he's touched thirty yet, been working like a nigger in some place or
other, starts a new country, becomes the right-hand man of the company
formed to run it, and in a few years he returns to his native land,
pleasantly near to being a millionaire. I don't know how they do it!"
he finished, despairingly.
[Illustration: "'WOULDN'T GERMANY GIVE SOMETHING FOR THE CONTENTS OF
THAT WALLET!'"]
Miss Crofton glanced at her cousin's good-natured though somewhat
indolent-looking face.
"I believe," she said, calmly, "the possession of a quality termed
'grit' frequently explains the mystery."
"And now," went on Bobbie, concernedly, "the beggar has the chance of
marrying the loveliest girl in society. Anyone can see that Dolly
idolises him, and that he has but to say the word, and she is his. Oh!
it's disgusting!"
"Perhaps he won't say it," said Miss Crofton.
"Of course he will," replied Bobbie, warmly. "There is no man on earth
who could possibly be such a fool as to refuse the chance. Why, Kenwell
is Chairman of the Chartered Company of Kafangaland, and is dead set on
the match himself. Oh! he couldn't be such a fool!" he added, shaking
his head with an air of conviction.
Miss Crofton rose to her feet.
"Have you noticed, Bobbie, that a man never prizes that which he can
have for the asking?" She paused. "I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll bet
you a hundred cigarettes that Winn doesn't make this easy conquest."
"You're throwing your money away," said Bobbie, warningly.
"Are you taking it?" asked Miss Crofton, coolly.
"Oh," said Bobbie, with a shrug, "if you're set on it, certainly."
She glanced at the watch on her wrist.
"The Lion will be here by now. We had better be going in to see him. By
the way, old man, you remember my preference for Turkish?"
"Oh, yes," replied Bobbie, smiling grimly; "but there will be no
occasion to tax my memory, I assure you. It's a 'cert' for me, worse
luck!" he added, mournfully.
He rose from the seat, and together they strolled towards the house.
Alan Winn had arrived half an hour ago, and was now strolling on the
terrace with Earl Kenwell, engaged in talking over business matters. A
casual observer would have taken the pair for father and son. The Earl,
although approaching his fifty-third year, was still erect, his
complexion fresh, his eyes keen. Winn was perhaps a trifle the taller
of the two; he had well-cut features, a determined-looking chin, and a
pair of grey eyes that gazed steadily from their depths. From the other
end of the terrace, Lady Dorothy, who was reading a newspaper to old
Lady Steele, paused now and again to shoot a glance at the
broad-shouldered man walking by her father's side.
"My dear," she heard Lady Steele's voice say, "I am deeply interested
in what you are reading, but might I suggest that we proceed to the
next paragraph? You have read that one three times."
Lady Dorothy blushed, and hurriedly turned her attention to the paper.
"I beg your pardon," she said, with an air of confusion, "I was----"
"In a day dream, I fancy, in which admiration for another person
figured prominently," retorted the old lady. "I think I shall have to
get the dear Count to read to me; he has such a charming voice. By the
way, where can he be? I haven't seen him since breakfast time."
At the present moment, the Count was comfortably ensconced in a chair
behind the library windows, and intent on perusing a recently arrived
copy of the _Figaro_.
The library faced the terrace, and as the Earl passed with Winn he
glanced casually into the long dark room. It appeared to be empty, for
the window curtains effectually concealed the Count from view. The Earl
caught hold of two chairs, and placed them in the shade.
"So you really think the scheme has a good chance?" he asked,
anxiously.
Winn puffed a cloud of smoke from his cigar, as he dropped into a
chair.
"Yes," he said at length, "I am confident that we shall succeed. I do
not think it possible that anyone can have the least suspicion of my
discoveries in the Vaarg Valley, or of what we contemplate doing there.
We shall be first in the field."
Behind the curtains, the _Figaro_ dropped slowly in the Count's hands.
An alert look came into his eyes, and he moved his head nearer to the
window.
"It's going to be the biggest coup ever effected in South Africa,"
continued the calm, confident voice. "I believe that in the Vaarg
Valley we have another Kafangaland, although, of course, on a smaller
scale."
"As good as that!" exclaimed the Earl.
"Yes, I believe so. I spent the whole of yesterday at the Colonial
Office; the railway concessions have been granted, and practically
everything is settled. Not one of our rivals dreams that we are making
any move. Like myself, they are now all holiday-making. Even old
Vorenbeck is in London staying at the Victoria."
