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

| ter, fully dressed, preceded two men,
| the gardener and the coachman, while
between them, as if in their custody,
stood a third.
Randolph Chester cast toward Mr..
Markham one penetrating look, and
| saw that his moments were numbered
1--WE have caught the thief, sir" he
| began, with significant glance toward
Talbot.
But as the insult escaped his lips, the
latter made a spring toward him. The
| two men caught his arms and held him
back.
"It is only necessary for you to ident-
| ify him." continued Chester, coolly.-
Mr.. Markham's power Of speech had
nearly gone. He pointed toward the
three, but his glance and finger were
directed toward the coachman. who
grew CHASTITY white.
Bertrand" he gasped-"Bertram-
proof! consent! Beatrice! the will
the papers-you will find-the secret"
| He could say no more. His head fell
back. An expression of acute pain
swept over his face, succeeded by per-
feet peace.
| Oaks, was dead
| ftdNOOlpu chester DcuC over Ino UedO
man moment, while swift expression
of triumph passed over his face; then
he went toward Beatrice and tenderly
took her hand.
Come away, my child" he said,
gently. "Your father is dead!"
Dead" she moaned. mo, no! Oh,
God! how could he die, when so little
time ago we were talking of to-mor-
! L IN
cit was heart disease, Beatrice. He
element would bring on death. He
had kept it secret from you, fearing
to cause you unhappiness."
"And this was what he meant to tell
me?" sobbed the girl. "And it was 1
who killed him-I, who loved him bet
ter than my life!"
"No, Beatrice; there stands his MUIR
) derer! Look at him!" and he motioned
toward Bertram, whose white lips met
in one straight line, but who made no
further effort to escape from the de-
tanning grasp Of his two guardians.
"Bertie!" cried the unhappy girl,
"Bertie, why do you not speak to me-?
) What is he saying? Oh, my brain is
reeling! I am going mad!"
go to your room, dear child" plead
ed Chester. "All this is more than you
can bear. Tomorrow you shall know
all.''
Tomorrow! Mo-" she answered,
firmly. Tomorrow is already to-day,
and will hear now-now, all that you
have to say! But what is this you say
of BERTHE? I cannot understand
. "Yet tonight you heard him boast
that gold should buy you. How could
he gain that gold? He stole back into
the house he had left; entered the Ii
, brary by an open window, while your
father had gone for a moment to his
room, leaving open his safe, at which
he had been examining some papers. A
pile of bonds and notes We're lying
there. These he seized, and was Just
about making his escape, when your
; father entered. was standing outside
! the window, am unseen witness to all
that followed. had been restless,
could not sleep, and the beauty of the
night had tempted me to enjoy it more
!: perfectly outside. Your fathers ex-
element had passed away and he
asked him, quite calmly, why he had re-
) turned. He began to speak, when your
= fathers eye fell on the safe. Instantly
, he knew that he had been robbed, and
) that the thief stood before him. Old
man as he was, he sprang toward him,
but with a swift movement Talbot
! eluding his grasp, turned to escape by
: the window but, seeing me, fled through
the door. I lost no time in pursuit. I
could not dream that Cousin Donald
; was so ill. Tyrrel met in the grounds.
: He was just returning to his rooms
from the village. Gray, knew, was
sitting up with his sick wife. One mo-
ment sufticed to call them BOTH We
had little difficulty in overtaking and
! capturing the cowardly criminal. Be-
| atrice, it cuts ME to the soul to tell me
this, as you stand by your dead faith
er's side, yet moment ago you heard
from his lips confil nation Of my sto-
: ry. You saw him identify the thief"
Thief. do you say?" she questioned,
; interrupting for the first time, while
her glance one instant fell on Bertram
Talbot's face, and met the answering
glance from the clear brown eyes which
} met hers SO fearlessly, and mutely
seemed to ask, Beatrice, do you be-
lieve this ]ie?"
"Whoever calls Bertram Talbot thief
/ -lies!" she said. "Bertram, why do
. you not speak?"
words are useless, Beatrice" he an
swered. LET this villain work his
worst-my explanation and my pres
ence here tonight is not for his ears!'
/ "Nor your explanation of how these
came into your possession questioned
Chester. scornfully; and he drew from
!; his pocket package of bonds and
notes. "Tyrrel. explain how and where
you found them?"
"Mr. Talbot threw 'em away, sir, as
we came up to him; and I, thinking
they might be of some value, picked 'em
up"
"You see. Beatrice, these are the stol-
en- bonds. Do you wish more proof g"
asked Chester.
"More proof? Yes!" she cried. IT
wish proof that you are the thief, and
these men are false witnesses! Oh.
papa. speak! Open your dear lips! I
need you-more than ever in my life l
need you! Papa, papa, come back to
i, mel"