jim replied. "It's a fair-sized +township."</p> + +<p>"And we are going to look for one man," continued the other. "I guess it +would be easier to find a scrubber in the mallee than to get on the +track of a man who is hiding himself here."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless we've got to find him somehow," said Jim. "That's the end +of the matter."</p> + +<p>After lunch he sent word to Terence that he wished him to accompany him +on his first excursion. Up to that time he had formed no definite plan +of action, but it was borne in upon him that he could do nothing at all +until he had visited the eating-house to which Murbridge had been traced +after his arrival at Paddington Station. They accordingly made their way +to the house in question. It proved to be an uninviting place, with a +sawdust-covered floor, and half-a-dozen small tables arranged along one +side. On the other was a counter upon which were displayed a variety of +covered dishes and huge tea cups. At the moment of Jim's entering the +proprietor was giving his attention to a steaming pan of frying onions.</p> + +<p>"What can I do for you, sir?" he asked, as he removed the frying-pan +from the gas and came forward.</p> + +<p>"I want five minutes' conversation with you in private, if you will give +it to me," Jim replied, and then in a lower voice he added: "I stand in +need of some information which I have been told you are in a position to +supply. I need not say that I shall be quite willing to recompense you +for any loss of time or trouble you may be put to."</p> + +<p>"In that case I shall be very happy to oblige you, sir," the man replied +civilly enough. "That is to say, if it is in my power to do so. Will you +be good enough to step this way?"</p> + +<p>Pulling down his shirt-sleeves, which until that moment had been rolled +up, and slipping on a greasy coat, he led the way from the shop to a +tiny apartment leading out of it. It was very dirty and redolent of +onions and bad tobacco. Its furniture was scanty, and comprised a table, +covered with American cloth, a cupboard, and two wooden chairs, upon one +of which James was invited to seat himself. Terence, who had followed +them, took the other, while he surveyed its owner with evident +disfavour.</p> + +<p>"And now, sir," said that individual, "I should be glad if you can tell +me what I can do for you. If it's about the Board School election, well, +I'll tell you at once, straight out, as man to man, that I ain't a-goin' +to vote for either party. There was a young wagabond that I engaged the +other day. He had had a Board School edecation, and it had taught him +enough to be able to humbug me with his takings. Thirteen and +elevenpence-'alfpenny was what he stole from me. And as I said to the +missus only last night, 'No more Board School lads for me!' But there, +sir, p'raps you ain't a-got nothing to do with them?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly have not," James replied. "I am here on quite a different +matter. Of course you remember the police visiting you a short time +since, with regard to a man who was suspected of being the murderer of +Mr. Standerton, at Childerbridge, in Midlandshire?"</p> + +<p>"Remember it?" the man replied, "I should think I did. And haven't I got +good cause to remember it? I was nigh being worritted to death by 'em. +First it was one, and then it was another, hanging about here and asking +questions. Had I seen the man? Did I know where he had gone? What was he +like? Till with one thing and another I was most driven off my head. I +won't say as how a detective oughtn't to ask questions, because we all +know it's his duty, but when it comes to interferin' with a man's +private business and drivin' his customers away from the shop—for I +won't make no secrets with you that there is folks as eats at my table +as is not in love with 'tecs—well, then I say, if it comes to that, +it's about time a man put his foot down."</p> + +<p>"My case is somewhat different," said James. "In the first place, I am +not a detective, but the son of the gentleman who was murdered."</p> + +<p>"Good gracious me! you don't say so," said the man, regarding him with +astonishment and also with evident appreciation. "Now that makes all the +difference. It's only fit and proper that a young gentleman should want +to find out the man who, so to speak, had given him such a knock-down +blow. Ask me what questions you like, sir, and I'll do my best to answer +'em."</p> + +<p>"Well, first and foremost," said Jim, "I want to know how you became +aware that the man in question hailed from Childerbridge? He wouldn't +have been likely to say so."</p> + +<p>"No, you're right there," the man replied. "He didn't say so, but I knew +it, because after he had had his meal, my girl was giving him 'is +change, I saw there was a Childerbridge label on the small bag he +carried in his hand. I put it to you, sir, if he hadn't been there, +would that label have been on the bag?"</p> + +<p>"Of course it would not. And he answered to the description given you?"</p> + +<p>"To a T, sir. Same sort of face, same sort of dress, snarly manner of +speaking, spotted bird's-eye necktie and all."</p> + +<p>"It must have been the man. And now another question. You informed the +police, did you not, that you had no knowledge as to where he went after +he left your shop?"</p> + +<p>The man fidgetted uneasily in his chair for a moment, and drummed with +his fingers upon the cover of the table. It was evident that he was +keeping something back, and was trying to make up his mind as to whether +he should divulge his information or not.</p> + +<p>Here James played a good game, and with a knowledge of human character +few people would have supposed him to possess, took from his pocket a +sovereign, which he laid on the table before the other.</p> + +<p>"There," he said, "is a sovereign. I can see that you are keeping +something back from me. Now, that money is yours whether you tell me or +not. If it is likely to affect your happiness don't let me know, but if +you can, I shall be glad if you will tell me all you know."</p> + +<p>"Spoken like a gentleman, sir," the other replied, "and I don't mind if +I do tell you, though it may get me into trouble with some of my +customers if you give me away. You see, sir, round about here in this +neighbourhood, a man has to be careful of what he says and does. Suppose +it was to come to the ears of some people that it was me as gave the +information that got the bloke arrested, well then, they'd be sure to +say to 'emselves, 'he's standin' in with the perlice, and we don't go +near his shop again.' Do you take my meaning, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I quite understand," James replied. "I appreciate your difficulty, but +you may be quite sure that I will not mention your name in connection +with any information you may give me."</p> + +<p>"Spoken and acted like a gentleman again, sir," said the shopman. "Now +I'll tell you what I know. I didn't tell the 'tecs,' becos they didn't +treat me any too well. But this is what I <i>do</i> know, sir. As he went out +of the door he asked my little boy, Tommy, wot was playing on the +pavement, how far it was to Great Medlum Street? The boy gave him the +direction, and then he went off."</p> + +<p>"Great Medlum Street?" said James, and made a note of the name in his +pocket-book. "And how far may that be from here?"</p> + +<p>"Not more than ten minutes' walk," the other replied. "Go along this +street, then take the third turning to your left and the first on the +right. You can't make no mistake about it."</p> + +<p>"And what kind of a street is it?" Jim enquired. "I mean, what sort of +character does it bear?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, that's more than I can tell you," said the other. "For all I +know to the contrary, it's a fairish sort of street, not so fust-class +as some others I could name, but there's a few decent people living in +it."</p> + +<p>"And do you happen to have anything else to tell me about him?"</p> + +<p>"That's all I know, sir," said the other. "I haven't set eyes on him +from that blessed moment until this, and I don't know as I want to."</p> + +<p>"I am very much obliged to you," said Jim, rising and putting his +pocket-book away. "You have given me great assistance."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you're very welcome, sir," replied the man. "I am always ready +to do anything I can for a gentleman. It's the Board School folk +that——"</p> + +<p>Before the man could finish his sentence, Jim was in the shop once more, +and was making his way towards the door, closely followed by Terence.</p> + +<p>"Now the first question to be decided," he said, when they were in the +street, "is what is best for us to do? If I go to Great Medlum Street, +it is more than likely that Murbridge will see me and make off again; +while, if I wait to communicate with Robins, I may lose him altogether."</p> + +<p>Eventually it was decided that he should not act on his own initiative, +but should communicate with Detective Robins, and let him make enquiries +in the neighbourhood in question. A note was accordingly despatched to +the authorities at Scotland Yard. In it James informed them that it had +come to his knowledge that the man Murbridge was supposed to be residing +in Great Medlum Street, though in what house could not be stated. Later +in the day Robins himself put in an appearance at the hotel.</p> + +<p>"You received my letter?" James asked when they were alone together.</p> + +<p>"I did, sir," the man answered, "and acted upon it at once."</p> + +<p>"And with what result?"</p> + +<p>"Only to discover that our man has slipped through our fingers once +more," said the detective. "He left Great Medlum Street two days ago. Up +to that time he had lodged at number eighteen. The landlady informs me +that she knows nothing as to his present whereabouts. He passed under +the name of Melbrook, and was supposed by the other lodgers to be an +American."</p> + +<p>"You are quite certain that it is our man?"</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt about it. He went to the house on the day that +the murder was discovered. Now the next thing to find out is where he +now is. From what his landlady told me, I should not think he was in the +possession of much money. As a matter of fact, she suspected that he had +been pawning his clothes, for the reason that his bag, which was +comparatively heavy when he arrived, seemed to be almost empty when he +left. To-morrow morning I shall make enquiries at the various +pawnbrokers in the neighbourhood, and it is just possible we may get +some further information from them."</p> + +<p>Promising to communicate with Jim immediately he had anything of +importance to impart, Robins took his departure, and Jim went in search +of Alice to tell her the news. Next day word was brought to him to the +effect that Murbridge had pawned several articles, but in no case were +the proprietors able to furnish any information concerning his present +whereabouts. Feeling that it was just possible, as in the case of the +eating-house keeper near Paddington Station, that the detectives had not +been able to acquire all the knowledge that was going, Jim, accompanied +by the faithful Terence, set off in the afternoon for number eighteen, +Great Medium Street. It proved to be a lodging-house of the common type.</p> + +<p>In response to their ring the door was opened by the landlady, a voluble +person of Irish descent. She looked her visitors up and down before +admitting them, and having done so, enquired if they stood in need of +apartments.</p> + +<p>"I regret to say that we do not," said Jim blandly. "My friend and I +have come to put a few questions to you concerning——"</p> + +<p>"Not poor Mr. Melbrook, I hope," she answered. "Is all London gone mad? +'Twas but yesterday afternoon, just when I was settin' down to my bit o' +tea that a gentleman comes to make enquiries about Mr. Melbrook. I told +'im he'd left the house, but that would not do. He wanted to know where +he had gone, and when and why he had left, just for all the world as if +he was his long-lost brother. Then this morning another comes. Wanted to +know if I knew where Mr. Melbrook pawned his clothes? Did he appear to +be in any trouble? Now here you are with your questions. D'ye think I've +got nothing better to do than to be trapesing round talkin' about what +don't concern me? What's the world coming to, I should like to know?"</p> + +<p>"But, my good woman, I am most anxious to find Mr. Melbrook," said Jim, +"and if you can put me into the possession of any information that will +help me to do so, I shall be very pleased to reward you for your +trouble."</p> + +<p>"But I've got nothing to tell you," she replied, "more's the pity of it, +since you speak so fair. From the time that Mr. Melbrook left my house +until this very moment I've heard nothing of him. He may have gone back +to America—if he was an American as they say—but there, he may be +anywhere. He was one of them sort of men that says nothing about his +business; he just kept himself to himself with his paper, and took his +drop of gin and water at night the same as you and me might do. If I was +to die next minute, that's all I can tell you about him."</p> + +<p>Seeing that it was useless to question her further, Jim pressed some +coins into the woman's willing hand, and bade her good-day. Then, more +dispirited by his failure than he would admit, he drove back to his +hotel. Alice met him in the hall with a telegram.</p> + +<p>"This has just come for you," she said. "I was about to open it."</p> + +<p>Taking it from her, he tore open the envelope, and withdrew the message. +It was from Robins, and ran as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Think am on right track—will report as soon as return."</p> + +<p>It had been despatched from Waterloo Station.</p> + +<p>"Why did he not say where he was going?" said Jim testily, "instead of +keeping me in suspense."</p> + +<p>"Because he does not like to commit himself before he has more to +report, I suppose," said Alice. "Do not worry yourself about it, dear. +You will hear everything in good time."</p> + +<p>A long letter from Helen which arrived that evening helped to console +Jim, while the writing of an answer to her enabled him to while away +another half-hour. But it must be confessed that that evening Jim was +far from being himself. He felt that he would have given anything to +have accompanied the detective in his search. He went to bed at an early +hour, to dream that he was chasing Murbridge round the world, and do +what he would he could not come up with him. Next day there was no news, +and it was not until the middle of the day following that he heard +anything. Then another telegram arrived, stating that the detective +would call at the hotel between eight and nine o'clock that evening. He +did so, and the first glimpse of his face told Jim that his errand had +as usual been fruitless.</p> + +<p>"I can see," he said, "that you have not met with any success. Is that +not so?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, sir," the man answered. "Information was brought me the day +before yesterday that a man answering in every way the description of +the person we wanted had pawned a small portmanteau at a shop in the +Mile End Road, and on making enquiries there, I heard that he had come +to lodge at a house in one of the streets in the vicinity. Accompanied +by one of my mates, I went to the house in question, only to discover +that we were too late again, and that the man had left for Southampton +that morning, intending to catch the out-going boat for South Africa. +Procuring a cab, I set off for Waterloo, and on my arrival there sent +that telegram to you, sir, and then went down to Southampton by the next +train. Unfortunately the two hours' delay had given him his chance, for +when I reached Southampton it was only to find that the vessel had +sailed half-an-hour before. I went at once to the Agent's office, where +I discovered that a man whose appearance tallied exactly with the +description given had booked a steerage passage at the last moment, and +had sailed aboard her. But if he's got out of England safely, we'll +catch him at Madeira. The police there will arrest him, and hold him for +us until we can get him handed over. He does not know that I am upon his +track, and for that reason he'll be sure to think he's got safely away."</p> + +<p>"We must hope to catch him at Madeira then. The vessel does not touch at +any port between, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>Robins shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No, Madeira is the first port of call. And now, sir, I'll bid you +good-night, if you don't mind. I've had a long day of it, and I'm tired. +To-morrow morning I've got to be abroad early on another little case +which is causing me a considerable amount of anxiety."</p> + +<p>Jim bade him good-night and then went in search of his sister, only to +find that she had a bad headache, and had gone to bed. After the +excitement of the day bed was out of the question, so donning a hat and +coat he left the hotel for a stroll. He walked quietly along Piccadilly, +smoking his cigar, and thinking of the girl who had promised to be his +wife, and who, at the moment, was probably thinking of him in the quiet +little Midlandshire village. How delightful life would be when she would +be his wife. He tried to picture himself in the capacity of Helen's +husband. From Helen his thoughts turned to Murbridge, and he tried to +imagine the guilty wretch, flying across the seas, flattering himself +continually that he had escaped the punishment he so richly deserved, +finding more security in every mile of water the vessel left behind her, +little dreaming that justice was aware of his flight, and that Nemesis +was waiting for him so short a time ahead.</p> + +<p>Reaching Piccadilly Circus, he walked on until he arrived at Leicester +Square. As the sky had become overcast, and a thin drizzle was beginning +to fall, he called a hansom, and bade the driver take him back to his +hotel. The horse started off, and they were soon proceeding at a fast +pace in the direction of Piccadilly. Just as they reached the Criterion +Theatre, a man stepped from the pavement, and began to cross the road. +Had not the cabman sharply pulled his horse to one side, nothing could +have saved him from being knocked down. So near a thing was it that Jim +sprang to his feet, and threw open the apron, feeling sure that the man +was down. But near though it was, the pedestrian had escaped, and, +turning round, was shaking his fist in a paroxysm of rage at the cabman. +At that moment he saw Jim, and stood for a second or two as if turned to +stone; then, gathering his faculties together, he ducked between two +cabs and disappeared.</p> + +<p><i>That man was Richard Murbridge!</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + + +<p>Before Jim could recover from his astonishment at seeing the man whom he +had been led to believe was upon the high seas, standing before him, the +cabman had whipped up his horse once more, and was half across the +Circus. Springing to his feet, he pushed up the shutter, and bade the +driver pull up as quickly as possible. Then, jumping from the cab, he +gave the man the first coin he took from his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Did you see which way that fellow went we so nearly knocked down?" he +cried.</p> + +<p>"Went away towards Regent Street, I believe," answered the cabman. "He +had a narrow shave and it isn't his fault he isn't in hospital now."</p> + +<p>Jim waited to hear no more, but made his way back to the policeman he +had noticed standing beside the fountain in the centre of the Circus.</p> + +<p>"Did you see that man who was so nearly knocked down by a cab a few +minutes ago?" he enquired, scarcely able to speak for excitement.</p> + +<p>"I did," the officer answered laconically. "What about him?"</p> + +<p>"Only that you must endeavour to find him, and arrest him at once," said +Jim. "There is not a moment to be lost. He may have got away by this +time."</p> + +<p>"And he's precious lucky if he has," said the policeman. "Never saw a +closer thing in my life."</p> + +<p>"But don't you hear me? You must find him at once. Every second we waste +is giving him the chance of getting away."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, there's no such hurry: what's he done that you should be so +anxious to get hold of him?"</p> + +<p>By this time Jim was nearly beside himself with rage at the other's +stupidity.</p> + +<p>"That man was the Childerbridge murderer," he replied. "I am as certain +of it as I am that I see you standing before me now."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Sir, that's all very well you know," said the policeman, +with what was plainly a kindly intent, "but you go along home and get to +bed quietly; you'll be better in the morning and will have forgotten all +about this 'ere murderer."</p> + +<p>After which, without another word, he walked away.</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the insane idiots in the world," muttered Jim, "that +fellow should come first. But I am not going to be baulked; I'll search +for Murbridge myself."</p> + +<p>He thereupon set off along Regent Street, but before he had gone half +the length of the street the folly of such a proceeding became apparent +to him. He knew that Murbridge had seen him, and, for this reason, would +most likely betake himself to the quiet of the back streets. To attempt +to find him, therefore, under cover of darkness, and at such an hour, +would be well-nigh an impossibility. Then another idea occurred to him. +Hailing a cab, he set off for Scotland Yard. On arrival there, he handed +in his card, and in due course was received most courteously by the +chief officer on duty. He explained his errand, and in doing so showed +the mistake under which Detective-sergeant Robins had been and was still +labouring.</p> + +<p>"He shall be communicated with at once," said the official. "I suppose +you are quite certain of the identity of the man you saw in Piccadilly +Circus, Mr. Standerton?"</p> + +<p>"As certain as I am of anything," Jim replied. "I should recognise him +anywhere. I was permitted a full view of his face, and I am quite sure +that I am not making a mistake. If only the cabman had pulled up a few +moments earlier, I might have been able to have stopped him."</p> + +<p>"In that case, you should be able to give us some details of his present +personal appearance, which would afford us considerable assistance in +our search for him."</p> + +<p>"He was wearing a black felt hat, and a brown overcoat, the collar of +which was turned up."</p> + +<p>The officer made a note of these particulars, and promised that the +information should be dispersed in all directions without loss of time. +Then, feeling that nothing more could be done Jim bade him good-night, +and drove back to his hotel. In spite of the work he had done that day +he was not destined to obtain a wink of sleep all night, but tumbled and +tossed in his bed, brooding continually over the chance he had missed of +securing his father's murderer. If only he had alighted when the cabman +first stopped, he might have been able to have secured Murbridge. Now +his capture seemed as remote as ever; further, indeed, than if he had +been, as Robins supposed, on board the vessel bound for South Africa.</p> + +<p>Jim had just finished his breakfast next morning when Robins called to +see him.</p> + +<p>"This is a nice sort of surprise you have given us, sir," said the +detective, when he had made a few commonplace remarks, "I mean your +seeing Murbridge last night; I don't know what to think of it. It seems +to me to be more of a mystery than ever now."</p> + +<p>"The only thing you can think of it is that Murbridge is in London, and +not on board the mail boat as you supposed," Jim replied. "You must have +got upon a wrong track again. I suppose there is no further news of him +this morning?"</p> + +<p>"There was none when I left the Yard," the other replied. "At present we +are over-hauling all the doss-houses and shelters, and it is possible we +may make a discovery before long. When you think of the description we +have of him—a man wearing a brown coat and a felt hat—it is not very +much to go upon. There must be hundreds of men dressed like that in +London. If only we had a photograph of him it would make the labour a +good deal easier."</p> + +<p>This set Jim thinking. In the lumber-room at Childerbridge there was, as +he remembered, a number of cases containing books, photograph albums, +etc., which his father had brought with him from Australia, but which +had never been unpacked. He recalled the fact that his father had told +him that he had been on intimate terms with Murbridge many years before. +Was it not possible, therefore, that among his collections there might +be some portrait of that individual. He felt inclined to run down and +turn the boxes over. What was more, if he did so, he might chance to +obtain an interview with Helen. He explained his hopes with regard to +the photograph to the detective, who instantly agreed that it might be +worth his while to make the search.</p> + +<p>"In that case I will go down by the eleven o'clock train, and if I +discover anything, I will wire you and post the photograph on to you by +the evening mail."</p> + +<p>"It is unnecessary for me to assure you it would be an inestimable help +to us in our search," the other answered; "we should have something more +definite to go upon then."</p> + +<p>True to this arrangement, therefore Jim, Alice, and Terence returned to +Childerbridge by the morning train. A carriage met them at the station, +and in it they drove through the village. As they were drawing near the +park gates, an exclamation from Alice roused Jim from the reverie into +which he had fallen, and caused him to glance up the lane that led from +the main road. To his unspeakable joy, he discovered that Helen was +coming towards them. In a moment the carriage was stopped, and Jim +alighted and hastened to meet her.</p> + +<p>"My darling," he cried, "I never counted upon having the happiness of +seeing you so soon. This is most fortunate."</p> + +<p>"But what brings you back to-day, Jim?" Helen replied. "From your letter +I gathered that I should not see you for at least a week. There is +nothing wrong, I hope?"</p> + +<p>She scanned his face with anxious eyes, and as she did so it occurred to +Jim that she herself was looking far from well.</p> + +<p>"Nothing is the matter," he answered. "We have merely come down to try +and find some photographs that would help us in our search. But, Helen, +you are not looking at all well. Your face frightens me."</p> + +<p>"I am alright," was the reply. "I have been a little worried lately +about my grandfather, and that probably accounts for my appearance, but +we will not talk of that now. I must say 'How do you do' to Alice."</p> + +<p>She accordingly approached the carriage, and held out her hand to her +friend. They conversed together for a few moments, and then Alice +proposed that Helen should return with them to the Hall, but this being, +for more reasons than one, impossible, it was arranged that Jim should +see her home across the park, a suggestion which, you may be sure, he +was not slow to take advantage of. They accordingly watched the carriage +pass through the lodge gates, and then themselves set out for the Dower +House. As they walked Jim told his sweetheart of the ill success that +had attended his mission to London.</p> + +<p>"But, Helen," he said at last, as they approached the house, "you have +not told me what it is that is worrying you about your grandfather. I +hope he has not been making you unhappy?"</p> + +<p>She hung her head but did not answer.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I can see that he has," he exclaimed, "and I suppose it was +something to do with me. I wonder whether I should be right if I +hazarded a guess that Mr. Bursfield had been trying again to force you +into giving me up? Is that the case, Helen?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid in a measure it is," she replied, but with some diffidence. +"You may be quite sure, however, that whatever he may do it will not +influence me. You know how truly I love you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know that," he answered, "and I am quite content to trust you. I +know that nothing Mr. Bursfield can say will induce you to do as he +proposes."</p> + +<p>"Remember that always," she said. "But, oh, Jim, I wish he were not so +determined in his opposition to our marriage. Sometimes I feel that I am +acting not only like a traitor to him, but to you as well."</p> + +<p>"That you could never be," Jim returned. "However, keep up a good heart, +dear, and you may be sure all will come right in the end. In the future +we shall look back upon these little troubles, and wonder why we so +worried about them."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later they reached the gates leading into the grounds of +the Dower House. Here Jim bade his sweetheart good-bye, and, having +arranged another meeting for the morrow, set off on his walk to his own +home. Immediately upon his arrival there, he made his way, accompanied +by Alice, to the lumber-room on the top story of the house, in which the +boxes he had come down to over-haul had been placed. How well he could +recall the day in Australia on which his father had packed them. Little +had he imagined then that those boxes would next be opened in order to +discover a portrait of the same kind father's murderer. When the first +box had been overhauled it was found to contain unimportant papers +connected with the dead man's various properties in Australia. In the +second was a miscellaneous collection; which consisted of a variety of +account books, with specimens of ore, wool, and other products of the +Island Continent. It was not until they had opened the third box that +they began to think they were on the right track. In this were a few +engravings, perhaps half-a-dozen sketch books, filled with pen-and-ink +drawings by Jim's mother, upwards of a hundred novels between thirty and +forty years old, and at the bottom a large album filled with +photographs, each of which looked out upon a forgetful world from a +floral setting. Jim took it to a window, where he sat down on a box to +examine it.</p> + +<p>To my thinking there is nothing more pathetic than an old album. What +memories it recalls of long-forgotten friends; as one looks upon the +faded pictures, how clearly old scenes rise before one.</p> + +<p>On the first page was a photograph of William Standerton himself, taken +when he was a young man. His coat was of a strange cut, his trousers +were of the peg-top description, while a magnificent pair of "Dundreary" +whiskers decorated his manly face. With a sigh Jim turned the page, to +discover a portrait of his mother, which had been taken on her wedding +day. Then followed a long succession of relatives and personal friends, +each clad in the same fashion, and nearly all taken in the same +constrained attitude. But examine each picture as he would, no +representation of the man he wanted could he discover.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm afraid that's all," said Jim to Alice, as he replaced the +album in his box. "I am disappointed, though I cannot say that I hoped +to be very successful. I shall have to write to Robins and tell him that +I have found nothing."</p> + +<p>Having relocked the boxes, they descended to the hall once more. It was +growing dark, and the dressing bell for dinner had already sounded. They +accordingly separated, and went to their respective rooms. If the truth +must be confessed, Jim was more disappointed by the failure of his +search than he cared to admit.</p> + +<p>"It would have been of inestimable value," he said to himself, "to have +a portrait of Murbridge just now."</p> + +<p>He had tied one end of his tie and was in the act of performing the same +operation with the other, when he stopped and stared at the wall before +him with half-closed eyes.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" he said, "I believe I've hit it. I think I know where there +is a portrait of him."</p> + +<p>He recalled a scene that had taken place at Mudrapilla one winter's +evening, many years before, when Alice and he were children. The lamp +had been lighted, and to amuse them before they went to bed, their +father had promised a prize to whichever one of the pair should +recognise and describe by name the greater number of the portraits in +the very album he had been looking through that afternoon. Jim +remembered how on that occasion he had chanced upon a certain <i>carte de +visite</i>, showing a tall young man leaning, hat in hand, against a marble +pillar.</p> + +<p>"Who is this, father?" He had enquired for he was not able to recognise +the individual portrayed in the picture.</p> + +<p>"Do not ask me," returned his father in a tone that the children never +forgot, so stern and harsh was it. Then, drawing the portrait from the +page, he placed it in the pocket at the end of the book. After that the +game had recommenced, but was played with less vigour than before.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if it could have been the same man?" said Jim. "I cannot +remember father ever having expressed such a dislike for any one else +save Murbridge. After dinner I'll go up and endeavour to find it. It was +there for many years, for I can recall how I used to creep into the +drawing-room and peep at it on the sly, wondering what sort of villainy +he had committed that was sufficient to prevent his name being mentioned +to us. Poor father, it is certain that he was not deceived in him after +all."</p> + +<p>Throughout dinner that evening his mind dwelt on the remembrance of that +scene at Mudrapilla, and as soon as they rose from the table he begged +Alice to excuse him, and went upstairs candle in hand, to recommence his +search. He left his sister in the drawing-room, and the household were +at supper in the servants' hall, so that, so far as the disposition of +the house went, he had all the upper floors to himself. Entering the +lumber-room, he knelt down and unlocked the box which contained the +album. To take the book from the box, and to turn to the pocket in +question was the work of a moment. It had been placed there for the +purpose of holding loose photographs, and it extended the whole width of +the cover. With a half fear that it might not be contained therein, Jim +thrust his hand into the receptacle. He was not to be disappointed this +time, however, for a card was certainly there, and he withdrew it and +held it up to the light with a feeling of triumph. Yes, it was the +picture he remembered, and, better still, <i>it was the portrait of +Richard Murbridge</i>. Though it had been taken when the latter was a young +man, Jim recognised his enemy at once. There was the same crafty look in +his eyes, the same carping expression about the mouth. The man who had +been so nearly knocked down by the cab on the previous evening was the +same person who, in the picture, posed himself so gracefully beside the +marble pillar "This must go to Robins to-night," said Jim, to himself, +"copies of it can then be distributed broadcast. It will be strange +after that if we do not manage to lay hands upon him."</p> + +<p>So saying, he replaced the album in the box, locked the latter, and then +placed the photograph in his pocket, and prepared to return to Alice +once more. As he descended the stairs, he extinguished the candle, for +the hanging lamp in the hall below gave sufficient light for him to see +his way. He was only a few steps from the bottom when a curious noise, +which seemed to come from the gallery above, attracted his attention. It +resembled the creaking of a rusty hinge, more than anything else. He had +just time to wonder what had occasioned it, when, to his amazement, he +became aware of a little black figure passing swiftly along the corridor +in the direction of the further wing. A moment later it had vanished, +and he was left to place such construction as he pleased upon what he +had seen. For a space, during which a man might have counted twenty, he +stood as if rooted to the spot, scarcely able to believe the evidence of +his senses.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! The Black Dwarf," he muttered to himself. "I must find +out what it means."</p> + +<p>Then he set off in pursuit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + + +<p>Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover +some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had +seen. The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion +of the house, was quite empty. Like the remainder of the building, it +was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though +richly carved. He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then +to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an +occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could +hear nothing. At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps +led to the domestic offices below. These he descended, and having +reached the servants' hall, called Wilkins, the butler, to him. When the +latter emerged, Jim led him a short distance down the passage before he +spoke.</p> + +<p>"Wilkins," he said, "do you remember the night when you thought you saw +the Black Dwarf on the landing?"</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget it, sir," the other replied. "I can never go along +that corridor now without a shudder. What about it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Only that I have just seen the figure myself," James replied. "I had +been up to the lumber-room, and was descending the stairs when it passed +along the further side of the gallery, in the direction of the west +corridor. Now, Wilkins, I have come down to find out whether you would +be afraid to come upstairs with me in order that we may discover whether +we can come to any understanding of the mystery?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, of course I will come with you," said Wilkins. "At the same +time I am not going to say that I am not a bit frightened, for it would +not be the truth. However, sir, I am not going to let you go alone."</p> + +<p>"Come along then," said Jim, "and bring a light of some kind with you."</p> + +<p>Wilkins procured a candle, and then they ascended to the floor above. As +they reached the corridor Jim turned and caught a glimpse of his +companion's face. It looked very white and frightened in the dim light.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up, my man," said he; "if it's a ghost it won't hurt you, and if +it's a human being you and I should be more than a match for him."</p> + +<p>As he said this he opened the door of the first room on the corridor. It +was empty, and quite devoid of either the natural or the supernatural.</p> + +<p>"Nothing here," said Jim as they passed out into the passage, and into +the next room. This was used as a sewing-room for the female servants, +and was furnished with a long table and half-a-dozen chairs. They +explored it thoroughly, and having done so, voted it above suspicion. +The next room was a bedroom, and had only been once used since the +Standertons had come into possession of the house. The walls were +panelled, and there was a curious recess on the side opposite the door. +Jim overhauled each panel, and carefully examined the recess, but +without discovering anything suspicious. Thus they proceeded from room +to room searching every nook and cranny, and endeavouring in every +possible way to account for the creaking noise which had first attracted +Jim's attention. The carving of the corridor itself was carefully +examined, every panel of the wainscoting was tested, until at last, +having reached the gallery of the hall, they were compelled to own +themselves beaten. The fact that they had not been able to discover +anything only added to Wilkins' belief in the supernatural agency of the +Dwarf. Jim, however, had the recollection of that creaking hinge, before +mentioned, continually before him. There might be ghostly bodies he +argued, but he had never heard of ghostly hinges.</p> + +<p>"Well, it doesn't appear as if we are destined to capture him to-night," +said Jim, when they had finished their labours. "Now one word of advice; +just keep the fact of his appearance to yourself, Wilkins. If the +maid-servants come to hear of it we shall have no end of trouble."</p> + +<p>Wilkins promised that he would say nothing about the occurrence, and +then returned to the Servants' Hall, leaving Jim standing on the gallery +ruminating on the behaviour of the figure he had seen.</p> + +<p>"One thing is quite certain, and that is the fact that he disappeared in +the corridor," he said to himself reflectingly. "Now I wonder where he +came from?"</p> + +<p>The only room on that side of the gallery then in use was Alice's +bedroom, and to this Jim forthwith made his way. It was a strange scene +that met his eyes when he opened the door. As he had good reason to +know, Alice was always a most methodical and neat young lady; now +everything was in confusion. The drawers of the dressing-table stood +open and their contents were strewed upon the table and the floor. The +writing-table in the further corner of the room was in much the same +condition, while the wardrobe doors were open, and the dresses, which +usually hung upon the pegs, were piled in a heap upon the floor.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious! what on earth does this mean?" said Jim to himself as he +gazed upon the scene of confusion. "Has Alice gone mad, or has the Black +Dwarf been trying to see how untidy he can make the place? She must not +see the room in this condition, or it may frighten her."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he placed the candle upon the table and did his best to +restore something like order. This task accomplished, he went downstairs +to the drawing-room, where he found his sister seated beside the fire +reading.</p> + +<p>"You have been a long time upstairs," she remarked. "What have you been +doing?"</p> + +<p>For a moment Jim had forgotten the important discovery he had made. In +reply he withdrew the photograph from his pocket and handed it to her. +She took it with what was almost a shudder. Somewhat to Jim's surprise, +she returned it without commenting upon it. He replaced it in his +pocket, also without a word, and then stood before the fire, wondering +how he should tell her of what he had seen. He knew it would cause her +some uneasiness, but at the same time he felt that he ought to place her +upon her guard.</p> + +<p>"Alice," he said at last, "do you make a point of locking your bedroom +door at night?"</p> + +<p>"Lock my bedroom door at night?" she repeated. "No! Why should I?"</p> + +<p>"I can't exactly say why you should," he answered, "but I want you to do +so for the future. This is a big, lonely house, and we have to remember +that you and I are the only people on this side. I wish my room were +nearer yours, but as it is not, I think it would be safer if you were to +do as I suggest."</p> + +<p>"But what makes you say this to-night?" she asked. "What is it, or who +is it, you suspect?"</p> + +<p>"I suspect nobody," he replied. "You must not think that. But there are +such people as burglars, and it would only be an ordinary act of common +sense to make yourself safe, while you are permitted the opportunity. +Ever since that terrible night I have been nervous about you, and for +that reason I have decided upon something, which at first you may think +strange."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" she enquired.</p> + +<p>"For the future," he answered, "I intend that Terence shall sleep in the +room next to yours. Then, if any one makes trouble, and help were +needed, we should have a sure ally at our beck and call."</p> + +<p>"But I hope no one will ever attempt to make trouble, as you describe +it," she replied, looking at him with startled eyes as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"I also sincerely hope not," he continued. "Now I am going to see +Terence about the matter."</p> + +<p>He thereupon left her, and went to his study and rang the bell. On the +butler making his appearance he instructed him to bring O'Riley at once. +A few minutes later Terence put in appearance.</p> + +<p>"You had better remain also, Wilkins," said Jim. "Just close the door +behind you, in case any one should chance to overhear us. Now, Terence, +I have something to say to you. Doubtless, since you have been in the +neighbourhood, you have heard certain stories connected with this house. +I suppose you have been told that it has the reputation of being +haunted."</p> + +<p>"Lor' bless you, sir," Terence replied, "I've heard all sorts of yarns +about it. There's folk down in the Township yonder, as would no more +think of coming up here after dark than they would of lying down in +front of the train and having their heads cut off."</p> + +<p>"You're not a believer in ghosts, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Not as I knows on," said Terence candidly. "Though I don't mind sayin' +as how there are things as have never been explained to my satisfaction. +'Twas said, as you may remember, sir, as how there was a ghost of an old +man to be seen, some nights in the year, waiting to get over at the +Thirty-Mile Crossing up the river. Then there was the ghost outside +Sydney, that used to get on the fence beside the road, and ask everybody +who would listen to him to have him properly buried."</p> + +<p>James knew that the man before him was as brave as a lion. He was the +possessor of nerves of iron, and did not know the meaning of the word +fear.</p> + +<p>"Well," he went on after a moment's pause, "the long and the short of +the matter is, Terence, some little time ago a maid-servant saw what she +thought to be the ghost of the Little Black Dwarf up in the gallery +outside. Wilkins here was the next to see it. I thought at the time he +must have been mistaken, but this evening I know that he was not, for I +have seen it myself."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that, sir?" said Terence, while Wilkins plainly showed +the triumph he felt. "And what may he have been like, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I had no time to see that," Jim answered. "He disappeared into the +western corridor almost as soon as I caught sight of him. At the same +time I heard the sound of a creaking hinge. What would you think of +that?"</p> + +<p>"I should say that it was no ghost, sir," said Terence. "I've been told +that this old house is full of secret passages, and, if you ask me, I +should say it was somebody playing a game with you."</p> + +<p>Wilkins stared disdainfully at him. He was quite convinced in his own +mind of the ghostly nature of the mysterious visitor.</p> + +<p>"I am inclined to agree with you, Terence," Jim replied. "The more so +as, since I parted with you, Wilkins, I have made a curious discovery. +At what time was Miss Alice's room made tidy?"</p> + +<p>"While you were at dinner, sir, according to custom," replied the +butler. "I saw the maid coming out just as I left the dining-room, and +she would not be likely to leave it——"</p> + +<p>"To leave it in an untidy state?" Jim put in.</p> + +<p>"Of course she would not, sir," the other replied. "She would hear of it +from the housekeeper if she did. No, she's a nice, steady girl, sir, and +I'm told she does her work to the best of her ability."</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems curious that when I entered the room after you had left +me, I found it in a state of the wildest confusion. The contents of the +drawers of the dressing-table were lying scattered upon the floor, as +were the dresses in the wardrobe. Now I feel quite certain in my own +mind that it was from Miss Alice's bedroom that the figure I saw +emerged. I am equally sure of one thing, and that is that it is no +ghost—at least," and he added this with a smile, "no respectable ghost, +of course, would dream of playing such tricks with a lady's wearing +apparel."