The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-02
FIVE MILLION POUNDS,
Esy r. VVHs1lYSS HsEgEs.
CHAPTER XIV CONTINUED.

p CuAI Cn Nv SON LIN OLb'
He looked at me with q satirical smile on
his lips when had finished my statement.
$50 you think can clear your friend Miss
Stanchife, DO you"
II hope you can throw some light upon the
mystery that surrounds Mr.. Mauleverer's
death"
He laus he'd outright. ''Of course can do
that: bl You have come 10 the wrong man
fo- information that will clear Miss Daisy.
Hav, you forgotten what told you in the
railway train when YOU were on your way
to The old mans hc.lSe:'
at is precisely because have not forgot
ten it that llave desired to see you again.
You spoke tuea of I conspiracy TO commit
murder l want you to be kind enough TO
tell me Frankly what You meant by your
words. Y,u remember that you charged
not only Miss Stancliffe, but Flinter and Dr.
Branksome, and myself as well, with being
in some plot. What did you mean by III"
20, don't be afraid on your own account
Mr.. Fenton. know now that you were not in
the plot You were only the dupe, and
very simple one, too."
was determined that, come what might
should not lose my temper during this in.
terview Of such vital Importance to my
darling. The more I saw VI the man the
more certain became that he did not speak
without knowledge, and when observed
the growing gravity of Harding's face J
felt sure that be also entertained the same
conviction. I took no notice, therefore, OF
Gregsons snuer but repeated my question.
"Tell me, if you please, what was the
nature OF tho plot OF which you spoke7'
as it possible" he retor:ed, @thnt you are
so dull as noa to see tho nature Of the plot
for yourself nows I should have given you
credit for being not quite so stupid rs you
appear to me Good Lord! The whole
thing has been carried out under your nose,
and now that it is finished you come to me
to tell you what it means"
@Pray take pity, then, on my stupidity
and tell me all"
"Oh dear, nor' he said with q mocking
laugh "My secret is worth n good deal
more to me than it can be to you"
ais it money that you want for telling the
truth? If So"
"Yes, it is money; but don't want any
from you. You are very clever fellow, l
dare say, in your own opinion, and very
knowing one; but you must not think you
can buy me-"
to tell me without being bought"
'tJust this, Mr. :. Mr.. j declare forget
your name. What told you would happen
when 1 saw you in the train has all como
true Mauleverer has been murdered by the
gang who have been plotting against his lie
for years, and who are now going to get
cltan Off with the swaS-all but one of them;
and thanks to so,ne stupid laundering on
H., I IN
your part, mister, for Pm told you have
meddIed n good bit in tho bu5iness-shell be
hanged. That's all"
The malice of the man revealed itself il
lha tones in which he spoke. | kept nv tenn
per, however, but l saw Mt tho same time
that the moment had arrived when l ought
to use the weapon intrusscd to ME by the
detective.
''Mr Grcg<on," said, "since that is tho
name by which you choose to call yourself,
you are making great mistake in supposing
that am quite so helpless as you imagine.
have the means of making you speak, and
by heaven, sir, I'll use them, and quickly,
'too, or make you pay dearly for your 81
lencc."
He looked up ut me with a startled air.
The fellow was cur. and at the first straight
blow be appeared to be more than inclined to
succumb. But he recovered himself after
momentary pause.
II don't know what you are talking about
First Of all you want to bribe me, and then
you try bullying. I've not como here 10 be
either bought or sold"
Then, perhaps, as you don't want to DO
sold, you will tell mo your story without
compelling me to summon the detective who
is waiting in tho next room, in order that I
may make communication to him about
yourself and Smith s. Sharp, Gracechurch
street."
The stroke told even more quickly and
completely than I had dared to hope.
CHASTITY pallor overspread the fellows face,
and he sat for more than minute speech
less, staring ct me with eyes full of terror.
"You don't mean to bring that up against
ME after all these years? Good God! how
have you got to know anything about it9"
After pause he continued: "Well, I'll tell
YOU as much as can if you'll promise not
to give mo up"
"If you tell me everything, you viii bc
quito safe so far as am concerned. If you
do not, then you must take the consc-
quences."
All his assumed ease had vanished, and he
sat before US now Us abject craven as have
ever seen. Bielski's secret had worked like
magic. In faltering voice tho wretched
creature asked if he might have "a drop of
brandy" before he began his story, and was
by no means sorry to supply him with it.
Then no began and unfoded tho marvellous
tale which shall repeat in his owa words,
merely emitting his redundancics of speech
"They have been plotting against Maui
Ieyercr ever since I've known him, and thai
is seven years. Whom do l mean by they?
1 mean Dr.. Dranksomc and his gang; that
is, Flinter and the girl Daisy, and u lot of
fellows in Australia, and now they have got
this Fosdyko in the business. You 500 il
has been u regular company, and they have
been working it for years. Talk OF gold
mining; but there is no gold mine in all
Australia that Will yield half so much as
Mr. Maulcverer. So you need not wonder
that the whole party-thcre are some OF
them still over thcre-havo been working ct
the business for years Fast. At one time
know they meant to make an end Of the oil
-. L. M E,,t