ARCHIE MAKES HIS PLANS.
"If you are my friend,
I set you this task.
Aid me to an end,
If you are my friend,
Your comradeship lend.
This secret unmask.
If you are my friend
I set you this task."
"Maxwell, Globetrotters, to Clendon, Vicarage, Deswarth.--Come to me
at once. Important."
Toby was a lover and therefore unwilling to leave the vicinity of his
beloved; but he was also a friend, and being of a kind, staunch
nature, speedily made up his mind to obey at once the telegram. His
father who sincerely regretted the misfortune which had befallen the
unfortunate Kaituna and her lover, warmly approved of his son's going
away; so, Toby's mind being at rest concerning the parental opinion,
he rode over to the Valpys, in order to see what Tommy thought about
the matter.
As he expected, she said he was to lose no time in going to Maxwell,
and also gave him several affectionate messages for Kaituna.
"You don't know how sorry I am for her, Toby," she said, with a sigh.
"Fancy losing your father and then all your money."
"Still Archie is left," observed Toby, wisely.
"Yes; I'm glad of that. She will always have him to protect her, and
that kind woman, Mrs. Belswin. Now then, Toby, don't you say there are
no good people in this world when Mrs. Belswin has acted as she has
done."
"I never said there were no good people in the world," retorted her
lover in an injured tone. "I only said that good people are few and
far between."
"Of course," went on Tommy, without noticing this defence, "Kaituna
could always have found a home with ma and I. I wish she had come here
instead of going to London; but Mrs. Belswin seems very fond of her,
and then Mr. Maxwell will marry her soon, so she will be happy some
day."
"I wonder why Mrs. Belswin is so very fond of Kaituna," speculated
Toby, idly. "Paid companions as a rule don't go beyond their wages in
the matter of affection, but Mrs. Belswin goes the entire bakery."
"Toby, don't be vulgar," replied Miss Valpy, reprovingly; "Mrs.
Belswin is a very superior woman."
"I hate superior women."
"Oh, thank you!"
"You're not a superior woman," said Clendon, laughingly.
"What am I, then?"
"The dearest girl in the world."
"I am! I am! You'll find that out when your wife's milliner's bill
comes in. Now, don't, Toby! There are more important things than
kissing."
"Not just now," replied Clendon, and kissed her twice. "Good-bye,
dearest I shall expect a letter every day."
"Will you really? How long will you be absent?"
"I don't know! It depends on what Archie wants to see me about."
"Well, I'll write. Good-bye, and take my love to Kaituna."
"Certainly; only I hope it won't get damaged during the transit."
So they parted, and Tommy returned to discuss Kaituna's future with
her mother, while Toby packed his portmanteau, and, after taking leave
of his father, caught the afternoon train to town.
Archie Maxwell, when engaged in foreign parts, underwent all
incidental hardships without a murmur, and accepted all disagreeables
with a philosophy beautiful to behold; but Archie Maxwell when in
London indemnified himself for all such hardships by giving himself as
many pleasures as his income permitted him. Being a young gentleman of
good family, he had a very reputable circle of acquaintances, he had
very pleasant rooms in the West End, and belonged to the
Globetrotters, which is, as every one knows, a very exclusive club.
Being clever in his profession, Archie made a very decent income, and
having no reason that he knew of to save money, spent every penny he
made with a kind of "it-will-be-all-right-in-the-end," philosophy; but
now that he was engaged to Kaituna, he made various excellent
resolutions about economy, and resolved to put by as much as possible
for the future home of Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell.
He was a very methodical young man, was Mr. Maxwell, and speedily
made up his mind what course to pursue, which course involved the
co-operation of Clendon--hence the telegram which brought the latter
up to town.
As Toby had let his chambers during his visit to Deswarth, Archie
offered to put him up for the night, which offer Clendon accepted with
avidity, as he too was on the economic tack. Oh, it was truly a
beautiful spectacle to behold these young men, formerly so careless of
money matters, now as careful of the shillings as they had been
careless of the pounds. On this night, however, as Archie was going to
arrange his future plans, he proposed to Toby that they should, for a
few hours only, revert to the dear old extravagant days and enjoy
themselves. To this Toby, who hankered after the flesh pots of Egypt,
agreed; so they arranged to have the best dinner which the
Globetrotters was capable of providing; and afterwards Archie was to
unburden his mind to his friend.
