The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-10-05
CHAPTER xtV-Contlnued.


begin it that way, and We'll try The
experiment Of reducing the quantity
by once month What do You SAY
to that"
TN try, Rags, ] will try. I've never
felt SO miserable about it In my life
as feel now. III 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 siS
paid this afternoon. will make tiver
You can let me have it back at the
rate of a pound week. Good after
/ noon. l shall see YOU at the Office 10
morrow"
Yes; I'll be there" Billery an
swered, through his tears. and Trus'
colt left him, in bitter lamentaton
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 10
the extraordinary scene of that after.
noon, He took a doleful survey Of
himself in the glass and passed an
uncompromiSing verdict on himself.
Il wouldn't have had that black
guard see me in this state for a thou
sand pounds he said It's nasty TO
think that brute like that should
have reason for despisins NE"
The task was risky one, but he
shaved himself at the cost of q
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
Scott Alexis, you here? If you'd
been two hours. earlier you'd have
found that precious cousin of yours"
Il know" said Alexis. It's not ten
minutes since he left me. He came
straight from here He gave me the
most joyful establishment of my life
time You and l have been barking
up the wrong tree, Rillery.'
What on earth do you mean?'
II mean that for the first time he
has taken me into his confidence. He
has the most absolute proof of the
murderer's Identity"
eth bet he has" said Billery.
mo, no." cried Alexis, half-hys-
terically We're all mistaken Alloy
sius is no more guilty than you are.
OF course, in legal sense, he's an &C
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 if you spent a lifetime on
it. Aloysius is innocent, Billery. His
proofs are simply irrefragable, over
whelming. l tell you, Billery, he's
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 a 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
He says the same OF
you and Truscott and Grimaud. 7 i
wish to heaven it were possible for me
10 let you see how daylight-clear the
case Is. He has suffered under this
cloud for years, but his
endurance has broken down at last.
And no wonder, You never heard OF
so complete 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 word, but he
won't speak 1t. He has promised him
self never to speak it. He has gone
off now to see Grimaud, to tell him to
come to ME tomorrow. / can rid him
of whatever danger he's in in that di-
I mean, OF further
scandal"
You're not telling an heroic lie to
shield him, Alex?"
mo, by heaven, I'm not" said
Alexis. He's innocent! Hurrah!
The horror that was hanging over me
is gone. Billery-gone forever!"
Well" said Billery. ut certainly
puts me in most uncommon hole,
but really I'm very glad to be in 1t, all
things concerned. I'll write and beg
his pardon this very night. and so
far as in me lies. I'll undo the mis-
chief Of which have been guilty"
''Will you?" cried Alexis Thank
you, old chap. knew you would
knew could convince you"
Come down with me and tell Trus-
colt. Will you? He has believed in
Aloysius all along"
Certainly WILL" answered Alexis.
gaily; like bird"
CHAPTER XIV.
What high-strung fellow you are,
Alexis!" said Billery, as he and the