The Portland daily press., 1898-11-16
PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
PUBLISHED SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
IF SINNERS ENTICE THEE.
BY WILLIAM e QUEux,
1884," Zorada equity Bonds
~ y - Secret Service" WhosoFi a Wife," &C., &C.
cnPYRIGHTEp. 1897 QUEUX
copYRIGHTED, 1897, BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUX.

cret until such time as / should CHOOSE to
make the truth known. p.,..
els that the actual truthY brooAe
asked, agape in wondefmen6
1T is the entire truth OF what l saw
with my own eyes-of what am prepasleo
to swear in any court of Justice.
$50 confused were the memories OF tnae
terrible incident that ] have all along De-
lieved that mysaH was the actual NUT !.
derer," said the Captain. THAT hfghs
had drunk more wine than usual, anu
remember very little of the occurrence
save that held the knife in my hand,
and that on tine following morning wnen
| awoke found my hands stained WIN
blood, while in my pocket we're some o.
we met next day, that, in frenzy OF
madness at having lost almost every sou
possessed, l had attacke Holroyde sudden
", murdered him, and hlched his WIN
nings from his pocket he said, however,
he would preserve my secret, and 1ia so
until few weeks ago., when Llane re-
fused to become his wife. Then be de-
olared that If / did not compel her to
marry him he would denounce me.
begged him to at least spare Lame, but
he was MEMORABLE Therefore / was COM
nalled 10 make confession to her. and she,
rather than l should pay the terrible PEN
atty, sacrificed all her love and happiness
for my sake.
Hiq voice was broken with emotion, and
although his lips moved, he could utter
no further words.
George, standing beside his we'll -beloved,
graspsd her tiny hand and pressed 1T
tenderly. At last he knew the secret OF
her acceptance of Zertho's offer. and
recognized ell the tortures she must have
suffered in order to save her father from
degradation and shame.
aried his 2RfilW
facs bIoodless. He saw how ingeniousiy
he had been entrapped. st was he him
self who killed Holroydel"
ssIf so.' exclaimed Max Richards, "why
have you paid me SO we'll for my silencei"
He did not reply.
"You do not answer, ne went Cd.
"Then l will tell you. You were shrewd
enough to see that while held my tongue
you would still hold Captain Brooker in
your power, and through the pressure you
could place upon him SECURE Llane as
your wife. l knew this all along, al
though you believed me TO be entirely
ignorant of it. Still / allowed you to pay
me, aud can assure you that the money
you gave rec with such bad grace often
came in very useful he laughed. II
am not Prince, and although Imay be
an adventurer, l thank Heaven I'm not
an assassin.
81 paid you all you demanded, every
penny, yet now you turn upon me 1t
Is the way of all blaokmailers, Zertho
cried, still livid with anger.
i speak the truth in order to save from
your meroilsss clutches one woman whose
fair name has never been be5mir ched. l
speak for LANES sake. =
Zertho turned from him with fierce
imp ecation on his lips, deoIaring that
the whole story was a tissue of faIsehoods,
ard denouncing his companion BROKER
as the actual assassin.
"You forget said Richards, that in
addition to myself there was a second
witness, Nelly Bridson, the girl with
whom your victim had carried on d mild
ard harm less Irritation prior to meeting
Marietta. You forget that size was with
me. and actually saw you commit the
deed /"
This truth rendered him voiceless.
MAY ], III future, enjoy an absolutely
clear conscience that | had no hand in
the actual crime?" the Captain asked
earnestly. turing to Richards.
.'Certainly,'' he answered quickly.
both Nelly and myself saw every
movement clearly, for the moon was
shining bright rs day. We heard you
shout in horror and dismay to the assas-
sin, we saw the blow struck, we saw the
theft committed, and watched you pick
up the knife. which you threw down
again instantly at the moment when l
rushed forward. -
81 was, alas, only half-conscious of
my actions" he answered. But the
enornity of the crime must have sobered
me instantly, for remember man ap-
proaching-Who it was / was not aware
until this moment-and knowing that
we had been discovered and were in peril,
flew for my life back to the Promenade,
reaching home by circuitious route
about midnight
"A ssYou need have no further fear of this
man. Richards assured him. dis plan
was ingenious, to shift the crime from
his own shoulders to yours and at the
same time to marry Lians, but Fortunate
" his own actions convict him. Liane
has shown bravery and self-denial, VIII ich
should further endear her to the heart of
the man who loves her, and II the truth
have told brings back her happiness and
peace of mind / shall not have spoken
in vain. = Z
81 have much to thank you for, y Lame
faItered, her face bright with ssnew born
happiness. "You have indeed revived
within me hope, life, and love. l knew
this man was crafty and cruel, but l
never dreamed that he himself had com
mitted the crime with which he charged
my father. / saw that he was inexorable
and ssrelentless,. and was compelled to
wrench myself from George, whom
loved, and promised to become the wife
of-of this assassin
Assassin p cried Zertho. "No, the
prospect of becoming Princess d'Auzac
proved too attractive for you! 1t was
because both you and your father wanted
money and position, that you We're ready
to become my wife.
"We desired nothing for you,' she an
swereds proudly. "Both of us detested
,, YOU when you found us in England, and
thrust yourself upon us. Upon the gold
of the gu lily there always lies a curse.
But Struggling his shoulders Contempt
tuousiy, ne saia ne eon aS.h he hdges1sa,
served calm, insolent almost Indifferent
manner, he nevertheless knew that con
oealment of the truth was now no longer
possible. At the very instant when he
| had felt his position the most secure his
perfidy, his cunning, and his crime had
| been laid bare before them all.
He clenched his hands, muttering an
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