The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-09-28
THE -
BrangWyn Mystery

recovered his self-possession, and was
ready to face armies in which he felt
to be the cause OF justice.
"The first statement Is that you are
absolutely assured, on evidence known
to you, that l am the murderer OF my
uncle"
81 shall not retract that statement,
Mr.. Brangwyn," said Billery.
Very we'll, sir" said Aloysius, as
calmly as ever. 'In that case you
shall learn at what value a court OF
law will assess your evidence"
He took his hat and, with q faint in
clination of his head to Truscott,
turned to go.
"Wait bit" said Billery. "It might
interest you, perhaps, to learn what is
within my knowledge"
1T would certainly interest me very
much indeed" said Aloysius, facing
round again.
"You swore at the inquest that you
were not in London at the time OF
your uncle's disappearance. You were
seen here on the very night on which
your victim was last seen alive. The
body was concealed in the clay OF the
colossal statue On which you after
ward worked, but which your cousin
Alexis had begun"
"Ab!" said Aloysius. The sound
escaped him involuntarily, and for a
moment that TRANSIENT look of fear
which Truscott had noticed at their
first interview flashed into his eyes
"A shrewd supposition, Mr.. Billery,'
he said, but based on what?"
BASED on the facts" said Billery
"that the body was in state of pres
ervation when first seen, that the
floor of the cellar was deeply covered
with modelling clay when the water
was pumped out Of it, and that a
workof art OF considerable value has
totally and mysteriously disappeared
That touches you, Mr.. Brangwyn
You take it well, but you can't with
draw that startled exclamation"
mo-" said Aloysius, as calmly as
before. "You startled me, certainly
DuI IACA . 10 OAO POAAC vi lAIOl C0I. 1lOV
am indicted in the matter?"
"You are indicted by the fact that
just before your uncle's death the old
man had decided to disinherit you
and had given instructions to that
effect to his solicitor"
these are the statements which in.
duced you to assist this gentleman in
his inquiry, Mr.. Truscott?" asked
Aloysius.
'These are the statements which
appeared to me to justify inquiry
Truscott answered.
"You compel me to acknowledge that
they do appear to justify inquiry
But they do not justify the assertion
that l am guilty of my uncle's death
They form chain of suspicious cir
cumstances. If they did more sup.
pose that I should before now have
been upon trial for my life. l pre-
sumo from the courage with which Mr.
Billery advances them to me that he
believes them still" A.
"Yes, Mr. Brangwyn," said Billery
II believe them still. l have retired
from this inquiry and I am willing to
let sleeping dogs lie, if you are. You
need fear no further assault from me
for have given my word to your
cousin that I will not attempt hence
forth to cast stain upon the name he
BEARS"
you have given that assurance to
my cousin?"
"At his urgent request" said Billery
II am indebted to him for many
acts Of kindness, and, when all is said
and done, had fulfilled my duty when
communicated my facts to the DO
lice."
"It Is Fortunate" said Aloysius
that SO far as your suspicious attach
to me am In position to rebut them
all. cannot complain that you have
held them, or that you still hold them
so long as do not choose, for good
and sufficient reasons of my own, to
disarm them and sweep them out oI
being. I have borne my burden now
for seven years, and must bear Il
still. came here In the belief that
you had acted wantonly and malicious
" in answer to some imagined slight
/ believe that we share a common an.
tipathy, but / owe you no grudge
now that understand the grounds on
which you acted. Yet trust, for my
own sake and for yours, that you viii
allow yourself to be governed by dis
cretion in the future. You will accept
my warning, not being offered in 8
spirit OF enmity or anger, but as com.
ing from one whose patience has been
tried SO long that It Is near the break
ing point"
THAT for your warming" cried
Billery, swapping his fingers in flush
of hatred and contempt. 1--we given
my promise to Alexis, and shall
keep 1t, not out Of any fear of you OF
your blessed law libel, but because q
promise to friend ID sacred"
Il shall rest content II that assur
ance. and. in your own phrase. sir,
am willing to let sleeping dogs lie. ]
wish you good day Mr.. Truscott"
Good day. Mr.. Brangwyn," an.
swered Truscott, and without another
word on either sids Aloysius left the
room and walked IN seeming tranQuil
tty down the stairs.