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir, whom do you suspect?" Wilkins enquired. "I can assure you +that none of the staff would dare to take such a liberty."</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure of that," Jim replied. "Yet the fact remains that +somebody must be, and is, responsible for it. Now what I intend to do is +to lay myself out to capture that somebody, and to make an example of +him when I have got him. For that reason, Terence, I am going to ask you +to sleep in the house, in the room next to that occupied by Miss Alice. +It will go hard, then, if between us we cannot lay our hands upon the +gentleman, whoever he may be, who is playing these tricks upon us."</p> + +<p>Terence willingly agreed to the proposal, and that night occupied the +room in question. His watchfulness availed him nothing, however, for no +further sign of the Black Dwarf.</p> + +<p>Next morning Robins received the photograph of Murbridge, and from that +moment Jim awaited tidings from him in a fever of expectation. Day after +day, however, went by, and still no good news came to reward his +patience. The only consolation he derived was from sundry mysterious +interviews which he had with Helen in a wooded corner of the park. With +the cunning of lovers they had arranged a plan of meeting, and those +little <i>tête-à-têtes</i> were to Jim as the breath of life. No sooner was +one at an end than he hungered for the next. But he was destined ere +long to receive a fright, such as he had never received in his life +before. Winter was fast approaching, and the afternoons drew in quickly. +When he reached the rendezvous on this occasion it was nearly five +o'clock, and almost dark. Helen had arrived there before him, and he +discovered her pacing up and down the little glade, in what was plainly +an agitated frame of mind.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so thankful that you have come, Jim dear," she said, as she +came forward to greet him. "I have been counting the minutes until I +should see you."</p> + +<p>"Why, what on earth is the matter?" he asked, placing his arm round her +waist and drawing her to him. "You are excited about something. Tell me, +dear, what it is."</p> + +<p>"Something so dreadful that it has upset me terribly," she answered. "I +scarcely know how to tell you."</p> + +<p>He led her towards a fallen tree upon which they had often seated +themselves on previous occasions.</p> + +<p>"Now let me know everything," he said.</p> + +<p>She looked about over her shoulder in a frightened way. Then she began +almost in a whisper:</p> + +<p>"Jim, what I have to say to you concerns my grandfather. I am very much +alarmed about him."</p> + +<p>"I hope he has not been making himself disagreeable to you again on my +account," Jim replied. Then he continued angrily: "If so, I think I +shall have to call upon him."</p> + +<p>"Hush, hush," she said, "do not speak so loud, you do not know who may +be listening."</p> + +<p>"I will be all discretion, dear, now go on!"</p> + +<p>"Well, this afternoon I was playing the piano in the drawing-room when a +message was brought to me by Isaac to the effect that my grandfather +desired to see me in his study at once. I went to him there, to find him +seated at his desk as usual, at work upon his book, the 'History of the +County,' you know. He signed to me to be seated by the fire, and when I +had done so resumed his writing, not putting down his pen until I had +been some minutes in the room. Then he looked at me with a very +thoughtful face, in which I imagined I could detect an expression that I +had never seen there before. Taken altogether, his manner frightened me. +It was so strange, and so utterly unlike himself, that I did not know +what to think. Then he took off his spectacles, and laid them on the +desk before him, remarking as he did so, 'I am given to understand that +you are still in correspondence with Mr. Standerton, Miss?' Then, before +I could answer him, he continued—'and I hear that you have secret +meetings with him in the park. Is this so?' I admitted that it was, and +went on to say that as we were betrothed I could see no harm in it."</p> + +<p>"And what did he say to that?"</p> + +<p>"He rose from his chair and paced the room for a few minutes without +speaking. Then he reseated himself. As he did so he said, 'You are <i>not</i> +engaged, and you know it as well as I do. Never let me hear you say such +a thing again.' After that he began to pace the room once more, and +finally hurled at me such a torrent of abuse that I was almost stupefied +by it. He accused me of the most outrageous things, until I could bear +it no longer, and rose to leave him. By this time, as you may suppose, I +had come to the conclusion that the life of retirement he had lived for +so long had turned his brain. No man could have said the things he did +without his mind being a little affected."</p> + +<p>"My darling, this is more serious than you suppose," said Jim anxiously.</p> + +<p>"But you have not heard the worst yet. It appears that before I had +entered the room he had drawn up a document which he now desired me to +sign. It was to the effect that I would bind myself never to speak to +you or see you again, and contained my promise that I would abandon all +thought of ever becoming your wife. 'Sign that,' he said, 'or the +consequences will be more terrible than you suppose. I am an old man, +but remember even old men can be dangerous at times.' With that he +handed me a pen, but I refused to take it."</p> + +<p>"And then?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you how he looked at me as I said it. I could never have +believed that his face could have undergone such a change. But I still +refused to sign the document, and at last he discovered that it was +impossible to force me to do so. 'Very well,' he said, 'since you +refuse, the consequences of your action be upon your own head.' With +that, opening the door, he bade me leave him. You can imagine for +yourself how thankful I was to do so."</p> + +<p>"And then you came on here," said Jim. "You were most imprudent, dear. +He may try to revenge himself upon you when you return to the house."</p> + +<p>"I don't think he will hurt me," she replied. "I am only afraid for +you."</p> + +<p>"There is no need for fear on my account," Jim answered, with a short +laugh. "I do not think it is possible for the poor old gentleman to do +me any harm. But the idea that you are shut up in the house with a +madman, for a madman he must surely be, frightens me beyond all measure. +You must see for yourself that you have no longer any reason to remain +with him. He has threatened you, and that will be sufficient excuse for +you to leave him."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she answered, shaking her head. "If he is losing his reason, +he should not be blamed, and it is all the more necessary for his +comfort that I shall remain with him. I feel sure I shall be quite safe. +He is angry with me at present, but he will calm down. It is above all +necessary, however, that you should not come near him. It will only +irritate him and make him more excited than before. Think how good he +has been to me, dear, for the past eight years, and try not to be angry +with him."</p> + +<p>"But I am not angry with him," said Jim. "I am only trying to be just. +One thing is quite certain, I shall know no peace as long as you are in +that house with him."</p> + +<p>"Will it satisfy you if I give you my promise that, should he become +very bad, I will at once send for you?"</p> + +<p>"If you persist on going back there, I suppose I must be content with +that promise," Jim replied, but with no good grace. "And now you had +better be running in. If he finds that you are out, he might suppose +that you are with me, and have another paroxysm of rage. In that case +there is no knowing what might happen."</p> + +<p>Helen accordingly bade him good-bye and left him, returning by the path +to the Dower House. Jim watched her until she had disappeared and then +turned homeward with a heavy heart. He felt that he had already enough +anxiety upon his shoulders without this additional burden. He had never +trusted Mr. Bursfield, but he was at a loss to understand his present +malignity, unless it were to be accounted for by the fact that his brain +had given way.</p> + +<p>When he reached his home he let himself in by a side door, and made his +way to the drawing-room, where he found Alice.</p> + +<p>"How late you are," she said. "The gong sounded some time ago. You will +scarcely have time to dress."</p> + +<p>"Then dinner must wait," replied Jim. "Alice, I have bad news for you."</p> + +<p>"Why, what is the matter now?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Jim thereupon proceeded to furnish her with an abstract of his interview +with Helen. She heard him without a word, but it was to be easily seen +how distressed she was for her friend.</p> + +<p>"My dear Jim," she remarked when he had finished, "this is indeed +serious. What do you propose doing?"</p> + +<p>"I scarcely know," Jim answered. "The case is an extremely delicate one. +The old man has taken a decided dislike to me, and if I interfere +between Helen and himself it will have the effect of adding to his wrath +and do more harm than good. And yet I cannot allow her to remain there, +and perhaps run a daily risk of her life."</p> + +<p>"What does she think about it herself?"</p> + +<p>"She has an absurd notion that her duty lies in standing by Bursfield in +his trouble. That, of course, is all very well in its way, but no one +could possibly expect her to turn herself into a keeper for a madman."</p> + +<p>Alice, seeing the tired look on his face, crossed the room and placed +her arm round his neck.</p> + +<p>"Dear old Jim," she said, "you must not worry yourself too much about +it. All will come right in the end. Helen is a girl of very marked +character, and it is quite probable that, under her influence, Mr. +Bursfield's condition may improve. Were I in your place, I should trust +matters to her for a little while. You know that she loves you, and you +may be quite sure that she will keep her promise, and let you know +directly anything is very wrong. But there! what am I thinking about? I +should have told you when you first came in that there is a telegram +waiting for you. Here it is."</p> + +<p>As she spoke she took an envelope from the mantelpiece, and handed it to +him.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who it is from?" he remarked as he tore it open.</p> + +<p>Having withdrawn the contents, he read as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Standerton, Childerbridge.</p> + +<p>"Murbridge found. Come at once.</p> + +<p>"13, Upper Bellington Street. <span class="smcap">Robins.</span>"</p></blockquote> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + + +<p>"Murbridge found," said Jim to himself as he stood holding the telegram +in his hand. "At last, thank goodness, at last!"</p> + +<p>Alice, however, said nothing. She had more of her dead father's +forgiving spirit in her, and she was aware that he would have been the +last to have desired vengeance on his assailant.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean to do?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Catch the 8.40 train up to Town," said Jim, "and see Murbridge as soon +as possible. The telegram says 'Come at once.' That is sufficient +evidence that there is no time to be lost. Perhaps he has been wounded +in a desperate struggle with the police. In fact, there are a thousand +possibilities."</p> + +<p>He gave the necessary instructions for dinner to be hurried forward, his +bag to be packed, and the carriage to be ready immediately afterwards to +take him to the station.</p> + +<p>"You will not mind being left alone for one evening, will you, Alice?" +he said to his sister, half apologetically. "Terence will be in the +house and will keep a careful eye upon you. If you think you will be +lonely I will take you up to Town with me, drop you at the hotel, and +then I will go on to Upper Bellington Street."</p> + +<p>Alice, however, would not hear of this arrangement. She declared that +she would be quite content to remain where she was.</p> + +<p>"Besides," she said, "if any news were to come from Helen, I should be +here to receive it. It would not be wise for both of us to be away at +this juncture."</p> + +<p>Jim thereupon went out and sent word to Terence to come to him in his +study.</p> + +<p>"I am called up to Town to-night, Terence," he said, "and I am going to +leave Miss Alice in your charge. I know she could not be in a better."</p> + +<p>"You may be very sure of that, sir," Terence replied; "I wouldn't stand +by and see anything happen to Miss Alice, and I think she knows it."</p> + +<p>"I am sure she does," Jim returned, and then went on to explain the +reason for the journey he was about to undertake.</p> + +<p>An hour and a-half later he was seated in a railway carriage and being +whirled along towards London at something like fifty miles an hour. If +ever a young man in this world was furnished with material for thought, +James Standerton that evening was that one. There was his errand to +London in the first place to be considered, the singular behaviour of +the Black Dwarf a few nights before for another, and the declaration +that Helen had made to him that afternoon for a third. In the light of +this last catastrophe the finding of the man whom he felt sure was his +father's murderer sank into comparative insignificance.</p> + +<p>What if the madman should wreak his vengeance upon her? What if in a +sudden fit of fury he should drive her from his house? If the latter +were to come to pass, however, he felt certain that the place she would +fly to would be the Manor House, and in that case Alice would take her +in and Terence would see that she was safe from the old man's fury.</p> + +<p>It was nearly eleven o'clock when he reached Paddington. Hailing a cab, +he bade the man drive him first to his hotel, where he engaged his usual +room. When he had consulted a directory, he made his way into the street +again. His cabman, whom he had told to wait, professed to be familiar +with Upper Bellington Street, but later confessed his entire ignorance +of its locality. Jim set him right, and then, taking his place in the +cab, bade him drive him thither with all speed. Once more they set off, +down Piccadilly, through Leicester Square, and so by way of Long Acre +into Holborn. Then the route became somewhat more complicated. Through +street after street they passed until Jim lost all idea of the direction +in which they were proceeding. Some of the streets were broad and +stately, others squalid and dejected, some wood paved, others +cobble-stones, in which the rain that had fallen an hour previous stood +in filthy puddles.</p> + +<p>How long they were driving, Jim had no sort of idea, nor could he have +told you in what portion of the town he was then in. At last however +they entered a street which appeared to have no ending. It was illumined +by flaring lamps from coster barrows, drawn up beside the pavement, +while the night was made hideous by the raucous cries of the vendors of +winkles baked potatoes and roasted chestnuts.</p> + +<p>"This is Upper Bellington Street, sir," said the cabman, through the +shutter. "At what number shall I pull up?"</p> + +<p>"Thirteen," Jim replied; "but you will never be able to find it in this +crowd. Put me down anywhere here, and I'll look for it myself."</p> + +<p>The cabman did as he was directed, and presently Jim found himself +making his way along the greasy pavement—which even at that late hour +was crowded with pedestrians—in search of the number in question. It +was as miserable an evening as ever he could remember. A thin drizzle +was falling; the sights and sounds around him were sordid and depressing +in the extreme; while the very errand that had brought him to that +neighbourhood was of a kind calculated to lower the spirits of the +average man to below the mental zero.</p> + +<p>After an examination of the numbers of the various houses and shops in +the vicinity, he came to the conclusion that Thirteen must be situated +at the further end of the street. This proved to be the case. When he +reached it, he knocked upon the grimy door, which was immediately opened +to him by a police officer.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" asked that official.</p> + +<p>"James Standerton," Jim replied. "I received a telegram from +Detective-sergeant Robins this evening asking me to come up."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, sir," the man answered. "Come in; we have been +expecting you this hour or more."</p> + +<p>"But how is it your prisoner is here, and not at the police station?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt if he'll ever trouble any police station again," returned the +officer. "He's just about done for. In fact, I shouldn't be surprised if +he wasn't dead by now."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with him?"</p> + +<p>"Pneumonia, sir, the doctor says. He says he can't last out the night."</p> + +<p>At that moment Robins himself appeared at the head of the dirty stairs +that descended to the hall, and invited him to ascend. Jim accordingly +did so.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Mr. Standerton," he said, "I regret having to inform you +that we have caught our bird too late. We discovered him at midday, and +he was then at the point of death. He was too ill to be moved, and as he +had no one to look after him, we got a doctor and a nurse in at once. +But I fear it is a hopeless case."</p> + +<p>"Will it be possible for me to see him, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, sir; he's been calling for you ever since we found him, so I +took the liberty of telegraphing to you to come up."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you did," said Jim. "There are some questions I must put to +him."</p> + +<p>"In that case, please step this way, sir, and I'll speak to the doctor. +You shall not be kept waiting any longer than I can help."</p> + +<p>He led Jim along the landing, then opened a door and disappeared into a +room at the further end. While he was absent Jim looked about him and +took stock of his position. The small gas-jet that lit up the well of +the staircase, served to show the dirty walls in all their dreariness. +The sound of voices reached him from above and below, while the cries of +the hawkers in the street came faintly in and added to the general +squalor. Then as he stood there he recalled that first meeting with +Murbridge beside the Darling River. In his mind's eye he saw the evening +sun illumining the gums on the opposite bank, the soft breeze ruffling +the surface of the river, an old pelican fishing for his evening meal in +the back-water, and lastly, Richard Murbridge stretched out beside his +newly-lighted fire. This would be their third meeting; and in what a +place, and under what terribly changed circumstances! He was indulging +in this reverie when the door opened once more, and a small, grey-haired +man emerged.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, my dear sir," he said, "I understand that you're Mr. +Standerton, the son of the man the poor wretch inside is suspected of +having murdered. However, they have captured him too late."</p> + +<p>"You mean, I suppose, that he will not live?" said Jim, interrogatively.</p> + +<p>"If he sees the light of morning I shall be very much surprised," said +the doctor; "in point of fact he is sinking fast. You wish to see him, +do you not?"</p> + +<p>"I do," said Jim. "There is some mystery connected with him that I am +very desirous of clearing up."</p> + +<p>"I see," said the medico, "and in that case I presume that you would +wish to see him alone?"</p> + +<p>"If you can permit it," Jim replied.</p> + +<p>"I think it might be managed," answered the other. "But if you will stay +here for a moment I will let you know."</p> + +<p>He returned to the room, and when he stood before Jim once more, invited +him to follow him. He did so, to find himself in a small apartment, some +ten feet long by eight feet wide. It was uncarpeted, and its furniture +consisted of a broken chair, a box on which stood an enamelled basin, +and a bed which was covered with frowsy blankets. On this bed lay a man +whom, in spite the change that had come over him, Jim recognised at once +as being Richard Murbridge. A nurse was standing beside him, and Robins +was at the foot of the bed.</p> + +<p>"Do not make the interview any longer than you can help," whispered the +doctor, and then beckoned to the detective and the nurse to leave the +room with him. They did so, and the door closed behind them. Then Jim +went forward and seated himself upon the chair by the bedside of the +dying man. The latter looked up at him with a scowl.</p> + +<p>"So they sent for you after all?" he said in a voice that was little +above a whisper. "They even took that trouble?"</p> + +<p>"I received the message just before dinner, and came away immediately +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"Left your luxurious mansion to visit Upper Bellington Street? How +self-denying of you! Good Lord, to think that it should be my luck to +die in such a hole as this! I suppose you know that I <i>am</i> dying?"</p> + +<p>"I have been informed that your recovery is unlikely," Jim replied. +"That fact made me doubly anxious to speak to you."</p> + +<p>There was a little pause, during which Murbridge watched him intently.</p> + +<p>"You mean about the murder, I suppose?" he whispered.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" Jim answered. "God forgive me for feeling revengeful at such a +moment, but you took from me and my sister the kindest and best father +that man ever had."</p> + +<p>"You still think that it was I who committed the murder, then?"</p> + +<p>"I am certain of it," Jim answered. "You were at the house that night; +you cherished a deadly hatred against my father; you vowed that you +would be even with him, happen what might, and you ran away from +Childerbridge immediately afterwards. Surely those facts are black +enough to convict any man?"</p> + +<p>"They would have gone some way with a Jury, I have no doubt," the other +replied. "But, as a matter of fact, I did <i>not</i> commit the murder. +Bitterly as I hated your father, I am not responsible for his death."</p> + +<p>Jim looked at him incredulously.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I can see you do not believe me. Now, listen, James Standerton, and +pay attention to what I say, for I shan't be able to say it again. I've +been a pretty tough sort of customer all my life. There have not been +many villainies I haven't committed, and still fewer that I wouldn't +have committed if they tended to my advantage. The record I shall carry +aloft with me will not bear much looking into. But on the word of a +dying man, may"—(here he swore an awful oath which I feel would be +better not set down)—"if I am not absolutely guiltless of your father's +death. Will you believe me now?"</p> + +<p>But still Jim looked incredulous.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I can see that you still doubt me. How can I convince you? Think +for a moment, what have I to gain or lose by saying such a thing? I +shall be gone hence in a few hours, perhaps minutes. Even if I were the +murderer, the police could not take me now. With old Bony behind me I +can laugh at them and at you."</p> + +<p>"But why did you run away if you were innocent?"</p> + +<p>"Because I saw what a hole I had got myself into. You remember that I +went up to the house and had an interview with your father? He turned me +out, and in the hearing of yourself and the servant I vowed to be even +with him. That vow I certainly should have kept, had not somebody else +that night stepped in and took the case out of my hands. When I left the +house, I went for a long walk. I knew my own temper, and also that I +dared not trust myself with human beings just then. Good heavens, man! +You don't know how desperate I was. I had followed your father to +England, and the voyage had taken nearly all my money. What little was +left I spent in liquor, and then went down to Childerbridge to screw +more from your father. He refused point blank to help me except on +certain conditions, which I would not comply with. Knowing his +stubbornness of old, I cleared out of Childerbridge by the first train, +vowing that I would be even with him by some means. Then in an evening +paper I saw that he had been murdered. In a flash I realised my +position, and saw that if I was not very careful I should find myself in +Queer Street. Then came your reward, and from that moment I hid myself +like a 'possum in a gum log. I didn't care very much about my miserable +neck, but—but—well, you see, strange though it may seem, I was a +gentleman once."</p> + +<p>Jim did not know what to say. If this man's tale were true, and it bore +the impression of truth, then they had been on a false scent from the +first.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what your mother would have said had she been alive to see it +all," said Murbridge, after a pause. "Good Lord, to think that Jane +Standerton's brother should end his days in a hole like this."</p> + +<p>"What?" cried Jim, scarcely believing that he had heard aright. "Whose +brother did you say?"</p> + +<p>"Why, your own mother's to be sure," returned Murbridge. "Do you mean to +say that your father never told you after all?"</p> + +<p>"Can such a thing be possible?" Jim continued, in an awed voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I am Jane Standerton's brother sure enough. If you look in that +old bag under the bed, you will find evidence enough to convince you of +that fact. My real name is Richard McCalmont, though you wouldn't think +it to look at me, would you? That was how I got my hold upon your +father, don't you see? I was convicted of forgery at the age of +twenty-one"—(the man spoke as if he were proud of it)—"and did my +three years. For a while after that I went straight, but at twenty-six +there was another little mistake, with the details of which I will not +trouble you, but which was sufficient, nevertheless, to again cause me +to spend some years in durance vile. At the age of thirty-two they tried +to convict me of an Insurance Fraud, combined with a suspicion of +murder. They would have done so but for certain technicalities that were +brought forward by my Counsel, who, by the way, was employed by your +father. You see I am perfectly candid with you."</p> + +<p>"And you are my mother's brother?" said Jim slowly, as if he were still +trying to believe it.</p> + +<p>"And your father's brother-in-law, too. And your uncle. Don't forget +that, James," said the other. "Lord! How your father hated me! On +certain occasions I made it my custom to call upon him in a friendly +way. At the end of my last term of exile, I found that my sister was +dead, and that you and Alice were growing up. It was my desire to play +the part of the kindly uncle. But your father made himself +objectionable, and vowed that if ever I dared to betray my relationship +to you he would cut off supplies. As there was never a time in my life +in which I did not stand in need of money, I was perforce compelled to +deprive you of a life's history that would certainly have proved +interesting, if not instructive, to you. However, I now have the +satisfaction of knowing that I shall not die without having accomplished +that task."</p> + +<p>Here he was interrupted by a violent fit of coughing, which left him +speechless for upwards of a minute. As for Jim, he was thinking of the +mental agony his father must have suffered, year after year, with this +despicable creature, the brother of the woman he loved so fondly, +continually holding this threat over his children's heads.</p> + +<p>"God help you for a miserable man," he muttered at last. "Why didn't my +poor father tell me this before? He might have known that this would not +have made the least difference."</p> + +<p>"He was too proud," replied the other, when he recovered his speech. +"Well, it doesn't matter much now, and in a little while it will matter +still less. The police and I have been on the most friendly terms all +our lives, and it gives one a homely sort of feeling to know that even +my last moments will be watched over by their tender care."</p> + +<p>He tried to laugh at his own hideous joke, but the attempt was a +failure.</p> + +<p>"For my mother's sake, is there anything I can do for you?" Jim +enquired, drawing a little closer to the bed.</p> + +<p>The other only shook his head. The effort he had made to talk had proved +too much for him, and had materially hastened the end.</p> + +<p>Seeing that his condition was growing desperate, Jim rose and went in +search of the doctor. He found him in an apartment close at hand.</p> + +<p>"I believe he is sinking fast," said Jim. "I think you had better go to +him."</p> + +<p>The doctor accordingly returned to the sick-room, leaving Jim alone with +Robins.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," asked the latter, "did he confess?"</p> + +<p>"We have been deceived," said Jim. "The man is as innocent of the crime +as I am. I am convinced of that!"</p> + +<p>"God bless my soul, you don't mean to say so," said the astonished +detective, and asked the same questions Jim had put to the dying man. +Jim answered them as the other had done.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is the most extraordinary case I have ever had to do with," +said Robins. "If Murbridge had wanted to place a halter round his neck +he could not have gone to work in a better fashion. If he is not the +man, then where are we to look for the real murderer?"</p> + +<p>"Goodness only knows," replied Jim. "The case is now shrouded in even +greater mystery than before."</p> + +<p>Half an hour went by, then an hour, and still they waited. At two +o'clock the doctor rejoined them.</p> + +<p>"It is all over," he said solemnly. "He is dead."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + + +<p>Between the time of Murbridge's funeral and his own arrival at +Childerbridge, Jim had plenty of leisure to consider his position, and +to make up his mind as to how much he should let Alice know of the +other's story.</p> + +<p>After mature consideration, he decided that he had better tell her +everything. Yet it had been such a painful shock to himself that he +could well understand how it would affect her.</p> + +<p>It was mid-morning when he arrived at Childerbridge, and Alice had +walked down to the gates to meet him. He alighted from the carriage on +seeing her, and they strolled across the park together.</p> + +<p>"I have been so anxious to hear from you," she said, linking her arm +through her brother's. "What have you to tell me? Did you find that +wretched man?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I found him," he answered, "and he was dying."</p> + +<p>She paused for a moment before she put the next question.</p> + +<p>"And did he confess?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Jim. "I firmly believe I wronged him in suspecting him of—of +what happened. But I made another discovery, and one, I fear, that will +cause you some astonishment and not a little pain. I learnt from him +that his name was not Murbridge, but McCalmont."</p> + +<p>"McCalmont?" she echoed, as if she did not understand. "But that was our +mother's maiden name."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Jim, "and he was her brother!"</p> + +<p>Alice looked at him in horrified surprise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jim," she answered, "surely such a thing cannot be possible?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it is only too true," Jim replied. "His story was most +circumstantial. He was our mother's youngest brother, and was, I am very +much afraid, a disgrace to the family."</p> + +<p>"But if he had been our mother's brother, why did he entertain such a +deadly hatred for our father?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"For the simple reason that father had been successful, while he had +been the reverse," Jim replied. "I rather fancy the poor old governor +had helped him out of one or two of his worst scrapes, and such being +the perverse nature of mankind, he hated him for the very benefits he +had received from him."</p> + +<p>They walked some distance in silence.</p> + +<p>"Poor, wretched man," said Alice at last. "Oh, Jim, you don't know how +thankful I am that he was not the author of that terrible crime. And +now, before we say anything further, there's one thing I must talk to +you about."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"It is about Helen," she answered. "I met her in the village this +morning. I don't want to frighten you, but she is looking very ill. She +seems to have come to look years older within the last few days. There +is a frightened expression on her face that haunts me even now."</p> + +<p>Jim was troubled. This was bad news indeed.</p> + +<p>"Did she give you any reason for it?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"She tried to account for it by saying that her grandfather had not been +at all well lately, and that she had had rather a trying time with him."</p> + +<p>"Alice," said Jim, after the short pause that ensued, "I have come to +the conclusion that old Bursfield is insane. Helen did not tell you, I +suppose, that he uttered all sorts of threats against me the other day. +For some reason or another he has taken an intense dislike to me."</p> + +<p>"She said nothing about it," Alice answered. "I am sorry for her. What +is best to be done, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"It is difficult to say," Jim answered. "One thing is quite certain. She +cannot go on living with him if he is to continue in this strain. Under +such circumstances there is a limit even to a woman's fidelity. I must +endeavour to see her as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"Would it do for me to go and see her, do you think?" asked Alice. "I +should then be able to tell you something definite about Mr. Bursfield's +condition."</p> + +<p>Jim shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "such a thing would not be wise. I must think the matter +over and see what is best to be done."</p> + +<p>By the time he reached the house he had arrived at a conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember, Alice," he said, "that clever young doctor that we met +at the Caltrops on the evening that we dined with them, soon after our +arrival in England? His name was Weston. Mrs. Caltrop declared that, +before many years were past, he would be a recognised authority on +mental diseases."</p> + +<p>"I remember him quite well," Alice answered. "He took me in to dinner, +and was so interested in Australia. He had a brother in Sydney, I think. +What about him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I have made up my mind to telegraph to Mrs. Caltrop for his +address, and having got it, to wire and ask him to come down and see Mr. +Bursfield. He would be able to tell me then whether or not it is safe +for Helen to go on living with him. If he says not, then she must leave +him at once."</p> + +<p>"I should think it would be a very good plan, provided always that you +can get Mr. Bursfield to see him. You will find that the difficulty."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Jim answered. "I have a scheme that I think will answer. +At any rate we will try it."</p> + +<p>A telegram was accordingly despatched to Mrs. Caltrop, asking her to +forward the address of the doctor in question. This done, Jim sent for +Terence.</p> + +<p>"Well, Terence," he said, when the latter made his appearance, "any sign +of the Black Dwarf during my absence?"</p> + +<p>"Never a one, sir," Terence replied. "I kept my eyes and ears open all +night, and waited about after dark, but there's not been so much as a +mouse stirring."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear it," Jim remarked, and then gave Terence a brief +description of his visit to London, and of what he had discovered there.</p> + +<p>"Then if it wasn't he as did it," said Terence, "who could it have +been?"</p> + +<p>Before he answered, Jim looked at the door, as if to make sure that it +was closed.</p> + +<p>"Terence," he said, "I am gradually coming to the conclusion that the +Black Dwarf, whoever he may be, was responsible for it."</p> + +<p>"I've thought of that myself, sir," Terence replied.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, he was seen by one of the maid-servants in the +gallery on the night that my father was murdered."</p> + +<p>"Don't they say, sir, as how another gentleman was murdered in the same +way in this house?"</p> + +<p>"I believe there is some legend to that effect," said Jim, "but how true +it is, I cannot say. I don't think, however, we need take that +circumstance into consideration."</p> + +<p>"Then what are we to do, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Watch and wait until we catch him," Jim replied. "When we've done that +we shall be satisfied whether he is flesh or blood or not, and if he is, +by what right he dares to enter my house."</p> + +<p>There was a lengthy pause, then with a diffidence that was somewhat +unusual with him, Terence said:</p> + +<p>"You'll excuse me, sir, I hope, for saying such a thing, but between you +and me, sir, I cannot help thinking that we was happier at Mudrapilla."</p> + +<p>Jim heaved a heavy sigh. A longing to be back in the old home, and to be +engaged in the pursuits he had been brought up to from a boy, had been +with him a great deal of late.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said. "I think we were happier at Gundawurra. I must go back +there soon, Terence, if only for a whiff of Bush air. I am very much +afraid that playing the fine gentleman in England does not suit me."</p> + +<p>When the other had left the room, Jim lay back in his chair and fell +into a reverie. He closed his eyes, and was transported back to the old +home where he had been born, and where he had spent his happiest days. +How sweet it would be to settle down there some day, with Helen as his +wife. He tried hard to realise the day's work upon the run; the +home-coming at night, to find Helen at the gate waiting for him; the +evenings spent in the cool verandah, with the moon rising above the +river timber. Then he came back to the very real anxieties of the +present. An hour later a message came from Mrs. Caltrop. It was as +follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Doctor Weston, Harley Street."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Whereupon he took another telegraph form and wired to the doctor to the +effect that he would be grateful if he could make it convenient to +travel down to Childerbridge that afternoon. In order that the latter +might understand from whom the message emanated, he added the words, +"Met you at dinner at Mrs. Caltrop's." Luncheon was scarcely finished +before a message arrived from the doctor saying that he would endeavour +to be at Childerbridge at four o'clock. Accordingly at half-past three +Jim drove to the railway station to await his coming. Punctual to the +moment the train steamed into the station, and he looked about among the +passengers for the man he wanted.</p> + +<p>Presently he descried him coming along the platform—a tall, +good-looking man, resembling a soldier more than a Harley Street +physician.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Standerton, I believe," he said as he approached Jim.</p> + +<p>"And you are Doctor Weston, of course," the latter answered with a +smile.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the doctor, "I will commence, Mr. Standerton, by saying that +it is absolutely necessary that I should catch the six o'clock train +back to London."</p> + +<p>"I will arrange that you do so," Jim replied, and then the doctor +surrendered his ticket and they strolled out of the station. "Now, +perhaps, I had better tell you my reasons for asking you to come down +to-day. Shall we walk a little way along the road. I have no desire to +be overheard. I will now make you acquainted with the facts of the case, +in order that you may go direct to the house of the gentleman I want you +to see."</p> + +<p>"He is not a member of your own family, then?" the doctor enquired.</p> + +<p>"No, he is no sort of relation. In fact, I had not seen him until a few +months ago."</p> + +<p>They paused beside a gate and faced each other.</p> + +<p>"I gather that it is rather an unusual case?" the doctor remarked.</p> + +<p>"A very unusual one," Jim replied. "The matter stands in this way. I am +engaged to a young lady who is the adopted granddaughter of the +gentleman in question."</p> + +<p>The doctor nodded, but said nothing. He listened attentively, while Jim +told his tale, explained his fears for Helen's safety, and described the +threats the old gentleman had made use of concerning himself.</p> + +<p>When he had finished Dr. Weston drew some lines on the ground with the +point of his umbrella, as if he were working out a difficult +calculation.</p> + +<p>"This is certainly a singular case, Mr. Standerton," he said at last. +"You are not connected with this gentleman in any way, and he, not +approving of your marriage with his granddaughter, has forbidden you his +house. The young lady's only reason for believing him to be a little +weak in his intellect is his treatment of you. I really do not know +whether, under the circumstances, I should be justified in seeing him."</p> + +<p>Jim's heart sank. He had not looked at the matter from this point of +view. Observing his disappointment, the doctor smiled.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless," he continued, "I will see him, provided you will give me +your promise that my report shall be considered a purely confidential +one."</p> + +<p>"Am I to understand that I am not to acquaint Miss Decie or my sister +with your decision?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, I will allow you to tell them, and equally, of course, +provided it goes no further."</p> + +<p>"In that case I will give you my promise most willingly," said Jim.</p> + +<p>"And now the question comes as to how I can obtain my interview with +him."</p> + +<p>"I have thought out a plan that should enable you to do that," Jim +replied. "I happen to know that for a long time past he has been engaged +in writing a history of the neighbourhood, and my house in particular +which at one time was the property of his family."</p> + +<p>"Quite so; and the ruins a mile or two back, what are they called?"</p> + +<p>"Clevedon Castle," Jim answered. "I believe it was destroyed by +Cromwell."</p> + +<p>"That should answer my purpose. And now with your permission I will +drive to his house—not in your carriage, but in a cab. I shall see you +afterwards, I presume?"</p> + +<p>"I will wait for you here, or at my own house, whichever you please," +said Jim.</p> + +<p>"Your house, I think, would be better," the doctor answered. "I will +drive there directly I leave Mr.——. By-the-way, you have not told me +his name or given me his address."</p> + +<p>Jim furnished him with both, and then the doctor hailed a fly and drove +away.</p> + +<p>It was nearly half-past five before Jim was informed by Wilkins that Dr. +Weston had called, and that he had been shown to the study.</p> + +<p>He immediately proceeded thither, to find the doctor sitting before the +fire.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Standerton," he began, "I have seen Mr. Bursfield, and have +had rather a curious interview with him."</p> + +<p>"And what decision have you come to?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think your supposition is correct. Not to be technical, I might +say that he is not really responsible for his actions. While we +discussed archæology, and the history of the neighbourhood, he was +rational enough, but when I chanced to touch upon this house, and your +connection with it, his whole demeanour changed. If I were in your place +I should avoid him as much as possible, for there can be no doubt that +he would do you a mischief if he could. As for Miss Decie, I would not +advise you to persuade her to leave him, at least not at present. It +would in all probability immediately produce unfavourable results, and +in so doing might snap the frail link that still connects him with +Sanity. The influence she exerts over him, where you are not concerned, +is undoubtedly a beneficial one."</p> + +<p>"Am I to consider that she is safe with him?"</p> + +<p>"I should say so," the doctor replied. "Of course, if he has many more +of these paroxysms of rage it might be necessary for her to leave him. +But she must be the best judge of that. Doubtless you can arrange that +with her. And now I must be getting back to the railway station; if I +wish to catch my train I have not much time to lose."</p> + +<p>"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Doctor Weston," said Jim gratefully. +"I cannot say that you have made my mind easier, but you have at least +let me know exactly how matters stand with Mr. Bursfield."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to have been of service," said the doctor.</p> + +<p>James handed him an envelope containing his fee, and escorted him to the +door. When he had seen him depart he returned to the drawing-room and +communicated his intelligence to his sister.</p> + +<p>"Poor Helen," said Alice, "it is no wonder that she looks anxious. What +will you do now, Jim?"</p> + +<p>"I must take the night to think the matter over," he answered. "Since +the old man is undoubtedly mad, and not only mad, but dangerously so, I +cannot bear to contemplate her remaining with him, and yet I have no +desire to hasten the crisis."</p> + +<p>All the evening Jim brooded over the matter, imagining all sorts of +dangers for the woman he loved. At last the time came for them to retire +to rest. He was in the act of lighting Alice's candle in the hall, when +the sound of steps on the gravel path outside attracted his attention.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" cried Jim, "who on earth can it be at this time of the +night?"</p> + +<p>So saying, he hastened to the door. The lights from the hall shone on +the steps, and showed him Helen Decie, standing, bareheaded, before him. +For a moment the shock at seeing her there at such an hour, and in such +a plight, deprived him of speech. Alice was the first to break the +silence.</p> + +<p>"Helen, my dear girl," she cried, "what does this mean?"</p> + +<p>Then Helen stepped into the hall, and James closed the door behind her. +He had scarcely done so, before she gave a little cry and fell to the +floor in a dead faint. Picking her up, Jim carried her to the big settee +in the centre.</p> + +<p>"My poor girl," he cried, "what has he done to you?" Then, turning to +Alice, he added, "What can have happened?"</p> + +<p>She did not answer him, but sped upstairs to her bedroom, to presently +return with a bottle of smelling salts. Under their restorative +influence, consciousness very soon returned, and Helen looked about her +in a dazed fashion, as if she could not realise where she was.</p> + +<p>"Do you feel well enough to tell what has taken place, dear?" Jim asked, +when she had so far recovered as to be able to sit up. "What has brought +you here bareheaded at this time of night?"</p> + +<p>"My grandfather has turned me out of his house," she answered +falteringly.</p> + +<p>"Turned you out of the house?" repeated both Jim and Alice together. +Then Alice added: "Surely not? He ought to be turned out himself."</p> + +<p>"You must not be angry with him," said Helen. "I really don't think he +knows what he is doing."</p> + +<p>"But this is an unheard-of thing," Jim said angrily. "He must have taken +leave of his senses."</p> + +<p>"He accused me of being in league with you to poison him, and bade me +come to an instant decision as to whether I would give you up or leave +the house."</p> + +<p>"And my noble girl refused to give me up?" said James, kissing her hand.</p> + +<p>"Helen acted nobly," said Alice. "Never mind, dear, you know where your +real friends are, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"But whatever shall I do?" the girl put in. "He bade me leave the house +and never come back again."