The Daily Ardmoreite

THE DISAPPEARING EYE
By Fergus Hume
Copyright 1909. By G. W. Dillingham Company

Continued from yesterday

Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
Miss Calderon found dead, a hatpin through her heart, her glass eye missing. The eye holds a cipher to a missing engraving bequeathed to Gertrude Monk. Circumstances implicate Miss Monk. Lady Denham accuses her of the crime, but promises silence if she receives half the treasure when it is found. Vance finds the missing eye in the Monk drawing room, but it again disappears. He becomes engaged to Gertrude and returns to London. There he encounters Gertrude's father, Walter Monk, posing as Wentworth Marr, a wealthy bachelor. Vance refrains for the moment from exposing him. Monk or Marr says he has inherited a fortune on condition that he change his name.

CHAPTER XXXII.
Striver's Threat.

I was having my fill of surprises by this time, and was beginning to wish that the matter should end. By the matter I mean this Mootley crime, the present cause of all these happenings. By stumbling on that fine adventure, I had become engaged to Gertrude, and, to keep Cannington from plundering my purse, I had come to London. Here, at his aunt's house, I had met Gertrude's father masquerading as a millionaire. There was no use his denying this. His change of name may have been legal, and he may have acquired a competency by the death of his Australian cousin, but he certainly could not rank with the Park Lane fraternity. Yet Lady Denham believed him to be one, and he enjoyed the idea.
I took my leave of the smooth-faced man with the resolve to keep my promise. So long as he abstained from calling on Lady Denham and withdrew his pretensions to Lady Mabel's hand, there was no need for me to strip him of his accursed wealth. There was no need even to tell Gertrude, as the revelation would not change her feelings towards him in any way. Certainly the ingenious Mr. Striver knew, and I wondered that he had not made use of his information before to force Monk's hand. But Striver was a patient man and perhaps had waited until he had acquired his aunt's wealth before pressing his suit. Then, if Gertrude refused, he could threaten to tell her of Monk's secret doings, unless the gentleman exercised his parental authority so far as to insist upon the unequal marriage. But—and the reflection made me chuckle—they were both a day after the fair, for Gertrude had promised to be my wife and I was equal to Striver in the knowledge of which he hoped to make use. It was a poor look-out for the handsome Joseph, and, in spite of Monk's warning, I had no fear that the man could harm me or my darling in any way.
I remained a week in London and enjoyed myself along with Cannington—that is, I went to the theatres, to various at-homes, to certain small dances, and to suppers, dinners, motor drives and all the rest of it, including bridge drives, although I had no particular regard for that fashionable game. But my heart was far away with Gertrude, and I felt much bored. In spite of the boy's lively society, I think he noticed my abstracted condition at times, for he proposed that I should leave him and return to Burwain. I refused, since I had arranged to remain a week. I heard from Gertrude very day, and replied at length, so that somewhat ameliorated my desperate situation. Moreover, I wished to remain in London to see if Mr. Monk intended to keep his promise.
One day—the last of my stay in town, as a matter of fact—Cannington turned up at my club with two pieces of news. He delivered them both over a brandy and soda and a cigar.
"Weston has been to Burwain and has got his land lease for a few months," said Cannington. "and tomorrow he is taking down a gang of men to erect fences. Within a week, he says, the fences will be up, and in a fortnight the sheds will be erected. Then he can take down the various parts of his airship to put the beastly thing together."
"But to get fences and sheds rigged up in such a hurry will take a very great number of men."
