Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-10
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
Br HUGH CONWAY
PART I.
TOLD BIZ PHILIP BRAND, IL D.. LONDON.
CHAPTER TX. CONTINUED.

"How did you come by tnlsT no cried,
pointing to the silver ornament
"l'll tell you presently, sir. DO you recog-
nize it9'
II gave Il to Miss Rowan myself"
Then we are on the right track, cried,
1oytully. 'Go on, Mr.. Sharpe"
ny es, gentlemen, we are certainly on the
right track; bnt after all, it isn't my fault il
the track don't lead exactly where you wish.
Y GU see, when heard OF this mysterious dis
appearance OF this lady, L began to concoct
my own theory. said TO myself. when
young and beautiful"
"Confound your theoriesP' cried Carriston,
hercely. Go on with your tale"
The man gave his interupter splteful
glance. well, sir" he said, las you gave
me strict Instructions to watch certain gen.
tleman closely, obeyed those instructions, OF
course, although l knew was on FOOLS
Grand"
xviii you 90 onp' cried GARRISON. IF
you know where Miss Rowan is, say so:
your, money will be paid you the moment
Il don't say I exactly know where TO find
the. lady, but can soon know If you wish me
Tell your tale your own way, but as short
ly as possible" / said, seeing that my eXcit-
able friend was preparing for another out
burst.
II found there was nothing to be gained by
keeping watch on the gentleman you men:
toned, sir, so went to Scotland and tried
my own lay i found out all about 1t; The
lady went from Calendar to Edinburgh. from
Edinburgh to London, from London 10 Folke-
stone, and from FolkeStone 10 BOulong."
i glanced at Carriston. All his calmness
seemed to have returned. lie was leaning
against the mantelpiece, and appeared quite
unmoved by Mr. Shapes clear statement as
to the route Madeline had taken.
"Of course" continued Mr.. Sharpe, II was
not quite certain j was tracking the right
person, although her description correspond
ed with the likeness you gave me. But as
you are sure this article OF jewelry belonged
70 the lady you want the matter is beyond a
''Of course" said, seeing that Carriston
had no intention OF speaking. "Where did
you find it?''
ut was left behind, In bedroom of one of
the principal hotels in FolkestOne. l did so
over TO BOulong, but after that l thought l
had learnt all you weuld care to know"
There was something In the mans manner
which made me dread what was coming.
Again looked at Carriston. His lips were
curved with contempt but he still kept ST.
lence.
why not have pursued your inquiries past
| BoulOng% asked.
For this reason, sir ] had learnt enough.
| The theory had concocted was the right one
| after all The lady went To Edinburgh alone
right enough; but she didn't leave Edinburgh
alone, nor she didn't leave London alone nor
she didn't stay at F0lkestone-where fouEd
the pin-alOne, nor she didn't 90 10 Boulong
alone She was accompanied by young
gentleman who called himself Mr.. Smith;
and what's more, she called herself Mrs.
Smith. Perhaps she was, as they lived like
man and wife"
Whether the fellow was right or mistaken,
this explanation of Madeine's disappearance
seemed TO give Inc what can only compare
10 smack In the face. i stared at the speak
| er In specifies establishment Ii the tale
he told so glibly and clrcumstantially was
| true, farewell, so fur as ! was concerned to
| belief In the love or purity OF women. Made
| line Rowan. thai creature OF poets dream,
on the eve OF her marriage with Charles Car
riston to fly, whether wed or unwed mattered
little, with another mani And yet she was
but woman. Cari1ston-or Carr, Us she
only knew him-was in her eyes poor. The
Onlpanicu Of her flight might have won her
with gold. Such things have been. Still
My rapid and wrongful lneditations were
cut short in an unexpected way. Suddenly
saw Mr.. Sharpe dragged bodily out Of his
chair and thrown on the floor whilst Carr s.
ton, standing over him, thrashed the III
| vigorously with his own ash stick-a couven-
lent weapon, so convenient that felt Mr..
Sharpe could not have selected stick more
appropriate for his own chastlsement. Sc
GARRISON seemed TO think, for he laid on
cheerully some eight or ten good cutting
strokes
Nevertheless, being respectable doctor
and man Of peace, was compelled TO inter
Aa
Sharpe struggled to his feet, and after collect
lug his hat and his pOckettosk, stood gar.
lug vengefuliy al his assallaIt and rubbing
the while such Of the weals on his back as he
professional }rocas, l could scarcely helr
laughing at the mans appearance. ] doubi
the possibility Of any one looking heroic aft
er such q thrashing.
"Tll have the law for this" he grOwled
81 amt paid TO be beaten by mailman"
nj anOtl.
er's," said CarIiston. go to the man who
has oyer-bribed you and sent yeu 10 tell me
your Hes. Go to him, tell him that once more
he has failed. Out of my sight"
As Carriston showed signs OF recommenc
Ing hostile operations, the man fled as far as
the doorway. There, being In comparative
safety, he turned with a malignant look.
you'll smart for this" he said; when
They lock you up as raving lunatic I'll try
and get post as keeper"
was glad TO see that GARRISON paid no at
tenti0n to this parting shaft. He turned his
back scornfully, and the fellow left the nom
and the house.
Now are you convinced" asked CarTis-
Convinced of what? That his tale is UNI
true, or that he has been misled, l am quite
eerta n"
'Tushl That is not worth consideration:
Don't ven see that Ralph has done all this?
j sat that man to watch him; he found out
the espionage; subOmed my agent, or your
agent, should say; sent him here with
trumped-up tale Oh, yes; was to believe
that Madeline had deserted me-that was to
drive me out Of my senses. My cousin is
fool after ALL
without further proof cannot believe
that your suspicious are correct" said but
must ewn spoke with some hesitation.
"Proofl A clever man like you ought to
see ample proof in the fact of that wretch
having twice called me a mailman. l have
seen him but once before-you know ii |
then gave him any grounds for making such
an assertion. Tell me, from whom could no
have learnt the word except from Ralph Car
ristOnY'
was bound, If only to save my own repu-
taton for sagacity, TO confess that the point
noted by Carriston had raised certain doubts
In my mind. But If Ralph CarristOn really
was trying by some tney-wrOught scheme to
bring about what he desired, there was all
the more reason for great caution to be exer-
cised.
II am sorry you beat the fellow" said.
HE will now swear right and left that you
are not in your senses"
"Of course he will. What do care?"
only remember this. 1t Is easier to get put
into an asylum than to get out of il"
1T Is not so very easy for a sane man like
myself TO be put in, especially when he Is on
his guard have looked up the law. There
must be certificate signed by two doctors,
SuTgeOnS-Or. i believe. apOthpcariee will do