Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-08-28
CHAPTER XXvI.-(Continued. J

CHAPTER AAN1.-(C ontinued.)
I'VE thought it possible that this con-
fnement in so small a space might end
the matter for US, but if Hubert still
lived, it 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
signified 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.
Il do not know this place to which
he took Hubert, but he explained to me
that it was lonely spot, and that in the
garden at the back of the house there
stood an old broken well. 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 a hardness in the recital of this ira
gedy that stifed him.
1T is we'll for you to speak % easily,
he said when words would come; but oh,
man, my heart is chilled with horror
What had that poor lad ever done to youF
He had loved you; that / know, as all
the world knows it. We start" said Ben
sternly, as he put his hand with grip
of iron on Gerald Tenby's shoulder, we
start, you and I, this very hour TO find
the body of the lad thou hast destroyed J!
1t 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 apathy. He moved, ne
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 once
again in the direction of that small house.
1t was evening.
1t was a long drive, yet Gerald Ter
by never spoke He sat back in the cor
ner of the hanson with his arms folded
across his breast. He had a stiff, unnat-
ural look He was so quiet at times that
Ben hardly knew what might not hap
pen.
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
up 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 woman's
figure 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 J" she
said. a1d then she was silent, and she
drew back, fc- she saw that 1t was NOT
her master who stood before her.
Have no fear" Ben said to her gent
ly: 1--WE are not here to harm you. Let
us have a light; we must come in.
But Sarah stood in the passage.
II was told by Master George to let
no one H." she said rightly or wrongly,
1 have kept my word to him. cannot
let you pass"
Your master is not here, poor woman"
said Ben: Il 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
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 it means great
deal. Dry your eyes and answer. Who
is in this house with your
"Why do you question? Why do you
come to me like this? What right have
YOU to come into this houseT
1--WE come to seek some one who was
brought here, some one who was buried
here"
"Ahr' she said, with a wall in her
voice. 81 knew it, l knew it; l told
Master George that evil must come. Sirs," "
Sarah said. rising to her feet, Il am glad
Won have come. for now there will be an
end perhaps, to this trouble. You say
Won come to see one who was brought
here. to seek one who was buried here;
come with me. I will show you what you
have come to find | did not believe that
Master George would leave me so long !;
hut IL there is any truth in what you
have lust told me, then trouble has come
10 him, and / can fight for him no long
err. Come with NE
She led the way along a passage TO
room, on the ground floor, and the two men
followed her, Ben quivering with emotion,
and Gerald Tenby stiff, calm, and white
rs though he were no living creature.
At the door Sarah paused, then she
threw 1t open and they saw before them
an empty room save for something shaped
like coffin that stood in the center of the
floor. lighted at either end by candles. The
windows were closed in by shutters; the
room was poor, shabby. old, yet in its
vay this resting place of the dead had a
dignity about it that penetrated even the
stony despair that filed Gerald Tenby's
heart.
moan broke from his lips as he stag
rered backward against the wall OF the
passage.
Rem Coop loosed his hold and covered
his face with his hands; then he woke
from his intensity of grief as he saw
Sarah fall on her knees By this coffin COW
cred with black. and burst again into
weeping. He bent forward and touched
lrer on the shoulder.
why do you weep?" he said in whis-
per: what was this lad to your
He was all that was left to me" the
woman said. her voice wrung with an
guish: 1.-THE child / nursed from the day
he was born. the one link left to me Of all
that had once made life pleasant and
good"
Ben drew back IN his turn. lie scarce
IL knew how TO control his feelings. The
force OF emotion took even the strength
from his voice. When he would have
questioned. Sarah spoke on.
This is the coffin that holds the body
Of Walter Griffith Stanton. my masters