"And what have you arranged?"
"Forster will leave on Saturday in the _Tantallon Castle_, with full
authority to act on our behalf. In this wallet are all the plans,
complete to the minutest detail, and also his instructions as to how to
proceed."
"By Jove!" put in the Earl, "wouldn't old Vorenbeck, or rather Germany,
give something for the contents of that wallet!"
"Vorenbeck, the old scoundrel," replied Winn, with a laugh, "would give
anything up to twenty thousand pounds for the contents of that wallet,
provided they were in his hands by to-morrow evening. But that
contingency need not be entertained, for it will not leave my person
until I hand it myself to Forster on Saturday."
Inside the library, the _Figaro_ had slipped quietly to the ground, and
the Count was staring hard in front of him, a curious expression in his
eyes, as he pulled thoughtfully with one hand at his moustache.
There was a clatter of feet on the terrace, and the children ran up to
their uncle. They were followed by Lady Dorothy, who shot a playfully
reproachful glance at Winn. She had been dismissed by old Lady Steele
as an incompetent reader.
"Kafanga, _toujours_ Kafanga!" she said, with a smile.
"But it was really necessary," he replied; "there shall be no more of
it to-day, on my word of honour."
She stooped and laid a hand on Jim's curly head.
"This is my little cousin, Jim," she said.
Master Jim was staring open-mouthed at Winn. Under his arm he held a
book of some kind.
"Jim," continued Lady Dorothy, "this gentleman is----"
"I know," blurted out Jim, without waiting for the introduction to be
finished. He hastily opened the book and turned over the leaves with
feverish impatience. Finally he selected a page and held it out for
Winn's inspection.
"I know," he went on, his finger pointing to a red daub at the bottom,
"you're the man who did this."
Winn looked, and saw that a map of South Africa was before his eyes. He
laughed as he grasped the compliment.
"Yes, it's British now, right enough," he said.
Jim nodded. His gaze was fixed wonderingly on the bronzed face of the
tall man. Then a sudden eager look spread over his face.
"Well," asked Winn, with a smile, as he noticed the pleading glance,
"what is it?"
Jim hesitated shyly for a moment, then burst out in his childish
treble--
"I want to know how you did it?"
Winn laughed again, and caught the boy up and placed him on his
shoulder.
"Come, that's not a fair question," he said; "it's a State secret."
"And, like most State secrets, everyone knows it, and is proud of it,"
put in Lady Dorothy, with a smile at Winn.
Her glance drifted up to Master Jim, who looked supremely happy in his
lofty position.
"You'll understand one day, Jim," she added, "how these things are
done, when you're grown up."
"When I'm grown up," retorted Master Jim, confidently, "I'm going to do
the same myself."
"If we go on at our present rate, there won't be any of South Africa
left for him by that time," said the Earl. "We shall have to discover a
new field for him to operate upon. But there is no immediate hurry.
What do you say to our visiting the kennels in the meantime?"
"Delighted," said Winn, and the whole party moved off slowly down the
terrace.
[Illustration: "MISS GRAHAME BURIED HER FACE IN HER HANDS--SHE WAS
CRYING."]
As soon as they were out of earshot, the Count got up leisurely from
his seat. Producing his case, he lighted a cigarette. He puffed at it
reflectively.
"Twenty thousand pounds," he said, softly; "yes, Vorenbeck would
certainly give that for the Vaarg Valley plans--" he paused--"and it
happens that I am a poor man."
He moved across the room towards a heavily-curtained doorway.
"But how," he muttered, "how is it to be done?"
He pulled the drapery aside, then started back in surprise. Miss
Grahame was standing in the space between the curtains and the door. In
one hand she was holding a book.
He looked at her suspiciously. He noticed that the door was closed
behind her. How long had she been there? What had she heard?
She returned his gaze almost defiantly.
"I came to replace this book," she said, simply, then stepped forward.
He bowed to her in silence, and passed out of the room. She stood for a
moment with her eyes fixed on the door through which he had
disappeared.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "if I could only warn him!"
She stood for some minutes staring absently out of the window. Suddenly
the sound of voices caught her ear, and she turned her head. She drew
back quickly behind the curtain, as round the corner of the terrace
Lady Dorothy appeared with Winn. He was smiling, and she was laughing
happily into his face. It would have been difficult to picture a more
perfect pair.
