Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1907 — A SMILING VILLAIN. [ARTICLE]

A SMILING VILLAIN.

By VIOLET M. FLINN.

CHAUTER XXIII. The sews of the loss of Mr. Fenton's , Cunoods spread like wildfire. All the afternoon there was * constant stream of callers both at the big house and at the Rectory, and when Movrft Set Out ter tike Band of Hope ipeeting she was pottooed upon by Miss> Prior as soon as eke emerged from the avenue. “Such a shocking thing!” she began at ecce. “I ventured to leave my card at like big "house to express my sympathy. I Mrs, JT*®ton was_&o t seeing visitors, the Sutler told me. He did not seem to know much of the affair’t he was most uncointannicstive. Tell me. my dear, is it one husdred thousand pounds' worth that has •one?** “Hardly so much," I believe, and they fully insured." Moyra thought it SUUa tbe wtsrst pian lo _ns_,mych_ jn: iunnation as she could, otherwise Miss frrlor would certainly niumifaclinv ilr "The historic associations enhanced their f*Ju “Of course, ’of course! 1 hear that •M of the necklaces belonged to Mary IQuesn of Scots —'Bloody Mary,' as they ■■• dto call her. A blessing it was they •rare not all murdered !” she interjected. "But I suppose feel as aafe as, a Mck now you have Mr. Robertson back •gain.” “Mr. Robertson!” Moyra stopped short flfc her surprise. “He is still What made you think he us.'’ “Because X saw him last night,*''Miss Wrior answered. Tho color leapt into Moyra's face and Mr liuurt beat a litrle quielreT aa she per■lsted in her denial of Angus’ return. But Miss Prior was equally obdurate, though dor some time she flatly declined to say where sihe had seen him; but at length tike truth came out that, overpowered by •otiosity, she had been wandering round Me big house, trying to get some glimpse •f the paradise within, or at least to sec Ike guests arriving. “And a very disappointing sight it was, •so, for nearly every- one was wrapped Rp in a big cloak,” she commented. “And *ll tike blinds were drawn; so when the Mow was over I just walked round the Ikouae to get warm, and I was standing Quite accldehtally near the dining room Window when I saw Mr. Robertson coming across the grass from your house, as I thought. H? had a lighti overcoat on, •nd a crush hat. Of course I am not Mistaken. He is too tall and ugly to be •asily taken for any one else.” | “Ysf K *m qnitn Kiirc it could not have Been Mr. Robertson,” Moyra persisted ftrmly. “He was not at the dance; he twaa not at home.”

“I saw him plainer than I see y#u," ■Has Prior repeat ed st uTiftorniv. Although Moyrn’ did not believe ‘lt, Ki« Prior’s assertion never left her brain •a die went through the business of the •v«ung. , It seemed to weigh her down «rkh a premonition of evil, of coming aroa, and certainly as she left the school Irons* ahe felt more nervous of her lonely Walk home than she had ever done in her kfs. She wished she lyul asked Gerry m Tarry to meet her. The miats that had hung about all «ay had vanished, and the clouds 'overtiead had cleared, leaving a darkly blue *ky pricked with silver points and a growing moon climbing to high heaven. Moyra reflected with unusual satisfaction that ance past the trees that marked the crest •f the hill she would have oi>en ground •nly to traverse. She entered the shadows and came to a full stop with a little «ry as she ran into Bertram Charter is. Be apologized laughingly. *‘l was just taking a constitutional after the horrid day we have had." he said, turning on his heel to accompany her as B matter of course. “It is late for you to be out alone. Moyra. 1 suppose you have been performing one of your sweet nets of charity. I wish 1 had as good p past record as yours"—with a little sigh fend a glance that .gained no response from the girl beside him. They walked on in silence for some tfatne. Moyra saw that the ybung man Was paler and more thoughtful than Banal, and when he spoke there was a ftepth of feeling in his voice that rather Bnrprlsed her. "How is Bride, Moyra?" She answered briefly, and after a while be aald slowly;

“I am afraid 1 hurt her last night; it eras purely by accident, but she did not Kan to believe me when 1 assured her so. • is ao very sensitive, and ahe takes all fene aaya ao seriously that she inevitably Misconairnes one’s meaning.” “In that case it would be as well to pat the meaning so clearly that it is impo—ible to misunderstand it,” Moyra anCered, with a little touch of scorn which rtram was quick to hear. He reddened angrily. “Bride is not a clever girl,” Moyra pursued. “I am not to blame for her foolishness, kow*rer," he began. Moyra looked at hipa very steadily. "Of coarse not You never were to |Cam«. No matter what was the wrong fer fault there was always an excuse for pw« —b> your own estimation.”

