The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-19

rIT y
here this moment, smoothing the pillow pillow
Of the departing saint and wondering how
much they would got. YOU may make
your mind easy on that SCORE"
"Then who Is this Ralph whom you
have never seer,, and to whom you are
leaving so mtoh7" asked, with my
usual desire for information. VI "a
He glared at mo for q moment, and
then he turned his face away. is
Oh 1t | What does It matter, now
I'm dying?' ne said. And then he added,
hoarsely, ~ knew his mother"
could not speak, but involuntarlly
put out my hand, and took his leaden
one and held 1t. He scowled at me. ana
then the words came out, as II IN spite
of himself: .3
"Bhe-if she had married me-, who
knows what might But she married
Danvers. She called her second son
Ralph. MY first name is Ralph" Then,
with a sudden change OF tone, pulling
away his hand. "Therel now you know
all about It'll Edifying, isn't it? These
deathbed scenes always have nh element
OF interest, haven't they7 Good-evening'---
ringing the boil at his elbow--"1 can't
say I hope we shall meet again. It
would BIO impolite No, don't let mo keep
you. Good-by again. n ..
| "Good-by, Sir john said, taking his
impatient hand and shaking 1t gently;
"God bless you. :" ".
"Thankeo," grinned the old man with a
sardonlc chuckle. If anything could
do me good that will, I'm sure. Good-by"
CHAPTER II. 5S
AS I breakfasted next mNning, pre-
vously to my departure, could not help
~ nj
which T was now returning to England
as a colonel on long leave-to that IN,
which I had left It many, ! do not care ,l'
to think how many, years ago, the
youngest ensign in the regiment
It was curious to remember that In my
youth I had always been considered the
fool of the family; most unjustly, so
consdered when I look back ut my
quick promotion owing to casualties. and
at my long and prosperous career In
India which cannot but regard as the
result of high PRINCIPLES, and abilities
to say the least Of It, Of not the mean
est order. On the point OF returning TO
England, the trust Sir John had, with
his usual sflrewdness, reposed In me,
was an additional proof. If proof We're
needed, of the confidence I had inspired
in him-a confidence which seemed 70
have rlpened suddenly at the end Of
his life after many years Of hardly con-
coaled mockery and derision. Just as I
was finishing my reflections and my
breakfast, Dickson, one OF the last Joined
subalterns, came In.
.'This Is very awful" he said, so grave
" that turned to look at him. III
"What is awful?"
Don't you known" he replied.
Haven't you heard about-sr John
last nlght7'
Dead r. I asked
He nodded; and then he said
Murdered in the night. Cathcart
heard a nolse and went in, and stumbled
over him on the floor. AS he came In he
saw the lamp knocked over, and a figure
rush out through tho veranda. The
moon was bright and he saw q man run
across clear space in the moonlight
a. tall slightly built man in native dress.
but not native, Cathcart said; that he
would take his oath on by his build
He reused the house. but the man got
clean off, OF course.
"And Sir John?"
''sr John was quite dead when Cath
cart got back to him.. He found him
Lying on his face. His arms were spread
out, and his dressing gown was torn as
If be had struggled hard Ills pockets
Id
table drawers forced open, the whole
room had been ransacked. Yet the old
mans gold watch had not been touched,
and some money in one OF the drawers
had not been taken. What on earth Is
the meaning Of 1t all?'' said young
Dickson, below his breath. What was
the thief after?"
IN moment the truth flashed across
my brain. put two and two together
as quickly as most men. 1 fancy, The
Jewels! Some ono had got wind OF the
Jewels, which at that moment were re-
posing on my own person In their ola
brown bag. Sir John had been Just IN
time.
What was he looking for7" continued
Dickson, walking UP and down. The
old man must have had some paper or
other about him that he waited to get
hold OF. But what7 Cnthcart says
that nothing whatever has been taken,
| as far as he can see at present. Fly
was perfectly silent. It Is not every
man who would have been so In my place
| but I was. / know when to hold my
tongue. thank Heavenl
Presently the others came In. al
full OF the Same subject. and Their
suddenly remembered that It was get
ting late; and there was q hustle and
/ leave tAklnB, uVu W PooSe ~ - 80
l could hear more. Not. however, ina
there was much more to hear. for every
thing seemed to DO In tho greatest confu
sion, and every species OF conjecture wa
i afloat as to the real criminal. and tn
motive for tho crime. had not mucl
time to think of anything during tn
first day on board; yet, busy as was u
arranging and rearranging my things
poor old Sir John never seemed quit
absent from my mind. His image. q
had last seen him, constantly rose be
:. fore me. and tho hoarse whisper wa
forever sounding In my ears, I'm watched
: ! know I'm watched" could not ge
him out of my head. was unable to slice
the first night l was on board. and, a
; the long hours wore on, always SCENE
to soc the pale, searching eyes OF IT.
! dead man; and above the manlfol
= noises OF the steamer, and the perpetu'
!, tapping OF the calm water against my ca
a came the whisper, Elm watched! kno
: I'm watched!'
> CHAPTER III.
o was all right next day. I suppose
: had had what women call nerves.
= never knew what nerves meant befor
! because no two women ever met seen