The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-12-08
CHAPTER xXvI.-(Continued.)

the matter for us, but if Hubert still
lived, 1t was arranged that George Stan
ton should conceive some plan of silenc-
ing, him forever. He demanded exorbitant
terms from me, and l gave them. was
mad at that time; would have given
all my fortune to have put Hubert Ten
by out Of my path, not only because he
hgnffed my ruin, but because Antonio
loved him"
"What plan did Stanton suggest to you
for silencing your victim?" asked Ben
Coop In a low voice
az do not know this place to which
he took Hubert, but he explained to me
that 1t was lonely spot, and that in the
garden at the back OF the house there
stood, an old broken we'll. This was to
be the grave; this, as far as / know, is
.Hubert's grave. Take help, go and search
there, and when you have found him, let
Antonio kneel and weep upon him,
Though he be dead, he must feel the bless
ing Of her tears"
Ben Coop stood with his hands pressed
to his brow and then to his throat. There
was hardness in the recital of this ira
gedy. that stifed him.
at Is well for you to speak so easily"
he said, when words would come; but oh.
man, my heart is chilled with horror
What had that poor lad ever done to you Z
He had loved you that 1 know, as all
the world knows it. We start" said Ben
stsrnly, as he put his hand with a grip
Of iron on Gerald Tenby's shoulder, we
start, you and l, this very hour to find
the body of the lad thou hast destroyed ~
It was a strange journey back from the
North the officials at the small railway
station had looked curiously at Sir Ger
aid. Tenby's companion. But Gerald Ten
by seemed sunk in arathy. He moved, he
spoke as one in a dream. He was only
djmly conscious of the man who sat be-
side him in the train; his thoughts were
always, with Antonio.
London reached, Ben hailed a cab, and
with Gerald beside him, drove out onte
again In the direction of that small house.
1t was evening.
1t was a long drive, yet Gerald Ten
by never spoke. He sat back in the cor
ner of the hanson with his arms folded
across his breast. He had stiff, unnat-
ural look. He was so quiet at times that
Ben hardly knew what might not hap
pen
A little way from the gate Ben stop
ped the hanson. He got out, and Ger.
aid Tenby followed him. A shiver ran
through the man who had worked such
ruin in Hubert's life.
Ben bid the cabman wait, then putting
his hand on Gerald's arm, he advanced to
the little gate, unattached it, and passed
MP that deserted path to the door.
Before he could ring the bell or make
any sign, the door was opened hurriedly
from within and that same small wonan's
AZURE came into view. Once again she
uttered eagerly the name of the one crea-
,ture In the world that was beloved to her.
Master George, you have come" she
said, and then she was silent, and she
drew back, for she saw that it was not
her master who stood before her.
"Haye no fear" Ben said to her gent
ly; I'VE are not here to harm you. Let
us have a light; we must come in"
But Sarah stood in the passage.
IT was told by Master George to let
no one in" she said; rightly or wrongly,
! have kept my word to him. l cannot
let you pass"
"Your, master is not here, poor woman"
said Ben; II fear you will not see him
again for some time at least. We are
here and we must enter; there is some
thing in this house that must be searched
into"
Then Sarah burst into tears Covering
her face with her apron, she sank on a
chair in the hall, and Ben entered, draw
ing Gerald Tenby after him.
"Dry your eyes," said Ben, "and listen.
Rightly or wrongly, as you have just
said, you have stood by your word to
your master. fear me 1t means great
deal. Dry your eyes and answer. Who
ls In this house with you?"
"Why do you question? Why do you
come to me like this? What right have
you to come into this house?'
"We come to seek some one who was
brought here, some one who was buried
here"
"Ahw she said, with a wall in her
voice. II knew it, / knew it; / told
Master George that evil must come. Sirs. .
Sarah said, rising to her feet, Il am glad
you have come, for now there will be an
end perhaps, to this trouble. You say
you come to see one who was brought
here, to seek one who was buried here
come with me. / will show you what you
have come to find. did not believe that
Master George would leave me so long
but IL there is any truth in what you
have just told me, then trouble has come
to him, and l can fight for him no long
er. Come with mel"
She led the way along passage to a
room on the ground floor. and the two men
followed her, Ben quivering with emotion,
and Gerald Tenby stiff, calm, and white
as though he We're no living creature.
At the door Sarah paused, then she
fhrAW Ii md thnu on hafnro thnr.,