The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-01
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if the countess will give me the
honor of an interview, may be
able to satisfy her that l am not
the scoundrel she takes me to be"
1t seemed to him only right that
mother and daughter should be
alone. And, besides, he want4d to
think the situation over. He 3had
anticipated something quite differ
ent to this. Flavio had spoken OF
his wife as a fiend. And now, be-
fore word had been spoken, RAJ
venspur began to have his doubts.
AS he paced up and down the
lawn he began to see little light
in dark places. He was still turn
ing the matter over in his mind
when Walter and Venables came
out of the house.
where are you going?" Raven
spur asked What have you in
your hand?"
1T is a new collar and dog
chain" Walter explained. 1T sud-
denly occurred to Venables just
now that we had seen nothing of
Bruno all day"
Walter and Venables went off in
the direction of the common, and
for the next couple of hours sought
everywhere for the dog. Presently
Venables caught sight of his lean,
dark-brown side as he crouched be-
hind a great thicket of gorse. Wal
ter called softly, and held biscuit
out in the direction of the bush.
Then slowly, with his body bent to
the ground and his head hung
down, the great beast came, and
Walter slipped the collar around
his neck. He had hardly congratu-
lated himself upon his success
when hollow groan close by at
tracted his attention. He turned
eagerly to Venables.
"Oh, yes, I heard it," the latter
said with a smile. "Unless | am
greatly mistaken that is our friend
Stevens whom Perks tied up so
neatly and artistically last night"
1t was precisely as Venables had
said. Stevens lay there groaning
and shivering, quite helpless and
almost unable to move. Even after
his bonds were cut away it was
some time before he had strength
to rise. When once his blood be-
gan to stir, he turned an angry face
: in the direction of his rescuers.
: "Oh, you need not laugh" he
: said. ut is no laughing matter.
will have the law against you for
this, see if | don't"
1--WE will talk about that present
ly," said Venables coolly. "In the
meantime, you had better come as
far as the house and have some
thing to eat. And you will be wise
if you say nothing, or know moth
! ing, of what happened last night
I Your accomplice, Silva. lies in bed
| at the point of death, so you have
: nothing to fear from him. II yor
i had gone straight with us, Eyou
would not have fallen into sthis
4 sorry plight. Have you got any
e money!"
|, Il spent it all in coming dowr
l. last night" Stevens said.
d ooh, well, Wen see You back tc
town again, Walter replied. eve
q will take you to the house and see
0 that you are properly fed, and theT
Il you can return by the last train
II 1t was dark before Stevens reach
c ed the station with few shillings
|. In his pocket. AS he stepped into
d third class carriage he did no
S realize that Walter and Venables
It were taking their places at the enc
/. of the train. 1t was just the same
e at Waterloo station, where Steven:
|, got out. and moment later he was
y being followed by the pair, who haC
been Joined now by Dallas.
On the way Walter explained
: about the ornament Lord Raven
spur had purchased from Perks
trinket in his hand. He said NJ
more as he walked thoughtfully b.
the side of his companions, till a
- length Stevens turned into a shad.
street, where he entered a ding.
public house.
Without the slightest hesitation
Dallas followed. Stevens was sit
ting in an armchair behind a par
tition with glass in his hand HI
otdi tSu 1ilu HlS ldCS CudISCu ColO
as his eyes fell upon Dallas. The in
spector's manner was genial enough
but there was grimness on hi
face that Stevens did not relish.
What can I do for you, gentle
mem" he stammered.
"Well. unless | am greatly mis-
taken, you can do a great deal,
Dallas replied. "1hat matter of tn
Delahay murder, you know. Yol
remember what you told us at tn
inquest"
Yes, and every word of it wa
true" Stevens said TREMENDOUSLY. 81
it is the last word l ever say, /
was true"
And l believe it," Dallas Wen
on. The only fault find in you
evidence is that you did not tell u
enough. Why didn't you finish you
story while you were about it?"
Stevens looked stealthily at hi
tormentor. There was queer dry
ness at the back of his throat tina
almost choked him.
Come" Dallas said. Speak GU
| or II will ha all tho W6rco for Won