The Childerbridge Mystery

iness 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 i

ntleman seated at his desk, looking very much a

said, motioning his visitor to a chair. "To

nd," Jim replied. "Its purport may surprise

hat that errand is," said the old gentleman drily. "

is afternoon asked Miss Decie to become my wife, and sh

few moments. Then he looked

ddaughter, and that she has not the least shadow of a claim, eit

d. "Miss Decie has told me of her po

e to spend the rest of my miserable existence alone. A pretty

ofound gratitude towards you," protested Jim. "She i

h a sneer. "Unfortunately, shall I say, for you, I prefer something more th

complete astonishment. H

forbid it?" he ejaculated when he had

ns for acting thus. Possibly my decision may cause you pain. It is irrevocable, however. At my death

to continue his writing,

is an unheard-of determina

g somewhat singular. My so-called granddaughter is a good girl, and if

oor as if to leave. When he reached it, h

can say or do will induce you to

the other

I intend to marry Miss Decie," retorted Jim

. Bursfield replied, and then continued his writ

that he should meet Helen in the garden afterwards. It w

eclines to consider the matter for a moment. He says that at his death you are at liberty to do as you please

aved a h

"I will see what I can do with him, however. I know him so well, and sometim

id Jim, "and let us trus

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

ifting his hat politely as he spoke. "You a

nding you on my father's premises after what he said to you in Australia. If

ge. 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

e force of character," the other replied. "What is more, I refuse to all

. 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

nched, as if ready for action, "If you dare to insinuate that you know anythi

e 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 cha

ay you came into it," Jim continued, "and take v

ng, 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 us

r watch at once, for you shall not

d 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 tel

accordingly followed him thither, to discover him, brush in hand, at work upon his silver-grey hair. That night, for some reason, the simpl

tanderton. "I hope your interview w

stpone the fatal moment, he proceeded to describe to his

ake 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

knew how upset his father would

bad news for you. I've been trying to make

it's not so very bad after all. You've probably been

u remember the man we saw at Mudrapilla in the Five Mile

on was every bit as severe as

. "You don't mean to sa

eturned. "I found him in the Park thi

replace, where he stood looking into it i

at last, his voice shaking with the

, and that he would do so if he ha

hunt me to my grave. I have been cursed with him for t

ather, and placed his

our trouble with you? Surely we should be able to

erton. "He has got a hold upon me

at he knows anything to your di

else does; but-but there-do not ask any more. Some day I will tell you the whole miserable story

at will

ppose. Then I shall have peace for a few

e and Dragon,'

him to come up here," said Standerton. "Now g

ice 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 en

, as he sprang to his feet, and hurried to th

nt 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 restora

cond 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,

e near the place," he said. "

im before dinner, as I told you I should, tellin

y, sir," the b

I will see

ingly lef

James and Alice heard Mur

ing, as if in a fit of uncontrollable rage. "You fo

eave the house, and never let me see your face again. Wilkins, open the

where, as Wilkins asserted later on, he

lf all-powerful because of your wealth, but whatever it costs me, I'

sed abruptly, and no

was plain that the interview he had had with Murbridge had upset him more than he cared to admit. Ali

she bade him good-night. "It hu

nswer. "I shall be myself again in the mornin

ather," the girl

when he and his father were alone together.

and he even went so far as to threaten me. Thereupon I lost my temper and o

tell me the reason of it all?" Jame

t perhaps it would be better, much as it will pain you, to let you know the truth. But not to

to custom, and then departe

and was back again at the home some three-quarters of an hour before breakfast. As he crossed the hall t

ly, "for mercy's sake come up

ames, realising from the butler's mann

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 we

ld their

derton had b