"Of course. However, Dicky has thirty thousand pounds a year—"
"So much as that? Why doesn't Mabel marry him, then? She wants money and he can give her both."
"Do you think so really, old chap?"
"I am certain of it. He was dreadfully jealous of our friend, Mr. Marr."
"Well, I think he is. Yours, Dicky looks on Mabel as his own property and hates anyone to poach. I wish he would adjust the situation, but hang him, he won't—that is, he has done his best, and can't."
"Why don't you ask him his intentions? You are the head of the family."
Cannington grew red. "Oh, hang it. I can't. It would look as though I were shying Mabel at the chap's head. It will all come right in time."
"Unless Mabel, in a fit of pique, accepts Marr."
"She won't do that. He's bunked out of the business."
"Really?" said I, with feigned surprise. "And why?"
"Lord only knows," said Cannington indifferently. "Aunt Lucy is in a fine state about his clearing. He wrote and said he had a sudden call on business to South America—something to do with a silver mine, I believe—and would be away for a year. Aunt Lucy says this means he has given up any idea of making Mabel his wife, and she blames poor Mabel, and says it was her flirting with Dicky that's sent old Marr off."
"It's just as well, Cannington. Weston is a much better match for your sister, and is quite rich enough, besides being younger. But has Marr really gone away?"
"I suppose so. I haven't seen him about town lately, and he said that he was sailing soon for New York. I'm sure I don't care; he can go hang for me." He laughed. "Aunt Lucy said I ought to thrash him for compromising Mabel. But that's all bosh. Mabel's quite able to look out for herself, and I can't lay hands on a man old enough to be my father. What do you think? Ought I to thrash him?"
Privately I thought that it would do Mr. Marr—Monk—good to have a little physical pain, and when Cannington knew the whole truth I was not at all sure but what he would reconsider his position and thrash the scoundrel. But since Monk had kept his promise I had to keep mine, so I merely shrugged my shoulders. "He's too old, boy. Besides, your sister never cared for him. When the airship is floated—is that the correct term?—Weston is sure to propose."
"And you expect Mabel to take him with a 'thank you,'" flashed out the boy, growing red and haughty.
"Well," said I, with a look of surprise, "she loves him."
"That's true enough, but she's not going to be at the beck and call of Master Dick, as I told him."
"When?"
"When he came grumbling to me that Mabel had refused him."
"He asked her to marry him?" I exclaimed.
Cannington nodded. "Dicky got so mad with the way in which Aunt Lucy talked that evening you were there, and with the way in which Marr seemed to be so sure of his ground that he proposed the next day. Mabel refused him at once, and he seemed to think he had only to ask and to have. I told him served him jolly well right, and that I admired Mabel's spirit."
"So do I," was my hearty reply. "but I don't think Weston meant his offer to be taken in that light. He's an absent-minded man and—"
"Oh, hang it! a refusal will do him good," said Cannington crossly, "and perhaps he'll drop being such an ass. Of course he wants me to persuade Mabel, but I told him I wouldn't lift a finger. Well, then, Vance, you see that Mabel has lost both her lovers at once. Marr has sheered off like his impudence, although I'm glad—and Dicky has been sent away with a flea in his ear, and serves him jolly well right."
"And how is Mabel?"
"As jolly as a sandboy, bless me! in spite of Aunt Lucy's nagging. I have asked her to come down to Murchester for a week. She can take rooms at the Lion Hotel and collar some old woman as a chaperon. Then we can have a good time together. Come down also."
"No, boy. I must return to Burwain tomorrow."
"And when am I to be asked down to see Miss Monk?"
"Very shortly; as soon as I get her father's consent."
"Oh, she has a father?"
(Continued on page ten)
THE DISAPPEARING EYE

