The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-30


others speak Of him at times. He seems
to have been bright, intelligent boy,
but very headstrong, and he never got
on particularly we'll with his stepfather
in fact, he always seemed to be in hot
water with the duke. As long as his
mother lived matters were smoothed
over, but she died when Florence was
born, and then the lads troubles began
in earnest. He was brought up with the
other children, but the duke treated
him with GOODNESS and indifference, and
the tutors and domestics took their cue
from him. His happiest days were those
he spent at Elton. He was sent to Christ
Church, and the bar was intended for
his final destination, but at Oxford he
got in with fast set and came to grief
His allowance there was small enough,
and when he exceeded it he dared not
apply to his stepfather. He got into the
hands of the Jews pretty heavily too.
Then he got mixed up in some scandal
(the particulars Of which I have forgot
ten, if I ever heard them), and was sent
down. The duke paid his debts, gave
him e1O0 and turned him out of the
house, and from that day to this he has
never been seen in Lamford. I believe
he went to sea in a merchantmen, but
nothing definite has ever been heard OF
him from that day. There have been
| rumors of his being seen in all sorts OF
places under all sorts of conditions-a
hanger on at Monte Carlo, billiard
marker in Melbourne and bar waiter
at the Cape, but these are only rumors.
All that is definitely known is that he
has gone to the dogs"
Mabel seemed immensely relieved
when read her this letter.
"There, Duncan; so she had brother
after all! You do not know how glad I
am to have this news. May we not now
! believe she was doing what she could
to redeem him?"
"I don't know that we are justified
in believing that, Mabel-at any rate,
not with our present information. The
robbery in which she seemed to be an
accomplish scarcely looks like an at
tempt to improve his morals But, first
of all, we have to identify the brother.
Which Of the men was he-the one
armed man, Lambert, or the other,
Dacre?"
Lambert seems the more likely. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Vandeleur, he had led a
wild, rowing life, which would fit in
very we'll with what Mr.. Wray writes
| about the brother.
eyes, that is so, Mabel, but the other
man may have been equally wild We
seem to have very little information
about him. I must ask Wray to get me
a description of the brothers. appear
ance. That will no doubt help us, as
Lambert was fair and the other man
dark. But even then we cannot be sure
that he was really her brother, not un-
til we find the man himself, which
may not be an easy matter"
"The one armed man may have Joined
theatrical company again."
"He may, and in that case it ought
not to be difficult to trace him-one
armed actors are not so very common.
But hardly think he would take kind
ly to the stage again after successful
robbery. You may depend upon it he il
busy with other little ventures in that
direction.
"You take a very gloomy view Of
things, Duncan" said Mabel, with q
weary sigh.
perhaps I do, dear, but the further
we get into this awful affair the more
mysterious and complicated it becomes.
That must be my excuse.
| I wrote off to Wray for particulars
of the brothers. appearance, and the
next morning first thing set off to call
upon Mr.. Keighley Gates about the
mysterious photograph I had seen in hi
room.
CHAPTER Kill
WAS MIR. KEIGHLEY GATES A LIAR?
First Of all called at Scotland Yard,
and as a favor was allowed possession
Of the photograph substituted for Lady
Florence Mostyn's. Armed with this
called at the Metropole and again in
quired for Mr.. Keighley Gates Yes, he
was in-in fact he was confined to the
house by a cold. / made my way up
stairs, and on turning the corner of the
corridor leading to Mr.. Gates room
ran into come one.
"Confound you, sirl'' said y voice
seemed to. know. "Shouid look where
you are going. I might have been the
Prince of Wales-leze majesty, sir
i they'd have hanged ;you for itp'
! apologized for the occurrence and he
seemed Modified,
s.All right, sir-keep your blinkerf
off next time. Go straight ahead now
don't bring the monument down" and
he passed on.
The voluble gentleman had not recog-
nized me, but I knew him in an instant.
He was got up in irreproachable attire,
from his patent leather boots to his
shiny silk hat But despite his altered
appeal rance there was no mistaking the
once seedy looking vagabond who called
himself DR.. Fitzgerald. The last time
we lad met was beside the still warm
body of the murdered Lady Florence.
What was he doing at the Metropolei
Had he been to see Mr.. Keighley Gatesi
If so, about what?
had not time to pursue these reflec.
lions any further, for y few steps
brought me to the door of Mr.. Gates
room.