Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-27

WV uoH U you give me your lip, young slI, vi
III knock your head off-do you hear? Any
tramps aboutg"
No" said Jerry, mendacously "alls safe.
AND, with wonderful sense in a lad of his age
he said no more. Then he set down to cards
with the cook, and never made solitary men
ton OF what was going on in the front of the
house. As he quite expected, Miss Plantagenet
never sent for any of the servants. They'll man.
age the job themselves" thought Jerry, playing
cheerfully. When he retired to bed he had q
wonderful lot to think about, and more than
ever he determined to watch which way the
wind blew SO as to make as much money out OF
his knowledge as possible Jerry was mar
velously precocious criminal and knew much
more than was good for him. Miss Berengara
would have fainted-unaccustome as she was
to indulge in such wealSness-had she known the
kind of youth she sheltered under her roof.
But poor Miss Berengaria had her hands full.
She left the front door open for the return Of
Alice, and heard it close with bang. At once
she started from her seat before the fire in the
drawingroom to rebuke the girl for such care
lessness, but her anger changed to astonishment
when Alice appeared at the door streaming with
wet and supporting man. Aunt" cried Alice,
dropping the man in heap and eagerly closing
the door. Here's Bernardo"
Bernardo" exclaimed Miss Plantagenet, star
Eyes, yesl" said Alice, passing over and pinch
ing her aunt's arm. 'See how pale he is and
hungry. He escaped, and has come for us to
save him. If the police"
The man on the floor, who was in half stu
por, half rose '"The police-the policel" he said
thickly, and his wild eyes glared. mo. l will
confess everything. Alice, I AMI am" He
dropped again.
BY this time Miss Plantagenet, accepting the
hint of Alce's pinch, was beginning to grasp
the situation. She scarcely reshed having a
murderer under her roof but for the sake Of
Bernard she felt that she also must aid in the
deception. But she could not conceive how
Michael could have the audacty to pass himself
off as Bernard to one who knew him intimate
ly as Alice At the time, she the won
derful likeness to Gore. He and Michael might
have been twins but Michael had not the mole
which was his brothers distinguishing mark
StiIl unless Michael knew all about Bernard's
life, unless he was educated like him, unless he
knew his ways and tricks and manners. it was
impossible that he should hope to deceive Alice
or even Miss Berengaria herself.
Also there another thing to be considered.
How came the man in this plight? He had re-
ceived one thousand pounds from Sir Simon in
the beginning of October, and therefore must
have plenty of money Yet here he was-thin,
haggard in squaid rags and evidently hunted
fugitive. It was not comedy got up to deceive
them for both women saw that the man really
was suffering. He was now lying in stupor,
but, for all that, he might have sense enough
to know what they said, so both were cautious
after glance exchanged between them.
eve must take Bernard up to the turret-
room" said Miss Berengaria, promptly. "He'll
be all right tonight and then we can send for
Payne tomorrow. Help me with him, Alice"
''But, aunt, the servants"
"They will hold their tongues. I'll see to
that"
"Bless you," murmured the half-stupefied man.
81 can't thank you for-Oh! if you only knew
all! want to tell you something"
- u I u
sharply. "Try and get up the stairs supported
by Alice and myself Then we'll put you to bed
and give you something to eat"
"Wl I be safe?" asked the man, looking
round anxiously.
"Quite safe. Do you think would let you be
taken Bernardo" said Alice although her soul
sickened in her at the deception.
"T-trust-you." said Michael, with a strange
look at her. "I am i'll and dirty, and-and-but
you know am Bernard" he burst out in pitt
full kind Of way.
Eyes of course you are Anyone can see that"
said Miss Berengaria. as Alice didn't answer.
Help him up, Alice"
fully he striving his best to make his weight
light. Miss Berengaria approved of this. Hes
got good stuff in him" she said when they led
him into the small room, which took up the
whole of the second floor Of the turret.
Gle always had" said Alice warmly, and for
But Miss Berengaria frowned She applied
what she said to Michael
Then Miss Berengaria sent Alice downstairs
to heat some wine, and made Michael go to bed.
He was as weak as a child, and simply let her do
what she liked. With some difficulty she man.
aged to put him between the sheets, and then
washed his face and hands. Finally, on Alice re.
turning with the wine and some bread, she fed
him with sops of the latter dipped into the form
er After this, as Michael displayed symptoms Of
drowsiness, she prepared to leave him to a sound
sleep "And Payne shall see you tomorrow"
But I'll be safe-safe" said the sick man,
half starting up.
"Of course. Lie down and Sleep
Michael strove to say something, then sank
back on his pillows. The two hurried out of the
room and down the stairs feeling like conspira-
tors. Not until they were safe in the drawing.
room with the door closed did they venture to
speak, and then only did so in whispers. Alice
was the first 10 make remark
IF / hadn't Bernard this very day, |
should have been deceived, aunt. Did you ever
see 80 wonderful hkeness"
Never" admitted Miss Berengaria 'But
how the deuee"-she was always ! lady given
to strong expressions-"d the man expect 10
pass himself off to you as Bernard? There's lots
of things Bernard has said about which he must
know nothing"
II can't understand it myself Perhaps he
came to tell the truth"
'Humphl" Miss Berengara rubbed her nose
al don't think who would commit muir.
der would tell the truth. My flesh ereeped when
/ touched him. All the same, there's pluck in
the fellow. A pity he is such scamp. Some
thing might be made of him"