The Red Cloud chief., 1900-10-26
II. b. WeISb

no doubt whatever on the subject"
MOI" Sir Henry raised his head,
and his haggard eyes looked into the
cold ones OF Dundas Lyndon. And
your reward, LYNDON"
us. as 1 dare say you have guessed,
Sir Henry, the right Of winning Miss
Lennox as my wife" replied Lyndon
deliberately.
Sir Henry half sprang from his
looked at the man before him without
speaking.
You seem surprised" said Lyndon
coldly. II thought you had guessed
long ago, Sir Henry. the cause of my
enthusiasm in the affair. | am an
ambitious man. as you know, and |
have risked a great deal in this mat
ter. Were but a word of this to get
abroad l should be a ruined man, In
a worse plight than the poor wretch
whom We know: but | thought the
game worth the candle. With Cecil
Lennox "a my wife and Sir Henry,
the great @. c.. as my father-in-law,
my future success is secured. Now, I
have spoken frankly. and l expect a
frank answer"
Sir Henry looked at him for a mo-
ment. then with a shudder he bowed
his head on his hands. Never till
this moment, had the wretched man,
who had years ago entered on a course
Of deception and cruel wrong, realiz-
ed to the full that the way OF trans
gressors is hard" His sin, at first
a cobweb, had become a cable.
He was in the power of an unscrupu-
lous villain, and he could never hope
to extricate himself from 1t.
He looked up at last.
II n use compulsion In such a
case" he said. in a hard. dry voice.
Cecil may not be agreeable toto
this proposal of yours"
Lyndon smiled grimly.
Il think she will be when | tell her
the consequence of her refusal. Sir
Henry. One word from me. and the
whole world will know the real char
acter of the man 1t has been accus-
toned to regard as faultless."
And the character of the man it
has trusted as an honorable physi-
Giant" said a voice behind both men
suddenly.
They were sitting in Sir Henry's IL
brary with closed doors. Neither Of
them had heard the door which on
nected the library with Sir Henry's
private office softly open; but as both
sprang round, as If simultaneously.
a figure moved forward from the door,
which had not closed again, and stood
facing them. II was that Of Paul En-
derby.
Lyndon's face assumed an u~npleas-
ant hue and an ugly curve in his up
per lip showed the cleaning teeth
behind.
Sir Henry. however, with an effort
recovered his usual dignity, and rose
to his feet, bowling gravely.
This is an unexpected visit, Mr..
Enderby. | shall not call 1t an intru-
sion. 1t is, however, rather unusual
for my visitors to enter unannounced."
Enderby was very pale, and his
whole face would have given any on
locker the impression of one who has
braced himself to a terrible task. He
leaned his hand on the table, and his
yes did no falter from their fixed
gaze on Sir Henry's face.
Sir Henry, my mode of entry is of
little consequence In comparison with
the tidings | bring. / have come
straight to you from a death bed. Da-
vid Gerard, otherwise David Lloyd,
died at s o'clock this evening""
A strange sound-half gasp, half cry
left Sir Henry's lips. He tottered a
little, as II he would have fallen; but
the next moment. making another
great effort. he recovered, and drew
himself erect.
what do you mean. Mr.. Enderby?"
Who is this man. David Lloyd, whom
you so glibly identify with David &C.
rard?"
"Sir Henry. subterfuge here is abso-
lutely valueless." said Enderby grave
ly, and not without a certain huski-
ness in his voice. No man can look on
a broken idol unmoved. What have
to say had better be said briefly. I am
glad to have found this mamie
glanced, with a change Of expression
towards Lyndon-"with you.
Accidents brought the Gerards-I
knew them as the Lloyds-across my
path. From Miss Gerard | first heard
the name of Doctor Lyndon. | visited
them. When l heard your story OF
David Gerard's crime my suspicious
were aroused. These are now con-
firmed.
David Gerard died today; but be-
fore dying he left a full confession,
signed by himself. of the Brownlow
pearl affair. He left with me the one
proof--an absolute one-of his inno-
cence, and %another's guilt. l have
promised the dead. and l mean to
fulfill that promise. to see his name,