The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23

well is ueIb.
For an instant the man hesitated, bat
In that instant his hand slipped from his
mouth. over which ne had again laid it.
and his whole face. with its changed lines
ana the threatening. almost cruel ex-
preston which these gave il. appeared I'm
all its combined eagerness and force A
murmur escaped the watchful group
about him, but this affected him little.
His eyes, which no had fixed on Ran
som, sharpened a tride. perhaps, and his
tone grew thought moro sarcastic as
he finally retorted
Il will explain myself 70 you. but not
90 this crowd And not to you till I am
sure OF the facts which as yet have
reached me only through the newspapers.
Let me hear a full account Of what has
transpired here since you all came n
town. I have an enormous interest I'm
the matter-a family interest. rs you are
well aware for all your badly hidden
insinustons"
Follow me-" was tho quiet reply.
There is a room on this very floor where
We can talk undisturbed."
Mr.. Hazen cast quick glance behind
him at the man who had driven up with
him and whom nobody had noticed till
now. Then without a word ne separated
himself from the chattcrinE group on
circling him and stepped after Mr.. Ran
som into the small room where the lat
ter had held his first memorable con-
versation with the lawyer
NOV" said he as the door swung to
behind them. "piain language and not
too much OF it. I have no time to waste,
but the truth about Georgian must
know"
Ransom settled himself lie felt bound
70 comply with the others request but
ne wished 20 make sure of not saying
too much. or too little. Hazen's attack
bad startled him. II revealed one OF
fVva lfrarru - .s-
had assumed the offensive 70 hide his
own connection with this TRAGEDY. or his
antagonism was an honest one sDrinEing
from an utter disbelief in the circum-
stances reported 90 him by tho press
and such rossips ~ he had encountered
on his way 10 Sitford.
With the first possibility he felt him
self unable 10 cope without the aid OF
Mr.. Harper: the second might be met
with candor. Should he thcn be candid
with this doubter. relate TO him the facts
as they had unrO'led themselves before
his own eyes-secret facts-convinoing
ones-facts which must prove 10 him
that whether Georgian did or did not lie
ut the bottom OF the mill-stream. the
woman now In the house was his sister
Anitra- lost TO him and the rest Of The
family for many years but now found
again and restored TO her position as n
IIazen and Georgian's twin II would
have tendency to throw Mr.. HaZen's
own claim into the disrepute he would
cast on hers. But this consideration
could have no weight with Mr.. Ran
som. He decided upon candor at all
costs. It suited his nature best and
Il also suited the strange and doubtful
situation Mr.. Harper might have con
cluded differently but Mr.. Harper was
not there to give advice: and the mat
ter would not wait Little as he I'M
derStoOd this Hazen. he RECOGNIZED that
he was not a man to trite with. Some
thing would have to be said or done.
Meeting the Iatter's eye frankly. he re-
marked:
Il have no wish TO keep anything back
From you. I am as much struck as you
are by the mystery OF this whole oc-
eurrence- I was hard 70 convince.
This is my story. It involves all that
Is known hero with the exception OF such
facts as have been kept from us by the
hree parties directly concerned-of which
three / consider you one"
AS the last four words fell from his
lips he looked for some change. slight
and hardly perceptible. perhaps. IN the
others expression. But he was doomed
10 disappointment. Tho steady regard
held. nothing moved about the man. not
even the hand into which the poor dis
figured chin had fallen. Ransom sup
pressed a sigh. His task was likely 20
prove blind one. tie had a sense OF
stumbling in the dark but the gaze he
had hoped to sex faIter compelled him
70 proceed and he told his story with
out subterfuge or suppression.
One thing. and only one thing caused n
movement In tho set figure before him.
When he mentioned the will which Geor-
eian had made n few hours prior to her
cisa ppearance. Hazen's hand slipped aside
from the wound it had sought to cover.
and Ransom caught sight Of the sudden
thrOb which deepened its hue II was