The Globetrotters is a very pleasant club, in an excellent situation,
and as the members are all travelled men of a sociable turn of mind,
the society to be found there is not to be despised from an
informative point of view. Had Marco Polo, or Christopher Columbus,
lived in the nineteenth century, they would certainly have been
members of the Globetrotters; and as for Ulysses--but then Ulysses was
fond of feminine society, so perhaps he would not have cared for the
exclusively masculine element of the club. At all events, when Archie
(who being a traveller, was a member) arrived with Toby--who being a
stay-at-home, was not--they found a great many pleasant people there,
including a bearded traveller, who had been lion-shooting in Africa;
another who had made arrangements to find out the North Pole, if he
was able; and several other nineteenth century productions, who all
knew and liked Maxwell. Archie, however, was too taken up with his
plans to waste much time in hearing adventures about big game
shooting, and artful savages; so he went off with Toby to a very
retired table, where they had an excellent dinner under the
supervision of a friendly waiter, who was as great a traveller as any
in the club, having been a steward on a P. & O. liner.
After dinner, during which they had discussed various topics, all
bearing on the Pethram murder, and their future married happiness,
Archie and his friend sought a secluded corner in the smoking-room,
ordered coffee and cigarettes, and, when they were thoroughly
comfortable, began to talk business.
"Toby," said Archie, reflectively, "we've known each other a good many
years."
"Seeing we were at school together I may say we have," replied
Clendon, smiling. "Come, now, Archie, you want me to do something, and
don't like asking."
"That's true, because I'm going to ask you to make a sacrifice."
"Not to give up Tommy?"
"No! no! I don't want to break your heart, old fellow; but I--I----"
"Well, what is the sacrifice?"
"I want you to leave England for a few months and go to Melbourne."
"What for?" asked Toby, aghast at this strange request.
"I'll tell you! I have been to Dombrain, who is the late Sir Rupert's
lawyer, about the will; and I find he has left Kaituna all his
personal property."
"Well, that's jolly."
"The personal property consists of shares in a silver mine, which at
present are worth nothing."
"Oh! that's not jolly. But what about Thornstream? Isn't Kaituna the
heiress?"
"No! Thornstream is entailed on the male side, and all the property
goes with the title. Had Kaituna been a man, she would have inherited;
but as she is a woman she doesn't get a penny."
"I see."
"The present baronet," pursued Archie, smoothly, "is a beastly
skinflint, and won't give Kaituna a penny; so had it not been for the
kindness of a stranger--I allude to Mrs. Belswin--I don't know what
the poor girl would have done."
"I do," said Toby, emphatically; "she would have gone to the Valpys,
who asked her to come; or to the vicarage, where the dear old pater
would have looked after her. Bless you, Maxwell, she would have been
all right."
"I know both your father and the Valpys are good kind people," replied
Maxwell with emotion; "and of course, if the worst came to the worst,
she could have married me at once, and we would have got on somehow.
Still all these possibilities do not make Mrs. Belswin's kindness any
the less."
"She's a good sort," said Clendon, feelingly. "Why, if Kaituna had
been her own daughter she couldn't do more for her than she is doing.
But get on with your story."
"Well, Kaituna, as I have shown you, gets nothing from Thornstream or
the present baronet; so all she inherits is her father's private
property. Now, in New Zealand he had a good deal of land, but when he
came in for the title he converted it all into cash, and with that
cash he bought two thousand shares in The Pole Star Silver Mining
Company, in Melbourne."
"Wasn't that rather rash?"
"I don't know. It certainly appears so. Now Dombrain assures me that
the shares are not worth the paper they are written on; but I've got
my doubts on the subject; so I want you to go out to Melbourne and
find out all you can about the mine."
"But what can I do? I know nothing about mining."
