Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-03-31
CHAPTER XVII.

Exhausted by the few words he had
spoken. Jaggard fell back on his pill
lows in a dead faint Jen left the pa
tient to the tender attentions of Anne,
and withdrew to seek David He found
him in melancholy mood, pacing up
and down the lawn before the window
of the smoking room. On perceiving
his guardian Sarby turned pale, Cor
he thought that Jen had come to con-
tinue their previous conversation, and
to force his confidence.
Well David" said the newcomer,
with significance, 4 have made one dis
covery without your help. I know VINO
drugged Jaggard. I have learned who
stole the body of Maurice!"
Then YOU know more than I do" re-
piled David. My knowledge extends
only to the death; not to the seizure of
the body"
And YOU refuse to aid me-" said the
Major, reproachfuIly; well, keep your
secret, I may be able to do without
your help. But" added Jen, fixing a
piercing glance on the young man. u
notice that you do not ask me the name
of the person who drugged Jaggard."
Because guess the name"
All"
Mrs. Dallas" said David, family.
TT was Mrs. Dallas"
Jen drew back a step and looked at
his ward with marked surprise.
NO" he said, at length. Mrs. Dali
las has had nothing to do with it,"
But I thought from what you said
of the handkerchief dropped in the
room"
THAT being the property of Mrs. Dali
las. she had lost it there interrupted
Jen, smartly NO. l told You also
that Isabella had confessed to having
dropped it at the time OF her midnight
visit. But now I know that she told
me ,e."
Isabella! A lie! Impossible?"
Not at all" rejoined Jen, coldly. Il
can understand her reason for telline
the lie. She wanted to shield"
Her mother!" cried David. Quickly
interrupting in his turn
Your mind seems to run on the
mother David Can you prove by any
chance that she committed the crime ~
No Uncle Jen. 1 can't. l have my
suspicious"
Tt pleases YOU to be mysterious. Da-
vid. Shortly l shall insist upon an ex-
PLANTATION. You owe it to me-your sec
ond father-to tell the truth. You owe
1t to your dead brothers memory-for
assuredly Maurice was your brother
David stared sullenly at the ground
but in moment or two he lifted his
head in defiant manner.
I owe YOU much more than I can
. ever repay" said he, in hard tones. .Au
the same, Uncle Jen. I cannot reveal
even to YOU, what I know. If did So
you would be the first to blame me"
i don't understand YOU"
i don't understand myself" said the
young man, despondently, save that
am the most miserab BILE man alive
You must be, if you know who killed
Maurice. vet refuse to confess" re.
torted Jen, with some heat. will yot
not tell me the truth? l ask you for
last time"
And I answer for the last time tina
the truth is not mine to tell" replie'
David, eoldly If you doubt me ques
ton Etwald."
What, that criminal? I believ,
that out of jealousy he killed Maurice.
oh" said Sarby, sardonicaIly; "anl
out of jealousy he stole the body?"
mo. Dido did that Jaggard ha!
Just informed me that it was Dido VIII,
drugged him. Why did she drug him
To steal the body of my poor lad
Why did she steal the body? To con
ceal the crime committed by Etwald
I firmly believe that Etwald stole til
deviI-stick, and with it killed Maurice.
From a motive of ieaIousy?"
Precisely. AS you know, the bod,
was stolen before the post mortem ex
animation could be made. Why wa
this? Does not your own reason fin
an answer to that question ?"
NO" replied David, still obstinatel
uncopr slced.