The Second Dandy Chater

ound him was the silence of the wood, broken only by the call of some night-bird, or by the whisper and rustle of the bra

n ague. He, too, gazed in the direction in which Phili

y-did she-di

recklessness quite out of keeping with the peril of his situation. But all considerations of prudence had been swept aside, at that time; ringing in his ears still, was the startled scream of t

grave, as deep as the pit of Hell itself, and yet you shall not hide that thing! Why do you tremble? What is there for you to tremble at? Her blood cri

e other sprang at him, and clapp

Master Dandy-are you mad? I tell you it can be hidden; no ma

ntly. "Why-if any one found you here, digging a grave for

er me than you. Let them think what they will, Master Da

essive than any other utterance could have been. "My dear boy-you can't understand that it doesn't matter one little bit-now.

't you let me hide it-at least, for the moment?

lad"-he dropped his hand, for a moment, on the other's shoulder-"there's a sweet girl, whom you love, and who loves

wing. Suddenly remembering that he was like a blind man, groping his way, and having no desire to go near Madge B

d tone of authority-"I want to be

, and walked in front. And in th

ng, and life was very, very sweet. Quixotism, self-sacrifice, despair; all these things went to the winds. He was a hunted man, playing a desperate gam

ed him now with horror, as one whose hands were stained with blood. Whatever hope might have been in his mind of escapin

s, at any moment. I must clear myself; I must, if necessary, undo all that I have done, and declare who I really am. But,

After a moment's pause, Philip Chater,

"I did not know you were in, sir," he

oing in the direction of the wood first, carrying the spade for his awful work? The spade! It had been left behind, in that half-dug grave; there had been no time e

e open the envelope, and un

ar

ut the matter. Permit me to add that the business has reference to the draft, recently paid into my hands, and drawn by a Mr. Arthur Bar

, Dea

bedient

Isaa

neighbourhood of Old Broad Stree

more puzzling than anything else. It was, of course, probable-indeed, almost certain-that this Mr. Arthur Barnshaw was a relative of Madge; but, i

e, at least, I must get out of the way; this business calls me to London-and to London I will go. The name of Isaacson has a

row, but to start for London that night. Finding, however, that it was far too late for any train to be

the two, from this night onwards, there seemed a tacit understanding that something was not to be mentioned between them, at any time-eve

s; I must drive as far as possible-and walk the rest. I leave all the details to you; get the horse you think will st

nd a bag, packed with a few necessary articles, already in it. With the servant leading the way, Philip went through a long passage he had never traversed before, and, passing through a low doo

Master Dandy; so I sent Jim away, an

you'd better drive-and take the straight roa

f running feet, on the road towards which they were driving. He signed to Harry to check

"and stroll out into the road to mee

ave their breathless answers, knew that the body was found, and that the frightened yokels were off in search of the village co

" he said, as he started the horse. "Bamberton

d offer many wise suggestions in regard to the murder-Philip Chater and his companion headed straight for London. It was pitch dark, and heavy rain had begun to fall, when, within about ten or fifteen miles of the first straggl

everything and everybody. I am more grateful than I can say, for your devotion; and I will not insult you by asking y

rection of London; Harry turned the jaded hors

est hotel-a sort of superior public-house, of an old-fashioned type; and, after waiting some considerable time, was able to get something of

ce to London; above all-the spade, taken, I suspect, from the Hall-and left so near the body; it all points to Dandy Chater. Well-I must get this interview ov

esented himself at the office of Mr. Z. Isaac

heavy piece of furniture in the place was the gentleman he imagined to be Mr. Z. Isaacson-a portly individual, with pronounced features, much watch-chain, and some heavy rings on his fat whit

gue were too large for his mouth. "You know-we like to have things pleasant and square, and I like-as you've found before to-day-to do the amiable, if I

with some papers on his desk. Philip Chater looked

ing about? What do

r or two, and you've paid the little bit of interest I've asked, fairly and squarely; likewise, I've renewed from time to time-for a little con

g. His nerves had been tried, beyond the lot of common nerves, within the past four-and-twenty hours; he had had a wet and

u've brought me all this distance," he cried, savagely-"and now you're mouth

swelled up ominously, and he came a little way round his desk; leaning ove

h it-do you? You're not a bit

hat of?" cr

lse pretences! Robbery! Holy Is

lip, staggered into calmness. "Perhaps

nd other matters; because I had threatened that, unless I had that sum, by that date, I would come down on you, and sell you up. Now, you knew, Mr. Dandy Chater-and I knew-that you hadn't any such sum of your

ho Arthur Barnshaw

hater"-the man brought his hand down upon the desk with a bang, and became rather more red than before in the face-"perhaps you'll be surprised to learn that that cheque has bee

y. The opening of the door behind him, and a change of expression to something

room; had stopped, on seeing Philip; and now came hesitatingly forward. He was younger than Philip-scarcely more, from his a

t, if I'd have known that this affair had anything to do with you, I should never have pressed my enquiries. But, you see, the cheque was made out to the order of that old shark at the desk there, and I never g

le, out of the life in which he had usurped a place. There was, too, a wholly foolish and ridiculous idea in his head, that he would not like this girl, who had kissed his lips, and had once believed in him-(or in his dead counterpa

ived a considerable sum of money-the proceeds from some speculations, the shares in which had l

at last agreed to sell it, for the sum of three thousand pounds. Arthur Barnshaw struck a match-set fire to

hilip, and then thrust his hands into his pockets. "I don't think I should care to s

ted at the full pitch of his lungs-"'Orrible mur

ed condition. For he knew that he stood-wholly, in th