"Oh, you can find out from the brokers if the mine has any prospect of
turning out well. Dombrain is arranging all the will business, so as
soon as Kaituna is legally in possession of the shares I will send out
the scrip to you, and also a power of attorney. Perhaps the mine will
turn up trumps; if it does, you can sell, if not--well, there's no
harm done."
There was silence for a few moments, during which Toby was thinking
deeply, and his good-looking face wore a more thoughtful expression
than usual.
"Of course, Archie," he said at length, "I am anxious to oblige you in
all things; but you must admit that this is a little serious."
"Oh, yes. I told you it was a sacrifice," replied Archie, readily. "I
would go myself, only I have a strong reason for remaining in
England."
"May I ask that reason?"
"Yes. I want to find out who killed Sir Rupert."
"You'll never do that," said Toby, shaking his head. "Why, my dear
lad, the police could find absolutely no clue."
"The police be--blessed," retorted Archie, with contempt. "I am going
on my own ideas in this matter; and I'm going to get Mrs. Belswin to
help me."
"But she knows nothing."
"That's very likely; but she saw Sir Rupert on the night of his
murder, and if she can recollect her conversation, who knows but what
some chance word in it might lead to the detection of the murderer.
Besides, Mrs. Belswin is a very clever woman, and in a case of this
difficulty, women see clearer than men."
"Why are you so anxious to find out this murder?"
"Because I want to set Kaituna's mind at rest. The poor girl is
worrying herself about the affair; and if I can find out and punish
the assassin of her father, it will give her great relief."
There was again a short silence, and then Archie went on speaking:
"You see now, my dear lad, why I wish you to help me in this. I cannot
do both things myself at the same time; for if I go to Melbourne, the
murderer of Sir Rupert may escape; and if I stay and hunt for him, the
mine may turn out a success, and no one will be there to look after
Kaituna's interests."
"Does Kaituna know all your ideas," asked Toby, thoughtfully.
"Yes; and approves of them. So does Mrs. Belswin. You see, as she has
been such a good friend to Kaituna, I had to tell her everything."
"Of course; quite right," responded Toby, heartily. "Well, old fellow,
I'll tell you what. Some time ago _The Weekly Scorpion_ spoke to me
about taking a trip out to Australia, and writing up the colonies; so
if I accept that, I'll combine pleasure and business."
"That would be capital," said Archie, with a sigh of relief; "for to
tell you the truth, Toby, I was rather anxious about the money for you
to go with. Kaituna has none. I can't ask Mrs. Belswin; so I would
have had to find it myself."
"Archibald Maxwell," said Clendon, wrathfully, "do you mean to say
that you thought I would have been such a mean wretch as to let you
find all the expenses of my voyage?"
"Well, I couldn't ask you to give your time and money also."
"Oh, couldn't you? Don't be an ass, old chap. Had I gone without the
_Scorpion_ chips, I would have halved the ex's; but this newspaper
business cuts the Gordion knot. All I have got to do is to accept
their offer, and I shall get all my expenses paid, and a jolly good
price for my articles into the bargain, which cash can go to hurry up
my marriage."
"Well; will you go?"
"As far as I can see at present, yes," replied Toby, quickly; "but I
must speak to Tommy and the pater."
"They may object," said Maxwell, dolefully.
"Oh, no, they won't," retorted Clendon, gaily. "Bless you, a trip to
Australia is nothing nowadays. I could do it on my head. And I will
too, considering it's at the Antipodes."
Archie rose to his feet with a sigh of relief.
"I'm so glad there is a chance of your doing what I ask you," he said
gratefully.
"It all depends upon the home authorities," replied Clendon,
judiciously; "but I think you can set your mind at rest, old fellow.
I'll go home to-morrow, and wire you result of inquiries. I think you
can pretty well rely on everything being fixed up beautifully."
"You're a good fellow, Toby."
"I am! I am! My friends don't know half my virtues. But about this
detective business of yours, Archie, I'm afraid you won't find out
anything."
"I'll try, at all events. 'Nothing is done without trying.'"
"Oh, if you're going in for copy-book maxims, I've nothing more to
say."