The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-05-08

| OF STATING tie TACT. L uluu I ulScudrSe
you and must take the consequences.
| But let us proceed. Next you tried to
! blackmail me for the purpose of eX-
| torting 1900 from one who had treated
you squarely. Item three: Both Miss
Renwyck and saw you in whispered
| conversation with a-with q cock eyed
! tramp who was going out Of the front
gate. By the way, what was it you
said to him?"
Bills looked uncomfortable.
"E awsked me for money, sir, an
told i'm to go about lis business, SIR
Richard wheeled upon the man sharp
ly.
"You lie Bills! You told me at the
time that he asked directions to the
station"
Eyes, sir" answered Woolsey, flush
ing to his ears. II did lie the first
time, sir. II didn't want to seem
uncharitable inclined"
The Texan sneered and turned upon
his heel After another contempla-
tive turn up and down he once more
faced the culprlt.
"Look here, Bills; haven't finished
with you yet. | have only told you
the lightest part of it. After failing
to gouge money out of me you hold
conversation with a suspicious charac-
| ter and acknowledge that you told
| lie concerning it. Next you disappear,
claiming to go to New York at time
:, when no trains were running. For
the present We'll accept the story of
the freight, but can look that part up
later. In the meantime, while you
are in New York. of course your cock
eyed friend drops in on Restmore at 3
o'clock in the morning. He-er-
watches in the billiard room while Il
pal slips through the open window of
the library, opens Mr.. Renwyck's safe
and drifts away with a cool hundred
and fifty thousand dollars worth Of
diamonds. Question is, Who was the
pal? l don't happen to be either a de-
tectivo or fool, but l have my own
ideas. Mr.. Renwyck is coming out
here presently with a couple of what
you call 'bobbies,' l believe. / shall
tell him everything about both Of u.s.
and never did the humiliation Of his
position so enter into Richards soul
as when he had to class himself with
that miserable travesty of mankind
"but l have an idea that you will
shortly represent an expression used
both here and in England. which is
to say, Collected Bills Am l clear"
AS Richard forged this chain of evil
dence link by link the valet's terror be-
came pitiful to behold. His eyeballs
almost started from his head, while his
putty-like complexion paled to an ashy
gray. His slim hands shook, his weak
legs quivered under him, till at last
he collapsed. and sank upon his knees.
"My Gawd, Mr.. Williams, sir" he
gasped. "You don't believe I done. it,
do you? Honest, sir, l was in Moo
York! wy, it don't stand to reason.
sir, that I'd come back ere immejitly
if I'd done it. Deed. sir, it don't
stand to any sort O. reason"
at does" flashed Richard. You
thought Ia swallow that cock and
bull story Of yours and be grateful for
the dose. Why. you fool, the pill is as
big as football. Well drop absurd
ty now and get down to business. Can
you get those diamonds back|
In vain Bills groveled at his mas
ter's feet. protesting his innocence with
sobs ami tears. 1t was no use. The
evidence against him was too clear.
and. while Richard himself was the
real cuprit in allowing the man to re-
main at RestmOre ut all. still, II he
ever hoped to recover the stolen prop
erty. he must hold OH like grim death
to the bird In hand.
He put poor Bills through q sort of
thru degree. but without results fur
Their than copious tears and more copi-
Gus protestations. Finally. his patience
exhausted utterly. he took the terrified
valet by the collar and dragged him to
the door of the bathroom.
go in there" he commanded in q
low. tense tone. which was far more
terrible to Bills than any shout he had
ever heard. go In. say, and stay
there until come for you. If you try
to escape. by heaven. I'll kill you. 1t
isn't joke this time. It's the word of
q gentleman from Texasw
The servant knew that his master
told the truth, so he sank down upon
the bare, cold tiles, where he lay in
limp distraction until such a time as
the terrible Texan came to pronounce
his doom.
Richard saw that the bathroom win
dow was far too small to admit Of the
mans escape. Then he closed and
locked the door. placed the back of a
chair beneath the knob and went
downstairs. In the lower hall he en-
countered Mr., Van der Awe. whose
mournful cast of countenance seemed
but foretaste Of what fate had In
store for him.
"Beg pardon. Lord Croyland said
that sad young gentleman. with a
faint. wan smile, 'can you tell me
what happens to be the matter with
Miss ChittendonT
"Yes!" snapped Richard. "She's got
the collywobbles. I've got 'em. too. so
look outr'
The Texan crossed the lawn and
eung himself upon an iron bench. Then