Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-03-30
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ing realized a profit of one thousand on
a transaction which had extended over
two years, but that was not enough TO
satisfy this man. Then, again, the idea
of being mixed up in anything wrong
went entirely against the conscientious
nature of Gerard; if lie bought this
man off, il would be equal to becoming
an accomplice Of BraXton and Of the
woman herself. assuming that the
charges against her were We'll founded
Poor Gerard was torn this way and
that, between his desire to help his
chum and his qualms of conscience.
He had been overjoyed OF reaching the
hotel at the fact that he would be able
TO tell Sir Allen hat he had made
three thousand pounds for him In one
deal. Now he could easily say that
it was two thousand, and so make up
the missing money, and he would be
willing to give up his own profit in or
der to say his friend who had more
than once risked his own life for Ger
rard. The money difficulty could be
overcome, but conscience ?-
Times up" said Braxton irritably.
Going to do It"
At that moment the door of the smok-
ing was opened by a boy who
looked in to see If q certain guest was
there. Gerard, looking through the
open door Owe the boys head, started
as he saw Sir Aliens form pass the
opening. BY his side was a woman
of thirty. tall and graceful. who turned
her head slightly toward the open o
as h passed. The vision of hat face
touched Gerard and he answered
BraXton's question with an emphatic
mo-"
That settles it," said Braxton de-
cisively. He has not seer Sir Allen
and his wife go by the door. "Ill go
and find the happy pair, and 1t will
also interest Sir Allen to learn that
Lady Royce has a husband still liv-
ingi"
He was gone with that parting shot.
AS o o as he could collect himself,
Gerard made his way to the room in
Dictated as Sir Aliens. He met Brax-
ton in the corridor. They reached the
door almost at the some moment.
Il forbid o to go in! Shouted Ger
gard, forgetting himself.
Il SHALL" asserted Braxton.
He made as II to rap at the door,
but Gerard interviewed and i'm an in
slant the two men were engaged in a
tussle outside the room door. In the
struggle they fell against the door.
which a few seconds later was opened
by Sir Allan Royce.
For heavens sake!" he cried hoarse-
ly. Fetch n doctor! My wife is i'll
and L e a her heart is weak"
He was unmindful of the fact that
the men he addressed We're struggling
together; his own trouble absorbed him.
Gerard n Braxton loosed their grasp
on one another and hurriedly followed
Sir Allen through the room into the
next apartment, where Lady Royce lay
on the floor, with an upturned face that
told its own story to Gerard.
The doctor was summoned, but he
could simply confirm the opinion al
ready formed by Gerard. Lady Royce
was dead, having succumbed to a heart
seizure.
The grief OF the bereaved husband
was terrible to witness; he flung him
self on his knees by the side of the
bed on which they had laid the body
and kissed the cold hand again and
again.
TT is o true! 1t cannot bel" he
moaned, Come back to me, my dar-
ling! DO not leave me alone, without
the love Of a fellow creature. I cannot
live without you, my wife!" His voice
shook with sobs and his whole body
appeared to be racked with pain.
The sight was too much for Gerard;
he could not endure to behold the grief
OF his only friend. He could do moth
ing to help him. SO he withdrew and
A~AN hAA hbASA hiclhN AAN llo ool w.
In the hall downstairs he encountered
Braxton. 1t was almost with an air
Of triumph that he spoke to the black
mailer.
"Braxton, you are a big scoundrel,
and 1t refreshes me to tell you SO! But
you have missed your gamA this time!"
How Is that?" sneered Braxton.
THE woman is dead. so you can do
nothing, and you must find another vic
tim for the exercise OF your Wits"
cried Gerard.
Come in here," said Braxton QUIET
ly. leading the way n a small waiting
room, which was empty. Now, what
does 1T matter IL the woman is dead?
The information Is true, so II remains
good all the time. If the facts become
known It will be a terrible scandal,
very nearly as bad-aye. perhaps even
worse-for Royce. Remember him as
we saw him just now. Don't you think
he would pay two thousand pounds
willingly in order that the truth should
not be made known"
You brute!' cried Gerard, amazed
at the callous villainy OF the man.
Come, hard words won't mend mat
ters. l want two thousand pounds, and
for that I will hand over to you, or
anyone else, the proofs / have here and
will undertake to say nothing more
about the previous history OF Lady
royce. ne watched 1eTTdTu ; race
and could divine what was going on In
his mind. We'll. is Ii a bargain? Will
you complete this transaction on your
own account, for the sake of your
friend?"
Eyes. I'll do it," said Gerard, after
a pause. Come with me and I will
arrange IT,"
They left the hotel for Gerrard's lodg-
ings. He had resolved to sacrifice his
money and his sense of truth In order
TO save his friend. The revelation Of
the facts would crush Royce; the blow
was hard enough for him to bear as IL
was. but to learn all the truth would
probably kill MIN. The transaction was
completed; Gerard handed over the
one thousand belonging to himself. and
one thousand of the money he held for
Sir Allen. and he received the proofs.
which he at once destroyed.
AS Gerard sat alone In his small sit
ting room that night he turned 1t all
over in his mind. and found the best
explanation for the t~ragically sudden
death of Lady Royce. She had origin
ally intended to dupe Sir Allen and
leave him, after having obtained pos
session of everything OF value which it
was possible for her TO get into her pos
session. But his great o for her
made the execution of the plot almost
impossible. She learned to love him
and SHE yearned to stay with him. but
she dreaded discovery. Thus, torn by
conflicting statements. she had lived
through the last few days in a state
of tho CraataSf poanfQ1 apxiptyt Cyery