Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-27

Gated. If you can image Bernard as one OF the
common people, without education and polish,
you have Michael"
''I really can't give an opinion yet, Commission, y
said Durham with shrug; tomorrow, when !
see this Italian, I may learn something likely
to throw light the case. Meantime go back
and tell Bernard / am working hard. L have a
plan It has to do with Mrs. Gilroy being drawn
from her hiding place. I'll tell you what it is
after / have seen Tolomeo. But the success OF
my plan depends upon Bernard keeping in the
background. II you tell him about Michael-'
Hell be over like a shot And after all,
Mark, it's not pleasant to think fellow is mas
querading you with the girl you love-"
Bernard must put up with that" snapped
Durham, who was getting cross. His neck de.
pends upon my management Of this affair Should
he go to Hurseton he will be recognized by every
one, let alone Jerry, who would at once tell
Beryl. You know what that means"
'I know that Beryl is playing for big stake
he won't land" said Commission, grimly, and
walked towards the door. "All right, Mark, I'll
sit on Bernard and keep him quiet" Lord Con-
niston talked himself out of the office, and went
down to Cove Castle by later train.
True to the appointment made by letter, Signor
Tolomeo appeared at Durham's office. He was a
tall man with keen, clever, dark face. His hair
and mustache were gray and he had a military
appearance. In his bearing there was great
dignity, and II could be seen at glance that
he had good blood in his veins.
''Signor Tolomeo" said the lawyer, you were
surprised to see my advertisement"
az was indeed" replied the italian. who spoke
excellent English. "Our last interview was not
particularly pleasant"
''This may be still less So" rejoined Durham,
dryly; "but as it concerns your nephew Bernard,
perhaps you will be frank with me-"
'Ah poor Bernardo" said the uncle. "He is
dead.'
ono He is alive ;"
"Gran Dio!" Tolomeo started from his seat
in a somewhat theatrical manner. What is this
you say signor"
'I say that he alive, but in hiding I tell you
this because know you like Bernard and appre-
ciate his kindness to you"
Eyes. The boy is a good boy He has been
very kind to me- Although" added Tolomeo
with somewhat cynical air, "I do not deserve it,
All. sgnor, the want of money makes us all sad
rascas."
"That depends upon ourselves" said Durham,
somewhat stifly. "No man need be a rascal
unless he likes"
'Money can make a good man or bad one"
insisted the italian.
''I don't agree with you. But this is not what
/ wish to talk about, Signor Tolomeo. You are
pleased that Bernard is alive"
every pleased. But trust he will escape"
f'Ah! Then you believe he is guilty of the
crime"
''What other one?' asked Durham, sharply.
Tolomeo looked directly at the lawyer. "Before
7 sneak out" he said "it will set my mind at
rest to know what you mean"
"Does that hint you want money"
''Money is always a good thing, and / need it
badly" said Giuseppe struggling, "but, as this
regards my own nephew, l am willing to aid him
without money. loved my sister, his mother
and she was badly treated by that old mani"
Toloneos ewes flashed. "He insulted her, and we
the Tolomeo nobles-were great lords in Sena
when YOUR England was a wild forest and savage
peoples"
'fDd YOU tell Sir Simon this when you saw him
on that nght?
The Italian started up in some alarm What?
You say was with this English miser when he
diedY'
mo. I don't say that. But I say you were at
the house on that very night, and about the time
the murder was committed. For all l know, sig
nor you may be able to say who killed him."
Guiseppe twisting his hat in his hands, looked
keenly at Durham with his dark eyes. "Signor,
be explicit" he said.
'Ill explain myself thoroughly" said Durham.
''You can sit down again, signor. Bernard" he
continued when the Italian obeyed this request,
"inherits his grandfather's property, and, Of
course, the title. He wants to help you, and
nronoses TO give YOU five hundred year as soon
as possible"
"Ah! That is good of him." said Tolomeo
gratefully
"But," went on Durham, with emphasis, "Ber-
nard cannot give you this income until he is
formally put in possession of the estate; and he
cannot take possession of the estate until he is
cleared from this charge of murder Now you
can help me to clear him."
'Signor" said the italian at once, "I thought
Bernard was dead; that, as the papers said he
had been drowned crossing the river. But now
that know that he is alive, yon can command
nv services without money. All the same" add
teeth, "a little FIVE hundred year will make me
a great lord in Siena, to which town l shall re-
turn"
"After helping Bernardo" warned Durham.
"Of course l will not leave the country till
Bernard is seated in his proper place, and mar
ried-I understand he is to be married"
'I believe so. But he must first be able to
face his feowmen in safety" said the lawyer,
quickly. "Now, signor, you admit that you were
at the house in Crimea Square on that night"
eyes, why not? went to see Sir Simon.
walked to the Hall in Essex to see him. He had
gone to town; I found out where, and came
back to see him. On that night went some
time before ten o'clock"
81 know that" said Durham Mrs. Gilroy ad
mitted you She says she took you up to Sir
Simon and that you quarreled with him"
| at is true, we had words"
"And then you left the house without seeing
her. Behind you, according to Mrs Gilroy, you
| left the dead body of Sir Simon"
| Toomeo started up though about to run
away but Immediately afterwards sat down. II
don't suppose YOU have called me here to make
an arrest, signor," he said "I am innocent, but
| / admit that thought there might be trouble
should it be known l was in that house on the