Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1907-09-27
CHAPTER xII.-(Continued.)

Sheila-by accident, of course-was just
coming down the stairs as Lady Dales-
water was ascending them.
There was a mutual start, and then |
cordial greeting. Shela was looking won
derfully pretty in her long sealskin man
tle her rudy, golden hair making bit |
of bright color beneath her neat hat to
match Lady Daleswater was pleased to
approve Of her probable future sister-in-
law
"You here, Miss Fraser !" she exclaim-
ed. This is quite delightful surprise.
/ pictured you in Mountberry, enjoying
yourself"
81 was compelled to come to London
on business matters, and" Sheila added,
with tiny sigh that did not escape Lady
Daleswater's keen ears, "Mountberry is
not particularly lively just now"
Can you give me any news of my
brother-is he really so dangerously hurt?
Mamma is such an alarmist you know"
Sheila assumed a sad, anxious look,
although in reality she was not aware
exactly how Jack was at that particu-
lar moment, and had never been very
much frightened even at the verdict of
the London doctors.
1T am afraid he Is very ILL.," she said
In low voice.
Lady Daleswater did not seem much
impressed.
II hope you are not returning home
Immediately? No? oh, that Is delight
full, and still more delightful that you
should be staying here You must come
In and dine with me tonight. Mrs. Fra
Set is with your"
Sheila explained that her chaperone
was her cousin, Mrs. Watson.
I'VE shall remain in London for little
while" she said, land 1 hope to see
great deal of you. Perhaps 1 may be
able to prevail on you to come down to
Daleswater House when I go back there.
1t will be very dull, my dear Sheila
but"
But my dear Sheila" would have glad
ly welcomed months of dizziness to get
such an invitation as this. her spirits
rose brilliantly, and she laid herself out
to please Lady Daleswater.
Three days later the Earl of Dales-
water arrived in London, and immedi-
ately, at his wife's instgation, went
down to Mountberry to see how matters
we're, and the very same afternoon, as
Sheila sat yawning over novel by the
fire, the door opened and Beverley Roch-
fort was announced. She started up Gag
erly to greet him.
Where have you been? 1 thought you
were never coming back" she declared.
81 have been busy" he said. 81 have
not been wasting time, 1 assure you. You
wonder what took me out of London
WE'LL l will tell you. ! went down to
soothe the last moments Of Roderick Ans
truther. Yes, it sounds curious, doesn't
ft7 But Fate for some strange reason
brought this man to our rescue just when
We needed him"
How can he help us?" asked Sheila,
incredulously, although her face was
flushing with excitement. More espe-
cially If, as 1 understand you to infer
he is now dead"
"You shall see, Miss Fraser. Ans
truther met me out in Africa; he Their
went under another name. l always like
the man, there was something grim yet
wonderful about him. When he founC
l was coming to England he gave me &
packet of papers to bring to his law
yers; before delivering them 1 took thu
precaution Of sounding these lawyers
first, and as easily as possible 1 sooI
discovered my companions real name
Needless to say, 1 did not deliver thu
papers, more especially when 1 fount
that Anstruther was in England, ant
supposed to be dying-he had evidentl,
found his end coming, and rushed owe
to see Mrs. Fraser before he died. 1 a
once Travelled off to seek him, and, o
course, had to tell few dozen lies or s.
to explain why l had done So Fortu
nately, the man was too III to protes
or question much; all he asked, all h
wanted, was to see Constance Fraser, an
confess the truth Of his treachery towar
her and his brother"
And you call this helping us, Nj
RochfortT
"As Roderick is dead, and did not con
Tess to Mrs. Fraser, 1 certainly do. L
please him l drew up a sort of write
statement, to which he managed to scraw
his name just at the very last. Here
the document. Shall 1 tell you what
contains, Miss Fraser?'
Sheila nodded her head.
This Is the last dying confession c
Roderick Anstruther, in which he own
to having separated his brother from hi
wife for sheer malice, In which he ais
confesses that his brothers child di
really die, and that the girl now Twin
Is the offspring of secret marriage b
tween himself and some country woman
And she is that really?" Sheila aske'
mo, certainly not. Audrey, accordin
to her uncle's dying confession, Is Ii
child Of Frank and Constance Anstruthe
You forget, 1 am reading what 1 wrot
not what Roderick Anstruther told me
write"
-Well?' the girl said after this, as b.
brow cleared
This docnnneut then eoes on to WI