Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04
IEISj

And all through that night the tive
men 1abored with food and hot water
and brandy and warm blankets. At six O'Clock
in the morning Arthur Holme slept, and tn,
light of life had crept more into his asher
face.
Twelve hours later he awoke into consciousness
His wrists and ankles were lightly chained by
pieces of rope, for Jordison knew that il evel
he was to arrive at the truth, and conceal his
cyA secret he would have to play his part IN
20 the end In spite Of his bonds, Holme fell
warm and comfortable, and shortly after he
awoke, Jordson fed him with some thick and
steaming soup. The young man took it without
word. When he had finished he looked at
Jordson with questioning eyes.
Yes said Jordson sternly. you've guessed
right. ! want some information out of Won.
ana dead men cannot speak. That soup is good.
ism 1t! Well, there's lots more of it. But Won
go back to the tunnel if you don't speak This
Time. and stay there till you rot Do YOU nm.
derstand?"
Holme nodded.
III you tell me the TRUTH Jordison continued
III be merciful; III shoot YOU and snare Won
much suffering, and I'll let Lady Agnes 90 free
Llpp you may CO."
:, Inc servant left the cavern. Holme pondered
,ne matter Tor minute and then smiled If he
~ was DtJteF 10 Gle IN comfort than
face the slow starvation and darkness Of The tn
mel Besides, Lady Agnes life would be saved
ana the certainty of that was worth all that
he could give-even the minute chance of his
own escape. - ms
IN speak" he said curty 81 will tell Won
% %wno am. 1ou said you were a friend of nv
1ather. | am Arthur Sterous and | killed Rich
ard Behag." '''U '''on
,, Jordison rose to his feet ''You lie,v he cried
=, know well enough who you are You are
Richard Behag, and you killed Arthur Sterious"
,r Nome made no reply to Jordison's words.
ahey Eao peen flung at him thunder-bolt is
nung from the skies. He was too stunned TO
make any answer
- 'es, Jordlson continued sterny, "you are
fionard Behag, and it was the body of Arthur
Sterous that was found on the shores north of
valparaiso He was murdered"
Still Holme did not speak He clenched his
bound hands and bowed his head. Jordison took
out his watch and looked at it,
In half an hours time he said quietly, ''you
Will be dead man. But if you will tell me the
truth, and all the truth, will release Lady Ag-
mes Chtfe. If you refuse to speak, she shall die,
too L VIII give you two minutes to decide"
why do you want to know" Home replied;
still not looking up from the ground; "of what
interest is it to you? Who are you, and how
does the death of either Behag or Sterious con-
cern you?'
1T does not matter who am" ,Jordison re-
pled, Il have made you an offer, and YOU can
take 1T or leave it. You have but short time
10 consider the matter, and should advise YOU
not to waste it in conversation"
Jordison spoke calmly, but every nerve and
hbre OF his being tingled with excitement He
was playing gigantic game of bluff Whatever
reply came from Holmes lips, the lives of both
Holme and Lady Agnes Cliffe were safe Jordi-
son could not kill his son or the woman that
his son loved.
But the wretched man yearned for some word
hat OIlln FREQ fr,r, T. Il.
over his head-the murder of companion. the
robbery of firm that had placed their trust in
him.. If he held out the hope of life it was, nos
sble that Holme would not speak the truth
But man on the verge of death will not lie
when he knows that no words can save his life
If only Jordison could have revealed himself
it would have been easy to arrive at the truth
But the man, for all his vileness, had one clear
idea of honor in his mind-that the son must
never know the terrible history of the fathers
life. He sat silent with the watch in his hand.
"Ihe two minutes are up" he said at last If
Home had only looked at his face he might have
read the truth, he might have seen that the man
was waiting anXiously not for confession of
crime, but for proof of innocence. But Holme
did not look up from the ground. However, the
bribe was too great Lady Agnes life had to be
saved at any cost. Jordison's bluff came off
successfully.
Twill tell you all" the young said, "but
frst(you must swear by all you hold sacred-if
indeed you hold anything sacred in heaven or
earth-that Lady Agnes Cliffe shall return unmo-
Tested to her home"
'I swear this to you" Jordson said earnestly
Home looked him in the face and saw that the
man was speaking the truth.
When reached valparaiso" he began, but
Jordison interrupted him.
II should like you to start your story before
that date. Why did you leave England?"
Holme paused for a moment
"Surely YOU don't want to know that?" he
said after while.
'T do" Jordison answered "T knew your
father and mother and you, too as little child
They were good folk. Why did you run away
from them" He had horrible fear that this
part of the young mans story might disclose
some fresh disgrace, some new evidence of the
criminal instinct that had descended from father
to son.
."Well," Home replied, after another pause
"if you insist l must tell you. But l cannot
think of it, without shame now that my father
and mother both dead" It is a simple
story" he said hoarsely, "and commonplace
story. | was young, headstrong, and passionate
their souls--thought the life untitled for a lad
of promise and intellect My father whose whole
heart was in his work, thought that my life
should be given to the propagation of Christianity
in foreign parts. My heart did not fail me at
the thought of the work; in fact its dangers
)provded the only bright spot in the life il offered
VI "But--well they say the son OF clergymen are
often inclined to be irregious. | understand it
now. The perpetual air of piety was CALLING to
me. j felt like the girl behind the counter of
the sweet-shop who could not bear the taste of
a single chocolate or caramel, The life had be.
gun to stihe me. The air of the vicarage seemed