The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-06-13
CHAPTER XIII.

In what fever of excitement, anx-
iety, and hope made the journey
home, need not stay to describe.
The story of Lacroix's fate could now
till in to its last detail; l knew where
his mutilated remains lay buried, or at
least knew spot which coincided
with that described by Fraulein Haas,
so what remained for me to do was to
bring the fact of my knowledge home
to Steinhardt in manner so forcible
that he could not refuse to make terms
to me-more than this I could not ac-
complish, even if would, considering
my promise to Fraulein Haas. But in
the sequel had my conviction re-
impressed that was in this business
but the agent Of Higher Power.
reached Timperley very late on Sat
urday night, but in spite of the late
ness of the hour and my WEAKNESS ]
went at once to Birley's; l had warned
him of my coming by telegram from
London. found him waiting for me,
and with him, as l had hoped, but
scarcely expected, his ward Louise. l
fear his cheerful greeting passed for
almost nothing with me in comparison
With hers. Her manner WAS undemon-
strative, but there was, l felt, cordial
sincerity in it which came from her
true heart, and | was futtered with
hope. There we're, however, things
more serious and immediate to be
talked of than matters of love could
then be considered.
l inquired concerning steinhardt,
and was told that they had not yet
seen him. What, l asked Birley, did
he propose to do ii Steinhardt came
and demanded the surrender of his
ward?-would he admit him?
"Admit him?" he exclaimed. "Of
course. There is no use in shutting
him out. He can sell me up in this
house and then turn me out he has a
bill of sale on everything, and he has
been holding it back for some time, to
use it now, l expect, but Louise shan't
go back to him, unless she likes; I'll
find some roof to shelter me and her.
Yea, said he, turning his bright face
npon her, "we'll get thro' it all right i"
"You are both very good to me, "
said she, going to him, and shedding
some tears on his shoulder.
There nowhere" said he, pat
ting her. Then turning to me, "She
means you, too, my lad"
eyes" said she, resuming her seat
and looking down, "Mr. Birley has
told me all you have done for me to
find out about my poor father-and all
that he and you suspect, too. And |
cannot-oh, I cannot!" she cried
shuddering and pressing her hands to
her eyes-"look at that terrible, cruel
man againl"
81 could not help telling her, my
lad, said Birley, in answer to a look
of reproach from me. "The old chap
wrote questions to her about tn papers
you found, and had to explain.p
But" said 1, in some alarm, "you
know, Miss Lacroix, we must not, we
cannot denounce him-we must not, l
doubt, say anything till we have some
evidence that he is really the man. l
think, l am sure, l soon shall have
that evidence, but even then we must
be careful what we say"
This, l was glad to find, was not re-
garded as more than general, though
confident, expression of hope, so was
not asked awkard questions. Now that
my anxiety concerning Louise was for
the time sllayed, I felt exceedingly
tired. I promised to call next day to
tell them about my journey, and rose
to go to my lodgings, where my land
lady, knew, or her herculean son,
would still be sitting up for me.
Birley accompanied me to the door,
talking according to his wont. He put
on a cap which hung in the hall, and,
leaving the door sdiar, walked with me
to the gate. The air refreshed me,
and, full as | was Of Fraulein Haas's
revelation, felt impelled to tell Birley
something of it. Thus, almost uncon-
sciously, We walked away from the gate
down the lane leading to the high road,
and l was led into telling him all, the
more so that he did not seem sceptical
OF the value Of hec visions. We had
thus left the house some minutes, how
many ] cannot tell, when several
sounds like screams in rapid succession
rose behind us into the still night. !
We stopped together and looked at each |
other.
"By the Id" exclaimed Birley. |
al left the door OPEN"
We were hurried back by common
impulse. We found the door adisr,