The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-14
CHAPTER xxlx.-tcon,inued)

CHAPTER xxlx.-(continued).
But Thomas dragged che speaker
away. Behind his mask of paint and
assumed indifference the eyes Of John
Stern had deep CLEAN In them
silently he conducted Colville dowu
TO his own room and placed him in a
chair
Il have something 20 show YOU ne
J said 1T is a copy uf document that
came whilst you were in birmingham
/ You told me 10 open all letters, anu
| did so. II Is "A pity you had not seen
that document before you made an
enemy OF MISS LEROY
she is deceiyng me- Colville
! growlcd. She, "a pauper on my boun'
/ ~. Wait till that money OF Ronald
! Braybrooke comes into my hands,
wait till"
Are you quite sure that it ever will
come into your hands? stay here "A
moment
Stern returned presently with a
sheet OF blue ohicial-looking paper II
his hand
This is a copy OF an original docu-
ment." he said 1t relates TO Ronald
Braybrooke and to his affairs. What
date did Bray come into all that
money!
Nearly year ago" Colville re-
piled. We advertised for him. We
searched for him everywhere. And
/ he is dead We have the evidence OF
John Stern TO prove it, lie fell off a
yacht on the South Sea, and was
drowned. And the money reyerts 10
me
Under ordinary circumstances, yes.
| But suppose that during the last few
months Ronald Braybrooke had made
a will leaving his money elsewhere
| Suppose the will had been properly
/ Infested and deposited with a firm of
solicitors? What then? Who would
the money belong to?"
To the person 10 whom il was left.
| OF course" Colville SAID. helplessly.
And that paper"
Storms eyes cleaned as he handed
over the paper. and strong magnify
! ing glass to the man whom he chose
10 regard as his employer Colville
started, and his lips grew white
What is this" he cried. The
thing is forgery" The old man was
trembling from head to foot. so that
U
The sham Thomas had n stern pur-
pose in his heart, and was not going
To be deferred from II on any condi-
ton He shook his head whilst Col
Vile held the paper 10 his twitching
face, and tried 10 make himself the
full master of its strange contents.
Il am getting old and feeble" Col
vile muttered There Is not soul
about me that can trust
THAT is because you have never
trusted other people" Stern said. Just
for moment he had forgotten that
he was playing part, for his voice
Was very harsh and hard You have
always played for your own hand re-
eardless Of the feelings Of other peo-
Pile. Ana now that you are getting
old and feeble and past relentlng, you
whine about it,
What do You mean. Thomas" Cot
vile asked What do YOU mean by
speaking 10 me in this fashion? You
have never done so before Anybody
would think that you were quite an
honest man, who had heard you adj
dress me IN this fashion
Stern changed his ground quickly.
He had quite forgotten himself
/ beg your pardon. sir he said. Il
did not bring you here to quarrel with
me But You told Miss LEROY just
now that she had not a penny in the
world, and | asked YOU to come here
and dispute it, Ii the truth was only
known. II is you who do not possess a
penny In the world which that young
lady"
Thomas" Colvile almost scream
ed. My good Thomas Seeing that
Ronald Braybrooke died without max
ing will why"
But he didn't sir In your hand
you hold Ronald Braybrooke's will.
He leaves every penny to Ailsa lie
troy. You will find the thing is quite
legal"
With a despairing cry Colyille
buried his face in his hands
Then ! am ruined" he murmured
Ruined beyond hope OF -,