Coming from page ten.

Mr. Vance—"

But—"

mother."

By the way—"

I have a—"

further question—"

couldn't give—"

me your opinion—"

as to—"

you—"

I don't know—"

what sort of—"

opinion—"

it's—"

said Cannington—"

that—"

the—"

thing—"

to be—"

done—"

and who it—"

was entered—"

the shop—"

she—"

Miss Monk's—"

but—"

way I can think of nothing else."

Cannington's opinion—"

was—"

mine—"

also—"

But if Gertrude refused to—"

speak I did not see what I could—"

do. He—"

said—"

Besides, she was anxious for—"

me to abandon the case. I felt in—"

clined to do so myself, much—"

as the mystery piqued me. However, I—"

used to discuss it with Canning—"

ton—"

who really took very little in—"

terest in its intricacies—and we—"

spent the evening at the theater.

Next day I furbished up the Rippler—"

and departed at top speed for Bur—"

wain.

I flew, so to speak, on the wings—"

of love, as I was desperately anxious—"

to reach the side of my darling. It was a wet day and the—"

roads were in every bad condition.—"

Nevertheless, I broke every rule with—"

regard to speed and defied the po—"

lice traps. I broke through three, I—"

know, and managed to escape hav—"

ing the number of my car taken.—"

By the time I reached Burwain I—"

had accumulated a tidy sum in fines.—"

I did not care. I would have paid—"

three times as much to reach Ger—"

trude. But the fun of it was that,—"

due to my desperate haste there—"

was no chance of my being made to—"

pay the money, as I had flown past—"

with the speed of a kingfisher.—"

"More haste, less speed," was not—"

a true proverb in this instance.—"

So anxious was I to hold Ger—"

trude in my arms that I halted—"

the Rippler before the gate of The—"

Lodge and proposed, dripping as I—"

was, to have an interview before—"

driving to the Robin Redbreast. I—"

soon made my way to the door and—"

rang the bell. The house looked—"

forlorn and dismal in the misty rain,—"

and there was a chill in the atmos—"

phere. But love cares very little—"

for such discomforts, so I smiled—"

gayly at Eliza when she appeared—"

at the door. She was a sour-faced—"

elderly woman, with a silent tongue,—"

and usually never opened her mouth—"

even to me, although I was a—"

constant visitor. But on this oc—"

casion, with a somewhat disturbed—"

face, she spoke eagerly and seemed—"

pleased to see me.

"Thank goodness you have come,—"

sir," she whispered, with a back—"

ward glance. "I know you'll make—"

him clear out."

"Make who clear out, Eliza?" I—"

asked, staring.

"That Joseph, sir."

"The gardener?"

"Yes, sir. Ever since you have—"

been away, he's been haunting the—"

place. It's these duffers, sir, but he's—"

in love with Miss Gertrude, and fol—"

lows her like a dog. An hour ago—"

he forced himself into the—"

house,—"

and is now talking with her in the—"

drawing room, and oh, sir," she—"

caught hold of me as I expressed—"

my lips and strode past her.—"

"don't—"

anger him.—"

he's a desperate man."

"It takes a week," said I dryly:—"

"to rouse a worm,—"

and wrench—"

ing from her grasp, I—"

walked to the drawing room door—"

and flung it open.—"

Thus—"

trudge—"

a.—"

Seated—"

and flung herself across the—"

long room, to nestle in my arms. "I'm—"

—glad you are here.—"

He—"

—pointed to the gardener—"

—he's quite mad."

Striver, drawn much the same—"

as he had been when I interviewed—"

him in the Mootley corner shop,—"

sat sullenly at the end of the—"

room. Apparently he—"

had pinned—"

to do no—"

coffin—"

out his turn—"

ink to s%—"

who was—"

entering had—"

seen her the cha—"

te and so she—"

was safe—"

my—"

side. The fellow—"

looked as handsome as ever, but—"

his eyes—"

were scarlet with anger,—"

and his fists hung clenched by his—"

side. Feeling myself to be master of—"

the—"

situation, I was comparatively—"

cool.—"

What—"

the—"

do—"

she—"

means,—"

man—"

although wounded and I—"

condescend—"

thw—"

violence.—"

"He is mad! He is mad!" cried—"

Gertrude, clinging to me, and re—"

peating for the man, who still kept—"

a sullen silence.—"

"He forced his way—"

into the house and has been saying—"

dreadful things.—"

"Things you can't deny—"

said—"

Striver, moistening his dry lips with—"

his tongue. "Mr. Vance, you had bet—"

ter keep out of this or it will be—"

the worse for her," and he pointed—"

to Gertrude.

CHAPTER—"

XXXIII—"

"I shall Denounce Her."

I removed her arms from my neck—"

and walked straight across the room.—"

Before Striver was aware of my in—"

tention I had my hands on his—"

throat and was shaking him as a ter—"

rier does a rat. With desperate—"

efforts he tried to tear away my—"

grasp, but could not do so, and his—"

face was rapidly turning black with—"

strangulation when Gertrude ran to—"

my side. "Don't kill him, for God's—"

sake, Cyrus!"

I loosened my grip and Striver,—"

staggering back, fell into a chair.—"

Then, sane but unjustly, I turned—"

on Gertrude. "Are you thinking of—"

him?" I demanded in a thick voice,—"

for at the moment I was not master—"

of myself.

