The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-08-02

eyes," answered Alexis. With .
croaking voice, as II his throat were
suddenly restricted. Brandy"
Billery gave him liberal dose. and
watched him as he drank 1t.
Il have certainly had great
shock" said Alexis. His lips could
barely frame the words, and the voice
in which he spoke was utterly unlike
his own. But think that you are
talking at cross.purposes."
"Pm afraid I'm not" answered Bill
cry. Hasn't that fellow Grimaud
been here to denounce Aloysius?"
Alexis was leaning forward as these
words were spoken. When they were
uttered he sank suddenly back In his
chair, his eyes closed. his hands
dropped laxly beside his knees, and a
deep groan escaped him. After a
minute he struggled back into a sit
ting posture and spoke again.
why should Grimaud denounce
Aloysius?"
IT'S perfectly natural that you
should wish to shield him." said Bill
cry. You're bound to him by the tie
OF kinship, and at one time of your
lives you were friends. But you're
wasting pity, Alex. The man is a
callous villain and deserves his
DOOM"
What is your charge against Alloy
sius?" Alexis asked. rallying himself
with a great effort Speak OUT"
Il charge Aloysius with his uncle's
murder"
"Aloysius?" said the other, drawing
his hand across his eyes. "Aloysius?"
He reached out his hand toward the
carafe which Billery had set beside
m. but he was unequal to the effort.
i've me some more brandy, old fell
49,. I'm all aboard. Thanks. Now
20 on. and let me un' 'rstand this
amazing business" The spirit seemed
to revive him, and he sat up more like
his ordinary self than he had been
since his visitors arrival. He signed,
GO on" and arranged himself in his
chair to listen.
"Aloysius was the one person who
most conspicuously protited by your
unCle's DEATH" said Billery.
Yes: | suppose so. Well?"
"He swore all along that he was in
Paris at the date OF your urcle's dis
appearance
Yes: what of that"
He was not in Paris. He was in
London"
who says so?"
Il say so, on the authority OF an
eyewitness. And, what is more. | am
in a position to prove that he was in
your uncle's house on the evening OF
the day on which he was last seen
alive"
NO, no. no." cried Alexis. 1T Is
impossible"
All the same, he was there and he
was seen to leave the house. Leave
this TO me. | have been on his track
now for month past, and have got
my facts all right Now, look here,
Alex, as you are an honest man and
Christian. did Grimaud bring the
stuff in that filthy pot there from the
cellar of the house in Agar row.
Alexis opened his lips as if to speak,
but no sound came from them, and he
signed assent by motion of the hand.
Very WELL" said Billery, opening
his coat and cropping in his breast
pocket Here is some more Of it. An
idea came 10 me a month ago last
night and | went down there and Sc
cured this sample l met Grimaud
week back going in that direction, and
somehow it occurred TO me that he
had stumbled on the same idea. Now
know how right was. Your cousin
Aloysius murdered the old man for
good and sufficient reasons. You
know what they were?"
Alexis signed assent again. He
seemed to have resigned himself to
face the horror of the accusation and
he was more composed.
Ito Be Continued.)