Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-24
CHAPTER v.-(cOntinued.)

He laughed again in the same harsh
mirthless manner, and then proceeded
But you want to hear my version ef
the story, Miss Havant. This is my own
autobiography, so far as it goes. am
an orphan, and was brought up by my
uncle. Sir Harold Mines, widower with
one son, my cousin Lucian, who is five
wears older than myself. My uncle and
| had much in common from the first
hut Lucian never pretended to care for
his fathers hobbies. He"
The speaker broke off to frown over
some recollection.
He wasn't the sort CT fellow I'd care
TO let my sister see much of if had a
sister. So, when Ellie came"
"Who is Filler" Sage interpolated
gently.
"Elinor Tenby is my uncle's ward. She
is nineteen-an heiress, and beautiful.
She is-Ellie. You are a girl yourself,
Miss Havant, you can understand"
YES, I can understand" said Sage.
Something in her sweet, sympathetic
voice seemed to encourage the young
mans confidence.
ut was love at first sight with me-"
he said simply. "And she cared, too.
But then so did Lucian."
"Ahl" exclaimed Sage involuntarily.
MY uncle meant her for Lucian, and
Lucian-confound him wanted her
money as well as herself. So when they
found out there was a scene. 1t hap
pened in the library one evening Ellie
wasn't there. Lucian tainted me with
heiress- hunting, and other things. My
uncle tried to silence hirrf~I think he
was ashamed-but my temper undid me.
I seized up the poker and sprang upon
Lucian like a mailman. My uncle, rush
ing between us, received the blow full on
his temple, and fell to the ground like a
log, just as jackson, the butler, entered
the room. Lucian called upon jackson
IT, wit4sess"that l had murdered my un-
Gle. He swore that the quarrel had been
between his father and myself and that
before he could intervene l had struck
the old man"
"Wait-rest a little" Sage entreated,
alarmed by the speakers pallor; but he
shocked his head and went on dog
gedly:
Let me finish. They all believed it
except Ellie The doctor said the
brain was iniured-there was no posi-
bility of recovery. 1 remember listening
to the doctors statement, and then /
was in my own room, and Ellie was
clinging to me, and begging me for her
sake to escape. Lucian had sent for the
police. He would have me arrested for
the murder of his father. And so, though
l would rather have waited and faced it
out like a man, | stole down, for Elhe's
sake, the side stairs and out into the
night"
Sage was crying quietly, but she dared
not break the momentary pause that en-
sued.
Fortune favored me-" said Jerrold
bitterly. 81 didn't care at first, but
when | fell i'll my nerve forsook me, and
became a miserable. craven fugitive.
laid low by day and tramped by night
until, Just as / reached Winchester, my
strength gave out, and 1 went to the
station, intending to travel to London.
You know the rest"
yes" murmured Sage, 81 know the
rest. Oh, you poor fellow! How you
must have suffered"
Tell me-" he cried hoarsely, "is my
uncle still living? The last newspaper
bulletin / saw said that he might live
for some weeks without regaining con-
sciousness."
Il don't know" she confessed. 81
think that if the worst had happened
should have noticed"
Jerrold Mines gave his feeble, mirth-
less laugh.
"Why should you 'notice?' he asked
bitterly. "What would one newspaper
tragedy more or less signify to you?
Good heavens, if I could only make an
end of this suspense! fit"
His head felf back suddenly, and his
fingers relaxed their convulsive clutch on
the bed quilt His scanty stock of
strength, so cruelty overtaxed, had failed
him at last, and he had tainted.