The Detroit times., 1910-02-19
CHAPTER ni.-(con,inued).

decpened, but ne Kept his eyes nAeu
on the ground.
Ronald Braybrooke Is dead he
said sulkily 1t may be shock 10
the young lady's feelings. but as the
truth is told there can be no good
done by hiding II. won't go SO far
as TO say that Ronald Braybrooke was
a friend OF mine: as IA matter OF fact
/ have been his greatest curse But
circumstances over which neither or
us had any control threw us much to-
gether. | tell you he is dead | was
present at his funeral or what passed
for II. He was washed of smack
and died AZ sea. | saw IL done. And
can prove the whole thing If YOU
give me time
Il am quite sure that this man
speaks the truth Ailsa faltered
thin sneer curled Archibald Col
villc's lips. tie shook his head doubt
fully
II am not convinced" he said with
so much mystery in the air shall
want all the proof you can give"
Il am sick and tired OF mystery"
Allsa cried passionately. The house
reeks OF II. the unlucky No. Is stiles
me. You. my guardian. tell me that
YOU could not possibly return I'LL the
morrow and vet you come into your
own house Ike thief In the night
You were surprised TO see me here
your face mad Il look OF guilty fear on
IT, And then old Susan meets with an
accident. In her delirium she discloses
certain things On the top OF II | find
this man. this derelict OF humanity.
who tells me that the only one | ever
cared for is dead. Why do you come
back like this. guardian: why is this
man here? What does he SEEK II
is not as II he were stranger-he
knows the house as well as | do
What does II mean"
Coivile shook mis- head slowly like
one who relinquishes difficult posi-
ton But his face grew hard again
as he turned 10 the intruder
Il can't explain" be said 1T is
! too long and pitiful a story And as
10 this man. J do not know what to
think could have sworn-but then
he asserts that he is prepared To prove
what he says. Let me tell you some
thing concerning the fortunes of Ron
aid Braybrooke. Never mind how
hut he suddenly became possessed OF
large fortune. Braybrooke was poor
and ambitious. and would have given
much for the money to have carried
out his designs And II he were alive
now he would be the master OF $780,
/ 900 On business connected with this
money | have been away. But | had
to return tonight secretly. Do you
near what | say. fellow. Ronald Bray
brooke has become entitled TO $780,
600 II he likes to come forward and
claim IT, the money is his tomorrow :"
Something in the tone OF the speech
seemed 10 madden the intruder He
lifted a pair of eyes that glowed like
living Goals to Colvile. His hands
were clenched SO tightly that Allsa
could see how The knuckles stood out
like white seams on his brown hands.
He trcmbled as II in the grip OF some
great physical pain But all the same
he kept his face in the shadow half
hidden as II was by the plaster on
his cheeks
! Ailsa held her breath Not for a
moment had she credited anything
that Colvile had said; indeed. 1t seem.
ed 10 her that he was acting a part
In her heart OF hearts the girl felt
that this human derelct could In no
I
aid Braybrooke She recalled his face
and form wildly TO her mind now
/ Oh. no. it could not be as Colyille had
said
And yet here was Archibald Col
Vile putting him 10 the test II that
crouching figure really was Ronald
Braybrooke. then he had fallen very
low indeed He looked as If latterly
hn nj 1nn sh,
/ Of life And here was Colville offer
ing him-provided he was Braybrooke
"a handsome fortune. II was enough
/ 20 tempt even the noblest and most
honorable OF men,
What nonsense all this is. Ailsa
cried DO you think that | should
fail To recognize Ronald Braybrooke.
even II he were SO utterly changed as
Il mean in any circumstances?
should recognize him anywhere. And
yet you. who say that you have not
seen him for many years, pit your
| opinion against mine,"
You don't know what YOU are talk
| ing about Colville said roughly II
have seen men so changed in a few
years that their own mothers did not
know them | know a case in which
father refused to recognize his own
daughter | merely repeat what | said
before: Ronald Braybrooke is not
dead. and this man knows IT, For
some purpose Of his own he is acting
part. Produce Ronald Braybrooke
and let him come forward and claim
! the fortune OF $500 900
"Braybrooke Is very fortunate, the
stranger said IF he had only known
that a few DAYS ago he would never
have been drowned I'm the North Sea-
And az to his ambitions, you are per
fectly correct. This money would
nave been a Godsend to him. But he
lies at the bottom Of the German
Ocean. and there Is an end OF him
Strange" Colville muttered In a
sarcastic tone Very strange. indeed
Still stranger that nameless vaga
bond like you should come and give us
this information this night Of all
nights. Stranger still that YOU should
be here at all strangest OF all that
YOU should be familiar with my house
raybrouke was--as q boy.
And Braybrooke might have told
me things" the intruder said defiant
| ~ YES. you have summed up my
character quite correctly, | am a
nameless vagabond. who was once a
gentleman 1t matters little that |
have come so low as this who used
To pride myself upon my honor and
integrity. Call me John Stern. for
want OF a better name. and hand me
over TO the police II you like. But why
I am here and what NV business Is,