Olive Grahame stood for a few moments immovable, her eyes fixed on
Winn. Then, as they came to within a few feet of the library window,
she turned with a quick movement and hurried away. She made her way
upstairs, and, gaining her room, shut the door. On the opposite side by
the window stood a table, on which was an old-fashioned leather-covered
desk. She crossed to this, and, unlocking it, began to turn over some
papers. Presently she came upon a photograph. She held this before her
and gazed at it steadily for some seconds. Suddenly it dropped from her
grasp, and, sinking into a chair by the table, she leant forward and
buried her face between her hands. Miss Grahame was crying.
* * * * *
The day passed pleasantly enough for Earl Kenwell's guests. They
lunched, played tennis, drove, and after dinner there had been some
music. Lady Dorothy sang, and Julia Crofton whistled--she was an
accomplished amateur _siffleuse_. The ladies having retired, Lord
Bobbie volunteered to play billiards with the Count. After one game,
however, Bobbie, who had been yawning a good deal, remarked that he was
extremely tired, and suggested that they should go to bed. The Count
assented, and together they made their way upstairs.
Winn and the Earl had repaired to the latter's study with the intention
of talking business. For an hour they discussed the Vaarg Valley scheme
in all its bearings.
"Well, we have done everything we can," said the Earl, as a concluding
remark, "the rest we must leave to Providence."
There was silence for a few moments. Winn puffed at his cigar, his eyes
idly following the rings of smoke. From the other side of the room the
Earl was subjecting him to a close and critical observation. He had no
son of his own; as he noted Winn's splendid proportions, the look of
indomitable resolution in his face, he felt that had he been blessed
with one, he would have wished him to be like this man.
Then he thought of his daughter, Dorothy. He was not blind, and had
been quick to observe the state of her feelings. He loved his daughter,
he liked Winn. He had given the matter his close consideration, and had
arrived at a decision. It was this decision which prompted him to speak
now. He intended to hint to Winn that his engagement with Lady Dorothy
would be entirely to his satisfaction.
"You say you will be returning to Kafanga in September?" he began.
Winn roused himself from his reverie.
"That was my intention," he replied; "but I have something to
accomplish first, something----" He paused.
The Earl had his keen eyes fixed on him.
"Forgive me, Winn," he said, quietly, "I am not asking out of sheer
curiosity, but the 'something'--is it a question of marriage?"
Winn looked straight across at the Earl.
"Yes," he said, simply.
The Earl rose from his seat and stood with his back to the mantelpiece.
"My dear Winn," he said, "I think I am right in saying that there is no
one who wishes more to see you happily married than myself." The Earl
paused. "And surely," he added, "with your reputation there should be
no difficulty in achieving this end."
Winn shook his head slowly. The Earl glanced across at him, and for a
moment their eyes met.
"Why not tell me?" said the Earl, gently.
Winn appeared to hesitate for a moment.
"You are very kind," he said at length. "It began when we were boy and
girl----" He stopped, for the Earl's cigar dropped through his fingers
to the ground, and he stooped to pick it up.
"Yes?" said the Earl, in a low tone. He was thinking of the
disappointment in store for his daughter.
"She was the daughter of a country vicar under whose care I had been
placed," continued Winn. "Then, I was suddenly thrown on my own
resources, and there came the chance of my going to South Africa. We
parted, and I vowed that I would come back to claim her.
"The day after I returned," he went on, speaking slowly, "I made my way
down to the old place. I found the vicar dead--and she gone. I have
searched everywhere, but can find no trace of her."
He rose to his feet.
"But I shall find her, I shall find her!" he said, and his voice had
the same confident ring as when he uttered the words that night at
Winchmere.
The Earl did not speak for a moment or so; then he stepped forward and
held out his hand.
"I sincerely hope you will," he said; "if ever a man deserved a good
wife, you are he."
[Illustration: THE COUNT HELD A HEAVY STICK IN HIS HAND, BUT THE WALLET
SLIPPED TO THE GROUND.]
Winn grasped the proffered hand.
"Thank you," he replied, simply.
"By Jove," continued the Earl, with a glance at the clock, "I didn't
notice that it was so late! Shall we be going to bed?"
Winn had turned to the window and drawn aside the curtains. He passed a
hand restlessly over his forehead.
"I think, if you don't mind, I will smoke a last cigar on the terrace.
I don't feel sleepy, and the air will do me good. But please go on
yourself. I know my way about perfectly."
The Earl demurred.
"I insist," said Winn, smilingly. "If you do not go, I shall have to
give up my stroll."
