The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-09-27

"The first statement Is that you are
absolutely assured, on evidence known
to you, that | am the murderer of my
uncle"
81 shall not retract that statement,
Mr. Brangwyn." said Billery.
very well, sir" said Aloysius, as
calmly as ever. I'm that case you
shall learn at what value a court OF
law will assess your evidence"
He took his hat and, with faint in
clination Of his head to Truscott,
turned to go.
wait bit" said Billery. ut might
interest you. perhaps, to learn what Is
within my knowledge"
1T would certainly interest me very
much indeed" said Aloysius, facing
round again.
You swOre at the inquest that you
were not in London at the time OF
your uncle's disappearance. You were
seen here on the very night on which
your victim was last seen alive. The
body was concealed in the clay Of the
colossal statue on which you after
wal WI hCu, bub "iiSh youh SoNOhA
Alexis had begun"
"Ah!" said Aloysius. The sound
escaped him involuntarily, and for a
moment that TRANSIENT look of fear
which Truscott had noticed at their
first interview flashed into his eyes.
"A shrewd superstition, Mr.. Billery,"
he said, "but based on what?"
BASED on the facts" said Billery,
'that the body was in state of pres
ervation when first seen, that the
floor OF the cellar was deeply covered
with modelling clay when the water
was pumped out Of it, and that a
workOf art of considerable value has
totally and mysteriously disappeared.
That touches you, Mr.. Brangwyn.
You take it well, but you can't with
draw that startled exclamation"
NO." said Aloysius, as calmly as
before. you startled me, certainly.
Bat there is one point of interest. How
am indicted in the matter?"
you are indicted by the fact that
just before your uncle's death the old
man had decided to disinherit you,
and had given instructions to that
effect to his solicitor
"These are the statements which in
duced you to assist this gentleman in
his inquiry, Mr.. Truscott?" asked
Aloysius.
These are the statements which
appeared to me to Justify inquiry"
Truscott answered.
you compel me to acknowledge that
they do appear to justify inquiry.
But they do not justify the assertion
that am guilty of my uncle's death.
They form a chain of suspicious cir
cumstances If they did more l sup
pose that ! should before now have
been upon trial for my life. l pre-
sumo from the courage with which Mr.
Billery advances them to me that he
believes them still"
yes, Mr.. Brangwyn," said Billery,
81 believe them still. | have retired
from this inquiry and am willing to
let sleeping dogs lie, If you are You
need fear no further assault from me,
for l have given my word to your
cousin that l will not attempt hence
forth to cast stain upon the name he
bears"
you have given that assurance to
my cousin?"
AT his urgent request" said Billery.
81 am indebted to him for many
acts Of kindness, and, when all Is said
and done, had fulfilled my duty when
communicated my facts to the po-
lice"
1T Is fortunate" said Aloysius,
that so far as your suspicious attach
to me l am In a position to rebuff them
all l cannot complain that you have
held them, or that you still hold them,
so long as l do not choose, for good
and sufficient reasons of my own, to
disarm them and sweep them out OF
being. l have borne my burden now
for seven years, and l must bear 1t
still. came here in the belief that
you had acted wantonly and malicious
ly in answer to some imagined slight.
l believe that We share a common an
tipathy, but l owe you no grudge
hoW tudI L uhucTStduu tie grounds ON
which you acted. Yet trust, for my
own sake and for yours, that you will
allow yourself to be governed by dis
erection in the future. You will accept
my warning, not being offered in q
! spirit Of enmity or anger, but as COM
ing from one whose patience has been
tried so long that 1t is near the break
| ing point"
That for your warning!" cried
Billery, swapping his fingers in a flush
OF hatred and contempt. I've given
my promise to Alexis, and / shall
keep 1t, not out of any fear of you or
your blessed law libel, but because a
promise to friend Is sacred"
Il shall rest content in that assur-
ance. and, In your own phrase, sir, /
am willing to let sleeping dogs lie.
wish you good day Mr.. Truscott."
Good day, Mr.. Brangwyn," an
swered Truscott, and without another
word on either side Aloysius left the
room and walked in seeming tranquil
ity down the stairs.
Did you ever see q fellow brazen
out a case like thatf" Billery asked,
before the noise Of his footsteps ON
the uncarpeted woodwork had died
away.