The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-06-14

the trouble OF tLal ulScOnSOldte game
ster in the excitement Of my discovery.
I'm ten days the fat will be.in the fire."
wrote Bertram. and | had almost re-
solved after careful consideration tc
confide In his mother. when an almost
incredible chain of unforeseen circum-
stances relieved me of the responsible
ity.
l found Ivy Lodge q small semide-
tached villa, with the usual Gothic ex-
terror, melancholy garden and general
air Of discomfort and SNUG respectable
ity that usually pervades the homes of
the British middle class. The day was
fine and warm, but the sitting room,
with its cheap tawdry furniture, was
evidently only occupied on state occa-
sions and as damp as vault. A sp-
derry rosewood table groaned under a
family Bible and The Pilgrims Prog
ress," and bookcase filed with other
religious works occupied one side of
the room. On the marble chimney
piece a few shells and fossils, some ar
tificial fruit under a glass shade and
an aggressive alabaster clock were the
sole ornaments. while around the walls
faded photographs Of the Myers family
simpered at me from funeral frames.
A small harmonium, with its pile of
hymnbooks, by the window suggested
the owners proclivity for pious mel
ody, and was therefore not surprised
to discover Dissenting minister in a
suit Of glossy black in the person Of
Mr.. Jabez Myers. HIS mother, 1t ap-
peared, had been dead for some years.
The Rev. Jabez was large, ungainly
man. with the unctuous voice and pale,
fabby cheeks Of a Chadband. Hy-
pOcrisy was written on his face, greed
and cunning in his shifty eyes. The
rascal wept freely over his sisters
letter, although he affected to peruse
1t In as many seconds as 1t had taken
us hours to decipher. 1t was then laid
aside and the rings eagerly confiscated.
for they were Of intrinsic value. One
was the plain gold circlet referred to
in the letter, the other a child's ring,
a tiny toy, studded with turquoises
and bearing the pathetic inscription,
"From Mother" on the inside. 1t was
satisfactory to find all doubts as to
the identity of Margaret Myers set at
rest by this silent witness. 81 could
swear to it anywhere" said the shep-
herd, with an oily sigh. Indeed. l
was present when the poor lost soul
received the gift on the occasion Of
her tenth birthday"
l am inclined to think that on this
solitary occasion the pastor told the
truth In protesting his ignorance Of the
whole affair. Mrs. Myers had died
year after her daughters departure,
her end being FASTENED by the mystic
rious disappearance Of her favorite
child. The girl had suddenly vanished
one morning, leaving no more trace of
her whereabouts than pebble cast
into the sea. Myers was then in Amer
lea. and this was the first intimation
he had received Of his sisters untime-
ly end. The man Middleton he had
never heard of-and did not wish to.
you will pardon me, Mr.. Trevor"
murmured Chadband as was about to
question him further. IF l refuse to
discuss this unfortunate business at
any length, but you will respect
brothers feelings under the narrowing
circumstances. Above ALL must beg
you not to mention q word Of our in
terview in the town. 1t would work
me infinite harm, and you must re-
member that have the interests Of
my flock as well as my own at heart"
So saying, this arch humbug showed
me the door. and gladly left his
presence, for patience has its limits.
THE dead woman's wishes have been
carried out" | thought as | walked
through the now darkening streets to
the railway station. IL can do no
more"
My best friends call me dilatory, and
with reason. Lady Bruce's letter was
not dispatched, as | had intended, OH
the following morning. 81 shall go to-
night" unused as sauntered out for
a morning stroll through the sunny but
deserted streets. London was still as
empty as drum, and there was moth
ing doing by day or night. 1t must
have been fate that guided my foot
steps in the direction of Holborn, retri-
button that sent me home with Sec
ond hand but original edition Of THE
Newcomes" in my pocket. | examined
my purchase after dinner in the gloam-
ing over solitary cigar. There was n
name lightly penciled on the title page,
a much becrested book plate, pasted
overleaf, bearing another. The latter
was printed in crimson capitals. legible
even in the dim twilight. 1t was REM
ington Royle." Surprised, but scarcely
startled, host of memories flooded my
mind, among them the thought that
Lady Bruce's letter had again been for
gotten that day. was about to put
the book away when once more the fin
Ser Of fate sent me searching for
piece of india rubber TO erase the other
Inscription. | switched on the electric
light and, with careless grimacc, had
already commenced TO destroy the dull,
blurred characters. which suddenly
leapcd into flame rs | scanned them
more closely and realized the damning
piece of evidence that Providence had
delivered into my hands. For the sig
nature was that of Edgar Middleton.
There Is little more 10 tell save that