The Elbert County tribune., 1902-09-04

he started in to tell his strange story.
Airline listened eagerly.
Indeed, othello. relating his aston
ishing adventures to Desdemona,
could not haze had a more deeply in
terested listener than this fair Eng
lish girl proved to be.
When he described his companion
in misery he was careful not to say
too much, lest he betray that which
he wished to keep a secret a little
longer.
The story was done.
Airline had hung on his words Gag
erly, and his assurance that Baron
PeterhoG would take care of Capt
Brand. discovering the truth with re-
gard to his claims, and relieve her of
his presence-if. as Charlie suspected.
the other proved to be an arrant i'm
poster-was comforting to her trou-
bled heart.
Still Lady Airline showed no signs
OF nervousness.
perhaps | may shock you, Mr..
Stuart-perhaps you have such strict
notions of honesty and a name upon
which there has never been a stain.
that you will hardly be as pleased to
look upon me in the light OF a sister
when | confess that have a relative
in wnom am deeply concerned. and
who has broken the law of his native
land-who took what was not his own
and fed. In plain language, Mr.. Stu
art. my cousin betrayed a trust and
stole money"
She was scarlet with shame as she
turned her blue eyes appealingly to-
ward him.
Let me tell you as briefly as can.
| knew him quite well. He was young
er. and a son of my fathers only
brother. now long since dead. We
were good friends up to the time he
took this false step. and was the last
one he saw before he fed from Eng
land. Poor boy, IL he had only CON
fided in me, could have easily settled
the matter. which | did soon after
ward. at any rate.
II have been searching since last
October; at times the trail would
grow warm, and then | lost sight of
him completely.
BY mere accident a friend wrote
me that she believed she had seen
him in Antwerp. though he had not
answered her smile and nod. l could
very well understand why. since he
believed the officers from London
were looking for him.
THAT is why came hereto find
tAis boy. to reclaim and make a man
of him."
And | shall endeavor to assist you
in your search for this Alexander
Brand" said Charlie eagerly. "As It
chanced | have some knowledge of
the young chap. In truth, l have seen
him face to face"
Herein Antwerp" eagerly.
In this city"
And you can take me to him?
You will, Mr.. Stuart?" laying hand
upon his arm.
"If you so desire: but that will NO
cessitate a long tourney-across the
sea. in fact
Then he has returned to England" ?"
mo; to America-New York"
How very strangely 1t all came
about!" she mused.
Almost Incredible! Indeed.
should have been 10th to believe such
things could be possible II | had not
gone through the experience myself"
Everything had now been told, so
that there was no more secrets.
The rest of the ride was occupied
in enjoying the features of the seen
cry. in so far as these points could
be discovered from vehicle
And Charles mind was made up
ere they returned to the Hotel de la
Paix that, God willing, he would serve
and win this peerless girl.
The curiosity of Artemus had been
whetted to a degree that demanded
satisfaction, else his peace of mind
was forever gone.
He asked many questions regarding
Aleck.
Evidently the young fellow had
aroused the strongest interest in his
mind. for he saw In him the elements
of strong character that must at
tract attention from the public.
Where is he bound-Hong Kong,
Nagasaki, Singapore, Cape Town? I'm
ready to go to the uttermost parts of
the earth to interview hint"
Try something easier-something
nearer home"
New York;" with little. almost
inarticulate shrek.
Exactly. | have sort of engage
ment with him at the Windsor Hotel
in your city"
But that is not me-"
We'll, you can make one of the
party. Arline-that is. Miss Brand.
or rather, Lady Arline-is bound to
find Aleck. She is possessed of an
idea that since fortune was so bounti-
full as to heap favors in her lap, she
should respond by taking care of this
half-brothcr, or cousin, who seems
balancing between a bright career and