The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-05-17

could. This will explain your presence there
and not eliminate yourself.
know that you are M not gIity o. for t1i "
You have only to account for your presence
near the body"
But, Doctor Dorrance, I was not there
not there at all Miss Esme knows all that
l can prove an alibi for 1 was at the hotel
with Mrs. Lyell. / was not down on the
beach at all. acknowledge this to you pri.
vately. | had fully intended swearing that
/ committed the murder, but now that my
father Is clear"
HE is not clear" interrupted, sternly.
"He declared that Paul Ernscliffe commit.
ted suicide, but he has no proof, no witness
to the deed. That he must find somehow,
or he will not get clear SO easily!'
Them will save him." she said, firmly.
forget all that said just now of my own
innocence of the crime. Say nothing, do
nothing. Don't you know l would rather 60
upon the scaffold than think my poor father
must suffer for my sin? For my mad love
for that man Ernscline was a sin and
was wicked, disobedient child to my kind
old father.
Now. leave me, Doctor Dorrance, shall
only get my just deserts when the scaffold
claims me. l am content to atone for my
past errors by the sacrifice Of my worthless
life. do not care to live, understand me,
clifes life. He is dead, and had he lived
the affection that he gave me was purely
selfish, and would not have been permanent.
DO not pity me, Doctor Dorrance, but prom:
Use me that you will say nothing Of this, and
then leave me to my fate. 1t Is just"
left her but deep hidden en-, in my heart
cost. She must not commit suicide In this
way, for 1t was nothing less than suicide.
She must be saved somehow, but how? There
was an alternative, but | shrank from the
very thought Of 1t, ms child shrinks from
a cruel blow.
/ went back to the hotel and sought Mrs.
Lyell.
Il want to ask you" I said, 'if you can
recall exactly where Ruby Wardour was at
the time of Ernsclffes death, Mt. say any
time around p. m. of that day?'
She looked thoughtful.
mol cannot" she returned.
Il went for a drive with the colonel at
about five; l returned at six, went to my
nap until seven, the tea hour. l remember
kept the colonel waiting while dressed for
tea, and 1t was nearly half after seven when
we entered the dining-room. Colonel Lyell is
the soul of punctuality and he lectured me on
the subject of being late. l remember 1t
perfectly well. l have no recoilections Of
course, just before eight there came the aw-
full news of poor Ernscliffe's death, and after
that was SO excited never thought Of
Ruby at all. Perhaps someone in the hotel
But, though l questioned every employee
of the place. could find no proof of Ruby's
whereabouts at the hour Of six. upon that
tragical evening, felt that the net was
closing in around the poor girl, and she
would be doomed unless something inter
vened to save her.
Sad and disheartened I went to see poor
Esme. She was raving In mad delirium, her
face flushed, her eyes wild, tossing about
upon the white pillows, the snowy linen cloth
about her golden head giving her CHASTITY
appearance.
As I entered the sick room, she started up
in bed, waving her arms wildly.
keep away! Keep away" she shouted |;
don't come near me. l am accursed-ac-
cursed -
1t was the saddest, most pitiful sight
had ever witnessed.
/ sank into a chair and great tears rolled
down my cheeks, 1t was the twilight hour.
had persuaded Mrs. Lyell to lie down: the
colonel had gone to take a walk, for exercise
was very necessary to the active old soldier
(haye I mentioned that he was a retired
United States army officer D., and the others
were not to be seen.
All at once a voice fell upon the silence
Esme had ceased her wild raying and was
still. so I heard It plainly. 1t was the voice
of Gertrude Bentley.
"Don't scold me. Jack" she was saying :
"really ! could not help II. I dared not let
Aunt and Uncle Lyell know that / had met
you before. As for Doctor Dorrance-bah |!
A fig for him Now, don't look so cross
Every woman stoops to deceive In small
things sometimes"
mo woman Is justified IN deception. or
man elther,". returned Jack Duane. mO0dily.
''I have sympathy for such failings, Ger
trude. I shall certainly set you right"
'If Won do" then her voice broke and