"I am thinking of you," she—"

replied, clasping—"

her hands.—"

"Who—"

else should I think of? Don't ask—"

me to see you hanged for murder.—"

"You would hang together," gasped—"

the gardener, recovering his—"

breath with a gigantic effort. "With—"

my dying breath I would tell the—"

truth.—"

"What truth?" I asked fiercely.—"

Gertrude clung to me. "Don't lis—"

ten to him!"

"Ah!" Striver sneered with pale—"

lips. "She's afraid, you see.—"

"I am not afraid!" cried Gertrude,—"

her eyes flashing, and drawing her—"

self up to her full height. "Cyrus—"

knows everything. I only asked him—"

not to listen because I wish you—"

to go away and rid me of your—"

hateful presence—your hateful pres—"

ence," she repeated incoherently.—"

Striver gave a sob. "If you knew—"

how I loved you!"

"Stop!" I had control of my feel—"

ings by this time. "It is no use your—"

saying these things. Miss Monk is—"

engaged to me.—"

"She'll never marry you—never!"—"

said the man, between his teeth. "I—"

shall denounce her to the police.—"

—what?" quivered Gertrude as—"

what Mr. Striver?—"

"As the woman who murdered my—"

aunt!"

he cried, staggering to his—"

feet.

I laughed, and the two stared at—"

me in astonishment. The sound of—"

merriment at such a tragic moment—"

startled them. But I saw swiftly—"

that it was useless to act a melo—"

dramatic scene and was half sorry—"

that I had so nearly strangled the—"

gardener.—"

I was cool and com—"

posed, and, wise proceeding to—"

act, wished to know where I stood.—"

"Sit down," Striver. "Sit down, Ger—"

trude." They did as I asked them.—"

—th she ama etent—"

Now then—"

m !.—"

"; i:—"

all cool—"

am—"

his 44)—"

ogit—"

Ge—"

made a her atpp he—"

know that auh Mr strle"—"

I n Jo ith von I dont blam—"

ahip fo) sihee mo aan ca—"

holp N thgs H ha 'ored hls—"

a4—"

m—"

ttst to combe! yu—"

a to Ce hh aitIecon—"

dem.—"

0ha on t0 srvunda No—"

humaa beihg has a right to coerce—"

atother. Now, then the situation be—"

ing plain, perhaps, Striver, you will—"

speak out.—"

If I had been violent the man—"

could not have been more easily—"

but—"

ms p rfe t fairneas and soolne s con—"

founded him, and he stared stupidly—"

at me. I grew impatient.—"

"Come,—"

Striver) speak up.—"

"I dont alahto—"

andemn soy utheard—"

on—"

shat—"

Ecahds do yoaSdemnMs Mouk—"

@thla erime?—"

Noe) ap atimy aunto—"

bu n—"

tho cehng—"

J knoa a nuch from ht oen—"

fip a o knoe that i lofthiet—"

iito—"

clak tehlnd ahd certain—"

Patpin—"

Well—"

1.—"

was more anfognded than—"

ever.—"

"She—"

stabbed my aunt," he—"

muttered.—"

"ei did I sae dlderled—"

j. brathleesly—"

dear—"

said I, patting het—"

A.u.—"

ho need fot you to—"

den y tha' I am awate of your in—"

thoenee—"

Hut I aish to know upon—"

hat ground M; Strliet bases his—"

areisation—"

"I whal) wll that to the—"

police—"

said tae cande gt. claing—"

"You can't do that—"

cruck th—"

Gortrude—"

Caithout—"

inetirutnating—"

vours—"

"Oh, indeed' ald A Muhtls—"

p y will eaplain. sve You—"

treating wou with all—"

tatto—"

14o0—"

cant fau flathe he—"

7:—"

AnI cotorted aninei Jpes—"

co aan the—"

(ustl ofa—"

tI—"

4 "1..—"

o.J:—"

it—"

The ane man lenchied a—"

fota qt A cutn mvaeit slnh ruit—"

Den Yoy shan't hase hee if I cant—"

aAlon mo to toll soy, Striva, I—"

cald repteasins 6 rirude, thas) al—"

thle Gonbast has no effeet ob ge—"

Prose y alt dxlsatlon—"

"You can without theriminating—"

yeuraelt. rejeated Gertnude, draa.—"

