The Detroit times., 1910-04-22
CHAPTER xxxlv.-(contInued).

Lady Altamont laughed aloud. a
deep red spot burnt on either cheek,
as Blaybrooke could see from where
he was seated. The woman laughed
again.
My dear Cecil. you have taken
leave OF your Senses Lady Altamont
said "Or you are the victim OF some
singular delusion. You cared for me
once"
"Ay. | did" Wanless said bitterly.
What u fool must have been! No
wonder yon regard me as being pos
sibly OF weak intellect And yet
the game has been played many d
time before, IL will be played many a
time again. The Silly boy who knows
nothing OF the world and the lovely
woman who is allied TO brutal and
disslpated husband, The interchange
OF sympathy. the tears. ana the conn
dences Add to that. moonlight talks
on yacht, and the picture Is com
piete | ought TO know. Tor | nave
been through IL all before. The mere
thought of it fills ME with disgust.
Then you no longer care for me-
Cecil
Did | ever care for you, wonder!
Looking al the thing now in the cola
light OF common sense. | should say
not The disparity in our respecli'@
years for one thing
Now you are going TO insult me-
Lady Altamont cried, a note of temp
est in her voice. You nave come
here To break the chain, OF course.
That YOU may do, and shall not
have one word OF reproach for you.
But do not insult me: try ana remem-
Der that your late years have Deen
passed in the company OF ladies' ana
gentlemen. Perhaps In our posi-
ton"
You are adopting the wrong tone,
Wanless Interrupted. You want 10
remind me that my father was SELF
made man. who came from the gutter,
and | wont deny H. He was much
better man than am likely to be, and
| am not In the least ashamed Of him.
But please do not play the patrlclan
dame with me, for IL is wasted on me.
| happen 10 know where you We're
horn matter OF 43 years ago. !
know all about the little house IN
New York. in fact. have had your
whole history told me lately. In
plain English, you are a nameless ad.
ventures of the very worst type. Iod
married a drunken swindler who hap
pened TO now proved successful. You
cultivated us because you discovered
u at my mother was a very rich Wo-
man, in fact. you made up your mind
10 get those gems from the start.
That yacht OF yours was chartered
for the purpose. II is Just as we'll 10
speak plainly. and | am doing so All
this information has only come to
me quite lately | was compelled TO
be polite TO you before because my
hands were tied by circumstances
Give me those jewels back and | Will
spare YOU the rest"
You are not mincing matters.
Lady Altamont said with om.nous
calm. Are you prepared to prove all
that YOU say young man?s
oh. yes | am not to re deferred.
can swear. an information against
YOU and put YOU IN the dock. And
then | can give graphic account OF
your past life You are so clever that
you can appreciate what that would
mean 10 Lady Charles Altamont."
Rraybr0oke listened with amaze
ment and admiration He himself had
recently placed weapon IN the hands
Of Cecil Wanless. but he was not pre-
pared 10 find the young man using II
quite SO freely Lady Altamont had
risen 10 her feet. genuinely moved at
last.
You miserable boy" she Kissed.
And this is the way YOU are prepared
70 repay all my kindness 10 YOU, You
H.. Ia.I ~ N
the loss Of your mothers gems II
you stir a hand TO drag me into the
police-court.'
THAT Is exactly what | propose To
do Wanlcss said coolly. "Oh, | am
not going 10 play the coward any
longer. ! know that those jewels are
in your possession and you know that
| know It, Why, then. continue this
petty farce? Unless we come TO some
understanding tonight | shall lay all
the facts before the police tomorrow
and YOU will take the consequences.
! know that | shall cut but a sorry
figure when | come 10 tell my story,
but | have reckoned up al. that. But
II come out OF this thing badly, what
OF yourself? Everybody Will know
your story YOU will find every door In
IcnGon closed upon you. All your
little schemes for getting rich at the
expense OF other people will fall 10
the ground.
The speaker paused and looked II
the respondent figure in the chair OPP
pOSite. Lady AltamOnts face was
white with anger. and her eyes were
cleaning like living Goals She was
holding herself well In hand. but the
hidden fire below burned Lofty.
Il see. | had underestimate your
strength. she said Let me admit
freely that | looked upon you as a
boy whom ! could treat as | pleased.
At the same time feel sure that
there Is somebody behind you in the
matter So unless give YOU the
Jewels you are pledged to ruin me
socially?'
1T is not a threat-it is an act Of
sClf-defCnsC
Very well Call it by any name
YOU ike. IL is ali the same TO me. |
rave listened with great patience 90
al you have to- say and now | Will
ask YOU to hear my side of the ques.
non ! admit that have obtained pos
session OF your Ilothcr's gems. What
lien"
Wanlcss shrugged his shoulders: ne
lid not quite understand what was
coming next
There Is confidence. for you"
Lady Altamont smiled. Il stand %.
'ore YOU a thief. selfconfessed and
seli-condemned, IL you had q witness
NOW Won could condemn mo IN a long