The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-10-05
CHAPTER xiv-cont,nue,

.
can stick 1t for month"
? Very WELL" said Truscott. ''Well
begin 1t that way, and we'll try the
experiment Of reducing the quantity
by once q month. What do you say
to that?"
"I'll try, Rags, will try. I've never
felt SO miserable about it in my life
as feel now. I'll try, and thank you
from my heart for thinking out way
to help me-" ts...
That's all right, then. Now this,
with the one pound seventeen and six
paid this afternoon, will make flyer.
You can let me have it back at the
rate of pound a week. Good after
loon. shall see you at the office to-
morrow"
Eyes; I'll be there" Billery an.
swered, through his tears, and Trus-
colt left him, in bitter lamentation
and remorse. But he was of too weak
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 to
the extraordinary scene of that after
noon. He took doleful survey of
himself in the glass and passed an
uncompromising verdict on himself.
II wouldn't have had that black
guard see me in this state for thou
sand pounds" he said. cts nasty to
think that a brute like that should
have a reason for despising me-"
The task was a risky one, but he
shaved himself at the cost Of 2
pimple, and then he stripped to the
waist and had a 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
Scot! Alexis, you here?. II you'd
been two hours earlier you'd have
found that precious cousin of yours"
II know" said Alexis. tits 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 have been barking
up the wrong tree, Billery."
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"
''I'll bet he has," said Billery.
"No, no." cried Alexis, half-hys.
terically. "We're all mistaken Alloy
si,ls 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 lifetime on
it. Aloysius is innocent, Billery. His
proofs are simply irrefragable, over
whelming. tell you, Billery, he's a
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 secret
that wild horses couldn't drag from,
him. can't tell you how relieved I
feel. He has forgiven me my sus-
picions of him. He admits that they
were natural and reasonable in the
circumstances. He says the same of
you and Truscott and Grimaud. I
wish to heaven it were possible for me
to let you see how daylight-clear the
case is. He has suffered under this
monstrous 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, lyon
take my breath away"
"You are no more astonished than
was. He could put the rope around
the right neck by a word, but he
won't speak it. 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-
rection-danger, mean, of further
scandal"
You're not telling an heroic lie to
shield him, Alex?"
| "No, by heaven, I'm not" said
Alexis sHe's innocent! Hurrah!
The horror that was hanging over. me
is gone, Billeiy gone forever!"
well" said Billery, st certainly
puts me in a 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. Z 81
Come down with me and tell Trus.
colt. Will you? He has believed IN
Augustus all along. s 5;s .55 ssssi
Certainly ! win . answered Alexis
gaily;; like bird b n
CHAPTER Nv.
What : high-strung fellow you 81 are
- u SHasSfn