The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-03-06

"Strivcr'" placed my hand On
his bowed shoulders.
Don't touch me-" he said in n
choking voice, and, rising to his feet.
he walked rapidly to the end of
the room. where there was an
ottoman. Here he flung himself down
at full length. sobbing bitterly.
followed and waited until the par
oxysm had passed away. Then,
finding him IN n gentler mood. |
hopcd To get at the truth, which ]
felt convin ,ed he knew. And. indeed.
seeing that he had been concealed
In the house during the commission
of the crime. he must know who
had stabbed his aunt. Unless
"Striver. said sharply. pull
yoursc'f together and answer me. Did
you murder this unfortunate wom-
an?"
80" he sobbed In stillcd vice,
Il did not was hidden in the bed.
room and came down to find her
dead. The rest. as to taking your
car aud escaping have told YOU.
What's to be- done. them !
muttcrod. much pcrplcXed
This is to be DONE" he said,
sitting up. with his handsome face
tcar.staincd and his hair dishcyelled,
you have won aud have lost. |
surrender all claim to the hand OF
Miss Monk"
You never had any claim" I re.
minded him sharply.
Perhaps not Vas his detected
reply. but I am a man and can.
not help my feelings. Gertrude Is
the only woman | have ever loved,
and the only woman shall ever
Ave Snc l. lost To me, because she
YES YOU Well. darcsay it is bet
ter that she should marry gen
| tlcmdn. Bm wish wish
| lie broke down again
"Striver," | said for the third time
and placed my hand on his shoul
| der Il am very sorry for you, al
though you have not acted we'll
AN IS fair in love ana war hC
said sitting mp again.
There are some things gentle
man cannot do, even to win tn,
" man he loves. Stnvcr," sale
gently. so all Is not fair In love
aud wan
II am not q gentleman; nc.o
pretended 20 he II gentleman
Then be one now" urged, 'yol
know the truth of this murder since
YOU were in the house all the time
believe myself that YOU are innc
cent"
why should YOU believe that?
be asked in curious voice an
with a curious look
"Bccausc | believe you To he
good fellow. Strivcr. Your nature ha
been warped by the influence q
this mad love and by the influcnc
of your dead aunt She always prom
iscd YOU Miss Monk rs n bride an,
this fifty thousand pounds for youI
set"
Yes. sh, did" hc said his brish
blue eyes steadily fixed ON me.
"Wcll. then. these things hav,
drawn YOU into wrsngdong. You low
Miss Monk. Prove your love by pre-
venting her from getting into trou
Bile arout this murder Until tn
truth is discovered she is in DANCE
of arrest because of her unfortunate
visit to Mootley and because tn
cloak left behind"
Perhaps, perhaps Hut her fathe
will say nothing. he dare not"
"No, nut Miss Destiny might Sh
knows that her niece was at MOotlc,
on that night, and threatens to he
uay her mistress unless she receive
hat the iiity thousand pounds whcl
it is found
Miss Destiny threatens said STR
Yer, rising and for the sake o
m ncy an that old lady Away
VAS a misrr Wcll?'
Well can't You show your lov,
for Miss Monk and thwart tn
. aunt by telling the TRUTH"
WHY, do YOU think | know tn
truth"
You were I'm the house al tn
time / feel certain that you car
unraNcl the mystery
S.rNor looked away, and bc'am
very silent At this moment MonI
entered, and began TO hustle about
Hunter thi, was his valet, after
wards heard, says that there is
ml-ulNinS glass In the desk here.
/ ulid no attention 70 him. as | wa