The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-25
CHAPTER xxxv.-(continued).


bed and held our has hand for some
thing. Lady Altamont seemed TO un-
delstand, Tor she took medicine bot
tie from cupboard and poured
measured Quanuty into a glass
Drink that sne said, as she heid
the stun to the Wretched mans ups.
1t is your own drug. | ought 10 nave
given IL 10 you directly YOU came III.
Atamont greedily swallowed me
medicine lie lay quiet Ter httle
time with nothing to show there was
anything wronG beyond the horrible
tWitchng 81 the muscles OF the face.
Then gradually the features became
composed, and the figure on The bed
really slept.
Hes pretty we'll gone Lady Alta
mont whispered. "Of late nat medi.
J cine is not quite as potent as / usel
tt,-i5t-.- ;tfio ann atraru to Increase the
dose without the doctors authority.
, Would you mind keeping an eye on
! him for few moments. Mr.. Waniess?'
1 Just whilst Lady Altamont lets me
! out, Brayhrooke suggested. Il nave
/ few words 10 say 10 her And you
are not likely TO be taNen ~ surprise
again
4 Lady AlIamont led the way down
stairs, bat she did not go as tar as the
door. ON the contrary, she turned
1 into the dining-room, and invited Bray'
/ brooke TO follow her Here she turned
iup the lights, and faced round on her
companion.
! Il fancy that we had better BE quil G
4eeH4id-witif eaeit other shr sait ~
the first place, Will you tell me why
( you are hanging about the house to-
night. Also whether II rs your 3ooi
/ pleasure TO be known as John Stern
or Ronald Braybrooke?'
! You may call me by whatever name
! you like Ronald said, indifferently
| Very good Then we will stick 70
yOIr proper name. Still, | am noS
sorry that you came tonight. because
! / has opened my eyes 10 one or two
things So YOU have chosen to reveal
your identity TO young Waniess. and
, let him know that you are not at the
/ bottom OF the North Sea as he sup
posed
---A-t-trur 10 no tt1dt- rUr---THsUTTs tfrift
/ We will not 90 into Ronald replied.
/ Il fear that YOU have used the fact
1 OF my supposed death TO good pur-
rose, SO far as the Wanless diamonds
are concerned. Still, 1t IS neter too
! late 10 mend. and | fancy you found
cecil Wanless hotter antagonist 10
night than you had expected Ne -
gong to fight YOU TO the finish.
All" Lady Altanont cried. Then
you hstened?'
Yes. | listened" Braybrooke said
! C0olly. Il must confess that | was
rather pleased with the young matL
As told you before. have done with
tie dark past. and that lenceforth i
am going back 10 the clean life again.
3 Therefore YOU will quite understand
my anxiety To see tlOse gems back
/ in their owners hands again.
! You have to prove that they are In
! my possession first Lady .ltamont
said with a scornful laugh. Blu, you
! have not told me why YOU are skulk-
/ ihg mere tonight | shrewdly suspect
that YOU would nave KEPT your visit =
I secret had il not been for the sake
al young Wanless.
You nay take that as a fact,
/ Braybrooke said quite cooliy But
fer Sir Charless outbreak you would
nCt have been aware Of my visit. |
/ had TO declare myself
For the life Of me | can't see why.
/ "Oh. yes. you can. iou know per
/ feCtly we'll Cecil Wanless had put you
into tight place; in other words, he
( Was going To ruin you you tried play
ing of my supposed death against his
! strange words. but yours was quite
spoilt by the knowledge that | am still
alive. did not want to let you know
] that no nf that lint SIR
Charles $ action left me no alternative.
A. the same time. Sir Charless con
| dact suited YOU splendidly. ! could see
| that from your face. You stood there
| pretending to be SO overcome by ter
ror that you could not stir. But
was looking you straight in tho face,
ont OF the darkness, and | read you
| like an open book This was a won
derful chance for you. You had only
TO stand and watch the tragedy p.ayed
TO finish. Sir Charles would have
disposed Of the most dangerous
enemy you possessed, and he would
have been Kept out of your way for
the rest of his life by the state And
that passed through your brilliant
Train; II came to you like flash.
Ah1 there was in the darkness. read
ing your thoughts as they flashed over
your face. | waited until di1 not
dare TO delay any longer. IT any
hazards the crime must &c stopped,
and ! stopped il. And you can't look
rae in the eye, and deny that all |
say Is absolutely true"
Lady Atamont laughed. but she
/ could not meet BraybroOte $ eyes. II
desire could have done anything, he
would have been dead at her feet that
moment. In the past she had regard
ed her present antagonist more as A
| fool than anything else-now she be-
Ean TO realize the full extent OF the
| FORCES allied against her.
You are exceedingly clever" she
sneered. But all you say Is merely
sCpposiiion. and does not prove any.
thing And the fact remains that you
are acting the part of a burglar What
Is TO prevent my calling in the police
aud giving you into custody for"
There was a sudden cry. a crash
and the sound of swiftly running feet
overhead. Wanless was ctyIng for as.
sistance. Lady Altamont grasped the
situation in moment
i know what has happened she
said. That drug was not strong
enough. II has failed more than once
/ lately Let us go and see what has
happened"
Sir Charles had risen, from his ~,
aod put Wanless aside as II he had
| been child Then, as II his mind had
! taken up the thread at the old place
! hst hnH @ inf !.