The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-08-10
CHAPTER vi. (continued.)

SpccCu D0Sdu 10 IdlLeF anu IHOucu-
tary glaze crept over his eye. II must
have drink" he said. Behind
great screen of black and scarlet lac
Quer, inlet with an elaborate design Of
hammered silver, he found what he
sought, and, after taking one copious
draught behind the screen. he
emerged with another In his hand.
He sat down and resumed his speech.
slipping from time to time. This
stuff," he began, indicating the galli-
pot and the cheap metal cigarette-box
In which he had carried his own
sample; "this stuff is modelling clay
You have had good many hundred
weights of 1t through your fingers in
your working days. Now, at the time
of the old mans disappearance hadn't
you been working at colossal statue
of Boadicea?"
II had built up the frame work that
week and had finished molding the
mass about 1t the day before my uncle
vanished" He spoke with difficulty,
moistening his lips with his tongue.
II know what you are coming to-,
Billery." he said. ut is Adolphe's
story, too"
II take It," said Billery, that the
old man was drugged. There was no
sign Of violence on the body. What
happened was simply this. Alpysius
cleared out a great mass Of soft clay
from that figure, placed the dead or
unconscious old man in the cavity,
built 1t Theoretically up again, restored
your work to something like the state
In which you left it, and SO went
away"
"That is Adolphe's story" said
Alexis, with an effort.
"Aloysius finished that statue, didn't
hep
$50 far as it was ever finished, it
was his work"
"What became OF it,"
IT don't know. went abroad. I
was upset by my uncle's death. | was
not in England when the old house
was dismantled"
What want to know" said Bill
cry, tripping on his words like walk
er who loses his balance on slippery
ground Look here, Alex. What do
want to know? I'll have drink old
chap, then shall remember. l know
I'm welcome" He retired rather un-
steady behind the screen, had his
drink there, and come back carrying
another For the moment the new
drink had sobered him, and he began
to speak intelligibly as he crossed
the room. what want to know is
how that statue was conveyed into
the cellar of the empty house. When
I know that shall have my chain Of
evidence complete and shall bring
that callous scunndrel to the gallows." !"
"Billery," said Alexis, "you won't do
that?"
by heaven ! WILL" cried Billery.
''He shall hang for it, the Internal viii
lain. Hadn't the old man loved him
and nurtured for years? My blood
bofls when / think that fiend like
that IL allowed to walk about and pol
lutte the air which Is breathed by hon
est men,"
He emptied his tumbler and placed
It unsteadily on the table.
"Billery,% ,%.criec Alexis, seizing him
by the arm and shaking him, ''you
must not do this. Do you hear me?
You must not do it. Think Of the
shame, the anguish, the disgrace OF
It."
II dare not think OF that. l must dc
my duty"
"Oh, Billery! Have deserved this
ct your hands? That you should
fasten this hateful accusation on the
only man who bears my name. Have
| i deserved this? You strike blow at
me; you make the old name a by
word and a horror. Why should you
seek vengeance more than I? Leave
the man to his own conscience"
RI shall do my duty" said Billery
collapsing suddenly.
"The brandy's too much for him,
said Alexis. thrusting him angrily
into 4 chair. Il never saw anybody
like him. He'll behave with perfect
intelligence to the last minute, and
then he'll be extinguished as suddenly
q q blown-out candle. Get up, YOU
rufhan, and, II you must go to sleep
sleep ON my bed. Look here, I'm ex
pecting people, and can't have yor
on exhibition in this state. Get up
And being thus Unexpectedly urged
Billery got up, lurched wildly this
way and that, and was finally launched
like sack of Goals upon the bed.
Now 60 to sleep. you monumental
ooS,~ said Alexis, looking disdainful
1y down 1t him. That's pretty tel
lOw 70 be holding fate In his hands, !
he murmured, as he left the room.
h was . great deal shaken by the
events of the evening. and the double
enees at the way In which q great
er1me had been perpetrated filled hin
wjkh apprehension. Such mystery -
fhoro had been IN his uncle's disap
YoaranCe and u the discovery q hii
f1N1y seemed - II It were laid oper
~ the cntamplation Of the whol<
por16. = enooe which had sprung III
m tWo minos acting Independently 81