The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-14
CHAPTER XVII. CONTINUED.

CHAPTER XVII. CONTINUED.
"Oh, | know what you are going to
say" Braybrooke broke In, impa'
tiently. why don't | try something
that is more commensurate with my
talents? Wait till you find yourself
stranded In London with no money
I'm your pocket, and a shabby coat on
your back. Could get living In
the old way; / could drop back into
the old set and prey on society. But
In am not going 10 do anything OF
the kind. swore that on my oath the
night I met Ailsa LEROY In Colville's
house. the night Colville told me l
had come into 100000, / was pass
ing then as John Stern, Braybrooke
peculiar friend, who used to disappear
40 mysteriously when he was not
wanted. The disguise OF John Stern
was very useful to me, and, as | am
born actor. carried OF the charac-
ter so well that nobody suspected me.
Perhaps some trick of voice betrayed
me that night, for Colville called me
Inv nv proper name in Ailsa's pres
Ience. And when | saw the look or
utter horror and disenchantment on
that girls face, I realized what was.
\
that that girl had always cared for
me. but till that moment | did not
realize how deeply. Then, as God Is
nv witness. resolved then and there
TO lead a better life. denied my own
identity. l would never go near Aiisa
again until I could take her hand as
man of honor and integrity and ask
her to share my lot. That she still
nH fol-
heard from her own lips. turned my
back on the old life. and | have kept
nv word. All, but II was hard-that
| getting back into the fold again! 1
am waiting for a friend who gets
home from Australia next week, and
then I shall be all right. | shall re-
turn TO Australia with him. And,
mind you, not. one word of this Is to
he told Ailsa."
"I am going'to tell her everything"
said Wanless. coolly. And you are
going along. BY heavens! | will not
let you go, struggle as you may.
Physically. have the pull OF you.
That fortune OF yours no more be-
longs to Miss LEROY than 1t belongs
to me-"
You forget, my friend, that Ron.
aid Braybrooke willed the money
away before he died"
But he is not dead" Wanless
urged. And why was that bogus will
made? Why did you disclose yourself
to me and make me witness Il? so
that your money should not fall into
the bands of Archibald Colville? The
will was made by you, and | was a
witness to II some weeks after you
were supposed to be dead. 1t was
more or less OF forgery But shut
my eyes TO II for the sake OF the girl.
You had to come to me and betray
the fact that Ronald Braybrooke,
whom | was supposed to have muir
dered, was still alive, and we con-
cocted that will between us. 1t was
supposed TO be dated some few days
before you fell of the yacht, or
pushed you off. or something, and |
pretended that | Witnessed the docu-
ment in due course. This little
scheme had the desired effect so far
as Miss LEROY and the will was con-
cerned, but II did not do away with
! the fact that you are alive and well,
and that the fortune is yours.
Il don't want Ailsa to know il yet"
Braybrooke said doggedly. Il want
to prove to her that / am a changed
man. Perhaps when return in few
years time"
And | am to be a party to a last
ing fraud like that?" Wanless cried.
Time heals many wounds. it may
heal Ailsa Lefroy's. And she may
marry another man! And he may
turn out to be an unworthy black
guard who Is living on your money.
Braybrooke, you are not fair to Miss
! LEROY, and you are not fair to your
self, Come and tell the truth. and
hen If you like go away and prove
our manhood"
u can't" Braybrooke groaned. You
will keep my secret, Wanless?"
Not |, my dear fellow. have talk
ed II all over with my sister, and we
have decided what to do. Miss LEROY
shall know everything before she
sleeps tonight, indeed she has come
round to my mothers house for that
purpose. l am a stronger man that
you are, and / am going to carry you
home, IL necessary. Come along with
me-"
Just for a moment Braybrooke re-
sisted furiously. But want of proper
food and exposure were telling on
him, and he laughed weakly. A sort
OF passing Inconsistencies gripped
him, his mind had gone back to the
past again, and his voice burst out In
to song. II was the same song that
had 80 greatly agitated Ailsa The
last verse was still on his lips as
Wanless bundled him through the
front door OF the house into the hall.
At the head of the stairs stood Grace.
What is it?" she whispered. "Ailsa
Is here She has been looking for
somebody round the square who"
i've got him." Wanless replied.
I've got Braybrooke. The poor beg.
gar IL half starved and nearly done
for. Keep Ailsa LEROY up there for
a little time. Keep her quiet And
when l whistle bring her down to the
dining-room."
Grace seemed to understand, for
she nodded and vanished. Wanless
closed the dining-room door and put
up the lights. He pulled Braybrooke
across the room, and forced him into
a big armchair before the cheerful
blaze of the fire. The grateful warmth
seemed to put fresh strength into his
tired limbs. He would have refused
a glass Of wine, but Wanless insisted.
II daresay you have given 1t all
I'm " he said "hut fhia Ia madame I