, 1889-05-02


come to the conclusion that il would be
simply useless to worry himself into
luuatic asy lUm, or even into his grave, by
frctting about it.
So you may believe after Tommy had
arrived at this decision, that it was not
very long before he took to the old ways
and the pretty drawing rooms of the
pretty women in Blankhampton knew him
Us of yore.
With regard to the young lady at the
Ducks Tail at WalmsbUry 1t can only be
said that Tommy had already come 10
look upon the recent events Of the past as
= distinct Intervention Of Providence 10
save him from the consequences of the
duh and dreary life into which he had
been mercilessly thrust And the odd
part of it all was that he Lad meant sCri
oUsly enough to marry her, TO make her
the mistress OF Earlcs Hope. and the pos
sib!e mother OF the EarIcs TO come
Well, that had been an escape for
which lie could never been sufficiently
Eratefui-ncycr; and. although he had no
doubt that she could, if she chose, make
herself uncommo'l- disagreeablc. that
sort oi person IS always open to being
squared, and happily lie would always
have the power to settle matters with her
in that way,
So when Beautiful Jim. in great disap
Tr.IT."Et and yet not wholly sad, went
back 70 B!ankhamptCI, lie found young
Tommy once more in tho full swing OF 50
'.-i popularity. just the spoiled pct lac
.-f. been aforetimc; and after the first
~ = cf disgusted surprise, Jim promptly
went FOR him.
"-3y the bye, Earle, want to speak to
yoH- he said to him the day after his re
turn from town.
"All right" returned Tommy. will
you como to my room or shall come to
yours?'
You can come to NINE" said Jim,
shortly
So to Jim's room they went, and its
| owner turned the key in the lock so as to
secure them from interruption.
Just at first Tommy tried on the old air
| of jaunty equality. We'll. he said set
Ting himself in the most comfortable
chair that the room contained. Il suppose
you've nothing especially pleasant to say
| to me, eli? | don't expect it in the least.
so I'm prepared"
That as well" said Jim, shortly. not
| looking at Tommy at all, but at the pipo
he was filing, for what I've got to say
you'll find dcvilish Unpleasant-l should.
| at least You probably don't know why ]
went up to town"
Not in the least. except for the usual
| thing" returned Tommy, trying hard TO
| keep cool and unconccrned, and only sue
| ceeding in looking thoroughly i'll at ease.
"Ahl Thought So" said Jim, drawing
hard at his pipe. well, didn't happen
| to go for the usual thing at all. ] went to
| ask vOur siStor tn r'"""'' ''.H "
| FOR moment young Tommy simply
| gasPed; all the last of the Earles pride
| seemed to stiffen him anJ mingled with
| it was a curious contempt that any fellow
| should be thinking seriously of marrying
| his sister Then tho advantages of the
| connection Hooded in upon him, and he
made haste to reply:
| "H'm-wcll. | can't understand any
fellow wanting to marry Nancy, though
| she's pretty and good. and all that. How
ever, I'm sure hope she accepted you"
"I quite admit your sisters inferiority
to the young lady at the Ducks Tail
said Jim, brusqucly; but you sec you
| were beforehand with me there. How
ever, your sister did accept me"
I'm awfully glad-let me congratulate
you, old shap," cried Tommy, effusively
holding out his hand. And when is it
| to be?7
when am free from any fear of being
| charged with Ovens murder" replied
jim, coldly, and taking no notice of the
| outstrctchcd hand
Tommy sunk back into the big arm
| chair again,
What do you want mo to dor" he
| asked. growing white with fear.
| Nothing" jim returned For ray
| self, don't know that | should have told
| you about it at present, only your sister
charged me with message for you"
Yes" said Tommy. breathing more
| freely. And it waS"-
About this business | had to tell
her. you know. said Jim. looking straight
| at him.
All the fear came back into the lad ]
| eyes again. You told her-Nancy!" he
/ gasPed Good Godl You must have been
madI'
Il don't think so" said Jim, icily
And would leave that name out of the
question if ! were yOu-it doesn't sound
well Well, as TO telling your sister, as
! q matter of fact. ! did not tell her-she
found it out"
"uow?" Tommy hardly spoke above n
whisper. and his heart began to beat SO
fast that ho was nearly sufT0cated
well. naturally told her that was
not the man who murdered Owen"
"Well?"
And then she expressed great anxiety
lest | might fall under suspicion again
So, in order to reassure her. and not in
any way to let light in upon You. | told
her that could safely establish nv limo
cenco at any time Naturally she pressed
me to do so at once particularly as your
father. although he believes in me him
self, will not consent to- our marriage
until all fear of my danger is at an end
and then | had TO tell her that, for the
IL, =,
to keep silence She did not see it.
''Ah. girls arc so beastly SELFISH
Tommy broke in. Its the WY they're
brought up"
Perhaps So" said Jim. dryly. How
ever. she did not see it. and even went SO
far as to say that sho should toll your
father and get the mystery cleared up
somehow; and then had to say that /
would not have your father know it for
any consideration, and she guessed.
There was q long and death like silence.
but at last Tommy looked UP. And
what is she going to do?" ho asked
''Nothing" returned Jim. ''She is go
ing to wait But she charged me TO tell
you that sho forbears only for your
fathers sake; that she has neither pity
nor mercy for you; that. but for him. She
would willingly deliver you up TO Justice
| far as is necessary TO blind your father.
she will be to you as she was before. but
DO further That if you at any time di,
the rmallcst thing that she disapproYes
she will go TO your father ut once and tell
him everything: and she told me to re-
min5 you that she is bound by no promise
to shield you. and has no reason for con
cealment."
For somo time Tommy sat staring into
the fire place blankly, trying hard to re.
cover from the blow which Beautiful
Jim's words had dealt him. but at last he
looked up.
Am to spend the rest of my life In
purgatory under Nancy's thumb?" he
asked, hOarsely.
I'm afraid that's about IT," returned
Jim, stolidly.
But l tell you it was an accident, a
pure accident. he persisted, miserably.
"0hl yes. of course; most murders
are, replied Jim, quietly. at couldn't
be YOUR fault for pitching a seven pound