Morris tribune., 1899-09-02


the meditated attack on Mortimer
House. not one of the gang had ever
seen him.
Trevor took the risk. and went: and,
moreover. managed SO cleverly. that no
shadow of suspicion was excited as to
his being other than he seemed.
1t was his intention to arrest the
whole gang the night the first attack
was made on Mortimer House: but.
through some accident. it was impos-
\ sible.
The second time. he professed to
| have hurt his foot. so that he could not
accompany them
"And wasn't your foot really hurt?
| questioned Marjorie, Wonderingly.
Not bit Of it. was too old
hand not to know how to paint a
bruise: and they. with all their clev-
erness. were. in some things. as green
as grass. AS soon as they had set out.
I went after them. and, joining the po-
lice, whom had got in readiness. fol-
lowed them here. The whole lot were
netted as nicely as possible. l arrang-
ed with the police that they should
pretend to arrest me, too-we thought
we might as well save unnecessary
violence, and there's no knowing what
they might have done if they'd found
out how they'd been deceived. So I
went to the police-station along with
them, and, of course, have had lot OF
business to attend to; but I've come
back as soon as l could. my darling, TO
you"
I'm so happy now" whispered Mar
jorie, nesting more closely to him.
Forgive me, will you, for ever doubt
ing you?"
And she looked into his face with
such sWeetly imploring eyes, that he
could easily have forgiven her a great
deal more than that.
1--WE longed to tell you the truth
many a time, Marjorie, but l was
afraid of frightening you. If you'd |
known l was a detective, you'd have |
had to know they were thieves And |
I daren't burden my little girl with |
such a secret as that. I've laughed,
many time though.
"You remember how largely they |
used to talk about inviting Sir Ed
ward here, and the rest of the county |
gentry. Of course, that was to make
you fancy they were on visiting terms
with them, and finely they used to
chuckle over it to me in private.
"But had the laugh on them all the
time. Do you remember, one night l
told you lot of stories of my college
days? Well, they thought it was all
make up and hugely it tickled them.
Little did they dream that all those
tales were true, and that it was Trevor,
the detective, who was telling them"
Marjorie pressed his hand
I'm glad you are-what you are,"
she whispered, gently. "It almost
broke my heart when"
81 know, dearest, know. And Mar
jorie I've got something else to ask
your pardon for. Although I'm not a
thief, in the main, I've stolen some
thing away from YOU"
my bit of blue enamei!" she ex'
claimed, with an eager look
Eyes. Will you forgive me? You
see, dearest, when you told me about
that, / saw it was necessary for me to
get it into my own possession at once
They'd have Jon got it if l hadn't.
can tell you didn't half like 'burgling
at my little girls boxes and drawers;
but l knew it would be all right in
the end, and that she'd forgive me-"
"Of course said Marjorie, with an
other tender pressure of his hand.
After a moment or two she added,
gravely:
IT am so grieved for Madeline"
$50 am |. At first l took it for
granted that she was as bad as they;
but afterwards I decided differently;
and when you told me of her kindness
to you, l was deeply sorry for her.
"She knew I distracted the bit OF
enamel from your drawer. l wanted
to get some information from her,
and so took her, or pretended to take
her, into my confidence. She wanted
the bit of enamel, but, of course,
didn't let her have it. She wanted to
screen the murderer; wanted to bring
him to justice. EverythinG's fair IN {
hunting such vermin down; but | can
tell you l didn't like deceiving her."
Poor Madeline sighed Marjorie.
we must do all we can for her, dear"
1--WE WILL" said Trevor, firmly.
'And it was really Edgar who killed
ny father?"
yes. He made full confession be-
ore he died. 1t appears he knew your
ather had the notes in the house that
hight, and determined to rob him. q
HE was prowling about the window
# your fathers room, for he meant to
,et an entrance through that as soon
IS the light was turned down. But
our father, no doubt, moved by some
memory of that mysterious dream you
old me of, went to the window, un-
it, and stood for a moment
boxing out. The robber, who was try e
ng to hide behind a tree close by, felt
ure he was discovered, and in his des-
Grafton, he stepped forward and stab
ed your father to the heart. He fell
There he had stood, just inside the
|