The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-04-24
CHAPTER XVII.

When Mary Brent. overwhelmed by
the extraordinary news she had just
heard, had taken her departure with
Griffin and Mr.. Dodson, Miss Dauncey
returned to the drawing room. where
she found Winton standing on the
hearth-rug calmly lighting 4 cigarette.
"You heard?' she asked.
Yes. l heard"
And you married her."
Il tell you it was no marriage at
all, 1t was q trick, and if this woman
presumes to assume my name she
will find herself in trouble with the
law courts"
II don't think l would a much
about courts Of law, if I were you, in
the face Of your present danger"
They have not caught me yet. and
even II they do they will have some
difficulty in proving that I had any
thing to do with the robbery Of the
Empires Dream"
But you forget that Jasper Garlick
is wanted in connection with other
things"
Pooh! That is so long ago that l
am not afraid, and it is just possible
that l have my title by this time, and
a peer has many privileges. 1t is
enough to make one swear at fortune
to think that Mary Brent is my cousin,
and how near she was to becoming
my wife. Instead of inheriting the
title and the beggarly entailed estates,
I would have handled a fortune"
81 thank heaven that she has escap-
ed that; but what are you going TO
do? You cannot stay here. In the
face of what Griffin said l have 10
doubt that this house is watched, as
he suspects that l am in ~communica-
ton with you"
Winton was silent for a few min
utes. and a troubled look overspread
his face.
You have promised to take my
message to Hammond and Twist"
Yes; and I will keep my promise"
Then give me the money and l
will go; l have no wish to fall into
the hands Of the police just yet"
And you had better go quickly, as
I expect Mr.. Drawn here any minute,
and l would not give much for your
chances IL he once laid his hands upon
you. How you are going to escape I
do not know"
ooh, l shall manage all right II
Twist m to me at Nottingham.
When he has supplied me with funds
I shall make my way out of the
try and stay abroad until this trouble
has blown over"
why not put an end to the trouble
by restoring the diamond?"
Il have already told you that I can
not do it, and, besides, things have
gone too far. No, l must carry it
through now, and get away from Eng
land as soon as possible; and under
stand that l am looking to you to help
me and not play me any tricks"
Il have promised to do my best, and
! cannot do more, thankless task
though it is"
you and Judith Ballard made a fool
OF me at Hampstead, and If | thought
you contemplated betraying me |
would kill you where you stand"
Il have no doubt you would be quite
capable of that, but your threat has
no terrors for me. Had l wished to
betray you l could have done SO when
Griffin was here"
THAT is all right, Kate. I know l
can rely upon you, but a man in my
position Is suspicious of everybody"
You have no need to suspect me,
for, although l have all the bitter
ness of my life to thank you for, l
have no wish for you to suffer the
tortures Of a prison. The agonizing
horror Of such a punishment is too
awful for me to contemplate, even for
you. Here is the money; it is nearly
all / have. but, even II Twist does not
meet you, l think it will be enough to
take you out OF the country. I will
thank you now II you will go"
my dear Kate"
81 do not want your thanks. Please
leave me: and may I never SEQ your
face again"