Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-07-12

give evidence. The clothes i wore, Win
my name marked on them, are also pre-
served"
Wylie eagerly examined the document
cast at him. After a minutes silent re-
fection, his face slowly cleared. II have
no interest in denying your claim" he
said, in his usual soft, hypocrtical tone.
1T will not take away one farthing from
me. The claim of the Breton De Sois-
sons Is quite distinct from mine. But
you must confess that your intelligence
was somewhat startling. If l have said
anything to annoy you, apologize"
stop whining" she answered, impa-
tiently. whenever you put on that tone,
l fancy you mean mischief"
What is 1t you want of me" he ask
ed.
"You have a paper which will secure
Sir Launce Penrhyddyn the mortgage
money when it falls due. / want that
paper"
Mr.. Wylie laughed, and slowly rubbed
his hands together as though enjoying
joke. "a modest request, certainly" he
said. "In the first place, bow do you
know that the letter is genuineT
THAT l have ascertained for myself.
I called upon Messrs Groom and Fry to
ask whether they were instructed to pay
over to Sir Launce a certain sum of
money upon a certain date. Of course, as
/ expected, they declined to furnish me
with positive information but their man.
ner convinced me that some such COM
munication had passed. Hand me over
that paper, and l will sign bond max
ing over to you one-half the sum that
may inherit under Mrs. Grierson's will"
"a sum that it is more than probable
you may never touch," he sneered.
"A sum which it is more than proba-
BILE l shall touch before the bells ring
this year out. Oh, know everything {;
| know that Constance Grierson wants
| not month to her twentieth birthday,
and that there is not the slightest chance
of her fulfilling the condition under which
she is to inherit the property"
Mr.. Wylie looked amazed; then bent
his brows and gnawed his nails again.
| During the last few minutes he had been
revolving in his mind a desperate plan,
but as yet it was only half formed.
"If what you say be true" he said.
slowly, I'VE are both equally interested
in the girls forfeiture of her fortune
Have you any love for Constance Grier-
SON."
'I hate her. she cried, vehemently
"and more than ever since | heard Ar
thur praise her beauty, and say that he
could have loved her had it not beer
for"
~ suppose that 1t Is quite a settled
thing that you are to be the future Lady
Penrhyddyn?" he said, observing her sud
den break. Help me, then, in a plar
which, if successful, will be equally t
, your advantage as to mine; and that pa
per shall be yours within sufficient tim
, to save Penrhyddyn."
; What is the plan?" she asked, lookini
| steadily into his face
1T has come to my knowledge tina
Constance, alarmed, doubtless, at the nea
approach of the fatal day, is about t.
draw a-large sum of money-many thou
' sands of pounds"
But can she do 500" inquired Mrs
| Castleton.
"Yes, with the concurrence of he
t guardian, who is so violently opposed t
the will by which she is hampered tina
he would do anything to nullify its pro
: visions. find that there is no provision
in the will against such a contingency
t Unless 1 could prove that the principa
of the fortune was being reduced, / an
powerless to check such expenditur
e without the coalition of my fellow trus
: tee. There are many people for the for
, tune to be divided among, and its dimi
y mutton by some twenty or thirty thousan
y pounds will materially diminish you
share and mine."
: "And how do you propose to proven
e this?"
ut can easily be done by our unite
e efforts. And, remember, the price of you
), assistance is the salvation of the Penrhyt
y dyn estates. Refuse, and they are los
. and you will never be Lady Penrhyddyr
l Which is it to be? Draw close an
: listen"
!, She drew close to him, and he. bendin
Y forward, began to speak in low, earnes
- whisper, to which she listened with pal,
:. anxious attention.
Castleton passed through the outer Offices
d with grave and preoccupied expressio
4 upon her face.
f Could She at that moment, have tran,
v ported herself into the little closet /
> the private Office and have watched th
" expression of Wylie's countenance st
q might have considered twice before sf
o committed herself to his proposals. II
! was leaning back in his chair, convulse
with inward laughter. "She herself wi
prevent Constance from saving Penrhy,
d dyn The twenty or thirty thousand thf
q we have plotted against her having is I'll
II very sum she intends devoting to that pu
!. pose! This Is delicious !"
7 Such were the thoughts then passir
'. through his brain. Y{
Ia
Il The die was cast, and Mrs. Castleto