The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-18
CHAPTER XIV.
MYSTERY AFTER MYSTERY.

knowing that any upset TO his or dis part
ners plans must be fatal to them.
The sight OF Leo, standing up calm anc
composed, treasured him a little, and, a
the next moment he was convinced that tn,
Rat at least had accomplished his trick anC
made good his escape, he really rose to tn,
occasion.
After all 1t did not matter II Leo wer
sent to prison that night or the next morn
ing; indeed, the earlier the better.
Excited by the encouragement Royal had
given him to drink rather more than wa
good for him of the port, Mr.. Havilaud for.
got the caution he had hitherto used fl
keeping the presence OF the money In the
house a secret, and, unheeding Leo's CLAIM
upon his attention, rushed to the secret cup
board, and found it-empty.
II was his turn to cry out then, anC
in a moment everything was in confusion
In vain Leo tried to be heard. He wa
silenced by an accusation which convince,
him for the second time in his life that b
was likely to suffer not little for his rash
ness in obeying blindly his impulse.
His blood was up, however, IN self~de'
Tense, and for the moment the knowledge Of
his hidden crime was nothing to the agony
of shame and terror which swept over him
at being openly and unjustly accused OF
one which was not only mean and petty, to
him the very dregs of dishonor but one of
which he was actually innocent. and into
the trap Of which he had been most cum
ningly and cruelty lured.
He saw it all In that moment. how every
point would tell against him, from bis ap-
peal to Royal for money to the very at
tempt he had made to leave the house be-
fore his duty was done.
Ha knew now what fool he had been TO
trust Royal, that TO him he owed his
TndUUdis tour. And turning on him would
have charged him with the plot, of
which the forged letter would be a proof,
he thought, and have feled him to the
ground, but that with his iron strength the
elder man seized his arm. whispering with a
show Of concern: There has been a mistake
] will put all right II you will trust to me-
But Leo had received too sharp lesson
70 trust further 10 fair sounding promises.
"You shall put 1t right now" he said ex-
citedly.
But Royal had not undertaken such a
dangerous game without good cards He
played his ace Of trumps at once. Drops
ping from his features their mask Of kindly
concern, he turned his glittering eyes upon
the lad with look in them which, even
more than his words, told OF his enmity and
his power.
"Defy me-" he said, in that same low. re-
vengeful whisper which had 80 struck ter
ror to his wife's heart; defy me, and the
whole truth shall be known
Leo shrank back as before blow, realiz-
ing to the full how skillfully he had been
trapped, how powerless he was to escape
from tue fate which he did not deserve, un-
less he faced real, far more terrible one.
Yet the very despair which filed his soul
would have driven him to desperation, to
avow all and suffer the consequences, but
for that new tie upon him, greater even
than the love and pity for his father whose
life and honor he had hitherto kept safe bv
bearing the burden of his unintentional
crime in silence
That new tie-the love of, and his love
for, the little blind girl.
II he gave up the struggle entirely, what
would become OF herg Left alone In her
helpleSsness in the world, nay worse, the
shadow on her life made darker even than
before by the knowledge of his blood-guilti-
ness and punishment, what would her life
bel
To recen all the Intoxicating Joy of that
one short hour of the strange wooiug, evory
detail of affection which it showed forth, so
dear 30 the heart which was sore and empty
to know that it was the first and last
meeting of love with love, was agony
enough; but to see with mental vision, such
as at times of great trouble is 30 powerfully
quickened, the darker picture or her lam
gushing day by day in her prison, until at
length death in mercy plucked from her
breast her broken heart, was anguish which
the young lover could not endure.
True, there was guilt enough in this
charge, but he could at least deny it TO her,
and she loved him enough to believe, to
wait patiently until he was free again Not
knowing the amount of the money he was
supposed to have stolen. nor yet the circum-
stances of it's being in trust, to say nothing
of the whole army of facts his utter ignor-
ance and simple story would build I'D
against him, he did not think of any great
punishment such as Royal counted upon
his receiving as an obstinate accomplice of
the Rats.
But in the other accusation, the true one,
what could he doc
For his fathers sake he could hide. av.
and II need be, deny his crime to ali the
world save her.
To her, his little blind love, who could
not read his guilt upon his face, who had
trusted him so completely, who loved him
30 dearly-to her he felt he could not lie.
And hard as must be the blow of this
false accusation and its consequences. what
would be the other, which was true as well as
infinitely more terrible9
The truth to Ter would be worse than
death. Her lover knew that, and the
strength which had been gathering within
him to urge him to make a stand against
his tormentor, seemed to fall away from
him.
Mute and motionless he stood, his head
fallen to his breast, mis- face white as death
in all, the very picture of guilt such as
Royal would have had him
AS one In dream he heard the confusion
and excitement growing around him. lie
knew instinctively that Royal was hurry
Ing on the whole matter in a way which
spoke OF inward fear. He felt that there
might be some clew to prove his innocence.
oid he but seek it, but be had power to do
notnlng but dream, as if he bad never
aWoKe IRON the terrors which had before
disturbed bis sleeping senses.
Inc awaktng this time came indeed with
the fall OF a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
the realizing that by his side stood the ofi-
Ger OF Justice, whose prisoner he would soon
be- VIVA
The thought for a moment shook his reso-
luton. he started and looked round wildly.
defiance Of Royal once again almost upon
his lips. NP'N
But once again he stayed. The two faces
on winch his eyes rested by turns, wore ex
presslons which once again and anallv
burned the scale. Royal contrived to awe
MIN with his look Of passionate deep-sek re-
Na aaN#