The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-02

not found pledge my honor their value
snail be restored to you. Gentlemen,
will you come with me and help me to
conduct the search?"
lie turned about lightly, and they all
followed him; but though they ransack-
ed every nook and cornerin MusgrlYe's
room from the chimney downward, the
money was not found; and the strange
look on Musgrave's face became more
at the useless toll Of the searchers.
His expression was not lost upon
Brandon. and us soon rs the search was
abandoned, he said: Gentlemen, the
next room to be searched will be my
own" But at this, Musgrave sprang
forward, and seized Brandon by the arm
to hold him back.
mol" he cried. "the matter shall-go
no further; it was hoax, u stupid
practical joke of my own"
Your jest was sorry one" said
Brandon, coldly, rs he shook himself
free, while from the men burst forth
expressions of contempt, anger, and
disgust: but, such as 1t IS, shall not
consider it complete without sight OF
the notes that have given us so much
useless trouble, and you 50 much amuse-
ment at our expense"
grave, sullenly. Il decline for more
reasons than one"-and q meaning
glance at Brandon shot from his eyes,
Ito produce them"
"YOu have them on your person?"
said Brandon, quietly.
mo"
Then, gentlemen" said Brandon,
'we will continue the Search;" and he
led them straight to his own room.
Ills fate be on his own head" said
Musgrave to himself, as he followed,
and, standing in the doorway, heard
low groan escape one of the searchers
who stood as though turned to stone,
looking at bundle of notes he held in
his hand.
They had all gathered round him in a
moment, and it was BrandOn's hand
that had took the notes and his own L
o u from his friend, and held them up
to Musgrave, who stood beyond.
us this the other half of your cursed
practical joker" he safd, between his
teeth. Before God, if you were not
my guest, would strike you across the
mouth for the dog that you are; as it is
l bid you BECOME with your gains, and
never again darken my DOORS"
AS he spoke he crushed the notes to-
gether into ball, and flung it at Mus
grave, who let it lie, only bad black
look gathered about his lips and eyes,
as he said, slowly-"If practical joke
has been perpetrated, you should know
more of it than l."
by IIeaven!" Numbered out the
young fellow, IN get to the bottom of
this; and, if you won't speak out here
before these men, III force you to speak
elsewhere at the swords point"
NJ inh
"You have drawn your fate down on
your head. With my own eyes 1 saw
you take these notes from my room and
place them in the drawer, from which
Seton, in the presence of us all, took
them"
"You lie!" cried Brandon, his beauti-
full face ablaZe with scOrn and anger.
"FrOm the moment l saw you put the
pocket-book away last night to that in
which Seton found them here, have
never set eyes on, OF touched your ours
ed money. When we Eyres play prac-
tical jokes we are not in the habit Of
doing so with our guests gold"
"YOu came into my room at day
break" said Musgrave, quite unmoved;
81 saw you take the notes from the
pocket-book. which you replaced in the
drawer, and got up and followed you
TO your own room, where you put the
notes away, watching you from the
door. | drew back rs you shut and
locked it; across that threshold, l take
my oath, have never stepped. l was
already in the dining-room when you
came down to breakfast; my reason for
asking you to fetch them was that you
might have the opportunity Of replac-
ing them"
You lio!" said Brandon again; but
this time his voice was strange even in
his own ears. lie looked at the faces
of those who stood around, and at what
he saw there his own grew pale as that
of the dead.
Gentlemen" he said, pointing to
Musgrave, do you believe him or me?"
But they answered him not word
only Seton came to his friend, and
stood beside him.
''Then," said Brandon, and swift as
thought, before any could hinder him,
snatched from the wall one of the load
ed pistols that always hung there,
''since you believe it to be so, here
perishes the first-the last thief of the
house of Eyre"
A report rang out he made step
heel, then fell at their feet-dead!
on his death the whole story became
known, and the black flag of disgrace
was unfurled above the house of Eyre
forever; but Lady Sara raved and wept,
and swOre that it could all be explain
ed; only the explanation never came,
and to this day Brandon Eyre remains
in the eyes Of the world the first, last
thief of the house of Eyre.
After this there came harder devilry
into their deeds; as their pride increas-
ed, their self-respect diminished, and
the women of the family being permit
ted little or no influence over their fiery
husbands and sons, the latter went on
their way unchecked-at war with God,
their own hearts, and the world.
Alike lovely and unhappy flor no Eyre
thought a woman worth the winning
who was not indispensable of her kind,
and whether she loved him or no, it
was all one-his passions once lit car
ried all before him, and marry him she
should, If only to repent at her leisure),
these women lived simple, anxious lives,
only too thankful if open scandal were
avoided, and their dead brought home
to them to receive decent burial at their
hands.
And the old snuire n al haau uild and