The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-10
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CHAPTER xxIII.-(continued.)


Seager overheard her. He had been
watching them with ferocious IL.
tensity, knew all that he needed to
know for the present. His drawn face
shaped itself to a grin, cruel, mock
| ing. malevolent. II might be too late
now to win the hazard himself, but
lie could still spoil their chances of
happiness.
"The due is not dead" he cried
across, Drawing O'Ferra's uplifted pts
toll. 1--WE only drugged him. He is
not dead"
He licked his lips at sight of the
shadow which came down on Qualn-
tance's face. So much at least OF the
score between them, he had paid off.
For. the due living. and eipce he him
self must perforco give up all hope
OF winning Miles Qualntance's mil
lions, the man whose birthright he
would have usurped was no better
off. And neither could gain the girl.
But his heart failed him utterly as
| O'Ferral spoke, with a quiet certainty
which appalled, him. And Arendsen
also covered and s5uddered under the
portent OF these curt words.
The Due des Reeves Is dead" said
the correspondent. II went down TO
Gee him myself. You must have drug
ged him too deeply. He's been dead
for a good half hour"
They looked at the clock. II want
ed but 20 minutes to midnight. And
no more was said for a space, 50
harshly had the horror of 1t all grip
ped their minds.
81 had nothing to do with It," Ar
endsen urged. his strangled words
breaking the tense silence. Seager
stood huddled, shrinking, against the
wall, Cornoyer, revolver In hand, con-
fronting him watchfuliy. The mans
lips were blue, his face the color or
chalk.
You'll both have to answer for II,
anyhow" Quaintance told them con-
cisely. "And the best thing you can
do In the meantime Is 10 make clean
breast of 1t as to the-Speak up, Sea-
ger. since that's your name. Let's
hear your story first and from the
beginning. How did you get hold OF
my papers? And where are they?"
Seager slowly Strengthened his shak'
ing knees. and stood for moment,
head bent, hands clawing, eyes dart
ing hither and thither. teeth showing,
like a trapped rat. Then he spoke,
huskily, making full confession. In
eliminating Dirck Arendsen whenever
he could But Black Dirck looked
straight before him, and listened,
, speechless. The clock licked on In
its corner.
When everything was clear to them,
lO'Ferral, disregarding al. else. made
quick suggestion to Quaintance.
Steve" said he. without relaxing
his vigilance, for Seager was cycling
him very closely now, on the alert
for any least opportunity to spring
past him. Steve said he sharply,
"the notary's here. with the documents
all drawn out, and-it's 10 to IL.
There's a million, a minute to be had
for the taking"
Quaintance nodded, without a word.
He crossed to the door and locked It
on the inside. withdra wing the key.
Then he signed TO the duchesse, and
she followed him dumely to the fur
thest corner OF the long room. They
sat down together there, and the clock
licked on.
The three men, their backs TO the
wall. watched the minutes pass one by
one, anu SOOH, FlNt lnlihOhS bOhO
Ave minutes I mean said .O'Ferral,
warningly. But from the corner came
only a faint whispering.
You're free now, dear heart" said
Quaintance TO the duchess. looking
with a new and wonderful knowledge
into the depths of her tear-dimmed
eyes. We've strayed very far apart
in our ignorance. But you're free at
| last"
Her heart was beating tumultuously,
her white bosom rose and fell storm
| lily to the stress within. She was
doubly beautiful In her distress. and
he longed above all things to take her
into his arms, and comfort her there.
n she would only give him the right
to do that
IL meant very we'll by YOU" he went
on humbly. and, surely you will not
blame me for the wrong | unwilling
| ly did. Since the very first day I saw
you have had no peace Of mind. and
and | didn't know then who you
were. II is for yourself that | love
you. and. II you think as i do, well
keep our hands clean. let my uncle's
millions go hang. Tell me what you