The Holly chieftain., 1901-04-12

The room Was in perfect order These
had been no assault. NO murder. no
suicide, %. far ~ one could Judge at
the moment
But that death had entered the hclf-
open stare of the black eyes. the
dropped Jaw, and the marble hue OF
tho long, lean fingers gripping the
sheet Of paper spoke all too clearly.
Little wonder that Paul Ansdell had
failed TO Join in the search for the
missing bride. failed to obey the sum-
mons for his helpful skill.
HE has been dead quite = couple
of hours" said Doctor Gorfns gravsly.
secretly wondering what would be the
outcome Of this double tragedy.
you must keep this business from
the ladies' as long a. you caa.' he said.
turning to Gervis. who had been hast
lily sent for. There must be an in
quest. of course: and, meantime. /
should take possession Of that folded
paper. See, I've managed not to tear
1t. You'd best lock 1t away until you
hand 1t to the coroner. Mr.. Temple
ton"
Why" sasped Gervis, as he caught
sight Of the close. upright handwrit-
ing. my wife wrote that! What VII
la4ny is this? See here!"
1T was the last will and Testament
| Of Gladys Templeton, and. In correct
legal form 1t assigned everything the
testator possessed to Paul Ansdell Of
Montreal. revoking all former wills and
codicils. The document was duly
signed. and the signatures and ad-
dresses Of two Americans were append
ed.
| Not flaw was there from beginning
to end OF the deed. .5
you hold the key that unlocks the
whole Of this nights mystery" briefly
said the young doctor. This unfortu-
nate man must be reckless adven.
turer. whose wits have put in his
hands most dangerous weapon. He
is. we will discover. a criminal hypno-
tist, so-called scientist, seeking some
tool to further his own ends. Yes,
yes; you'll see we'll md out that's
what he is-was, mean said the
medical man.
He was right In his sHrmise, as the
inquest brought out, bit by bit, partly
from papers belonging to the dead
man, partly from the unwilling evil
dence of GLADLY. who had been more
or less under hypnotic influence since
the night of the hre In the snow-shed
AS for the villains own DEATH It
was proved to be from natural causes,
and due to long-standing heart disease,
that caused a breakdown at the cru
cial moment of his career.
But the jury's verdict was the popu-
lar one-"By the visitation of God"
Five years have passed away.
So many changes have happened to
Temple-Dene and the Tsmplstoua that
Lady Jane has come to look back upon
the days when she wore faded silks
and lived sorely pinched life a. the
happiest she has known.
Today she NO longer wears her IA
vorite blue, for Francis Templeton has
gone to his grave. his heart eaten out
by the melancholy nothing would dis
pei.
So Lady Jane wears widows weeds
and has learnt the old lesson that
"contentment IL great gain.''
The dainty American bride, so fra
gile and highly strung. never managed
to weather the repeated shocks to her
frall system. Like broken flower she
withered. until decline set In.
In Leila's tender, supporting arms.
her weak hands clinglng tight round
Leila's soft throat. GLADLY died peace
{, fully.
Take care Of my Gervis. Leila. You
will do 1t better than l." with the won
drous intuition of the dying she whis-
pered at the last.
And now that the years have gone
round. Gervis begins to think 1t II
time Leila was taking care of him.
Between the two there 10 perfect
understanding, and by and by their
wedding bells will ring out: for though
sorrow endureth for the night. JOY
, is bound to come in the morning"
(The End.)
l