Itsabpath Cvrus he toldme—"

that—"

to aim—"

interupted—"

the—"

t!, jot, tit rrl)—"

I show that I oih—"

the riaaof (standing in) thdok—"

Hu ya Miss Monk—"

aillby—"

an slde it. my loie tor voy which—"

makes ae" risk my seck—"

So that"yoy"ean puat' a—"

rope—"

round the nick of the woman you—"

i sald cheertuly, althouga—"

I iconfess tha' the mans de laive—"

o made the uhegsy That is da—"

affetenate aay of actlts Woll, are—"

w ging to oafess'—"

9 at got afnald to Gulfes' sam—"

8 4bg, g in thlak s tohe, , bit , mote—"

ap sd You)cant: make gse lof—"

tny cohtessjon without aroyihs her—"

pointed to RGertrude to. oe ia—"

murlerer ahd athle—"

4 The' ansalied the—"

cir—"

1 oaa) (ben) ser patient sith sol—"

dtriet 4 sald suappressihg my an—"

with ah etfort. chut if soy cal—"

Mh Monk name.1 kuovou—"

to th domnyourosht at—"

In not afrald of vou Mr Vane—"

No, cou to afrald of, the odes—"

And she—"

a—"

potuteg—"

salh—"

I aa ao denied erirud and—"

st od up calm and unflio shinuly to—"

de ny it—"

"Oh, damin vour heik come to—"

the paint Forgle be for saearing—"

Ge gtrud, out this long ainded as—"

would prosek a satnt—"

Stite: took no not oi th Ii.—"

-ult, t" mhungcd, with a gari, d:—"

it :tl int, thr muidd'. yf hix story.—"

and I mx:, -aw hon it was that b"—"

yidmo:d.:drtoups. Jrrtry*.—"

"My duat ni-id mr i) marry Mis:—"

Moak." h. xall sapidly, and wit.J—"

nit rs, oy th rarpt -h. wis—"

raidink uis, b: th… wa--"tud as—"

1 joyed hrr, I w l:brd for ns:hs:—"

tettrt, M aunt suid thsi rie :oulst—"

Kr mr Gab:t:) Monk'x won,y af—"

it Jrr duth, ax mir hid xon:raled—"

it: whyIeab'ut: in het glta tie."—"

"Oi:" I xad Jal to nyr:f, "ry—"

: Iw: :tah:."—"

Ye, woy a.Te night. 4ssated—"

Striser qutckly I aanted ans dunt—"

to sitow te the ee when shwa—"

allse out she a aa)s refuse dnd—"

cald that it would panat in aes—"

head anti she ded—"

1 vlam death M Siae—"

Ye She alaas devlared that—"

u—"

chil aectrt she would—"

d th ar wd she Aas alriy—"

wi..tt—"

Mons sould wnt het—"

cubbtsh—"

I intesrupted—"

i :—"

tehtis—"

4o Mohkaogd no—"

hi—"

Dt—"

ut •—"

sog aell sp a Mrs—"

alkotsia mgst hate ten mad—"

think she aas murmuted—"

Ctue lingtas to a—"

Sh aas no mad hough to shve—"

away the schd) of the eye to mhe,—"

sad stns sivagely i heand trom—"

Miss Ih stius that Miss Monk had—"

leainrd (rom some diary of Gabriel—"

Monk's that any aunt khew of the—"

noles—"

Yesmtemupted geitrudeloh—"

ins op—"

Ttut not of the oe.—"

Seetns that son murdered my—"

aunt. I bellese yau dtd." cohtradlcted—"

the gardeher b untly. "Miss Destiny—"

said that you were going over to—"

Mootley to see my aunt—"

"I went—"

over aise."—"

THE DAILY ARDMOREITE.—"

"On hat evening I asked, start.—"

led—"

0—"

Yes, and sot time before Mia—"

Monk arrived saw my aunt and—"

asked het, to tell me the secret—"

he cfud a sh only wjabed—"

meto I bave the money after het—"

death Then Miss Monk arrived and—"

may aumt smuggld me up the stairs—"

Into bedroon From aboveI es—"

Mise M ak eatey the O bark room—"

withmy auue 1 returd to the—"

bedrom to aall and fell adeep—"