"Well, if you're determined, that settles it," said the Earl, with a
good-humoured laugh. "I have my recollections of the firmness of your
decisions. Good-night."
Left alone, Winn lighted another cigar, then unfastened the French
windows and stepped on to the terrace. He walked to the end, and stood
at the top of the steps leading to the front entrance. He descended
these, and started to stroll down the avenue of trees that stretched
for half a mile to the park gates.
He did not know that from a window he was being watched by a pair of
eyes--eyes that were shining with the eagerness that proclaims but one
feeling in a woman. Olive Grahame, fully dressed--she had not the
slightest inclination for sleep--was sitting at an open window, her
gaze riveted on the tall figure that was fast disappearing from her
view. Suddenly she gave a slight start, then strained eagerly forward.
There was a brilliant moon, and across a small piece of turf she had
seen a dark shadow move quickly. She looked intently. There was no
mistake. She saw the shadow move again, then finally vanish into the
blackness of the trees.
She got up quickly, her hand trembling with excitement. Someone was
following Winn, hiding from him behind the trees! She stood for a
moment in the middle of the room, thinking. One fact was clear before
her: Alan Winn was in danger, and she was the only person who knew of
it. Without a second's hesitation, she crossed her room, opened the
door, and crept along the passage until she reached a staircase. She
was well acquainted with the house, and knew a way by which she could
gain the terrace. She reached the library, and found the window half
open. Someone else had evidently used this means of exit. She guessed
who.
In another minute, she had crossed the terrace, run down the steps, and
was speeding quickly down the avenue. She had gone barely a dozen paces
when her eye caught sight of a tiny patch of white ahead of her. It
grew bigger, and she realised that it was coming towards her. A few
yards more and she almost ran into the arms of the Count. He was in
evening dress, and in one hand held a short, heavy-looking stick. With
the other he was attempting to slip something into his pocket as he
ran. As he met Olive, he drew back with a nervous start, and it slipped
through his fingers to the ground. She pounced on it; it was a leather
wallet.
Recovering from his surprise, he caught hold of her wrist. His face
grew livid with rage.
"Give that to me, you little fool," he said, breathing heavily.
"What have you done to Mr. Winn?" she panted; "tell me, else I'll
scream for help."
He glared at her savagely. Then, letting go her wrist, he drew back a
step and raised the stick, as if about to strike her.
"Will you give that----?" he began, threateningly, then broke off with
an oath.
Olive had seen her opportunity, and darted off down the avenue. He did
not dare to follow her. She ran on for some fifty yards, then caught
sight of a dark heap lying on the ground. In a moment she was kneeling
by his side, peering eagerly into his face.
Winn uttered a groan, then slowly opened his eyes. His head was tough,
and it took a heavier blow than the one which the Count had dealt him
to effectually lay him low.
"Where am I?" he said, in a dazed tone, raising himself on one elbow.
His hand flew to his pocket. "The wallet?" he cried.
She pressed it into his hand. He clasped it, and his eyes travelled up
to her face. For a moment he stared at her in absolute wonderment.
"Olive!" he gasped, "is it really you, my darling?"
She was trembling, but looked into his face with smiling eyes.
"Really me," she said.
Slowly and unsteadily he rose to his feet.
"It is bewildering," he said. "I am knocked on the head in some
mysterious fashion, and the plans are stolen. I regain consciousness,
and find you by my side with the wallet. What does it all mean?"
She told him what had happened.
"Wonderful!" he cried at the conclusion, catching hold of her hand, "to
think that you, of all people, should come to my aid in this fashion!
Do you know, Olive, I have thought of you every day during the last
eight years; and now----" He paused and looked into her face.
"Ah! now," she said, falteringly, "our positions are so different.
Remember, I am only a gov----"
"You are the woman I love," he interrupted; "and do you think I can let
you go--after this? Olive, you cannot--you must not ask it of me! My
dearest, you----?"
He stopped and looked into her eyes for the answer. Then, satisfied by
what he saw there, he drew her gently to him.
* * * * *
At the breakfast table the next morning there was one absentee. The
Count had been suddenly called away and had left by the early train.
"Extraordinary!" remarked Bobbie Scaife. "I wonder what was the
reason?" he added, looking across at Winn.
Winn gave no reply. His thoughts at that moment were centred on a young
person who, in the schoolroom, was continuing her lesson with Master
Jim.
Jim had found something wanting in his lesson that morning. He looked
up at his governess with a troubled expression.
