The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26


fear, abhorrence and detected guilt
which, fool that was, had expected
to see reflected in response to the same
test in Mr.. Grey's equable countenance.
The surprise and wonder Of 1t held
me chained to the spot. was in a
state of stupefaction, 80 that 1
at my e f0teB But ths the DiGtsn sder aosd
them. Wrenching his gaze from the
stiletto which Mr.. Grey continued to
hold out, he pointed at the broken cup
and saucer, muttering:-
'That is what startled me into this
betrayal al-the noise Of breaking china.
1 cannot bear it since
He stopped, bit his lip and looked
around him with an air Of sudden
brayado.
wife's feet in Mr. Ramsdeli's alcoyye," y
finished Mr.. Grey with admirable self
II see that explanations from myself
are not in ORDER - was the grim retort,
Then as the full we Weieh of his pastinn
crushed in upon him, his face assumed
an aspect startling to my unaccustomed
PocRet he drew forsh 1S small 1n9 box eD %nioa nn
he placed in Mr.. Grey's hands.
"The Great Mogul," he declared
simply.
It was the first time I had heard this
Without q word that gentleman
opened the box, took one look at the
carefully deposited the recovered gem
In his own pocket. As his eyes re-
turned to. the man before him, all the
passion Of the latter burst forth.
1T was not for that I killed herl'
CT1A0 he EsS IT, was hana,,so sho 5oAo1
me and Haunted her disobedience in my
face. I would do it again, yet
Here his voice broke and it was in
different tone and with q total change
of: manner he added: "You stand ap-
R;s Rallssd at at ny y q ;dlepTavity: "a You have not
me because. Of the stiletto. It was a
mistake, using that stietto. Otherwise,
the plan was good. I doubt if YOU
know now how I found my way into
the alcove, possibly under your very
eyes; certainly, under the eyes of many
II do not. It is enough that you
snfSEsd sufif: it; that you confess your
Here Mr.. Grey stretched his hand
towards the. electric button.
"No, it is not enough The tone
was fierce, authoritative. "Do not ring
the bell, not yet. I have fancy to
tell you how 1 managed that little
affair." = -
Glancing about, he caught up from
q table near by small brass traY.
Emptying it Of it's contents, he turned
upon us with drawn down features and
an obsequious air SO opposed to his
natural manner that it was as if an
other man stood before us.
"Jardon my black tie,' he muttered
holding out the tray towards Mr.. Grey.
A waiter! He had entered the Rams
mistaking. the attitude or the sleek ap-
pearance he had assumed.
MT: Grey uttered an exclamation. In
stantly the tray was thrown aside and
the man resumed his ordinary aspect.
see you understand me- - he cried
Il who have played host at many ball,
passed myself off that night as one Of
the walters. I came and went and no
one noticed me- It is such a natural
sight to see waiter passing ices that
my going in and out Of the alcove did
not attract the least attention. I never
look at walters when attend balls.
never look higher than their trays. No
one looked at me higher than my tray.
1 held the stiletto under the tray and
when struck her she threw up her
hands and they hit the tray and the
bear the sound of breaking china since.
I loved her
A gasp and he recovered himself.
"That is neither here nor THERE" he
muttered. "You summoned me under
; threat to present myself at your door
today. I have done 80. I meant to re.
store you your diamond, simply. It has
acted more. Surprise forced my secret
from me. That young lady with he1
damnable awkwardness has put my head
in moose. But do not think to hold il
there. I did not risk this interview
without precautions and when I leave
this hotel it will be as free man.
With one Of his rapid changes, won
/ derful and inexplicable to me at the
moment, he turned towards mo with s
, bow, saying courteously enough
: eve will excuse the young lady,
, Next moment the barrel Of pisto
/, cleaned in his hand.
The moment was critical Mr.. Grey
{ stood directly in the line Of fire, and The
audacious man who thus held him at hi
3 mercy was scarcely foot from the door
Marking the desperation Of his look anG
the Resd Of u his finger & q the ts
4 and the man escape. But MI. Gre,
held his own, tho he made no move, ant
J, did not venture to speak. Nerved b.
t his courage, I summoned up all m;
own. This man must not escape, no
!. must Mr.. Grey suffer. The pistol di
rected against him must be diverted
T to myself. Such amends were due on
}. whose good name I had SO deeply i
8 secretly insulted. Remembering tn
t sick girl, I did not scream, but, throw
ing myself towards the bell, cried ou
? that would raise the house If b
! moved, and laid my finger on the button
ihe pistol swervsd my way The fac
Y above it smiled watched that smile
Before it broadened to it's full exten,
q I pressed the button.
Fairbrother stared, dropped his pisto
g and burst forth with these two words:-
y y Brave girll''
The tone can never convey.
Then he made for the door,
9 As he passed thru it he called back:-
have been in worse straits tha
this.'
But he never had. When, after som
mendation from Mr.. Grey, which
chiefly remember from the immens
effort it cost me not to betray my ow
sense of shame at the part I had reall
9 played in this matter, ventured t
q peer into the hall; it was to see M
= Fairbrother standing silent and dowr
cast between two men, one of whol
n held the pistol he had recently fou1
3 ished. One of these men was my itt1
r detective, the other,-the inspector hin
l. self.
They had not left me then entirely I
o my own devices. Hidden in the en-
u brasure Of nearby. recess, they ba
D. seen and heard,-whatf