Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-30

there. and you can look me in the face
and accuse him OF 'hoaxing' those who
love him best. What possible motive
could there be. ask youAwhat posi-
bic motive for such conduct?"
"0h, the thing has been frequently
tried before. on much the same lines"
smiled Savernake. "A young man
wishes to watch from convenient
distance the antics of his relatives
who believe they will have a finger In
the pie he has left. Or. he takes II in
to his head to test HIS fiancee's faith.
There are plenty OF motives We
needn't take NJ each others valuable
time by discussing them all AZ for
me. know Maurice. and I should not
be greatly surprised at anything he
chose TO do. except turn over a dinghy
on a calm summers night In mid
Thames. and drown himself That.
should, indeed. hesitate long 10 be-
lieve OF him"
you would scarcely hesitate after
the-the body was found. I suppose"
Kissed Palgrave. The chances are
that it will be. sooner or later. when
the river is dragged"
Sooner or later" sneered Saverhs Ike
in his most aggrsvating way. Tut
eyep when a body is FOUND. II IL riot
always individually rscognized, sou
know. Lady Mary and I, believing so
firmly in the theory of the hoax, would
not identify such a body without the
very strongest possible proof Mean
while, until such proof IS brought for
ward, should not advise you, my dear
friend, to indulge a natural desire 20
hear yourself called Duke" II would
be so very humiliating afterwards. II
il turned out that there had been
slight mistake"
There can be no such mistake"
Numbered Palgrave. losing his head
and his sef-eontrol
How very sure OF that you seem 70
be? An. well. fortunately only I have
heard you say g." Savornake rose.
and daintily nlcked a tiny piece Of lint
from the lapel OF HIS coat ut was
really extremely friendly in you 70 let
me come up. and II is most satisfactory
10 have had this little conversation
with you. We shall each"-a signih-
cant pause-'see our way the better
for IT, perhaps"
Palgrave's heavy eyebrows were
drawn together, and an odd twitehing
OF the nerves in the centre OF his fore
head. which was a popularity OF bis
when greatly excited. became noticea-
Bile.
Il delayed the police In dragging the
river until you should come" he said.
tout Of consideration for your feelings,
and in the belief that you would wish
to be present. Now l regret my mis-
taken kindness. wish that | had al
lowed the thing to be done at once, and
perhaps by this time the waters would
have given up their dead"
"Or perhaps they would have refused
to do So Savernake added. While
thanking you for your care OF my feel
iGgs, venture to fancy that you con-
strained the police in their duty quite
as much, If not more. for reasons Of
your own. It would be exceedingly In
convenient for you II the river should
be dragged and the body not found
Not more so. possibly. than for you
IL the contrary proved the case"
Savernake laughed. when the Duke
OF Leicester's body is discovered he
answered, mark my words. my dear
Palgrave. his spirit will still be on
the most intimate terms with it. Now
will not fatigue you any longer by
my presence. except 20 remind you Of
one fact. which should be obvious.
Don't try 70 claim any dignities till
you are quite sure you are entitled to
them. II you do. your claims viii be
hotly disputed. disputed till bitter
end arrives for one OF US. and give
you fair warning that from the mo-
ment I leave you shall make IL my
business to Undue everyone meet with
my own views. have eYen"-and the
eagle-faced old man spoke as calmly
as though he were not eloaking to
bitterest disappointment OF a lifetime
With his debonaire lies-"several par
ticularly valid reasons for believing
Maurice TO be slive-reasons which
am not at liberty to mention at pres
ent."
This last sentence was a distinct
score, exactly why, or how. 1t was inn
possible for even Savernake to guess.
but he was satisfied to note the effect.
In his heart rage and grief seethed
together. though he was making bold
show He did believe that the Duke
was dead-done to death in some way.
If not actually murdered by his cou-
sins own hands. But his indomitable
will even now refused to accept defeat
--1.sfA