“How horribly unjust, how cruel, you food women can be!“ he exclaimed, twistWI his moustache in futile angi'r. " Beta um I committed a youthful indiscretion, sou hare never forgiven me. Your prejudice againwt me condemns me utterly, and P*t you call yourself a Christian." “A youthful indiscretion!" she repeated (lowly. “I say nothing of the unfortunate tl whom you deceived, and who threw naif from the pier. That may have keen a youthful indiscretion. Can you pay the same of your forgery of your tmployer's name, of your nearly seec-cs-ful attempt to put the blame on an inftocent man? Was that a youthful m li*|TKion only ? It was hushed up. 1 aihu.:. my father beard nothing definite. Hut the fbauia of it killed an old man whose only Ifcult was that ho had been too kind to sou, too indulgent. You call me hard and rijust, Bertram Charter!#? Is it likely could be anything else when I see that ■M have pnt the whole matter out" of Ifor mind, that you have expressed me

repentance, made no reparation? I have been tdo indulgent. 1 should have told my father all and saved Bride from your attentions —attentions which -wye insulting. But I was weak,"'! did :.>i.jVantto JeUlgr^knowJ:luiLji-fair exieriftt' was not, always a criterion of what was within. Because of my iwefor her I have been cruel in being kind, and yet I have warned her." , , “The truth is you were jealous of Hride. You hated to see me with her because you yourself had been ousted/’ Moyra raised her head and laughed. The scorn in her tone’* made Bertram writhe, so utterly contemptuous was it. "Jealous ! Jealous for you ! Why, the only shame I ever feel is caused by recalling that once for a few days I was persuaded to be engaged to you !" lju face grew livid—under—heE—SCOWbhcr plain speaking. He made a step-'for-ward and sei/eil her wrist. —“““ "Take care that is not the only shame you feel, Moyra Beresford!” he said threateningly. “You hold your head high now. Take oare. it floes not-sink to the ground when it is known whom you love and have had under your roof!” « do yon mean'/” she asked, sh’rinking from the malignant, light in his biasing eyes/ “How dare yoti threaten me? If —if Terry were here he would knock you down I” “Or Robertson, either, I suppose you imagine, you silly, deluded fool!” he answered quickly. In the moonlight he saw the color rush to Moyra’s face, then ebb away, leaving her very pale. Yet her gaze diii» not falterT “It"is village taRT how he went to church so regularly, how lie helped at this meeting and the other, and was hand-in-glove with you all, and was such a good young man. Ha. 1m ! It was a new character for Angus Robertson to take. He generally prefers —pickingup—other people's superfluous property. “Bertram Chatteris, how dare you! Angus a thief! It is a lie.” “Is It? I think not.” lie had grown very calm and deliberate; there was a mocking smile on his handsome face as he looked at the girl. “The famous diamonds have disappeared.” Moyra started violently. “Curious, isn’t it? Especially when Mr. Agnus Robertson was seen lurking about the house last night, yet made no open appearance, althought he was an invited guest. Curious too, isn't it, that'he always alludes to his father as ‘the chief.’ and that is the name by which the head of a certain—shall we ■ay nocinHstleallv-disposed?—-band ofm thieves is always known? Curious too. isn’t it, that he shonldJmve appeared in this locality just after the Fentons came? Curious, isn’t it”—speaking still more deiUidv —“that lie should give you. Viusni tie evidently sdmires —and, as •fckfidv Agnus,’ his favourite nickname amongst his fellows, has had considerable experience of the fair sox, you iuay feel flattered by his approval—-that he litfls given you as a trinket of no value a costly jewel that probably cost him nothing beyond a little trouble and a fair amount of risk?”

“Stop!” Moyra exclaimed. She stood for a second unable to speak; her tongue seemed powerless. "I do not believe you,” she said, with a gasp. "Of course not," he answered sneeringly, “You are as prejudiced in his favor as you are against me, and yet 1 speak the truth. His father is, and has been for years, the head of a secret society of ne’er-do-wells, of broken-down aristocrats, of impecunious clever men, who want to be rich with as little exertion as possible, and generally succeed by playing upon the incredulity of brainless fools. They play a big game *i •Grab,’ my dear Mayxo. and, being engineered by a very clever man, for I acknowledge that both Robertsons are cleverer than they look, they usually hold the trump cards. They certainly have in the case of the Fenton diamonds.” "How do you know all this?” Moyra demanded slowly. She felt stunned and confused, yet she held desperately to her own idea —it was all a lie. Bertram laughed again rather noisly.

