Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-01-06
The Sandycroft Mystery.
ny t. w. spEIGHr.
CHAPTER XIII-CoNrrNuED.

I 0AOo0 oO0s IsiAOh JOu 0Oh hAOoh
TO imply Then his voice failed
him. and he sat staring at his sister.
his eyes dilated with horror 1t was
quite evident TO both the women that
not till that moment had any possible
connection between himself and the
murder suggested itself to his mind.
Il mean simply nothing " answered
Emma. Il only want you TO look
facts in the face. You go back to the
Croft unknown to anyone $50 far as
you are aware). save Lord Senlac. The
letter you want to recover is in the
smoking room, the readiest way TO
which-especially if you wish not to
be seen by any OF the households
through the conservatory. At that
time Captain Darvill was alone in the
room. You and he must have met
What passed between you is best
known to yourself Half an hour later
you are back at the station with a
wound on your forehead, which you
account for on the score o. an acct
dent"
Ivor sprang TO his feet; but Emma
held up her hand, aud he read some
thing in her face which induced him
10 sit down again without speaking.
lis it not possible-mind. in this
am simply asking aouestion-is it not
/ possible, | say that By some means to
us unknown Roden Bosworth may
have become aware OF your visit to
the smoking room. so that. when Cap
tain Darvilrs body was found he may
have drawn the inference that his
death was the result OF some quarrel
between you and him. and rather
than allow the crime TO fix itself on
I you may he not have taken it and all
! its consequences OF his own snoui
ders? OF such an action. QuiXotic
as 1T may seem to some people, be-
lieve Roden Bosworth TO be fully
/ capable"
lvor sat and stared at her in speech
less amazement. For moment his
brain was dazzled and could compre-
bend nothing clearly in the intensely
vivid light which his sister, words
had thrown on the mystery OF OAR
Wills death.
Emma turned to Mrs Eosworth.
You are his mother she
said; ''he may have told you that
which he has kept from every one
else Here in my brothers presence,
/ ask you was it for his sake that
your son took on himself the crime Of
which the world adjudges him to be
guiltyP"
lit was for the sake of Mr. Ivor
Penleath that my son did what he
did"
',Ahw exclaimed Emma. softly. with
an in-drawing OF her breath. while
her face lighted up as with a sudden
burst Of sunlight Then / was not
mistaken in him!'
land do you mean TO say that
Roden Bosworth did this thing COR my
sake?" demanded Ivor, his face a
study OF combined amazement and
perplexity.
And for my sake perhaps a lit
tie " whispered Emma to herself.
For your sake. Mr.. Ivor," came
in grave assent from the mother.
Its the most utterly astonishing
thing l ever heard of. J." lie rose,
crossed to the window. stood there for
few moments and then went back
TO his chair.
But" he went on. Il am still at a
loss to understand what it was that
induced Bosworth to believe that it
was at my hand Darvill had come to
his death. and that by drawing sus-
] picion on himself he would be the
means OF diverting it from me-"
Emma turned inquiring eyes upon
! Mrs. Bosworth.
Il will tell you all / know OF the
affair exactly as my son told me :"
responded the latter. but first OF
all must remark that the particulars
j am about to relate only became
known to me about week before
! left England. Previously to that
time all knew was that Roden had
allowed himself. Tor reasons Of his
own to be charged with crime Of
which he was wholly gulltless; and
with that knowledge | was obliged to
rest satisfied.
Il am not worthy of il, Mrs. Bos-
worth. cried Ivor passionately. the
moment she had come to the end OF
her narrative mo. 10y heaven.
am not worthy OF such sacrifice on
the part of any onep' Never in his
life had he been so moved,
AS for Miss Penleath, she flung her
arms around the elder woman's neck
and kissed her again and again. wind
ing up by bursting into passion OF
tears 1t was strange proceeding
on the part of the young lady who. as
rule. was a contemner OF tears and
averse from sentimental displays OF
any kind.
TO all appearance Mrs. Bosworth
was the most unmoved of the three.
For a little while 10 one spoke
then Ivor cleared his voice and said:
Evidently 1t now devolveS on me TO
relate what passed between myself
and Darvill on the night OF his death.
AS remarked before after reaching
the station i discovered that | had
lett behind me private letter Of
much importance, together with q
miniature in case" Here his
swarthy cheek flushed FOR moment
Not caring to be seen after | had
hidden everybody good-by which
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