The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-10-04
THE
BrangWyn Mystery

L
d'amour fragments from the music
halls. When he was not singing he
was laughing and chatting, and once
he broke into a burlesque Highland
fling, with a vocal imitation OF the bag
pipes You'll have another break
down after this If you don't take care.
| You're always in extremes-elther
agony or ecstacy. | should think
| you're the most mercurial beggar In
the world
Il dare say | am" said Alexis, with
sudden sobriety. Il don't think
most men feel the sting of pain as
do, or feel such exuberant joy in
pleasure My cup brims over, always.
| loathe suffering and | love joy"
He broke into a rather boisterous
| French student song, with rollicking
| burden of "Vive Bacchus ct vive
| l'amour," and Billery lay back and
laughed at him until he could laugh
no longer. The more Billery laughed.
the absurder Alexis became, and at
last his mirth was bordering on hys-
terra. But either succeeded in leash
ing himself, or the serious fit which
| so often follows on inOrdinate mirth
had fallen on him. In any case, he
went suddenly quiet as they neared
the little rustic station for which they
were bound. He had wired for fly
to be in readiness, and there it was
awaiting them. A three-mile drive
brought them to their destination, and
there Truscott, who had just dined,
was amazed to see them.
IT'S at my suggestion that we came
down here" said Billery. Mr.. Alexis
Brangwyn has brought me very strik-
ing news, which proves to my satisfac-
ton that you were right this after
noon and that | was wrong. | thought
that, since It was | who carried the
suspicious to you, 1t was my duty to
withdraw them"
Alexis told his story, and Truscott
listened with great interest. THAT
fits my reading like glove" he said,
when it was over. Mr.. Brangwyn,
your cousin seems to me to have suf-
fered an unmerited martyrdom, and
| shall not lose post in letting him
know that | regret profoundly the
share which Mr. Billery and | had in
inflicting it. Most unfortunately, it's
not a thing that can be talked about.
There's no public vindication open to
him"
Monet" said Alexis None. He
has had knowledge of facts which it
was his duty as a citizen to reveal,
and in the eye of the law he is parti-
ceps criminis. But 1t sometimes hap
pens in life that there are duties
which transcend the law, and here
there is one of them"
"In spite of the charge suggested
against him." Truscott said, Il have
felt a sort of curious attraction toward
your cousin"
LAS for me-" said Billery, Il feel
like a brute. He never liked me-poor
old Aloysius--and, in my own mean
mind, nursed bitter grudge against
him. Why should he like me? 1t
isn't crime not to like me, I sup
pose? Seems to me I'm not a partic-
ularly likeable sort of person"
ooh, you shut up!" said Truscott
you're all right"
And there the interview came prac-
tically to an end. Truscott had
guests to whom he was bound to re-
turn, and neither Billery nor Brang
wyn cared to accept his invitation to
join them. Alexis was very quiet on
nj hn oIn Of
it the two shook hands and parted.
81 will send Grimaud to you to-mor-
row." said Alexis, as he got into a
hanson at the terminus, and on the
morrow, sure enough, Grimaud made
his appearance in Billery's poor apart
ment. He was very jauntily attired,
and very assured and even patronizing
in his manner, so that Billery resented
him.
II received a visit from NJ Aloysus
Yesterday he began. He was so
condescending as to bestow upon me
his confidence. Regarding me in my
double capacity of old servant ami
humble friend, he related to me the
story which M. Alexis has already
out a.eu 10 monsieur. III coming mere
| am only obeying the instructions OF
NJ Aloysius, but of NJ. Alexis. who is
passionately desircus that the position
of monsieur and his cousin should be
made clear. 1t is my duty to inform
monsieur that not the slightest doubt
attaches to the question. The real
criminal is now revealed. He is al
lowed to escape the penalty of his
crime for reasons which are not to be
over-estimated. That is the message
was instructed to deliver"
We'll" said Billery. Il knew all that
before"
Grimaud bowed, looked supercili-
ously at the meager furniture. an.
ncunced that ne had the honor to bid
monsieur good day, and so withdrew,
leaving his momentary host with a
| tingling inclination to kick him down
| the stairs.
1t was like Billery all over. when he
was once convinced that he had been
guilty of an injustice, to make com.
plete volte-face with regard to Alloy