Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-08
CHAPTER XIV.
PrTMEEN TIE ID.

BETWEEN TIE DARK AND DAWN.
Mr. Moore had not far TO ride ere he met
Mr.. Hugh Brandrcth riding towards him.
The first glance assured him that rs far as
Basil was concerned he had nothing to tell.
Mr.. Moore" said the happy father with
face beaming give me JOY"
"You have not seen BasilP' sad the
father.
mo; but he is coming, and although the
mystery of his absence puzzles me not a lit
Tie, care nothing for it. Suffice 1t TO zee
that my boy liyes.'
At is curious affair altogether" return
ed Mr. Moore. WHO can be at the bottom
OF it?'
"The bottom Is not TO be found in the man
vino died in yon church tower" said Mr.
Brandreth. He was only the tool. We
must find the principal"
"Well spoken; we must find the principal.
But how? The police have been working
for many weeks and found nothing"
1.-THE police have theories, and work up
to them first. 1t takes q deal to put them
on the right scent"
What is your theory"
al have none, Mr.. Moore"
''Nor |, unless it is a woman. You see
Brandreth, that Basil is only mortal like
ourselves and we in our youth were not
absolutely free from indscretlon. lie may
have had lidson."
~ don't think So replied Mr.. Brandreth
'Basil is not q milksop, but, for man, he
he'd very fixed ideas Of purity. He argued
that we are unjust in casting a siaful wo-
man out while we hail sinful man as
brother"
1T does seem unjust" replied Mr.. Moore;
but there is per contra view of the mat
ter. yirtuous woman holds a higher posi-
ton than good man. Everything con-
nected with woman is extreme"
Just So"
well, Brandreth, what do you say 10
staying with us until your son arrives"
II was really coming to thrust myself up
on you. had letter from Basil this morn
Ing as you may guess, and in il he tells me
that he should like 10 meet Ruth and myself
at the same time. l took the hint, and came
to ask you to take me i'm
They rode back together, and long and
earnest was the discussion that ensued be-
tween the elders.
Basil distinctly stated in his letter that no
steps to unearth the principal offender were
to be taken until his return, and this was
somewhat perpleXing.
Il am fairly burning to get at the root OF
the matter" said Mr.. Brandreth, and Mr..
Moore expressed similar desire.
Kendall was on his way back. and was ex-
pected about the same time as Basil, earicr
In the day perhaps. but not before the thr-
teenth of the month. The coincidence Of
the impending arrivals appeared very re-
markable, but on the whole satisfactory.
Only Vida felt the shadow Of the coming
time. To her in any case it could bring
naught but darkness. She must commit au-
other crime or bear with the spectacle of the
happy lovers together. And that she could
not do.
II should 20 mad,r she said, land N
frenzy do something to lay the past bare.
Co mad !-horribe thought land be put in
to madhouse, and be shut out from the
| ght and reason ever more. No, death rath-
err"
At dinner she had to listen to TIE Joyous
talk Of others, and join in occasl tnally. BIT
she did 1t in a half-hearted fashion that
drew Mr.. Brandreih's attention, and two Cr
three times she found him looking at her
curiously.
His eyes were keen, with an analysing
light In their depths that alarmed her, and
she was thankful when Mrs. Moore rose and
gave the signal for the ladies to retire.
In the drawng-room she was easier. Mr..
Brandreth did not look ut her earnestly an"
more. but was pleasant and chatty.
lie asked her to sing, and turned over her
music for her, "in the absence OF younger
knight" he said, "but by-and-by ono may
come to YOU"
Never" she answered with a fierce ligh'
In her eyes; I'll am doomed to a single life
while / live
lie stood just little behind her, and
glancng down at the fair head and neck,
saw that her bosom was throbbing wildly.
His brows bent, and he became thoughtful
again.
Did he read her secret then? Thinking II
over afterwards he was not quite sure, but
certainly he seemed to he looking at more
of the inDw woman than ever he had dou'
before.