Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-31

l '
 dence. Well, who was this othe 1 man!'
 You" smiled Richard. II remem
 Der you perfectly on account of you
 costume, which was-er-quaint in tn,
 extreme"
 Uncle Michael broke into a jovia
 roar, while a snigger. of amusement rippled among the other listeners. Int culprit had scored point, but it only served to put Mir. Renwyck in a warm CT rage.
 'Officers," he cried, do your duty
 accuse this man-hes thief!'
 Miss Harriet stepped forward, g crimson spot glowing on either cheek but Imogene held tightly to her arm and dragged her back. MT. Van del Awe was in state which bordered on despair. He also had been watching 1mogene and Harriet, and he saw that they were far more interested ill the proceedings of the case than their si. lente warranted. Three times Miss Harriet had started forward, but her whimpering friend had always detain- ed her, once going so far as to stop an exclamation with pretty hand across q prettier mouth. What was it Miss Renwyck seemed so eager to tell which Miss Chittendon seemed equally de- termined to withhold?
 At Mir Renwyck's order to the de {oo cd Inc room. Sergeant Flint and his subor- dinate closed upon the Texan, and for q moment 1t seemed that trouble was inevitable.
 Stop" said Richard, The tone was incisive, and somehow the wondering company gave obedience. "Mr. Ben wyck," he went on quietly, you have called me a thief before many wit nesses. You will be required to an- swer for this to me, AS to the manner of that answer you know enough of men from Texas to-
 This time Harriet broke away from Miss Imogene, whitening to the lips and stretching out her hand to the group beneath her.
 "Texas?' she cried. "Then you are"-
 T am," smiled Richard, "and don't you say single word. We'll get out of this 'milr too."
 Miss Renwyck sank back against the balustrade. trembling from head to foot, while her color came and went, as she stared in silence at the cowboy of her dreams. In her heart she had known it from the first. yet now she recognized the fact that she loved the pseudo Englishman even if he had not turned out to be her hero of the plains. How splendid he looked as he faced the company, striving to shield two helpless girls by taking the blame of the robbery upon himself. For her sake he was being branded as thief, but this thing should not be!
 "Imogene." she whispered, "I must tell. I must. must"
 But Imogene clung to her appeal. ing!y.
 "Oh. don't" she pleaded. "Corne- Illus will be so angry at me. Look at him glowering now, Just wait a lit- tic while. l shall die o: shame. Please, pleasew
 Harriet bit her lip. It was too late now, anyway. for her lover was speak ing again, and she did not wish to miss word.
 "Gentlemen." he was saying, "Mr. Renwyck has accused me of crime. Perhaps he is justified in connecting me with the loss of his valuable prop erty; but. on the other hand. I appeal to you as ievel headed. thinking men. His evidence is purely circumstantial."
 Can you prove your innocence" sneercd the linancier.
 "Unfortunately. no, nor am l com. pclled to do so by the laws of the land." returned the Texan quietly. But I can weld as strong a chain around any member of this household whom you choose to select"
 Done" retOrted Mir. Renwyck an. grily. Make the choice yourself. Go on''
 Very we'll" laughed Richard. "l will. MT. Renwyck. select your
 Me" stormed the millionaire. start ing back in genuine astonishment. "Preposterous!''
 There was a chuckle of delight from a distant corner. and Mir. Renwyck had no trouble at all in fixing it upon Brother Michael. Richard stood with his feet slightly apart. his hands in his pockets. while he began 10 rock for ward and backward on his heels and toes. The humor of the situation was coming back again.
 Gentlemen" he said. "and ladies. too. if you will allow me-this is mere Iy for the sake of argument-ouT hon. orable host. for whom. believe me. have the utmost respect and sdmira- tion. has unfortunately placed himself fin a very ugly light. To begin with. he Is involved in a certain financial scheme. the details of which I am not at liberty 10 disclose. Suffice it to say 1t requires a vast amount of cap Ital That Mir. Renwyck Is pinched for so9ey is proved by the fact that night Iefore last he urged me to place s1u0OOO in his enterprise
 What gssped Mr. Renwyck "Why. sir-why"-
 -Wait- said Rirhari sharply. T have the fOOr- Again he turned to the company T declined tO invest this amount of money for reasons Of my own. though my host was much annoyed thereat-~
 The specuIator. Eho could not fm- sKiBe what Richard vas driving at. stood speeches. with amzzement.