"You don't seem to be thinking about my jogruffy at all, Miss Grahame,"
he said, at last, in rather an aggrieved tone.
Jim was a keen observer. Her thoughts had been far away from the
consideration of the natural products of Canada. She turned to him now
with a smile.
"We'll have to make up for it to-morrow, dear," she said. "See, it is
your time for going out."
[Illustration: AN AWKWARD MOMENT--WINN TELLS LADY DOROTHY THAT OLIVE IS
TO BE HIS WIFE.]
A few moments afterwards a servant appeared and took charge of the
children.
As the door closed behind them, Olive Grahame strolled to the window
and looked out across the park. The sun was shining and everything was
tinged with its gold.
"It's wonderful," she murmured, "after all these years!"
There was a tap at the door. She turned and saw Earl Kenwell entering
the room; with him was Winn.
The Earl crossed to the window and held out his hand.
"Miss Grahame," he said, with a smile, "will you please accept my
congratulations? My friend Winn has been telling me how he has been
hunting the country for you, and found you at last under my roof. He
has also told me how you pluckily saved the Vaarg Valley plans from our
rivals; and after hearing the story, I took the liberty of telling
_him_ that he is an exceptionally lucky man to have gained such a woman
for his wife."
"You are very kind," murmured Olive, with a blush.
The Earl pushed open the French windows and led the way on to the
terrace. Winn linked his arm within Olive's and followed.
"If ever I meet that scoundrel Morlot," remarked the Earl, "I'll----"
There was a rustle of a dress on the terrace, and a second afterwards
Lady Dorothy appeared in view. The Earl shot a half-nervous glance at
Winn, then turned to meet his daughter.
"Dolly," he said, and his voice was more affectionate than usual, "we
have some surprising news for you."
Lady Dorothy had come to a sudden stop, and her eyes were fixed on
Olive and Winn, whose arms were still linked.
"It appears," continued the Earl, and his voice grew even softer, "that
Miss Grahame and Mr. Winn are old friends--very old friends--" he
paused awkwardly, "that is, they knew one another before he went to
Africa." Again the Earl paused.
Lady Dorothy was still standing with her gaze riveted on the pair. She
saw the whole affair at a glance, and her heart seemed to grow cold
within her.
"Yes, Lady Dorothy," said Winn, coming to the Earl's rescue, "Olive and
I have loved one another for ten years, although separated most of the
time. We have met again, and she has promised to be my wife."
There was a moment's dead silence. Olive glanced up timidly, and her
gaze met that of Lady Dorothy. Both women knew that the other loved
Alan Winn; but one counted her love by years, the other by days. One
had dreamed, hoped, counted on being his wife, and she had lost. The
other knew all this, and her heart went out in sympathy to her rival.
Lady Dorothy looked at the pretty flushed face; the grey eyes seemed
almost pleading in their wistfulness. She felt she could not hate this
girl. With a sudden movement she stepped forward and held out her
hands. Olive grasped them eagerly.
"I hope," said Lady Dorothy, and her voice had a slight tremor in
it--"I hope you'll be very, very happy."
Then she released her hold of Olive, and, without another word, hurried
away. The Earl turned his head and watched his daughter disappear.
There was a suspicious moisture about his eyes as he faced Winn again.
"You two would perhaps like to be alone," he said, forcing a smile, "so
I'll wish you _au revoir_ for the present," and he too hastened away.
The pair stood silent for a moment. Then she touched him lightly on the
arm. He bent his head and looked at her inquiringly.
"What is it, dearest?" he asked.
"I hope," she said, softly, "that some day she will marry someone
worthy of her--someone whom she will love as much--" she paused, and
looked into his face--"as much as I love you."
He pressed her gently to him and kissed her lips.
"I hope so, too," he said; "she is a good woman."
Events happened as they wished; for, a year later, the engagement of
Lady Dorothy to Lord Scaife was announced.
"Awfully glad, old chap," remarked Julia Crofton, as she tendered her
congratulations; "you didn't go particularly strong at the start, but
you picked up splendidly at the finish. I didn't think you had it in
you," she added, candidly.
"Oh," replied Bobbie, with a happy laugh, "as with those successful
fellows from South Africa, it's the 'grit' that tells."
[Illustration: PACKING TEA FOR EXPORT.
_Bourne & Shepherd Photo, India_]
THE HOME OF FOUR O'CLOCK TEA.
SOME GOSSIP NOT OFTEN HEARD.
Of the millions of people who drink tea, very few seem to know how it
is grown or manufactured.