The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-09-29
CHAPTER XxV-Continued.

CHAPTER xxV-continued
And how do you account, then, for
the fact that your keys were found by
me in my open safe door when I re-
turned, and my papers gone? How
do you dispose of the fact that you
were seen here by the witnesses I
have spoken of, one of whom, at least,
is above all doubt?".
Il cannot account for it, sir-unless
am the victim of witchcraft, or other
people are"
Tut, tut! That's rubbish. Come,
Winstanley, have not been a bad
friend to you, I think. Surely you
can trust me. If there is anything to
say that can soften this matter or ex-
plain it, for heavens sake let me hear
it. Don't go on like this"
Il tell you, sir, there is no explana-
tion but my solemn word. would have
found it unforgivable that any one
could suggest such thing to me if it
were not that there seems some
strange, terrible mistake in the, busi-
ness. Miss Hamilton says she saw
me. I cannot believe that"
'She told me when l taxed her with
1T. She had dropped something to my
wife before that made me fancy it was
So 1t is her very reluctance to say
more on the subject that tells most
against you. You must be aware OF
that"
But she will say more, sir. Don't
you see that she can clear up the
whole matter, most probably? She
could never for moment make a
mistake in my identity. She can bear
witness that did not go to your safe"
Il can only trust she may" General
Kenyon spared Winstanley by not
saying it aloud. In his own soul he
had no doubt of the sorrowful, de-
graded truth. Winstanley was lying
to him. He had taken the papers, that
was certain. What he had done with
them would soon disclose itself when
some foreign power proclaimed its
possession of the secret that was to
have made England invincible. That
he was traitor, thief, villain was
but too clear to the disappointed, sad
dened man who had been his fathers
friend and his own.
1t was late that afternoon when the
generals carriage drove in at the
gates of Government House. Mrs.
Kenyon had gone to fetch Ursula from
Mrs. Fielding's, where she still was.
When she came into the room
where the general and Capt. Winstan-
~; ho nd
grave, but there was steady light in
her clear eyes. The general came
forward and led her to a seat. Win
stanley made step toward her and
then drew back. But Ursula went
straight to him and held out her hand.
He could not but take it, though there
is no knowing what had been his in
tention.
Then she took the chair on the 9TH
er side of the fireplace, and loosened
the silver clasp Of her long, warm
cloak.
"Ahem-Miss Hamilton" General
Kenyon cleared his throat: II am s0r-
ry to have to bring you into pain
full business, but you are an important
witness with whom we cannot dis
pense. Will you kindly say if you saw
Captain Winstanley here last night
and when and how? Far more may
depend on what we hear from you
than you can have any idea. of. l
must beg of you to tell everything"
Ursula bent her head gravely. Her
gaze was fixed on Winstanley's face
that face he kept resolutely turned
away from her II saw a man here
last night whom I took at the time to
be Captain Winstanley," she said, in
low, distinct voice.
MAY I ask why you had that i'm
pression?"
Because he was in uniform-Cap-
tain Winstanley's uniform. And he
was exactly like him in the face.''
'In that case you could surely have
no doubt of his identity. You know
Captain Winstanley we'll enough not
to make mistake
''I know him Intimately
'sQuite so. And when and where did
you see him."
IT went into your Office to see if
could find book. It must have been
about half-past eleven. There was
some one standing by your safe, which
was open He took out papers, and
thrust them into the front of his mess
waistcoat. Then he turned, and I
thought saw Captain Winstanley. I
spoke to him.
Her gaze was still on Noel. and she
saw that he did not betray the least
sign of consciousness of what: she
had said. 'He did not answer, and
then-then / suddenly was frightened,
for I was sure it was not he.' * .3*E z
"How sure? You must have known
him?":>, .szsH t..:@. S*=-5=s:#s=** =-1* ::;#s**=
"I thought I did-that Z. was - the