The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-02

t'S' N"u. ieeiinS tnat Sne mad missed
point "but you could easily have
heard 1t elsewhere"
Who from? Brendon did not adyer.
,tise In the papers that he was stopping
with Mrs. Jersey on the night in cues
tion."
wThe little woman rose to her feet
with an artificial laugh and shook out
perfume from her silken skirts. "You
are very clever and obstinate, Lord
bennington, but how will you explain
this"-she pointed to the stiletto-''to
the authorities?"
%.""There will be no need for me to do
that" said Darlington. and took up
the weapon. Mrs. Ward stretched out
her hand.
my property. il you please, Lord
Darlington"
The old gentleman opened drawer,
dropped the weapon into it and closed
the drawer with a snap. Its locked
now" he said coolly. 81 shall take
charge Of this"
"How dare you? ! insist
"Oh, dear, no! You insist on moth.
ing" Lord Darlington rose, looking
like a giant as he lowered over the lit
tie woman. "My dear Mrs. Ward"
said he quietly, but In his deepest tones,
81 have been very patient with you,
but this thing must end. You must
promise to hold your tongue about
Brendon and
"And about you, suppose" she
sneered.
about me" Derrington's tone ex-
pressed surprise. "What have you to
hold Your tongue about as regards
meT'
Mrs. Ward stamped, though as
rule she was not given to betraying
violent emotion. ooh. It's too ridicu-
lousT' she said furiously. II can say
to the police how found the stiletto
in your coat"
II should advise you not to talk to
any one about thing which exists
only in your imagination"
"The stiletto"-
What are you talking of, Mrs.
WardT
TITS in that drawer" She pointed
to the table.
cob, dear, no, 1t isn't" said Derring.
ton blandiy; "there Is no stiletto; there
never was one. We have had nice
talk, and now we must part"
mot 1before. / haxe had my -say,n said
Mrs. Ward savagely, 'I see perfectly
wen that II have been foolish to let
that stiletto get into your hands. but
thought was dealing with man of
honor"
"Ah, Mrs. Ward, few Of us can aspire
to your high principlesv'
The sneer infuriated her. "You can
deny the stiletto II you like to the pub.
lie, but you dare not do so to me-"
"Why not? For the sake Of argu-
ment we will admit the existence of
the weapon. You come here with It in
your hand and state that you found 1t
In my coat-in the lining of the coat.
BY. doing so you have defeated your
own object. Had you produced the
weapon from the coat and showed 1t to
me,at4Ae very moment, your ACCUSE
ton might have held water. As It Is
the tking Is simply ridiculous. You
come here, you accuse me Of crime
Il did not accuse you," said Mrs.
Ward. beginning to find that Derring-
tom was too much even for her. 81 be-
Meve Brendon killed the woman-oh,
yes! You went to the house, and you
saw him. He and Mrs. Jersey had
words, as she would not confess, and
Brendon killed her with the stiletto.
Then you came in, and to-. save him
you put the dagger into yonr pocket,
sent him up to bed and. promised to
hold your tongue, and"--
perrington laughed. "You have
most vivid imagination, Mrs. Ward"
he said, with shrug; "but, as 1t hap
pens, you are talking nonsense. was
not ut Amelia square that evening, but
et my club. as any member then pres
ent can assure you. can prove an
alibi from the minute ! left this house
to the minute returned to find you
here. AS to the stiletto you say you
took out OF my pocket. that is rubbish.
On the whole. think you had better
hold your tongue"
"If ! go to the police they win open
that drawer"
"Oh. moi An Englishman's house is
his castle, You know, and man In my
position cannot be treated In the way
you suggest with impunity. Moreover,
Mrs. Ward. there Is ample time to do
stroy the stiletto."
which you will do" she said, recov-
sring her composure now that she
found 1t was useless to protest.
"No. I wouldn't even mind showing
1t to the police and saying how you
brought 1t here with arseeusation. II
the police can prove that this is the
weapon with which Mrs. Jersey was
stabbed. and IL you and the police can
prove that the stiietto was In my
pocket on the night Of the murder.
then you and the police are extremely
clever"
"oh, very We'll" said Mrs. Ward.