The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-10-05
CHAPTER xIv-continued.


'very WELL" said Truscott. We'll
begin it that way, and we'll try the
experiment of reducing the quantity
by once a month. What do you say
to that?"
'I'll try, Rags, will try. I've never
felt so miserable about it In my life
as l feel now. I'll try, and thank you
from my heart for thinking out way
to help me-"
That's all right, then. Now this,
with the one pound seventeen and six
paid this afternoon, will make fiver.
You can let me have 1t back at the
rate OF q pound a week. Good after
noon. shall see you at the Office to-
morrow"
Eyes; I'll be there" Billery an
swered, through his tears, and Trus-
colt left him, In bitter lamentation
and remorse. But he was Of too weak
q fiber to nurse any deep emotion
long, and In less than an hour he had
forgotten his humiliation and his self
disdain and his mind went back to
the extraordinary scene OF that after
noon. He took doleful survey OF
himself in the glass and passed an
uncompromising verdict on himself
II wouldn't have had that black
guard see me In this state for thou
sand pounds" he said. Its nasty to
think that brute like that should
have a reason for despising me-"
The task was risky one, but he
shaved himself at the cost OF =
pimple, and then he stripped to the
waist and had great wash. He was
struggling with a refractory collar
when there came sound OF rapid
footsteps on the stair and an urgent
summons at the door.
Come in," said Billery, and in came
Alexis, pale and out Of breath. Great
Scot! Alexis, you here? II you'd
been two hours earlier you'd have
found that precious cousin of yours" :"
II know" said Alexis. TITS not ten
minutes since he left me. He came
straight from here. He gave me the
most joyful astonishment OF my life
time You and have been barking
up the wrong tree, Billery."
what on earth do you mean?"
Il mean that for the first time he
has taken me into his confidence. He
has the most absolute proof OF the
murderer's identity"
'Tll bet he has," said Billery.
mo, no." cried Alexis, half-hys-
terically. Were all mistaken. Alloy
sius Is no more guilty than you are.
OF. course, In legal sense, he's an ac-
cessory after the fact, for he has
known the criminal all along. He
made me swear that would never di-
vulge the truth, and he has the strong
est reason for it-a reason that you'd
never guess IL you spent lifetime on
1t. Aloysius Is innocent, Billery. His
proofs are simply irrefragable, over.
whelming. I tell you, Billery, he's a
noble fellow. He has acted In man
ner magnanimous beyond belief. 1t
was simply impossible that he should
clear himself to you. He could only
have done that by revealing secret
that Wild horses couldn't drag from
him. can't tell you how relieved ]
feel. He has forgiven me my sus
picions of him. He admits that they
were natural and reasonable in the
|, circumstances. He says the same OF
you and Truscott and Grimaud.
wish to heaven 1t were possible for me
to let you see how daylight-clear the
case is. He has suffered under this
monstrous cloud for years, but his
endurance has broken down at last
And no wonder. You never heard OF
30 complete q vindication."
Upon my word" said Billery, "you
take my breath away"
"You are no more astonished than
was. He could put the rope around
the right neck by a word. but he
won't speak it. He has promised him
self never to speak it. He has gone
on now to see Grimaud. to tell him tc
come to me tomorrow. can rid him
Of whatever danger he's In in that di
rection-- danger, I mean, of further
scandal"
you're not telling an heroic lie t.
shield him, A1ex?"
i mo, Oy HcdVcu, III uOl, SdlI
! Alexis. Hes innocent! Hurrah!
The horror that was hanging over me
d gone. Billery-gon forever!"
"Well," said Billery. ut certainly
| puts me In most uncommon hole
but really I'm very glad to be in 1t, al
/ things concerned. I'll write and bet
his pardon this very night, and *
, Tar as in me lies. I'll undo the mis-
chief Of which have been guilty"
'sWill you?" cried Alexis. ''Thanl
you, old chap. knew you would.
/, knew ! could convince YOU"
Come down with me and tell Trus
cott. Will you? He has believed II
Aloysius al along"
/ Certainly will" answered Alexis
gaily; like : bird"
CHAPTER XIV.
~VRhhf = hixh-strung fellow you are