Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-10-26
CHAPTER II.-continued.

this was what it amounted to, Why
Harry had changed his mind about
telling them at the dinner table. She
could not even understand where this
belonged in the march of events in
their story, but Clara took it up,
clipped it out. and fitted it into its
place.
Then there viii be pressure
enormous pressure, brought to bear
to recover it?"
"Oh-o-oh!" Butler drew out the syl-
liable with unctuous relish. They'll
rip the town inside out. They'll do
worse. ThereIl be a string of detect
ives across the country-yes, and at
intervals TO China-so tight you
couldn't step from Kalamazoo to Osh-
kosh without running into one. The
thing is too big to be covered. The
chap who took it will play a lone
game; and to do that-Lord knows
there aren't many who eould-to do
that he'd have to be IA"
Farrell Wand?" Flora flung it out
as a challenge among these prosaic
people; but the effect of it was even
sharper than she had expected. She
fancied she saw them all start; that
Harry squared himself that Kerr met
it as If he swallowed it with almost
a facial grimace; that Judge Butler
blinked it hard in the fsce-the most
bothered of the lot. He came at it
first in words.
Farrell Wanda" He felt it over, as
If, like a doubtful coin, it might have
rung false. Now, what did l know
of Farrell Wanda"
Farrell Wanda" Kerr took it up
rapidly. why, he was the great John
ale who went through the Scotland
Yard men at Perth in "a, and got off.
Don't you remember? He took
great assortment of things under the
most peculiar circumstances-took the
Tilton emeralds off Lady Tilton's neck
at st. James"
why, Harry, you" Flora began.
"You told us that" was what she had
meant to say, but Harry stopped her.
Stopped her Just with a look, with a
nod; but it was as if had shaken his
head at her. His tawny lashes, half
dropped over watching eyes, gave him
more than ever the look of a great
still cat; a domestic. good-humored
cat, but in sight of legitimate prey.
Her eyes went back to Kerr with a
sense of bewilderment. His voice was
still going on, expansyely, brilliantly
juggling his subject.
He knew them all, the big-wigs up
in Parliament, the big-wigs on change
the little duchesses in Mayfair, and
they all liked him, asked him, dined
him, and-great Scott. they paid!
Paid in hereditary jewels, or the
shock to their decency when the thing
came out-but, poor devil. so did he!"
And through it all Butler gloomed
unsmiling, with out-thrust underlip.
NO, no." he said slowly, that's
not my connection with Farrell Wand
What happened afterward What did
they do with him?"
Kerr was silent, and Flora thought
his face seemed suddenly at its sharp
est.
1t was Clara who answered with an
other question. Didn't he get to the
colonies? Didn't he die there?"
Judge Butler caught it with snap
of his fingers, Got it," he triumph
ed, and the two men turned square
upon him. "They ran him to earth in
Australia. That was the year I was
there-96. I got a snapshot OF him
at the time"
1t was now the whole table that
turned on him, and Flora felt, with
that unanimous movement, something
crucial, the something that she had
been waiting for; and yet she could
IN no way connect it with what had
happened, nor understand why Clara,
why Harry, why Kerr above all should
be so alert. For more than all he
looked expectant, poised. and ready
for whatever was coming.
What sort of a chap" he unused
and fixed the judge a moment with
the same stare that Flora remember
ed to have first confronted her.
What sort? Sort of a criminal. 4"
the judge smiled. They all look
alike"
STILL" Clara suggested, such a
man could hardly have been or
binary"
In the chain-gang-o yes" said
Butler with conviction.
"Ohl Then the picture wasn't
worth anything
why, no" Butler admitted slowly,
though, come to think of it, it WASH I
the chain-gang either. They were
taking him aboard the ship. The
crowd was so thick hardly saw him.
and-only got one shot at him. But
the name was a queer one. 1t stuck
in my mind"
But them" Clara insisted, what
became of him."
"Oh, gave them the slip" the judge
chuekled. "He always did. Reported
to have changed ships in mid-ocean
Hal, IS that another bottle?"
Harry stretched his hand for il, but
It stayed suspended-and, for an in
slant, it seemed as if the whole table
waited expectant Had Buffers cam
era caught the clear face Of Farrell
Wand, or only dim figure? Flora
wondered If that was the question
HAIRY wanted to ask He wanted
ana Jet he hesitated as if he did not