Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-10-24

That you CONFESS WnaL share YOU
hid in Lady Darrells abduction?"
She gave a slight scream, then drew
herself up.
4 don't understand you,' she said
hats htily. ''You insult me by such
words!"
"Oh no, don't. I am a pretty good
Judge of things, Madame Valerie, and
your own lips have condemned you
What did you whisper just now?
Failed! What had failed? Your
plan, of course. Come, will you con-
tess?"
''Never!' said Valerie passionately
1T is all false! I know nothing"
IT hear Lord Darrell coming. I will
tell him all-tell him that the woman
he is harboring in his home is the
sister of a."
'No-no!" Valerie drew him back
Il may know something. Give me an
hour"
81 give you till tonight
And Mr.. Armistead turned away
leaving the wretched woman lost for
a moment to all self-possession, feel
ing that her revengeful plan had
failed, yet knowing nothing.
She hastened along the corridor to
her room, and as she went her cour-
age returned. She could have cursed
herself for her weakness in betraying
herself to Armistead's keen eyes.
Roy Darrell met his friend with out
stretched hand.
my mother is quite upset and Ill
with all this business. She has sent
me to fetch Sir Humphrey. She
wishes to see Linn.
II have been thinking that our best
plan will be to ride in separate di-
rections to try to trace this Italian
scoundrel The others had better
tay here, if you don't object to turn
ing your castle into prison for the
nonce."
Object" cried the earl. ~ feel
safe when I Enow they are within my
grasp. Armistead, I put myself into
your hands. What you think wisest l
will do. AS soon as the detectives re-
turn from Ncstley with the police
will start with you.
Good returned Godfrey. ct
VIII be strange thing if we don't
catch him, think"
Meredith here joined them, and
they went down stairs together,
"Look aftec your friend, Armi-
stead,' said the earl, waving his
hand towards the dining-room, where
a dejuener was spread. eff you will
pardon me I must take Sir Hum
phrey up to my mother"
He left the two friends, and hur-
ried in search of Alice's grandfather.
Alice's grandfather!
Z he news came back to him with all
it's strange force.
The moments of excitement and
anxiety while the burglars were cap
tured had driven it from his mind;
but now he remembered all that Sir
Humphrey had said, and, even while
his heart was torn with fear that she,
pe1chance, was lost to him forever, a
thrill of pride went through him for
her sake.
Sir Humphrey was pacing the floor
of the library as the earl entered.
"You have no picture of your wife
to show me, have your" he asked
abruptly.
Roy colored with pain, for in the
acknowledgment that he possessed
no memento of Alice, he had to own
to the past feelings of GOODNESS, I'M
business and contempt.
"I have none," he replied quietly
but Sir Humphrey read his face.
please God you will need none,
he observed, Surely she must be
found tonight, Darrell"
Their hands unconsciously tighten
ed in each others grasp.
Il dare not think of it," muttered
Roy hoarseIy. ''The old woman has
confessed that-that Jura loved her
She is in his hands. When know
this I feel madi"
Take me to your mother" the old
er man said gently. 1T is but right
you should both know the history Of
this girl who so strangely became
your wife. Ah Darrell, truth is in
deed stranger than fiction, and thi'
child's story is a proof of that"
Roy turned and led the way to hi
mothers room.
Lady Darrell rose with outstretcheC
hands, as Sir Humphrey entered.
welcome home, old friend!" sh
said warmly. Glow many years hav
passed since we met, and to meet nov
at such a time! Roy has told me hoy
it comes that you are here; as yet
am in a maze of establishment"
81 will not leave you there long
dear lady" Sir Humphrey placed he
car efully in her chair. IT will max
my story as short as possible Yo
may remember years ago, when tn
abbey was not the ruined place it
now that occasionally my son, an
sometimes I myself, came to it in tn
autumn and despite its cheerless char
acter managed to be very comfortably
with a few guns-intimate friend
who found the sport around amp,
compensation for the solitary grand
eur of the domicile.