The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-03-30
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CHAPTER ~.
But for once Randolph Chester's COM
mand was u%nheeded, his behest IN
obeyed. No one interfered a. 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 its 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 a r The man
listened with an expression Of wonder
ment and fear, hen disappeared, and
! soon on the silent night was heard
| adown the drive the swift gallop of a
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 i'm.
Absorbed in his car of her, he had
forgotten their presence, until both
arms were caught from behind, and he
found himself I'm the sturdy grasp Of
three strong men. One Of them o
from the window its fastening, n
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 nc 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.
Nor did he return for full an hour,
and then Tyrrel's errand was explained,
for with him were two officers Of the
law.
He pointed to Talbot.
"There 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. 1--WE
can prove him a 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
a hand uron his shoulder. It 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.
It was long ere Beatrice walked from
her swoon; and when, at last. the beau
tiful eyes slowly Enclosed, and a long,
fluttering sigh heralded her return to
life and consciousness, It formed itself
into Bertram's name.
But only the physician, whom Tyrrefl
had summoned together with the Off
GERS Of the law, bent " her in re-
Spouse. <s
Calm yourself, my child, and try to
Sleep"
His voice but reused her further. She
raised her head from her pillow.
"Send Bertram to me!' 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 a few words in her a
The girl hesitated an instant, then
hastened from the room.
"I.have sent for him, dear child" said
the physician, soothingly. "But when
he comes. o must not talk"
"Papa?" she murmured, as II 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
She turned her head toward the door
and fixed her great, dark eyes upon 1t.
At last 1t was opened. but 1t was Ran
dolph Chester who entered.
His face was very pale and his mouth
twitched n~ervously; 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
her, as though born Of hate. Memory
asserted itself. The scene In the librar,
returned to her.
She remembered that her father was
dead; she remembered that he had
been robbed.
There wal a faint memory, too. that
in some way Bertram Talbot had been
connected with the robbery.
81 sent for Bertram, not you!" she
said. in tones which evidenced the eff