The Detroit times., 1910-04-15

Ailsa went away leellns thdt s"V
must do as the man asked. she knew
nothing about him, she met MIN hIs'
under the most suspicious clrcuh'
stances, and yet there was soihethiis
in his personality that greatly iasclh'
ated her. She did not stop to ask he'
self questions, she shut her eyes W
this last disguise-the impersonauoh
OF old Thomas-feeling all the 'hhe
that he was one who was her TREND.
She did not want 10 stay In the house.
but at the same time she knew In her
heart OF hearts that she would 90
exactly what Stern had suggested.
She listened without the faintest
emotion To what Colville had to say
save that there was something sooth'
| ing and uplifting In the knowledge
that Ronald Braybrooke had never
forgotten her, even In his most de
graded moments. The VIII Colville
spoke OF came as kind OF message
from the grave. the material adVeh-
tages did not strike Ailsa at all.
This money will be all yours, To
do as you like with" Colville SAID.
once the formaltes are over you
Will be a great heiress. Strange thal
! Braybrooke should make that WILL
when he had not the least idea that
| he would ever possess penny
| piece!
Il fancy | can understand why the
| NH was made. AIisH sait softly
And II that will had not been made.
where would the money have gone?
ITO me" Colville said with a SUD
! den Miss in his voice TO me. enid
! But am forgetting ! have TO ask you
to forget and forgive what ! said Just
now in the neat OF the moment.
! have greatly worried lately. ! am not
at all well If you will leave me
now
Then | remain here for the pres
ent." Ailsa said. Il shall be glad TO
do so. guardian | shall have to get
YOU TO look after mye affairs
Colville Croaked out something ana
return, q TO the paper that he was
reading by the aid of his powerful
magnifying glass Ailsa found stern
pacing up ana down the studio wait
ing for her.
"Well?" he said eagerly Have YOU
done as | suggested? Yes. | can see
b. YOUR face that YOU have. And you
have decided wisely. A little longer
and you VIII be sure OF 1t.
Il am by no means sure OF II now
Ailsa said coldly. Il have only your
ord for IT, put my trust In YOU be
cause something impels me TO do so.
Not that have forgotten my promise
to Miss Wanless and Inspector Burles.
So long as | can be Instrumental IN
the righting of great wrong | shali
stay here But | hate this mystery.
The mystery Will not last much
longer" said Stern eagerly. Il pledge
YOU my word for that. And now | am
going 20 ask you favour. 1t is a
very prosaic favour, and ] am afraid
that il will not raise me In your estl-
nation You will be very rich before
long, So that money will be no great
object TO you. | want you TO lend me
twenty pounds
Aisa promised the desired favour
without the slightest hesitation. She
had little more than that sum in the
house; she liked TO feel that she had
something in case OF anything hap
pening. All the same. she rather won
dered why Stern wanted the money,
as she counted the shining sOverelgus
in his hand He touched her fingers
with his lips and was gone. IL seemed
to Ailsa that he had been unable TO
express his thanks.
Stern slipped out Of the house pres
emily. shorn of the disguise OF old
Thomas, and made his way in the di
rection of Highest. Chelsea. There
he called at the house where Ailsa
had seen him first. and made certain
payments As matter of fact Ailsa's
tventy pounds had been the means OF
preventing John Stern from being ar
tested for debt
Then Stern made his way westward.
He had effected some Improvement in
his dress. he looked fairly good class
In a frock coat and top hat. He came
presently TO some OF the streets lead
ing OFF st James spark and stopping
at a certain number asked for Mr..
Cecil Wanless. Mr. Wanless, it APP
peared. was Just finishing his break
fast. and had given orders that no
body was TO see him but his tailor
Stern smiled meaningly at the servant
as he pressed half crown upon him
Then | have come at the right
moment" he said 'I'll announce my
self, please First fioor?"
Ii was the first floor. a luxuriously
furnished set OF apartments giving
every evidence of expenditure and ex-
traVagance on the part of the oc-
cupier. A white-faced, sickly-looking
young man sat before a more or less
untasted breakfast with cigarette in
his haTy, and a glass OF soda and
brandy before him. he smiled slightly
as he looked at the intruder.
What the deuce do you want
here" he asked And what is your
COMPOUNDED nance"
You can call me John Stern for
the present" was the quiet reply II
don't suppose that YOU have ever had
the pleasure of meeting Mr.. John
Stern in the flesh before. at least not
till the last night when you came
face TO face with me al No 10 Yer
non-terrace You were so good as to
cOnfound me with somebody else last
night
II had been drinking a great deal
CT champagne" Wanless said sulkily.
II have been worried And i'm some
funny way ! took You for Ronald
Braybrooke Goodness knows why
But YOU know when man Is drunk
how frequently his brain flashes what
are wonderfully like Inspirations. That
is why | called you Braybrooke. OF
course. now ! am in my sober senses.
why-haye drink.