Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-13


tainted but what I thought Victoria would bring
me to with hot water like the spiteful imp Of
darkness she is"
Did Jerry writer" asked Durham, making a
sign to Gore to be silent
"Of course he did, and said as he had been
turned m out OF his employment for a--recosnizins
OF his lordship-a thing / should never have
thought his lordship would have done, seeing he
got my own flesh and blood, which Jerry is, the
situation"
1T was not for that reason Mrs. Moon. Jerry
told a lie II he wrote that to you"
Printed or speaking lies, he tells plenty
moaned the giantess. "0h dear me, so like his
poor dear father. though ] thumped him rarely
when had the strength. But what's my Jerry
bad as he is and liar though he be, ADDING OF
nowY He may be starving in that nasty London,
and rare child he was for titbits"
Il can tell you where he is, Mrs. Moon" broke
in b rnard 'I have just heard" He glanced
towards the table whereon lay letter. He is
page in the house of Miss Plantagenet at Nurse
ton"
"Deary me-" said Mrs Moon in mild surprise.
"I do hope as he'll give satisfaction, and pleased
! am must tell Victoria, she being taken up
greatly with my Jerry, though both of them be
but young"
Durham detained her. "Nol Don't say
word to Victoria"
"And why not, sir"
If you do Jerry will lose his post" explained
Durham. Miss Plantagenet has heard of Victoria
and she doesn't seem to be good companion for
Jerry. Only on condition that Victoria has moth
ing to do with Jerry will the boy be kept on. Go
and send up some tea, Mrs. Moon, and hold your
tongue about Jerrys whereabouts. If Victoria
learns she may go over, and then Jerry would
be dismissed"
ITO the gallows," said the housekeeper, closing
the door, ito which he will assuredly CO." she
added, opening it again. "he taking after his
forebears, who were hanged for many evils Tea
did you say. All, well, there's some comfort in
tea" and muttering to herself the weak old crea-
ture left the two gentlemen to themselves.
By this time Bernard had returned to the fire
and was pushing forward chair for Durham. Il
am glad to see you, Mark" said he, cordially
"But why Gid you stop me speaking"
"I didn't stop you, worse luck" said Durham,
running his hand through his curly hair. Il
didn't want Mrs. Moon to know where Jerry was
only hope she will hold her tongue; but If she
does tell Victoria, and she is weak enough to bab-
BILE Vt, Jerry will learn in a way I need not
describe that you are here"
"I was foolish" admitted Gore, gloomy, but
l am so worried that / do foolish things. Do you
think there is any chance of getting at the TRUTH
Mark?"
Here's the tea" said Durham, rising at the
sound of shuttle at the door. 'Let me have
cup, and then I'll tell you what / have dscov-
cred"
"Anything important?" asked Gore, the door
opened.
every important. I have clue"
| II was Victoria, sharp and dark and vivacious
as ever. who brought in the tray. But Durham
had spoken in low tones, so he did not think she
had heard. Besides, he was not so alarmed about
her and Judas as he had been. Both were uenal,
and at any cost their silence would have to be
nurchased It would be better for Bernard to lose
half his estate than remain fugitive from JUS
tice. Victoria darted a suspicious glance at Ber-
nard, as from the air Of mystery surrounding his
stay at the castle she thought he was, as she put
| r. "wanted for something" But she was too
clever and truth to say, too impotent to move
without the cooperation Of Jerry Moon, Besides,
beyond mere suspicion, she had nothing to go
upon. Oueerly enough she had heard nothing OF
the murder.
When she withdrew. Durham poured out two
Guns Of tea and ate some toast. Gore waited pa
tiently enough, but there was restless ar about
him which showed that his patience was tried Sc
,arolv AZ length Durham satisfied his appetite,
tool the edge off it as it were, and then returned
to his seat.
"Rernard.' he asked, poloing the fire, you
never told me that Sir Simon gave you check
for one thousand poundsY
Gore started up with an exclamation. What
do Won mean? / never received such large
check as that in all my lie.
tember payable to bearer"
oNo He certainly did not. You forget that
we had ouarreled From the moment ! LETT the
Hall some months ago | never received penny
from him. lived, as you know, on what little
money I inherited from my father You gave
ffty pounds to me yourself.
AZ went to the bank" said Durham, with an
air Of satisfaction, and asked IL .s sscn cnecA
had been presented, and by whom!
| 1 ChecK!
nOhi found it amongst Sir Simon's private
uonors when he died 1t had been honored and
rrsturned cancelled with the bank-book. | need
not ave asked if it had been presented as it had,
and had also been paid. But | wanted to exam
inc the whole thing from the beginning. The
teller--who knows you-informeo ine enas you you
nresented the check about the beginning OF Oc-
tahor and that he paid you the money"
'ooGt' oTt i utterly false" cried Gore, violently.
nToan your temper, old boy" said Durham,
.ooth;nglv g Il know that as well as you do. The
,r,or who presented the check was dressed as an
Inneral Yeoman. He told the teller ne had en-
,;ntpd and the teller, thinking he was you, wish
ed him good luck. !;
nput Mark" said Bernard, much perplexed,
n.h;s double Of mine must be extraordinarily like
mo for the teller knows me well.
"a nrhara Is n reason for the lkeness" The
,ornn man hesitated, wondering if it would be
ry;aht 70 tell his friend that Mrs. Giroy claimed
10 he the first wife of Walter Gore. On rapid re
soot;or he decided TO say nothing about the
natter at present, knowing Bernard's violent tenn
%a'' nsr He therefore confined himself to bare de
byI tsl Mrs. Gilroy called at my office" he said
sio,ylv Ito complain that the one hundred year
left to her by Sir Simon was not enough"
ooh, confound Mrs. Gllroy' sad sad Gore ie! lmps
MN S,lle who presented il must be the fellow
who masoueraded in the kitchen"
land perhaps-Fho knows-may have mur