Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-11-17
er,o In oontoct with himl / cannot tell.

sion, but 1 think you will forgive me when
you know the purpose OF my visit YOU
have seen Daisy, understand, to-day. :!
have not had that privilege myself. l 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.
aYes," replied, ~ have seen Daisy, DR.:
Branksome, lut l can say nothing to you
about her."
He arched his eye brows in mute surprise
~ think you carry your resentment too tar.
admire it, but it is unjust"
aHypocriteT cried, my impetuous tenn,
per once moro breaking down all self-erected
barriers of prudence. "Hypocrite 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 vic,im-the girl whose very life you
have been ready to sacrifice to your deViiisn
plansl Go to somebody else. and smile. and
smile, aud play the villain with them Don't
come to ME. tell you, know you" "
@Mr. Fenton," he said, rising to his feet, III
grief has distempered your imagination you
ought at least be able to put some check
upon your tongue when you receive gen.
tleman who has come to you in spirit OF
the purest friendship"
lau he'd bitterly. Friendship, purity"
cried. Don't tell you, sir. that have
found YOU cut-that know now for what
purpose this sweet girl whom you have made
your uncons cious too, and whom you have
now abandoned to a shameful death, was
edopted by you, given a name to which she
had no right, and palmed off upon man
with whom she had no relationship. l know
it all, sir, and the meaning and end Of it all.
Everything has been done on grand scale,
confess Nobody thought that the magnid-
cent DR.. Branksome was vulgar scoundrel,
plotting by day and night to obtain possession
Of Mauleverer's millions"
"Ahl I see it ALL" he replied. in tones in
which there was veiled irony, that found
it very hard to bear. II thought that it was
grief for Daisy that had turned your brain.
see now that you have been. listening to tho
SANDERS of a convicted thief, discharged
servant. a would-be assassin, and that, in
fiuenced by his malignant fables, you are
inclined to mourn rather Mr.. Mauleverer's
money than the fate Of his niece. II that be
SO, Mr.. Fenton, must wish you good even
ing. I can bear great deal for Daisy's
sake, but decline to keep any terms with
man who really believes such ISLANDERS as
those which Gregson has impaired to you !"
He turned to 60 A sudden thought struck
me. went forward and laid my hand upon
his arm.
aDr Branksome, I said, trying to keep
down the surging emotion which seemed to
stifle nv utterance, II may have wronged
Won. don't know. All know is that you
are a wonderful man, and that, in spite OF
the hideous crimes OF which I cannot help
feeling that you are guilty, am drawn
towards you in a way that I cannot explain.
even to myself. Will you hear me when
cry to you for mercy for Daisyl See, ] will
proyel at your feet if you will but promise
to save her! Take all the accursed money
that Mauleverer possessed, do with it what
you will, but save her! As you hope for
eternal happiness hereafter, as you dread
the punishment VIII 'ch sooner or later falls
upon every wrong-doer, be merciful, and let
the Door child escape from the net that has
been woven around her."
As I live, when looked up into that hand
some face, 1 saw tears in the mans eyes.
My 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 be
answered me.
@Fenton, you are an honest man! Forgive
me if used rough language just now. On
my part forgive you all your suspicious Of
me. You. shall hear from me again, and
perhaps then you will not think so hardly of
me as you do at present"
His hand was on the door when he turned
and said: ~ 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 Else"
II be had put this question to me two min
utes before I should openly have exulted
over him. As it was, so great was the power
which this extraordinary man was able to
WELD over those around him. that an.
swered him now in a manner that might
almost have led bystander to imagine that
l regretted the fact which had to commu.
nicate to him.
"Yes," said gravely 81 took possession
Of the beck you mention. I did not know
that it was yours; imagined that it be-
loDged to Flinter. 1t is not in my possessio:
DOW. Bielski. the detective whom l EN-.
pioyed to discover Gregson. took it to Lon
don with him yesterday, and ] received this
message from him to-day"
banded to Branksome the telegram whico
announced that the secret Of the cipher had
been discovered. He glanced at it. and as
he did so fancied that slight pallor passed
over his face. But he returned the paper TO
me with steady hand, and it was in voice
which showed no traces even Of the emotion
be had displayed when he responded to my
appeal OH behalf Of Daisy that he 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 as
important, tells me that they are utterly
wrong But l must not detain you longer,
Mr.. Fenton. I promise you that you shall
bear from me within the next twenty-four
bours."
In another moment he had silently quilted
the room.
The newspaper train" as it is called,
reaches York from London shortly before
ten in the morning. 1t brought with 1t
Bielski, who had telegraphed to apprise me
of his coming, and whom I accordingly
awaited on the platform. The detective
locke somewhat haggard and excited when
he greeted me.
"Mr. Harding herea" he said. II AM glad
Of it. Iwant you both. Ihave something
very important to lay before you"
We hurried to my room, where Harding
awaited US Breakfast was on the table; but
Bielski seemed little disposed to eat or drink
until he made his great communication to
US The instant the waiter had left the room
he addressed U.s.
@Gentlemen, it is all right. The young
lady is as innocent as dove, and in forty
eight hours she'll be as free as we are. You
were right, Mr.. Fenton. in your guess at the
way 1t was done; and now can prove it."
What was 1t that made the little detective,
with his shrewd, keen face, stop suddenly in
the middle Of what was evidently meant
to be a long haranguel 1t was simply the
sudden springing to his feet OF Harding.
whose hands the next moment held mine.
and were violently shaking them, while,
with voice curiously unlike his usual one.
be gasped out: "Old fellow-so glad-God
bless your
And II But shall not weary the reader
with any analysis Of my emotions. 1t was
a dark December morning; ah, how unlike
that bright Simmer weather in which Daisy
and had first met and learned to love each
other! But when these words fell from the
detectives lips. the summer sun shone ou'
again, and the birds sang in my heart. and
the very heavens seemed 10 be opened above