Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-07-16
TEMPTED

duOtAI NE
Il am not so sure" said the detective.
lreheciively; but come and have a drink,
and talk it over with me. Have yea
timc?"
Certainly"
Cecil accompanied the man out of the
/ park with mingled sensations of amuse-
merit and surprise He was still more
surprised at the next question nut TO
INN. His companion had led him to n
small bachelor fiat in a street off Picca
| diliy, and they were now sitting opposite
table with a large whisky and soda
beside each of them.
| Can you remember any details of vol,r
early childhood :" asked Detective Smvthe.
| Cecil hesitated before answering. He
did reminder a good deal, but he was not
sme whether he desired 10 confide the
story 10 stranger in this fashion. The
man noted his hesitst ion, and smiled.
| You need not minu me- he said; be
sides, II I'm not mistaken, l know most
CT 1t now. Were YOU not once with a
/ gang OF gA psies and didn't YOU run away
| from them? All, then / am right" he
ADDED, as the young man colored and
! started, that mark above your eve IS
/ curIons--one is ret likely TO find it in a
second face L have been looking for YOU
ion wears. but l never found any trace of
| Nou until last week, when | came across
you in The park"
Pint why should you look for me ?"
asked Nicil, woRderingly. "Will YOU rot
explain, Mr. Smythe? l am most
! curious"
First Of all, can you tell me how You
came to be a gypsy
Il cannot remember so far back |
ran away from the gang because l could
not bear the life. | wanted to educite
myself louged to become a gentle
man"
Exactly! You were BON for differ
cnt existence" remarked the detective.
smiling again. then rising, he openec a
door leading into an inner room. "Zinea :
/ am ready for YOU" he called.
At the sound. Roughly dressed nan
OF huge size, with a dark, brown face
and evil, cleaning eyes, stepped into the
room: and Cecil gave start as he recog.
nized the leader of the gang from which
he had escaped some twenty years ago
Look at this gentleman well, ling -
said the detective; could you swear to
LIS identityf"
The gypsy's glalce passed earelessly
over Cecils face.
That's i'm, right enough" he an
sweped "'E won't deny it, 'isself."
mol" murmured the young man
there is no occasion to deny it. | am
the person You used TO call Flip-the boy
you used to beat and curse haven't
forgotten. But what if l am? What
does it all meany''
Tell your own story" said Smythe
to Zinga That's the best explanation
we can give his grace"
His grace The title fell curiously OF
the journalists ears. Was this a joke
got up at his expense. was it plot Of
Zings7s to punish him for leaving them
What was it going to lead to? He felt
a sudden nervousness creep over him
and wished he had not allowed himself
to be brought to these lonely rooms.
when you were kid of g." began
the gypsy, sullenly. as though he did moi
care about being thus forced TO tell tbs
facts. Il stole you, thinking l should gel
a nice sum of money or restoring you Il
your sorrowing parents arms" here ht
gIinned malieiously, but | never got
chance We shifted away from your par
of the country pretty quick, and | tin
kered YOU up so that your own NANNY
wouldn't "a known you. But the police
were too sharp, and | thought it best Il
wait till thev'd settled down a bit
kept YOU with us for a couple of years
and Il hen got Jagged for poaching, ant
when came back, found you'd skipped
and been gone for six months, and ne
trace of you."
Well" said Cecil, impatiently, "Vh,
were my parents you so kindly deprived
me Of"
THAT is the point we are coming to,
broke in the detective. Your father wa
the Duke of Estercourt; You are the los
heir. and am proud to be the first e
congratulate your grace" he ended will
a bow.
Us this hoax" asked Cecil, in :
stern tone, looking from one to the other
If so, T."
at amt no hoax muttered the gypsy
eyeing him sulkily; and / suppose
shall have you down on me for it
ooh. | am sure his grace viii n
lenient,' said Smythe: then turning Il
Cecil, lie said, Il daresay the past can
be forgiven now? 1t i a fortunate thin,
we found Zinga. His evidence is mos
important
Are you laughing at mel" again
asked Cecil.
IF Your grace viii come with me T.
The lawyers now. all viii be made clear,
answered the detective, courteously.
Cecil rose, feeling as though he wer
, 4 in a dream: but as he gained the stree
, once more and walked with Smythe to
wards the Strand. there was but on
thought in his mind. Ii this wonder IA
thing were true. and he were Il duke, tn
impossible barrier That had existed he
j tween him and the unknown woman y
| 50 madly loved. had vanished.
In a few weeks, days perhaps. he mig't
meet Lady Viola Berys on level ground
and then!
CHAPTER il.