Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-04-07

CuApTEH N-fCon,;nucdl

CHAPTER Extraordinarily
MIR. Hcrrick," cNclaims Budd, ''lct me
assure you this is no joking NATTER"
"lt is not indeed" returns the lawyer,
grini:y. Miss Mcrvyn is as innocent as
] am Of this crime with which you would
charge her. DO you want proof? Well,
go straight off from here to Becchllamp.
ton F.iory. and learn there that there is
no crime. and 10 criminal for you to hound
OIL to destruction. Denzil Charteris has
returned alive and we'll as any Of us here
The news is indeed true; and all the
village is ringing with it. Dcnzil Char
tcris has returned, ill. worn, haggard-
rocking. but safe and sound in body, and
proving as plainly as flesh and blood can
prove that il certainly was not himself
who was found in Dead Mans Pool-ccr-
tain'y not himself who was mourned for
and buried in the Chartcris vaults but
two days since.
In the evening he rides over to the
Court and has an interview with Arthur
and his sisters. Indignant as they are
at his conduct and all it has brought upon
their elder sister. it is impossible not to he
touched lN the changed, haggard face, the
utter icso!ation in look, voice and aspect
of the once proud. dcbonnairc Dcnzil
Charters. He is suffering as they suffer,
and they arc touched; and inscnsibly their
GOODNESS and stiffness give way. and the
whole sad. pitifil tale of Yolandc's mis-
cry is told.
He sits with his head bowed on his
hands. its deadly wllitcncss and suppress
ed passion hidden from their gaze, while
anguish intolcrablc seems gnawing at his
heartstrings with every fresh word he has
to hear.
AT last he springs to his feet, and the
long pent-,p agony OF his heart finds vent
in bitter sr%lf-rcproach.
Il will find her, though / search the
world %through.' lie cries aloud. II have
given her this to bcar-to MI belongs the
task Of restitution. Could she have gone
disguised?" asks Dcnzil anxiously.
Arthur shakes his head in moody doubt;
but Enid starts up hastily ut the words,
and clasps her eager hands in joyful re-
lief.
"Of course. Now I see it all..' she OK
claims. ARTHUR, don't YOU remember the
station master mt Colston told us no lady
went by the carly train that day except
a sister of mercy? When we were max
ing dresses for our private theatricals last
Christmas, Yolandc made one for herself
just such a one as the sisters of mercy
wear. Suppose"
F, ''Tl.crc is no need to suppose anything
further, I'm surc,' interrupts Denzil Char
tcris. i'll a voice of intense relief. '.You
have given me the clue l need, Miss Enid.
1t won't be my fault if 1 don't follow it
up to the end"
That night, in the solitude of her own
room. Pauline Ray sits writing till long
after midnight has struck. 1t is IL letter,
the composition of which seems difficult
one that is written and altered many times
ere it seems to satisfy her. In the morn
ing that letter is delivered by ii trusty
messenger to Inspector Budd at Colston.
Two hours after its receipt that worthy
individual has packed up his few posses
sions and is speeding as fast as the OK
press train can take him to London.
1t is long ere the light of his scraphit
conntenance beams on the good folk OF
Ashbournc again. and then it is undcl
very different auspices.