The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-06
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 George crawshay did not spend tns thoughts were not of himself, but of the sister who might have been by hfs side. He died as he had lfved--hard, relentless, and with one idea tp hts mind. And he guessed that he hao not worked and schsmed in vain. No man in the world. who knew the CIT cumstances. could look on his death without pity and horror. Sir Richard Gaunt would not dare to break the oath that he had sworn.
 And Crawshay was right. Ills neatn had produced the effect which ne desir- ed. Gaunt was afraid to break his oatn. And. as he sat in the library with the letter in his fingers. he realized tnat he had put his hand to the plough, and there could be no turning back. lie was not a scrupulous man. but there were limits, even in the mind of an unprin- cipled blackguard. And the manner of Crawshay's death had placed the possibility of fraud well beyond those limits. The man was literally and phy- sically afraid to break his wora- s was not superstitious but in a case like this he believed that the very dead would rise up against him if he failed to observe his oath.
 Yet what 6 life lay before himi Ills first thoughts had been for crawshay. but, as he sat there in the nreiights ne began to think about himself and the magnitude of the task that lay before him. 1t might be the labour of years to find the man. perhaps the labour of lifetime. And the finding of the man was but the commencement of still more difacuit and unpleasant piece of work. The man was to be. ruined. to be driven to take his OWE life. II was monstrous and impossibls- The r.t H.. would place him above all attacks save those of scandal It would be easy enough to Hing mud ct him. to pup fish the story to the world, to per- haps alienate the affections of those who loved him. But there are men ! who can stand lot of that sort Of thing without hinehing. And Gannf the man, unless the man happened 70 ho in a. very humble station of life It would perhaps be very dangerous | lob, and 1t would certainly be dirty one. And he had been paid Tn advance. He was richer by thirty thousand pounds and had been spared all the humiliation of being sent te gaoL was certainly an unpleasant prospec< and his face darlened at the thoughI | of 1t.
 His nneditations were interrupted Dy the entrance of the butler. the only re- maining man-servant in the establish ment.
 "A box has just arrived for you, sir. It Is marked urgent Williams has just driven up from the station wita l it."
 Firing 1t up here" Gaunt replied sharply. Now, at once" 1 The arrival of the box did not inter- est him, and he was not anxious to see its contents. But they had to Do seen and examined and thoroughly master cd. It was well to begin the work at once. Besides. the exscuter had spoken of a letter written by George cFaw- shay. and that could not faa to be Of | interest.
 The butler returned with box. and placed 1t on 6 table. It was securely corded, and the knots were sealed with red wax. When the man had left the room, Gaunt severed the cords with q knife cut off the key which was fas- | tened to one of the handles, and turn cd the key in the lock. AS he Hired up the lid he saw a square. clean grey envelope lying on the top Of bundles | of dirty paper. It was addressed to himself in handwriting that he hard ly recognized. The writing was m pencil, and was feeble and shaky as the writing of a very old man. Gaunt opened the envelope. drew otit thu contents. and leaned forward so that the frelight fell on the paper.
 Dear Gaunt" the letter began. "I have sscertained that this letter will be delivered to you, unread by any or the prison authorities. who have real | ly been very kind to me- and so write without reserve------"
 | At this point the handwriting became almost illegible, and Gaunf, after vGal- | ly trying to decipher 1t. was forced to 1 light a candle and hold the paper close to the flame. In the stronger light he was able to master the sentences sloW- ly, one by one.
 T have done my part of the business It remains for you to do yours You will find ell the evidence winch have collected in ten years. It does not amount to much, but it will save you g lot Of trouble.
 'If had seen you personally about the matter, you would not have learnt some diffieulty about the interview.
 You will tlnd the diaries very com plete. and if you read them carefully, you will grasp the whole matter.
 Good luck go with you. and remem- ber, Gaunt, that I have paid you a big price, and expect some return for what have paid.
 You will be surprised to md that my sister Violet bears a different sur. name to my own. The explanation ia simple. She is---she was only a etep-l sister, the child of my mother by sec ond husband. But I loved her none the less for that.
 Tt is possible that shall watch you, although I am ead---Yours tru- 1 ly, George Crawshay"
 Gaunt folded up the letter and plac- ed 1t in his pocket. Then he picked up one of the diaries and opened it. and the first name that caught his eye was that of Violet Hexamer. He read a few lins of the small, neat handwriting, and then leent back in his chair with e white face and eyes that seemed to be looking. far back l into the past.
 The search, which might have lasted a lifetime, was already over.