Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-06


George placidly. You will gain moth
ing by insolence. Bawdsey."
The man rose with wounded air.
upon my word, Mr.. Vane," he said,
giving George his correct name to
show that he recognized his new po-
sition. 81 have not the slightest inten.
ton Of being insolent. ! am glad for
your sake that things are as they are.
and pleased for my own, since Lola
may now give up thoughts of you and
turn to me-
That's all very we'll Bawdsey," said
Brendon quietly. You profess great
friendship for me, but how can l trust
youi"
"Why should you doubt me?' asked
Bawdsey, still wounded.
II can only judge the future by the
past, and since you are quite ready to
play Lord Darlington false
"Who says that?" cried the man.
sitting down.
81 say SO. Lord Darlington has told
me all"
"All what?" demanded Bawdsey,
willfully ignorant.
"A!l that took place on the night
when you came to this house to i'm
personate him"
Bawdsey laughed, and his face clear
ed IF that is your disagreeable bust.
ness. sir. can easily put that to
rights"
"Can you explain why you drugged
him. why you threatened himT
II did not threaten him."
Lord Darlington informed me that
you threatened to get him into trouble.
That was why he consulted me, and
that is why l have come to tell you
that IL you fight Lord Darlington you
will fight me also"
"Don't press too hard, Mr.. Brendon.
! am willing to do you service. and
you are nisjudging me-" said Rawd
sey.
Il am willing to hear what you have
to say"
"If you are satisfied with my ex-
PLANTATION, will you endeavor to get
Lola to marry me?"
II know nothing about you save
what my grandfather told me, and his
report does not bias me In your favor"
Bawdsey shrugged his shoulders.
"Lola Is we'll able to look after her.
SELF" he said. Il think l mentioned
that before. But If you are satisfied
with what l am about to tell you Will
you help me?"
'T'll do my BEST" said George Inn
patiently. But shall not advise her
to marry you unless you prove to M,
that you do not intend to blackma.
Lord Darlington"
Nothing was farther from my
thoughts" said Bawdsey earnestly. ut
was to my interest that your grand
father should hold his tongue about
my having been to this house,
HE would not have known had you
not told him voluntarily"
"Oh, yes, he would have discovered
in some way. l thought it best to be
on the right side by confesslng volun-
tarily what had done. l said could
get him into trouble-and admit tina;
| did threaten him SO far-simply to
make him hold his tongue"
You were afraid lest you should be
accused of the crime?"
Bawdsey looked at George In sur
prise That possibility never crossed
my mind,' he replied calmly. Il GER
tainly did not kill the woman. Do you
think did, Mr.. Brendon?"'
George shrugged his shoulders. Go
ing by circumstantial evidence
"Oh"-Bawdsey tipped away that
objection with snap Of his fingers
that's all right; l will explain. No,
Mr.. Brendon; why I wished Lord Der
rington to be silent was that 1 might
carry out my plans SO as to learn who
killed Mrs. Jersey"
"Then you are looking after the
caseY'
ION behalf Of Lord Darlington. He
has an idea that the assassin became
possessed Of a confession which Mrs.
Jersey left behind her.
"How do you know she left it?'
because / knew Mrs. Jersey very
well, and, rs told you long since. i
was once a boarder here. One day
she let slip that she had some one in
her power, and would leave the ey.-
dence of that power behind her SO
that her niece might benefit. l tod
this to Lord Darlington. He insisted
that l should try to discover the as
sassin so as to get that confession.
which compromises him, back again.
To spur me on lie has promised me a
reward of thousand pounds should l
obtain the confession and the convic-
ton Of the assassin AS want money
to marry Lola, am doing my best. |
came to live here for that purpose.
Lord Darlington talking of my visit to
the house on the night Of the crime
would have jeopardized my plans,
therefore I was obliged-as you say
to threaten him SO as to make him
keep silent. SO far, do you blame me,
Mr. NBrendon?'
NO replied George, after some
thought, 1.-The end justifes the means.
But you might have adopted less ras-
cally means"
81 have not adopted any. l have not
asked Lord Darlington for money, so
am not a blackmailer; nor do III
tend to claim from him anything but
what is justly mine"
"And what is justly yours, If you
pIooSaT'.