Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-26
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CHAPTER XIII.

| have done, seeing an honest man bam-
boozled and cheated by lying, subtle
rascal on the other side of half-glazed
door with a taffety blind, If you are an
ordinary person, with an ordinary love Of
truth and an ordinary hatred of deceit,
| I'll be bound you would have flung open
that door and told simple DR.. Awdrey
that Lynn Yeames was liar and a cheat,
and proclaimed all you knew about him
and his motives; but if you are like me,
willy old lawyer, you would have done
nothing of the kind. For DR.. Awdrey
believed that my prejudice against Lynn
Yeames amounted to a mania I had no
proof whatever to substa ntiate a charge
| against him, and in the absence Of proof
DR.. Audrey would be fully justified in
believing a trusted friend in preference
to biased lawyer. How could l prove
that he knew nothing about the will be-
| fore his mother telegraphed to him after
| the reading Of 1t? l could only declare
that he did not know he could declare
that he did. He had ingenuity to invent
reasons as good for his knowing the fact
as those l could produce to show that he
was ignorant of the real truth. In a case
Of hard swearing the judge must lean
towards the side which seems least capa-
BILE of duplicity, and 1t would go hard
| with the lawyer in such a case.
These conditions decided me to leave
the half-glazed door as it was, and to
seek some more than ordinary means of
| discomfting an extraordinary rascal. I
| felt sure of this-that Dr. Audrey Would
insist upon Lynn going at once and tell
ing his story to his sweetheart; and it
! seemed to me that the best thing l could
do was to go TO Flexmore House before
hand and prevent Mr.. Lynn deceiving
Miss Dalrymple as he had deceived Dr.
| Audrey
Mrs Guttridge," said I to my house
keeper, who is a careful woman, and de-
| livers messages correctly, 81 can't wait
any longer / don't wish to disturb DR..
Audrey and his friend, who seem to be
having a nice little chat. If they ask
for me, you will say that had an ap-
pointment to keep, but that l shall be at
home from nine till twelve tomorrow
morning."
With that I trotted off to Flexmore
| House as fast as my legs would carry
me; but there was plenty of time to think
on the way, and l had plenty to think
about. How was l to warn Miss Dali
rymplep To tell her bluntly that her
lover was a scamp would not do. Her
love would only strengthen in defending
him against his accuser.
But did she still love him? Had she
ever really loved him? / was inclined to
answer no to both questions. l believed
that as yet she had really loved no one.
Vat I sniff oioptIu g.
that l could with safety speak openly on
the subject. And that is why l made I'D
fairy story-a pretty occupation for a
lawyer, you will say.
They saw me, Nurse Gertrude and lit
tie Laure, from the drawing room win
dow as l came up the gravel path and
the child darted off to open the door. and
both welcomed me with smiles on the
threshold
found opportunity only to begin nv
story when Mr.. Yeames himself appeared.
l gathered up my hat, great coat, COM
forter, and stick, and, tucking them under
one arm and little Laure under the other,
slipped into the adjoining room, where
we shut ourselves in, just as Mr.. Yeames
was admitted to the drawing room by the
other door.
l would have given anything to know
what was taking place there but | could
not well put my ear to the keyhole in the
presence of little Laure, so l had to con-
tent myself with the hope that Nurse
Gertrude would see through the wiles of
her crafty visitor. 1t was exasperating
to hear the murmur of voices and not to
distinguish what was being said, however,
7 loo rrad latnr from
what took place in this interview, and I
will set it down here as if l had seen and
heard all-which, in my mind l certain
~ did when the mere facts of the case
were made known to me.
Standing by the door as he closed it
Lynn made grave inclination of his head
expressive of respect, contrition-any-
thing you like; then he stepped forward
hastily with his hand out, his head erect,
his chest thrown forward, in a manly,
honest way. She put her hand in his.
Can you forgive me?" he asked, hold
ing her hand and speaking in that rapid.
full undertone that is supposed to express
earnest anxiety. Gertrude ~ he added
with a tender infection, putting forth his
left arm to take her by the waist
Nothing succeeds like audacity with
certain women; but Gertrude was not of
that set, and, quietly shrinking to avoid
his touch, she withdrew her hand and
seated herself with the slightest depreca-
tory movement of her head. | can see
that graceful dignifed movement as
write-a kind OF Northampton" move
ment With a deep sigh Lynn dropped
his hands by his sides and sank into q
chair.
Il ought to have spoken out at the very
first, l know that" he said, in the tone
of man candidly admitting an amiable
weakness. Il ought to have given you an
explanation; but | was beside myself that
morning"
''As you have not offered any explana-
ton since, am to suppose that you have
been beside yourself rather over week."
said Miss Dalrymple. with sympathy in
her voice.
Indeed l have" he said.
Then | think a little apparent eccen-
tricity of conduct must certainly be for
given" and so, as if she had dismissed
the subject, she asked in tone of ordi
nary civility, And when did you re-
turn?"
replied Mr.. Lynn uncomfortably.
DIR. Audrey has asked frequently af-
ter you. l suppose you have not had
time to call upon him"
'No-that is, yes; l saw him coming
along"
How very fortunate! Mr.. keene has
been inquiring about you. OF course, you
have not seen him?"
Not knowing how much she knew. he
had to admit the fact that he had seen
me also.
'Er-yes, l have; had to call upon him
on a pressing matter of business, you
know"
Then. now l suppose you have salts
fed nearly everybody's curiosity. Isn't 1t
a great relief TO your
Ito be coutinued.)
The Philosophers Also Increasing.