The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-09

XXX: X X !: X: X X * X x X
81 CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)
Il thought you would want to hear
the story some day." said Clarice. Aud
then she told it very simply, as the
Doctor had told it to her, Of the poor
boys promise of amendment of life,
and OF the act of bravery which had
brought 1t to close.
Doctor Drake said that whatever
his life may have been, he died like
hero" said Clarice. her own voice
breaking little as she repeated the
words
DID he say that? What a good,
find man he is: the best friend
lle ever had, except you, Clarice,"
Janetta, smiling through her
Il
Your brothers death seemed so
eat.ful by comparison with that poor
Rretch's whom the Doctor hunted
down," continued Clarice. II often
wonder where Mason is. She went off
apparently early on the night of the
robbery, and the police have never
been able to obtain the faintest clue
from the letters she left behind her
that the man was her lover, and had
obtained all his information from her."
ooh, yes; it was the same voice."
said Janetta, then started and colored.
She had not meant to betray the fact
that she had overheard Mason talking
to some unknown man in the shrub
berry, and had warned Mrs. Mortimer
about her. The words had slipped from
her.
What voice?" asked Clarice eagerly.
And Janetta thought it best to relate
the story
"Ah! that makes many things clear
which found it so hard to explain"
said Clarice, thoughtfully. ct could
never make out why Mrs. Mortimer
seemed to blame herself so bitterly for
the burglary having happened. quite
accepted her confession Of injustice to
you and declined to take her notice to
leave, as you freely forgave her; but I
could not see in what way she could
consider herself responsible for the
robbery. Poor woman! how terribly
She has suffered; but it has done her
good, Janetta. She is far gentler and
kinder than she was, and she has kept
dragon watch over the house, appar-
emily, during our absence l think it's
getting chilly. Hadn't we better be
making our way back to the hotel?"
When they got back to their hotel
they found that table d'hote was al
ready served.
eve will go in as we are" said
Clarice. And they advanced into the
brilliantly lighted salon and took their
places. Seated exactly opposite them
was Doctor Drake, who regarded them
with smiling eyes.
what, AGAIN." said Clarice, with
nod and laugh, greeting him as if
they had only parted the night before.
you must be spending a perfect for
tune in travelling expenses! And look.
your occupation is gone!" she said,
with proud glance at Janetta. "She
does not look as if she needed much
doctoring, does she?"
My visit is entirely for pleasure"
said Doctor Drake, laughing. "I'm out
for a holiday at last. The world was
before me where to choose, and if I've
taken fancy like yourselves to visit
Spain, l cannot see why you should
make any objection"
None in the world" retorted Clar-
ice, merrily.
When dinner was ended it was but
natural that the doctor should join
the girls in the hall, and, sitting down
by their side. tell them all the home
news.
1--WE have agreed this afternoon that
we will go back" said Clarice. eve
are tired of wandering, aren't you, Jan
etta?"
Janetta nodded. eve are waiting
for an outburst of welcome from you,"
she said, smiling at the doctor, who
seemed lost in a fit of abstractin.
"It would have found vent before
this, except that your Homecoming
will not benefit me much. I'm going
to leave Northcliff."
The faces of both his listeners grew
blank
Glow horrid of you!" cried Clarice
petulantly And the impetuous words
brought pink flush to the Doctors
fair face. II suppose it's a case Of
money"
Eyes; it's money and baronetcy,"
replied the doctor, dryly.
You are Joking"
I'm not. I'll go and write my name
in the visitors book this instant If you
don't believe me. Sir Robert Drake!'
Do look the part?" he went on, with
rather a forced laugh. Two distant
male relatives died one after the other,
and awoke one morning lately to find
myself transformed from doctor in
country town into baronetcy and
the fortune"
"Then I suppose we must congratu-
late you," said Clarice, in voice that
nevertheless sounded little cold and
stiff. To tell the truth, she did not
at all relish the notion Of the sudden
removal of a knight upon whose will
ing devotion she could always depend.
"You need not Life is one big dis
appointment. 1t offers gifts that one
does not care for. and denies me the
only one which would make it worth
living"
He rose abruptly and went off to the
smoking room. and when, some five
y yoip1,toc later Tanatta stole a fJrtivc