The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-13

Dufneu IN suDteffanean deptnS or ret
tered passion beneath the jovial ex-
terror l knew so well.
| Ned" he finally burst forth, as if
his utterance choked him, will you
solemnly bind yourself to keep my
secret inviolable?"
Little suspecting the nature of that
secret 1 lightly promised.
''Then l will have no concealment
from you. I know the thief and |
know exactly where that manuscript
| is! The hand that seized it-God help
me-is the hand of woman, and she
Is as ignorant of theft as a newborn
babe. But the present possessor is a
man, intimately and confdentially
known to me. Ask me no more as you
love me, and l entreat you between
this Tuesday evening and Saturday to
find, beg, persuade, even buy the
writer of this note to keep silence"
And my poor friend pointed to that
insignificant scrap of paper, as though
| it We're a scorpion.
Unmindful Of his appeal in my
| amazement at this disclosure, the
words fairly hurled themselves from
my lips.
| care you mad, Justin Tetlow? You
| know the possessor of document of
priceless value which the thief refuses
to surrender, and the loser of it your
friend? Forgive me, but this black
mailer tells a half truth after all.
implore you to force the return of this
paper without delay"
Impossible" replied the doctor. 81
cannot speak," Then he added softly,
even gently, as if communing with
himself: 81 can save others-myself
may not save. But, oh, the disgrace,
the ruin, the expulsion from my pulpit,
how can bear that? You must pre-
serve me from exposure, dear Ned.
for Here he sank into the chair from
which he had risen, picture of hope
less misery.
| Exposure? Let this blackmailer full
ill his purpose. One swift denial from
your honored lips is sufficient to laugh
his threat to scorn. But, shades of
Kent and Story, where is my wit that
| did not see that this man who sends
you his summons cannot profit in the
least by his act! He asks no money,
appoints no rendezvous, has no con-
federate. IL ever lawyer had such case
| before, l pity him!" And paced up
and down the room all at sea in the
presence Of mystery without clew.
DR.. Tetlow looked me squarely in the
eye with Il stiffening of his old, calm
! decisiyeness of manner
| Edward Flint. if your best efforts
fail and l must meet the charge,
shall not deny the theft. Heaven will
help me to serve my personal suffering.
Mark me, say, once for all, if your
help does not avail will meet the ac-
cusation with courage adequate to the
great issues at stake. No eye but the
eye of him that holds this manuscript
in his keeping will ever behold the
work of Alice Edmunds. 1t is lost to
that woman forever can save
others. Myself may not save
1 At these words knew not what to
say Here was man, beloved and
honored, completely shattered by some
grewsome secret that wore his life
away-a man of absolute probity
shielding a wretched thief and deter
mined at the pinch to bear anothers
guilt as garment of his own dis
honor. Did ever lawyer have so
strange q client?
There was only one thing to do-sleep
on the problem, if possible Assuming
a careless mien that belied the inward
commotion of spirit, addressed my
old comrade with studied calmness:
"Well. Brother Calvin, what wretch
ed delusion has tied up kinks in your
brain l cannot fathom. You have my
promise to keep your secret and it
stands inviolate. l have at this mo-
ment no clew. no trail, no device
which points even remotely to the
| identity of Mr.. or Mrs. 9-11-13-15 But
I'll do my best to run the rascal to
earth and save you from the conse-
| quences of your own rash purpose.
Yet cherish small hopes of my ability
to do this. Go to bed. Sleep if you
can. Leave all to me-"
The doctor breathed heavily. A wan
smile Of gratitude played over his fea-
lures. He pressed my hand with burn
| ihSo pam anu anu
with CLEAN of his old righteousness:
IT'S a poor sermon you'll get next
Sunday, my friend You will do well
to hear DR.. Broadaxe, over the way.
God bless you! Help me to save 9TH
ers and myself as we'll"
And with this went out into the
cold night air.
| l need not dwell on my own mental
sufferings for the next three days. nor
is it necessary to state that was COM
pletely baf1led in every effort to locate
the writer of the mysterious note.
did not much believe he would carry
out his threat. But if he should?
Heavens! l knew DR.. Tetlow we'll
enough to understand that his bulldog
tenacity Of purpose would draw the
guilt to himself and that he would. Il
necessary, procure the manuscript and
burn 1t after confessing the crime to
shield some person OF persons. the mo-
tive for which was absolutely insolu-
BILE.
even called upon Miss Alice Ed