The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-05-15

tlOu. l. mere were several SldTllluS eNN
carnations, short and sharp, then q
sudden silence, which finally the farm
er broke.
"Dog my cats" he roared eXultantly.
81 knowed he was tryin' to woozle us!'
"Come into the house." said Mr..
Renwyck sternly, "all of you. Well
sift this matter to the bottom"
The assemblage which gathered In
the large wide hall was indeed a mix
ed collection. Besides the naughty
Miss Schermerly and the dismal Mr..
Van der Awe. there were one wonder
ing English gentleman, two detectives,
constable, several more or less ter
rified servants, farmer. an automo-
bile agent, lawyer, financier and
a scapegoat. This is not counting Mrs.
Renwyck, who found herself in a
frightened state of agitation which
Miss Schermerly could not soothe, nor
Miss Chittendon, who was worse Off;
nor Miss Renwyck. nor Miss Sempton,
who was displaying her ripping" fig
ure from a point of vantage on the
stairs between the other two.
"Now," said Mr.. Renwyck, facing the
scapegoat in the center of the hall
"now, sir. pray be good enough to
give an account of yourself"
"What would you like to know first?'
asked Richard in an exasperatingly
level voice.
'..Are you an Englishmanw
can Englishman! Well, rather not"
sneered the ambassador.
"No. thank God!' came the fervid
answer. IAN American and proud Of
itw
Sir Rodney's face famed redder than
before. SO did Miss Harriet's. but hers
from a very different cause.
ooh, say interposed the ambas-
sador.
Him English" laughed the farmer.
"Goshr'
~ knew there was something wrong"
began Miss Schermerly in malicious
triumph. ~ always thought his man.
ners had not the repose that
"Silencer commanded Mr.. Renwyck,
glaring about him savagely. Then he
turned once more to Richard. "Ycu
have imposed on my hospitality. sir.
Who are you"
"Now, whom do you think l am?"
asked the Texan, with a most engag-
ing smile.
There was silence for a moment;
then Miss Sempton spoke:
pardon me, Mr.. Renwyck. but l
think can supply that information.
He is-or says he is-Peter Wilson,
chauffeur for the Layton Motor COM
pany. He learned to drive a car on a
broncho."
"On a bYonchop' exclaimed Miss Har-
riet, to whom an illumination was
dawning.
"He isn't" spoke up Mr.. Parker
promptly. asking your pardon, ma'am.
for contradicting a lady. l belong to
the Layton Motor company, and new
er laid eyes on this man before in my
lifc."
"'Tain't SOP shouted the farmer. HE
Is Peter Wilson; l recall it now.
heard him say so himself! The lady
heard him. too. an she'll back me up"
"OfIicer," said Mr.. Renwyck. with
quiet ferocity. 'oblige me by putting
that man out of my house"
Sergeant Flint complied willingly.
and for the balance Of the conclave the
rustic looked on and listened from afar.
When quiet was restored Mr.. Rem
wyck returned to the matter in hand
"You admit then. to having sailed
under false colors?'
81 do" said Richard equally.
els your name Peter Wilson,"
mo"
Mr.. Renwyck's face went red then
deathly pale. He had heard enough
In the excitement Of the exposure he
had lost sight for the moment of the
robbery. He pointed shaking finger
at the Texan and exclaimed in tone
which was loud enough for aH to hear:
Where are my diamonds"
81 give it up" said Richard cheer
fully.
That's what they want you to do"
interrupted Mr.. van Ger Awe, with
sudden burst Of intelligence. which sur
prised everybody.
Renwyck. Officers. arrest himw
Father
Shrill and anguished came the cry.
and the desperate Texans warm blood
tingled at the sound. To him it meant
one friend at least. no matter what
his name might be. AS Harriet step
ped forward Uncle Michael caught her
hand, whispered word in her ear and
pulled her gently back.
"Be careful. Jacob" he admonished.
you are laying yourself open to a suit
for libel. If you had listened to me at
first. you
Hold your tongue" retorted Mr..
Renwyck sharply. "This is my af-
fair"
"Oh. all right" agreed Mr.. Corrgan.
struggling as he turned away. 81 wash
my hands OF the matter entirely"
This he proceeded to do, but with the
proverbial invisible SOAP" seeming to
derive much Joy therefrom.
CHAPTER XIII.
"ICHARD was not angry at Mr..
Renwyck's accusation. false
though IL was. He had expect