</p> + +<p>"We will arrange all that to-morrow," Jim replied. "For to-night, Alice +will take care of you. Do not worry, dear heart, all will come right in +the end."</p> + +<p>Then he proceeded to inform her of Dr. Weston's visit that afternoon, +and of the report that gentleman had given of the old gentleman's mental +condition.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell why," she said, "but I had some sort of suspicion that he +came for that purpose. Poor grandfather, how sad it is to think of his +being like this. Since he does not know what he is doing, we should not +be angry with him for acting as he did."</p> + +<p>At this juncture Alice departed to make arrangements for her friend's +comfort for the night.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jim dear, what do you think will become of me?" Helen asked. "Think +for me, for I cannot think for myself."</p> + +<p>"I think I can hazard a very good guess what your fate will be," said +Jim. "To-morrow morning I shall go up to London to obtain a special +license, and the day after you shall become my wife."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + + +<p>Unexpected as the events of the evening had been, Jim Standerton, as he +stood in his bedroom before retiring to rest, could not declare that he +altogether regretted the turn they had taken. On the morrow he would go +to London, and afterwards, armed with the Law's authority, he would make +Helen Decie his wife without delay. From that moment Mr. Bursfield might +do his worst. Before retiring to his room he had visited Terence, and +had received from him a positive assurance that so far all was right for +the night. Knowing that he might trust the latter implicitly, he had +given him an account of what had happened that evening.</p> + +<p>"The sooner, sir, they put that old man under lock and key the better it +will be for everybody," said Terence. "Let him just come playing his +little game round here, and he'll have me on his track like a Nyall +blackfellow."</p> + +<p>Half-an-hour later, Jim was in bed and asleep, dreaming that he was back +in the Bush once more, and that he and Terence were chasing wild horses +through a mountain range, and that, on the foremost horse, Helen was +seated, clinging to his mane, as if for dear life. He was galloping +after her as fast as his horse could carry him, when suddenly a hand +clutched him by the throat, and tried to lift him out of the saddle.</p> + +<p>At that moment, however, he woke to find that this was no dream, but the +most horrible reality he had ever known in his life. Bony fingers were +clutching tightly at his windpipe, rendering it impossible for him to +breathe. He endeavoured to rise and to seize his assailant, whoever he +might be, and throw him off. But his efforts were unavailing. Still +those talon-like fingers retained their hold; try as he would he could +not weaken their terrible grip. Little by little he felt himself +sinking. The room was in such total darkness that it was impossible to +discover whom his antagonist might be. In the last extremity of his +agony he rolled from the bed and lay helpless upon the floor, entangled +in the clothes. With the fall, his assailant lost his grip of his +throat. Then something must have startled him, for a moment later the +door opened, and he was gone. Disengaging himself as quickly as possible +from the bed-clothes, Jim staggered to his feet, half stunned by the +fall and the terrific conflict in which he had so lately been engaged. +As soon as he recovered he lit a candle, hastened to the door, opened it +and passed out into the gallery. No one was to be seen there, but he had +not gone many paces before he heard the same clicking noise that had +arrested his attention on the first occasion of his seeing the Black +Dwarf. Making his way round the gallery, he reached the room occupied by +Terence. The door stood ajar, and from the noises that proceeded from +within, he gathered that his trusty servant was not only in bed, but +fast asleep. He crossed and shook him by the shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Get up, Terence," he whispered softly. "Get up at once."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the half-awakened man. "Why, it's you, sir. +Is there anything wrong?"</p> + +<p>"I should rather think so," Jim replied. "Look at my throat and see if +you can detect any marks upon it."</p> + +<p>The other held up the candle as he was directed. On either side of his +throat were a number of bruises and scratches, and some of the latter +were bleeding profusely.</p> + +<p>"My gracious, sir!" said Terence; "it looks as if somebody had been +trying to strangle you."</p> + +<p>"You've hit it exactly," Jim replied. "Good heavens! Terence, I've been +nearly murdered. You've no idea what a fight of it I've had in the dark. +The man, whoever he was, finding that he couldn't finish me, bolted, and +has gone down some secret passage in the gallery. Terence, we must catch +him somehow."</p> + +<p>Terence sprang out of bed, and while he was dressing, Jim hastened back +to his room and also donned some clothes. This done, he returned to +Terence's bedroom, to discover that worthy in the act of lacing his +boots.</p> + +<p>"It's a funny business this, sir!" Terence remarked. "I wish I had been +behind that gentleman when he was trying to settle you. I'd have given +him one for his precious nob, ghost or no ghost."</p> + +<p>"I expect you would. Now be as quick as you can, for there is not a +moment to lose if we want to catch him."</p> + +<p>Terence immediately announced himself as ready, and then, taking their +candles, they set off round the gallery towards the corridor where Jim +felt sure his mysterious assailant had disappeared. Inspection showed +them that the door of the stairs at the further end, leading down to the +domestic offices, was securely fastened on the other side. Having made +sure of this, they tried, as on a previous occasion, the various rooms +along the corridor, searching each one most carefully. But no success +attended their efforts.</p> + +<p>"It is quite certain that he is not in any of these rooms," said Jim. +"Now what we have to do is to discover the entrance to that secret +passage. I shall not rest content until we have found that."</p> + +<p>They accordingly returned to the corridor, where they set to work once +more to over-haul the wainscotting. Beginning at one end, they worked to +the other; their efforts, however, met with no more success than they +had done in the searching of the rooms. Every panel of the wainscotting +seemed as hollow as its fellow—each projection as firmly secured.</p> + +<p>"And yet I am as certain that it is somewhere about here that he +disappeared," said Jim.</p> + +<p>At the entrance to the corridor from the gallery were two square pillars +elaborately carved with fruit. Jim had explored his side, having pressed +and pulled every pear and apple, with the usual result. Suddenly Terence +touched him on the arm.</p> + +<p>"Look here, sir," he whispered, "what's this? It seems to me that this +grape is not very firm."</p> + +<p>Jim turned to him and knelt down beside the bunch of fruit indicated. It +certainly did seem as if the lowest grape of the bunch were loose. It +shook under his finger, and yet showed no sign of coming off.</p> + +<p>"I believe we've got it at last," he said, pressing upon the grape, as +he spoke, with all his strength. Yet it did not move. He endeavoured to +push it in the direction of the gallery, but still it remained +immovable. He tried forcing it from him towards the corridor, when to +his amazement it left its place and moved half an inch or so away. As it +did so there was a heavy creaking noise, and a portion of the panelling +of the corridor, some three feet in width and six feet high, swung +inwards, disclosing a black cavity, which might either have been a well +or a staircase. Both men drew back in astonishment, half expecting that +Jim's assailant, if he were concealed within, would dash out upon them.</p> + +<p>"We've found the place at last," said Jim. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, we +shall be able to solve the mystery of the famous Childerbridge ghosts. +Hold your candle aloft, Terence, so that we can see what we are doing, +and we'll descend and discover where it leads to."</p> + +<p>"Let me go first, sir," Terence returned. "After the fight you had +upstairs, you may not be up to the mark, and I'm dying to have a turn +with him, if he's as big as a church."</p> + +<p>But Jim would not hear of this, and bade the other follow him. Holding +their lights aloft, they descended the narrow stone steps. They were +longer than they expected to find them, and when they reached the bottom +Jim knew that they must be some distance beneath the level of the +foundations of the house. They were then standing in a passage, some +four feet wide by seven in height. The walls and ceiling were of brick, +the floor composed of huge blocks of stone. Everything reeked with damp +while the air was as close and musty as a vault. Being resolved to leave +no part of it unexplored, Jim pushed on closely followed by Terence. For +economy's sake they blew out one of the candles, not knowing how far +they might have to travel, or what might happen to them by the way. They +had not been more than three minutes in the passage before Jim stopped, +and turning to his companion, held up his hand.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" he asked.</p> + +<p>A sound as of heavy blows upon stone reached them from above.</p> + +<p>"I can tell you what it is, sir," said Terence, after a moment's +reflection. "It's the horses, and it means that we're under the +stables."</p> + +<p>"In that case it must run the entire width of the house and burrow under +the courtyard. It means also that the direction is due east. This is +growing interesting. Come along."</p> + +<p>After this discovery they pushed on with increased speed, but the +passage showed no signs of coming to an end. The air was close, but now +and again draughts poured in upon them to prove that though they could +not see them, there must be vent holes somewhere.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have believed such a place could have existed," said Jim. +"It seems as if we have come miles. By Jove, what's that?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke the light of his candle shone upon a dark mass huddled upon +the floor. A second later it became apparent that it was the figure of a +man.</p> + +<p>"Take care, sir," said Terence, as Jim hastened towards the prostrate +form, "it may be the man we want, and he's as like as not shamming."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon find that out," answered Jim, and knelt down beside the +prostrate figure.</p> + +<p>While Terence held the candle, Jim rolled the figure over until they +were able to see the face. Then he uttered a cry of horror. <i>The man +lying before them was none other than Abraham Bursfield!</i></p> + +<p>"Good heavens, this is too terrible," said Jim, after the long pause +which followed, during which he had assured himself that he had made no +mistake as to the other's identity. "Is he dead, do you think, Terence?"</p> + +<p>"Quite dead, sir," Terence replied, after he too had knelt down and +examined him. "If he's the man who tried to kill you, he'll never do any +more mischief to anybody again."</p> + +<p>But Jim did not answer. A sickening feeling of giddiness was taking +possession of him. If it were Abraham Bursfield who had done his best to +murder him that night, it was only logical to conclude that he was also +the man who had murdered his father. Doctor Weston had declared him to +be a madman that afternoon. Now he had certainly proved himself to be +one of the most dangerous type. If that were the case what a narrow +escape Helen had had.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done, Terence?—what's to be done?" Jim asked almost +piteously. "We could not have made a more terrible discovery."</p> + +<p>"There'll have to be an Inquest, sir," said Terence.</p> + +<p>"When it will be found that he entered my house and endeavoured to +murder me. Then it will be remembered how my father died. Two and two +will be put together, and the terrible truth will come out. That would +break Miss Decie's heart."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! sir, I see what you mean," said Terence. "I never thought +of that."</p> + +<p>"He was mad, Terence, hopelessly mad, and therefore not responsible for +his actions. Poor Miss Decie!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, poor young lady. If she was so fond of the old gentleman, it would +break her heart to know what he has been trying to do."</p> + +<p>"She must never know," said Jim, who by this time had made up his mind. +"I can trust you, Terence."</p> + +<p>"To the death, sir, and I think you know it. I've served you, sir, and I +served your father before you, and I don't think you ever found me +wanting. Tell me what you think of doing."</p> + +<p>"We must get him back to his own house, if possible," said Jim, "and let +him be found dead there. No one but our two selves will know the truth, +and if we keep silence, no one need ever know that we found him here. I +cannot let Miss Decie be made more unhappy than she is."</p> + +<p>"I don't know but that you are right, sir," Terence answered. "But how +are we going to get him to the Dower House?"</p> + +<p>"We must go along the passage and see where it leads to. If I am not +mistaken it will take us there. This place must have been made years +ago, when the two properties were one. We will leave the body here, and, +if I am right in my conjecture, we can come back for it."</p> + +<p>They accordingly allowed the remains of Mr. Bursfield to lie where they +had found them, and proceeded on their tour of exploration. As it +transpired, they had still a considerable distance to go before they +reached the end of the tunnel. At last, however, they found themselves +at the foot of a flight of stone steps, similar to those by which they +had descended at the Manor House.</p> + +<p>"Tread very quietly," Jim whispered to his companion. "We must on no +account rouse the servants."</p> + +<p>They noiselessly ascended the stairs until they found themselves at the +top, and confronted by a door.</p> + +<p>"I'll get you to stay here, Terence," Jim whispered, "while I open this +door and see where we are."</p> + +<p>He soon discovered what appeared to be a spring in the middle of the +door, and when he had pressed it, had the satisfaction of seeing the +door swing inwards. Shading the candle with his hand, Jim stepped into +the room he found before him. His surprise at finding himself in Mr. +Bursfield's study, the same room in which he had his last unpleasant +interview with the old gentleman, can be better imagined than described. +The secret door, he observed, formed part of the panelling on one side +of the fireplace, a fragment of carving in the setting of the +chimney-piece being the means of opening it. The old man's papers and +books were littered about the table just as he had left them; a +grandfather clock ticked solemnly in the further right-hand corner, +while a little mouse watched Jim from beneath the sofa, as if it were +endeavouring to ascertain his errand there at such an hour.</p> + +<p>Having made sure of his whereabouts, Jim returned to the passage, +closing the door carefully behind him.</p> + +<p>"We must lose no time," he whispered to Terence; "it is already a +quarter to three. Heaven grant that Isaac, his man-servant, does not +take it into his head to look in upon his master during the night. He +would then find him absent, and that would make it rather difficult to +explain the fact of his being found dead in his chair in the morning."</p> + +<p>By this time their first candle had expired, and it became necessary to +light that Terence was carrying.</p> + +<p>"If we are not very careful we shall be compelled to make our way back +in the dark, after we have carried him up here," said Jim. "This candle +will scarcely see us through."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that, sir, so long as we can get him in here safely," said +Terence. "I have got a box of matches in my pocket, and we can fumble +our way back somehow."</p> + +<p>They accordingly set off, and in due course reached the place where they +had left the old man's body.</p> + +<p>"How are we to carry him?" asked Jim.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you leave that to me, sir. I can manage it," answered Terence. "If +you'll go ahead with the light, I'll follow you."</p> + +<p>So saying, he picked up the frail body, as if its weight were a matter +of no concern to him, and they set off on their return journey to the +Dower House. If the distance had appeared a long one before, it was +doubly so now. At last, however, they reached the steps, climbed them, +and a few moments later were standing in the dead man's study once more. +In spite of his assertions to the contrary, it was plain that his +exertions had taxed Terence's strength to its utmost. Between them they +placed the body in the chair before the table.</p> + +<p>This done, they left the room as quietly as they had entered it, and +made their way down the steps once more. Jim's prophecy that the return +journey would have to be made in darkness was fulfilled, for they had +scarcely reached the place where they had discovered the body ere the +candle fluttered out and they found themselves in inky darkness.</p> + +<p>Terence struck a match, but its feeble flicker was of little or no use +to them. Fumbling their way along by the wall they continued to +progress, until a muttered exclamation from Terence, who was leading, +proclaimed the fact that they had reached the steps at the further end.</p> + +<p>"Bad cess to 'em," said he, "I've barked my shins so that I shall have +good cause to remember them to my dying day."</p> + +<p>He thereupon lit another match, and by means of this modest illumination +they climbed to the door in the corridor above.</p> + +<p>"Heaven be thanked! we're safe home once more," said Jim, as they +stepped into the passage. "I trust I may never experience another night +like this."</p> + +<p>Whispering to Terence to follow him quietly, he led the way round the +gallery and downstairs to the dining-room, where he unlocked the +Tantalus and poured out a glass of spirits for Terence and another for +himself. Both stood in need of some sort of stimulant after all they had +been through.</p> + +<p>"Not a word must be breathed to any living being of this, Terence," he +said, as he put his glass down. "Remember, I trust my secret to you +implicitly."</p> + +<p>"I give you my word, sir, that nobody shall ever hear it from me," +answered Terence, and then the two men solemnly shook hands.</p> + +<p>"Now, before we go to bed, I'll get you to come to my room and have a +look at my throat," said Jim; "it's uncommonly sore."</p> + +<p>This proved to be the case. And small wonder was it, for the finger +marks were fast turning to bruises, while the scratches showed up as +fiery-red as ever. Jim shuddered again and again as he recalled that +awful struggle and compared his escape with his father's cruel fate.</p> + +<p>"Another moment and in all probability he would have done for me too," +he said to himself, and then added somewhat inconsequently, "Poor +Helen!"</p> + +<p>When his wounds had been dressed, he despatched Terence to bed; for his +own part, however, he knew that sleep was impossible. In fact, he did +not attempt to seek it, but seating himself in a comfortable chair, +proceeded to read, with what attention he could bestow upon the +operation, until daylight.</p> + +<p>When the sun rose he dressed himself and went out, wearing a scarf +instead of a collar, in order that the wounds he had received might not +be apparent to the world. The memory of that hateful passage under the +park haunted him like an evil dream. He determined to have it closed at +once for good and all. While he remained the owner of Childerbridge no +one should ever set foot in it again. He was still wondering how he +could best carry out the work without exciting suspicion or comment, +when he observed an old man crossing the park towards him. As he drew +nearer, Jim became aware that it was old Isaac, Mr. Bursfield's +man-servant and general factotum. It was also to be seen that he was in +a very agitated state.</p> + +<p>"God have mercy upon us, sir!" he said, as he came up to Jim; "I've had +such a fright. Is Miss Helen with you?"</p> + +<p>"She is," Jim replied, and then endeavouring to speak unconcernedly, he +added—"Has Mr. Bursfield sent you to find her?"</p> + +<p>"The poor gentleman will never send me on another errand," Isaac replied +solemnly; "he has been sent for himself. He is dead!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + + +<p>"What's that you say?" cried Jim, trying to appear as if he were +scarcely able to believe that he heard aright. "Do you mean to tell me +that Mr. Bursfield is dead?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the old man; "when I went into his study this morning +to open the shutters, I found him seated at his table in the arm-chair +stone dead. I ran up at once to Miss Helen's room to tell her, only to +find that her bed had not been slept in. Me and my wife searched the +house for her, but she is not to be found anywhere. Oh, sir, what does +it all mean?"</p> + +<p>"It means that Miss Decie came to my house last night at about eleven +o'clock. Mr. Bursfield's condition was such that she was afraid to +remain in the house with him any longer. You must have noticed that he +has been very strange of late?"</p> + +<p>"The poor old gentleman has been ailing for some days past," Isaac +replied. "He always was quick tempered, but for the last month or so he +doesn't seem to have been able to control himself. Perhaps it isn't +right for a servant to say it, sir, but there 'ave been times lately +when I 'ave been afraid that his reason 'ave been a-failing him. There +was a time when he couldn't make enough of Miss Helen, but lately he's +been scarce able to speak civil to her. It's a sad thing, sir, a very +sad thing, especially for a servant that's worked for him true and +faithful for nigh upon forty years."</p> + +<p>"His fit of rage last night must have hastened the end," said Jim. "The +news you bring will affect Miss Decie very painfully. You had better go +back and send at once for the doctor; I will return to the Manor House +and tell Miss Decie."</p> + +<p>"I humbly thank you for your kindness, sir," the man replied. "I will do +what you say, and perhaps you will be kind enough to come over later."</p> + +<p>When he had extracted the other's promise he hobbled off, and Jim +returned to his own house. He found Helen and Alice in the hall, +standing before the great fireplace in earnest conversation. He bade +them as cheery a good morning as was possible under the circumstances, +and when he had done so his sister enquired why his throat was wrapped +up so closely.</p> + +<p>"It's a trifle sore this morning," Jim replied, with some truth. "That's +all. It will be all right very soon."</p> + +<p>He then suggested that they should go in to breakfast. He had determined +to break the news of Mr. Bursfield's death to Helen after the meal. This +he did with great gentleness. The shock, however, was a severe one, +nevertheless, but she did her best to meet it bravely.</p> + +<p>"Poor old grandfather," she said after a while, "I always feared that +his death would come like this. Oh how sorry I am that he should have +died believing that I had ceased to love him."</p> + +<p>"He could not have done that," Jim replied. "In his inmost heart he must +have known that your affection was one that could never change."</p> + +<p>She shook her head, however.</p> + +<p>"Will you take me to him?" she enquired, and Jim, feeling that it would +not be wise not to do so, consented to go with her to the Dower House. +Side by side they crossed the park by the path they had come to know so +well, entered the house by the little postern door, and were met in the +hall by the village doctor whom Isaac had summoned.</p> + +<p>"My dear Miss Decie," he said as they shook hands, "will you accept my +heartfelt sympathy for you in your trouble. I fear it must have been a +terrible shock."</p> + +<p>"It has affected me more than I can say," she answered. "I had no idea, +though I was aware that his heart was in a very weak state, that the end +was so near."</p> + +<p>"One thing I can tell you if it will make you any happier," said the +doctor, "and that is, that I am certain his end was a peaceful and +painless one."</p> + +<p>Thanking the doctor for his sympathy, Helen left the room and went +upstairs to the dead man's bedroom. Jim and the doctor went into the +study.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it will be necessary to hold an Inquest," said Jim, when they +were alone together.</p> + +<p>"I am very much afraid so," the doctor replied. "But it will be quite a +formal affair. There are two circumstances, however, Mr. Standerton, +about the affair, that I must confess puzzle me more than a little."</p> + +<p>Jim felt himself turning cold. Had he left anything undone, or had he +made any mistake?</p> + +<p>"What are those two circumstances?" he enquired.</p> + +<p>"Well, in the first place," said the doctor, "the old gentleman seldom +went outside the house, not once a month at most, and only then on fine +days. Yesterday, his man-servant tells me, he did not stir beyond the +study door. Isaac is certain that he was wearing his carpet slippers at +dinner time, and also when he looked in upon him before retiring, yet +when he was found this morning he was wearing boots."</p> + +<p>"That is most curious, certainly," said Jim, "but I must confess I fail +to see anything remarkable in it."</p> + +<p>"Not perhaps in the fact of his wearing the boots," said the medical +gentleman, "but there is another point which, taken in conjunction with +it, makes one pause to think. On the first finger of the right hand I +found that the nail had been recently broken, and in a painful fashion. +What is more, the second and third fingers had smears of blood upon +them. Now with the exception of the nail to which I have alluded and +which did not bleed, he had not a trace of a wound on either finger. +That I am quite certain of, for I searched diligently. Moreover, there +is not a trace of blood upon the table at which he was seated. And there +is one thing stranger still."</p> + +<p>"What is that?"</p> + +<p>"As you are aware, it commenced to rain at a late hour last night. +Unfortunately I know it, for the reason that I was compelled to be out +in it. The roads were plastered with mud. Now though Mr. Bursfield, for +some reason of his own, had put on his boots, he could not have ventured +outside, for there is not a speck of mud upon them. In that case, why +the boots, and where did the blood come from?"</p> + +<p>"You are perfectly sure that he died of heart disease?"</p> + +<p>"As sure as I can be of anything," said the doctor. "Nevertheless, it's +altogether a mysterious affair."</p> + +<p>This also proved to be the opinion of the Coroner's Jury, and as there +was no one forthcoming to clear it up, a mystery it was likely to remain +for all time. Had the Coroner and his Jury, however, known the history +of the bruises under the thick bandage which the young Squire of +Childerbridge wore round his throat, they would have been enlightened.</p> + +<p>As nobody was able to account for anything save the doctor, however, a +verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned, and three days +later, Abraham Bursfield was laid to rest with his forefathers in the +little churchyard, scarcely fifty paces away from the grave of the man +who had fallen by his hands.</p> + +<p>"Jim," said Alice on the evening of the funeral, when they had brought +Helen back to the Manor House, "I have a proposal to make to you. I am +going to suggest that I should take Helen away for a few weeks to the +seaside. The anxieties and sorrow of the past two months have been too +much for her. I can see that she stands in need of a thorough change. If +you have no objection to raise, I thought we could start to-morrow +morning. We shall be away a month, and by that time she should be quite +restored to health."</p> + +<p>"And pray what am I going to do with myself while you are away?" he +asked. "I gather you mean when you say that you are both going away that +I am not to accompany you?"</p> + +<p>"No; all things considered, I think it would be better not," said Alice. +"But if you are very good you shall come down to us for two or three +days during the month. Then if Helen agrees, and I have no doubt you +will be able to induce her to do so, you could obtain a Special License, +and be quietly married at the end of that time."</p> + +<p>Jim, who regarded it quite possible that the marriage might be postponed +for some time, clutched eagerly at the straw of hope held out to him, +and willingly agreed to her suggestion.</p> + +<p>"And now one other matter, Alice," he said. "I, on my side, have a +proposal to make. Whether you will prove as complaisant as I have done +is another matter."</p> + +<p>"What is your proposal?"</p> + +<p>"It can be resolved into one word," he answered, "That word is +Mudrapilla."</p> + +<p>He heard her catch her breath, and then she looked pleadingly at him.</p> + +<p>"Jim," she whispered, "Oh Jim, dear, you don't mean it, do you?"</p> + +<p>"If you and Helen will accompany me, I do," he answered. "Terence I am +quite sure will not object. Will you agree, my sister?"</p> + +<p>The answer she vouchsafed might have meant anything or nothing. It +was:—</p> + +<p>"Only to think of seeing dear old Mudrapilla again!"</p> + +<p>So it was settled. Helen and Alice departed next day to a tiny seaside +place in Devonshire, where Jim was under orders to join them for three +days at the week end once during their stay. As soon as they were gone, +he in his turn set off for London. His first act on reaching the City, +and when he had deposited his bag at the hotel, was to drive to the +office of the Estate Agent with whom his father had negotiated the +purchase of Childerbridge. That portly, suave gentleman received him +with the respect due to a man worth half a million of money, and the +owner of such a palatial mansion and estate.</p> + +<p>"But, my dear sir," he began, when he had heard what James had to say, +"you surely don't mean to say that you are desirous of selling +Childerbridge. You have only been there a few months."</p> + +<p>"I am most anxious to be rid of the place as soon as possible," Jim +replied. "As you may suppose it has the most painful recollections for +me. Besides I am thinking of returning to Australia almost immediately, +and scarcely know when I shall visit England again."</p> + +<p>"In that case I must do the best I can for you," said the other. "At the +same time I feel that I should warn you that the Estate Market is not in +a very flourishing condition at present, and that a large number of +properties that have been placed upon the market have not sold nearly as +well as they should have done."</p> + +<p>"I must take my chance of not getting its value," said Jim. "Find me a +purchaser and I don't think he will be able to complain that I have not +met him fairly."</p> + +<p>The agent promised to do his best, and for the next fortnight Jim amused +himself in a lazy fashion travelling about England, purchasing a variety +of stock for his Australian stations, and longing for the time to come +when he should be at liberty to present himself in Devonshire. At last, +however, the day arrived. It was morning when he left London, it was +evening when he reached his destination. It was winter when he left +Waterloo, dull, dismal and foggy; when he reached Devonshire it was, in +his eyes at least, perpetual summer. Both Helen and Alice were at the +railway station to greet him, and immediately he saw them he realised +the fact that a change for the better had taken place in his sweetheart. +The old colour had come back to her cheeks, the old sparkle was in her +eyes. She greeted him very lovingly, but if possible a little shyly. +There were such lots of news to hear, and still more to be told, that it +seemed as if they would never have done talking.</p> + +<p>The village had proved itself a delightful little place. It was far from +the track of the tripper, and had not then been spoilt by the wealthy +tourist. High cliffs hemmed it in on either side, and the sea broke upon +the beach of shingles. They returned to their lodgings for tea, a +charming thatched cottage, within a stone's throw of the primitive +little jetty, beside which the fisher boats were moored. Afterwards the +lovers went for a walk upon the cliffs.</p> + +<p>"Helen, my darling," said Jim, "I can scarcely realise that it is only a +fortnight since I saw you. It seems as if years had passed. You can have +no idea how happy it makes me to see you looking like your own dear self +once more."</p> + +<p>"I could not help being well here," she answered. "Besides, Alice has +been so good and kind to me. I should be ungrateful indeed were I to +show no improvement."</p> + +<p>But Jim had not brought his sweetheart out on the cliff to discuss his +sister's good qualities.</p> + +<p>"Helen," he said at last, "is it possible for you to be my wife in a +fortnight's time?"</p> + +<p>He took her little hand in his and looked into her eyes. The veriest +tyro might have seen that the young man was terribly in earnest.</p> + +<p>"It might be possible," she said softly, but without looking at him. +"Are you quite sure you <i>do</i> wish it?"</p> + +<p>"If you talk like that I shall go back to London to-night," he answered. +"You know very well that to make you my wife has been my ambition ever +since I first saw you."</p> + +<p>And then he went on to tell her of his dreams, winding up with this +question—"I wonder whether you will like Australia?"</p> + +<p>"I shall like any place where you may be," she replied.</p> + +<p>Could any young woman say more to her lover than that? At any rate Jim +appeared to be satisfied.</p> + +<p>On the Monday following he returned to London to learn from the agent +that a probable, though unexpected, purchaser had been found for +Childerbridge. He proved to be a wealthy American, who was not only +prepared to take over the estate at a valuation, but also to purchase +the furniture and effects as they stood.</p> + +<p>On the day following the receipt of this news, Jim travelled down with +the would-be buyer, conducted him over the property, and was in a +position to assure himself, when the other had departed, that +Childerbridge would be very soon off his hands. To the agent's horror +the matter was conducted on both sides with unusual promptness, and in +consequence, when, a fortnight later, Jim stepped into the Devonshire +train with a special marriage license in his pocket, the sale was as +good as effected.</p> + +<p>The wedding was solemnised next day in the quaint little village church, +and excited no comment from the humble fisher folk. The only persons +present were the bride and bridegroom, Alice, and the family lawyer, who +had travelled down from London expressly to give the bride away. Then, +no impediment being offered, James Standerton, bachelor, took to himself +for wife Helen Decie, spinster. The worthy old gentleman pocketed his +fee with a smiling face, congratulated both parties, and then hurried +off to another parish to bury a fisherman who had been drowned in the +bay a few days before. An hour later Jim and Helen started for Exeter, +<i>en route</i> for Scotland, while Alice accompanied the lawyer, whose +wife's guest she was to be, to London, to wait there until her brother +and sister-in-law should return from the north.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Four years have elapsed since that terrible night when Abraham Bursfield +was found dead in the secret passage leading from Childerbridge Manor +House to the Dower House in the corner of the Park. Those four years +have certainly worked wondrous changes in at least four lives. One short +sketch must serve to illustrate this fact, and to bring my story to a +conclusion. The scene is no longer laid in England but on a rough Bush +track on a very hot Australian afternoon. A tall good-looking man is +jogging contentedly along, apparently oblivious to all that goes on +around him. It is easily seen that he and his horse are on the very best +terms with each other. He passes the Pelican Lake, descends into the +hollow of what was perhaps a continuation of the same lake, and on +gaining the summit of the next rise finds himself looking upon what, at +first glance, would appear to be a small village. This village is the +station of Mudrapilla, and the giant gums which can just be discerned +some five miles or so to the right, indicate the spot where on a certain +eventful evening, James Standerton first came face to face with Richard +Murbridge. This same James Standerton, for it is he who is the rider of +the horse, increases his pace as soon as the station itself comes into +view. He passes the men's quarters, the store, the blacksmith's shop, +and finally approaches a long and extremely comfortable looking +one-storied residence, whose broad verandahs are confronted by orange +groves on the one side, and the brave old river on the other. As he +rides up one of the overseers emerges from the barracks, and hastens +forward to greet his employer, and to take his horse from him. That +overseer is no less a person than our old friend, Terence O'Riley, +looking just the same as ever. Jim gives him a few directions concerning +the sheep in the Mountain Paddock, which he has visited that afternoon, +and then dismounts and strolls on through the gates, and up the garden +path towards the house. In the broad verandah a lady is seated in a long +comfortable chair, and playing beside her on the floor is a chubby +urchin upwards of two years of age. Helen, for as may be supposed, it is +none other than she, rises on hearing her husband's step on the path, +and catching up the infant brings him forward to greet his father with a +kiss.</p> + +<p>"I didn't expect you for half-an-hour at least, dear," she says, when +she in her turn has kissed him. "The boy and I have been patiently +awaiting your arrival. Did you meet the mail?"</p> + +<p>"I did," he answered, "and I opened the bag upon the road. There are two +letters for you, one I see is from Alice."</p> + +<p>"And you?" she asks, as she takes the letters from him.</p> + +<p>"Well, I had one of some importance," he replied. "It is from +Fairlight—my old solicitor in England, you remember him—and what do +you think he tells me?"</p> + +<p>Helen, very naturally, could not guess.</p> + +<p>"Well, he says that Childerbridge Manor was burnt down by fire three +months ago and totally destroyed. The American, the owner, is going to +rebuild it at once on a scale of unparalleled magnificence."</p> + +<p>There was a pause for a few moments, then Helen said:—</p> + +<p>"What do you think about it, Jim?"</p> + +<p>"All things considered I am not sorry," he answered. "Yet, perhaps, I +should not say that, for it brought me the greatest blessing a man can +have."</p> + +<p>"And that blessing?" she asked innocently.</p> + +<p>"Is a good wife," he answered, stooping to kiss her. After which he +disappeared into the house.</p> + +<p>"And pray what does Alice say?" he asked, when he returned a few minutes +later.</p> + +<p>"She gives us such good news," Helen replied. "She and Jack will spend +Christmas with us. She declares she is the happiest woman in the world. +Jack is a paragon."</p> + +<p>In case the reader should fail to understand who Jack is, I might remark +that he is no less a person than Jack Riddington, the overseer, +mentioned at the commencement of my story, and who was supposed to be +Jim's best friend. Alice, after they were engaged, admitted that she had +always entertained a liking for him, while it was well known that he had +always been head over ears in love with her. During Jim's absence in +England he had come into a large sum of money, had purchased a station +one hundred and fifty miles south of Gundawurra, had married Alice +within six months of her return, and was now living a life of undoubted +felicity.</p> + +<p>"They may be happy," said Helen, "but they can never be as happy as we +are. That is quite certain, husband mine."</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Childerbridge Mystery, by Guy Boothby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDERBRIDGE MYSTERY *** + +***** This file should be named 35277-h.htm or 35277-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/2/7/35277/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Childerbridge Mystery + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Release Date: February 14, 2011 [EBook #35277] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDERBRIDGE MYSTERY *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + The Childerbridge Mystery + + By Guy Boothby, + +_Author of_ "_Dr. Nikola_," "_A Millionaire's Love Story_," "_The Curse +of the Snake_," _etc., etc., etc._ + + + London + F. V. White & Co., Ltd. + 1902 + + + + +Contents + + +CHAPTER I. + +CHAPTER II. + +CHAPTER III. + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHAPTER V. + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHAPTER VII. