The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-10-20
FIVE MILLION POUNDS
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by T. wEMxss REID.

taBOEeQ uHQ6E heTlOuS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. !
dared not tell her how lad been engaged
during those days which had passed since
we met before. had written 10 her iame-
liatsly upon my return from the hall to let
her know that the strychnia had been dis
covered, but / did not venture to speak Of
those other discoveries for which we were
indebted to Gregson And yet could not
leave her without some ray Of hope to tighten
her miserable cell ] am afraid that, ere
quilted her side had impaired 70 her
share of the agitation by which ! myself
was possessed. And yet could not be sorry,
when that brief interview Of mingled bliss
and agony came to an end, to think that her
dear face no longer wore that sad look Of
pathetic apathy and resignation which had
distinguished It when we met
It was on my return to the hotel that
found telegram from Bielski: GCipher dis
covered Most important The detective
evidently did not waste words in telegraph
ing. was consumed with eagerness to learn
what the important news might be to which
we had now got the key.
"A gentleman to see you, SIR" 1t was the
evening Of this same day, and Twas sitting
by myself in my room The waiter held the
door open, and Dr. Branksome, who must
have adopted some special means thus to
insure his admission 10 my apartment, en-
tered.
GDr. BrankscmeI" I said, in astonishment
"You here"
He smiled with the grave air that | knew
so well. and, removing his glove, offered his
hand TO me- What was the magnetic infu-
ence which the man exercised over all who
came In contact with himl cannot tell l
only know that, while cursed myself for
NV weakness. did not refuse his outstretched
hand.
He seated himself with great composure,
and said:
II must apologize for my untimely intru
sion, but think you will forgive me when
you know the purpose of my visit You
have seen Daisy, / understand, to-day. l
have not had that privilege myself want
you to tell me how the poor child Is,
Daisy's name acted as spell to save me
from the strange influence Of the man
@Yes," / replied, 81 have seen Daisy, Dr.
Branksome, Tut l can say nothing to you
about her."
He arched his eyebrows in mute surprise
II think you carry your resentment too far
/ admire it, but it is unjust
aHypocriteI" cried, my impetuous tenn
per once more breaking down all self-erected
barriers of prudence. 4Hypocrite and liar,
know you now. Why do you come to me
with your smiling face, and your simulated
tenderness for the girl whom you have made
your victinl-the girl whose very life You
have been ready to sacrifice to your devilish
plansl Go to somebody else, and smile. and
smile, and play the villain with them. Don't
ALL 7
aMr. Fenton," he said, rising to his feet, iii
grief has distempered your imagination you
ought at least be abe to put some check
upon your tongue when you receive gen.
tleman who has come to you in spirit Of
the purest friendship"
laughed bitterly. GFriendship, purity r.
cried. aDon't tell you, sir, that have
found you out-that I know now for what
purpose this sweet girl whom you have made
your unconscious tool, and whom you have
now abandoned to a shameful death, was
adopted by you, given name to which she
had no right, and palmed of upon man
with whom she had no relationship. know
it all, sir, and the meaning and end Of it all
Every thing has been done on grand scale,
confess Nobody thought that the magnin-
cent DR. Branksome was vulgar scoundrcl,
plotting by day and night to obtain possession
Of Mauleverer's millionsP
sAhl / see it allln he replied, in tones IN
which there was veiled irony, that found
IL very hard to bear. 4 thought that IL was
grief for Daisy that had turned your brain.
/ see now that you have been listening to the
slanders Of a convicted thief, discharged
servant a would-be assassin, and that, In
huenced by his malignant fables, you are
inclined to mourn rather Mr. Mauleverers
money than the fate Of his niece. II that be
so, Mr.. Fenton, must wish you good even-
ing. / can bear a great deal for Daisy's
sake, but decline TO keep any terms with a
man who really believes such ISLANDERS as
those which Gregson has impaired to you
He turned to go. A sudden thought struck
me- went forward and laid my hand upon
bis arm.
eaDr. Branksome,S said, trying to keep
down the surging emotion which seemed to
stihe my utterance, Il may have wronged
you. don't know All / know Is that You
are a wonderful man, and that, In spite OF
the hideous crimes of which cannot help
feeling that you are guilty. ! am drawn
towards you in a way that cannot explain,
even to myself Will you hear me when ]
cry to you for mercy for Dsisyl See, will
grovel at your feet If you will but promise
to save heri Take all the accursed money
that Mauleverer possessed, do with it what
you will, but save herl As you hope for
eternal happiness hereafters as you dread
the punishment VIII ch sooner or later falls
upon every wrong-doer, DO merciful, and let
th, poor child escape from the net that has
been woven around her
As live, when looked up into that hand
some face, / saw tears in the mans eyes.
Ny own were dim enough, but they were
not mistaken In what they told me they saw.
He grasped my hand with the warmth and
firmness of brothers greeting, and for
once his measured tones were broken as he
answered me.
aFenton, you are an honest man! Forgive
me If used rough language in now. On
my part forgive you ali ioicions OF
me- You shall hear from again, and
perhaps then you win not think 50 hardly Of
me as you do at present
His hand was on the door when he turned
and i'd: 81 think my memory is failing.
I had clean forgotten one OF the objects Of
my coming to see you 1t was to ask whether,
on the occasion of your visit to Great Lorton,
you by any chance took away with you a
small pocketbook belonging to me--a little
| diary in which / make memoranda. in short
hand, Of things which happen to interest
me, but which are Of no importance to any
body e,se.n
II he had put this question to me two min
utes before I should openly have exulted
over him. As 1t was, 80 great was the power
which this extraordinary man was able to
WELD over those around him, that an
/ swered him now in manner that might
| almost have led a bystander to imagine that
I regretted the fact which had to commu-
nicate TO him.
GYes," said gravely. II took possession
| Of the book you mention. | did not know
that it was yours; imagined that 1t be-
longed to Flinter. It Is not in my possession
now. Bielski, the detective whcm en-
ployed to discover Gregson, took 1t to Lon
don with him yesterday, and | received this
message from him to-day"
handed to Branksome the telegram which
announced that the secret of the cipher had
been discovered. he glanced at It, and as
be did so fancied that q slight pallor passed
over his face But he returned the paper tc
me with q steady hand, and 1t was In voice
which showed no traces even Of the emotion
be had displayed when be responded to my
appeal on behalf Of Daisy that be said:
at is curious that they should think they
have discovered my cipher. The very fact
that they talk Of the contents OF the book Al
important, tells me that they are utterly
wrong. But must not dstain you longer,
Mr. Fent0n. promise you that you shall
hear from me within ths next twenty-fouH
hours
In another moment he had silently quilted
the room.
The newspaper train,n AZ it Is called,
reaches York from London shortly before
ten in the morning. Il brought with II
BfelsIi, who had telegraphed to apprise me
| nf II. ....i.... a.,d -.ulsn.n 1 arcna.dir.nlu