Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-07-10
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
BIT HUGH CONWAY.
PART L
TOLD BIT PHILIP BRAND, IL n. LONDON
CHATTER TX. -CoNTISUED.

; "IIow did You come by thisY' he cried,
pointing to the silver ornament;
III tell you presently ST. do you recos'
81 gave II TO Miss Rowan myself"
Then we are on the right track" l cried,
1oytully go on, Mr. Sharpe"
'G es, gentlemen, We are certainly on the
right track; but after all, il isn't my fault II
the track don't lead exactly where you wish.
You see, when l heard OF this mysterious dis
appearance OF this lady, | began 10 concoct
my own theory. / said TO myself. when
young and beautiful"
'Confound your theoriesv' cried Carriston,
fercely. go on with your tale
The man gave his interrupter a spiteful
glance. We'll, sir" he said las you gave
me strict instructions to watch certain gem
tleman closely obeyed those instructions OF
course, although / knew was on fools
Grand"
Twill you go on?" cried Carriston. If
you know where Miss Rowan is, say SO:
your money will be paid you the moment
lind her"
Il don't say exactly know where to find
the lady, but can soon know if you wish me
to-"
Tell your tale your own way, but as short
~ as possible" i said, seeing that my eXclt-
able friend was preparing for another out
burst
Il found there was nothing to be gained by
keeping watch on the gentleman YOU men.
toned, sir so | went 10 Scotland and tried
back from there. AS soon as worked on
my own lay found ont all about 1t: The
lady went from Calendar 10 Edinburgh, from
Edinburgh 10 London, from London To t0lke-
stone, and from Folkestone To Boulong"
glanced at CaTriSton. All his calmness
seemed to have returned. He was leaning
against the Hantelpiece, 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 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
10 the lady you want, the matter is beyond
doubt"
OF course" said, seeing that Carriston
had no intention OF speaking Where did
you find IT,"
1T was left behind in a bedroom Of one OF
the principal hotels in Folkestone. / did go
over to BOuong, but after that | thought
had learnt all you would care 10 know"
There was something in the mans manner
which made me dread what was coming
Again looked at CaTiston. His lips were
curved with contempt but he still kept 81
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 Folkestone-whcre fOurd
the pin-alOne, nor She didn't go 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 OF mistaken,
this explanation of Machines disappearance
seemed to give Inc what can only compare
10 a smack in the face | stared at the speak
er in speeches. aStOnishment II the tale
he told 80 glibly and circunStantially was
true, farewell, so far as | was concerned, to
belief in the love or purity OF women. Made
line Rowan, that creature or 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. Caniston-or Carr, as she
only knew him-was in her eyes poor. The
companion OF her flight might have won her
with gold. Such things have been. Still
My rapid and wrongful medltations were
cut short in an unexpected way. Suddenly
saw Mr.. Sharpe dragged bodily out of h s
chair and thrown on the floor, whilst Carr s.
ton, standing over him, thrashed the III Il
vigorously with his own ash stick-a conven-
lent weapon, so convenient that | felt Mr..
Sharpe could not have selected stick more
appropriate for his own chastsement Sc
GARRISON seemed TO think, for he laid on
cheerfully some eight or ten good cutting
strokes
Nevertheless, being respectable doctor
and man of peace, was compelled to inter
fere. ] held CaTiston's arm whilst Mr..
Sharpe struggled TO his feet and after collect
Ing his hat and his pocketlook, stood glar
ing vengefully at his assailaat, and rubbing
the while such OF the weals on his back as he
could reach. Annoyed as | felt at the un.
professional frdcdS, could scarcely help
laughing al the mans appearance. | doubi
the possibility Of any one looking heroic aft
er such thrashing.
'Pll have the law for this" he growled
al amt paid to be beaten by a mailman"
You're paid TO do my work, not anoth-
er's" said CarristOn. Go 10 the man who
has over-brbed YOU and sent YOU 10 tell me
your lies. Go 10 him, tell him that once more
he has failed. Out of my sight
As Carrlston showed signs of recommend
ing hostile operations the man fled as far a.
the doorway. There being in comparative
you'll smart for this" he said; when
they lock you up as a raving lunatic I'll Try
and get post as keeper"
was glad TO see that GARRISON paid no at
tenton to this parting shaft. lie turned his
back ScOrnfully, and the fellow left the nom
and the house
Now are you convinced?' asked Ca,ris-
ton, turning 10 me.
Convinced of what? That his tale is nm
true, or that he has been misled, am quite
certain.
"Tush! That is not worth consideration.
Don't YOU see that Ralph has done all this?
! sat that man 10 watch him; he found out
the espionage; subomed my agent, or your
agent, should say; sent him here with a
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
i must own spoke with some hesitation.
Proof! a clever man like YOU ought 10
see ample proof in the fact of that wretch
having twice called me a mailman. | have
seen him but once before-you know il |
then gave him any grounds for making such
an assertion. Tell me, from whom could he
have learnt the word except from Ralph Car
ristOng'
was bound. If only to save my own Tcpu-
tation for Sagacity, Ia confess that the point
noted by Caniston had raised certain doubts
in my mind. But if Ralph CarriSton really
was trying 10y some tineiy-wrOught scheme 10
bring about what he desired. there was all
the more reason for great caution 10 be eXer-
csed.
Il am sorry you beat the fellow" said.
He Will now swear right and LETT that you
are not in your SENSES
'(lt course he will What do arpp'