Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-29

as she declared, and cer-|
tainy with his connivance, afterwardI
My brother, having rallied |
from his first collapse, kept up the
fight a little while longer. 1t was,
however, plain to the doctor that he
could live but a very short time. The
comtesse knew this. My brother was
not i'll condition to transact bust |
ness and was incapable of securing to |
her any benefit by testamentary dis
position, even if he had wished to do
so. Her only chance was the money!
for the property. This she saw her
way to securing with the doctors
help, even though my brother should
die before it fell due, and the author
ity she held should thereby lose its
legal validity"
You mean that they determined to
carry out fraud if necessary"
Precisely. must remind you that
my brother knew nothing of this. He
was altogether past understanding
anything about it. | may be very
brief now, but am still anxious that
you should fully understand. All
that I'm saying to you is beyond
question and can be proved at any
liiue ny tdhtiiE cNluclSS ou tuS spun
it is easily available
Harry had sat down by now and
was listening intently.
ION the morning of the 22d,"
Edge pursued in his level. methodical
way, 1.-The comtesse went to the sta.
ton escorted by DR.. Migrate; that
was his name-rather that is his
name. On the way they met the Brit
ish vice consul and in reply to inquir-
les from him said that my brother
had had another attack but had raj
lied again. DR.. Migrate expressed
the opinion that he would live anoth-
er two days, while Nine. Valfier 1.-THE
vice consul knew her by that name)
was sanguine enough to talk of the
possibility of recovery. She I'M
pressed him very much by her cour-
age and hopefulness. She was,
may remark, handsome and very
attractive woman. Leaving the vice
consul, they reached the station and
there parted. Migrate returned i'm
mediately to my brothers house and
remained there. the case being declar-
! ed to be so critical as to require I'm.
renting attention. Madame de Val
| fier-the comtesse-took the train to
| Petersburg, reached it that evening
presented the authority early next
morning and was back again about
midnight-that being the Esd. The
next day my brothers death was an.
nounced. certified by Migrate, and
duly registered as the law of the
place required" He drew paper
from his pocket. This is copy OF
the entry, showing death on the
24th'
THAT document is very familiar to
me, Col. Edge. 1t gives both styles
doesn't it?"
Eyes, both styles, but-Well, you
see for yourself. My story is done,
With Migrate connivance-a woman
who acted as nurse was squared, too
and her evidence is available-the ac
tual date of death was concealed and
the Comtesse d'Alberville had time
to present her authority. and receive
the money. After paying her accom-
plices their price, she left Russia with
the bulk of it Immediately"
/ Harry glanced at Neeld; the ole
mans face was full of excitement ant
his hand trembled as it lay on the
| leaves of Joseph Cholderton's journal
My mother was married to my
| father on the 23d," said Harry slowly
My brother died on the 22d" said
Wilmot Edge. HE was dead before
the comtesse started for Petersburg.
Harry made no comment. He sal
still and thoughtful.
"Of course | was put on the track
of the affair." Edge pursued, "by the
disappearance of the money. | hal
little difficulty in guessing that there
had been something queer, but wha1
| it was did not cross my mind for {
long while Even after 1 had cleW
| found Migrate tough customer
and for long time l totally failed tt
identify Nine Valfier. When. thank.
to series of chances, | did so, it wa:
a shock to me. She was the wife O.
a man of high position and high repu
tation. She had contrived-she wa:
a remarkable woman-to carry OF
this expedition of hers without rous
ing any suspicion. She had returned
to her husband and children. Find
ing herself in danger, she took tn,
bold course of throwing herself OF
my mercy, and sent for me to Paris
1t was not my desire to rake up tn,
story, to injure my brothers memor.
or to break up the woman's home
pocketed the loss as far as l wa
concerned. AS for you, didn't know
you were concerned. / have neve
gone into the details. accepted tn
view, which your own conduct am
Lady Tristram's suggested. l prom
ised silence, guarding myself by
proviso that I must speak if the inter
ests of third persons were ever affect
ed. Your interests are affected nov
and | have spoken, Mr.. Tristram-o
Lord Tristram, as l undoubtedl
, ought to say
!, Harry turned to Mr. Neeld with
smile and pointed at the leaves of tn
= Journal.
There was something Choldertol
didn't know after all" he said. -
third date-neither the 18th nor tn
oath! Twenty-four hours! Well,
+ suppose it's enough
) Its enough to make all the differ
ence to YOU" said Neeld. at make
. the action you took in giving up you
: position unnecessary and wrong.
/ restores the state of things which ea
{ isted-"
"Reforp Won and Nina Zabrisl,