St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-07-13


cold fingers When once more John
Steele buttoned his coat the affidavit
had again found lodgment in his waist
coat pocket.
What John Steele said was for Lord
Ronsdale alone After Gillett had
gone he laid down a condition.
''And if l refuse to let you dictate in
purely private concern?'' Lord Rons-
dale. white with passion. had answer
ed.
1.-THE end will be the same for you.
AS matters stand Sir Charles no doubt
thinks still that you would make a
desirable parti for his niece His wife,
Lady Wray, unquestionably shares
that opinion. Their combined infu-
ence might in time prevail and Joce-
lyn Wray yield to their united wishes.
This misfortune" with cutting deadli-
ness of tone, ''it is obvious must be
averted You will consent to with
draw all pretensions in that direction
or you will force me to make public
this paper full exposition of the
case 1 think would materially affect
Sir Charles and Lady Wray's attitude
as to the desirability of an alliance be-
tween their family and yours
"And yourself? You forget with
a sheer, chow it would affect your
"Myselfw John Steele laughed ''You
fool! Do you imagine l would hest
tate for that reasonw
"You love her yourself, and''-
John Steele stepped toward him.
hox almost
on the point of killing you tonight.
DON'T He broke off. 1.-THE condition
You consent or not?"
"And if I-you would
keep your cowardly secret? Yes!'
Lord Ronsdale nodded his head
slowly, indicating that he would cease
his attentions to Jocelyn Wray. And
as he did so a venomous expression
came into his face.
A day a month after that night in
Lord Ronsdale's rooms Captain For
sythe, calling on John Steele, found
himself admitted to the sitting, room
The rooms were partly dismantled,
number of boxes littering the place
indicating preparations to move. John
Steele came in. His face was pale1
than it had been-thinner like that OF
a man who had recently suffered some
severe illness.
A short time passed. They talked
on various topics. The military maj
puffed more quickly. 1t seemed tht
irony of fate or friendship that nov
that he was just beginning to get bet
ter acquainted with Steele the latte
should inconsistency determine t.
leave London.
Anything I can do for you whel
you're away?" began Captain For
! sythe. Command me if there is
Needn't say
'There's only one thing" Johl
Steele looked at him. His voice wa
steady, quiet "And we've alread.
spoken about that. You will let m
know if Ronsdale doesn't keep to tn
letter of the condition?
every Well" Captain Forsythe's eS
preston changed slightly, but tn
other did not appear to notice.
81 shall leave with you certified COZ
les of all the papers, said Steele in
short, matter of fact tone. These Il
gether with the one you furnished ms
are absolutely conclusive"
''The one furnished you! Captal
Forsythe rested his chin on the kno
of his stick. "Odd about that. WASH
it-that the day i'll the library at Stra
horn House, when l was about to tie
you how l had better success the SCI
ond time l visited the landlady,
should have been Interrupted? And
looking at the other furtively, ID
Jocelyn Wray." Steele did not al
swer. eff 1 had only seen the dr1
of your inquiries, had detected MOI
than a mere perfunctory interes
With the confession given me on Dc
deathbed by the landlady that she ha
testified falsely to protect her goo
for nothing son and knoWledg1n
that another whom she did not kno
by name, but whom she describe
minutely, had entered the house on tt
fatal night-with this confession
your hands a world of trouble miGl
have been saved. AS it is he ende