The Detroit times., 1910-04-25
CHAPTER xxxv.-(continued).

CHAPTER xxxv.-(Continued).
Lady AltamonI made rapid sign "a
BiaFbrooke TO hft the speaker and
help TO carry him TO his own room
Once there he flung himself on the
bed and held out his hand for some
thing Lady Altamont seemed TO un'
derstand, FOR she took a medicine bot
tie from a cupboard and poured a
measured quantity into glass.
Drink that, she said, as she held
the stun 10 the wretched mans lips.
1t is your own drug. ought To have
given IL TO you directly YOU came in.
Aitamont greedily swallowed the
medicine He lay. quiet for little
time. with nothing 10 show there was
anything wrong beyond the horrible
twitchng of the muscles OF the race.
Then gradually the features became
composed. and the figure on the bed
really slept.
Hes pretty well gone. Lady. Alta
mont whispered "Of late that medi'
cine Is not quite as potent as IL used
10 be. and | am afraid to increase the
dose without the DOCTORS authnr!ty.
! Would you mind keeping an eye on
HIM fer II few moments, Mt. WanlesS?
Just whilst Lady Altamont lets me
out, Bray brooke suggested. Il have
few words TO say to her And you
are not likely To be taken by surprise
again.
Lady Altamont led the way down
stairs, but she aid not go as IA as the
door ON the contrary, sac turned
into the diningroom, and invited Bray
brooke to follow her Here she turned
up the lights, and faced round on her
companion.
Il fancy that We had better be quite
candid with each other" she said. In
the first place. sett-teii me why
you are hanging about the house to-
night. Also whether IL is your good
pleasure to be known rs John Stern
or Ronald Draybrooke?"
You may call me by whatever name
you like" Ronald said indifferenIly.
Very good. Then We will stick TO
yoIr proper name. Still, am no,
sorry that You came tonight, because
X has opened my eyes to one or two
Things So YOU have chosen TO reveal
your identity TO young Wanless. and
let him know that you are not at the
bottom of the North Sea as he sup
posed
Il had TO do that for reasons that
we will not go into" Ronald replied.
Il lear that you have used the fact
of my supposed death TO good pur-
ose. so far as the Wanless diamonds
are concerned Still, II is never too
late 10 mend, and | fancy you found
Cecil Wanless hotter antagonist to-
night than you had expected He as
going TO fight you 10 the finish.
All" Lady Altamont cried. Then
you listened"
Yes, listened" Braybrooke said
caolly. Il must confess that | was
rather pleased with the young man.
AS told YOU before have done with
the dark past, and that nenceforth /
en- going back to the clean life again.
my anxiety 10 see those gems back
in their owners hands again.
You have TO prove that they are in
my possession first" Lady .Altamont
said with a scornful laugh. Bur YOU
/ have not told me why YOU arc skulf
ing here tonight. | shrewdly suspect
that you would have kept your visit 2
secret had II not been for the sake
al young Wanless
You may take that as fact.
Braybrooke said quite coolly, But
fer Sir Charless outbreak you would
nrt have been aware Of my visit.
had 10 declare myself.
For the life Of me | can't see why.
"Oh. yes. you can. You know per
fectly well Cecil Wanless had put you
irto tight place: in other words, he
was going TO ruin you You tried play
ing off my supposed death against his
strange words. but yours was quit"