Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-22


all-Oh-oh!"
Breaking off suddenly she dropped the paper
and fled towards the house like creature sud
denly aroused to life. Miss Berengaria did no
lose a moment. With an activity wonderful II
a woman of her years she sprang to her teet
and hurried up the path round to the front O
the house, following in the wake of the weeping
girl She Alice disappear into the fporct
and enter the breakfastroom, where the mea
was already waiting There, on the hearth-rug
Alice fell prone Miss Berengaria knet down
and took her hand. She had not tainted, but
cold and shivering, was sobbing as though her
heart would break.
Finding that, Alice still had her senses Miss
Berengaria nodded and sat down. "Ihe best
thing for you, my dear" she said in soft volce
Weep your heart out, while | read the paper.
These words sound rather heartless, but the
old lady did not intend them to be So She
realized that tears would relieve the strain on
the almost stunned girl and welcomed them
gladly, Miss Berengaria adjusting her spectacles'
glanced through the paper.
where is it, my dear?-oh, here! Murder
and Suicide A nice heading, upon my word.
Alice, said Miss Berengaria, severely, before
reading word tell you that L don't believe :,
word of it, Bernard, though a silly boy, would
not kill fly, nor would he kill himself. Murder
and Suicide! Oh, rubbsh-rubbish!"
But you know, and 1 know, he quarreed
with his grandfather"
"Alice" said the old dame again, although she
was very white, eff this lying paper means to
to say that Bernard murdered Sir Simon, tell
you again that / don't believe a word of it. You.
who love him, ought to believe in his inno'
cence."
"But the evidence"
"a fig for evidence. Circumstantal evidence
has hanged an innocent man before now. Ber'
nard Gore kill that old tyrant-?"
"Hush! He is deadi'
"And so we are to speak we'll of him" snap
ped Miss Berengaria "Oh, well'-she rubbed
majority of tombstones do Of those who lie be-
low, but I tell you, foolish girl that you are,
Bernard did not kill the old man, nor did he
kill himself"
But the paper says"
81 don't what the paper says" said Miss
Berengaria, resolutey. "No, indeed. am a
better Judge of character than any paper" Miss
the paper. 81 don't believe a word of it," she
said, folding her arms, "and I'm going up to
London"
'What for, aunt?"
"To see into the matter myself. 1 believe that
Beryl creature is responsible for the whole
thing
But see," said Alice, picking up the paper,
"he was at the theatre with Lucy and Mrs.
Webber."
'T don't care Failing Bernard, Julius comes
in for the money.
"He comes in for it even without that" said
Alice. bitterly. Don't you remember that Sir
Simon disinherited Bernard because he would
not give Inc up? | implored Bernard, for his
own sake, to break our engagement, but he re-
fused He gave up all for me, and now he is
dead-dead- OH" sobbed Alice, show un-
happy I ami
"How foolish you are" said Miss Berengaria,
her eyes hard and bright EDO you think man,
who could act towards you i'll so noble way,
would commit cowardly murder, and then
shirk the consequences! Not at all; II ashamed
of YOU. once loved" said the old lady, rising
and marching energetically about the room, "and
INV lover was fool and villain. Bernard is
neither He is a fine fellow, God bless him and
bring him safely out of this trouble! He shall
have my help--yes, my best help" added Miss
Berengaria nodding
''But he is dead.
'.He is not dead, you weak-minded silly, hys-
terical girl That sort of man has as many lives
AS a cat He's alive. to vindcate his reputation
and tn bring home the crime to the real assas-
sim"
"But who can that be-" asked Alice, comfort
ed by this assurance.
~ don't know" said Miss Berengaria, taking
seat at the table. Come and pour out my
coffee, and eat"
Alice dragged herself to the table and took
I'm the silver pot. "I can't eat," she said family
eyes. YOU can; and, what's more, you're going
to- No nonsense with me, miss. You and /
have hard task before us"
''What is that?"
Miss Berengaria laid down her knife and fork
with which she was about to carve piece of
bacon. "Wel, I am astonished,' she said, glar-
inc "In nv young days girl in love would
have been ashamed to make such speech. Why,
bless me! haven't we got to prove Bernard's in
nocenceW
terly.
"it would, if it were necessary; but it isn't.
Bernard's in hiding.
"Can you be sure"
"AGce Malleson." said the resolute old dame,
"if YOU were younger I would shake you and
send YOU 10 bed on bread and water, You don't
deserve to be loved by such man. He gave up
ali for YOU, and you believe the worst of him."
scHernard has temper, and he might have"
"But he didn't. I know he has temper 1
admire his temper. saw him thrash a tramp
for throwing away q loaf of bread, and that
warmed my heart towards him. Had I married
the villain I didn't marry and he hadn't been
such villain as he was, | would have had a
con- inst like Bernard-perhaps two or three
"Tbis must be looked into" she said ener-
Oetically, "and I am going up to town to see
ahout the matter. When / have heard the evil
dence at the inquest I'll know how to shape my
course"
1What will you do?" asked Alice frightening
under this optimism.
isWhen acquainted with the facts" said Miss
Berengaria, rolling up her napkin, 'and when I
have formed my theory
erYour theory, aunt?"
srYesl My theory as to who murdered the old
Well, it's Sir Simon I mean-we must be len
lent TO his memory. But when have formed
INV theory I'll see detective and place the mat
~ l., Ms hands. shall then advertise for Ber.