"In his time a man plays many parts, dear Moyra. In my time I have been a New York newspaper reporter, and a’s such have had —against their wishes, I know —the entree into the 'Fair Division Society,’ as the elder Robertson lias humorously designated his followers. When I returned from town and discovered Mr. Agnus Robertson in your house. I acknowledge that I was very surprised.’’ "Then why did you not speak? Why did you not tell us what you say now?" “Should I have been believed? Do you believb me now? I hesitated because I could not- imagine why he was in England at all. and, having hesitated ” He shrugged his shouhTers. "I am sorry for Mr. Fenton though. He’ll never see diamonds again.' "And I pray that I shall never see you or hear of you again.” Moyra retorted, stung into anger. "You shall certainly never enter our house again, you—you sneak, you traitor! Do you think I believe you? You could not speak the truth —you never have done so!” She stayed for some time alone in her room when she reached home, until she was composed enough to face the sharpeyed critics in the schoolroom. Supper was ready on the table. Lulu had had hers and was fast asleep in bed. The remainder the family, augmented by Vera, werr still excitedly discussing the latest phase of the robbery, although not even slightest do- had been found. They wer- all sitting near the fire except Al!e»n »h w-is !•_ ••••ending to read at ttn* tab" wh.a bi* shawl. »a: in ... • .-I i, m luiii.T, looking wrv!i,“”; i U ;n t . .<•. Mom sat deet tc r 1 • . 1.- turned Iter head 4V.ii, .i d.s'p rt. >!i overspreading her face Cl IA ITEIt XXIV. ‘.‘What a lot of white-faced things you girl* are to-night !” Terry remarked soddenly, starting contemplatively from one sister t» another. “You all look as

washed out a* boiled owls. Moyra bn* ■ evidently met a -ghost in the avenue j Aifeea went for a walk and lost het j temper, and as to Bride, she looks like ' a widow, she’s so doleful ?” ~ I “Don’t tease her, Terry," Moyra said ! Hearing a half-suppressed sob from Bride “I expect we are all in the dolefuls. Veraand Delda look all right.” l “Why, they’ve been muttering togethei like a couple of conspirators all the evening ! It's my belief they’ve something or their minds’’—'with a portentous frown “Where’s Billy to-night, Vera? Why doesn’t he come across and be sociable?" "He said he was busy When I asked him, and! think he’s gdta headache too He said one of you would take me home." “Let us have supper,” Ailean said abruptly. closing her hook.—“Father —iras gone to the big house, Moyra. He said we were not to wait for him.” Supper was nearly at an end when the door burst open and Gerry entered. His face was Crimson with suppressed excitement. although he endeavoured to look unconcerned. Terry watched him curiousTyluTre subsided into a chair beside Ded-d-a's Aileen happened to glance at Bride at the moment. “Are you feeling worse?’ she asked, seeing how white the girl had turned. Moyra, followed her gaze, laid her hand on Bride's and discovered that she was shaking. from bead- to- foot. “I’m all right,” Bride answered, draw--bcr-hand away witb a jcrk. *Tieai;c don’t make a fuss, Moyra!”—as her sister looked at her anxiously. .“Look here, young’un,” said Terry, addressing Gerry. “What’s happened? Have they put you in charge of the detective corps, or did you drop sixpence and find -diamonds?" —— —— ” “No, .but the ’tecs -<hink they have found the thief, and you’ll never guess who they’ve got their eyes on. They’ve found a letter or something, and they arc all coming across to cross-question Bride, if yon please ” I3ut Gerry never finished his sentence. At the sound „of her own name Bride started to her feet, her face white and agonized, her eyes shinning wildly. With her roughened hair, her staring eyes and livid face, she looked as wild as a haunted being. She stood motionless for a second, and then before any one could catch her had fallen to the floor.

It was a long time before the frightened girls could restore her to conciousness. Terry wanted to send for the doctor, while, Gerry offered to do anything to show his pentieuce. “I'm sure I never thought she was so nervous or I would never have said a word,” he protested helplessly. “Bride never used to. faint.” . “She’s so sensitive,” Moyra answered. Her heart was hot with indignation, sick with some unknown fear. As soon as Bride was sufficiently res'ewered Terry carried her upstairs to Aileeu’s room, that being the nearest, where her sisters undressed her, Bride submitting passively, as if indeed she was only imrtly conscious of what was going on. When she was in bed Aileen remained with her, aud Moyra went down to reassure the others. Terry had gone across to the big house, and Gerry and “the inseperables" were crouched on the hearthrug, talking earnestly, the boy’s face full of concern. , “You'd better ask Moyra,” she heard him say as she entered the room. With quickened pulses she drew near and saw then that" Vera was crying while Delda’a face wore an unusually subdued,express

sion. - „ —■ —y-f 3 — “Children, children, wliat is the matter now?” She asked anxiously. “What are you saying?” She sat down between them. “Now what is it you want to ask?” she inquired, taking the girl’s hands in hers. . - —*—. : ———— (To be continued.)