The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-07-30

held.
Thank God" cried Daintree In a
breaking voice Il knew you didn't
mean 1t. No more did mean any
thing said. Forgive me. Thomas.
and don't desert me at the last"
And Toms heart sank as it once
more softened to the man who was not
mad. but only unstrung, aud again he
longed to eschew the church. but he
kept his word. and fortune was yet to
prove his friend. A mile they had
driven when loud cry broke from
Dalntree. In his agitation he had for
gotten the ring. He burst into tears
at the discovery.
Never mlndl Never mind" cried
Tom in his oldest role. I'VE can turn
back. What, isn't there time? No, l
know il would never do to keep her
waiting. Then look here. I'll run back
and gallop in again on your horse.
Ill be there almost as soon as you.
and the ring isn't wanted till quite
the end"
Daintree thanked him through his
tears-the first Tom had ever seen in
those fiery eyes-and he sped back
strangely touched. but strangely COM
forted too. At least he loved heri The
man might be egotistical and vain and
overbearing, all three 10 the verge OF
lunacy. but that he was marrying for
sheer love was even more palpabie
than II had been before. Tears In
those eyes. Tears ut the thought OF
losing her for one more day: Then
God grant that with Claire at least
he might be unseltish. meek ard gen.
tie. though an egotist. a coxcomb and
q tyrant 10 all the world beside!
So praying as be ran. !orgetful OF bis
own debt TO Daintree-for the moment
selt.forgett;ng altogether-Tom was at
the bungalow gate In time tina: would
not have shamed the bridegroom IN his
athletic youth. And 10 ths very gate.
way be stopped dead. He had caught
glimpse Of ragged coattails disap-
pearing through the study windows.
A crazy skin lay hau,ed Up on the
, strand
Tom kicked OF bis shoes. He made
DO sound Oh the veranda. but be vast.
I'd some seconds. and beard two draw
ers burst open az he crept nearer and
nearer. He was totally uparmed: bis
, one chance lay In taking tie thief By
surprise.
The veranda on this side was In deer
shadow all the morning. In the cool
dusk Of the study a masked man was
riding drawer after drawer and tossing
: the contents right and left The floor
was strewn with papers as Tom leaped
across 70 and hurled himself upon the
|, thief. They crashed 10 the ground to
gether. The mans head caught tn,
: corner Of the bookshelf. and he lay 81
pine, with a mouihful OF crumblinl
teeth grinning horribly below the mask
His nerveless fingers stu clutched |
e packet Of blush letters half torn from
e their wrapper. Tom took them from
him and rose up painting. A momsn
l later they might have heard his shou
Y at Piper's point
e All but one letter had slipped iron
his trembling hand. On the back o
that letter few lines had been scrawl
n ID with lead pencil.
: II was the receipt.
Penclled by Blaydes on the back OF
letter. signed by Tom In tho moonli
e Hampstead fields and taken by tn
L murderer from his victims person,
was neither more nor less than th
=" missing document whose production
= would have acquitted Erickson at th
:. Old Bailey. And now after eighteel
months aud here on these outlandis
shores It had cast UP at his very fee
J, lie held it-heId his freedom-In hl
, own trembling hands.
: The words spun Ike midges a. Oh
u paper rustIed aud shook. lie had Z
II set II on the chimney piece 10 read
!. through:
Received from J. Montgomery Biaydsi
y late captain. COidstrssm guards. hi
watch ard chain, etc. In settlement 4
all claims. and In consideration ~ whic
h undertake 10 return pawn ticket n
:. same 70 said J. ". BiaydsE Ivy cottagi
IL West End, within thrss days from th
4 date. 7. ERTcHsES.
q April 2. 1871.
r He forgot the wedding ring, forge
Ie the wedding. lie was an lnnUcef
- man. lie could prove It now before a
:" the world by this incompatible test
J. fnony, this inanImate witness ths
le could not lie. That was Toms fri
i reflection. His first emotion was
}" rush Of thankfulness. ineifabie and vi
Is mixed. Curiosity succeeded. 10
10 came the receipt heref But az i
10 wondered. as his thoughts few frOl
the broken headed robber 60 his fflen
Dalntree. II was not the bridegroom
that they pursued 20 The church bt
D. Toms bghefnctUr that they f0ilOwe
D. back 60 Avenue Lodge. Did Daintrs
r know WHO had committed the murd,
and was that the secret Of his bell,
IN Tomf incUnCeivable. But the do
- UmcntI Tom turned II over In h
y, y, hand. an1 the address On the misEI1
" came upi,erinbst. it began. Niehoil
', Harding. Esquire. II. +.
ID This name plunged Tom IN n yortg
o. new suspicious. 10 neither resalig