Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-11-20

years and years ago., made over to three
trustees the sum of seventy thousand
pounds consols for the benefit of his
grandniece, Violet Mowbray."
linen followed IN animated conversa-
ton. The Doctor briefly narrated the
salient features of the finding of the pre-
cious document. while Mr.. Marsh on ex-
animation vouched for the g%enuineness
OF the signature of the old Indian general
long dead.
This must have been %stolen,'' said the
dry-salter. The medical magistrate had
no doubt of that. Papers and memoran-
da mad been found proving Rufus Crouch
To nave been head clerk at u West-coun-
try solicitors, one Lawyer Bowman,
whose name hanced to be familiar to
Lord Wyvern.
Il knew him perfectly" said the Earl,
and L have heard that before he died,
with very enfeebled faculties and almost
complete loss of memory. a rascnlly clerk
mad robbed him IL abscondcd. 1t was
a singular coincidence. too, that General
1orke should not have survived the sign
ing of this deed by Il month";"
AT any rate" rcjoined Mr.. Marsh, "wp.
may congratulate Miss Mowbray on her
good fortune"
'"AS NoAio Lot IcpCCSS IL sou. Inc
money brought no comfort to her; it was
the golden bar to keep her and Don apart.
But said DIR. Leader, seriously, my
duty as IL magistrate is not vet discharw-
ed. L have another errand of IL more
painful nature. l intended, my lord, to
have gone up to Thorsdale, but finding
your lordship here, l must request the
favor of u few minutes private CONVEX.
sation."
Conducted by the wondering rector into
the comfortable dining-room of the par
sonage, DIR. Leader made haste to lay
before the Earl the proofs of Sir Richard
Mortmain's guilt. There was n CODY of
Crouch's sworn deposition ut Lawyer
Sturts office. There were found beneath
the hearthstone in the lead mans miser-
able nut Sir Richards treasured letters,
penned at Mortmain, to conciliatc the
goodwill of his offended plebeian accom-
pllce. There were also the rough copies
of the forged check for five hundred
pounds, the imitation of Lord Wyvern's
signature having in each instance been
deemed too faulty to pass muster at the
Threddleston and County Bank. Never
was more convincing documentary owl
dence brought together.
II am sorry for this said the Earl.
thoughtfully. 81 thank you, DIR. Leader,
for the delicacy and kind feeling with
which you have acted in this distressing
affair. If You will allow me, 1 should like
to ave a few days to reflect. 1 will write
to you, certainly, but I should prefer n
short delay"
The Earl went back to the drawing
room, but there was IL cloud on his brow,
and he seemed strangely preoccupied;
and as soon as courtesy permitted he took
his leave. SO soon as the carriage which
had brought him from Thorsdalc Park
was clear of the parsonage grounds. the
Earl gave the order, ''To Helston-to Sir
Richard Mortmain's. l wish to call there
on my way back"
Earl Wyvern, conducted into the pres
ence of the baronet, bent his head slight
ly, but stretched out no hand to take the
white and jeweled one which the master
of Mortmain held out to him. He de-
clined, too, to be seated.
II am here" said the Earl, in his stern
est tone and with his coolest manner, "to
give you a warning, Sir Richard. 1t may
seem strange to you, perhaps, that such
a warning should come to the forger from
the man whom he has robbed, but"
MY lord, this language must be ac-
counted for!' interrupted the baronet, as
a patch of red mounted to his pallid
cheek.
The Earl eyed him with naughty scorn.
81 shall account for it," he said, severely,
"before n proper tribunal, if necessary.
Let me tell you, before you attempt to
cloak your guilt by denial or buster, that
your a%ccomplice, the fellow Crouch, has
denounced you. Let me tell you, too.
that within the space of one short hour 1
have had before my eyes the proofs-the
absolute proofs-that Captain Richard
Mortnain, the son of my best and oldest
friend, wrote my fictitious signature to
the forged check for which, at the Tired
dleston Bank, Crouch received five hun
bred pounds"
This was terribly plain speaking. Sir
Richard, CHASTITY in his pallor, clutched
at the table near him for support, and
seemed as if about to faint.
"Mine," continued Lord Wyvern, sis an
errand of mercy, not of vengeance. MY
request for delay has only put off the evil
hour of your arrest and trial. Take my
advice. and fly; and in some distant coun-
try repent, if you can."
II thank you from my heart-I will 60"
stammered out the baronet, feebly.
II think your master is ill.," said Lord
Wyvern to the Mortmain servant who
was ready to open the hall door for his
exit. And then. re-entering the carriage,
he went back to Thorsdale Park,
CHAPTER XXXIv.
Thrales Maple. which lies on the York
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