The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-11
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 eyes. if you would. One can't anoro to lock up f2o.ooe at per cent ho"
 Very well. that matter is settled. ! am obliged to you for the loan, Wei Henry. I hone you are satisfied with rnur work. though I imagine that you cannot have expected such compete disaster-such an absolute breakup or everything"
 What yo you mean"
 ~Oh. you know well enough what l inean.- Sir Richard replied. savage iy. T have held my tongue till now out of respect for the dead, but now l Intend to speak plainly. You are re- sponaible for my mothers death, and you know it. Shc was III, and you went to her with some trumped-up scandal about me and Betty. I don't know what poisonous lies you told her: | suppose never shall know. But have not the slightest doubt that you killed her. and hope you are satisned with your handiwork."
 How dare youy cried Henry Gaunt. exasperated beyond all control. How dare you talk to me like this--at such timew
 T dare anything. And I talk to you now because 1t is the last chance shall get of taking to you. As long as l am alive you'll never set foot In this house again. Is that plain speaking enough for you?"
 Tt is not only plain. Dick" said Henry, with some dignity, but 1t is ex- ceedingly vulgar. will not prolong this painful and very unseemly inter view :"
 He walked to the door, and. opening it, looked back at his brother. who was still gIaring at him like wild beast.
 sGood-bye Dick" he said smoothly. "0ne of these days you will see what a fool you are making of yourself"
 With this parting shot he closed the door. and Sir Richard Gaunt was left alone.
 For a few moments he scowIed an- wrily at the door. then he flung himself into a chair and lit cigar. One inter- view was over, but there was another yet to come, and 1t was possible that, though 1t might not prove as unpleas- ant. it would be far more difficult.
 After ten miutes' deliveration. he rang the bell.
 Please ask Lady Betty if she can spare me few moments" he said to the servant. Say that I wish to see her on important business"
 The servant departed. and few min ukes afterwards Lady Betty Drake en- tered the room. She was dressed in black, and her face was very pale. She had scarcely been outside the house since the death of Lady Gwendolen. and the want Of fresh air had worked change in her healthy appearance.
 Sir Richard Gaunt rose to his feet aA she entered. and threw his cigar into tho fire.
 Please sit down, Bet" he said gently; sT want to have a few words with you. will not keep you more than a minute or two."
 She did not answer him, but seated herself in an armchair before the fire. He stood on the hearthrug facing her. and clasped his hands behind his back.
 Are you leaving here today Bet?" he asked. after an awkward pause.
 'sYes. Dick" she replied in a low voice. "by the midday train
 Henry is leaving by that train. He will be able to look after you"
 Henryf she queried. He told me he was staying on for day or two. He said he thought of looking at a gold mine in the neighborhood.
 Sir Richard Gaunt laughed.
 How like HenryY' he said cheer fully. Well. you can take 1t from me Bet. that he's not staying on here. and I rather fancy he's going up by the 12:50. But I didn't ask you in here to talk about Henry. I want to make my peace with you to apologize=-I have behaved like brute the last few days. but you must forgive me. l did not wish to cut myself of from your so- ciety. but had no desire to meet my brother and could not very well ex- clude him from my circle. So thought it better to efflace myself !"
 Your brother. Dick-why. surely at such time"
 "Oh. yes. you'd think so, wouldn't you7 But and Henry are not on good terme--weil. 1t doesn't matter about EME ' rf-f. l. and use this house as your own. will so back to Town"
 "So," she said earnestly. "No, you must not do that. Dick. You must stay here; it has done you so much good"
 Yet shall leave soon. Do you think that I can live here alone? Not Il! London Is the place that calls me. Bet, and I cannot resist the call. 1 may as well leave here at once. You like the place. Why don't you live In it? You can pay me rent if you choose You have your work here. among the poor. and all that sort of thing. They'll miss you, and you'll be sorry fo leave. Why, you's been here since you were ten years old. Bet"
 "Yes, I shall be sorry to leave" she said slowly. "very sorry to leave, Dick"
 well. 1t isn't necessary. I don't want you to go, and it isn't really nec- essary. I want to go myself.
 No. you must stay, Dick"
 T shall not stay; why should l. My mother is dead. and I only stayed on here because I-" He paused He could not frame the He in appropriate words
 'sYou must stay for your own sake"
 'sNonsense, Beti Who cares what happens to me? So long as my mother hat tnAa want to thank you for keeping me here