The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-19
CHAPTER ul.-(continued).

on the ground.
Ronald Braybrooke is dead" he
said sulkily. 1t hay be shock 10
the young lady's feelings. but as the
truth is told there can be no good
done BY hiding Il. | won't go so far
as 10 say that Ronald Braybrooke was
friend of mine; as matter or TACT
have been his greatest curse. but
circumstances over which neither or
us had any control threw us much to-
gether. | tell you he Is dead. l was
present at his funeral or what passed
for IT, He was washed of smack
and died at sea. | saw IL done. And
can prove the whole thing II you
give me time"
II am quite sure that this man
speaks the truth" Ailsa faltered.
thin sneer curled Archibald Col
villc's lips. lie shook his head doubt
fully
Il am not convinced" he said. with
so much mystery in the air | shall
want all the proof you can give"
Il am sick and tired of mystery"
Ailsa cried passionately The house
reeks OF II. the unlucky No. IL STILES
me You. my guardian, tell me that
y
morrow. and yet You come into your
own house like thief In the night.
You were surprised TO see me here
YOUR face mad a look OF guilty fear on
H. And then old Susan meets with an
accident In her delirium she dlscloses
certain things On the top OF IL | find
this man. this derelict of humanity.
who tells me that the only one ever
! l. IL, IA
! back Ike this. guardian: why is this
man here? What does he seek? II
/ is not as If he were stranger-he
+ knows the house as well as | do
\ What does il mean
! Coiville shook mis- head slowly like
one who relinquishes a difficult posi-
/ ton. but his face grew hard again
as he turned To the intruder.
y can't explain" he said. 1T Is
/ too long and pititul story. And rs
I 70 this man. do not know what "a
+ think could have sworn-but then
! he asserts that he is prepared TO prove
what he says Let me tell You some
thing concerning the fortunes OF Ron
+ aid Rraybrooke. Never mind how
but he suddenly became possessed OF
q large fortune Braybrooke was poor
and ambitions. and would have given
much for the money 10 have carried
, out his designs. And If he were alive
now he would be the master OF $500
600 ON business connected with this
money | have been away. But ! had
I TO return tonight secretly. DO you
near what | say fellow. Ronald Bray
brooke has become entitled TO $500
600 IT he likes TO come forward and
claim 1t. the money Is his tomorrow
Something i'm the tone Of the speech
seemed TO madden the intruder. He
lifted a pair of eyes that glowed like
living Goals To- Colville. His hands
were clonchcd so tightly that Ailsa
could see how he knuckles stood ont
like white seams on his brown hands
He trcmbled as II in the grip % some
great physical pain. But all the same
he kept his face in the shadow half
hidden as 1t was by the plaster on
his checks
Allsa held her breath Not for a
moment had she credited anything
that Colyille had said: indeed, II seem
ed 10 her that he was acting a part
In her heart of hearts the girl felt
that this human derelict could in no
way be connected with her own Ron
aid Braybrooke. She recalled his face
and form wildly 20 her mind now
Oh. no. II could not be as Colville had
said
And yet here was Archibald Col
Vile putting him 10 the test. II that
cronching figure really was Ronald
i}raybrooke, then he had fallen very
low indeed He looked as II latterly
he had lacked the bare necessaries
~ life. And here was Colville offer
ing him-provided he was Braybrooke
"a handsome fortune II was enough
1 10 tempt even the noblest and most
honorable OF men,
What nonsense all this Is" Ailsa
cried do You think that I should
/ fail To recognize Ronald Braybrooke
even II he were so utterly changed as
u mean in any circumstances?
should recognize him anywhere. And
yet you, who say that you have not
seen him for many years. pit your
opinion against mine"
You don't know what YOU are talk
! ing about" Colvile said roughly. 81
| have seen men so changed i'm a few
wears that their own mothers did not
know them ! know case in which
father refused 10 recognize his own
daughter | merely repeat what said
before. Ronald Braybrooke is not
dead. and this man knows IL. For
some purpose Of his own he Is acting
a part. Produce Ronald Braybrooke.
and LEI him como forward and claim
the fortune OF $500. 900"
"Braybrooke is very fortunate" the
stranger said IF he had only known
that a few days ago he would never
have been drowned In the North Sea.
And as to his ambitions. you are per-
fectly correct. This money would
have been a Godsend 10 him. But he
lies AT the bottom Of the German
Ocean. and there is an end Of him
Strange" Colville muttered in q
sarcastic tone. Very strange. indeed
Still stranger that a nameless vaga-
bond like you should come and give us
this information this night Of all
nights. Stranger still that YOU should
be here al all: strangest OF all that
you should be familiar with my house.
BraybToOkc was-as boy.
And Rraybrooke might have told
me things" the intruder said defiant
" "Yes. YOU have summed up my
character quite correctly | am a
nameless vagabond. who was once a
gentleman II matters little that
have come so low as this who used
10 pride myself. upon my honor and
integrity. Call me John Stern. for
want OF a better name and hand me
ever 20 the police IL you like. But why
/ am here and what my business is.
! shall not say IL have to hang for II. "
There was a curiously dry smile on