Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-27
CHAPTER XVII. (continued.)

$500
man or that, and when he betrays us
we feel aggrieved. But to give sway
to the real impulse of the soul would
be death to treachery. No man will
ever betray me, for | shall never trust
anybody but the trustworthy. [ stand
for instince, and, as | said just now,
at the bottom of your mind you know
that I'm right You don't deny that
I've hit your impression Of myself, do
you?"
NO." said Truscott, lingering on the
word; Il don't
Exactly" said Alexis, as if he had
achieved triumph.
but | don't know" said Truscott, in
his downright way; Il don't know
how you found me out. I never gave
you any token, as far as know, either
of one sentiment or the other"
NO." Alexis assented eagerly
''They radiate, my friend; they radi-
ate! And if you preserve your native
receptivity you know the truth at a
glance There are two men amongst
all others | have met whom, if we
trust were only mutual-as it never
could be, mind you, for they have
their own instincts as well as two
memo more-whom would grapple
to my soul with hooks of steel" He
dropped back against the cushioned
back of the car, and suddenly to Trus-
colts amazement, leaning forward
again, laid baud upon his knee and
said, You're one of EN-"
Truscott was too dumbfOunded by
this extraordinary outburst to find an
immediate answer. He was not man
who carried his emotions inSbis pocket
to scatter like small change as his
companion seemed to do, and yet there
was something in the manner of Alexis
which seemed to bespeak sincerity-a
something which moved him strongly.
my cousin Aloysius is the other"
Alexis said. "a steadfast man, an i'm
movable man A man of iron purpose
iron patience. It's given to some OF
us irresponsible Johnnies," he went
on, with a startling change from deep
seriousness to frivolity, ito worship
the qualities which are so absolute
ly denied to us. l shall always be
liked by those who are content to take
me at a surface valuation, but | shall
never inspire real trust in anybody.
Now, there's that poor dear old calf OF
a Billery. For clever fellow he's the
most awful fool I know. He's got no
will of his own-no more backbone
than a jelly-fsh-and yet everybody
with pennyweight of discernment in
him knows him to be as stanch a
friend as a bulldog to his master.
You'd trust him with your fortune or
your sweetheart, or with the secret
that would hang you. But then Billery
drinks, and Billery drunk is the indis-
creetest old donkey in the world. Pity
that one fault should undo virtue, isn't
it,"
Eyes" said Truscott, sit is a pity;
but Billery's mending, don't you no.
tice?"
81 see it." Alexis answered. I'm
very glad of it for his own sake. I
hope the reform will last"
Then he fell into a moody silence
after his own fashion. The motor-car
hummed smoothly along for the
greater part of an hour, and they were
nearing the end of their journey before
he spoke again, and then only in an
swer to a question.
"You don't see much Of your cousin,
Brangwyn, do you?"
No. he answered then; very lit
tle."
''He is a man whom I should like to
know" said Truscott.
q can we'll believe you," answered.
Alexis. You'd find a hundred points
in common. Ii you don't mind asking
your chauffeur to pull up, you can drop
ne here. Thanks for a very pleasant
drive. Good-by."
They parted at the junction of New
Bridge street and the Embankment,
and Truscott saw him hail a hanson.
He plunged back into thoughts OF
business. That day he was to help Ill
the making or the marring of minis
try. A baronetcy was being dangled
" COAAA'|
sooner or later and the temptation did
not move him-much. He had become
a power in the land, and the chief prl-
vate secretary of the prime minister
was lying in wait for him when he
reached the sumptuous room in which
he worked.
Alexis, as forgotten as if he had new
er existed, jolted springily in his han
som along the broken and uneven
road of the Embankment, on his home
ward way Arrived at his destination
he paid the driver with a capricious
liberality, and as he did so he was
family conscious of a shabby figure
lettering at the curb. He gave the
man 10 second glance or thought, but
as he walked leisurely up the broad
stone steps which led to his own suite
he was very vaguely aware of a slip
shod following footstep, to which he
paid no heed at all. He had drawn out
from his pocket the latchkey by
which he meant to admit himself to
|ha; chambers, and was holding it loose
ly in readiness between finger and
thumb, when the slipshod footstep be-