The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-07-05

BrangWyn Mystery
CHAPTER lI.--Contlnued.

to your tenancy of this house. ] spend
most Of my time In Paris. but | am
looking for a ~pied-a-terre near London,
and the agent to whom | applied tells
me that you are willing to dispose OF
the remainder of your lease"
Yes" said Truscott, Il want to dis,
pose of the house as it stands, -
can find a customer. The fact is, I'm
going to get married. and | want a big
ger place. I'm furnishing the Hall at
Manor Vantage, and I'm ready to
clear out at any moment"
Il could have possession in a
month";" his visitor asked.
Eyes" said Truscott. THAT could
be easily arranged. | want TO keep
nothing but a few old prints and books
and this" he added, laying a hand
upon the desk,
"An old friend?" said Brangwyn,
alphabetically.
my first purchase when | settled
down to work ten years age An old
friend, as you say, and in a way a sort
of a mascot Of mine"
We'll. Mr.. Truscott," said Brang-
wyn. rising as he spoke. I'VE can each
appoint a %valuer, and may come TO a
conclusion Of the business"
You would like to see the place."
Truscott responded. IF you like III
show you over" In his own thorough
going way he took his visitor from
attic to basement. It's a small place"
he said. Il have to board out my
groom and m chauffeur"
Il need neither" said Brangwyn.
"a plain cook and a maid servant will
serve my turn"
There's rather a pretty garden"
Truscott went on, and a nice little
stretch OF lawn stretching to the riv-
er. II you'll come this way I'll show
you"
He had forgotten Billery for the
moment, and as he led the way he felt
q keen sense OF resentment and dis
taste at the sight OF the sprawling,
sleeping figure in the arm chair in
the breakfast room. In spite OF the
widely opened French windows, the
room reeked with the sleeper's whis-
ky-laden breath. Billery, who was
~half-choked by a high, tight collar,
was snoring stertoriously. Truscott,
though habitually a man of perfect
self. possession, felt in a shame-faced
way that It was necessary In some
measure to account for him. Brang.
wyn's fine nose was wrinkled in re,
pugnance and Truscott felt savagely
Inundated.
"a member Of my staff on the Rec.
ord" he said. HE came down here
to-day on business, and | was injudi.
cious enough to leave him with the
d%ecanter."
81 know him." Brangwyn responded,
as he passed into the garden. His
father and my great uncle were great
friends. despite a certain disparity of
years" He stood bareheaded In the
evening light and looked about him.
His careworn and suffering aspect vas
more apparent here than 1t had been
indoors. His half-bald dome of fore
head was deeply ploughed with lines
of pain, and that intent and listening
look fingered In his eyes longer than
1t had done. 1t passed, and he turned
to his companion with a touching and
melancholy smile which looked half
like the expression of an inward pang.
II heard casually a year II two ago."
he resumed, that our young friend
there was going to the dogs. | should
judge him to be pretty near the ken
mel now"
Heaven help him." said Truscott,
with a gust OF genuine feeling. Il
suppose So" They strolled in silence
to the margin of the river, and there
the tenant of the place turned sudden.
ly upon his guest. MIR. Brangwyn,"
he said, ut is a singular coincidence
which brings you to my house to-
day."
~'Indeed?" asked Brangwyn, lifting
his arched eyebrows in a faint sur
prise,
81 have been thinking that you could
hardly fail to feel 1t strange when you
come to read the news which Is in
my possession, IL made no allusion to
IL. I'D pubiASdIiOh VIII NdhC pid1S oh
Monday morning. and there is no one
In the world whom IL concerns nor
nearly than yourself"
"Indeed?" asked Brangwyn a second
time.
The news will bring a painful
shock with it," said Truscott, but you
ought to know 1t, because 1t will fall
to you, as the head Of your family, to
institute inquiries"
BE at no pains to prepare me for
any news you have to offer me, Mr..
Truscott," Brangwyn answered him.
WELL" said Truscott, 'the fact is
that the body of your great-uncle and
namesake. Mr.. Aloysoum Brangwyn,
has been discovered, under conditions
eve nor mysterious and inexplica-
BILE than those which surrounded his
disappearance. 1t was Billary who
brought the news, and I had his mar.
rative before me when you called"
"At last!" said Brangwyn. almost In
q whisper; and after all these years
1t occurred to Truscott that he took
the news eddy. and showed a strange