When I awoke (t was quite dark I—"

stole duan the stairs shto the back—"

room and found it in darknees Also—"

I found ay aunt's body and the—"

eye missing My aunt was not quite—"

dead. as she aoahed While I was—"

wondering alat to do I heard a—"

wotor arriv—"

My mojor I asked safft—"

Yes Then I saa In a flash that—"

being found with my ount dytng—"

I might aregsesd of murder and—"

of stealing he: eye, seeing that I—"

waated it so much I could a t risk—"

anyone ehtering the back room. so—"

I funbled for the key It was on—"

the outside, and you entored the—"

shop, Mr. Vance, before ! could get—"

It tut there wae a bolt on the in—"

wide @ the 4 ap and this ( slliped—"

When you trled the door you could—"

not t in Afterward wheg you—"

wt filling your tank with petnn.—"

I (cand) out softly and atole up the—"

talrs Ith the hite Coak—"

Who—"

did cat take the white—"

luk—"

I ahea tha t bel nged to Ms—"

Monk, as I had froquently sren her—"

wearing it. I tshed to kowep it as—"

evidence taat she had murdared—"

my aunt in the back room—"

ty left the cloas, when I had to—"

pa ih. a hurrysaid Gertrude de—"

fiantly.—"

So you ay ceeped Strivet, but—"

I celleve dierently Howerer 1—"

managed o get safely back to the—"

bedroom atd aotdered hoa i canld—"

eacage ir then) struck me that 1—"

could assutne athe cloak as a ds—"

guise I found a vek also and put—"

tha: around my cap In the dusk.—"

with the fong elouk and the ell. 1—"

thought I aould look like a w aan—"

and could steal out—"

con'I sald. aith a gasp. thet—"

Jon ab sway with ay eat—"

Yes, I dld he said. with a sort—"

6triumph. I waited my chan to—"

get ou' of the plac, as I was afrald—"

ies: I sduuld be accus ed a the—"

murder When con entered the tack—"

ton—"

Istraeted tiy the moa) of the 4y—"

(ns aoman Yes, go on."—"

wat, them Istole doan the—"

dtalr (any tarnad the key. wht b I—"

atready kra aa- (on) th-outside—"

You (aad) et) sour) (motor going. so—"

1 p (n and leaed in Tha: mah—"

Gifles saw me aithough I did not—"

klloa hi- name at the timo--and—"

I pu ou all speed to eseape, Luckily—"

you' had wrned the notor round in—"

the yuageste; direction I spuh—"

along and mat M.ss Dstiny (n het—"

trap, 'as sou know It the time I—"

dudn't thinl at was hot Then at—"

struck ne that she-a atrang't av—"

I belleted alght ay hon she had—"

aen tie mot r and I would be—"

trace I therfor slewed the ma—"

chine thto the field through the—"

sat I loft it strand d thet, and—"

conerald the c'ok-—"

Which I found along with the—"

t. I out m. "Go on. Mr Striver—"

Taer nothing mote to tell he—"

-ald sulkily. I walked to Murches—"

ter and caught a traln. As I had not—"

the mot of the white cloak I !t—"

that I aas safe And so I wss—"

You dre wety safe, now " I r—"

maraed, sing to stretch myself—"

"Suppos I tell the pollee"—"

Then 1 denounee Miss Monk a—"

guilts sie was th the back rom—"

I a-d intt lon, long boior ta—"

brpored Gertrude, very pate—"

I aas the ba k r om. aiso.—"

Strivet. s.t i am inno ent How nt—"

1 an that If I talk you ea—"

ta k s), tor tae present. In all)—"

eent, i shall say nothing about—"

the maite You can_ go I polnted—"

to the dorr—"

He storod hi sround and lo ked—"

at Gertude You are In my pouer."—"

sald he—"

And sou ato In our I rstorted—"

beerfully it won't do, Strier,—"

thmgs shall tatn as they are for—"

the pruseht Miss Monk (to tog for—"

you—"

I sall tel) the pollce he thra'—"

ened—"

Iny ad aans hd cut sar oan—"

thinat to'I tlung open the door.—"

He looked with deadiy hatred at—"

Cettrude and myselt. then departed—"

in stlence—"

When Is turied toaard my dar—"

Ing sh nad fainted—"

To be Continued