Part 4 (2/2)

She shouted out the words despite the fact that Brennan was still careering round in the roadway trying to pacify her plunging horse.

Harding glanced over his shoulder towards Eustace's room as she left the doorway. He saw Eustace slip from the room and make for the door leading into the private portion of the house. At the door he turned.

”Get her to come in here,” he said impatiently.

As he was speaking Mrs. Burke flounced round again and caught sight of him.

”Oh, there you are,” she cried, as she stepped inside. ”Now, what have you to say?”

Eustace closed the door after him as she was speaking.

Mrs. Burke rushed out again into the road.

”Mr. Allnut! Mr. Soden! I can trust you. Will you stay here and see that villain does not slip out and escape? He's gone into the house. I'll go to the front door.”

She ran towards the private entrance, but stopped opposite Brennan, who had at last succeeded in getting the horse under control.

”They've robbed me, Brennan,” she cried. ”I left all the deeds of my Irish property with them. They've stolen them and say the place has been broken into as a blind. I don't believe it. It's Eustace. I never believed in him. Sure, if it hadn't been for Mr. Gale I'd never have listened to him. But now what am I to do? Where's Mr. Gale? Why isn't he here to help me? Why don't you tell him to come at once?”

”Mr. Gale has gone along the road with two men we want to know something about, Mrs. Burke. He'll return shortly. You had better see Mr. Eustace.

It's only money which has been taken, I believe. Mr. Eustace will be able to tell you all about it.”

”But he is trying to escape,” she said in a whisper. ”I saw him go out of the other door. He'll get away. Come and arrest him.”

”Never fear,” Brennan answered, as he smiled. ”I'll see he doesn't get away. I'll watch here till you come out.”

”Will you please come this way, Mrs. Burke? Mr. Eustace is waiting to see you,” Harding called out from the bank entrance.

”I'll go,” she said to Brennan. ”But mind! I rely on you--thank G.o.d your father and mother were Irish even if you were born out here.”

”Mr. Eustace asks if you will mind going into the dining-room,” Harding said.

She shot a resentful glance at him as she swept by and pa.s.sed through into the house. Eustace met her and led her into the dining-room, closing the door after him. As Harding shut the door leading from the bank, Johnson, the postmaster, came in.

”Here is a message just come through--I brought it down at once as I thought you'd be anxious,” he said.

”Half a minute,” Harding said, as he took the telegram. ”Eustace is seeing Mrs. Burke in the house. I'll take it to him in case there is a reply.”

He went through to the dining-room, knocked at the door and opened it.

Mrs. Burke, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng and her cheeks flushed, was standing facing Eustace, who sat by the table with his head resting on his hand.

”Here's a telegram--Johnson is waiting to see if there is any reply,”

Harding said, as he held out the message.

Eustace took the telegram mechanically, opened and read it and handed it, open, to Harding.

<script>