The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1907-10-18
CHAPTER w.
The Living Witness.

Hall. Mr.. Hank alone gave his name
10 the servant. His companions were
well-preserved. fine looking old fell
ow. who had the appearance of a
well-to-do farmer. and u clean-shaven,
good looking. dark-eyed young man,
faultlessly dressed. and with u dis
tinctly military bearing.
The man servant. who had received
his Instructions from his master. at
once ushered the visitors into the Ii
brary.
A minute later Sir Mark Bretting-
ham. leaning on the arm of a young
mar of twenty. entered the room.
The three men had risen at Sir
Marks entrance.
MIR. Hank, the inquiry agent. gave
an uneasy glance at the baronet's COM
panion.
a understood, Sir Mark" he said,
that this interview was to be a pri-
waite one
III Will be So" replied the baronet.
"11lis is my SON. Mr., Harold Bretting-
ham. The matter we are to discuss
is one which affects bin gravely, and
he has every right to be present at our
interview. Whatever the result of this
interview may be. | shall do nothing
without his consent"
Ihe young ma whose presence had
drawn a protest from Mr.. Hank said
nothing. His face. which was pale
whnn hn .aptnrn1 thn ,,,,, pr.l,aJ
s,i&h'iy as his gaze encountered that
o. tic Youngest of the three visitors.
IT The story of the inquiry agent was
cNnArned he was, for the first time in
lie ,fc. in the presence of his elder
brot' cr-the brother who had come
fer, a convict Jail to assert his right
to tho heritage which Harold Bretting-
hem had always believed would be
his.
Put it was not of himself that Har-
old Hrettingham was thinking as he
looked at John Wilson. He was think
ing of his father whom he worshipped.
of his mother whom he idolized.
AS he seated himself by his fathers
side h feeling that possessed him
was a devout hope that they might yet
find some flaw in the eX-detective's
story, and that the good looking. we'll
dressed %adventurer who returned his
gaze with a stare of insolent defiance
might turn out to he an imposter.
The ~momentary silence which fol
lowed Sir Marks explanation of his
onet himself.
you ore here tonight" he said,
turning to Mr.. Hank. Ito s~ubstantiate
the story you told me yesterday"
II have come prepared to do so. Sir
Mark" replied the inquiry agent;
"but first, as a matter of form, I should
introduce you to MI. John. Wilson, the
gentleman whom, at your request. I
have succeeded in tracing"
II have nothing to say to him at
present" exclaimed the baronet, stern
ly; you must satisfy me first of his
identity"
Quite so, Sir Mark, but"-here MI.
Hank permitted himself a smile, which
was not a pleasant one-"if you will
look at Mr.. Wilson j think you will be
struck by his resemblance in certain
features to yourself. l had not noticed
1t before, but now, seeing you both to-
gether--'
Sir Mark. who had hitherto studi-
SO much trouble to find, glanced un-
easily in his direction.
The glance was sufficient to show
him that the inquiry agents remark
was justified.
His voice was less confident, his lips
trembled slightly when he turned to
his son.
Harold" he said. you will hear the
statements that will be made tonight.
1t will be for you to investigate them
and satisfy yourself that they are true,
If there is, in your opinion. anything
that justiies a doubt as to their genu-
i%neness. The only person l know any
thing about here is Mr.. Hank, the
gentleman who has had the investiga.
ton in hand"
you are quite right, Sir Mark. to be
careful" replied Mr.. Hank. but you
must not think l should be so careless
In the business you have entrusted to
me as to bring you a witness whose
bona ides could not be established be-
You'd all dispute. The gentleman who
has come with us is Mr.. John Craw-
ford of Five-Tree Farm, Warwick
shire. The Crawfords have had the
farm for four generations, and. Mr..
Crawford holds his lease direct from
the lord of the manor. You will have
no difficulty in satisfying yourself of
his Identity if you imagine l have been
so foolish as to bring you a false wit
ness. ! was sent to you by your own
solicitors. and presume they told you
was a man on whom you could rely"
MI. Hank had spoken in a tone of
natural Indignation, which was not as
sumed.
You must C my father" said
Harold rockingham, quietly; che has
% desire to throw the slightest doubt
Oh your integrity or on the bona fdes
of Mr.. Crawford. He merely meant