The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-05-10

So rs -
: CHAPTER xxII-(Contin.eaJ
y eYou, Norton, y she said, ..are skilled
IN the use OF poisons; give me some
thing that will enable me, IL driven to
bay, to escape contamination from the
hangman's hands"
The viscount sought by rldiculs to
dispel her fears, since those reasons
which had rendered them again hope
full had been lost on her. but Mrs.
Chesterton. continued still despairing.
And 80 the viscount brought from q
secret drawer and gave to Eugenin q
small phial which contained q few
drops of darkish liquid.
And holding up the phial, Mrs. Ches-
tertan said inqulringly:
II should not linger after this, to re-
cover, rs did Nicholas Shearman?"
NO." replied the ,viscount, ''its CT
fects are certain and instantaneous"
and his eyes flashing, his teeth set
hard. ''Oh, IL had but given Of that
to Nicholas Sherman, this moment
Of our danger had never arrived to US,
Eugenia."
Farewell, Norton" cried Mrs. Ches-
terton, as, about to leave. she stood
upon the threshold, and fixed q last
look on her accomplice.
"How readily you despair" said the
viscount. II do not the least doubt
that all will yet 60 well with u.s."
Mrs, ChestertOn shook her head des-
pondingly.
I'VE shall see each other no more,
Norton Sowerby; and would to heaven
we had never, met" o. -
The more the yiscount reflected the
more assured he became that the let
ter which he had lost would not rise
up In Judgment against him; every
chance, he considered, was now In his
favcr concerning that letter.
But that lie was still very far from
feeling perfectly secure must be well
understood.
And so, having thought deeply for
while, he came to the resolution to re-
tire into concealmcnt until certain
perfectly certain-that he could walk
abroad safe and unsupported.
Theodore alone should know his
hiding place; very simple invention
would furnish a satisfactory reason
to the young man for his fathers con-
cealmant, while on all necessary In
formation from Theodore, and on his
iny..s.able secrecy. the viscount would
be able to depend.
so he started up and proceeded, for
the second time that day, toward The
odore's study; md he had intended to
commence with the young man, by IN
forming him that Ills marriage with
Mrs. Chestcrton's daughter was, for
the present, ut all events, not to be
thought of.
Tint news would delight and rem
der Theodore pliable for that which
still he had to ask OF him.
Amazed was the viscOunt by the
trouble he saw in Theodore.
What was the cause Of the pallor he
l,el,eld? Had Theodore been taken
suddenly Ill?
Should his father summon some one
to his nssistanc?
No. Theodore hastily but family
said. only the viscount must listen TO
thnt which now his son was about TO
speak. ,. v,,,.4
can he have to soy to me? wondered
fine yiscount, as, with IN ominous tfep-
idntion. he seated himself, and pre-
pared to listen.
slowly ana solemnly now spoke The
cdore. 100. {,
"If Won had come q little sooner
ha shernn. ssyou would hive seen here
n yonng girl, clothed with mourning
and who was entreating Of me that
would Justify the memory OF her
father land Theodore's voice now raj
tered who died by the hands OF the
execntioner-of. her father, who was
innocent. and who was called Arnold
Lindsay" u.
"You have been deceived, Theo-
dore." the yiscount boldly said. "Ar-
mold Lindsay was unanimously con-
demned."
I. .Heayen's Justice alone is infalli-
ble." exclaimed Theodore. "The crime
attributed to Arnold Lindsay was the
infamous work Of three assassins;
one Of them expired last night, and
I was named Nicholas Sherman; the
second, already denounced to justice.
ia called Mrs. Chesterton; and the
1kird-nh * 80 }.-$ Ete
| And the young man paused.
.Well, the third?" and the viscount
was really trembling now.
And Theodore. looking full into his
fathers face, said, with strong EN-
phasis:
II know him."
"You know him, Theodore?'
"Yes: but at present I alone"
The viscount brenthed again; that
word "alone" had been as a heavy
weight lifted from OF his heart.
"BetrayIng the mission which has
been confided to me-" pursued Theo-
dore, 81 was about to seek that man
was about to say to him. Were you
a thousand times guilty my first duty
ia to save YOU One day yet remains
Ito you. Fly, father, fy!
The viscOunt desired to know II he
were really in danger, and 20 he said,
blusteringly: =.
s'You are perfectly delirious. Theo-
dore. What testimony, what proof
can they invoke against meY
1.-THE deposition Of Nicholas Shear.
man, MORALLY wounded last night by
1 one of his accOmplices."
s. "Is TINT all?" snecred the viscount
while his breast was swelling with
triumph.
"No, not all.- There is. besides q
letter stained with blood-n letter
which was lost by. the murderer and
4 which has been confided to me, and
of which the signature is-Nortou
Sowerby!"
The viscount ,sprang from his chair
the next moment to fall back into II
again, shlyering In every limb.
ut is not possible. Theodore" the
viscount stammered, feebly, that YOU
possess that letter."
And Theodore, walking to his bu
reau, and, pointing. to the lettcl
which he had placed there, said:s
"Bellold It,"
And then. another pause during
which the young man closed his eyes
striving to shut out the appalling I'M
age of his fathers guilt; while the
viscount, after q moments reflection
had grown calm again. 4 IS
"And now, father, you will depart
will you notY at length said Theo
dore. ss.%- - II!
And the viscount, very deliberatel,
rising from his chair. cried loudly
and with. all his natural audacity
mo. ! remainr' go y 80
"Reinainw exclaimed Theodore, II
great surprise. do you forget tina,
your life Is at stake?''
II have remembered" and the Wis
count smiled with satisfaction, "tha,
/ n k,Nv L.