The Red Cloud chief., 1896-01-17
II DROPS IN.
CHAPTER NV.

half avcrtcd face upon the other, now
standing erect. truth dclineatcd upon
his carcworn face, with II out
stretched arm. with an open hand
raised toward the ceiling, calling
upon God to witness his p~rotestation
Of innocence.
The brain of the younger brother is
sorely pcrplcXcd. lie does not know
what to think. Is ms brother inno-
cent of crime save that of claiming
the child of his servant as his own,
disowning his " offspring, or is he
acting-playing II deep part?
He breaks the silence. now growing
oppressive.
And this note. book" he says, ''you
say you have not got it?'
NO, ] never saw il after the doctor
left my house"
Then where is it,
THAT is the only thing that worries
me now. | know You will keep my
secret, you will not ruin me, forl shall
move heaven and earth TO save You.
| shall engage the best detective scrv-
ice in New York and Philadelphia.
I0u shall be liberated. But that book.
tod only knows where il il. into whose
hands il has fallen. Thinking you
had it | felt but little alarm, but now
/ trcmblc to think of il. II may
turn up, at some unexpected time, at
some critical moment and ruin al!
His anxiety seems genuine. The
brother begins to believe him inno-
cent.
If shall not mention what ] know
My suspicious, now weakened, shall be
kept locked in nv bosom. ] heard this
morning hat our aunt had died. You
are now hen at the point of receiving
hat fortune for which you have
plotted. Use II portion of it. Adrian,
To- prove me innocent. | shall remain
silent. trusting in you. Remember,
this crime has brought MS closer to-
gcther than we have been in gears.
DO not forget again that we are
brothers." lie puts out his hand;
Adrian Dyke clasps it.
For n second they stand, hand in
hand; then the elder brother turns tn
go. At the door he stops and returns.
There i much of mystery
about this affair, she says in Il low
tone; lone thing in particular which is
not easy of explanation, who was the
burglar who broke into my house, and
after robbing me. left mis- plumber in
the recess of the window? This mys-
titiss me-"
depend upon it. it was not /. You
do not have any such idea
NO, ! believe you entirely innocent,
Franklin. | suppose | shall have to
put it into Il detectives hands. 1t
must he unravcll,d. lie stops n mo
mrnt, thinks. and then putting out
his hand again says, "Oncc more
brother. good bye" The hands meet
again: they are warmly claspcd and
shaken, then Adrian Dyke summons
the sheriff, and leaves his brother
standing alone in the center of the
apartment. bcwildcrcd. COMPOUNDED.
The sheriff sees his visitor to the
door, and returns to his prisoner.
''Tinglc tanglr.' sounds the bell.
Another visitor. Silas Watson hur-
rics back To the front entrance.
Franklin hears the door open again.
hears q voice say. Il must see him for
a few minutes and knowsthat Takcr
is at the entrance.
In II minute he enters the room fol-
lowed by Silas Watson. upon whose
face anxiety and doubt is d splaycd.
You need not worry. Mr.. Watson.
7 am an officer of the law, your pris-
oncr is safe with me. It is q matter
OF vital Importance | wish TO speak 20
him upon. | only ask ten minutes"
NtTN RpOlt, SII' why NpN hhoN !
must be kcerful. There is lots of
people who would like my place.
Don't you worry. you're all rigf /
now leave us alone for ten minutes"
and he actually hustlcs the sheriff out
of the room. Then closing the door,
he turns to the young man and says
1,ietly:
5 he came, did hs?"
"W.lo?"
Your brother"
'Oh. yes, he visited me-"
Il knew il. | passed him upon 10
street. | wish | could have overheard
kat interview, for suppose you had
ZONE conversation.
''Why do YOU wish you could have
overheard it,
II should have found out what you
are holding from me-.
Franklin Dyke starts.
What makes you think ] am hold
ing something from you?'
II don't think, | know you are, If
not, why did You write your brother
Yesterday, telling him that it vas to
his interest to call upon you. why did
YOU recall to his mind the common law
of nature, look out for number one
ch?" and Takcr looks sharply into the
young mans face. Franklin Dyke
docs not move.
suppose | were to say ! never wrote
any such thing?' he says.
But yoL won't say it, my boy; ii
/. you did ! should say, you lie"
" The young man tlushcs.
b do not So far take advantage of our
? friendship as To say that, Tnkcr," he
= ,ries.
,'Don't get hufy. Come, you did
|fWSitc that. ] was at your brothers
y house yesterday. ! saw the note, read
: II, while Adrian Dyke was in the hall
,alking to young Watson, the SheriH's
SON, who delivered IL. Now what are
| You trying TO keep from me? Why
was it To your brothers interest to
'hrp IN appointment with you, and
-. w has he said"'
a. tiour questions are numerous. |
No. admit ! sent a note to Adrian. lie
>" and upon me-, has just left me. More
N M this ] cannot say.
dALeaning you will not Hum. ron
his c. Nc TO let me work in the dark,