St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-07-13


build up story. yes. but if he. could
have known what had taken place be-
tween Mr. Gillett and this man few
minutes before. when the police agent
had stepped in first and tarried here
a brief period before ushering him in!
Had Mr. GiIIett delivered to his no
BILE patron the memorandum book and
other articles filched from John Steele's
pockets? That partly opened drawer
what did it contain? The nobleman's
hand fingered on the edge of it. With
an effort the other resisted allowing
his glance to rest there. He sat down
in stiff. straight backed chair.
''Mr. Gillett. in the garden at STRAIT
horn House. said Lord Ronsdale,
was authorized by me to offer you
one chance of avoiding exposure and"
-deliberately-''th attendant conse-
quences You were to be suffered to
leave London, this country. with the
stipulation that you should never re-
turn John Steele shifted slightly.
''You did not expect this"-quickly-
''you had not included that contingency
in your calculations"
voice, your lordship's complaisance
amaZes me-
"And you would have accepted the
alternative?'
'Why discuss what could never have
been considered? was the bfusque
answer.
Lord Ronsdale frowned. THAT al
tentative is still open. Refuse and
you will be in the hands of the author
tiles tonight Resist His glitterin2
eyes left no doubt whatever as to his
meaning.
81 refuse
Elm that case"-Lord Ronsdale half
rose; his face looked drawn, but de-
termined; he reached as if to touch a
bell-''you force the issue, and
zone moment AS he spoke John
Steele stepped toward the fireplace.
He gazed downward at tiny white
ash on the glowing Goals. A little film
that might have been-paper? In
matter so important we may consider
little longer lest" still regarding the
| hearth, there may be after regrets
| He lifted now his keen glowing eyes
"In one little regard l did your lord
ship an Injustice
| ''In what way?"
"In supposing that you yourself muir
dered Amy Gerard came the uneX-
pected response. The other started
violently. your 1ordship will forgive
| the ASSUMPTION in view of what occur
red on a certain stormy night at sea
when a drowning wretch chung with
one hand to gunwale and you, IL
answer to his appeal for succor, benz
over and''-
ITS a lier' The words fell in s
sharp whisper.
"What?" John Steele's laugh sound
ed mirthlessly "Your lordship know:
what l mean. how the true facts IL
this case of Amy Gerard have come t.
light?'
John Steele's glance was straight
direct. If the other had the paper
had read it, he would know.
81 think you had better tell me,
Lord Ronsdale said at last.
eff your lordship did not kill the VIC
man, if the Frisco Pet did not, thel
who did?' Ronsdale leaned forward
John Steele studied the nobleman wit
a purpose of his own. ''Why. she kill
ed herself, he said suddenly.
"How?" The nobleman uttered thi
word. then stopped. John Steele wait
ed Had Lord Ronsdale been sur
prised at his, knowledge? He coul'
hardly tell from his manner whethe
or not he had the affidavit and hat
read it.
notwithstanding May 1 ask hov
it occurred?"
ooh. it is all very commonplace
Your lordship had received threaten
ing letter and called on the woman
She wanted money. You refused. Sh
already had husband living i
France, a ruined gambler of th
bourse but had tricked you into think
ing she was your wife. You had dis
covered the deception and discarde
her From a music hall singer Sh
had gone downtown until she, one
beautiful. courted. had become a mer
what she was. associate of one Xix
Dandy Joe, cunning, INSCRIPTIONS. A
your refusal to become the victim Q
their Matchmaking scheme she in he
anger seized a weapon. During tn
l.. struggle it was accidentally dis
charged
: Was Lord Ronsdale asking himsel
: how the other had learned this?
Rogers had escaped with the pape
John Steele knew Ronsdale might we
wonder that the actual truth shout
have been discovered. He would nc
under those circumstances even b
: aware of the existence of a witness c
: the tragedy. But was Lord Ronsdal
assuming a manner. meeting subtlet
with subtlety?
S cat sound of the shot Joe. VIII
t had been waiting below in the kitche
Y with the landlddy, rushed upstair
t You explained how it happened. wer
willing enough to give money now