The Washington herald., 1906-12-19
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Confession.

|
| paradise could make the old lady extend
the invitation to him. Beryi did not
mind. He knew perfectly well that he
was no favorite with Miss Plantagenet,
! and often wondered why she was so po-
1 lite to him. A scOundrel himself, julius
was always suspicious Of others, and
constantly strove to learn why Miss Ber-
ongaria whose honest character he knew.
| displayed such courtesy toward him.
Then he thought It was because Ber-
nard being In her house. she was afraid
lest he should be arrested through the In
strumentality Of his cousin should not
tact be shown. Julius departed quite sat
| isfied in his own mind that he had
solved the problem of Miss Plantagenets
behavior. Had he known the real reason,
he would not have gone away so com
placently
Before departing. Julius saw Jerry and
told him-among other tbings-that he
would have 70 leave Miss Plantagenet be
cause Of his having meddled with matters
which did not concern him. During the
interview Miss Berengaria came along
and the matter was explained TO her. She
refused to allow Berry, to interfere.
Mind your own precious business,
young man." she said. Il am quite able
TO look after the boy myself
But he has behaved badly" urged
Julius. meekly.
so he has. and I'd give him good
whipping. However, I am not going to
dismiss him for this. Jerry. go TO the
kitchen and mind your P's and Qs. or I'll
know the reason why. And now. Mr.
J Beryl''-the old lady dropped a-grim
/ curtsey-" good-by."
Julius departed smiling. and IN no wise
offended at the grimness Of Miss Beren-
garia- "Iu soon be able 10 DO without
the lot OF them" he thought. as he
walked 70 the railway station, "once the
estate Is in my possession. and I'll keep
away from this place. Lucy will have &c
turn out Of the Hail. as I won't have her
stopping, after the way in which she has
/ treated me. I believe she is in love with
that bOunder Of a Commission However"
he added. systematically, L know my own
knowing"
He aid not know Durham's. however.
and would have been considerably agi-
tated had he learned what that gentle
man said 10 the two ladies after his de-
parture Not only TO them. bat 20 Lord
! Commission himself. That young gentle
man arrived with Lucy shortly before
dinner Lucy had come over to the meal.
and Commission, on his way back 10 Ber-
nard az the castle, thought he would drop
In. or course. as the astute lover in
tended, he was asked TO dinner
The meal passed OF excellently. as ev-
cry one was in good spirits. The lawyer
/ had limited that Bernard would soon be
Z fro HraH M Ia. L s-fr II. n
that he had dis covered after dinner.
When the meal was ended they ali went
| back 20 the drawing-room and sat round
the solicitor, who commenced his recital.
Prior TO starting. Miss Berengaria went
up 20 see Michael. and returned. stating
that he was much better. Il believe he
Will get we'll she said.
OF course observed the lawyer. front
caliy, the comedy is nearly al an end
/ The will has been signed. Now Michael
VIII disappear to allow Beryl 70 get the
/ estates"
He viii have to supply a corpse then.
said Commission. cOolly-
'Oh, / daresay he will rejOined Dur
/ ham. Struggling. After the disappear
ance Of Michael I know exactly what
viii happen. \ body much decomposed
will be found In the Thames, and will be
recognized by julius as that Of Bernard.
Any corpse viii do so long as the face
cannot De recognized"
'Drat the mani said Miss Berengaria,
emphatIcally. You can't get a corpse
without numbering some one, and I should
think that BeryI creature has had enough
Of that sort of work"
"Oh. but Julius did not kill Sir Simon"
said Lucy. with dismay. He was at the
theater with me and Mrs. Weber.
80 ! believe" said Durham. dryly;
/ but tell me, Miss Randolph. did he leave
you al all during the play?"
Not till the last act said Lucy. Then
he went 20 get something to drink, and
returned before the end Of the play to
take Us away"
How long was he absent?"
Nearly half an hour. He said he had
met a friend and had been talking TO
him"
"Ah, Very clever Of him. Well" said
| Durham, looking round, I have some
thing to tell you all. We are friends Of
Bernard, are we nOt?"
Certainly" said Miss BerengarIa.
sharply, and I know what you are 60
| ing 10 tell us. This Beryl creature muir
dered Sir Simon when he was away from
the theater."
"ImpossibIer' said Lucy and Alice in
one breath.
"He could scarcely have done it in
half an hour" said Commission.
But he did for all that" said Dur
| ham. Remember. the Curtain Theater
is only ten minutes walk from Crimea
Square. BeryI could easily slip round and
strange Sir SimOn-as he did"
7 knew IT," cried Miss Berengaria, tri-
umphantly Tell US all about It, Dur
ham. Aha We'll see that reptile dane
| ing on nothing"
"Oh, aunt said Alice, turning pale
Miss PIantagenet." demonstrated Lucy.
/ don't speak like that 1 do not like
/ julius. and broke my engagement.
I think he is tricky, and has no princi-
| pies. but I don't think he would"
| Yes, he would" contradicted the old
/ lady, taking a pinch of snuff. BAH
| don't talk TO me. Liar and rogue MUIR
derer, and thief are written all over
| him. Ny dear girls, the man is danger
to society. / want to see him hanged. He
would have hanged Bernard"
That's true enough" said Conniston
''but fer the sake of the family, don't
want to see Julius hanged. So long as
/ he tells the truth and lets Bernard take
| his place in society. I don't care
"He won't let Bernard take his place in
| society,"" insisted Miss Berengaria. quiet
/ ~. Il daresay l am v1ndictlve. but that
young reptile-ughi" She shuddered and
/ took another pinch of snuff.
Are you sure he is guilty?' asked
Lucy, timidIy.
quite sure" said Durham, gravely. Il
I have evidence" and he produced hand
/ kerchief.
Tell US all about it, Durham" said
4 Miss Plantagenet briskly. "The sooner
we learn the truth the better. 4 am get
1 ting very tired Of this connection with the
/ Police Court. have read detective
I ro,-als - adze5 tbo old ladx- e-y,rba liz