Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-02-11
CHAPTER XXXIV.

than donkey knows about house furn-
ishing, and he stared at the document
in awe and amazement. There was no
doubt concerning it. 1t was a will.
and the will and testament of the Earl
of Arrowhead.
But how on Garth had it come to be
concealed in the back of this myster-
ious picture? Who had put 1t there,
and why?
For few minutes BERTHE felt as a
man does who Is fortunate-or unfort.
unate-enough to pick up letter in
the street. He didn't want to read it.
and yet he couldn't find out to whom
it belonged unless he did read It,
With a feeling of curiosity and ex.
citcment he drew a chair up to the
fire and commenced the perusal. But
before he sot through a dozen lines
the legal jargon made his brain swim
and so confused him that he had 20
begin over again.
He had got to the length of half a
dozen lines when there came knock
at the door, and his man entered
Berthe rose as If he had been dis
covered in the act of committing
crime, and folding up the will, stuffed
it behind the clock on the mantel-shelf.
"Mr. Vassel about the horse. my
Lord" said the man.
Instantly the will was driven out OF
Bcrties mind Mr. Vassel had a racer
in charge for his lordship. and on tbs
horse depended a great deal more of
Berties money than he would have
liked to own.
"Oh. show him up; no, wait" he
added, quickly; ''Ill come down toI
him" and putting the picture face
downwards on the top of the bureau.
he caught up his hat and ran down
stairs.
Mr. Vassel had a great deal TO say
about the horse, and was particularly
anxious that Lord BERTHE should go to
a neighboring stable where a groom,
who had some important information
to disclose. was waiting for them.
BERTHE consented and the two went
off
The valet made up the fire. and
began to clear up the litter which his
master had made He carefully col
lected the bits of broken frame, and
put them in the fire. and that they
might burn up the quicker. collected
the odds ard ends from the waste
paper basket, and added them to the
heap then he shook the cloth, and
was sauntering to the window, when
there came ring at the door.
The valet looked over the balcony
and seeing that It was Mr. Mordaunt
Royce, went down to answer the door
Ills lor1ship is not in he said
The just stepped out with Mr.. Vassel
Mr.. Vassell" said Royce who also
had an interest in the horse. do you
think he will be long? If not | will go
upstairs AMI wait"
"Oh, he won't be long, sir; he's gone
out without his overcoat; he can't be
many minutes"
Then III go up and wait" said
Royce, and he walked upstairs into
Bertie's room.
He had come to thank BERTHE for mis-
heroic conduct at the Coronet, and to
smooth over and explain his engage
ment 20 Miss Ida Trevelyan.
Lord Bertie's cigarcase was on the
table, and Royce lit cigar and then
sauntered up to the fire.
AS he did so his eyes were attracted
by the picture lying face downwards
on the bureau. He went up to It and
took it up carelcssly. thinking that it
would be either portrait of Bertie's
horse or some famous ballet dancer.
"Bertie's going in for fine arts" he
unused, with sneer.
Then he turned the picture over,
and with an exclamation nearly let it
drop from his hands.
1t was the portrait of the Countess
of Arrowhead, the portrait which he
had last seen in old Craddock's safe.
For moment Royce was turned to
stone, 1t seemed to him too incredi-
BILE to be tue. He carried it to the
window and examined it infinitely y.
Yes. II was the original picture; the
picture that was so like Joan Ormsby ;.
tho picture which old Craddock had
hd0 NpplCN anu ~ NdltAuilN tSAdintN.
But how did 1t come into Lord BERTHE
Dewsbury's possession?
Can the cid idiot have given-sold
it to him." muttored Royce. '1mpossi.
BILE! And yet five pounds would tempt
the miserable old hound."
Then he looked again, and saw that
BERTHE had forced il out of the old
oaken frame. Why had he done that .
The frame was curiosity in itself,
and of as much value as the picture.
Happening to glance at the fireplace,
he saw q fragment of gliding, and then
the remains of the frame smouldering
in the fire. Mystified and alarmed. he
stood with The picture in his hands.
What did ii mean? How had Berthe
got possession of the picture. and why
had he destroyed the frame?
There were some open letters stuck
in the glass and littering the mantel-
shelf, and Royce took them up and