Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-30
A Cloud of Suspicion

conscience had pricked him; that he
was going straight to Scotland Yard to
give himself up, rather than be haunted
by the thought that another man was
suffering for his crime. A motor bus
skidded just as he was crossing the
road; there was a jam betWeen-but
there, an account of what happened
would not make nice reading.
The confession gave an account of
the forgery of the two checks; of how
the head clerk had, practically, discoV-
cred his guilt The hesitation between
the ideas of suicide and an appeal to
the head partner, who had given him
the situation two years before, for his
tather's-the curate of the parish
sake. Particulars of the meeting with
Sir Peter NuneS just outside the lat
ters house, the invitation to enter;
the discussion which followed the
malice where mercy had been looked
for
The baronet had seized on the boys
guilt as a handle with which to hu-
initiate and shame the Lorraine family.
He threatened to prosecute and hound
the curate and his adventures daugh-
ter-he called her worse-out of the
place.
They were twins, it appeared-the
brother and sister-and the love ex-
listing between them was deep. One
word leads to another-no words so
quickly as hot ones. Those used by
the boys employer cut deeply.
When the baronet found that his
abuse of the girl had a rousing effect
he continued it. But he went too far.
For himself, the lad was ready to bow
his head; but when his sisters fame
was assailed the blood went to his
head-he saw red.
The dagger on the wall-the steel of
which flashed brightly in the gasnght
caught his eye. 1t seemed to him
that it was there as an instrument of
vengeance. The next instant it was in
his hand, and in the moment after it
was buried in Sir Peter Nune's heart.
OF all natures laws, Self-preSerVa-
ton is the first. Never for moment
imagining that his friend and pros
pective brother-in-law was likely to
be accused of the crime, the murderer
sought safety in flight.
A glad light came into the dying
lads eyes as they rested on his visitor
for he had eyes only for FRANK
Carylon.
you're free, Frank" he said, in
voice that was little more than Whls-
per. I'm glad you came. Directly l
heard that you-but you know, don
you? It's good to feel your hand ana
know that you forgive me for the
trouble I gave you"
"That's all right, laddie." Frank
spoke gruffiy, pressing the others
hand. - on never HleahI " "A0iio
me-"
but I did And 1 am sorry. If had
not been such a coward 1 should have
ended my life rather than go down to
st. Peters and beg for mercy. want
ed time-wanted to say that If he gave
me that 1 would pay back every penny.
But he wouldn't give me the chance,
and he said things about
Il know, laddie. have heard"
"Millie Frank. I want you toto
promise about her"
"What?'
"That she shall never know-I mean
about the disgrace. Death covers
things, doesn't it? The dad-poor old
can keep it from Millie, do"
Frank promised. And somehow he
was able to keep his word. The girl
was so cut up over the loss of her
brother that she had no thought OF
reading papers. After the funeral she
had serious illness, and spent six
months in the south of France.
When she came back to England the
whole affair was in the limbo of the
past. She came back, too, with
changed name. For out there-where
the orange blossoms grow as profusely
as blackberries do with us-she became
Mrs. Frank Carylon.
The game of life is a curious one,
isn't it? The detective sometimes holds
strong hands, but the fell sergeant al
ways has the deadly trump up his
sleeve. When he takes a hand in the
game the other players may as well put
their cards on the table. 1t Is the fall
of the curtain.
FAME