Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-07-15

have not have kept back the most
! painful part; but fear must tell you
now that the thing has gone thus
| far"
! You should have told me at first, =
she said gravely.
1T is this" he said. Il spoke Of
footmarks outside the conservatory.
They were mans. and l might have
! tried to guess whose they were in
vain. but by chance I happen to know
| Yesterday evening I was in my room,
at the window which stands just over
| the conservatory, and I heard my but
Ter Forbes talking to a man just be-
/ low me. Strange to say-or not
| strange, just as you like it-they were
talking about the plate. 1t seems
Forbes came upon the man lurking
well, not lurking, but standing or
loungtng near the door, and looking
| through the window at the sideboard
| and the man called Forbes attention
TO the fact that any tramp might
walk off with the silver. He appeared
to be quite indignant that such a
temptation should be permitted to ex-
ist, and | resolved at the moment
| that l would have the plate removed
but it escaped my mind afterward.
The man and Forbes talked for
some minutes, then he-the man,
mean-went off"
''FThar NT,~
Dalton. 81 fear his Indignation was
! only assumed as a blind
He looked at her with knitted
brOws, and glanced at Lucille.
What was the man? Do you know
him?" asked Marie
Yes he said, slowly. 81 know
him, and I do not think that it is pos
sible he can have been the thief.
would indeed, never consent to be-
lieVe it unless the evidence against
him were irrefutable. 1t is improb-
able, impossible, and there is, there
fore, no good to be served in mention,
ing his name
Lucille looked at him. Again the
vague fear crept about her heart.
Pray, tell me his name" said Ma
rie. You must admit that | have
reason to take great, a dreadful in
terest in this-this robbery! Please
tell us, Lord MerIe!''
We'll, l will tell YOU" he said
gravely.
1T may have been Susie's sweet
heart or brother" said Mrs. Dalton.
The man was Harry Herne!" he
said. after a pause.
Lucille arose, her face white as
death; then she sank into tle chair
again and laughed softly. All the
others stared at her.
You are right" she said at last
and the words came slowly, ringing
yet low, full of intense mockery and
pride. He is not the theft
Just sol" assented the marquis.
Instantly. Il say l could swear for
MIN with all | possess if It were nee
essary: but it is not. No one &C
cuses him. You understand, how !
ever, how reluctant l was to mention
his name. You know that We are
not friendly-We were not. though, !
am glad TO think-and you might have /
supposed that I was prejudfced.'' (
Lucille looked him full in the face
II should" she said; IF you had .
not said that you knew him incapable .
of such crime.
He inclined his head graVely.
And now you know why have not |
gone to the police, ne said; I must
have told him-and if I had not, my
butler would have done-about Harry .
Herne, and they might have been
suspicious"
Lucille arose.
Go to the police at once" she said,
with queenly dignity. Il myself viii
tel Harry Herne what has occurred.
1t is right that you should think, Lord
Merle, but I haze better reasons. for
knowing him to be innocent than you
have for she stopped. No, she
would not tell them of the engage
ment. Go to the police at once
she said, |'you have already lost too
much time, think"
THAT is my advice, too, if I may
offer it, my lord" said Mrs. Dalton.
He bowed.
no pNI+inund