The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-14

fear is that in the frenzy III which she
must have acted she would be utterly
needless of anything and anybody and
not give O thought to the question
whether she was seen or not. But that
is not the point now. am mad with
myself for ever having brought your
name into this most miserable affair.
The thing has been bruited all over the
kingdom now, and to draw back seems
as difficult as to go on."
"Why not go through with it?" asked
Beryl firmly.
Because we cannot. 1t Is q sheer
impossibility. So long as there was no
question asked and the weapons re-
manned to speak for themselves there
was no serious responsibility. Heaven
knows had no intention of doing any
thing wrong. I know your object,
Beryl, we'll enough, and l cannot tell
you how inexpressibly grateful I am to
you for it, but we have been wrong.
We have tried to set the honor Of our
family before the truth, and now We see
the result. have tried TO shield my
poor, misguided wife, and I've sacrificed
you instead. I've been miserably selfish
Just when ought to have been most
careful to guard you.
81 think you blame yourself without
cause, Jaffray. am not one bit ashamed
of what have done. would stand up
tomorrow in the face of all England and
tell what / did, and, what is more,
10 nd 7
don't believe the bulk of people would
blame me. If they did, should not
care" she added, flushing in her enthu-
siasm, "if had helped you"
Spoken like my dear, dear old friend
and playmate, Beryl," he said, taking
her hand and pressing it. "You brace
ones faith in human nature, and be-
lieve with you that the world would
not blame you for what has happened,
but that would only make my RESPONSE
bility the greater. But now there is no
use in regretting. must find out what
we can do.
"Do you think really that Mr.. Bor-
derham has had that letter?''
"Unquestionably / do, and, what is
more, he means us to understand that
he will act upon it if make it neces-
sary for him. will 60 to the inquest
and hear what transpires, and then /
will have talk with Clifford. l must
speak plainly to him."
"He knows" said Beryl.
How do you mean?" asked the bar.
onet quickly.
Beryl told him what Mr.. Clifford had
said to her about the absence of dust on
the dagger and the> significant way he
had spoken.
Sir Jaffray listened with a gathering
frown of regret and annoyance.
Borderham may have suspected it
even then," he said. "Those men don't
carry about faces like open books. I'll
speak to Clifford and see what happens
at the inquest. Meantime try to think I
am really and honestly troubled to have
brought this ON you. -
He stood for q moment near her, as
if going to say more, and Beryl, think
ing this, did not reply, but he said
nothing. and at the close Of somewhat
embarrassed pause he went out of the
room, just turning by the door to smile
to her.
She was little puzzled by his con-
duct, and with frown of perplexity on
her forehead she sat for minute or
two thinking of it all. Then she smiled
to herself very slightly and murmured:
"I'm glad did it. Whatever happens
they can't do anything very dreadful to
me, and Jaffray must see did it for his
sake. b." Then she went up stairs to Lady
Walcote's rooms.
AT the inquest everything went as
Inspector Borderham had anticipated.
He offered just such evidence as he
thought necessary, and the coroner
summed up the case on the evidence
presented. One iuryman was disposed
to question the desirability of not going
into more of the facts, but the other IL,
who had been drawn carefully from the
Walcote estates, took their cue from the
foreman and declared themselves per-
fectly satisfied and gave their verdict
in the exact terms the inspector had
prophesied that they would.
And now" said the inspector to
Mr.. Clifford and Sir .Jaffray when it
was all over and the courtroom was
emptying fast-''now begins the serious
business of the investigation.
You've had some anonymous letter,
| hear, about the weapon, said Mr..
Clifford, to whom the baronet had al
ready spoken. do you mind my see
ing it?"
mot in the least. Here it is And
he produced it. "You see the sugges.
tion," he said pointedly.
And most monstrous one it is"
exclaimed Mr. GiH0d, "a most mon.
strous one! suppose you haven't q
ghost OF an idea who wrote this?''
IF had, am afraid could hardly
tell you, Mr.. Clifford" was the reply,
given with smile, "but / have not. I
am thinking where to look"
so am l." returned the other short
ly. "Who is there owes you a grudge.
Sir Jaffray-Miss Leycester or, for
that mattpr Tady Waloo.o