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CHAPTER IX. + +CHAPTER X. + +CHAPTER XI. + +CHAPTER XII. + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + + +The Childerbridge Mystery + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +One had only to look at William Standerton in order to realise that he +was, what is usually termed, a success in life. His whole appearance +gave one this impression; the bold unflinching eyes, the square, +resolute chin, the well-moulded lips, and the lofty forehead, showed a +determination and ability to succeed that was beyond the ordinary. + +The son of a hardworking country doctor, it had fallen to his lot to +emigrate to Australia at the early age of sixteen. He had not a friend +in that vast, but sparsely-populated, land, and was without influence of +any sort to help him forward. When, therefore, in fifty years' time, he +found himself worth upwards of half-a-million pounds sterling, he was +able to tell himself that he owed his good fortune not only to his own +industry, but also to his shrewd business capabilities. It is true that +he had had the advantage of reaching the Colonies when they were in +their infancy, but even with this fact taken into consideration, his was +certainly a great performance. He had invested his money prudently, and +the rich Stations, and the streets of House Property, were the result. + +Above all things, William Standerton was a kindly-natured man. Success +had not spoilt him in this respect. No genuine case of necessity ever +appealed to him in vain. He gave liberally, but discriminatingly, and in +so doing never advertised himself. + +Strange to say, he was nearly thirty years of age before he even +contemplated matrimony. The reason for this must be ascribed to the fact +that his life had been essentially an active one, and up to that time he +had not been brought very much into contact with the opposite sex. When, +however, he fell in love with pretty Jane McCalmont--then employed as a +governess on a neighbouring Property--he did so with an enthusiasm that +amply made up for lost time. + +She married him, and presented him with two children--a boy and a girl. +Within three months of the latter's arrival into the world, the mother +laid down her gentle life, leaving her husband a well nigh +broken-hearted man. After her death the years passed slowly by with +almost monotonous sameness. The boy James, and the girl Alice, in due +course commenced their education, and in so doing left their childhood +behind them. Their devotion to their father was only equalled by his +love for them. He could scarcely bear them out of his sight, and entered +into all their sports, their joys and troubles, as if he himself were a +child once more. + +It was not, however, until James was a tall, handsome young fellow of +four-and-twenty, and Alice a winsome maid of twenty, that he arrived at +the conclusion that his affairs no longer needed his personal +supervision, and that he was at liberty to return to the Mother Country, +and settle down in it, should he feel disposed to do so. + +"It's all very well for you young folk to talk of my leaving Australia," +he said, addressing his son and daughter; "but I shall be like a fish +out of water in the Old Country. You forget that I have not seen her for +half-a-century." + +"All the more reason that you should lose no time in returning, father," +observed Miss Alice, to whom a visit to England had been the one +ambition of her life. "You shall take us about and show us everything; +the little village in which you were born, the river in which you used +to fish, and the wood in which the keeper so nearly caught you with the +rabbit in your pocket. Then you shall buy an old-fashioned country house +and we'll settle down. It will be lovely!" + +Her father pinched her shapely little ear, and then looked away across +the garden to where a railed enclosure was to be seen, on the crest of a +slight eminence. He remembered that the woman lying there had more than +once expressed a hope that, in the days then to come, they would be able +to return to their native country together, and take their children with +them. + +"Well, well, my dear," he said, glancing down at the daughter who so +much resembled her mother, "you shall have it your own way. We will go +Home as soon as possible, and do just as you propose. I think we may be +able to afford a house in the country, and perhaps, that is if you are a +very dutiful daughter, another in London. It is just possible that there +may be one or two people living who may remember William Standerton, +and, for that reason, be kind to his son and daughter. But I fear it +will be rather a wrench for me to leave these places that I have built +up with my own hands, and to which I have devoted such a large portion +of my life. However, one can be in harness too long, and when once +Australia is left behind me, I have no doubt I shall enjoy my holiday as +much as any one else." + +In this manner the matter was settled. Competent and trustworthy +managers were engaged, and the valuable properties, which had +contributed so large a share to William Standerton's wealth, were handed +over to their charge. + +On the night before they were to leave Mudrapilla, their favourite and +largest station, situated on the Darling River, in New South Wales, +James Standerton, called Jim by his family and a multifarious collection +of friends, was slowly making his way along the left bank of the River. +He had ridden out to say good-bye to the manager of the Out Station, and +as his horse picked his way along the bank, he was thinking of England, +and of what his life was to be there. Suddenly he became aware of a man +seated beneath a giant gum tree near the water's edge. From the fact +that the individual in question had kindled a fire and was boiling his +billy, he felt justified in assuming that he was preparing his camp for +the night. He accordingly rode up and accosted him. The man was a Foot +Traveller, or Swagman, and presented a somewhat singular appearance. +Though he was seated, Jim could see that he was tall, though sparsely +built. His age must have been about sixty years; his hair was streaked +with grey, as also was his beard. Taken altogether his countenance was +of the description usually described as "hatchet-faced." He was dressed +after the swagman fashion, certainly no better, and perhaps a little +worse. Yet with it all he had the appearance of having once been in +better circumstances. He looked up as Jim approached, and nodded a "good +evening." The latter returned the salutation in his customary pleasant +fashion. + +"How much further is it to the Head Station?" the man on the ground then +enquired. + +"Between four and five miles," Jim replied. "Are you making your way +there?" + +"That's my idea," the stranger answered. "I hear the owner is leaving +for England, and I am desirous of having a few words with him before he +goes." + +"You know him then?" + +"I've known him over thirty years," returned the other. "But he has gone +up in the world while, as you will gather, I have done the opposite. +Standerton was always one of Life's lucky ones; I am one of Her +failures. Anything _he_ puts his hand to prospers; while I, let it be +ever so promising, have only to touch a bit of business, and it goes to +pieces like a house of cards." + +The stranger paused and took stock of the young man seated upon the +horse. + +"Now I come to think of it," he continued, after having regarded Jim +intently for some seconds, "you're not unlike Standerton yourself. +You've got the same eyes and chin, and the same cut of mouth." + +"It's very probable, for I am his son," Jim replied. "What is it you +want with my father?" + +"That's best known to myself," the stranger returned, with a surliness +in his tone that he had not exhibited before. "When you get home, just +tell your governor that Richard Murbridge is on his way up the river to +call upon him, and that he will try to put in an appearance at the +Station early to-morrow morning. I don't fancy he'll be best pleased to +see me, but I must have an interview with him before he leaves +Australia, if I have to follow him round the country to get it." + +"You had better be careful how you talk to my father," said Jim. "If you +are as well acquainted with him as you pretend to be, you should know +that he is not the sort of man to be trifled with." + +"I know him as well as you do," the other answered, lifting his billy +from the fire as he spoke. "William Standerton and I knew each other +long before you were born. If it's only the distance you say to the Head +Station, you can tell him I'll be there by breakfast time. I'm a bit +foot-sore, it is true, but I can do the journey in an hour and a-half. +On what day does the coach pass, going South?" + +"To-morrow morning," Jim replied. "Do you want to catch it?" + +"It's very probable I shall," said Murbridge. "Though I wasn't born in +this cursed country, I'm Australian enough never to foot it when I can +ride. Good Heavens! had any one told me, twenty-five years ago, that I +should eventually become a Darling Whaler, I'd have knocked, what I +should have thought then to be the lie, down their throats. But what I +am you can see. Fate again, I suppose? However, I was always of a +hopeful disposition, even when my affairs appeared to be at their worst, +so I'll pin my faith on to-morrow. Must you be going? Well, in that +case, I'll wish you good-night! Don't forget my message to your father." + +Jim bade him good-night, and then continued his ride home. As he went he +pondered upon his curious interview with the stranger he had just left, +and while so doing, wondered as to his reasons for desiring to see his +father. + +"The fellow was associated with him in business at some time or another, +I suppose?" he said to himself, "and, having failed, is now on his beam +ends and wants assistance. Poor old Governor, there are times when he is +called upon to pay pretty dearly for his success in life." + +James Standerton was proud of his father, as he had good reason to be. +He respected him above all living men, and woe betide the individual who +might have anything to say against the sire in the son's hearing. + +At last he reached the Home Paddock and cantered up the slope towards +the cluster of houses, that resembled a small village, and surrendered +his horse to a black boy in the stable yard. With a varied collection of +dogs at his heels he made his way up the garden path, beneath the +trellised vines to the house, in the broad verandah of which he could +see his sister and father seated at tea. + +"Well, my lad," said Standerton senior, when Jim joined them, "I suppose +you've seen Riddington, and have bade him good-bye. It's my opinion he +will miss you as much as any one in the neighbourhood. You two have +always been such friends." + +"That's just what Riddington said," James replied. "He wishes he were +coming with us. Poor chap, he doesn't seem to think he'll ever see +England again." + +Alice looked up from the cup of tea she was pouring out for her brother. + +"I fancy there is more in poor Mr. Riddington's case than meets the +eye," she said sympathetically. "Nobody knows quite why he left England. +He is always very reticent upon that point. I cannot help thinking, +however, that there was a lady in the case." + +"There always is," answered her brother. "There's a woman in every +mystery, and when you've found her it's a mystery no longer. By the way, +father, as I was coming home, I came across a fellow camped up the +river. He asked me what the distance was to here, and said he was on his +way to see you. He will be here the first thing to-morrow morning." + +"He wants work, I suppose?" + +"No, I shouldn't say that he did," James replied. "He said that he +wanted to see you on important private business." + +"Indeed? I wonder who it can be? A swagman who has important private +business with me is a _rara avis_. He didn't happen to tell you his +name, I suppose?" + +"Yes, he did," Jim answered, placing his cup on the floor as he spoke. +"His name is Richard Murbridge, or something like it." + +The effect upon the elder man was electrical. + +"Richard Murbridge?" he cried. "Camped on the river and coming here?" + +His son and daughter watched him with the greatest astonishment depicted +upon their faces. It was not often that their father gave way to so much +emotion. At last with an effort he recovered himself, and, remarking +that Murbridge was a man with whom he had had business in bygone days, +and that he had not seen him for many years, went into the house. + +"I wonder who this Murbridge can be?" said James to his sister, when +they were alone together. "I didn't like the look of him, and if I were +the Governor, I should send him about his business as quickly as +possible." + +When he had thus expressed himself, Jim left his sister and went off to +enjoy that luxury so dear to the heart of a bushman after his day's +work, a swim in the river. He was some time over it, and when he +emerged, he was informed that his presence was required at the Store. +Thither he repaired to arbitrate in the quarrel of two Boundary Riders. +In consequence, more than an hour elapsed before he returned to the +house. His sister greeted him at the gate with a frightened look upon +her face. + +"Have you seen father?" she enquired. + +"No," he answered. "Isn't he in the house?" + +"He went down the track just after you left, riding old Peter, and as he +passed the gate he called to me not to keep dinner for him, as he did +not know how long it might be before he would be back. Jim, I believe he +is gone to see that man you told him of, and the thought frightens me." + +"You needn't be alarmed," her brother answered. "Father is quite able to +take care of himself." + +But though he spoke with so much assurance, in his own mind he was not +satisfied. He remembered that it had been his impression that the +swagman bore his father a grudge, and the thought made him uneasy. + +"Look here, Alice," he said, after he had considered the matter for some +time, "I've a good mind to go back along the track, and to bring the +Governor home with me. What do you think?" + +"It would relieve me of a good deal of anxiety if you would," the girl +replied. "I don't like the thought of his going off like this." + +Jim accordingly went to the end of the verandah, and called to the +stables for a horse. As soon as the animal was forthcoming he mounted +it, and set off in the direction his father had taken. It was now quite +dark, but so well did he know it, that he could have found his way along +the track blindfolded, if necessary. It ran parallel with the river, the +high trees on the banks of which could be seen, standing out like a +black line against the starlit sky. He let himself out of the Home +Paddock, passed the Woolshed, and eventually found himself approaching +the spot where Murbridge had made his camp. Then the twinkle of the fire +came into view, and a few seconds later he was able to distinguish his +father standing beside his grey horse, talking to a man who was lying +upon the ground near the fire. Not wishing to play the part of an +eavesdropper, he was careful to remain out of earshot. It was only when +he saw the man rise, heard him utter a threat, and then approach his +father, that he rode up. Neither of the men became aware of his approach +until he was close upon them, and then both turned in surprise. + +"James, what is the meaning of this?" his father cried. "What are you +doing here, my lad?" + +For a moment the other scarcely knew what reply to make. At last he +said:-- + +"I came to assure myself of your safety, father. Alice told me you had +gone out, and I guessed your errand." + +"A very dutiful son," sneered Murbridge. "You are to be congratulated +upon him, William." + +James stared at the individual before him with astonishment. What right +had such a man to address his father by his Christian name? + +"Be careful," said Standerton, speaking to the man before him. "You know +what I said to you just now, and you are also aware that I never break +my word. Fail to keep _your_ part of the contract, and I shall no longer +keep mine." + +"You know that you have your heel upon my neck," the other retorted; +"and also that I cannot help myself. But I pray that the time may come +when I shall be able to be even with you. To think that I am tramping +this infernal country, like a dead beat Sundowner, without a cent in my +pocket, while you are enjoying all the luxuries and happiness that life +and wealth can give. It's enough to make a man turn Anarchist right +off." + +"That will do," said William Standerton quietly. "Remember that +to-morrow morning you will go back to the place whence you came; also +bear in mind the fact that if you endeavour to molest me, or to +communicate with me, or with any member of my family, I will carry out +the threat I uttered just now. That is all I have to say to you." + +Then Standerton mounted his horse, and turning to his son, said:-- + +"Let us return home, James. It is getting late, and your sister will be +uneasy." + +Without another word to the man beside the fire, they rode off, leaving +him looking after them with an expression of deadly hatred upon his +face. For some distance the two men rode in silence. Jim could see that +his father was much agitated, and for that reason he forbore to put any +question to him concerning the individual they had just left. Indeed it +was not until they had passed the Woolshed once more, and had half +completed their return journey that the elder man spoke. + +"How much of my conversation with that man did you overhear?" + +"Nothing but what I heard when Murbridge rose to his feet," James +replied. "I should not have come near you had I not heard his threat and +seen him approach you. Who is the man, father?" + +"His name is Murbridge," said Standerton, with what was plainly an +effort. "He is a person with whom I was on friendly terms many years +ago, but he has now got into disgrace, and, I fear has sank very low +indeed. I do not think he will trouble us any more, however, so we will +not refer to him again." + +All that evening William Standerton was visibly depressed. He excused +himself from playing his usual game of cribbage with his daughter, on +the plea that he had a headache. Next morning, however, he was quite +himself. He went out to his last day's work in the bush as cheerfully as +he had ever done. But had any one followed him, he, or she, would have +discovered that the first thing he did was to ride to the spot where +Richard Murbridge had slept on the previous night. The camp was +deserted, and only a thin column of smoke, rising from the embers of the +fire, remained to show that the place had been lately occupied. + +"He has gone, then," said Standerton to himself. "Thank goodness! But I +know him too well to be able to assure myself that I have seen the last +of him. Next week, however, we shall put the High Seas between us, and +then, please God, I shall see no more of him for the remainder of my +existence." + +At that moment the man of whom he was speaking, was tramping along the +dusty track with a tempest of rage in his heart. + +"He may travel wherever he pleases," he was muttering to himself, "but +he won't get away from me. He may go to the end of the world, and I'll +follow him and be at his elbow, just to remind him who I am, and of the +claims I have upon him. Yes, William Standerton, you may make up your +mind upon one point, and that is the fact that I'll be even with you +yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Childerbridge Manor is certainly one of the finest mansions in the +County of Midlandshire. It stands in a finely-timbered park of about two +hundred acres, which rises behind the house to a considerable elevation. +The building itself dates back to the reign of Good Queen Bess, and is +declared by competent authorities to be an excellent example of the +architecture of that period. It is large, and presents a most imposing +appearance as one approaches it by the carriage drive. The interior is +picturesque in the extreme; the hall is large and square, panelled with +oak, and having a massive staircase of the same wood leading from it to +a music gallery above. There are other staircases in various parts of +the building, curious corkscrew affairs, in ascending which one is in +continual danger of knocking one's head against the ceiling and corners. +There are long, and somewhat dark corridors, down which it would be +almost possible to drive the proverbial coach and four, whilst there are +also numerous secret passages, and a private chapel, with stained glass +windows connected with the house by means of a short tunnel. That such a +mansion should be provided with a family ghost, goes without saying. +Indeed, Childerbridge Manor is reputed to possess a small army of them. +Elderly gentlemen who carry their heads under their arms; beautiful +women who glide down the corridors, weeping as they go; and last but not +least, a deformity, invariably dressed in black, who is much given to +sitting on the foot rails of beds, and pointing, with the first finger +of his right hand, to the ceiling above. So well authenticated are the +legends of these apparitions, that it would be almost an impossibility +to induce any man, woman, or child, from the village, to enter the gates +of Childerbridge Manor after dusk. Servants who arrived were told the +stories afloat concerning their new abode; and the sound of the wind +sighing round the house on a gusty night immediately set their +imaginations to work, with the result of their giving notice of their +intention to leave on the following morning. "They had seen the White +Lady," they declared, had heard her pitiful death cry, and vowed that +nothing could induce them to remain in such a house twenty-four hours +longer. In fact, "As haunted as the Manor House" had become a popular +expression in the neighbourhood. + +When the Standerton's reached England, they set to work to discover for +themselves a home. They explored the country from east to west, and from +north to south, but without success. Eventually Childerbridge Manor was +offered them by an Agent in London, and after they had spent a +considerable portion of their time poring over photographs of the house +and grounds, they arrived at the conclusion that they had discovered a +place likely to suit them. On a lovely day in early summer they +travelled down from London to inspect it, and were far from being +disappointed in what they saw. + +When they entered the gates the park lay before them, bathed in +sunlight, the rooks cawed lazily in the trees, while the deer regarded +them, from their couches in the bracken, with mild, contemplative eyes. +After the scorched up plains of Australia, the picture was an +exceedingly attractive one. The house itself, they could see would +require a considerable outlay in repairs, but when that work was +accomplished, it would be as perfect a residence as any that could be +found. The stables were large enough to hold half a hundred horses, but +for many years had been tenanted only by rats. The same might be said of +the buildings of the Home Farm! + +"However, taking one thing with another," said Mr. Standerton, after he +had inspected everything, and arrived at a proper understanding of the +possibilities of the place, "I think it will suit us. The Society of the +neighbourhood, they tell me, is good, while the hunting is undeniable. +It is within easy reach of London, and all matters taken into +consideration, I don't think we shall better it." + +In this manner it was settled. A contract for repairs and decorations +was placed in the hands of a well-known Metropolitan firm, a vast amount +was spent in furnishing, and in due course Childerbridge Manor House was +once more occupied. The County immediately came to call, invitations +rained in, and having been duly inspected and not found wanting, the +newcomers were voted a decided acquisition to the neighbourhood. William +Standerton's wealth soon became proverbial, and mothers, with +marriageable sons and daughters, vied with each other in their +attentions. James Standerton, as I have already said, was a presentable +young man. His height was something over six feet, his shoulders were +broad and muscular, as became a man who had lived his life doing hard +work in the open air, his eyes were grey like his father's, and there +was the same moulding of the mouth and chin. In fact, he was an +individual with whom, one felt at first glance, it would be better to be +on good terms than bad. + +One evening a month or so after their arrival at the Manor House, Jim +was driving home from the railway station. He had been spending the day +in London buying polo ponies, and was anxious to get home as quickly as +possible. His horse was a magnificent animal, and spun the high dogcart +along the road at a rattling pace. When he was scarcely more than half a +mile from the lodge gates of his own home, he became aware of a lady +walking along the footpath in front of him. She was accompanied by a +mastiff puppy, who gambolled awkwardly beside her. As the dogcart +approached them the puppy dashed out into the road, directly in front of +the fast-trotting horse. As may be imagined the result was inevitable. +The dog was knocked down, and it was only by a miracle that the horse +did not go down also. The girl uttered a little scream, then the groom +jumped from his seat and ran to the frightened animal's head. Jim also +descended to ascertain the extent of injuries the horse and dog had +sustained. Fortunately the former was unhurt; not so the author of the +mischief, however. He had been kicked on the head, and one of his +forepaws was crushed and bleeding. + +"I cannot tell you how sorry I am," said Jim, apologetically to the +young lady, when he had carried her pet to the footpath. "I am afraid I +was very careless." + +"You must not say that," she answered. "It was not your fault at all. If +my silly dog had not run into the road it would not have happened. Do +you think his leg is broken?" + +Jim knelt on the edge of the path beside the dog and carefully examined +his injuries. His bush life had given him a considerable insight into +the science of surgery, and it stood him in good stead now. + +"No," he said, when his examination was at an end, "his leg is not +broken, though I'm afraid it is rather badly injured." + +In spite of the young lady's protests, he took his handkerchief from his +pocket and bound up the injured limb. The next thing to be decided was +how to get the animal home. It could not walk, and it was manifestly +impossible that the young lady should carry him. + +"Won't you let me put him in the cart and drive you both home?" Jim +asked. "I should be glad to do so, if I may." + +As he said this he looked more closely at the girl before him, and +realised that she was decidedly pretty. + +"I am afraid there is nothing else to be done," she said, and then, as +if she feared this might be considered an ungracious speech, she added: +"But I fear I am putting you to a great deal of trouble, Mr. +Standerton." + +Jim looked at her in some surprise. + +"You know my name, then?" he said. + +"As you see," she answered, with a smile at his astonishment. "I called +upon your sister yesterday. My name is Decie, and I live at the Dower +House, with my guardian, Mr. Abraham Bursfield." + +"In that case, as we are neighbours," said Jim, "and I must claim a +neighbour's privilege in helping you. Allow me put the dog in the cart." + +So saying he picked the animal up and carried it tenderly to the +dogcart, under the seat of which he placed it. He then assisted Miss +Decie to her seat and took his place beside her. When the groom had +seated himself at the back, they set off in the direction of the Dower +House, a curious rambling building, situated in a remote corner of +Childerbridge Park. As they drove along they discussed the +neighbourhood, the prospects of the shooting, and Jim learned, among +other things, that Miss Decie was fond of riding, but that old Mr. +Bursfield would not allow her a horse, that she preferred a country life +to that of town, and incidentally that she had been eight years under +her guardian's care. Almost before they knew where they were they had +reached the cross roads that skirted the edge of the Park, and were +approaching the Dower House. It was a curious old building, older +perhaps than the Manor House, to which it had once belonged. In front it +had a quaint description of courtyard, surrounded by high walls covered +with ivy. A flagged path led from the gates, which, Jim discovered +later, had not been opened for many years, to the front door, on either +side of which was a roughly trimmed lawn. Pulling up at the gates, the +young man descended, and helped Miss Decie to alight. + +"You must allow me to carry your dog into the house for you," he said, +as he lifted the poor beast from the cart. + +A postern door admitted them to the courtyard and they made their way, +side by side, along the flagged path to the house. When they had rung +the bell the door was opened to them by an ancient man-servant, whose +age could scarcely have been less than four-score. He looked from his +mistress to the young man, as if he were unable to comprehend the +situation. + +"Isaac," said Miss Decie, "Tory has met with an accident, and Mr. +Standerton has very kindly brought him home for me." Then to Jim she +added:--"Please come in, Mr. Standerton, and let me relieve you of your +burden." + +But Jim would not hear of it. Accompanied by Miss Decie he carried the +animal to the loose box in the deserted stables at the back of the +house, where he had his quarters. This task accomplished, they returned +to the house once more. + +"I believe you have not yet met my guardian, Mr. Bursfield," said Miss +Decie, as they passed along the oak-panelled hall. Then, as if to excuse +the fact that the other had not paid the usual neighbourly call, she +added: "He is a very old man, you know, and seldom leaves the house." + +As she said this, she paused before a door, the handle of which she +turned. The room in which Jim found himself a moment later was a fine +one. The walls, like the rest of the house, were panelled, but owing to +the number of books the room contained, very little of the oak was +visible. There were books on the shelves, books on the tables, and books +on the floor. In the centre of the room stood a large writing-table, at +which an old man was seated. He was a strange-looking individual; his +face was lined with innumerable wrinkles, his hair was snow-white and +descended to his shoulders. He wore a rusty velvet coat and a skull cap +of the same material. + +He looked up as the pair entered, and his glance rested on Jim with some +surprise. + +"Grandfather," said Miss Decie, for, as Jim afterwards discovered, she +invariably addressed the venerable gentleman by this title, though she +was in no way related to him, "pray let me introduce you to Mr. +Standerton, who has most kindly brought poor Tory home for me." + +The old man extended a shrivelled hand. + +"I am happy to make your acquaintance, Mr. Standerton," he said, "and I +am grateful to you for the service you have rendered Miss Decie. I must +apologise for not having paid you and your father the customary visit of +courtesy, but, as you have perhaps heard, I am a recluse, and seldom +venture from the house. I trust you like Childerbridge?" + +"We are delighted with it," Jim replied. "It is a very beautiful and +interesting old house. Unfortunately, however, we have been able to +gather very little of its history. I have heard it said that you know +more about it than any one in the neighbourhood." + +"I do indeed," Mr. Bursfield replied. "No one knows it better than I do. +Until a hundred years ago it was the home of my own family. My father +sold it, reserving only the Dower House for his own use. Since then the +estate has fallen upon evil times." + +He paused for a moment and sat looking into the fireplace, as if he had +forgotten his visitor's presence. Then he added as to himself: + +"No one who has taken the place has prospered. There is a curse upon +it." + +"I sincerely hope not," Jim answered. "It would be a bad look out for us +if that were so." + +"I beg your pardon," the old man returned, almost hastily. "For the +moment I was not thinking of what I was saying. I did not mean of course +that the curse would affect your family. There is no sort of reason why +it should. But the series of coincidences, if by such a term we may +designate them, have certainly been remarkable. Sir Giles Shepfield +purchased it from my father, and was thrown from his horse, and killed +at his own front door. His son Peter was found dead in his bed, some say +murdered, others that he was frightened to death by something, or +someone, he had seen; while his second son, William, was shot in a duel +in Paris, the day after the news reached him that he had come into the +property. The Shepfields being only too anxious to dispose of it, it was +sold to the newly-made Lord Childerbridge, who was eager to acquire it +possibly on account of the name. He remained two years there, but at the +end of that period he also had had enough of the place, and left it +quite suddenly, vowing that he would never enter its doors again. After +that it was occupied off and on by a variety of tenants, but for the +last five years it has been unoccupied. I hear that your father has +worked wonders with it, and that he has almost turned it into a new +place." + +"He has had the work done very carefully," Jim replied. "It is very +difficult to repair an old mansion like Childerbridge without making +such repairs too apparent." + +"I quite agree with you," said the old man drily. "Your modern architect +is no respecter of anything antiquated as a rule." + +"And now I must bid you good-evening," said James. "My father and sister +will be wondering what has become of me." + +He shook hands with Mr. Bursfield, who begged him to excuse him for not +accompanying him to the door, and then followed Miss Decie from the +room. They bade each other adieu at the gate. + +"I hope your dog will soon be himself again," said Jim, in the hope of +being able to prolong the interview, if only for a few moments. "If you +would like me to have him for a few days I would do what I could for +him, and I would see that he is properly looked after." + +"I could not think of giving you so much trouble," she returned. "I +think he will be all right here. I feel certain I shall be able to do +all that is necessary. Will you give my kind regards to your sister? I +should like to tell you that I admire her very much, Mr. Standerton." + +"It is very good of you to say so," he replied. Then clutching at the +hope thus presented to him, he added, "I trust you and she will be great +friends." + +"I hope so," said Miss Decie, and thereupon bade him good-night. + +As he went out to his cart he felt convinced in his own mind that he had +just parted from the most charming girl he had ever met in his life. He +reflected upon the matter as he completed the short distance that +separated him from his home, and when he joined his sister in the +drawing-room later, he questioned her concerning her new acquaintance. + +"She must lead a very lonely life," said Jim. "I was introduced to the +old gentleman she calls grandfather, and if his society is all she has +to depend upon, then I do not envy her her lot." + +His sister had a suspicion of what was in his mind though she did not +say so. Like her brother she had taken a great liking to the girl, and +there was every probability, as time went on, of their becoming firm +friends. + +"It may interest you to hear that she is coming to tea with me on +Thursday," said Alice. + +Jim _was_ interested, and to prove it registered a mental vow that he +would make a point of being at home that day. As a matter of fact he +was, and was even more impressed than before. + +From that day Miss Decie spent a large proportion of her time at the +Manor House. In less than a month she had become Alice's own particular +friend, and Jim felt that the whole current of his life had been +changed. What Mr. Bursfield thought of the turn affairs had taken can be +seen now, but at the time his views were only a matter of conjecture. +That Jim and Miss Decie had managed to fall in love with each other was +quite certain, and that William Standerton approved of his son's choice +was another point that admitted of no doubt. Helen Decie with her pretty +face, and charming manners, was a general favourite. At that stage their +wooing was a matter-of-fact one in the extreme. Jim had no rival, and at +the outset no difficulties worth dignifying with the name. He was +permitted unlimited opportunities of seeing the object of his affections +and, when the time was ripe, and he informed her of the state of his +feelings towards herself, she gave him her hand, and promised, without +any hysterical fuss, to be his wife, with the full intention of doing +her utmost to make him happy. + +"But, Jim," she said, "before you do anything else, you must see Mr. +Bursfield and obtain his consent. He is my guardian, you know, and has +been so good to me that I can do nothing without his approval." + +"I will see him to-morrow morning," Jim replied, "and I fancy I can tell +you what his answer will be. How could it be otherwise when he knows +that your happiness is at stake?" + +"I hope it will be as you say," she answered, but not with her usual +cheerfulness. "Somehow or another grandfather always looks at things in +a different light to other people." + +"You may be sure I will do my best to get him to look at it as we want +him to," her lover returned. "I will bring every argument I can think of +to bear upon him." + +Needless to say, Mr. Standerton, when he heard the news, was delighted, +while Alice professed herself overjoyed at the thought of having Helen +for her sister. In Jim's mind, however, there was the remembrance of +Abraham Bursfield, and of the interview that had to be got through with +that gentleman. + +"It's no use beating about the bush or delaying matters," he said to +himself. "I'll walk back with Helen and get it over to-night instead of +to-morrow morning." + +He informed his sweetheart of his intention. She signified her approval, +and together they strolled across the Park towards the little gate that +opened into the grounds of the Dower House. It was a lovely evening, +and, as you may suppose, they were as happy a young couple as could have +been found in the length and breadth of England. Their engagement had +scarcely commenced, yet Jim was already full of plans for the future. + +"I shall take you from that dreary old house," he said, nodding his head +in the direction of the building they were approaching, "and we will +find a place somewhere in the neighbourhood. How you have managed to +exist here for eight years I cannot imagine." + +"It has been dull certainly," she answered, "but I have the house and my +grandfather to look after, so that my time is fairly well taken up." + +"You must have felt that you were buried alive," he answered. "In the +future, however, we'll change all that. You shall go where, and do, just +as you please." + +She shook her head. + +"To make you happy," she said, "will be enough for me." + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +On reaching the house, Jim bade the butler inform his master that Mr. +Standerton would like to see him. Isaac looked at him as if he were +desirous of making sure of his business before he admitted him, then he +hobbled off in the direction of his master's study, to presently return +with the message that Mr. Bursfield would see Mr. Standerton if he would +be pleased to step that way. Jim thereupon followed the old man into the +room in which he had first made Abraham Bursfield's acquaintance some +four months before. As on that memorable occasion, he found that +gentleman seated at his desk, looking very much as if he had not moved +from it in all that time. + +"I wish you good evening, Mr. Standerton," he said, motioning his +visitor to a chair. "To what may I attribute the honour of this visit?" + +"I have come to you on a most important errand," Jim replied. "Its +purport may surprise you, but I hope it will not disappoint you." + +"May I ask that you will be good enough to tell me what that errand is," +said the old gentleman drily. "I shall then be better able to give you +my opinion." + +"To sum it up in a few words," Jim answered, "I have this afternoon +asked Miss Decie to become my wife, and she has promised to do so. I am +here to ask your approval." + +Bursfield was silent for a few moments. Then he looked sharply up at the +young man. + +"You are of course aware that Miss Decie is only my adopted +granddaughter, and that she has not the least shadow of a claim, either +upon me, or upon such remnants of property as I may possess." + +"I am quite aware of it," Jim replied. "Miss Decie has told me of her +position, and of your goodness to her." + +"The latter of which she is endeavouring to repay by leaving me to spend +the rest of my miserable existence alone. A pretty picture of gratitude, +is it not? But it is the world all over!" + +"I am sure she will always entertain a feeling of profound gratitude +towards you," protested Jim. "She invariably speaks of you with the +greatest affection." + +"I am indeed indebted to her for her consideration," retorted the other +with a sneer. "Unfortunately, shall I say, for you, I prefer something +more than words. No, Mr. Standerton, I cannot give my consent to your +engagement." + +Jim could only stare in complete astonishment. He had never expected +this. + +"You do not mean that you are going to forbid it?" he ejaculated when he +had recovered somewhat from his surprise. + +"I am reluctantly compelled to admit that that _is_ my intention. +Believe me, I have the best of reasons for acting thus. Possibly my +decision may cause you pain. It is irrevocable, however. At my death +Helen will be able to do as she pleases, but until that event takes +place, she must remain with me." + +He took up his pen as if to continue his writing, and so end the +interview. + +"But, Mr. Bursfield, this is an unheard-of determination," cried the +young man. + +"That may be," was the reply. "I believe I have the reputation for being +somewhat singular. My so-called granddaughter is a good girl, and if I +know anything of her character, she will do as I wish in this matter." + +Jim rose to his feet and crossed to the door as if to leave. When he +reached it, however, he turned and faced Mr. Bursfield. + +"You are quite sure that nothing I can say or do will induce you to +alter your decision?" he enquired. + +"Quite," the other replied. + +"Then allow me to give you fair warning that I intend to marry Miss +Decie," retorted Jim, who by this time had quite lost his temper. + +"You are at liberty to do so when I am dead," Mr. Bursfield replied, and +then continued his writing as if nothing out of the common had occurred. + +Without another word Jim left the room. He had arranged that he should +meet Helen in the garden afterwards. It was with a woe-begone face, +however, that he greeted her. + +"While he lives he absolutely refuses to sanction our engagement," he +began. "For some reason of his own he declines to consider the matter +for a moment. He says that at his death you are at liberty to do as you +please, but until that event occurs, you are to remain with him. I +consider it an act of the greatest selfishness." + +Helen heaved a heavy sigh. + +"I was afraid he would not look upon it as favourably as we hoped," she +said. "I will see what I can do with him, however. I know him so well, +and sometimes I can coax him to do things he would not dream of doing +for any one else." + +"Try, darling, then," said Jim, "and let us trust you will be +successful." + +They bade each other good-night, and then James set off on his walk +across the Park. Dusk was falling by this time, and the landscape looked +very beautiful in the evening light. As he strode along he thought of +his position and of the injustice of Bursfield's decision. Then he fell +to picturing what his future life would be like when the old man should +have relented and Helen was his wife. He was still indulging in this +day-dream when he noticed a shabbily-dressed man standing on the path a +short distance ahead of him. Somehow the figure seemed familiar to him, +and when he drew nearer he could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment. The individual was none other than the man he had seen +lying beside the camp fire on the banks of the Darling River, and who, +on a certain memorable evening, had caused his father so much emotion, +_Richard Murbridge_. Whatever Jim's feelings might have been, Murbridge +was at least equal to the occasion. + +"Good evening, Mr. Standerton," he began, lifting his hat politely as he +spoke. "You are doubtless surprised to see me in England." + +"I am more than surprised," James replied, "and I am equally astonished +at finding you on my father's premises after what he said to you in +Australia. If you will be guided by me you will make yourself scarce +without loss of time." + +"You think so, do you? Then let me tell you that you have no notion of +the situation, or of the character of Richard Murbridge. Far from making +myself scarce, I am now on my way to see your father. I fear, however, +he will not kill the fatted calf in my honour; but even that omission +will not deter me. Tenacity of purpose has always been one of my chief +characteristics." + +"If you attempt to see him you will discover that my father has also +some force of character," the other replied. "What is more, I refuse to +allow you to do so. I am not going to permit him to be worried by you +again." + +"My young friend, you little know with whom you are dealing," Murbridge +retorted. "I have travelled from the other side of the world to see your +father, and if you think you can prevent me you are much mistaken. What +is more, let me inform you that you would be doing him a very poor +service by attempting to keep us apart. There is an excellent little inn +in the village, whose landlord and I are already upon the best of terms. +The Squire, William Standerton, late of Australia, but now of +Childerbridge, is an important personage in the neighbourhood. +Everything that is known about him is to his credit. It would be a pity +if----" + +"You scoundrel!" said Jim, approaching a step nearer the other, his +fists clenched, as if ready for action, "If you dare to insinuate that +you know anything to my father's discredit, I'll thrash you to within an +inch of your life." + +Then a fit of indescribable fear swept over him as he remembered the +night in Australia, when his father had shown so much agitation on +learning that the man was on his way to the station to see him. What +could be the secret between them? But no! He knew his father too well to +believe that the man before him could cast even the smallest slur upon +his character. William Standerton's name was a synonym for sterling +integrity throughout the Island Continent. It was, therefore, impossible +that Murbridge could have any hold upon him. + +"You had better leave the place at once by the way you came into it," +Jim continued, "and take very good care that we don't see any more of +you." + +"You crow very loud, my young bantam," returned Murbridge, "but that +does not alter my decision. Now let me tell you this. If you knew +everything, you would just go down on your bended knees and pray to me +to forgive you for your impudence. As I said a moment ago, it's not the +least use your attempting to stop me from seeing your father, for see +him I will, if I have to sit at his gate for a year and wait for him to +come out." + +"Then you'd better go and begin your watch at once, for you shall not +see him at the house," retorted Jim. + +"We'll see about that," said Murbridge, and then turned on his heel, and +set off in the direction of the Park gates. James waited until he had +seen him disappear, then he in his turn resumed his walk. He had to make +up his mind before he reached the house as to whether he would tell his +father of the discovery he had made or not. On mature consideration he +came to the conclusion that it would be better for him to do so. + +For this reason, when he reached the house he enquired for his father, +and was informed that he had gone to his room to dress for dinner. He +accordingly followed him thither, to discover him, brush in hand, at +work upon his silver-grey hair. That night, for some reason, the simple +appointments of that simple room struck Jim in a new and almost pathetic +light. Each article was, like its owner, strong, simple and good. + +"Well, my lad, what is it?" asked Standerton. "I hope your interview +with Mr. Bursfield was satisfactory?" + +"Far from it," Jim replied lugubriously; and then, to postpone the fatal +moment, he proceeded to describe to his father the interview he had had +with the old gentleman. + +"Never mind, my boy, don't be down-hearted about it," said Standerton, +when he had heard his son out. "To-morrow I'll make it my business to go +and see Mr. Bursfield. It will be strange if I can't talk him into a +different way of thinking before I've done with him. But I can see from +your face that there is something else you've got to tell me. What is +it?" + +Jim paused before he replied. He knew how upset his father would be at +the news he had to impart. + +"Father," he said, "I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you. I've been +trying to make up my mind whether I should tell you or not." + +"Tell me, James," answered the other. "I'll be bound it's not so very +bad after all. You've probably been brooding over it, and have magnified +its importance." + +"I sincerely hope I have. I am afraid not, however. Do you remember the +man we saw at Mudrapilla in the Five Mile Paddock, the night before we +left? His name was Murbridge." + +The shock to William Standerton was every bit as severe as James had +feared it would be. + +"What of him?" he cried. "You don't mean to say that he is in England?" + +"I am sorry to say that he is," Jim returned. "I found him in the Park +this evening on his way up to the house." + +The elder man turned and walked to the fireplace, where he stood looking +into it in silence. Then he faced his son once more. + +"What did he say to you?" he enquired at last, his voice shaking with +the anxiety he could not control or hide. + +"He said that he wanted to see you, and that he would do so if he had to +wait at the gates for a year." + +"And he will," said Standerton bitterly; "that man will hunt me to my +grave. I have been cursed with him for thirty years, and do what I will +I cannot throw him off." + +James approached his father, and placed his hand upon his shoulder. + +"Father," he began, "why won't you let me share your trouble with you? +Surely we should be able to find some way of ridding ourselves of this +man?" + +"No, there is no way," said Standerton. "He has got a hold upon me that +nothing will ever shake off." + +"I will not believe, father, that he knows anything to your discredit," +cried Jim passionately. + +"And you are right, my lad," his father replied. "He knows nothing to my +discredit. I hope no one else does; but--but there--do not ask any more. +Some day I will tell you the whole miserable story. But not now. You +must not ask me. Believe me, dear lad, when I say that it would be +better not." + +"Then what will you do?" + +"See him, and buy him off once more, I suppose. Then I shall have peace +for a few months. Do you know where he is staying?" + +"At the 'George and Dragon,'" Jim replied. + +"Then I must send a note down to him and ask him to come up here," said +Standerton. "Now go and dress. Don't trouble yourself about him." + +All things considered, the dinner that night could not be described as a +success. William Standerton was more silent than usual, and his son +almost equalled him. Alice tried hard to cheer them both, but finding +her efforts unsuccessful, she also lapsed into silence. A diversion, +however, was caused before the meal was at an end. The butler had +scarcely completed the circuit of the table with the port, before a +piercing scream ran through the building, followed by another, and yet +another. + +"Good heavens! What's that?" cried Standerton, as he sprang to his feet, +and hurried to the door, to be followed by his son and daughter. + +"It came from upstairs, sir," said the butler, and immediately hurried +up the broad oak staircase two steps at a time. His statement proved to +be correct, for, on reaching the gallery that runs round the hall, he +found a maid-servant lying on the floor in a dead faint. Jim followed +close behind him, and between them they picked the girl up, and carried +her down to the hall, where she was laid upon a settee. The housekeeper +was summoned, and the usual restoratives applied, but it was some time +before her senses returned to her. When she was able to speak, she +looked wildly about her, and asked if "_it was gone_?" When later she +was able to tell her story more coherently, it was as follows. + +In the fulfilment of her usual duties she had gone along the gallery to +tidy Miss Standerton's bedroom. She had just finished her work, and was +closing the door, when she saw, standing before her, not more than +half-a-dozen paces distant, the little hump-backed ghost, of which she +had so often heard mention made in the Servants' Hall. It looked at her, +pointed its finger at her, and a second later vanished. "She knew now," +she declared, "that it was all over with her, and that she was going to +die. Nothing could save her." Having given utterance to this alarming +prophecy, she indulged in a second fit of hysterics, on recovering from +which she was removed by the butler and housekeeper to the latter's +sitting-room, vowing as she went that she could not sleep in the house, +and that she would never know happiness again. Having seen her depart, +the others returned to the dining-room, and had just taken their places +at the table once more, when there was a ring at the front door bell, +and in due course the butler entered with the information that a person +"of the name of Murbridge" had called and would be glad to see Mr. +Standerton. James sprang to his feet. + +"I told him he was not to come near the place," he said. "Let me go and +see him, father." + +"No, no, my boy," said Standerton. "I wrote to him before dinner, as I +told you I should, telling him to come up to-night. Where is he, +Wilkins?" + +"In the library, sir," the butler replied. + +"Very well. I will see him there." + +He accordingly left the room. + +A quarter of an hour later James and Alice heard Murbridge's voice in +the hall. + +"You dare to turn me out of your house?" he was saying, as if in a fit +of uncontrollable rage. "You forbid me to speak to your son and +daughter, do you?" + +"Once and for all, I do," came Standerton's calm voice in reply. "Now +leave the house, and never let me see your face again. Wilkins, open the +door, and take care that this man is never again admitted to my house." + +Murbridge must have gone down the steps, where, as Wilkins asserted +later on, he stood shaking his fist at Mr. Standerton. + +"Curse you, I'll make you pay for this," he cried. "You think yourself +all-powerful because of your wealth, but whatever it costs me, I'll make +you smart for the manner in which you've treated me to-night." + +Then the door was closed abruptly, and no more was seen of him. + +William Standerton's usually rubicund face was very pale when he joined +his son and daughter later. It was plain that the interview he had had +with Murbridge had upset him more than he cared to admit. Alice did her +best to console him, and endeavoured to make him forget it, but her +efforts were a failure. + +"Poor old dad," she said, when she bade him good-night. "It hurts me to +see you so troubled." + +"You must not think about it then," was the answer. "I shall be myself +again in the morning. Good-night, my girl, and may God bless you." + +"God bless you, father," the girl replied earnestly. + +"I do wish you'd let me help you," said Jim, when he and his father were +alone together. "Why did you not let me interview that man?" + +"It would have done no good," Standerton replied. "The fellow was +desperate, and he even went so far as to threaten me. Thereupon I lost +my temper and ordered him out of the house. I fear we shall have more +trouble with him yet." + +"Is it quite impossible for you to tell me the reason of it all?" James +asked, after a moment's hesitation. + +"Well, I have been thinking it over," said his father, "and I have come +to the conclusion that perhaps it would be better, much as it will pain +you, to let you know the truth. But not to-night, dear lad. Let it stand +over, and I will tell you everything to-morrow. Now good-night." + +They shook hands according to custom, and then departed to their +respective rooms. + +Next morning James was about early. He visited the Stables and the Home +Farm, looked in at the kennels, and was back again at the home some +three-quarters of an hour before breakfast. As he crossed the hall to +ascend the stairs, in order to go to his own room, he met Wilkins coming +down, his face white as death. + +"My God, sir," he said hoarsely, "for mercy's sake come upstairs to your +father's room." + +"What is the matter with him?" cried James, realising from the butler's +manner that something terrible had happened. + +But Wilkins did not answer. He only led the way upstairs. Together they +proceeded along the corridor and entered the Squire's bedroom. There +they saw a sight that James will never forget as long as he lives. His +father lay stretched out upon the bed, dead. His eyes were open, and +stared horribly at the ceiling, while his hands were clenched, and on +either side of his throat were discoloured patches. + +These told their own tale. + +_William Standerton had been strangled._ + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +It would be almost impossible to describe in fitting words the effect +produced upon James Standerton, by the terrible discovery he had made. + +"What does it mean, Wilkins?" he asked in a voice surcharged with +horror. "For God's sake, tell me what it means?" + +"I don't know myself, sir," the man replied. "It's too terrible for all +words. Who can have done it?" + +Throwing himself on his knees beside his father's body, James took one +of the cold hands in his. + +"Father! father!" he cried, in an ecstasy of grief, and then broke down +altogether. When calmness returned to him, he rose to his feet, clasped +the hands of the dead man upon the breast, and tenderly closed the +staring eyes. + +"Send for Dr. Brenderton," he said, turning to Wilkins, "and let the +messenger call at the police-station on the way and ask the officer in +charge to come here without a moment's delay." + +The man left him to carry out the order, and James silently withdrew +from the room to perform what he knew would be the saddest task of his +life. As he descended the stairs he could hear his sister singing in the +breakfast-room below. + +"You are very late," she said, as he entered the room. "And father too. +I shall have to give him a talking-to when he does come down." + +Then she must have realised that something was amiss, for she put down +the letter which she had been reading, and took a step towards him. "Has +anything happened, Jim?" she enquired, "your face is as white as death." +Then Jim told her everything. The shock to her was even more terrible +than it had been to her brother, but she did her best to bear up +bravely. + +The doctor and the police officer arrived almost simultaneously. Both +were visibly upset at the intelligence they had received. Short though +William Standerton's residence in the neighbourhood had been, it had, +nevertheless, been long enough for them to arrive at a proper +appreciation of his worth. He had been a good supporter of all the Local +Institutions, a liberal landlord, and had won for himself the reputation +of being an honest and just man. + +"I sympathise with you more deeply than I can say," said the doctor, +when he joined Jim in the library after he had made his examination. "If +there is anything more I can do to help you, I hope you will command +me." + +"Thank you," said Jim simply, "there is not anything however you can do. +Stay! There is one question you can answer. I want you to tell me how +long you think my father has been dead?" + +"Several hours," replied the medical man. "I should say at least six." + +"Is there any sort of doubt in your mind as to the cause of his death?" + +"None whatever," the other replied. "All outward appearances point to +the fact that death is due to strangulation." + +At that moment the police officer entered the room. + +"I have taken the liberty, Mr. Standerton," he said, "of locking the +door of the room and retaining the key in my possession. It will be +necessary for me to report the matter to the Authorities at once, in +order that an Inquest may be held. Before I do so, however, may I put +one or two questions to you?" + +"As many as you like," Jim replied. "I am, of course, more than anxious +that the mystery surrounding my father's death shall be cleared up at +once, and the murderer brought to Justice." + +"In the first place," said the officer, "I see that the window of the +bedroom is securely fastened on the inside, so that the assassin, +whoever he was, could not have made his entrance by this means. Do you +know whether your father was in the habit of locking his door at night?" + +"I am sure he was not. A man who has led the sort of life he has done +for fifty years does not lock his bedroom door on retiring to rest." + +"In that case the murderer must have obtained access to the room through +the house, and I must make it my business to ascertain whether any of +the windows or doors were open this morning. One more question, Mr. +Standerton, and I have finished for the present. Have you any reason to +suppose that your father had an enemy?" + +Jim remembered the suspicion that had been in his mind ever since he had +made the ghastly discovery that morning. + +"I have," he answered. "There was a man in Australia who hated my father +with an undying hatred." + +"Forgive my saying so, but a man in Australia could scarcely have +committed murder in England last night." + +"But the man is not in Australia now. He was here yesterday evening, and +he and my father had a quarrel. The man was ordered out of the house, +and went away declaring that, whatever it might cost, he would be +revenged." + +"In that case it looks as if the mystery were explained. I must make it +my business to discover the whereabouts of the man you mention." + +"He was staying at the 'George and Dragon' yesterday," said Jim. "By +this time, however, he has probably left the neighbourhood. It should +not be difficult to trace him, however; and if you consider a reward +necessary, in order to bring about his apprehension more quickly, offer +it, and I will pay it only too gladly. I shall know no peace until this +dastardly crime has been avenged." + +"I can quite understand that," the doctor remarked. "You will have the +sympathy of the whole County." + +"And now," said the police officer, "I must be going. I shall take a man +with me and call at the 'George and Dragon.' The name of the person you +mentioned to me is----" + +"Richard Murbridge," said Jim, and thereupon furnished the officer with +a description of the man in question. + +"You will, of course, be able to identify him?" + +"I should know him again if I did not see him for twenty years," Jim +answered. "Wilkins, the butler, will also be glad to give you evidence +as to his coming here last night." + +"Thank you," the officer replied. "I will let you know as soon as I have +anything to report." + +The doctor and the police agent thereupon bade him good-day and took +their departure, and Jim went in search of his grief-stricken sister. +The terrible news had by this time permeated the whole household, and +had caused the greatest consternation. + +"I knew what it would be last night," said the cook. "Though Mr. Wilkins +laughed at me, I felt certain that Mary Sampson did not see the Black +Dwarf for nothing. Why, it's well known by everybody that whenever that +horrible little man is seen in the house death follows within +twenty-four hours." + +The frightened maids to whom she spoke shuddered at her words. + +"What's more," the cook continued, "they may talk about murderers as +they please, but they forget that this is not the first time a man has +been found strangled in this house. There is more in it than meets the +eye, as the saying goes." + +"Lor, Mrs. Ryan, you don't mean to say that you think it was the ghost +that killed the poor master?" asked one of the maids, her eyes dilating +with horror. + +"I don't say as how it was, and I don't say as how it wasn't," that lady +replied somewhat ambiguously, and then she added oracularly: "Time will +show." + +In the meantime Jim had written a short note to his sweetheart, telling +her of the crime, and imploring her to come to his sister at once. A +servant was despatched with it, and half-an-hour later Helen herself +appeared in answer. + +"Your poor father. I cannot believe it! It is too terrible," she said to +her lover, when he greeted her in the drawing-room. "Oh! Jim, my poor +boy, how you must feel it. And Alice, too--pray let me go to her at +once." + +Jim conducted her to his sister's room, and then left the two women +together, returning himself to the dead man's study on the floor below. +There he sat himself down to wait, with what patience he could command, +for news from the police station. In something less than an hour it came +in the shape of a note from the inspector, to the effect that Murbridge +had not returned to the "George and Dragon" until a late hour on the +previous night, and that he had departed for London by the train leaving +Childerbridge Junction shortly before five o'clock that morning. +"However," said the writer, in conclusion, "I have wired to the +Authorities in London, furnishing them with an exact description of him, +and I have no doubt that before very long his arrest will be effected." + +With this assurance Jim was perforce compelled to be content. Later came +the intimation from the Coroner to the effect that the Inquest would be +held at the George and Dragon Inn on the following morning. + +Shortly after twelve o'clock Wilkins entered the study with the +information that a person of "_the name of Robins_" desired to see his +master on an important matter, if he would permit him an interview. + +"Show him in," said Jim, forming as he did so a shrewd guess as to the +man's business. + +A few moments later a small, sombrely-dressed individual, resembling a +Dissenting minister more than any one else, made his appearance in the +room. + +"Mr. Standerton, I believe," he began, speaking in a low, deep voice, +that had almost a solemn ring about it. + +"That is my name," the other replied. "What can I do for you?" + +"I am a Scotland Yard detective," the stranger replied, "and I have been +sent down to take charge of the case. I must apologise for intruding +upon you at such a time, but if the murderer is to be brought to +justice, no time mast be lost. I want you to tell me, if you will, all +you can about the crime, keeping nothing back, however trivial you may +consider it." + +James thereupon proceeded to once more narrate what he knew regarding +the murder. He discovered that the detective had already been informed +as to the ominous suspicion that had attached itself to Murbridge. + +"The first point to be settled," he said, when James had finished, "is +the way in which the man got into the house. You have not +cross-questioned the domestics upon the subject, I suppose?" + +James shook his head. + +"I have been too much upset to think of such a thing," he answered. "But +if you deem such a proceeding necessary, you are, of course, quite at +liberty to do so. Take what steps you think best; all I ask of you is to +find my father's murderer." + +"I presume you heard nothing suspicious during the night?" + +"Nothing at all. But it is scarcely likely that I should do so, as my +room is in another part of the house." + +"Who is responsible for the locking up at night?" + +"The butler, Wilkins." + +"Has he been with you any length of time?" + +"We ourselves have only been a few months in England," Jim replied, "but +since he has been in our service we have found him a most careful and +trustworthy man. There cannot be any shadow of suspicion against him." + +"Very likely not," the detective answered. "But in my profession we +often find criminals in the most unlikely quarters. Mind you, sir, I +don't say that he had anything to do with the crime itself. It is not +outside the bounds of possibility, however, that his honesty may have +been tampered with, even to the extent of leaving a window unfastened, +or a door unlocked. However, I have no doubt I shall soon learn all +there is to be known about Mr. Wilkins." + +When he had asked one or two other important questions, he withdrew to +question the servants. From the account James received of the +examination later, it would not appear to have been a very successful +business. + +Wilkins asserted most positively that he had made every door and window +in the house secure before retiring to rest. He was as certain as a man +could be that no lock, bolt, or bar had been moved from its place during +the night, and the housekeeper corroborated his assertions. The +detective's face wore a puzzled expression. + +"I've been round every flower-bed outside the windows," he said to the +police inspector, "and not a trace of a footprint can I find. And yet we +know that Murbridge was away from the inn at a late hour, and there's +evidence enough upstairs to show that somebody made his way into Mr. +Standerton's room between midnight and daybreak. Later I'll go down to +the village and make a few enquiries there. It's just possible somebody +may have met the man upon the road." + +He was as good as his word, and when he returned to the Manor House at a +late hour he knew as much about Richard Murbridge's movements on the +preceding evening as did any man in the neighbourhood. + +Jim dined alone that night, though it would be almost a sarcasm to +dignify his meal with such a name. He had spent the afternoon going +through his father's papers, in the hope of being able to discover some +clue that might ultimately enable him to solve the mystery concerning +Murbridge. He was entirely unsuccessful, however. Among all the papers +with which the drawers were filled, there was not one scrap of writing +that could in anyway enlighten him. They were the plain records of a +successful business man's career, and, so far as Murbridge was +concerned, quite devoid of interest. I do not think James Standerton +ever knew how much he loved his father until he went through that +drawer. The neat little packets, so carefully tied up and labelled, +spoke to him eloquently of the dead man, and, as he replaced them where +he had found them, a wave of intense longing to be revenged on his +father's cowardly assassin swept over him. He was in the act of closing +the drawer, when there came a tap at the door, and Wilkins entered to +inform him that the detective had returned and was at his service, +should he desire to see him. + +"Show him in, Wilkins," said James, locking the drawer of the table, and +placing the key in his pocket as he spoke. + +The butler disappeared, to return a few moments later accompanied by the +individual in question. + +"Well, Mr. Robins," said Jim, when they were alone together, "what have +you discovered?" + +"Nothing of very much importance, sir, I am afraid," the other replied. +"I have found out that Murbridge left the park by the main gates almost +on the stroke of half-past eight last night. I have also discovered that +he was again seen within a few minutes of eleven o'clock, standing near +the small stile at the further end of the park." + +"I know the place," Jim replied. "Go on! What was he doing there!" + +"Well, sir," continued the detective, "that's more than I can tell you. +But if he were there at such an hour, you may be sure it was not with +any good intention. I have made enquiries from the keepers, and they +have informed me that it is quite possible to reach the house by the +path that leads from the stile without being observed." + +"It winds through the plantation," said Jim, "and it is very seldom +used. Lying outside the village as it does, it is a very roundabout way +of reaching the house. What have they to say about him at the inn?" + +"Not very much, sir. But what little they do say is important. The +landlord informs me that immediately after his arrival in the village he +began to ask questions concerning the Squire. There is no doubt that +your father was his enemy, and also that Murbridge cherished a bitter +grudge against him. He did not tell the landlord who he was, or what his +reasons were for being in the neighbourhood. It is certain, however, +that had your father not been living here he would not have come near +the place. On receipt of Mr. Standerton's letter, he set off for the +house, and did not return to the inn until a late hour. In point of +fact, it was between twelve and one o'clock when he _did_ come in. The +landlord is unable to give the exact time, for the reason that he was +too sleepy to take much notice of it. He does remember, however, that +Murbridge was in a very bad temper, and that he was excited about +something. He called for some brandy, and moreover stated that his +holiday was at an end, and that he was leaving for London by the early +train next morning. This he did. That is as far as the landlord's tale +goes. It seems to me that, unless we can prove something more definite +against him than the evidence we have been able to obtain up to the +present moment, it will be difficult to bring the crime home to him." + +"But we must prove more," cried Jim, with considerable vehemence. "I am +as certain in my own mind as I can be of anything that he was the man +who killed my father, and if it costs me all I am worth in the world, +and if I am compelled to spend the rest of my life in doing it, I'll +bring the crime home to him somehow or another. It is impossible that he +should be allowed to take that good, honest life, and get off scot +free." + +"I can quite understand your feelings, sir," said the detective, "and +you may rest assured that, so far as we are concerned, no stone shall be +left unturned to bring the guilty man to justice. Of course it is full +early to speak like this, but if you will review the case in your own +mind, you will see that, up to the present, there is really nothing +tangible against the man. We know that he hated your father, and that he +stated his intention of doing him a mischief, and also that on the night +he uttered this threat the murder was committed. From this it would +appear that he is responsible for it. But how are we to prove that he +got into the house? No one saw him, and there are no suspicious +footprints on the flower-beds outside. At the same time we know that he +did not return to the inn until a late hour, and that, when he did, he +was in an excited state. Yet why should he not have gone for a walk, and +might not his excitement be attributed to resentment of the treatment he +received at your father's hands? I am very much afraid it would be +difficult to induce a Jury to convict on evidence such as we are, so +far, able to bring against him. However, we shall hear what the Coroner +has to say to-morrow. In the meantime, if you do not require my presence +longer, I will return to the inn. It will be necessary for me to be +early astir to-morrow." + +James bade him good-night, and when he had departed, went upstairs to +his sister's room. He found her more composed than she had been when he +had last seen her, and able to talk of the dead man without breaking +down as she had hitherto done. He informed her of the detective's visit, +and of the information he had received from him. It was nearly midnight +when he left her. The lamp in the hall was still burning, and he +descended the great staircase with the intention of telling Wilkins that +he could lock up the house and retire to rest. To his astonishment, when +he reached the hall, he beheld the butler standing near the dining-room +door, his face as white as the paper upon which I am now writing. + +"What on earth is the matter, man?" asked James, who, for the moment, +was compelled to entertain the notion that the other had been drinking. + +"I've seen it, sir," said Wilkins in a voice that his master scarcely +recognised. "I'd never believe it could be true, but now I've witnessed +it with my own eyes." + +"Witnessed what?" James enquired. + +"_The ghost_, sir," Wilkins replied; "the ghost of the Little Black +Dwarf." + +Jim was in no humour for such talk then, and I very much regret to say +he lost his temper. + +"Nonsense," he answered. "You must have imagined that you saw it." + +"No, sir, I will take my Bible Oath that I did not. I saw it as plain as +I see you now. I'd been in to lock up the dining-room, and was standing +just where I am now, never thinking of such a thing, when I happened to +look up in the gallery, and there, sir, as sure as I'm alive, was the +ghost, leaning on the rail, and looking down at me. His eyes were +glaring like red-hot coals. Then he pointed upwards and disappeared. I +will never laugh at another person again, when they say that they have +seen him. May God defend us from further trouble!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +The inquest on the body of William Standerton was held next morning at +the George and Dragon Inn in the village, and was attended by more than +half the Neighbourhood. The affair had naturally caused an immense +sensation in all ranks of Society, and, as the Coroner observed in his +opening remarks, universal sympathy was felt for the bereaved family. +Wilkins, who had not altogether recovered from the fright he had +received on the night before, was the first witness. He stated that he +had been the first to discover the murder, and then informed the coroner +of the steps he had immediately taken. Questioned as to the visit paid +to the Squire by Murbridge, he said that the latter was in a great rage +when turned away from the house, and on being asked to do so, repeated +the words he had made use of. In conclusion, he said that he was quite +certain that no door or window in the house had been left unfastened on +the night in question, and that he was equally certain that none were +found either open, or showing signs of having been tampered with in the +morning. Jim followed next, and corroborated what the butler had said. A +sensation was caused when he informed the Coroner that Murbridge had +threatened his father in his hearing in Australia. He described his +meeting with the man in the park before dinner, and added that he had +forbidden him to approach the house. Examined by the Coroner, he was +unable to say anything concerning the nature of the quarrel between the +two men. The doctor was next called, and gave evidence as to being +summoned to the Manor House. He described the body, and gave it as his +opinion that death was due to strangulation. Then followed the police +officer. The landlord was the next witness, and he gave evidence to the +effect that the man Murbridge had stayed at the inn, had been absent on +the evening in question from eight o'clock until half-past twelve, and +that he had departed for London by the first train on the following +morning. The driver of the mail-cart, who had seen him standing beside +the stile, was next called. He was quite sure that he had made no +mistake as to the man's identity, for the reason that he had had a +conversation with him at the George and Dragon Inn earlier in the +evening. This completing the evidence, the jury, without leaving the +room, brought in a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person or +persons unknown," and for the time being the case was at an end. + +"You must not be disappointed, my dear sir," said Robins, afterwards; +"it is all you can possibly expect. The jury could do no more on such +evidence. But we've got our warrant for the arrest of Murbridge, and, as +soon as we are able to lay our hands upon him, we may be able to advance +another and more important step. I am going up to London this afternoon, +and I give you my assurance I shall not waste a moment in getting upon +his track." + +"And you will let me know how you succeed?" + +"I will be sure to do so," Robins replied. + +"In the meantime, there can be no harm in my putting an advertisement in +the papers, offering a reward of five hundred pounds to anyone who will +give such information as may lead to the discovery of the murderer." + +"It is a large sum to offer, sir, and will be sure to bring you a lot of +useless correspondence. Still, it may be of some use, and I would +suggest that you send it to the daily papers without delay." + +"It shall be done at once." + +Jim thereupon bade the detective good-bye, and returned to the house to +inform his sister of what had taken place at the inquest. She quite +agreed with him on the matter of the reward, and an advertisement was +accordingly despatched to the London newspapers, together with a cheque +to cover the cost of the insertions. + +Next day the mortal remains of William Standerton were conveyed to their +last resting-place in the graveyard of the little village church. After +the funeral Jim drove back to the Manor House, accompanied by his +father's solicitor, who had travelled down from London for the ceremony. +He was already aware that, by his father's death, he had become a rich +man, but he had no idea how wealthy he would really be, until the will +was read to him. When this had been done he was informed that he was +worth upwards of half-a-million sterling. He shook his head sadly: + +"I'd give it all up willingly, every penny of it," he answered, "to have +my father alive. Even now I can scarcely believe that I shall never see +him again. It seems an extraordinary thing to me that the police have, +so far, not been able to obtain any clue as to the whereabouts of +Murbridge. Look at this heap of letters," he continued, pointing to a +pile of correspondence lying upon the writing table, "each one hails +from somebody who has either seen Murbridge or professes to know where +he is to be found. One knows just such a man working in a baker's shop +in Shoreditch; another has lately returned with him on board a liner +from America, and on receipt of the reward will give me his present +address; a third says that he is a waiter in a popular restaurant in +Oxford Street; a fourth avers that he is hiding near the Docks, and +intends leaving England this week. So the tale goes on, and will +increase, I suppose, every day." + +"The effect of offering so large a reward," replied the lawyer. "My only +hope is that it will not have the effect of driving him out of England. +In which case the difficulty of laying hands upon him will be more than +doubled." + +"He need not think that flight will save him," Jim replied. "Let him go +where he pleases, I will run him to earth." + + * * * * * + +Helen had spent the day at the Manor House, trying to comfort Alice in +her distress. At nine o'clock she decided to return to her own home, and +Jim determined to accompany her. They accordingly set off together. So +occupied were they by their own thoughts, that for some time neither of +them spoke. Jim was the first to break the silence. + +"Helen," he said, "I cannot thank you sufficiently for your goodness to +Alice during this awful time. But for you I do not know how she would +have come through it." + +"Poor girl," Helen answered, "my heart aches for her." + +"She was so fond of our father," James answered. + +"Not more than you were, dear," Helen replied; "but you have borne your +trouble so bravely--never once thinking of yourself." + +The night was dark, and there was no one about, so why should he not +have slipped his arm round her waist. + +"Helen," he said, "the time has come for me to ask what our future is to +be. Will you wait for Mr. Bursfield's death before you become my wife, +or will you court his displeasure and trust yourself to me?" + +"I would trust myself to you at any time," she answered. "But do you not +see how I am situated? I owe everything to my Guardian. But for his care +of me in all probability I should now be a governess, a music-mistress, +or something of that sort. He has fed me, clothed me, and loved me, +after his own fashion, for a number of years. Would it not, therefore, +seem like an act of the basest ingratitude to leave him desolate, merely +to promote my own happiness?" + +"And does my happiness count for nothing?" Jim returned. "But let us +talk the matter over dispassionately, and see what can be done. Don't +think me heartless, Helen, when I say, that you must realise that Mr. +Bursfield is a very old man. It is just possible, therefore, that the +event we referred to a few moments ago may take place in the near +future. Now, owing to my father's death, I ought not to be married for +some time to come. I propose, therefore, that we wait until, say, the +end of six months, and then make another appeal to your guardian? It is +just possible he may be more inclined to listen to reason then. What do +you say? + +"I will do whatever you wish," she answered simply. "I fear, however, +that, while Mr. Bursfield lives, he will take no other view of the +case." + +"We must hope that he will," Jim replied. "In the meantime, as long as I +know that you are true to me, and love me as I love you, I shall be +quite happy." + +"You do believe that I love you, don't you, Jim?" she asked, looking up +at her lover in the starlight. + +"Of course I do," he answered. "God knows what a lucky man I deem myself +for having been permitted to win your love. I am supremely thankful for +one thing, and that is, the fact that my father learnt to know and love +you before his death." + +"As I had learnt to love him," she replied. "But there, who could help +doing so?" + +"One man at least," Jim replied. "Unhappily, we have the worst of +reasons for knowing that there was one person in the world who bore him +a mortal hatred." + +"Have you heard anything yet from the police regarding Murbridge?" + +"Not a word," Jim answered. "They have given me their most positive +assurance that they are leaving no stone unturned to find the man, but, +so far, they appear to have been entirely unsuccessful. If they do not +soon run him down I shall take up the case myself, and see what I can do +with it. And now here we are at the gate. You do not know how hard it is +for me to let you go, even for so short a time. With the closing of that +door the light seems to go out of my life." + +"I hope and pray that you will always be able to say that," she answered +solemnly. + +Then they bade each other good-night, and she disappeared into the +house, leaving Jim free to resume his walk. He had not gone many steps, +however, before he heard his name called, and, turning round, beheld no +less a person than Mr. Bursfield hurrying after him. He waited for the +old gentleman to come up. It was the first time that Jim had known him +to venture beyond the limits of his own grounds. The circumstance was as +puzzling as it was unusual. + +"Will you permit me a short conversation with you, Mr. Standerton?" Mr. +Bursfield began. "I recognised your voice as you bade Miss Decie +good-bye, and hurried after you in the hope of being able to see you." + +For a moment Jim hoped that Mr. Bursfield had come after him in order to +make amends, and to withdraw his decision regarding his marriage with +Helen. This hope, however, was soon extinguished. + +"Mr. Standerton," the old gentleman continued, "you may remember what I +told you a few evenings since concerning the proposal you did me the +honour of making on behalf of my ward, Miss Decie?" + +"I remember it perfectly," Jim replied; "it is scarcely likely that I +should forget." + +"Since then I have given the matter careful consideration, and I may say +that I have found no reason for deviating from my previous decision." + +"I am sorry indeed to hear that. The more so as your ward and myself are +quite convinced that our affections are such as will not change or grow +weaker with time. Indeed, Mr. Bursfield, I have had another idea in my +mind which I fancied might possibly commend itself to you, and induce +you to reconsider your decision. You have already told me that Miss +Decie's presence is necessary to your happiness. As a proof of what a +good girl she is I might inform you that, only a few moments since, she +told me that she could not consent to leave you, for the reason that she +felt that she owed all she possessed to you." + +"I am glad that Helen has at least a spark of gratitude," the other +answered with a sneer. "It is a fact that she does owe everything to me. +And now for this idea of yours." + +"What I was going to propose is," said Jim, "that in six months' time, +or so, you should permit me to marry your ward, and from that day +forward should take up your residence with us." + +The old man looked at him in astonishment. Then he burst into a torrent +of speech. + +"Such a thing is not to be thought of," he cried. "I could not consider +it for a moment; it would be little short of madness. I am a recluse. I +care less than nothing for society. My books are my only companions; I +want, and will have, no others. Besides, I could not live in that house +of yours, were you to offer me all the gold in the world." + +Here he grasped Jim's arm so tightly that the young man almost winced. + +"I have, of course, heard of your father's death," he continued. "It is +said that he was murdered. But, surely, knowing what you do, you are not +going to be foolish enough to believe that?" + +"And why not?" Jim enquired in great surprise. "I can do nothing else, +for every circumstance of the case points to murder. Good heavens! Mr. +Bursfield, if my father were not murdered, how did he meet his death?" + +The other was silent for a moment before he replied. Then he drew a step +nearer, and, looking up at Jim, asked in a low voice: + +"Have you forgotten what I said to you concerning the mystery of the +house? Did I not tell you that one of the former owners was found dead +in bed, having met his fate in identically the same manner as your +father did? Does not this appear significant to you? If not, your +understanding must indeed be dull." + +The new explanation of the mystery was so extraordinary, that Jim did +not know what to say or think about it. That his father's death had +resulted from any supernatural agency had never crossed his mind. + +"I fear I am not inclined to agree with you, Mr. Bursfield," he said +somewhat coldly. "Even if one went so far as to believe in such things, +the evidence given by the doctor at the inquest would be sufficient to +refute the idea." + +"In that case let us drop the subject," Bursfield answered. "My only +desire was to warn you. It is rumoured in the village that on the night +of your father's death one of your domestics was confronted by the +spectre known as the Black Dwarf, and fainted in consequence. My old +man-servant also told me this morning that your butler had seen it on +another occasion. I believe the late Lord Childerbridge also saw it, and +in consequence determined to be rid of the place at any cost. No one has +been able to live there, and I ask you to be warned in time, Mr. +Standerton. For my own part, as I have said before, though it is the +home of my ancestors, I would not pass a night at Childerbridge for the +wealth of all the Indies." + +"In that case you must be more easily frightened than I am," said Jim. +"On the two occasions you mention, the only evidence we have to rely +upon is the word of a hysterical maid-servant, and the assurance of a +butler, who, for all we know to the contrary, may have treated himself +more liberally than usual, on that particular evening, to my father's +port." + +"Scoff as you will," Bursfield returned, "but so far as you are +concerned I have done my duty. I have given you your warning, and if you +do not care to profit by it, that has nothing to do with me. And now to +return to the matter upon which I hastened after you this evening. I +refer to your proposed marriage with my ward." + +Jim said nothing, but waited for Mr. Bursfield to continue. He had a +vague feeling that what he was about to hear would mean unhappiness for +himself. + +"I informed you the other day," the latter continued, "that it was +impossible for me to sanction your proposal. I regret that I am still +compelled to adhere to this decision. In point of fact, I feel that it +is necessary for me to go even further, and to say that I must for the +future ask you to refrain from addressing yourself to Miss Decie at +all." + +"Do you mean that you refuse me permission to see her or to speak with +her?" Jim asked in amazement. + +"If, by seeing her, you mean holding personal intercourse with her, I +must confess that you have judged the situation correctly. I am desirous +of preventing Miss Decie from falling into the error of believing that +she will ever be your wife." + +"But, my dear sir, this is an unheard-of proceeding. Why should you +object to me in this way? You know nothing against me, and you are aware +that I love your ward. You admitted, on the last occasion that I +discussed the matter with you, that Miss Decie might expect little or +nothing from you at your death. Why, therefore, in the name of +Commonsense, are you so anxious to prevent her marrying the man she +loves, and who is in a position to give her all the comfort and +happiness wealth and love can bestow?" + +"You have heard my decision," the other replied quietly. "I repeat that +on no consideration will I consent to a marriage between my ward and +yourself. And, as I said just now, I will go even further, and forbid +you most positively for the future either to see or to communicate with +her." + +"And you will not give me your reasons for taking this extraordinary +step?" + +"I will not. That is all I have to say to you, and I have the honour to +wish you a good evening." + +"But I have not finished yet," said Jim, whose anger by this time had +got the better of him. "Once and for all, let me tell you this, Mr. +Bursfield: I have already informed you that I am determined, at any +cost, to make Miss Decie my wife. I might add now, that your tyrannical +behaviour will only make me the more anxious to do so. If the young lady +deems it incumbent upon her to await your consent before marrying me, I +will listen to her and not force the matter; but give her up I certainly +will not so long as I live." + +"Beware, sir, I warn you, beware!" the other almost shrieked. + +"If that is all you have to say to me I will bid you good evening." + +But Bursfield did not answer; he merely turned on his heel and strode +back in the direction of the Dower House. Jim stood for a moment looking +after his retreating figure, and when he could no longer distinguish it, +turned and made his way homewards. + +On reaching the Manor House he informed his sister of what had taken +place between himself and Helen's guardian. + +"He must be mad to treat you so," said Alice, when her brother had +finished. "He knows that Helen loves you, and surely he cannot be so +selfish as to prefer his own comfort to her happiness." + +"I am afraid that is exactly what he does do," said Jim. "However, I +suppose I must make allowances. Old age is apt to be selfish. Besides, +we have to remember, as Helen says, that she owes much to him. No! we +will do as we proposed, and wait six months, and see what happens then!" + +But though he spoke so calmly he was by no means at ease in his own +mind. He was made much happier, however, by a note which was brought to +him as he was in the act of retiring to rest. + +It was in Helen's handwriting, and he tore it open eagerly. + + "My own dear love," it ran, "Mr. Bursfield has just informed me + of what took place between you this evening. It is needless for + me to say how sorry I am that such a thing should have + occurred. I cannot understand his behaviour in this matter. + That something more than any thought of his own personal + comfort makes him withhold his consent, I feel certain. + Whatever happens, however, you know that I will be true to you; + and if I cannot be your wife, I will be wife to no other man. + + "Your loving Helen." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +While the letter from Helen cheered James Standerton wonderfully, it did +not in any way help him out of his difficulty with Mr. Bursfield. The +latter had most decisively stated his intention not to give his consent +to the marriage of his adopted granddaughter with the young Squire of +Childerbridge. What his reasons were for taking such a step, neither Jim +nor Helen could form any idea. It was a match that most guardians would +have been only too thankful to have brought about. In spite of Helen's +statements, he could only, after mature consideration, assign it to the +old man's natural selfishness, and, however bitterly he might resent his +treatment, in his own heart he knew there was nothing for it but to wait +with such patience as he could command for a change in the other's +feelings towards himself. He had the satisfaction of knowing, however, +that Helen loved him, and that she would be true to him, happen what +might. He was not a more than usually romantic young man, but I happen +to know that he carried that letter about with him constantly, while he +had read it so often that he must have assuredly known its contents by +heart. All things considered, it is wonderful what comfort it is +possible for a love-sick young man to derive from a few commonplace +words written upon a sheet of notepaper. + +After the momentous interview with Mr. Bursfield, the days went by with +their usual sameness at Childerbridge. No news arrived from the +detective, Robins. Apparently it was quite impossible for him to +discover the smallest clue as to Murbridge's whereabouts. To all intents +and purposes he had disappeared as completely as if he had been caught +up into the skies. The reward, beyond bringing a vast amount of trouble +and disappointment to Jim, had not proved of the least use to any one +concerned. + +Numerous half-witted folk, as is usual in such cases, had come forward +and given themselves up, declaring that they had committed the murder, +but the worthlessness of their stories was at once proved in every case. +One man, it was discovered, had been on the high seas another had never +been near Childerbridge in his life; while a third, and this was a still +more remarkable case, was found to have been an inmate of one of Her +Majesty's convict establishments at the time the murder was committed. + +"Never mind," said Jim to himself; "he must be captured sooner or later. +If the police authorities cannot catch him, I'll take up the case +myself, and run him to ground, wherever he may be." + +As he said this he looked up at the portrait of his father, which hung +upon the wall of his study. + +"Come what may, father," he continued, "if there is any justice in the +world, your cruel murder shall be avenged." + +Another month went by, and still the same want of success attended the +search for Murbridge. + +"Alice, I can stand it no longer," said Jim to his sister one evening, +after he had read a communication from Robins. "I can gather from the +tone of this letter that they are losing heart. I ought to have taken up +the case myself at the commencement, and not have wasted all this +precious time. The man may now be back in Australia, South America, or +anywhere else." + +Alice crossed the room and placed her hand on his shoulder. + +"Dear old Jim," she said, "I am sure you know how I loved our father." + +"Of course I do," said Jim, looking up at her. "No one knows better. But +I can see there is something you want to say to me. What is it?" + +"Don't be angry with me, Jim," she replied, seating herself on the arm +of his chair "but deeply as that man has wronged us, I cannot help +thinking that we should not always be praying for vengeance against him, +as we are doing. Do you think it is what our father, with his noble +nature, would have wished?" + +Jim was silent for a moment. The desire for vengeance by this time had +taken such a hold upon him, and had become such an integral part of his +constitution, that he was staggered beyond measure by her words. + +"Surely you don't mean to say, Alice," he stammered, "that you are +willing to forgive the man who so cruelly killed our father?" + +"I shall try to forgive him," the girl replied. "I say again, that I am +sure it is what our father would have wished us to do." + +"I am no such saint," Jim returned angrily. "I wish to see that man +brought to justice, and, what's more, if no one else will, I mean to +bring him. He took that noble life, and he must pay the penalty of his +crime. