Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-03-28
CHAPTER ",

CHAPTER w.
But for once Randolph Chester's COM
mand was unheeded, his behest I'M
obeyed. No one interfered as Talbot
lifted in his arms the lovely, senseless
form, and bore her tenderly to the
couch, upon which he laid her, chaficg
her cold hands and moistening with
water her pale lips.
Tyrrel, meantime. had slipped from
the room and reused the sleeping house.
hold.
One by one it's startled members
came, awe-struck, into the presence of
death. Thus reinforced, Chester recov-
cred himself.
He beckoned Tyrrel to him, and whis-
pered a few words in his ear. The man
listened with an expression of wonder
ment and fear then disappeared, and
soon on the silent night was heard
adown the drive the swift gallop of
horses hoofs.
A grim smile wreathed his lips as he
caught the sound. He could afford to
act now, and, pointing to Talbot as he
bent over Beatrice, he made a silent
command that they should seize and
overpower him.
Absorbed in his care of her, he had
forgotten their presence, until both
arms We're caught from behind, and he
found himself in the sturdy grasp of
three strong men. One Of them tore
from the window it's fastening, and
bound it about his wrists.
He stood there, fettered and helpless,
and Beatrice lay, unconscious of his de-
graduation. One desperate effort he
made to free himself. Then he saw its
uselessness and forced himself to be
calm; but the countenance Of the dead
bore no more CHASTITY pallor than his
own, when Randolph Chester ap-
preached the couch and, lifting the
senseless burden he had deposited there,
bore it from his sight and from the
room.
and then Tyrrels errand was explained,
law.
He pointed to Talbot.
sThere is your man." he said, and
though he strove to give his voice the
accent Of calm and sorrow, it held the
ring of his triumph and rejoicing. "We
can prove him thief" he continued.
"His own soul brands him assassin,
since the excitement Of this nights
work has ended my cousins life
The officers approached.
Talbot made no resistance as each laid
hand upon his shoulder. 1t seemed to
him as though he were living some ter
rible nightmare; but, as he passed
Chester in their custody, he fixed his
burning eyes full upon his face.
Coward and perjurer!' he said, in
low. trenchant tones. zone day we
shall have a heavy debt to settle, you
and I-nor may you hope to escape its
payment"
Then, in silence, he permitted them to
lead him from the room and the house.
1t was long ere Beatrice walked from
her swoon; and when, at last, the beau
tiful eyes slowly Enclosed, and long,
fluttering sigh heralded her return to
life and consciousness, it formed itself
into Bertram's name.
But only the physician, whom Tyrrell
had summoned together with the Off
GERS of the law, bent over her in re-
Spouse.
"Calm yourself, my child, and try to
Sleep"
His voice but reused her further. She
raised her head from her pillow.
"Send Bertram to mel" she said, i'm
.peratively.
The doctor. misunderstanding her
command, and knowing that any oppo-
sition in her present state would be
hurtful, beckoned her maid, who stood
weeping by the window, to approach.
and whispered few words in her ear.
Tho ~ 1ooSifof Mt bo1
fastened from the room.
"I have sent for him, dear child" said
the physician, soothingly "But when
he comes you must not talk"
"Papa?" she murmured, as if still
trying to clear her brain of some linger-
ing doubts. "He was ill-he is better?"
'He is out of pain, my child"
The answer seemed to satisfy her.
and fixed her great, dark eyes upon it.
At last it was opened, but it was Ran
dolph Chester who entered.
His face was very pale and his mouth
twitched nervously; but he struggled
hard to appear at ease.
Beatrice shrank away at sight of him,
an awful scorn playing in her eyes.
Sudden strength seemed to come to-
IlcT, DIS lNOuBH UOIu VI MclIlOlS
asserted itself. The scene in the library
returned to her.
She remembered that her father was
dead; she remembered that he had
been robbed.
There was faint memory. too, that
in some way Bertram Talbot had been
connected with the robbery.
II sent for Bertram, not you!' she
said, in tones which evidenced the eff
fort it cost her even to address him.
where is he? Why does he not Gomez
"Bertram Talbot is in jail" he an
swered, bitterly. "Do you still wish to
see the thief, the man at whose door
lies your fathers death?"
"In jail?" she repeated, in a low
whisper. striving by her repetition of
the words to better realize their i'm
port.
To her excited fancy Jail meant stone
walls and stone floors, with a wretched
pallet to lie upon and bread and water
for food; and to such a place her lover
had been taken and accused of such a