The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-12-21
CHAPTER Overwhelmingly

0oP6l Lure ny tlt HbAL HOlICM ara LIdll.
This necessitated a somewhat hurried
toilette for the ladies, but they were
ready In time. The journey was made
In silence for the most part, and in a
complete silence they walked from the
village station. 1t happened that
Aloysius was standing at the window
which looked out upon the pathway,
and seeing Lillian in the act of enter
Ing he ran to encounter her upon the
threshold. He me her with his custo-
mary smile of melancholy and affec-
ton.
Welcome, and twice welcome.
What beneticent wind has blown you
here?"
"A benficent wind. indeed" she an
swered. with q proud and confident
smile. Mr.. and Mrs. Billery are
known to you already. Will you give
us three a few minutes Of YOU timer"
Willingly" he answered. Come
In"
He shook hands ~courteously and no
more, but Belle retained his hand with
a firm grasp.
I'D like We to know, Mr.. Brangwyn,
that / come here as a friend. and hat
I withdraw every uncivil word l ever
said to We. Ye have me apologies, Mr..
B%rangwyn. and l hope yen not throw
them back at me. though we have the
right to do it,
1T would be a grave offense In
Decd" he answered. cordially, which
would not be wiped out by SO candid
and kind an appeal. Mrs. Billery. l
am very pleased to see you under my
roof"
II have tried to make my amends
already, sir" said Billery. Miss Lee
will explain the reason for my intru-
sion"
II told you that a beneficent wind
had blown me here" said Lillian. ut
Is a wind to raise the cloud which has
rested over you SO long and scatter 1t
to all the other winds Of heaven.
Augustus, dear friend"-she laid both
hands upon his shoulders and looked
up into his eyes-'there is one sharp
trial before o and then the thing is
over. You will be arrested tomorrow
for the murder OF your uncle"
"Ah!" he sighed as Billery had nee
heard him sigh before. "At last! At
lasti I have dreaded this for many
years, and since the day l first entered
this house ! have known that it was
certain. | have prayed that it might
be averted, and l take heaven to wit
ness that l have suffered in striving to
avert It.. Well, the truth must out and
guilt must suffer-"
Mr.. Billery tells me that you have
an incontestable proof of your own in
%nocence," said Lillian.
"That is true" he answered. But
| am at a loss to know how Mr.. Billery
became aware of the fact"
II had it from Alexis. who told me
that he himself had seen It,"
"Ah!" he sighed again. Il under
stand. But tell me, now. how comes it
you are aware that the police will take
action tomorrow? They are not in
the habit of publishing a fact like
that"
Thereupon Billery told the story OF
his association with Sergeant Holt,
and Of their encounter in Paris on
the. previous day.
IL told him that he would make the
error Of his lifetime" he continued,
"and that l should feel 1t my duty to
see that he did lot find you unpre-
pared. He said that | was quite free
to tell you. and that you were under
surveillance. ~,
II have been aware of that. Might
l trouble you so far, Mr.. Billery, as to
ask you to walk into the road, and to
see IL there is a man in sight who
wears a light drab overcoat, a brown
bowler hat, and a wisp of a dirty red
comforter?"
"If he is there?" asked Billery.
Tell him, please. to hold himself in
readiness to accompany mo to Scot
land Yard"
Right" said the other, and was
gone upon the instant.
you are going to clear yourself"
cried Lillian.
II am going to clear myself" he re-
sponded. But, my dearest, | shall
strike a blow in doing it at the heart
OF one / would fain shelter from all
harm. l kept silent at first because l
had no more than a strong suspicion.
have kept silent since for the sake OF
that lea friend. For that friend /
would die right willingly. but l cannot
consent to die ANONYMOUSLY, and to
leave the name Of a murderer behind
me-"
"Billery was back again.
II found the fellow almost at the
gate. I gave him your message, and l
never saw a man SO utterly fiabber-
gasted In my life. He's going to give
himself up7' he said. No. l said, 4
have brought him news from Sergeant
Holt. whom 1 left yesterday in Paris.
that he's to be arrested tomorrow I
rave my card and with that he recog-
missed me. He says he can't let you
50 unless he travels in the same car
Rage.
Hes welcomSsto do that. I should
nike you Ill to come with me. The
ladies' can travel In another compart-
ment. but You and /. Mr.. Billery. can
~sfunnigAte the fellow with, = good Ha-
syaua. You smoke I known Excuse me
whit I dress for out of doors"
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