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, was the old law. Why +should we change it?" + +Alice rose and crossed the room to her own chair with a little sigh. She +knew her brother well enough to be sure that, having once made up his +mind, he would carry out his determination. + +On the morning following this conversation, Jim was standing after +breakfast at the window of his sister's boudoir, looking out upon the +lawn, across which the leaves were being driven by the autumn wind. His +brow was puckered with thought. As a matter of fact, he was wondering at +the moment how he should commence his search for Murbridge. London was +such a great city, and for an amateur to attempt to find a man in it, +who desired to remain hidden, was very much like setting himself the +task of hunting for a needle in a bundle of hay. He neither knew where +or how to begin. While he was turning the question over in his mind, his +quick eye detected the solitary figure of a man walking across the park +in the direction of the house. He watched it pass the clump of +rhododendrons, and then lost it again in the dip beyond the lake. +Presently it reappeared, and within a few moments it was within easy +distance of the house. At first Jim had watched the figure with but +small interest; later, however, his sister noticed that he gradually +became excited. When the stranger had passed the corner of the house he +turned excitedly to his sister. + +"Good gracious, Alice!" he cried, "it surely cannot be." + +"What cannot be?" asked Alice, leaving her chair, and approaching the +window. + +"That man coming up the drive," Jim replied. "It doesn't seem possible +that it can be he, yet I've often boasted that I should know his figure +anywhere. If it were not the most improbable thing in the world, I +should be prepared to swear that it's Terence O'Riley." + +"But, my dear Jim, what could Terence be doing here, so many thousand +miles from our old home?" + +But Jim did not wait to answer the question. Almost before Alice had +finished speaking he had reached the front door, had opened it, and was +wildly shaking hands with a tall, spare man, with a humorous, yet +hatchet-shaped face, so sunburnt as to be almost the colour of mahogany. + +The newcomer, Terence O'Riley, was a character in his way. He boasted +that he knew nothing of father or mother, or relations of any sort or +kind. He had received his Hibernian patronymic from his first friend, a +wild Irishman on the diggings where he was born. He had entered William +Standerton's service at the age of twelve, as horse-boy, and for upwards +of thirty years had remained his faithful henchman. In every respect he +was a typical Bushman. He could track like a blackfellow, ride any horse +that was ever foaled, find his way in the thickest country with unerring +skill, was a first-class rifle shot, an unequalled judge of cattle, a +trifle pugnacious at certain seasons, but, and this seems an anomaly, at +other times he possessed a heart as tender as a little child. When +William Standerton and his family had left Australia, his grief had been +sincere. For weeks he had been inconsolable, and it meant a sure +thrashing for any man who dared to mention James' name in his hearing. + +"What on earth does this mean, Terence?" asked Jim, who could scarcely +believe that it was their old servant who stood before him. + +"It means a good many things, Master Jim," said Terence, with the drawl +in his voice peculiar to Australian Bushmen. "It's a longish yarn, but, +my word, I _am_ just glad to see you again, and, bless me, there's Miss +Alice too, looking as pretty as a grass parrot on a gum log." + +With a smile of happiness on her face, that had certainly not been there +since her father's death, Alice came forward and gave Terence her hand. +He took it in his great palm, and I think, but am not quite sure, that +there were tears in his eyes. + +"Come in at once," said Jim. "You must tell us your tale from beginning +to end. Even now I can scarcely realise that it is you. Every moment I +expect to see you vanish into mid-air. If I had been asked where you +were at this moment, I should have said 'out in one of the back +paddocks, say the Bald Mountain, riding along the fence on old Smoker, +with Dingo trotting at his heels.'" + +"No, sir," Terence answered, looking round the great hall as he spoke, +"I sold Smoker at Bourke before I came away, and one of the overseers +has Dingo, poor old dog. The fact of the matter was, sir, after you left +I got a bit lonesome, and the old place didn't seem like the same. I had +put by a matter of between four and five hundred pounds, and, thinks I +to myself, there's the Old Country, that they say is so beautiful, and +to think that I've never set eyes on it. Why shouldn't I make the trip, +and just drop in and see the Boss, and Master Jim, and Miss Alice in +their new home. Who knows but that they might want a colt broken for +them. As soon as I made up my mind, I packed my bag and set off for +Melbourne, took a passage on board a ship that was sailing next day, and +here I am, sir. I hope your father is well, sir?" + +There was an awkward pause, during which Alice left the room. + +"Is it possible you haven't heard, Terence?" Jim enquired, in a hushed +voice. + +"I've not heard anything, sir," Terence answered. "I was six weeks on +the water, you see. I _do_ hope, sir, there is nothing wrong." + +Jim thereupon told Terence the whole story of his father's death. When +he had finished the Bushman's consternation may be better imagined than +described. For some moments it deprived him of speech. He could only +stare at Jim in horrified amazement. + +"Tell me, sir, that they've got the man who did it," he said at last, +bringing his hand down with a bang on the table beside which he was +seated. "Tell me that they're going to hang the blackguard who killed +the kindest master in all the world, or I'll say that there's not a +trooper in England that's fit to call himself a policeman." + +The poor fellow was genuinely affected. + +"They haven't caught him yet, Terence," said Jim. "The police have been +searching for him everywhere for weeks past, but without success." + +"But they must find him, run him down, and hang him, just as we used to +string up the cowardly dingoes out back when they worried the sheep. If +I have to track him like a Nyall blackfellow, I'll find him." + +"Terence, I believe you've come at the right time," said Jim, holding +out his hand. "Seeing the way the police Authorities are managing +affairs, I've decided to take up the case myself. You were a faithful +servant to my father, and you've known me all my life. You've got a head +on your shoulders--do you remember who it was that found out who stole +those sheep from Coobalah Out Station? Come with me, old friend, and +we'll run the villain down together. _I_ would not wish for a better +companion." + +"I'm thankful now that I came, sir," Terence replied. "You mark my +words, we'll find him, wherever he's stowed himself away." + +From that day Terence was made a member of the Childerbridge household. +In due course, accompanied by Jim, he inspected the stables and was more +than a little impressed by the luxury with which the animals were +surrounded. + +"Very pretty," he muttered to himself, "and turned out like racehorses; +all the same, I wouldn't like to ride 'em after cattle in the Ranges on +a dark night." + +The sedate head coachman could not understand the situation. He was +puzzled as to what manner of man this might be, who, though so poorly +dressed, while treating his master with the utmost respect, conversed +with him on terms of perfect equality. His amazement, however, was +turned into admiration later in the day when Mr. O'Riley favoured him +with an exposition of the gentle art of horse-breaking. + +"He's a bit too free and easy in his manners towards the governor for my +likin'," he informed the head gardener afterwards, "but there's no +denyin' the fact that he's amazin' clever with a youngster. They do say +as 'ow he did all Mr. Standerton's horse-breaking in foreign parts." + +It soon became apparent that Terence was destined to become one of the +most popular personages at Childerbridge. His quaint mannerisms, +extraordinary yarns, and readiness to take any sort of work, however +hard, upon his shoulders, won for him a cordial welcome from the +inhabitants of the Manor House. As for Jim and Alice, for some reason +best known to themselves they derived a comfort from his presence that +at any other time they would scarcely have believed possible. + +On the day following Terence's arrival James stood on the steps at the +front door, watching him school a young horse in the park. The +high-spirited animal was inclined to be troublesome, but with infinite +tact and patience Terence was gradually asserting his supremacy. Little +by little, as he watched him, Jim's thoughts drifted away from +Childerbridge, and another scene, equally familiar, rose before his +eyes. He saw a long creeper-covered house, standing on the banks of a +mighty river. A man was seated in the verandah, and that man was his +father. Talking to him from the garden path was another--no less a +person than Terence. Then he himself emerged from the house and stood by +his father's side--a little boy of ten, dressed in brown holland, and +wearing a broad-brimmed straw hat upon his head. Upon his coming his +father rose, and, taking him by the hand, led him down to the +stock-yard, accompanied by Terence. In the yard stood the prettiest pony +that mortal boy had ever set eyes on. + +"There, my boy," said his father, "that is my birthday present to you. +Terence has broken him." + +And now here was this self-same Terence in England, of all places in the +world, making his hunters for him, while the father, who all his life +had proved so generous to him, was lying in his grave, cruelly murdered. +At that moment Alice came up behind him. + +"What are you thinking of, Jim?" she enquired. + +"I was thinking of Mudrapilla and the old days," he answered. "Seeing +Terence out there on that horse brought it back to me so vividly that +for a moment I had quite forgotten that I was in England. Do you know, +Alice, that sometimes a wild longing to be back there takes possession +of me. If only Helen were my wife, I'm not quite certain that I should +not want to take you both back--if only for a trip. It seems to me that +I would give anything to feel the hot sun upon my shoulders once again, +to smell the smoke of a camp fire, to see the dust rise from the +stock-yards, and to scent the perfume of the orange blossoms as we sit +together in the verandah in the evening. Alice, that is the life of a +man; this luxurious idleness makes me feel effeminate. But there, what +am I talking about? I've got my duty to do in England before we go back +to Mudrapilla." + +At that moment Terence rode up, very satisfied with himself and with the +animal upon whose back he was seated. He had scarcely departed in the +direction of the stable before Jim descried a carriage entering the +park. It proved to be a fly from the station, and in it Robins, the +detective, was seated. + +"Good afternoon, sir," he said, as he alighted; "in response to your +letter, I have come down to see you personally." + +"I am very glad you have done so," Jim replied, "for I have been most +anxious to see you. Let us go into the house." + +He thereupon led the way to his study, where he invited the detective to +be seated. + +"I hope you have some good news for me," Jim remarked, as he closed the +door. "Have you made any discovery concerning Murbridge?" + +The detective shook his head. + +"I am sorry to say," he answered, "that our efforts have been entirely +unsuccessful. We traced the man from Paddington to a small eating-house +in the vicinity of the station, but after that we lost him altogether. +We have kept a careful watch on the out-going ships, tried the hotels, +lodging-houses, Salvation Army Shelters and such places, and have sent a +description of him to every police station in the country, but so far +without an atom of success. Once, when the body of a man was found in +the river at Greenwich, I thought we had discovered him. The description +given of the dead man tallied exactly with that of Murbridge. I was +disappointed, however, for he turned out to be a chemist's assistant, +who had been missing from Putney for upwards of a fortnight. Then a man +gave himself up to the police at Bristol, but he was found to be a mad +solicitor's clerk from Exeter. This is one of the deepest cases I have +ever been concerned in, Mr. Standerton, and though I am not the sort of +man who gives up very quickly, I am bound to confess that, up to the +present, I have been beaten, and beaten badly." + +"You are not going to abandon the case, I hope?" Jim asked anxiously. +"Because you have been unsuccessful so far, you are surely not going to +give it up altogether?" + +"The law never abandons a case," the other observed sententiously. "Of +course it's quite within the bounds of possibility that we may hit upon +some clue that will ultimately lead to Murbridge's arrest; it is +possible that he may give himself up in course of time; at the present, +however, I must admit that both circumstances appear remarkably remote." + +"Well," returned Jim, "I can assure you that, whatever else happens, _I_ +am not going to give up. If the authorities are going to do so, I shall +take it up myself and see what I can do." + +There was a suspicion of a smile upon the detective's face as he +listened. Was it possible that an amateur could really believe himself +to be capable of succeeding where the astute professionals of Scotland +Yard had failed? + +"I am afraid you will only be giving yourself needless trouble," he +said. + +"I should not consider it trouble to try and discover my father's +murderer," Jim returned hotly. "Even if I am not more successful than +the police have been, I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that I +have done my best. May I trouble you for the name of the eating-house to +which Murbridge proceeded on leaving Paddington?" + +Taking a piece of paper from the writing-table, Robins wrote the name +and address of the eating-house upon it, and handed it to Jim. The +latter placed it carefully in his pocket-book, and felt that he must +make the house in question his starting point. + +When the detective took his departure half an hour later, Jim gave +instructions that Terence should be sent to him. + +"Terence," he began, when the other stood before him, "I am going up to +London to-morrow morning to commence my search for Murbridge. I shall +want you to accompany me." + +"Very good, sir," Terence replied, "I've been hoping for this, and it'll +go hard now if we can't track him somehow. But you must bear in mind, +sir, that I've never been in London. If it was in the Bush, now, I won't +say but what I should not be able to find him, but I don't know much +about these big cities, so to speak. It will be like looking for a track +of one particular sheep in a stock-yard after a mob of wild cattle have +been turned into it." + +Jim smiled. He saw that Terence had not the vaguest notion of what +London was like. + +That evening he informed Alice of the decision he had come to. She had +been expecting it for some days past, and was not at all surprised by +it. She only asked that he would permit her to accompany him. + +"I could not remain here," she said, "and I'll promise that I'll not be +in your way. It will be so desolate in this house without you, +especially as Mr. Bursfield will not allow Helen to visit us, and I have +no other companion." + +"By all means come with me," said Jim, "I shall choose a quiet hotel in +the West End, and you must amuse yourself as best you can while I am +absent." + +Later in the evening he wrote a note to his sweetheart informing her of +his decision, and promising to let her know, day by day, what success +attended his efforts. + +Next morning they left Childerbridge Station at eleven o'clock for +London. As the train steamed out of the village past the little +churchyard, Jim looked down upon his father's grave, which he could just +see on the eastern side of the church. + +"Dear father," he muttered to himself, "If have to devote the rest of my +life in bringing your murderer to justice, I'll do it." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +It was considerably past midday by the time Jim and his sister, +accompanied by Terence, reached London. On arriving at Paddington, they +engaged a cab and drove to the hotel they had selected, a private +establishment leading out of Piccadilly. Terence's amazement at the size +of London was curious to witness. Hitherto he had regarded Melbourne as +stupendous, now it struck him that that town was a mere village compared +with this giant Metropolis. When he noted the constant stream of +traffic, the crowds that thronged the pavements, and the interminable +streets, his heart misgave him concerning the enterprise upon which he +had so confidently embarked. + +"Bless my soul, how many people can there be in London?" he asked, as +they drove up to the hotel. + +"Something over five millions," Jim replied. "It's a fair-sized +township." + +"And we are going to look for one man," continued the other. "I guess it +would be easier to find a scrubber in the mallee than to get on the +track of a man who is hiding himself here." + +"Nevertheless we've got to find him somehow," said Jim. "That's the end +of the matter." + +After lunch he sent word to Terence that he wished him to accompany him +on his first excursion. Up to that time he had formed no definite plan +of action, but it was borne in upon him that he could do nothing at all +until he had visited the eating-house to which Murbridge had been traced +after his arrival at Paddington Station. They accordingly made their way +to the house in question. It proved to be an uninviting place, with a +sawdust-covered floor, and half-a-dozen small tables arranged along one +side. On the other was a counter upon which were displayed a variety of +covered dishes and huge tea cups. At the moment of Jim's entering the +proprietor was giving his attention to a steaming pan of frying onions. + +"What can I do for you, sir?" he asked, as he removed the frying-pan +from the gas and came forward. + +"I want five minutes' conversation with you in private, if you will give +it to me," Jim replied, and then in a lower voice he added: "I stand in +need of some information which I have been told you are in a position to +supply. I need not say that I shall be quite willing to recompense you +for any loss of time or trouble you may be put to." + +"In that case I shall be very happy to oblige you, sir," the man replied +civilly enough. "That is to say, if it is in my power to do so. Will you +be good enough to step this way?" + +Pulling down his shirt-sleeves, which until that moment had been rolled +up, and slipping on a greasy coat, he led the way from the shop to a +tiny apartment leading out of it. It was very dirty and redolent of +onions and bad tobacco. Its furniture was scanty, and comprised a table, +covered with American cloth, a cupboard, and two wooden chairs, upon one +of which James was invited to seat himself. Terence, who had followed +them, took the other, while he surveyed its owner with evident +disfavour. + +"And now, sir," said that individual, "I should be glad if you can tell +me what I can do for you. If it's about the Board School election, well, +I'll tell you at once, straight out, as man to man, that I ain't a-goin' +to vote for either party. There was a young wagabond that I engaged the +other day. He had had a Board School edecation, and it had taught him +enough to be able to humbug me with his takings. Thirteen and +elevenpence-'alfpenny was what he stole from me. And as I said to the +missus only last night, 'No more Board School lads for me!' But there, +sir, p'raps you ain't a-got nothing to do with them?" + +"I certainly have not," James replied. "I am here on quite a different +matter. Of course you remember the police visiting you a short time +since, with regard to a man who was suspected of being the murderer of +Mr. Standerton, at Childerbridge, in Midlandshire?" + +"Remember it?" the man replied, "I should think I did. And haven't I got +good cause to remember it? I was nigh being worritted to death by 'em. +First it was one, and then it was another, hanging about here and asking +questions. Had I seen the man? Did I know where he had gone? What was he +like? Till with one thing and another I was most driven off my head. I +won't say as how a detective oughtn't to ask questions, because we all +know it's his duty, but when it comes to interferin' with a man's +private business and drivin' his customers away from the shop--for I +won't make no secrets with you that there is folks as eats at my table +as is not in love with 'tecs--well, then I say, if it comes to that, +it's about time a man put his foot down." + +"My case is somewhat different," said James. "In the first place, I am +not a detective, but the son of the gentleman who was murdered." + +"Good gracious me! you don't say so," said the man, regarding him with +astonishment and also with evident appreciation. "Now that makes all the +difference. It's only fit and proper that a young gentleman should want +to find out the man who, so to speak, had given him such a knock-down +blow. Ask me what questions you like, sir, and I'll do my best to answer +'em." + +"Well, first and foremost," said Jim, "I want to know how you became +aware that the man in question hailed from Childerbridge? He wouldn't +have been likely to say so." + +"No, you're right there," the man replied. "He didn't say so, but I knew +it, because after he had had his meal, my girl was giving him 'is +change, I saw there was a Childerbridge label on the small bag he +carried in his hand. I put it to you, sir, if he hadn't been there, +would that label have been on the bag?" + +"Of course it would not. And he answered to the description given you?" + +"To a T, sir. Same sort of face, same sort of dress, snarly manner of +speaking, spotted bird's-eye necktie and all." + +"It must have been the man. And now another question. You informed the +police, did you not, that you had no knowledge as to where he went after +he left your shop?" + +The man fidgetted uneasily in his chair for a moment, and drummed with +his fingers upon the cover of the table. It was evident that he was +keeping something back, and was trying to make up his mind as to whether +he should divulge his information or not. + +Here James played a good game, and with a knowledge of human character +few people would have supposed him to possess, took from his pocket a +sovereign, which he laid on the table before the other. + +"There," he said, "is a sovereign. I can see that you are keeping +something back from me. Now, that money is yours whether you tell me or +not. If it is likely to affect your happiness don't let me know, but if +you can, I shall be glad if you will tell me all you know." + +"Spoken like a gentleman, sir," the other replied, "and I don't mind if +I do tell you, though it may get me into trouble with some of my +customers if you give me away. You see, sir, round about here in this +neighbourhood, a man has to be careful of what he says and does. Suppose +it was to come to the ears of some people that it was me as gave the +information that got the bloke arrested, well then, they'd be sure to +say to 'emselves, 'he's standin' in with the perlice, and we don't go +near his shop again.' Do you take my meaning, sir?" + +"I quite understand," James replied. "I appreciate your difficulty, but +you may be quite sure that I will not mention your name in connection +with any information you may give me." + +"Spoken and acted like a gentleman again, sir," said the shopman. "Now +I'll tell you what I know. I didn't tell the 'tecs,' becos they didn't +treat me any too well. But this is what I _do_ know, sir. As he went out +of the door he asked my little boy, Tommy, wot was playing on the +pavement, how far it was to Great Medlum Street? The boy gave him the +direction, and then he went off." + +"Great Medlum Street?" said James, and made a note of the name in his +pocket-book. "And how far may that be from here?" + +"Not more than ten minutes' walk," the other replied. "Go along this +street, then take the third turning to your left and the first on the +right. You can't make no mistake about it." + +"And what kind of a street is it?" Jim enquired. "I mean, what sort of +character does it bear?" + +"Well, sir, that's more than I can tell you," said the other. "For all I +know to the contrary, it's a fairish sort of street, not so fust-class +as some others I could name, but there's a few decent people living in +it." + +"And do you happen to have anything else to tell me about him?" + +"That's all I know, sir," said the other. "I haven't set eyes on him +from that blessed moment until this, and I don't know as I want to." + +"I am very much obliged to you," said Jim, rising and putting his +pocket-book away. "You have given me great assistance." + +"I'm sure you're very welcome, sir," replied the man. "I am always ready +to do anything I can for a gentleman. It's the Board School folk +that----" + +Before the man could finish his sentence, Jim was in the shop once more, +and was making his way towards the door, closely followed by Terence. + +"Now the first question to be decided," he said, when they were in the +street, "is what is best for us to do? If I go to Great Medlum Street, +it is more than likely that Murbridge will see me and make off again; +while, if I wait to communicate with Robins, I may lose him altogether." + +Eventually it was decided that he should not act on his own initiative, +but should communicate with Detective Robins, and let him make enquiries +in the neighbourhood in question. A note was accordingly despatched to +the authorities at Scotland Yard. In it James informed them that it had +come to his knowledge that the man Murbridge was supposed to be residing +in Great Medlum Street, though in what house could not be stated. Later +in the day Robins himself put in an appearance at the hotel. + +"You received my letter?" James asked when they were alone together. + +"I did, sir," the man answered, "and acted upon it at once." + +"And with what result?" + +"Only to discover that our man has slipped through our fingers once +more," said the detective. "He left Great Medlum Street two days ago. Up +to that time he had lodged at number eighteen. The landlady informs me +that she knows nothing as to his present whereabouts. He passed under +the name of Melbrook, and was supposed by the other lodgers to be an +American." + +"You are quite certain that it is our man?" + +"There can be no doubt about it. He went to the house on the day that +the murder was discovered. Now the next thing to find out is where he +now is. From what his landlady told me, I should not think he was in the +possession of much money. As a matter of fact, she suspected that he had +been pawning his clothes, for the reason that his bag, which was +comparatively heavy when he arrived, seemed to be almost empty when he +left. To-morrow morning I shall make enquiries at the various +pawnbrokers in the neighbourhood, and it is just possible we may get +some further information from them." + +Promising to communicate with Jim immediately he had anything of +importance to impart, Robins took his departure, and Jim went in search +of Alice to tell her the news. Next day word was brought to him to the +effect that Murbridge had pawned several articles, but in no case were +the proprietors able to furnish any information concerning his present +whereabouts. Feeling that it was just possible, as in the case of the +eating-house keeper near Paddington Station, that the detectives had not +been able to acquire all the knowledge that was going, Jim, accompanied +by the faithful Terence, set off in the afternoon for number eighteen, +Great Medium Street. It proved to be a lodging-house of the common type. + +In response to their ring the door was opened by the landlady, a voluble +person of Irish descent. She looked her visitors up and down before +admitting them, and having done so, enquired if they stood in need of +apartments. + +"I regret to say that we do not," said Jim blandly. "My friend and I +have come to put a few questions to you concerning----" + +"Not poor Mr. Melbrook, I hope," she answered. "Is all London gone mad? +'Twas but yesterday afternoon, just when I was settin' down to my bit o' +tea that a gentleman comes to make enquiries about Mr. Melbrook. I told +'im he'd left the house, but that would not do. He wanted to know where +he had gone, and when and why he had left, just for all the world as if +he was his long-lost brother. Then this morning another comes. Wanted to +know if I knew where Mr. Melbrook pawned his clothes? Did he appear to +be in any trouble? Now here you are with your questions. D'ye think I've +got nothing better to do than to be trapesing round talkin' about what +don't concern me? What's the world coming to, I should like to know?" + +"But, my good woman, I am most anxious to find Mr. Melbrook," said Jim, +"and if you can put me into the possession of any information that will +help me to do so, I shall be very pleased to reward you for your +trouble." + +"But I've got nothing to tell you," she replied, "more's the pity of it, +since you speak so fair. From the time that Mr. Melbrook left my house +until this very moment I've heard nothing of him. He may have gone back +to America--if he was an American as they say--but there, he may be +anywhere. He was one of them sort of men that says nothing about his +business; he just kept himself to himself with his paper, and took his +drop of gin and water at night the same as you and me might do. If I was +to die next minute, that's all I can tell you about him." + +Seeing that it was useless to question her further, Jim pressed some +coins into the woman's willing hand, and bade her good-day. Then, more +dispirited by his failure than he would admit, he drove back to his +hotel. Alice met him in the hall with a telegram. + +"This has just come for you," she said. "I was about to open it." + +Taking it from her, he tore open the envelope, and withdrew the message. +It was from Robins, and ran as follows:-- + +"Think am on right track--will report as soon as return." + +It had been despatched from Waterloo Station. + +"Why did he not say where he was going?" said Jim testily, "instead of +keeping me in suspense." + +"Because he does not like to commit himself before he has more to +report, I suppose," said Alice. "Do not worry yourself about it, dear. +You will hear everything in good time." + +A long letter from Helen which arrived that evening helped to console +Jim, while the writing of an answer to her enabled him to while away +another half-hour. But it must be confessed that that evening Jim was +far from being himself. He felt that he would have given anything to +have accompanied the detective in his search. He went to bed at an early +hour, to dream that he was chasing Murbridge round the world, and do +what he would he could not come up with him. Next day there was no news, +and it was not until the middle of the day following that he heard +anything. Then another telegram arrived, stating that the detective +would call at the hotel between eight and nine o'clock that evening. He +did so, and the first glimpse of his face told Jim that his errand had +as usual been fruitless. + +"I can see," he said, "that you have not met with any success. Is that +not so?" + +"I'm sorry, sir," the man answered. "Information was brought me the day +before yesterday that a man answering in every way the description of +the person we wanted had pawned a small portmanteau at a shop in the +Mile End Road, and on making enquiries there, I heard that he had come +to lodge at a house in one of the streets in the vicinity. Accompanied +by one of my mates, I went to the house in question, only to discover +that we were too late again, and that the man had left for Southampton +that morning, intending to catch the out-going boat for South Africa. +Procuring a cab, I set off for Waterloo, and on my arrival there sent +that telegram to you, sir, and then went down to Southampton by the next +train. Unfortunately the two hours' delay had given him his chance, for +when I reached Southampton it was only to find that the vessel had +sailed half-an-hour before. I went at once to the Agent's office, where +I discovered that a man whose appearance tallied exactly with the +description given had booked a steerage passage at the last moment, and +had sailed aboard her. But if he's got out of England safely, we'll +catch him at Madeira. The police there will arrest him, and hold him for +us until we can get him handed over. He does not know that I am upon his +track, and for that reason he'll be sure to think he's got safely away." + +"We must hope to catch him at Madeira then. The vessel does not touch at +any port between, I suppose?" + +Robins shook his head. + +"No, Madeira is the first port of call. And now, sir, I'll bid you +good-night, if you don't mind. I've had a long day of it, and I'm tired. +To-morrow morning I've got to be abroad early on another little case +which is causing me a considerable amount of anxiety." + +Jim bade him good-night and then went in search of his sister, only to +find that she had a bad headache, and had gone to bed. After the +excitement of the day bed was out of the question, so donning a hat and +coat he left the hotel for a stroll. He walked quietly along Piccadilly, +smoking his cigar, and thinking of the girl who had promised to be his +wife, and who, at the moment, was probably thinking of him in the quiet +little Midlandshire village. How delightful life would be when she would +be his wife. He tried to picture himself in the capacity of Helen's +husband. From Helen his thoughts turned to Murbridge, and he tried to +imagine the guilty wretch, flying across the seas, flattering himself +continually that he had escaped the punishment he so richly deserved, +finding more security in every mile of water the vessel left behind her, +little dreaming that justice was aware of his flight, and that Nemesis +was waiting for him so short a time ahead. + +Reaching Piccadilly Circus, he walked on until he arrived at Leicester +Square. As the sky had become overcast, and a thin drizzle was beginning +to fall, he called a hansom, and bade the driver take him back to his +hotel. The horse started off, and they were soon proceeding at a fast +pace in the direction of Piccadilly. Just as they reached the Criterion +Theatre, a man stepped from the pavement, and began to cross the road. +Had not the cabman sharply pulled his horse to one side, nothing could +have saved him from being knocked down. So near a thing was it that Jim +sprang to his feet, and threw open the apron, feeling sure that the man +was down. But near though it was, the pedestrian had escaped, and, +turning round, was shaking his fist in a paroxysm of rage at the cabman. +At that moment he saw Jim, and stood for a second or two as if turned to +stone; then, gathering his faculties together, he ducked between two +cabs and disappeared. + +_That man was Richard Murbridge!_ + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Before Jim could recover from his astonishment at seeing the man whom he +had been led to believe was upon the high seas, standing before him, the +cabman had whipped up his horse once more, and was half across the +Circus. Springing to his feet, he pushed up the shutter, and bade the +driver pull up as quickly as possible. Then, jumping from the cab, he +gave the man the first coin he took from his pocket. + +"Did you see which way that fellow went we so nearly knocked down?" he +cried. + +"Went away towards Regent Street, I believe," answered the cabman. "He +had a narrow shave and it isn't his fault he isn't in hospital now." + +Jim waited to hear no more, but made his way back to the policeman he +had noticed standing beside the fountain in the centre of the Circus. + +"Did you see that man who was so nearly knocked down by a cab a few +minutes ago?" he enquired, scarcely able to speak for excitement. + +"I did," the officer answered laconically. "What about him?" + +"Only that you must endeavour to find him, and arrest him at once," said +Jim. "There is not a moment to be lost. He may have got away by this +time." + +"And he's precious lucky if he has," said the policeman. "Never saw a +closer thing in my life." + +"But don't you hear me? You must find him at once. Every second we waste +is giving him the chance of getting away." + +"Come, come, there's no such hurry: what's he done that you should be so +anxious to get hold of him?" + +By this time Jim was nearly beside himself with rage at the other's +stupidity. + +"That man was the Childerbridge murderer," he replied. "I am as certain +of it as I am that I see you standing before me now." + +"Come, come, Sir, that's all very well you know," said the policeman, +with what was plainly a kindly intent, "but you go along home and get to +bed quietly; you'll be better in the morning and will have forgotten all +about this 'ere murderer." + +After which, without another word, he walked away. + +"Well, of all the insane idiots in the world," muttered Jim, "that +fellow should come first. But I am not going to be baulked; I'll search +for Murbridge myself." + +He thereupon set off along Regent Street, but before he had gone half +the length of the street the folly of such a proceeding became apparent +to him. He knew that Murbridge had seen him, and, for this reason, would +most likely betake himself to the quiet of the back streets. To attempt +to find him, therefore, under cover of darkness, and at such an hour, +would be well-nigh an impossibility. Then another idea occurred to him. +Hailing a cab, he set off for Scotland Yard. On arrival there, he handed +in his card, and in due course was received most courteously by the +chief officer on duty. He explained his errand, and in doing so showed +the mistake under which Detective-sergeant Robins had been and was still +labouring. + +"He shall be communicated with at once," said the official. "I suppose +you are quite certain of the identity of the man you saw in Piccadilly +Circus, Mr. Standerton?" + +"As certain as I am of anything," Jim replied. "I should recognise him +anywhere. I was permitted a full view of his face, and I am quite sure +that I am not making a mistake. If only the cabman had pulled up a few +moments earlier, I might have been able to have stopped him." + +"In that case, you should be able to give us some details of his present +personal appearance, which would afford us considerable assistance in +our search for him." + +"He was wearing a black felt hat, and a brown overcoat, the collar of +which was turned up." + +The officer made a note of these particulars, and promised that the +information should be dispersed in all directions without loss of time. +Then, feeling that nothing more could be done Jim bade him good-night, +and drove back to his hotel. In spite of the work he had done that day +he was not destined to obtain a wink of sleep all night, but tumbled and +tossed in his bed, brooding continually over the chance he had missed of +securing his father's murderer. If only he had alighted when the cabman +first stopped, he might have been able to have secured Murbridge. Now +his capture seemed as remote as ever; further, indeed, than if he had +been, as Robins supposed, on board the vessel bound for South Africa. + +Jim had just finished his breakfast next morning when Robins called to +see him. + +"This is a nice sort of surprise you have given us, sir," said the +detective, when he had made a few commonplace remarks, "I mean your +seeing Murbridge last night; I don't know what to think of it. It seems +to me to be more of a mystery than ever now." + +"The only thing you can think of it is that Murbridge is in London, and +not on board the mail boat as you supposed," Jim replied. "You must have +got upon a wrong track again. I suppose there is no further news of him +this morning?" + +"There was none when I left the Yard," the other replied. "At present we +are over-hauling all the doss-houses and shelters, and it is possible we +may make a discovery before long. When you think of the description we +have of him--a man wearing a brown coat and a felt hat--it is not very +much to go upon. There must be hundreds of men dressed like that in +London. If only we had a photograph of him it would make the labour a +good deal easier." + +This set Jim thinking. In the lumber-room at Childerbridge there was, as +he remembered, a number of cases containing books, photograph albums, +etc., which his father had brought with him from Australia, but which +had never been unpacked. He recalled the fact that his father had told +him that he had been on intimate terms with Murbridge many years before. +Was it not possible, therefore, that among his collections there might +be some portrait of that individual. He felt inclined to run down and +turn the boxes over. What was more, if he did so, he might chance to +obtain an interview with Helen. He explained his hopes with regard to +the photograph to the detective, who instantly agreed that it might be +worth his while to make the search. + +"In that case I will go down by the eleven o'clock train, and if I +discover anything, I will wire you and post the photograph on to you by +the evening mail." + +"It is unnecessary for me to assure you it would be an inestimable help +to us in our search," the other answered; "we should have something more +definite to go upon then." + +True to this arrangement, therefore Jim, Alice, and Terence returned to +Childerbridge by the morning train. A carriage met them at the station, +and in it they drove through the village. As they were drawing near the +park gates, an exclamation from Alice roused Jim from the reverie into +which he had fallen, and caused him to glance up the lane that led from +the main road. To his unspeakable joy, he discovered that Helen was +coming towards them. In a moment the carriage was stopped, and Jim +alighted and hastened to meet her. + +"My darling," he cried, "I never counted upon having the happiness of +seeing you so soon. This is most fortunate." + +"But what brings you back to-day, Jim?" Helen replied. "From your letter +I gathered that I should not see you for at least a week. There is +nothing wrong, I hope?" + +She scanned his face with anxious eyes, and as she did so it occurred to +Jim that she herself was looking far from well. + +"Nothing is the matter," he answered. "We have merely come down to try +and find some photographs that would help us in our search. But, Helen, +you are not looking at all well. Your face frightens me." + +"I am alright," was the reply. "I have been a little worried lately +about my grandfather, and that probably accounts for my appearance, but +we will not talk of that now. I must say 'How do you do' to Alice." + +She accordingly approached the carriage, and held out her hand to her +friend. They conversed together for a few moments, and then Alice +proposed that Helen should return with them to the Hall, but this being, +for more reasons than one, impossible, it was arranged that Jim should +see her home across the park, a suggestion which, you may be sure, he +was not slow to take advantage of. They accordingly watched the carriage +pass through the lodge gates, and then themselves set out for the Dower +House. As they walked Jim told his sweetheart of the ill success that +had attended his mission to London. + +"But, Helen," he said at last, as they approached the house, "you have +not told me what it is that is worrying you about your grandfather. I +hope he has not been making you unhappy?" + +She hung her head but did not answer. + +"Ah, I can see that he has," he exclaimed, "and I suppose it was +something to do with me. I wonder whether I should be right if I +hazarded a guess that Mr. Bursfield had been trying again to force you +into giving me up? Is that the case, Helen?" + +"I am afraid in a measure it is," she replied, but with some diffidence. +"You may be quite sure, however, that whatever he may do it will not +influence me. You know how truly I love you?" + +"Yes, I know that," he answered, "and I am quite content to trust you. I +know that nothing Mr. Bursfield can say will induce you to do as he +proposes." + +"Remember that always," she said. "But, oh, Jim, I wish he were not so +determined in his opposition to our marriage. Sometimes I feel that I am +acting not only like a traitor to him, but to you as well." + +"That you could never be," Jim returned. "However, keep up a good heart, +dear, and you may be sure all will come right in the end. In the future +we shall look back upon these little troubles, and wonder why we so +worried about them." + +A few minutes later they reached the gates leading into the grounds of +the Dower House. Here Jim bade his sweetheart good-bye, and, having +arranged another meeting for the morrow, set off on his walk to his own +home. Immediately upon his arrival there, he made his way, accompanied +by Alice, to the lumber-room on the top story of the house, in which the +boxes he had come down to over-haul had been placed. How well he could +recall the day in Australia on which his father had packed them. Little +had he imagined then that those boxes would next be opened in order to +discover a portrait of the same kind father's murderer. When the first +box had been overhauled it was found to contain unimportant papers +connected with the dead man's various properties in Australia. In the +second was a miscellaneous collection; which consisted of a variety of +account books, with specimens of ore, wool, and other products of the +Island Continent. It was not until they had opened the third box that +they began to think they were on the right track. In this were a few +engravings, perhaps half-a-dozen sketch books, filled with pen-and-ink +drawings by Jim's mother, upwards of a hundred novels between thirty and +forty years old, and at the bottom a large album filled with +photographs, each of which looked out upon a forgetful world from a +floral setting. Jim took it to a window, where he sat down on a box to +examine it. + +To my thinking there is nothing more pathetic than an old album. What +memories it recalls of long-forgotten friends; as one looks upon the +faded pictures, how clearly old scenes rise before one. + +On the first page was a photograph of William Standerton himself, taken +when he was a young man. His coat was of a strange cut, his trousers +were of the peg-top description, while a magnificent pair of "Dundreary" +whiskers decorated his manly face. With a sigh Jim turned the page, to +discover a portrait of his mother, which had been taken on her wedding +day. Then followed a long succession of relatives and personal friends, +each clad in the same fashion, and nearly all taken in the same +constrained attitude. But examine each picture as he would, no +representation of the man he wanted could he discover. + +"Well, I'm afraid that's all," said Jim to Alice, as he replaced the +album in his box. "I am disappointed, though I cannot say that I hoped +to be very successful. I shall have to write to Robins and tell him that +I have found nothing." + +Having relocked the boxes, they descended to the hall once more. It was +growing dark, and the dressing bell for dinner had already sounded. They +accordingly separated, and went to their respective rooms. If the truth +must be confessed, Jim was more disappointed by the failure of his +search than he cared to admit. + +"It would have been of inestimable value," he said to himself, "to have +a portrait of Murbridge just now." + +He had tied one end of his tie and was in the act of performing the same +operation with the other, when he stopped and stared at the wall before +him with half-closed eyes. + +"By Jove!" he said, "I believe I've hit it. I think I know where there +is a portrait of him." + +He recalled a scene that had taken place at Mudrapilla one winter's +evening, many years before, when Alice and he were children. The lamp +had been lighted, and to amuse them before they went to bed, their +father had promised a prize to whichever one of the pair should +recognise and describe by name the greater number of the portraits in +the very album he had been looking through that afternoon. Jim +remembered how on that occasion he had chanced upon a certain _carte de +visite_, showing a tall young man leaning, hat in hand, against a marble +pillar. + +"Who is this, father?" He had enquired for he was not able to recognise +the individual portrayed in the picture. + +"Do not ask me," returned his father in a tone that the children never +forgot, so stern and harsh was it. Then, drawing the portrait from the +page, he placed it in the pocket at the end of the book. After that the +game had recommenced, but was played with less vigour than before. + +"I wonder if it could have been the same man?" said Jim. "I cannot +remember father ever having expressed such a dislike for any one else +save Murbridge. After dinner I'll go up and endeavour to find it. It was +there for many years, for I can recall how I used to creep into the +drawing-room and peep at it on the sly, wondering what sort of villainy +he had committed that was sufficient to prevent his name being mentioned +to us. Poor father, it is certain that he was not deceived in him after +all." + +Throughout dinner that evening his mind dwelt on the remembrance of that +scene at Mudrapilla, and as soon as they rose from the table he begged +Alice to excuse him, and went upstairs candle in hand, to recommence his +search. He left his sister in the drawing-room, and the household were +at supper in the servants' hall, so that, so far as the disposition of +the house went, he had all the upper floors to himself. Entering the +lumber-room, he knelt down and unlocked the box which contained the +album. To take the book from the box, and to turn to the pocket in +question was the work of a moment. It had been placed there for the +purpose of holding loose photographs, and it extended the whole width of +the cover. With a half fear that it might not be contained therein, Jim +thrust his hand into the receptacle. He was not to be disappointed this +time, however, for a card was certainly there, and he withdrew it and +held it up to the light with a feeling of triumph. Yes, it was the +picture he remembered, and, better still, _it was the portrait of +Richard Murbridge_. Though it had been taken when the latter was a young +man, Jim recognised his enemy at once. There was the same crafty look in +his eyes, the same carping expression about the mouth. The man who had +been so nearly knocked down by the cab on the previous evening was the +same person who, in the picture, posed himself so gracefully beside the +marble pillar "This must go to Robins to-night," said Jim, to himself, +"copies of it can then be distributed broadcast. It will be strange +after that if we do not manage to lay hands upon him." + +So saying, he replaced the album in the box, locked the latter, and then +placed the photograph in his pocket, and prepared to return to Alice +once more. As he descended the stairs, he extinguished the candle, for +the hanging lamp in the hall below gave sufficient light for him to see +his way. He was only a few steps from the bottom when a curious noise, +which seemed to come from the gallery above, attracted his attention. It +resembled the creaking of a rusty hinge, more than anything else. He had +just time to wonder what had occasioned it, when, to his amazement, he +became aware of a little black figure passing swiftly along the corridor +in the direction of the further wing. A moment later it had vanished, +and he was left to place such construction as he pleased upon what he +had seen. For a space, during which a man might have counted twenty, he +stood as if rooted to the spot, scarcely able to believe the evidence of +his senses. + +"Good heavens! The Black Dwarf," he muttered to himself. "I must find +out what it means." + +Then he set off in pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Hastening round the gallery of the hall, Jim endeavoured to discover +some traces of the mysterious visitor, spectre or human, whom he had +seen. The corridor, however, leading to the oldest and western portion +of the house, was quite empty. Like the remainder of the building, it +was panelled with dark oak, some portion of it being curiously, though +richly carved. He searched it up and down, stopping every now and then +to listen, but save for the wind sighing round the house, and an +occasional burst of laughter ascending from the servants' hall, he could +hear nothing. At the end of the long corridor a flight of stone steps +led to the domestic offices below. These he descended, and having +reached the servants' hall, called Wilkins, the butler, to him. When the +latter emerged, Jim led him a short distance down the passage before he +spoke. + +"Wilkins," he said, "do you remember the night when you thought you saw +the Black Dwarf on the landing?" + +"I shall never forget it, sir," the other replied. "I can never go along +that corridor now without a shudder. What about it, sir?" + +"Only that I have just seen the figure myself," James replied. "I had +been up to the lumber-room, and was descending the stairs when it passed +along the further side of the gallery, in the direction of the west +corridor. Now, Wilkins, I have come down to find out whether you would +be afraid to come upstairs with me in order that we may discover whether +we can come to any understanding of the mystery?" + +"Yes, sir, of course I will come with you," said Wilkins. "At the same +time I am not going to say that I am not a bit frightened, for it would +not be the truth. However, sir, I am not going to let you go alone." + +"Come along then," said Jim, "and bring a light of some kind with you." + +Wilkins procured a candle, and then they ascended to the floor above. As +they reached the corridor Jim turned and caught a glimpse of his +companion's face. It looked very white and frightened in the dim light. + +"Cheer up, my man," said he; "if it's a ghost it won't hurt you, and if +it's a human being you and I should be more than a match for him." + +As he said this he opened the door of the first room on the corridor. It +was empty, and quite devoid of either the natural or the supernatural. + +"Nothing here," said Jim as they passed out into the passage, and into +the next room. This was used as a sewing-room for the female servants, +and was furnished with a long table and half-a-dozen chairs. They +explored it thoroughly, and having done so, voted it above suspicion. +The next room was a bedroom, and had only been once used since the +Standertons had come into possession of the house. The walls were +panelled, and there was a curious recess on the side opposite the door. +Jim overhauled each panel, and carefully examined the recess, but +without discovering anything suspicious. Thus they proceeded from room +to room searching every nook and cranny, and endeavouring in every +possible way to account for the creaking noise which had first attracted +Jim's attention. The carving of the corridor itself was carefully +examined, every panel of the wainscoting was tested, until at last, +having reached the gallery of the hall, they were compelled to own +themselves beaten. The fact that they had not been able to discover +anything only added to Wilkins' belief in the supernatural agency of the +Dwarf. Jim, however, had the recollection of that creaking hinge, before +mentioned, continually before him. There might be ghostly bodies he +argued, but he had never heard of ghostly hinges. + +"Well, it doesn't appear as if we are destined to capture him to-night," +said Jim, when they had finished their labours. "Now one word of advice; +just keep the fact of his appearance to yourself, Wilkins. If the +maid-servants come to hear of it we shall have no end of trouble." + +Wilkins promised that he would say nothing about the occurrence, and +then returned to the Servants' Hall, leaving Jim standing on the gallery +ruminating on the behaviour of the figure he had seen. + +"One thing is quite certain, and that is the fact that he disappeared in +the corridor," he said to himself reflectingly. "Now I wonder where he +came from?" + +The only room on that side of the gallery then in use was Alice's +bedroom, and to this Jim forthwith made his way. It was a strange scene +that met his eyes when he opened the door. As he had good reason to +know, Alice was always a most methodical and neat young lady; now +everything was in confusion. The drawers of the dressing-table stood +open and their contents were strewed upon the table and the floor. The +writing-table in the further corner of the room was in much the same +condition, while the wardrobe doors were open, and the dresses, which +usually hung upon the pegs, were piled in a heap upon the floor. + +"Good gracious! what on earth does this mean?" said Jim to himself as he +gazed upon the scene of confusion. "Has Alice gone mad, or has the Black +Dwarf been trying to see how untidy he can make the place? She must not +see the room in this condition, or it may frighten her." + +Thereupon he placed the candle upon the table and did his best to +restore something like order. This task accomplished, he went downstairs +to the drawing-room, where he found his sister seated beside the fire +reading. + +"You have been a long time upstairs," she remarked. "What have you been +doing?" + +For a moment Jim had forgotten the important discovery he had made. In +reply he withdrew the photograph from his pocket and handed it to her. +She took it with what was almost a shudder. Somewhat to Jim's surprise, +she returned it without commenting upon it. He replaced it in his +pocket, also without a word, and then stood before the fire, wondering +how he should tell her of what he had seen. He knew it would cause her +some uneasiness, but at the same time he felt that he ought to place her +upon her guard. + +"Alice," he said at last, "do you make a point of locking your bedroom +door at night?" + +"Lock my bedroom door at night?" she repeated. "No! Why should I?" + +"I can't exactly say why you should," he answered, "but I want you to do +so for the future. This is a big, lonely house, and we have to remember +that you and I are the only people on this side. I wish my room were +nearer yours, but as it is not, I think it would be safer if you were to +do as I suggest." + +"But what makes you say this to-night?" she asked. "What is it, or who +is it, you suspect?" + +"I suspect nobody," he replied. "You must not think that. But there are +such people as burglars, and it would only be an ordinary act of common +sense to make yourself safe, while you are permitted the opportunity. +Ever since that terrible night I have been nervous about you, and for +that reason I have decided upon something, which at first you may think +strange." + +"What is it?" she enquired. + +"For the future," he answered, "I intend that Terence shall sleep in the +room next to yours. Then, if any one makes trouble, and help were +needed, we should have a sure ally at our beck and call." + +"But I hope no one will ever attempt to make trouble, as you describe +it," she replied, looking at him with startled eyes as she spoke. + +"I also sincerely hope not," he continued. "Now I am going to see +Terence about the matter." + +He thereupon left her, and went to his study and rang the bell. On the +butler making his appearance he instructed him to bring O'Riley at once. +A few minutes later Terence put in appearance. + +"You had better remain also, Wilkins," said Jim. "Just close the door +behind you, in case any one should chance to overhear us. Now, Terence, +I have something to say to you. Doubtless, since you have been in the +neighbourhood, you have heard certain stories connected with this house. +I suppose you have been told that it has the reputation of being +haunted." + +"Lor' bless you, sir," Terence replied, "I've heard all sorts of yarns +about it. There's folk down in the Township yonder, as would no more +think of coming up here after dark than they would of lying down in +front of the train and having their heads cut off." + +"You're not a believer in ghosts, I suppose?" + +"Not as I knows on," said Terence candidly. "Though I don't mind sayin' +as how there are things as have never been explained to my satisfaction. +'Twas said, as you may remember, sir, as how there was a ghost of an old +man to be seen, some nights in the year, waiting to get over at the +Thirty-Mile Crossing up the river. Then there was the ghost outside +Sydney, that used to get on the fence beside the road, and ask everybody +who would listen to him to have him properly buried." + +James knew that the man before him was as brave as a lion. He was the +possessor of nerves of iron, and did not know the meaning of the word +fear. + +"Well," he went on after a moment's pause, "the long and the short of +the matter is, Terence, some little time ago a maid-servant saw what she +thought to be the ghost of the Little Black Dwarf up in the gallery +outside. Wilkins here was the next to see it. I thought at the time he +must have been mistaken, but this evening I know that he was not, for I +have seen it myself." + +"You don't mean that, sir?" said Terence, while Wilkins plainly showed +the triumph he felt. "And what may he have been like, sir?" + +"I had no time to see that," Jim answered. "He disappeared into the +western corridor almost as soon as I caught sight of him. At the same +time I heard the sound of a creaking hinge. What would you think of +that?" + +"I should say that it was no ghost, sir," said Terence. "I've been told +that this old house is full of secret passages, and, if you ask me, I +should say it was somebody playing a game with you." + +Wilkins stared disdainfully at him. He was quite convinced in his own +mind of the ghostly nature of the mysterious visitor. + +"I am inclined to agree with you, Terence," Jim replied. "The more so +as, since I parted with you, Wilkins, I have made a curious discovery. +At what time was Miss Alice's room made tidy?" + +"While you were at dinner, sir, according to custom," replied the +butler. "I saw the maid coming out just as I left the dining-room, and +she would not be likely to leave it----" + +"To leave it in an untidy state?" Jim put in. + +"Of course she would not, sir," the other replied. "She would hear of it +from the housekeeper if she did. No, she's a nice, steady girl, sir, and +I'm told she does her work to the best of her ability." + +"Well, it seems curious that when I entered the room after you had left +me, I found it in a state of the wildest confusion. The contents of the +drawers of the dressing-table were lying scattered upon the floor, as +were the dresses in the wardrobe. Now I feel quite certain in my own +mind that it was from Miss Alice's bedroom that the figure I saw +emerged. I am equally sure of one thing, and that is that it is no +ghost--at least," and he added this with a smile, "no respectable ghost, +of course, would dream of playing such tricks with a lady's wearing +apparel." + +"Then, sir, whom do you suspect?" Wilkins enquired. "I can assure you +that none of the staff would dare to take such a liberty." + +"I am quite sure of that," Jim replied. "Yet the fact remains that +somebody must be, and is, responsible for it. Now what I intend to do is +to lay myself out to capture that somebody, and to make an example of +him when I have got him. For that reason, Terence, I am going to ask you +to sleep in the house, in the room next to that occupied by Miss Alice. +It will go hard, then, if between us we cannot lay our hands upon the +gentleman, whoever he may be, who is playing these tricks upon us." + +Terence willingly agreed to the proposal, and that night occupied the +room in question. His watchfulness availed him nothing, however, for no +further sign of the Black Dwarf. + +Next morning Robins received the photograph of Murbridge, and from that +moment Jim awaited tidings from him in a fever of expectation. Day after +day, however, went by, and still no good news came to reward his +patience. The only consolation he derived was from sundry mysterious +interviews which he had with Helen in a wooded corner of the park. With +the cunning of lovers they had arranged a plan of meeting, and those +little _tete-a-tetes_ were to Jim as the breath of life. No sooner was +one at an end than he hungered for the next. But he was destined ere +long to receive a fright, such as he had never received in his life +before. Winter was fast approaching, and the afternoons drew in quickly. +When he reached the rendezvous on this occasion it was nearly five +o'clock, and almost dark. Helen had arrived there before him, and he +discovered her pacing up and down the little glade, in what was plainly +an agitated frame of mind. + +"Oh, I am so thankful that you have come, Jim dear," she said, as she +came forward to greet him. "I have been counting the minutes until I +should see you." + +"Why, what on earth is the matter?" he asked, placing his arm round her +waist and drawing her to him. "You are excited about something. Tell me, +dear, what it is." + +"Something so dreadful that it has upset me terribly," she answered. "I +scarcely know how to tell you." + +He led her towards a fallen tree upon which they had often seated +themselves on previous occasions. + +"Now let me know everything," he said. + +She looked about over her shoulder in a frightened way. Then she began +almost in a whisper: + +"Jim, what I have to say to you concerns my grandfather. I am very much +alarmed about him." + +"I hope he has not been making himself disagreeable to you again on my +account," Jim replied. Then he continued angrily: "If so, I think I +shall have to call upon him." + +"Hush, hush," she said, "do not speak so loud, you do not know who may +be listening." + +"I will be all discretion, dear, now go on!" + +"Well, this afternoon I was playing the piano in the drawing-room when a +message was brought to me by Isaac to the effect that my grandfather +desired to see me in his study at once. I went to him there, to find him +seated at his desk as usual, at work upon his book, the 'History of the +County,' you know. He signed to me to be seated by the fire, and when I +had done so resumed his writing, not putting down his pen until I had +been some minutes in the room. Then he looked at me with a very +thoughtful face, in which I imagined I could detect an expression that I +had never seen there before. Taken altogether, his manner frightened me. +It was so strange, and so utterly unlike himself, that I did not know +what to think. Then he took off his spectacles, and laid them on the +desk before him, remarking as he did so, 'I am given to understand that +you are still in correspondence with Mr. Standerton, Miss?' Then, before +I could answer him, he continued--'and I hear that you have secret +meetings with him in the park. Is this so?' I admitted that it was, and +went on to say that as we were betrothed I could see no harm in it." + +"And what did he say to that?" + +"He rose from his chair and paced the room for a few minutes without +speaking. Then he reseated himself. As he did so he said, 'You are _not_ +engaged, and you know it as well as I do. Never let me hear you say such +a thing again.' After that he began to pace the room once more, and +finally hurled at me such a torrent of abuse that I was almost stupefied +by it. He accused me of the most outrageous things, until I could bear +it no longer, and rose to leave him. By this time, as you may suppose, I +had come to the conclusion that the life of retirement he had lived for +so long had turned his brain. No man could have said the things he did +without his mind being a little affected." + +"My darling, this is more serious than you suppose," said Jim anxiously. + +"But you have not heard the worst yet. It appears that before I had +entered the room he had drawn up a document which he now desired me to +sign. It was to the effect that I would bind myself never to speak to +you or see you again, and contained my promise that I would abandon all +thought of ever becoming your wife. 'Sign that,' he said, 'or the +consequences will be more terrible than you suppose. I am an old man, +but remember even old men can be dangerous at times.' With that he +handed me a pen, but I refused to take it." + +"And then?" + +"I cannot tell you how he looked at me as I said it. I could never have +believed that his face could have undergone such a change. But I still +refused to sign the document, and at last he discovered that it was +impossible to force me to do so. 'Very well,' he said, 'since you +refuse, the consequences of your action be upon your own head.' With +that, opening the door, he bade me leave him. You can imagine for +yourself how thankful I was to do so." + +"And then you came on here," said Jim. "You were most imprudent, dear. +He may try to revenge himself upon you when you return to the house." + +"I don't think he will hurt me," she replied. "I am only afraid for +you." + +"There is no need for fear on my account," Jim answered, with a short +laugh. "I do not think it is possible for the poor old gentleman to do +me any harm. But the idea that you are shut up in the house with a +madman, for a madman he must surely be, frightens me beyond all measure. +You must see for yourself that you have no longer any reason to remain +with him. He has threatened you, and that will be sufficient excuse for +you to leave him." + +"No, no," she answered, shaking her head. "If he is losing his reason, +he should not be blamed, and it is all the more necessary for his +comfort that I shall remain with him. I feel sure I shall be quite safe. +He is angry with me at present, but he will calm down. It is above all +necessary, however, that you should not come near him. It will only +irritate him and make him more excited than before. Think how good he +has been to me, dear, for the past eight years, and try not to be angry +with him." + +"But I am not angry with him," said Jim. "I am only trying to be just. +One thing is quite certain, I shall know no peace as long as you are in +that house with him." + +"Will it satisfy you if I give you my promise that, should he become +very bad, I will at once send for you?" + +"If you persist on going back there, I suppose I must be content with +that promise," Jim replied, but with no good grace. "And now you had +better be running in. If he finds that you are out, he might suppose +that you are with me, and have another paroxysm of rage. In that case +there is no knowing what might happen." + +Helen accordingly bade him good-bye and left him, returning by the path +to the Dower House. Jim watched her until she had disappeared and then +turned homeward with a heavy heart. He felt that he had already enough +anxiety upon his shoulders without this additional burden. He had never +trusted Mr. Bursfield, but he was at a loss to understand his present +malignity, unless it were to be accounted for by the fact that his brain +had given way. + +When he reached his home he let himself in by a side door, and made his +way to the drawing-room, where he found Alice. + +"How late you are," she said. "The gong sounded some time ago. You will +scarcely have time to dress." + +"Then dinner must wait," replied Jim. "Alice, I have bad news for you." + +"Why, what is the matter now?" she asked. + +Jim thereupon proceeded to furnish her with an abstract of his interview +with Helen. She heard him without a word, but it was to be easily seen +how distressed she was for her friend. + +"My dear Jim," she remarked when he had finished, "this is indeed +serious. What do you propose doing?" + +"I scarcely know," Jim answered. "The case is an extremely delicate one. +The old man has taken a decided dislike to me, and if I interfere +between Helen and himself it will have the effect of adding to his wrath +and do more harm than good. And yet I cannot allow her to remain there, +and perhaps run a daily risk of her life." + +"What does she think about it herself?" + +"She has an absurd notion that her duty lies in standing by Bursfield in +his trouble. That, of course, is all very well in its way, but no one +could possibly expect her to turn herself into a keeper for a madman." + +Alice, seeing the tired look on his face, crossed the room and placed +her arm round his neck. + +"Dear old Jim," she said, "you must not worry yourself too much about +it. All will come right in the end. Helen is a girl of very marked +character, and it is quite probable that, under her influence, Mr. +Bursfield's condition may improve. Were I in your place, I should trust +matters to her for a little while. You know that she loves you, and you +may be quite sure that she will keep her promise, and let you know +directly anything is very wrong. But there! what am I thinking about? I +should have told you when you first came in that there is a telegram +waiting for you. Here it is." + +As she spoke she took an envelope from the mantelpiece, and handed it to +him. + +"I wonder who it is from?" he remarked as he tore it open. + +Having withdrawn the contents, he read as follows:-- + + "Standerton, Childerbridge. + + "Murbridge found. Come at once. + + "13, Upper Bellington Street. ROBINS." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +"Murbridge found," said Jim to himself as he stood holding the telegram +in his hand. "At last, thank goodness, at last!" + +Alice, however, said nothing. She had more of her dead father's +forgiving spirit in her, and she was aware that he would have been the +last to have desired vengeance on his assailant. + +"What do you mean to do?" she asked. + +"Catch the 8.40 train up to Town," said Jim, "and see Murbridge as soon +as possible. The telegram says 'Come at once.' That is sufficient +evidence that there is no time to be lost. Perhaps he has been wounded +in a desperate struggle with the police. In fact, there are a thousand +possibilities." + +He gave the necessary instructions for dinner to be hurried forward, his +bag to be packed, and the carriage to be ready immediately afterwards to +take him to the station. + +"You will not mind being left alone for one evening, will you, Alice?" +he said to his sister, half apologetically. "Terence will be in the +house and will keep a careful eye upon you. If you think you will be +lonely I will take you up to Town with me, drop you at the hotel, and +then I will go on to Upper Bellington Street." + +Alice, however, would not hear of this arrangement. She declared that +she would be quite content to remain where she was. + +"Besides," she said, "if any news were to come from Helen, I should be +here to receive it. It would not be wise for both of us to be away at +this juncture." + +Jim thereupon went out and sent word to Terence to come to him in his +study. + +"I am called up to Town to-night, Terence," he said, "and I am going to +leave Miss Alice in your charge. I know she could not be in a better." + +"You may be very sure of that, sir," Terence replied; "I wouldn't stand +by and see anything happen to Miss Alice, and I think she knows it." + +"I am sure she does," Jim returned, and then went on to explain the +reason for the journey he was about to undertake. + +An hour and a-half later he was seated in a railway carriage and being +whirled along towards London at something like fifty miles an hour. If +ever a young man in this world was furnished with material for thought, +James Standerton that evening was that one. There was his errand to +London in the first place to be considered, the singular behaviour of +the Black Dwarf a few nights before for another, and the declaration +that Helen had made to him that afternoon for a third. In the light of +this last catastrophe the finding of the man whom he felt sure was his +father's murderer sank into comparative insignificance. + +What if the madman should wreak his vengeance upon her? What if in a +sudden fit of fury he should drive her from his house? If the latter +were to come to pass, however, he felt certain that the place she would +fly to would be the Manor House, and in that case Alice would take her +in and Terence would see that she was safe from the old man's fury. + +It was nearly eleven o'clock when he reached Paddington. Hailing a cab, +he bade the man drive him first to his hotel, where he engaged his usual +room. When he had consulted a directory, he made his way into the street +again. His cabman, whom he had told to wait, professed to be familiar +with Upper Bellington Street, but later confessed his entire ignorance +of its locality. Jim set him right, and then, taking his place in the +cab, bade him drive him thither with all speed. Once more they set off, +down Piccadilly, through Leicester Square, and so by way of Long Acre +into Holborn. Then the route became somewhat more complicated. Through +street after street they passed until Jim lost all idea of the direction +in which they were proceeding. Some of the streets were broad and +stately, others squalid and dejected, some wood paved, others +cobble-stones, in which the rain that had fallen an hour previous stood +in filthy puddles. + +How long they were driving, Jim had no sort of idea, nor could he have +told you in what portion of the town he was then in. At last however +they entered a street which appeared to have no ending. It was illumined +by flaring lamps from coster barrows, drawn up beside the pavement, +while the night was made hideous by the raucous cries of the vendors of +winkles baked potatoes and roasted chestnuts. + +"This is Upper Bellington Street, sir," said the cabman, through the +shutter. "At what number shall I pull up?" + +"Thirteen," Jim replied; "but you will never be able to find it in this +crowd. Put me down anywhere here, and I'll look for it myself." + +The cabman did as he was directed, and presently Jim found himself +making his way along the greasy pavement--which even at that late hour +was crowded with pedestrians--in search of the number in question. It +was as miserable an evening as ever he could remember. A thin drizzle +was falling; the sights and sounds around him were sordid and depressing +in the extreme; while the very errand that had brought him to that +neighbourhood was of a kind calculated to lower the spirits of the +average man to below the mental zero. + +After an examination of the numbers of the various houses and shops in +the vicinity, he came to the conclusion that Thirteen must be situated +at the further end of the street. This proved to be the case. When he +reached it, he knocked upon the grimy door, which was immediately opened +to him by a police officer. + +"What is your name?" asked that official. + +"James Standerton," Jim replied. "I received a telegram from +Detective-sergeant Robins this evening asking me to come up." + +"That's all right, sir," the man answered. "Come in; we have been +expecting you this hour or more." + +"But how is it your prisoner is here, and not at the police station?" + +"I doubt if he'll ever trouble any police station again," returned the +officer. "He's just about done for. In fact, I shouldn't be surprised if +he wasn't dead by now." + +"What is the matter with him?" + +"Pneumonia, sir, the doctor says. He says he can't last out the night." + +At that moment Robins himself appeared at the head of the dirty stairs +that descended to the hall, and invited him to ascend. Jim accordingly +did so. + +"Good evening, Mr. Standerton," he said, "I regret having to inform you +that we have caught our bird too late. We discovered him at midday, and +he was then at the point of death. He was too ill to be moved, and as he +had no one to look after him, we got a doctor and a nurse in at once. +But I fear it is a hopeless case." + +"Will it be possible for me to see him, do you think?" + +"Oh yes, sir; he's been calling for you ever since we found him, so I +took the liberty of telegraphing to you to come up." + +"I am glad you did," said Jim. "There are some questions I must put to +him." + +"In that case, please step this way, sir, and I'll speak to the doctor. +You shall not be kept waiting any longer than I can help." + +He led Jim along the landing, then opened a door and disappeared into a +room at the further end. While he was absent Jim looked about him and +took stock of his position. The small gas-jet that lit up the well of +the staircase, served to show the dirty walls in all their dreariness. +The sound of voices reached him from above and below, while the cries of +the hawkers in the street came faintly in and added to the general +squalor. Then as he stood there he recalled that first meeting with +Murbridge beside the Darling River. In his mind's eye he saw the evening +sun illumining the gums on the opposite bank, the soft breeze ruffling +the surface of the river, an old pelican fishing for his evening meal in +the back-water, and lastly, Richard Murbridge stretched out beside his +newly-lighted fire. This would be their third meeting; and in what a +place, and under what terribly changed circumstances! He was indulging +in this reverie when the door opened once more, and a small, grey-haired +man emerged. + +"Good evening, my dear sir," he said, "I understand that you're Mr. +Standerton, the son of the man the poor wretch inside is suspected of +having murdered. However, they have captured him too late." + +"You mean, I suppose, that he will not live?" said Jim, interrogatively. + +"If he sees the light of morning I shall be very much surprised," said +the doctor; "in point of fact he is sinking fast. You wish to see him, +do you not?" + +"I do," said Jim. "There is some mystery connected with him that I am +very desirous of clearing up." + +"I see," said the medico, "and in that case I presume that you would +wish to see him alone?" + +"If you can permit it," Jim replied. + +"I think it might be managed," answered the other. "But if you will stay +here for a moment I will let you know." + +He returned to the room, and when he stood before Jim once more, invited +him to follow him. He did so, to find himself in a small apartment, some +ten feet long by eight feet wide. It was uncarpeted, and its furniture +consisted of a broken chair, a box on which stood an enamelled basin, +and a bed which was covered with frowsy blankets. On this bed lay a man +whom, in spite the change that had come over him, Jim recognised at once +as being Richard Murbridge. A nurse was standing beside him, and Robins +was at the foot of the bed. + +"Do not make the interview any longer than you can help," whispered the +doctor, and then beckoned to the detective and the nurse to leave the +room with him. They did so, and the door closed behind them. Then Jim +went forward and seated himself upon the chair by the bedside of the +dying man. The latter looked up at him with a scowl. + +"So they sent for you after all?" he said in a voice that was little +above a whisper. "They even took that trouble?" + +"I received the message just before dinner, and came away immediately +afterwards." + +"Left your luxurious mansion to visit Upper Bellington Street? How +self-denying of you! Good Lord, to think that it should be my luck to +die in such a hole as this! I suppose you know that I _am_ dying?" + +"I have been informed that your recovery is unlikely," Jim replied. +"That fact made me doubly anxious to speak to you." + +There was a little pause, during which Murbridge watched him intently. + +"You mean about the murder, I suppose?" he whispered. + +"Yes!" Jim answered. "God forgive me for feeling revengeful at such a +moment, but you took from me and my sister the kindest and best father +that man ever had." + +"You still think that it was I who committed the murder, then?" + +"I am certain of it," Jim answered. "You were at the house that night; +you cherished a deadly hatred against my father; you vowed that you +would be even with him, happen what might, and you ran away from +Childerbridge immediately afterwards. Surely those facts are black +enough to convict any man?" + +"They would have gone some way with a Jury, I have no doubt," the other +replied. "But, as a matter of fact, I did _not_ commit the murder. +Bitterly as I hated your father, I am not responsible for his death." + +Jim looked at him incredulously. + +"Ah, I can see you do not believe me. Now, listen, James Standerton, and +pay attention to what I say, for I shan't be able to say it again. I've +been a pretty tough sort of customer all my life. There have not been +many villainies I haven't committed, and still fewer that I wouldn't +have committed if they tended to my advantage. The record I shall carry +aloft with me will not bear much looking into. But on the word of a +dying man, may"--(here he swore an awful oath which I feel would be +better not set down)--"if I am not absolutely guiltless of your father's +death. Will you believe me now?" + +But still Jim looked incredulous. + +"Ah, I can see that you still doubt me. How can I convince you? Think +for a moment, what have I to gain or lose by saying such a thing? I +shall be gone hence in a few hours, perhaps minutes. Even if I were the +murderer, the police could not take me now. With old Bony behind me I +can laugh at them and at you." + +"But why did you run away if you were innocent?" + +"Because I saw what a hole I had got myself into. You remember that I +went up to the house and had an interview with your father? He turned me +out, and in the hearing of yourself and the servant I vowed to be even +with him. That vow I certainly should have kept, had not somebody else +that night stepped in and took the case out of my hands. When I left the +house, I went for a long walk. I knew my own temper, and also that I +dared not trust myself with human beings just then. Good heavens, man! +You don't know how desperate I was. I had followed your father to +England, and the voyage had taken nearly all my money. What little was +left I spent in liquor, and then went down to Childerbridge to screw +more from your father. He refused point blank to help me except on +certain conditions, which I would not comply with. Knowing his +stubbornness of old, I cleared out of Childerbridge by the first train, +vowing that I would be even with him by some means. Then in an evening +paper I saw that he had been murdered. In a flash I realised my +position, and saw that if I was not very careful I should find myself in +Queer Street. Then came your reward, and from that moment I hid myself +like a 'possum in a gum log. I didn't care very much about my miserable +neck, but--but--well, you see, strange though it may seem, I was a +gentleman once." + +Jim did not know what to say. If this man's tale were true, and it bore +the impression of truth, then they had been on a false scent from the +first. + +"I wonder what your mother would have said had she been alive to see it +all," said Murbridge, after a pause. "Good Lord, to think that Jane +Standerton's brother should end his days in a hole like this." + +"What?" cried Jim, scarcely believing that he had heard aright. "Whose +brother did you say?" + +"Why, your own mother's to be sure," returned Murbridge. "Do you mean to +say that your father never told you after all?" + +"Can such a thing be possible?" Jim continued, in an awed voice. + +"Yes; I am Jane Standerton's brother sure enough. If you look in that +old bag under the bed, you will find evidence enough to convince you of +that fact. My real name is Richard McCalmont, though you wouldn't think +it to look at me, would you? That was how I got my hold upon your +father, don't you see? I was convicted of forgery at the age of +twenty-one"--(the man spoke as if he were proud of it)--"and did my +three years. For a while after that I went straight, but at twenty-six +there was another little mistake, with the details of which I will not +trouble you, but which was sufficient, nevertheless, to again cause me +to spend some years in durance vile. At the age of thirty-two they tried +to convict me of an Insurance Fraud, combined with a suspicion of +murder. They would have done so but for certain technicalities that were +brought forward by my Counsel, who, by the way, was employed by your +father. You see I am perfectly candid with you." + +"And you are my mother's brother?" said Jim slowly, as if he were still +trying to believe it. + +"And your father's brother-in-law, too. And your uncle. Don't forget +that, James," said the other. "Lord! How your father hated me! On +certain occasions I made it my custom to call upon him in a friendly +way. At the end of my last term of exile, I found that my sister was +dead, and that you and Alice were growing up. It was my desire to play +the part of the kindly uncle. But your father made himself +objectionable, and vowed that if ever I dared to betray my relationship +to you he would cut off supplies. As there was never a time in my life +in which I did not stand in need of money, I was perforce compelled to +deprive you of a life's history that would certainly have proved +interesting, if not instructive, to you. However, I now have the +satisfaction of knowing that I shall not die without having accomplished +that task." + +Here he was interrupted by a violent fit of coughing, which left him +speechless for upwards of a minute. As for Jim, he was thinking of the +mental agony his father must have suffered, year after year, with this +despicable creature, the brother of the woman he loved so fondly, +continually holding this threat over his children's heads. + +"God help you for a miserable man," he muttered at last. "Why didn't my +poor father tell me this before? He might have known that this would not +have made the least difference." + +"He was too proud," replied the other, when he recovered his speech. +"Well, it doesn't matter much now, and in a little while it will matter +still less. The police and I have been on the most friendly terms all +our lives, and it gives one a homely sort of feeling to know that even +my last moments will be watched over by their tender care." + +He tried to laugh at his own hideous joke, but the attempt was a +failure. + +"For my mother's sake, is there anything I can do for you?" Jim +enquired, drawing a little closer to the bed. + +The other only shook his head. The effort he had made to talk had proved +too much for him, and had materially hastened the end. + +Seeing that his condition was growing desperate, Jim rose and went in +search of the doctor. He found him in an apartment close at hand. + +"I believe he is sinking fast," said Jim. "I think you had better go to +him." + +The doctor accordingly returned to the sick-room, leaving Jim alone with +Robins. + +"Well, sir," asked the latter, "did he confess?" + +"We have been deceived," said Jim. "The man is as innocent of the crime +as I am. I am convinced of that!" + +"God bless my soul, you don't mean to say so," said the astonished +detective, and asked the same questions Jim had put to the dying man. +Jim answered them as the other had done. + +"Well, this is the most extraordinary case I have ever had to do with," +said Robins. "If Murbridge had wanted to place a halter round his neck +he could not have gone to work in a better fashion. If he is not the +man, then where are we to look for the real murderer?" + +"Goodness only knows," replied Jim. "The case is now shrouded in even +greater mystery than before." + +Half an hour went by, then an hour, and still they waited. At two +o'clock the doctor rejoined them. + +"It is all over," he said solemnly. "He is dead." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Between the time of Murbridge's funeral and his own arrival at +Childerbridge, Jim had plenty of leisure to consider his position, and +to make up his mind as to how much he should let Alice know of the +other's story. + +After mature consideration, he decided that he had better tell her +everything. Yet it had been such a painful shock to himself that he +could well understand how it would affect her. + +It was mid-morning when he arrived at Childerbridge, and Alice had +walked down to the gates to meet him. He alighted from the carriage on +seeing her, and they strolled across the park together. + +"I have been so anxious to hear from you," she said, linking her arm +through her brother's. "What have you to tell me? Did you find that +wretched man?" + +"Yes, I found him," he answered, "and he was dying." + +She paused for a moment before she put the next question. + +"And did he confess?" + +"No," said Jim. "I firmly believe I wronged him in suspecting him of--of +what happened. But I made another discovery, and one, I fear, that will +cause you some astonishment and not a little pain. I learnt from him +that his name was not Murbridge, but McCalmont." + +"McCalmont?" she echoed, as if she did not understand. "But that was our +mother's maiden name." + +"Exactly," said Jim, "and he was her brother!" + +Alice looked at him in horrified surprise. + +"Oh, Jim," she answered, "surely such a thing cannot be possible?" + +"I am afraid it is only too true," Jim replied. "His story was most +circumstantial. He was our mother's youngest brother, and was, I am very +much afraid, a disgrace to the family." + +"But if he had been our mother's brother, why did he entertain such a +deadly hatred for our father?" she asked. + +"For the simple reason that father had been successful, while he had +been the reverse," Jim replied. "I rather fancy the poor old governor +had helped him out of one or two of his worst scrapes, and such being +the perverse nature of mankind, he hated him for the very benefits he +had received from him." + +They walked some distance in silence. + +"Poor, wretched man," said Alice at last. "Oh, Jim, you don't know how +thankful I am that he was not the author of that terrible crime. And +now, before we say anything further, there's one thing I must talk to +you about." + +"What is that?" he enquired. + +"It is about Helen," she answered. "I met her in the village this +morning. I don't want to frighten you, but she is looking very ill. She +seems to have come to look years older within the last few days. There +is a frightened expression on her face that haunts me even now." + +Jim was troubled. This was bad news indeed. + +"Did she give you any reason for it?" he enquired. + +"She tried to account for it by saying that her grandfather had not been +at all well lately, and that she had had rather a trying time with him." + +"Alice," said Jim, after the short pause that ensued, "I have come to +the conclusion that old Bursfield is insane. Helen did not tell you, I +suppose, that he uttered all sorts of threats against me the other day. +For some reason or another he has taken an intense dislike to me." + +"She said nothing about it," Alice answered. "I am sorry for her. What +is best to be done, do you think?" + +"It is difficult to say," Jim answered. "One thing is quite certain. She +cannot go on living with him if he is to continue in this strain. Under +such circumstances there is a limit even to a woman's fidelity. I must +endeavour to see her as soon as possible." + +"Would it do for me to go and see her, do you think?" asked Alice. "I +should then be able to tell you something definite about Mr. Bursfield's +condition." + +Jim shook his head. + +"No," he said, "such a thing would not be wise. I must think the matter +over and see what is best to be done." + +By the time he reached the house he had arrived at a conclusion. + +"Do you remember, Alice," he said, "that clever young doctor that we met +at the Caltrops on the evening that we dined with them, soon after our +arrival in England? His name was Weston. Mrs. Caltrop declared that, +before many years were past, he would be a recognised authority on +mental diseases." + +"I remember him quite well," Alice answered. "He took me in to dinner, +and was so interested in Australia. He had a brother in Sydney, I think. +What about him." + +"Well, I have made up my mind to telegraph to Mrs. Caltrop for his +address, and having got it, to wire and ask him to come down and see Mr. +Bursfield. He would be able to tell me then whether or not it is safe +for Helen to go on living with him. If he says not, then she must leave +him at once." + +"I should think it would be a very good plan, provided always that you +can get Mr. Bursfield to see him. You will find that the difficulty." + +"Not at all," Jim answered. "I have a scheme that I think will answer. +At any rate we will try it." + +A telegram was accordingly despatched to Mrs. Caltrop, asking her to +forward the address of the doctor in question. This done, Jim sent for +Terence. + +"Well, Terence," he said, when the latter made his appearance, "any sign +of the Black Dwarf during my absence?" + +"Never a one, sir," Terence replied. "I kept my eyes and ears open all +night, and waited about after dark, but there's not been so much as a +mouse stirring." + +"I am glad to hear it," Jim remarked, and then gave Terence a brief +description of his visit to London, and of what he had discovered there. + +"Then if it wasn't he as did it," said Terence, "who could it have +been?" + +Before he answered, Jim looked at the door, as if to make sure that it +was closed. + +"Terence," he said, "I am gradually coming to the conclusion that the +Black Dwarf, whoever he may be, was responsible for it." + +"I've thought of that myself, sir," Terence replied. + +"In the first place, he was seen by one of the maid-servants in the +gallery on the night that my father was murdered." + +"Don't they say, sir, as how another gentleman was murdered in the same +way in this house?" + +"I believe there is some legend to that effect," said Jim, "but how true +it is, I cannot say. I don't think, however, we need take that +circumstance into consideration." + +"Then what are we to do, sir?" + +"Watch and wait until we catch him," Jim replied. "When we've done that +we shall be satisfied whether he is flesh or blood or not, and if he is, +by what right he dares to enter my house." + +There was a lengthy pause, then with a diffidence that was somewhat +unusual with him, Terence said: + +"You'll excuse me, sir, I hope, for saying such a thing, but between you +and me, sir, I cannot help thinking that we was happier at Mudrapilla." + +Jim heaved a heavy sigh. A longing to be back in the old home, and to be +engaged in the pursuits he had been brought up to from a boy, had been +with him a great deal of late. + +"Yes," he said. "I think we were happier at Gundawurra. I must go back +there soon, Terence, if only for a whiff of Bush air. I am very much +afraid that playing the fine gentleman in England does not suit me." + +When the other had left the room, Jim lay back in his chair and fell +into a reverie. He closed his eyes, and was transported back to the old +home where he had been born, and where he had spent his happiest days. +How sweet it would be to settle down there some day, with Helen as his +wife. He tried hard to realise the day's work upon the run; the +home-coming at night, to find Helen at the gate waiting for him; the +evenings spent in the cool verandah, with the moon rising above the +river timber. Then he came back to the very real anxieties of the +present. An hour later a message came from Mrs. Caltrop. It was as +follows: + + "Doctor Weston, Harley Street." + +Whereupon he took another telegraph form and wired to the doctor to the +effect that he would be grateful if he could make it convenient to +travel down to Childerbridge that afternoon. In order that the latter +might understand from whom the message emanated, he added the words, +"Met you at dinner at Mrs. Caltrop's." Luncheon was scarcely finished +before a message arrived from the doctor saying that he would endeavour +to be at Childerbridge at four o'clock. Accordingly at half-past three +Jim drove to the railway station to await his coming. Punctual to the +moment the train steamed into the station, and he looked about among the +passengers for the man he wanted. + +Presently he descried him coming along the platform--a tall, +good-looking man, resembling a soldier more than a Harley Street +physician. + +"Mr. Standerton, I believe," he said as he approached Jim. + +"And you are Doctor Weston, of course," the latter answered with a +smile. + +"Now," said the doctor, "I will commence, Mr. Standerton, by saying that +it is absolutely necessary that I should catch the six o'clock train +back to London." + +"I will arrange that you do so," Jim replied, and then the doctor +surrendered his ticket and they strolled out of the station. "Now, +perhaps, I had better tell you my reasons for asking you to come down +to-day. Shall we walk a little way along the road. I have no desire to +be overheard. I will now make you acquainted with the facts of the case, +in order that you may go direct to the house of the gentleman I want you +to see." + +"He is not a member of your own family, then?" the doctor enquired. + +"No, he is no sort of relation. In fact, I had not seen him until a few +months ago." + +They paused beside a gate and faced each other. + +"I gather that it is rather an unusual case?" the doctor remarked. + +"A very unusual one," Jim replied. "The matter stands in this way. I am +engaged to a young lady who is the adopted granddaughter of the +gentleman in question." + +The doctor nodded, but said nothing. He listened attentively, while Jim +told his tale, explained his fears for Helen's safety, and described the +threats the old gentleman had made use of concerning himself. + +When he had finished Dr. Weston drew some lines on the ground with the +point of his umbrella, as if he were working out a difficult +calculation. + +"This is certainly a singular case, Mr. Standerton," he said at last. +"You are not connected with this gentleman in any way, and he, not +approving of your marriage with his granddaughter, has forbidden you his +house. The young lady's only reason for believing him to be a little +weak in his intellect is his treatment of you. I really do not know +whether, under the circumstances, I should be justified in seeing him." + +Jim's heart sank. He had not looked at the matter from this point of +view. Observing his disappointment, the doctor smiled. + +"Nevertheless," he continued, "I will see him, provided you will give me +your promise that my report shall be considered a purely confidential +one." + +"Am I to understand that I am not to acquaint Miss Decie or my sister +with your decision?" + +"Of course, I will allow you to tell them, and equally, of course, +provided it goes no further." + +"In that case I will give you my promise most willingly," said Jim. + +"And now the question comes as to how I can obtain my interview with +him." + +"I have thought out a plan that should enable you to do that," Jim +replied. "I happen to know that for a long time past he has been engaged +in writing a history of the neighbourhood, and my house in particular +which at one time was the property of his family." + +"Quite so; and the ruins a mile or two back, what are they called?" + +"Clevedon Castle," Jim answered. "I believe it was destroyed by +Cromwell." + +"That should answer my purpose. And now with your permission I will +drive to his house--not in your carriage, but in a cab. I shall see you +afterwards, I presume?" + +"I will wait for you here, or at my own house, whichever you please," +said Jim. + +"Your house, I think, would be better," the doctor answered. "I will +drive there directly I leave Mr.