The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-16

thing was told me IN 50 concentrated
a way that | could not but believe that
YOU had persisted at sea
SO did for all practical purposes,
Stern rcjOined. Young Wanless muir
derous attempt on my life was real
enough In all conscience. i went over
the side, and there, 10 all intents, was
as end OF me believe the whole
thing was arranged by your late Wis
itor."
Whom do you mean by late Wis
itor, asked O Brien uneasiiy
Why ask the question? let us be
perfectly candid Up 10 the. present. il
has suited my humOr 10 call myself
John Stern | am the poor, miserable
outcast, Ronald Braybrooile. but
have buried my proper name till | can
decentiy dig ii up again. | am going
20 tell You why presently. But don't
try and pretend that Lady Altamon;
/ has not been here with YOU quite late
ly for | saw You putting Ler into Il
cab. Dennis, would YOU like 10 be-
come an honest. God-fcarng man
again ?'
The last question was asked almost
iiercply Ihe energy OF II caused
O Rrien to stare az his companion His
I Hips tWitched in an uneasy way
4 see YOU me in earnest. he said
presently we We're always good
friends Ronald, we had very few
secrets from one another IL is all
very Wcll ~ be- cynical and pretend
that There is no goodness lu the world,
bu, deep down in our hearts we know
better / would give five Years Of my
life 10 find my feet on the pedestal
again
The speaker spoke in tones of quiy-
cring sincerity. he meant every worl
that he said He was quite differen.
rom the cynical scouudrel who had
been entertaining Lady Altamont ,
little time before. Then ae laughed
bitterly
There he said Il have made
my confession. never expected 20
speak like that TO a soul again, but
/ know You 50 well, and there is A
look in your eyes that draws me on
Rut ii is all 10 no purpose, Ronald
u is too late for both q. MS The wO-
man | loved threw me over for anothe.
three weeks ago. and let the fact
spoil my whole life. She is dead now
ana her husband is aead too, and |
lave promised to look after the child.
She is "A dear little girl and she has
cot round my heart in her pretty way,
and 50 hat She can nave all she
wants | am compelled 10 live my dis
graceful lite. Otherwise ! should have
pGt pistol 20 my head five years ago.
lut why rake up these things
Il am not chcdply sentimental
Braybrooke said II Is not merely to
play a shady part that have called
myself John Stern DO YOU see any
difference I'm me. Dcnnis?'
We'll, yes O Brien said. after a
critical examination of his companion.
! DO Your dress is very seedy, and
you bear unmistakable signs OF having
come down In the world. but you no
longer look like the dissipated wreck
that YOU were when last ! saw YOU II
you were properly dressed, and had
your hair and moustaChe trimmed you
would pass anywhere for IA gentleman.
What mean is, your skin mas cleared.
your eyes are bright and wholesome.
should say that you had NOT touched
anything intoxicating for some days.
Il have given 1t up entirely Bray
brooke exclaimed. Never again does
drop OF intoxicating liquor pass my
lips as long as live And this is all
fer girls sake
you don't mean OBren cried.
"you don't really say that the child
YOU used to --
The child has grown into a lovely
woman Dennis. | saw her quite re-
Gently for the first time for over three
years II was dramatic and entirely
unexpected meeting, but, thank Goti,
she did not recognize ne. But the
name of Ronald BraybroOkc was men.
toned. and words passed that proved
TO me that Ailsa LEROY was still
faithful to the memory of the gallant
lad she used 10 know. She still loves
the Ronald Braybrooke Of three years
agO Heavens. | seem to have lived
4 century i'm torment since then"
ODrien nodded in sympathy. He
was more moved than he cared TO
admit
Go on. old fellow he said. The
whole story will dome good
Il am certain it will, Dennis. II
was after ! was supposed tC be lost at
sea. / had my own good reasons for
permitting my death to be taken for
granted: even at that moment had C
vague idea OF leading a good life Bur
/ doubt If il would have come 20 any
thing had not gone to No. 10 Vernon
terrace that night"
The residence OF your guide. phil
cSupher and friend. Archibald Col
Vile. is il not?'
"The same But Archibald Colville
has been no friend OF mine. ON the
contrary, he has proved himself 10 be-
my worst enemy. That fellow has
hated me all the time There is an
old love AFFAIR al The bottom Of II
which / need not go into. Colville is
almost a unatic in his way. and my
strong likeness TO my father famed
fis passions Bui We need
not labor over the past As ] said be
fore. came back 20 London under
the name of John Stern was pen.
niless and desperate, but WAS re-
solved To keep on the old life alto
gethcr. Some considerable time age
! forged Colyills name 20 some
cheques and obtained the money.