The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-01-24

ing the light cane he carried right ana
left. The friend nodded to signify un-
de%rstanding.
YES" he said. II notice, and that is
why I came for you, old bee
line. Here, take my arm. and I'll tell
you. I'd as soon go your way an an
other. There's some blank idiot has
set abroad a report that a day or two
before the old mans disappearance he
gave instructions to his lawyer to cut
you out of his will"
"Yes?" Aloysius was very stern
and quiet.
We'll, that's all there Ia to It," said
the other. The servants story to the
police was clear enough, n would
have thought, for anybody. He didn't
send the news to Paris for two clear
days. and you turned up In London
two days later. But you know the
world, old chap. It's a jolly sight more
eager for ofal than it is for whole
some food"
That's the fact" his companion an
swered. That's what they fancy.
and they are pr. .isely dolts and
asses" Aloysius did not answer, but
he raised his head and looked around
him, proud and defiant. Don't let
EN- worry you. You're safe among
your friends. Let's turn into the club.
You'll find a crowd of EN- there, who
are indignant at the stupidity and
malice Of tine whole thing. Como
along"
Aloysius surrendered without Q
word, and suffered his companion to
lead him where he would. He had at
that moment his uncle's letter In his
pocket, and he could have cleared him
self OF this base suspicion In an In
slant. But why, he asked, should he
stoop to clear himself Of SO groundless
a charge? He could do so only at the
cost of his cousins reputation. Alexis
had already fallen from honor. and had
fallen heavily. Alexis had confessedly
been In London at the time of the dis
appearance, had been the last man to
see him alive, had himself been threat
ened with disinherilance. To produce
the lost mans letter would be to direct
against Alexis a suspicion a thousand
fold more tangible and terrible than
any which could be levelled at him
self. No! Let the ours yelp. He
could endure, until the infamous pack
ceased to give tongue, He had had
his own fears about Alexis, and this
was not the time, when he had out
lived them, to throw them broadcast
to that foul-tongued. f~oul-hearted
world.
At the club things were better than
they had been. A score of old com.
panions sprang to greet him, and all
we're warm and hearty-warmer and
heartier than common, for he had new.
err been popular as his cousin was.
and was lacking In that art of pleas
ing Alexis had in such a pronounced
degree. But there were some who
held aloof, and there were others who
hurried from the smoke at his
advent with the most transparent pre-
tensions OF have 40 having seen him.
The patience to which he had schooled
himself In the nine long years which
had elapsed between the time when
these things happened and the hour at
which he sat in pens!ve review oil
them with all his proofs OF innocence
before him had been a plant of slow.
est growth. Then, when the poisoned
sting Of SANDER first pierced his heart.
1t ranked, and, calmly as he bore him.
self on the outside. he suffered Inward
agonies. He bore them in his pride
and loyalty, and no man read a sign
in him, or dreamed that he had any
other feeling than one of contempt at
most.
There was one other memory to be
lived through that day. That one that
stung the iercest-the n which sent
him out to roam the world a desolate
hearted man possessed with n great
fear which was to abide with him so
long as the dark secret stood IN
solved.
Ito BE contlnued.)