----. By-the-way, you have not told me +his name or given me his address." + +Jim furnished him with both, and then the doctor hailed a fly and drove +away. + +It was nearly half-past five before Jim was informed by Wilkins that Dr. +Weston had called, and that he had been shown to the study. + +He immediately proceeded thither, to find the doctor sitting before the +fire. + +"Well, Mr. Standerton," he began, "I have seen Mr. Bursfield, and have +had rather a curious interview with him." + +"And what decision have you come to?" + +"Well, I think your supposition is correct. Not to be technical, I might +say that he is not really responsible for his actions. While we +discussed archaeology, and the history of the neighbourhood, he was +rational enough, but when I chanced to touch upon this house, and your +connection with it, his whole demeanour changed. If I were in your place +I should avoid him as much as possible, for there can be no doubt that +he would do you a mischief if he could. As for Miss Decie, I would not +advise you to persuade her to leave him, at least not at present. It +would in all probability immediately produce unfavourable results, and +in so doing might snap the frail link that still connects him with +Sanity. The influence she exerts over him, where you are not concerned, +is undoubtedly a beneficial one." + +"Am I to consider that she is safe with him?" + +"I should say so," the doctor replied. "Of course, if he has many more +of these paroxysms of rage it might be necessary for her to leave him. +But she must be the best judge of that. Doubtless you can arrange that +with her. And now I must be getting back to the railway station; if I +wish to catch my train I have not much time to lose." + +"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Doctor Weston," said Jim gratefully. +"I cannot say that you have made my mind easier, but you have at least +let me know exactly how matters stand with Mr. Bursfield." + +"I am glad to have been of service," said the doctor. + +James handed him an envelope containing his fee, and escorted him to the +door. When he had seen him depart he returned to the drawing-room and +communicated his intelligence to his sister. + +"Poor Helen," said Alice, "it is no wonder that she looks anxious. What +will you do now, Jim?" + +"I must take the night to think the matter over," he answered. "Since +the old man is undoubtedly mad, and not only mad, but dangerously so, I +cannot bear to contemplate her remaining with him, and yet I have no +desire to hasten the crisis." + +All the evening Jim brooded over the matter, imagining all sorts of +dangers for the woman he loved. At last the time came for them to retire +to rest. He was in the act of lighting Alice's candle in the hall, when +the sound of steps on the gravel path outside attracted his attention. + +"Good gracious!" cried Jim, "who on earth can it be at this time of the +night?" + +So saying, he hastened to the door. The lights from the hall shone on +the steps, and showed him Helen Decie, standing, bareheaded, before him. +For a moment the shock at seeing her there at such an hour, and in such +a plight, deprived him of speech. Alice was the first to break the +silence. + +"Helen, my dear girl," she cried, "what does this mean?" + +Then Helen stepped into the hall, and James closed the door behind her. +He had scarcely done so, before she gave a little cry and fell to the +floor in a dead faint. Picking her up, Jim carried her to the big settee +in the centre. + +"My poor girl," he cried, "what has he done to you?" Then, turning to +Alice, he added, "What can have happened?" + +She did not answer him, but sped upstairs to her bedroom, to presently +return with a bottle of smelling salts. Under their restorative +influence, consciousness very soon returned, and Helen looked about her +in a dazed fashion, as if she could not realise where she was. + +"Do you feel well enough to tell what has taken place, dear?" Jim asked, +when she had so far recovered as to be able to sit up. "What has brought +you here bareheaded at this time of night?" + +"My grandfather has turned me out of his house," she answered +falteringly. + +"Turned you out of the house?" repeated both Jim and Alice together. +Then Alice added: "Surely not? He ought to be turned out himself." + +"You must not be angry with him," said Helen. "I really don't think he +knows what he is doing." + +"But this is an unheard-of thing," Jim said angrily. "He must have taken +leave of his senses." + +"He accused me of being in league with you to poison him, and bade me +come to an instant decision as to whether I would give you up or leave +the house." + +"And my noble girl refused to give me up?" said James, kissing her hand. + +"Helen acted nobly," said Alice. "Never mind, dear, you know where your +real friends are, don't you?" + +"But whatever shall I do?" the girl put in. "He bade me leave the house +and never come back again." + +"We will arrange all that to-morrow," Jim replied. "For to-night, Alice +will take care of you. Do not worry, dear heart, all will come right in +the end." + +Then he proceeded to inform her of Dr. Weston's visit that afternoon, +and of the report that gentleman had given of the old gentleman's mental +condition. + +"I cannot tell why," she said, "but I had some sort of suspicion that he +came for that purpose. Poor grandfather, how sad it is to think of his +being like this. Since he does not know what he is doing, we should not +be angry with him for acting as he did." + +At this juncture Alice departed to make arrangements for her friend's +comfort for the night. + +"Oh, Jim dear, what do you think will become of me?" Helen asked. "Think +for me, for I cannot think for myself." + +"I think I can hazard a very good guess what your fate will be," said +Jim. "To-morrow morning I shall go up to London to obtain a special +license, and the day after you shall become my wife." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Unexpected as the events of the evening had been, Jim Standerton, as he +stood in his bedroom before retiring to rest, could not declare that he +altogether regretted the turn they had taken. On the morrow he would go +to London, and afterwards, armed with the Law's authority, he would make +Helen Decie his wife without delay. From that moment Mr. Bursfield might +do his worst. Before retiring to his room he had visited Terence, and +had received from him a positive assurance that so far all was right for +the night. Knowing that he might trust the latter implicitly, he had +given him an account of what had happened that evening. + +"The sooner, sir, they put that old man under lock and key the better it +will be for everybody," said Terence. "Let him just come playing his +little game round here, and he'll have me on his track like a Nyall +blackfellow." + +Half-an-hour later, Jim was in bed and asleep, dreaming that he was back +in the Bush once more, and that he and Terence were chasing wild horses +through a mountain range, and that, on the foremost horse, Helen was +seated, clinging to his mane, as if for dear life. He was galloping +after her as fast as his horse could carry him, when suddenly a hand +clutched him by the throat, and tried to lift him out of the saddle. + +At that moment, however, he woke to find that this was no dream, but the +most horrible reality he had ever known in his life. Bony fingers were +clutching tightly at his windpipe, rendering it impossible for him to +breathe. He endeavoured to rise and to seize his assailant, whoever he +might be, and throw him off. But his efforts were unavailing. Still +those talon-like fingers retained their hold; try as he would he could +not weaken their terrible grip. Little by little he felt himself +sinking. The room was in such total darkness that it was impossible to +discover whom his antagonist might be. In the last extremity of his +agony he rolled from the bed and lay helpless upon the floor, entangled +in the clothes. With the fall, his assailant lost his grip of his +throat. Then something must have startled him, for a moment later the +door opened, and he was gone. Disengaging himself as quickly as possible +from the bed-clothes, Jim staggered to his feet, half stunned by the +fall and the terrific conflict in which he had so lately been engaged. +As soon as he recovered he lit a candle, hastened to the door, opened it +and passed out into the gallery. No one was to be seen there, but he had +not gone many paces before he heard the same clicking noise that had +arrested his attention on the first occasion of his seeing the Black +Dwarf. Making his way round the gallery, he reached the room occupied by +Terence. The door stood ajar, and from the noises that proceeded from +within, he gathered that his trusty servant was not only in bed, but +fast asleep. He crossed and shook him by the shoulders. + +"Get up, Terence," he whispered softly. "Get up at once." + +"What's the matter?" asked the half-awakened man. "Why, it's you, sir. +Is there anything wrong?" + +"I should rather think so," Jim replied. "Look at my throat and see if +you can detect any marks upon it." + +The other held up the candle as he was directed. On either side of his +throat were a number of bruises and scratches, and some of the latter +were bleeding profusely. + +"My gracious, sir!" said Terence; "it looks as if somebody had been +trying to strangle you." + +"You've hit it exactly," Jim replied. "Good heavens! Terence, I've been +nearly murdered. You've no idea what a fight of it I've had in the dark. +The man, whoever he was, finding that he couldn't finish me, bolted, and +has gone down some secret passage in the gallery. Terence, we must catch +him somehow." + +Terence sprang out of bed, and while he was dressing, Jim hastened back +to his room and also donned some clothes. This done, he returned to +Terence's bedroom, to discover that worthy in the act of lacing his +boots. + +"It's a funny business this, sir!" Terence remarked. "I wish I had been +behind that gentleman when he was trying to settle you. I'd have given +him one for his precious nob, ghost or no ghost." + +"I expect you would. Now be as quick as you can, for there is not a +moment to lose if we want to catch him." + +Terence immediately announced himself as ready, and then, taking their +candles, they set off round the gallery towards the corridor where Jim +felt sure his mysterious assailant had disappeared. Inspection showed +them that the door of the stairs at the further end, leading down to the +domestic offices, was securely fastened on the other side. Having made +sure of this, they tried, as on a previous occasion, the various rooms +along the corridor, searching each one most carefully. But no success +attended their efforts. + +"It is quite certain that he is not in any of these rooms," said Jim. +"Now what we have to do is to discover the entrance to that secret +passage. I shall not rest content until we have found that." + +They accordingly returned to the corridor, where they set to work once +more to over-haul the wainscotting. Beginning at one end, they worked to +the other; their efforts, however, met with no more success than they +had done in the searching of the rooms. Every panel of the wainscotting +seemed as hollow as its fellow--each projection as firmly secured. + +"And yet I am as certain that it is somewhere about here that he +disappeared," said Jim. + +At the entrance to the corridor from the gallery were two square pillars +elaborately carved with fruit. Jim had explored his side, having pressed +and pulled every pear and apple, with the usual result. Suddenly Terence +touched him on the arm. + +"Look here, sir," he whispered, "what's this? It seems to me that this +grape is not very firm." + +Jim turned to him and knelt down beside the bunch of fruit indicated. It +certainly did seem as if the lowest grape of the bunch were loose. It +shook under his finger, and yet showed no sign of coming off. + +"I believe we've got it at last," he said, pressing upon the grape, as +he spoke, with all his strength. Yet it did not move. He endeavoured to +push it in the direction of the gallery, but still it remained +immovable. He tried forcing it from him towards the corridor, when to +his amazement it left its place and moved half an inch or so away. As it +did so there was a heavy creaking noise, and a portion of the panelling +of the corridor, some three feet in width and six feet high, swung +inwards, disclosing a black cavity, which might either have been a well +or a staircase. Both men drew back in astonishment, half expecting that +Jim's assailant, if he were concealed within, would dash out upon them. + +"We've found the place at last," said Jim. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, we +shall be able to solve the mystery of the famous Childerbridge ghosts. +Hold your candle aloft, Terence, so that we can see what we are doing, +and we'll descend and discover where it leads to." + +"Let me go first, sir," Terence returned. "After the fight you had +upstairs, you may not be up to the mark, and I'm dying to have a turn +with him, if he's as big as a church." + +But Jim would not hear of this, and bade the other follow him. Holding +their lights aloft, they descended the narrow stone steps. They were +longer than they expected to find them, and when they reached the bottom +Jim knew that they must be some distance beneath the level of the +foundations of the house. They were then standing in a passage, some +four feet wide by seven in height. The walls and ceiling were of brick, +the floor composed of huge blocks of stone. Everything reeked with damp +while the air was as close and musty as a vault. Being resolved to leave +no part of it unexplored, Jim pushed on closely followed by Terence. For +economy's sake they blew out one of the candles, not knowing how far +they might have to travel, or what might happen to them by the way. They +had not been more than three minutes in the passage before Jim stopped, +and turning to his companion, held up his hand. + +"What's up?" he asked. + +A sound as of heavy blows upon stone reached them from above. + +"I can tell you what it is, sir," said Terence, after a moment's +reflection. "It's the horses, and it means that we're under the +stables." + +"In that case it must run the entire width of the house and burrow under +the courtyard. It means also that the direction is due east. This is +growing interesting. Come along." + +After this discovery they pushed on with increased speed, but the +passage showed no signs of coming to an end. The air was close, but now +and again draughts poured in upon them to prove that though they could +not see them, there must be vent holes somewhere. + +"I wouldn't have believed such a place could have existed," said Jim. +"It seems as if we have come miles. By Jove, what's that?" + +As he spoke the light of his candle shone upon a dark mass huddled upon +the floor. A second later it became apparent that it was the figure of a +man. + +"Take care, sir," said Terence, as Jim hastened towards the prostrate +form, "it may be the man we want, and he's as like as not shamming." + +"We'll soon find that out," answered Jim, and knelt down beside the +prostrate figure. + +While Terence held the candle, Jim rolled the figure over until they +were able to see the face. Then he uttered a cry of horror. _The man +lying before them was none other than Abraham Bursfield!_ + +"Good heavens, this is too terrible," said Jim, after the long pause +which followed, during which he had assured himself that he had made no +mistake as to the other's identity. "Is he dead, do you think, Terence?" + +"Quite dead, sir," Terence replied, after he too had knelt down and +examined him. "If he's the man who tried to kill you, he'll never do any +more mischief to anybody again." + +But Jim did not answer. A sickening feeling of giddiness was taking +possession of him. If it were Abraham Bursfield who had done his best to +murder him that night, it was only logical to conclude that he was also +the man who had murdered his father. Doctor Weston had declared him to +be a madman that afternoon. Now he had certainly proved himself to be +one of the most dangerous type. If that were the case what a narrow +escape Helen had had. + +"What's to be done, Terence?--what's to be done?" Jim asked almost +piteously. "We could not have made a more terrible discovery." + +"There'll have to be an Inquest, sir," said Terence. + +"When it will be found that he entered my house and endeavoured to +murder me. Then it will be remembered how my father died. Two and two +will be put together, and the terrible truth will come out. That would +break Miss Decie's heart." + +"Good heavens! sir, I see what you mean," said Terence. "I never thought +of that." + +"He was mad, Terence, hopelessly mad, and therefore not responsible for +his actions. Poor Miss Decie!" + +"Aye, poor young lady. If she was so fond of the old gentleman, it would +break her heart to know what he has been trying to do." + +"She must never know," said Jim, who by this time had made up his mind. +"I can trust you, Terence." + +"To the death, sir, and I think you know it. I've served you, sir, and I +served your father before you, and I don't think you ever found me +wanting. Tell me what you think of doing." + +"We must get him back to his own house, if possible," said Jim, "and let +him be found dead there. No one but our two selves will know the truth, +and if we keep silence, no one need ever know that we found him here. I +cannot let Miss Decie be made more unhappy than she is." + +"I don't know but that you are right, sir," Terence answered. "But how +are we going to get him to the Dower House?" + +"We must go along the passage and see where it leads to. If I am not +mistaken it will take us there. This place must have been made years +ago, when the two properties were one. We will leave the body here, and, +if I am right in my conjecture, we can come back for it." + +They accordingly allowed the remains of Mr. Bursfield to lie where they +had found them, and proceeded on their tour of exploration. As it +transpired, they had still a considerable distance to go before they +reached the end of the tunnel. At last, however, they found themselves +at the foot of a flight of stone steps, similar to those by which they +had descended at the Manor House. + +"Tread very quietly," Jim whispered to his companion. "We must on no +account rouse the servants." + +They noiselessly ascended the stairs until they found themselves at the +top, and confronted by a door. + +"I'll get you to stay here, Terence," Jim whispered, "while I open this +door and see where we are." + +He soon discovered what appeared to be a spring in the middle of the +door, and when he had pressed it, had the satisfaction of seeing the +door swing inwards. Shading the candle with his hand, Jim stepped into +the room he found before him. His surprise at finding himself in Mr. +Bursfield's study, the same room in which he had his last unpleasant +interview with the old gentleman, can be better imagined than described. +The secret door, he observed, formed part of the panelling on one side +of the fireplace, a fragment of carving in the setting of the +chimney-piece being the means of opening it. The old man's papers and +books were littered about the table just as he had left them; a +grandfather clock ticked solemnly in the further right-hand corner, +while a little mouse watched Jim from beneath the sofa, as if it were +endeavouring to ascertain his errand there at such an hour. + +Having made sure of his whereabouts, Jim returned to the passage, +closing the door carefully behind him. + +"We must lose no time," he whispered to Terence; "it is already a +quarter to three. Heaven grant that Isaac, his man-servant, does not +take it into his head to look in upon his master during the night. He +would then find him absent, and that would make it rather difficult to +explain the fact of his being found dead in his chair in the morning." + +By this time their first candle had expired, and it became necessary to +light that Terence was carrying. + +"If we are not very careful we shall be compelled to make our way back +in the dark, after we have carried him up here," said Jim. "This candle +will scarcely see us through." + +"Never mind that, sir, so long as we can get him in here safely," said +Terence. "I have got a box of matches in my pocket, and we can fumble +our way back somehow." + +They accordingly set off, and in due course reached the place where they +had left the old man's body. + +"How are we to carry him?" asked Jim. + +"Oh, you leave that to me, sir. I can manage it," answered Terence. "If +you'll go ahead with the light, I'll follow you." + +So saying, he picked up the frail body, as if its weight were a matter +of no concern to him, and they set off on their return journey to the +Dower House. If the distance had appeared a long one before, it was +doubly so now. At last, however, they reached the steps, climbed them, +and a few moments later were standing in the dead man's study once more. +In spite of his assertions to the contrary, it was plain that his +exertions had taxed Terence's strength to its utmost. Between them they +placed the body in the chair before the table. + +This done, they left the room as quietly as they had entered it, and +made their way down the steps once more. Jim's prophecy that the return +journey would have to be made in darkness was fulfilled, for they had +scarcely reached the place where they had discovered the body ere the +candle fluttered out and they found themselves in inky darkness. + +Terence struck a match, but its feeble flicker was of little or no use +to them. Fumbling their way along by the wall they continued to +progress, until a muttered exclamation from Terence, who was leading, +proclaimed the fact that they had reached the steps at the further end. + +"Bad cess to 'em," said he, "I've barked my shins so that I shall have +good cause to remember them to my dying day." + +He thereupon lit another match, and by means of this modest illumination +they climbed to the door in the corridor above. + +"Heaven be thanked! we're safe home once more," said Jim, as they +stepped into the passage. "I trust I may never experience another night +like this." + +Whispering to Terence to follow him quietly, he led the way round the +gallery and downstairs to the dining-room, where he unlocked the +Tantalus and poured out a glass of spirits for Terence and another for +himself. Both stood in need of some sort of stimulant after all they had +been through. + +"Not a word must be breathed to any living being of this, Terence," he +said, as he put his glass down. "Remember, I trust my secret to you +implicitly." + +"I give you my word, sir, that nobody shall ever hear it from me," +answered Terence, and then the two men solemnly shook hands. + +"Now, before we go to bed, I'll get you to come to my room and have a +look at my throat," said Jim; "it's uncommonly sore." + +This proved to be the case. And small wonder was it, for the finger +marks were fast turning to bruises, while the scratches showed up as +fiery-red as ever. Jim shuddered again and again as he recalled that +awful struggle and compared his escape with his father's cruel fate. + +"Another moment and in all probability he would have done for me too," +he said to himself, and then added somewhat inconsequently, "Poor +Helen!" + +When his wounds had been dressed, he despatched Terence to bed; for his +own part, however, he knew that sleep was impossible. In fact, he did +not attempt to seek it, but seating himself in a comfortable chair, +proceeded to read, with what attention he could bestow upon the +operation, until daylight. + +When the sun rose he dressed himself and went out, wearing a scarf +instead of a collar, in order that the wounds he had received might not +be apparent to the world. The memory of that hateful passage under the +park haunted him like an evil dream. He determined to have it closed at +once for good and all. While he remained the owner of Childerbridge no +one should ever set foot in it again. He was still wondering how he +could best carry out the work without exciting suspicion or comment, +when he observed an old man crossing the park towards him. As he drew +nearer, Jim became aware that it was old Isaac, Mr. Bursfield's +man-servant and general factotum. It was also to be seen that he was in +a very agitated state. + +"God have mercy upon us, sir!" he said, as he came up to Jim; "I've had +such a fright. Is Miss Helen with you?" + +"She is," Jim replied, and then endeavouring to speak unconcernedly, he +added--"Has Mr. Bursfield sent you to find her?" + +"The poor gentleman will never send me on another errand," Isaac replied +solemnly; "he has been sent for himself. He is dead!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +"What's that you say?" cried Jim, trying to appear as if he were +scarcely able to believe that he heard aright. "Do you mean to tell me +that Mr. Bursfield is dead?" + +"Yes, sir," said the old man; "when I went into his study this morning +to open the shutters, I found him seated at his table in the arm-chair +stone dead. I ran up at once to Miss Helen's room to tell her, only to +find that her bed had not been slept in. Me and my wife searched the +house for her, but she is not to be found anywhere. Oh, sir, what does +it all mean?" + +"It means that Miss Decie came to my house last night at about eleven +o'clock. Mr. Bursfield's condition was such that she was afraid to +remain in the house with him any longer. You must have noticed that he +has been very strange of late?" + +"The poor old gentleman has been ailing for some days past," Isaac +replied. "He always was quick tempered, but for the last month or so he +doesn't seem to have been able to control himself. Perhaps it isn't +right for a servant to say it, sir, but there 'ave been times lately +when I 'ave been afraid that his reason 'ave been a-failing him. There +was a time when he couldn't make enough of Miss Helen, but lately he's +been scarce able to speak civil to her. It's a sad thing, sir, a very +sad thing, especially for a servant that's worked for him true and +faithful for nigh upon forty years." + +"His fit of rage last night must have hastened the end," said Jim. "The +news you bring will affect Miss Decie very painfully. You had better go +back and send at once for the doctor; I will return to the Manor House +and tell Miss Decie." + +"I humbly thank you for your kindness, sir," the man replied. "I will do +what you say, and perhaps you will be kind enough to come over later." + +When he had extracted the other's promise he hobbled off, and Jim +returned to his own house. He found Helen and Alice in the hall, +standing before the great fireplace in earnest conversation. He bade +them as cheery a good morning as was possible under the circumstances, +and when he had done so his sister enquired why his throat was wrapped +up so closely. + +"It's a trifle sore this morning," Jim replied, with some truth. "That's +all. It will be all right very soon." + +He then suggested that they should go in to breakfast. He had determined +to break the news of Mr. Bursfield's death to Helen after the meal. This +he did with great gentleness. The shock, however, was a severe one, +nevertheless, but she did her best to meet it bravely. + +"Poor old grandfather," she said after a while, "I always feared that +his death would come like this. Oh how sorry I am that he should have +died believing that I had ceased to love him." + +"He could not have done that," Jim replied. "In his inmost heart he must +have known that your affection was one that could never change." + +She shook her head, however. + +"Will you take me to him?" she enquired, and Jim, feeling that it would +not be wise not to do so, consented to go with her to the Dower House. +Side by side they crossed the park by the path they had come to know so +well, entered the house by the little postern door, and were met in the +hall by the village doctor whom Isaac had summoned. + +"My dear Miss Decie," he said as they shook hands, "will you accept my +heartfelt sympathy for you in your trouble. I fear it must have been a +terrible shock." + +"It has affected me more than I can say," she answered. "I had no idea, +though I was aware that his heart was in a very weak state, that the end +was so near." + +"One thing I can tell you if it will make you any happier," said the +doctor, "and that is, that I am certain his end was a peaceful and +painless one." + +Thanking the doctor for his sympathy, Helen left the room and went +upstairs to the dead man's bedroom. Jim and the doctor went into the +study. + +"I suppose it will be necessary to hold an Inquest," said Jim, when they +were alone together. + +"I am very much afraid so," the doctor replied. "But it will be quite a +formal affair. There are two circumstances, however, Mr. Standerton, +about the affair, that I must confess puzzle me more than a little." + +Jim felt himself turning cold. Had he left anything undone, or had he +made any mistake? + +"What are those two circumstances?" he enquired. + +"Well, in the first place," said the doctor, "the old gentleman seldom +went outside the house, not once a month at most, and only then on fine +days. Yesterday, his man-servant tells me, he did not stir beyond the +study door. Isaac is certain that he was wearing his carpet slippers at +dinner time, and also when he looked in upon him before retiring, yet +when he was found this morning he was wearing boots." + +"That is most curious, certainly," said Jim, "but I must confess I fail +to see anything remarkable in it." + +"Not perhaps in the fact of his wearing the boots," said the medical +gentleman, "but there is another point which, taken in conjunction with +it, makes one pause to think. On the first finger of the right hand I +found that the nail had been recently broken, and in a painful fashion. +What is more, the second and third fingers had smears of blood upon +them. Now with the exception of the nail to which I have alluded and +which did not bleed, he had not a trace of a wound on either finger. +That I am quite certain of, for I searched diligently. Moreover, there +is not a trace of blood upon the table at which he was seated. And there +is one thing stranger still." + +"What is that?" + +"As you are aware, it commenced to rain at a late hour last night. +Unfortunately I know it, for the reason that I was compelled to be out +in it. The roads were plastered with mud. Now though Mr. Bursfield, for +some reason of his own, had put on his boots, he could not have ventured +outside, for there is not a speck of mud upon them. In that case, why +the boots, and where did the blood come from?" + +"You are perfectly sure that he died of heart disease?" + +"As sure as I can be of anything," said the doctor. "Nevertheless, it's +altogether a mysterious affair." + +This also proved to be the opinion of the Coroner's Jury, and as there +was no one forthcoming to clear it up, a mystery it was likely to remain +for all time. Had the Coroner and his Jury, however, known the history +of the bruises under the thick bandage which the young Squire of +Childerbridge wore round his throat, they would have been enlightened. + +As nobody was able to account for anything save the doctor, however, a +verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned, and three days +later, Abraham Bursfield was laid to rest with his forefathers in the +little churchyard, scarcely fifty paces away from the grave of the man +who had fallen by his hands. + +"Jim," said Alice on the evening of the funeral, when they had brought +Helen back to the Manor House, "I have a proposal to make to you. I am +going to suggest that I should take Helen away for a few weeks to the +seaside. The anxieties and sorrow of the past two months have been too +much for her. I can see that she stands in need of a thorough change. If +you have no objection to raise, I thought we could start to-morrow +morning. We shall be away a month, and by that time she should be quite +restored to health." + +"And pray what am I going to do with myself while you are away?" he +asked. "I gather you mean when you say that you are both going away that +I am not to accompany you?" + +"No; all things considered, I think it would be better not," said Alice. +"But if you are very good you shall come down to us for two or three +days during the month. Then if Helen agrees, and I have no doubt you +will be able to induce her to do so, you could obtain a Special License, +and be quietly married at the end of that time." + +Jim, who regarded it quite possible that the marriage might be postponed +for some time, clutched eagerly at the straw of hope held out to him, +and willingly agreed to her suggestion. + +"And now one other matter, Alice," he said. "I, on my side, have a +proposal to make. Whether you will prove as complaisant as I have done +is another matter." + +"What is your proposal?" + +"It can be resolved into one word," he answered, "That word is +Mudrapilla." + +He heard her catch her breath, and then she looked pleadingly at him. + +"Jim," she whispered, "Oh Jim, dear, you don't mean it, do you?" + +"If you and Helen will accompany me, I do," he answered. "Terence I am +quite sure will not object. Will you agree, my sister?" + +The answer she vouchsafed might have meant anything or nothing. It +was:-- + +"Only to think of seeing dear old Mudrapilla again!" + +So it was settled. Helen and Alice departed next day to a tiny seaside +place in Devonshire, where Jim was under orders to join them for three +days at the week end once during their stay. As soon as they were gone, +he in his turn set off for London. His first act on reaching the City, +and when he had deposited his bag at the hotel, was to drive to the +office of the Estate Agent with whom his father had negotiated the +purchase of Childerbridge. That portly, suave gentleman received him +with the respect due to a man worth half a million of money, and the +owner of such a palatial mansion and estate. + +"But, my dear sir," he began, when he had heard what James had to say, +"you surely don't mean to say that you are desirous of selling +Childerbridge. You have only been there a few months." + +"I am most anxious to be rid of the place as soon as possible," Jim +replied. "As you may suppose it has the most painful recollections for +me. Besides I am thinking of returning to Australia almost immediately, +and scarcely know when I shall visit England again." + +"In that case I must do the best I can for you," said the other. "At the +same time I feel that I should warn you that the Estate Market is not in +a very flourishing condition at present, and that a large number of +properties that have been placed upon the market have not sold nearly as +well as they should have done." + +"I must take my chance of not getting its value," said Jim. "Find me a +purchaser and I don't think he will be able to complain that I have not +met him fairly." + +The agent promised to do his best, and for the next fortnight Jim amused +himself in a lazy fashion travelling about England, purchasing a variety +of stock for his Australian stations, and longing for the time to come +when he should be at liberty to present himself in Devonshire. At last, +however, the day arrived. It was morning when he left London, it was +evening when he reached his destination. It was winter when he left +Waterloo, dull, dismal and foggy; when he reached Devonshire it was, in +his eyes at least, perpetual summer. Both Helen and Alice were at the +railway station to greet him, and immediately he saw them he realised +the fact that a change for the better had taken place in his sweetheart. +The old colour had come back to her cheeks, the old sparkle was in her +eyes. She greeted him very lovingly, but if possible a little shyly. +There were such lots of news to hear, and still more to be told, that it +seemed as if they would never have done talking. + +The village had proved itself a delightful little place. It was far from +the track of the tripper, and had not then been spoilt by the wealthy +tourist. High cliffs hemmed it in on either side, and the sea broke upon +the beach of shingles. They returned to their lodgings for tea, a +charming thatched cottage, within a stone's throw of the primitive +little jetty, beside which the fisher boats were moored. Afterwards the +lovers went for a walk upon the cliffs. + +"Helen, my darling," said Jim, "I can scarcely realise that it is only a +fortnight since I saw you. It seems as if years had passed. You can have +no idea how happy it makes me to see you looking like your own dear self +once more." + +"I could not help being well here," she answered. "Besides, Alice has +been so good and kind to me. I should be ungrateful indeed were I to +show no improvement." + +But Jim had not brought his sweetheart out on the cliff to discuss his +sister's good qualities. + +"Helen," he said at last, "is it possible for you to be my wife in a +fortnight's time?" + +He took her little hand in his and looked into her eyes. The veriest +tyro might have seen that the young man was terribly in earnest. + +"It might be possible," she said softly, but without looking at him. +"Are you quite sure you _do_ wish it?" + +"If you talk like that I shall go back to London to-night," he answered. +"You know very well that to make you my wife has been my ambition ever +since I first saw you." + +And then he went on to tell her of his dreams, winding up with this +question--"I wonder whether you will like Australia?" + +"I shall like any place where you may be," she replied. + +Could any young woman say more to her lover than that? At any rate Jim +appeared to be satisfied. + +On the Monday following he returned to London to learn from the agent +that a probable, though unexpected, purchaser had been found for +Childerbridge. He proved to be a wealthy American, who was not only +prepared to take over the estate at a valuation, but also to purchase +the furniture and effects as they stood. + +On the day following the receipt of this news, Jim travelled down with +the would-be buyer, conducted him over the property, and was in a +position to assure himself, when the other had departed, that +Childerbridge would be very soon off his hands. To the agent's horror +the matter was conducted on both sides with unusual promptness, and in +consequence, when, a fortnight later, Jim stepped into the Devonshire +train with a special marriage license in his pocket, the sale was as +good as effected. + +The wedding was solemnised next day in the quaint little village church, +and excited no comment from the humble fisher folk. The only persons +present were the bride and bridegroom, Alice, and the family lawyer, who +had travelled down from London expressly to give the bride away. Then, +no impediment being offered, James Standerton, bachelor, took to himself +for wife Helen Decie, spinster. The worthy old gentleman pocketed his +fee with a smiling face, congratulated both parties, and then hurried +off to another parish to bury a fisherman who had been drowned in the +bay a few days before. An hour later Jim and Helen started for Exeter, +_en route_ for Scotland, while Alice accompanied the lawyer, whose +wife's guest she was to be, to London, to wait there until her brother +and sister-in-law should return from the north. + + * * * * * + +Four years have elapsed since that terrible night when Abraham Bursfield +was found dead in the secret passage leading from Childerbridge Manor +House to the Dower House in the corner of the Park. Those four years +have certainly worked wondrous changes in at least four lives. One short +sketch must serve to illustrate this fact, and to bring my story to a +conclusion. The scene is no longer laid in England but on a rough Bush +track on a very hot Australian afternoon. A tall good-looking man is +jogging contentedly along, apparently oblivious to all that goes on +around him. It is easily seen that he and his horse are on the very best +terms with each other. He passes the Pelican Lake, descends into the +hollow of what was perhaps a continuation of the same lake, and on +gaining the summit of the next rise finds himself looking upon what, at +first glance, would appear to be a small village. This village is the +station of Mudrapilla, and the giant gums which can just be discerned +some five miles or so to the right, indicate the spot where on a certain +eventful evening, James Standerton first came face to face with Richard +Murbridge. This same James Standerton, for it is he who is the rider of +the horse, increases his pace as soon as the station itself comes into +view. He passes the men's quarters, the store, the blacksmith's shop, +and finally approaches a long and extremely comfortable looking +one-storied residence, whose broad verandahs are confronted by orange +groves on the one side, and the brave old river on the other. As he +rides up one of the overseers emerges from the barracks, and hastens +forward to greet his employer, and to take his horse from him. That +overseer is no less a person than our old friend, Terence O'Riley, +looking just the same as ever. Jim gives him a few directions concerning +the sheep in the Mountain Paddock, which he has visited that afternoon, +and then dismounts and strolls on through the gates, and up the garden +path towards the house. In the broad verandah a lady is seated in a long +comfortable chair, and playing beside her on the floor is a chubby +urchin upwards of two years of age. Helen, for as may be supposed, it is +none other than she, rises on hearing her husband's step on the path, +and catching up the infant brings him forward to greet his father with a +kiss. + +"I didn't expect you for half-an-hour at least, dear," she says, when +she in her turn has kissed him. "The boy and I have been patiently +awaiting your arrival. Did you meet the mail?" + +"I did," he answered, "and I opened the bag upon the road. There are two +letters for you, one I see is from Alice." + +"And you?" she asks, as she takes the letters from him. + +"Well, I had one of some importance," he replied. "It is from +Fairlight--my old solicitor in England, you remember him--and what do +you think he tells me?" + +Helen, very naturally, could not guess. + +"Well, he says that Childerbridge Manor was burnt down by fire three +months ago and totally destroyed. The American, the owner, is going to +rebuild it at once on a scale of unparalleled magnificence." + +There was a pause for a few moments, then Helen said:-- + +"What do you think about it, Jim?" + +"All things considered I am not sorry," he answered. "Yet, perhaps, I +should not say that, for it brought me the greatest blessing a man can +have." + +"And that blessing?" she asked innocently. + +"Is a good wife," he answered, stooping to kiss her. After which he +disappeared into the house. + +"And pray what does Alice say?" he asked, when he returned a few minutes +later. + +"She gives us such good news," Helen replied. "She and Jack will spend +Christmas with us. She declares she is the happiest woman in the world. +Jack is a paragon." + +In case the reader should fail to understand who Jack is, I might remark +that he is no less a person than Jack Riddington, the overseer, +mentioned at the commencement of my story, and who was supposed to be +Jim's best friend. Alice, after they were engaged, admitted that she had +always entertained a liking for him, while it was well known that he had +always been head over ears in love with her. During Jim's absence in +England he had come into a large sum of money, had purchased a station +one hundred and fifty miles south of Gundawurra, had married Alice +within six months of her return, and was now living a life of undoubted +felicity. + +"They may be happy," said Helen, "but they can never be as happy as we +are. That is quite certain, husband mine." + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Childerbridge Mystery, by Guy Boothby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDERBRIDGE MYSTERY *** + +***** This file should be named 35277.txt or 35277.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/2/7/35277/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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