The Detroit times., 1910-04-20


troy. You were going TO blurt out tie
truth TO her when | grasped you by
the throat just now. Knowing what
| KNOW about you YOU had best ee
silent"
Il don't want to make any mis-
chief the old man muttered sullenly
Well | will give you every credit
for good intentions" Braybrooke
smiled II have the strongest pos
sible reasons for keeping my identity
secret tor the present. Also. there
are strong reasons why your presence
10 me present WHY dtuu-t You 20 70
America as arranged?
Because lost my money" Thomas
said, with his eyes fixed on the floor.
Il was robbed and | was ashamed -
| confess IL. But had TO come back
at last and tell my master what had
happened. | have been STAYING with
| friends"
You miserable old liar" Bray
brooke exclaimed You started gamb
! ling. and you lost part OF your mon
ey that way Gradually you lost IL ali.
| You did not come here tonight with
| the slightest intention of seeing your
master. but to bully your wife out or
| some OF her hard-earned savings, so
that you could go back To your com
| paniops."
Old Thomas looked up in confusion.
/ He fastened to deny the accusation,
| but he could not meet the steady con
tempt In Braybrooke's eyes.
Don't try and deceive me-" the lat
| ter went on. I'm going TO give you
| few pounds. or. rather | am going 10
give you their equivalent In value.
| Then you can go back TO that house
| in the Waterlooroad again and lose
every penny OF it, You are a very
cunning and clever old man, and think
| you know everything, but you did not
J see you were being cheated tonight
! What have you got 10 say 10 that,
| Thomas"
You are too clever for me. sir,
the old man muttered Much too
clever And yet. there was a time,
not SO many years ago
All. ses, expected you would make
that retort. There was time not many
years ago. when | was an upright
honest lad, with all the world before
me. | did not know then | had guar
dian who hated me. and who had long
before made up his mind 10 bring me
TO ruin. He very nearly accomplished
his purpose. but not quite There was
only the matter of some inch or 50
/ between me and the utter destruction
OF my soul But that inch sufficed to
save ME. 10 save me In this very
room. But that is a sacred matter thai
does not concern you in the least. All
you have TO know is that your efforts
and the efforts OF your master have
failed But during ali the time that
II was part of your business TO lure
me on TO destruction, you did not keep
clear OF crime yourself. Shall | recall
one or two OF these instances TO your
mind, Thomas? Suppose that | recall
them 70 the police You know per
fectly we'll that | can land vJu in a
Jail II like As sure as you stand
in my way III do it, You may make
up your mind quite easy on that score.
Thomas
What 40 you require me To do.
SIR the old man asked humbly
To do nothing To go back from
whence you canes or anywhere else
YOU choose, 10 be discreet and silent.
anG not 10 show youT face here again
TIL | send for you. I'll give you the
ing--you- master has one exactly like
IL. You IAN pawn IL for $50 Do as /
tell YOU. and you vii, be quite safe.
The old man mUttered something
under his reatl. as he held ont a
shaking hand for the ring He ap-
peared 10 be- quite cowed and broken
Gown for me moment.
Very we'll. sir h, said Il didn't
gain didn't suppose that you would
become so clever man. Mr.. Ronald.
But It's al as you say Me and the
old man lid our best TO ruin you be-
tween us. And now you've come into
8 big fortune
Hush, Ronald said sternly "Yoa
are absolutely mistaken Ronald
Braybrooke is dead Whether or not
he will ever como 10 life again depends
on circumstances But the man We
are Tow speaking OF is at the bottom
OF the North sea and before he per.
lished he left a will bequeathing all he
had TO Mss Ailsa LEROY. That will
was duly signed and Witnessed, and u
in the possession OF respectable firm
of solicitors. There will be no chance
! Of my mad guardian playing any or
his tricks on Miss LEROY. But under
stand firnly tina Ronald Braybrooke
| is dead. If you bring him 10 life again
ne is pretty certain to reveal some OF
your past episodes with very unpleaS-
ant consequences Now you can go.
The old man crepj out Of the room
and down the stairs, closing the front
door carefully behind him. A minute
afterwards, and -Aiisa entered the
room She wanted to have good look
al the features o. her visitor now but
be kept his face absolutely In the
shadow
The old man has gomez" she asked.
Yes. he has gone quietly enough.
You need not fear his return"
90, am glad Of that Alsa said, with
a sigh OF relief. old Susan heard the
noise and came ont 10 see what had
happened | was bound TO tell her
And she has been shaking with fear
ever since Wha' shall | tell herr"
Simply tell her that Thomas has
gone. SAY he will not come back. tina.
he dare not come back without my per
mission. And IN the circumstances.
that Is not likely To be granted. That
wicked old rascal Is absolutely In my
power"
ii Is great relief 10 know this.
Ailsa murmured But | am getting
40 sick and tired of all these myster
les. Mr. stern. Us it actually true
that that poor woman upstairs is the
yyffC ~ Archibald COlyille9 Tell me-