The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-05-05
TOM
BRYSON'S CRIME.
By THE MAJOR"
CHAPTER TX
| rLs..l.E- Ell arH IL

galutation, az the youth came in with
Jcssica, whats this / hear? DO you
say You brought stranger here last
night"
yes, sir
What fOr?7
Hound him bewildered in the storm,
and wanting shelter This was the
nearest house; 30 ! brought him here.
Indeed And what the devil sent
you ont in the gtorml'
] was on my way here, sir
-Humphl Well, your vagabond,
whoever he was, never entered this
house. Dye hear, sir? We never saw
hIm at all. 2
The yonth was silent.
You hear me, Bryson went on, rails
ing his voice. do you believe what
gayf"
Why -ves-sir, since You say sol
And Miss Jeasica says the same thing"
of course she does. Well-where
dye think the man went2"
We had talk about going On TO the
village; he did not seem pleased TO
knock here, if / wouldn't come in with
him. / suppose he changed his mind,
and went on 70 the 7illage."
That's it, Byron eagerly exclaimed.
eve no doubt that explains it.
He waited for the visitor TO add
something to his statement. But moth
ing came.
30 far, so we'll. But there was one
question 10 be asked, the response to
which the questioner awaited with sick
ening surprise.
Did you tell anybody about meet
ing this man and bringing him here?'
"No, " was the answer, slowly deliv-
cred. Nobody"
Eyron's heart leaped mp.
What not personF"
no, sir. have talked with nobody
srnce, but my mother, and / didn't
speak Of it 10 her"
Bryson got mp and left the room
His steps took him almost mechanically
into the adjoining room, the scene Of
the previous nights horror. lie wart-
cd to be alone; he wanted to think.
great fear had been removed from
his breast with the knowledge that Ed
gar Van WICK alone, besides himself
and Jessica, knew that Mr. Belmont
had been near this house The simple
minded youth seemed TO believe the
assurance Of himself and his daughter,
that the man had not been inside the
house, that they led not seen him.
He must secure his silence. If his
lips could not be sealed as 10 his share
in the nights events, then, sooner or
later, his statement would point suspi-
cion, would lead discovery right here.
But how was his fidelity TO be
gained?
Bryson knew that he had no hold on
his affections. He had treated him with
the same rudeness that he had treated
everybody.
Should he frankly tell him the truth,
and throw himself on the boys mercy ?
Never That would be an expert
ment full Of risk. lie dared not try it,.
Could this youth be bribed2 Should
he tell him the CHASTITY truth and offer
him Thousand dollars to keep the
secret?
MOI Even should Edgar agree, the
mere possession of so much money by
him would be sure TO breed suspicion.
Byron was shrewd enough TO anticipate
the closest search and inquiry for the
missing man, and he knew that cleW
like this might be fatal.
There was another resource, to which
his mind swiftly turned. The youth
might be silenced as he had silenced
Mason Belmont.
Ayel-crime upon crime murder tc
conceal murder
He turned 1t over coolly in his mind
The thought gave him no shock; ht
was fast hardening. He rejected the
idea simply because of the double risL
that it would bring. The plan would
be more likely to disclose crime than &c
conceal it.
AZ he thus pondered in a kind o
restless frenzy. his ear was caught By
the murmur OF voices from the mex
room.
He put his eve to the crack in the
wall. lie saw the youth sitting 10y hi,
daughter, holding her hand. He was
speaking fast and eagerly. Her face
was turned away from him. The words
that the listener caught told him thai
Edgar was declaring his love to his
daughter.
Twenty-four hours earlier this dis
covery would have put Bryson in q
raging passion Now he caught 10Y.
iuIly at III, as a way oil safety. Pater'
nal love was cast aside; he saw in his
child only a means to secure hin,
against discovery.
He burst into the sitting-room. The
youth started up in confusion
Jess, he said. 81 have heard some
thing Of what this chap has been say
ing to you. Do you love him?"
why, father-l haven't thought o.
such things
Its time You did. You'll have IL
make choice sometime; if you choose
this Young fellow, it will please me
Now, sir, come along; I want to tall
with YOU.
He left the room. The astonishec
sutton fingered a moment, looking i'm,
plorlnglv at the girl. Her face wa,
resolutely turned away. He wruns
her hand, he kissed it, and exelaiming
Dear .Iessica" he followed her
father from the h0uaa