The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-11


so you know him." she asked a
poor creature at the best"
No, | do not quite agree with you.
A foolish fellow, who was deliberately
led towards his ruin to crafty the mall
Ice OF old Colville. In happier circum-
stances. John Stern would have turned
out good man. But, Of course. you
know all that"
Indeed don't" Lady Altamont pro-
tested. Il found the fellow useful,
and that Is ALL"
Why palter with me in this way"
O'Brien cried, CONTEMPORARY. AS
II did not know quite well who John
Stern really Is. DO you want me 10
! believe that you are living here mex,
door to Archibald Colvills quite by
accident? AS II you did not know
John Stern is Ronald Braybrooke in
disguise. He was on your yacht In
the North Sea when those jewels were
stolen; he was a useful creature OF
yours at one time. And now you pro-
TESS not TO know him. You knew that
he had come into a fortune: you knew
that Archibald Colville was his guar
dian. You knew OF CaIyille's feelings
In regard to his ward, and how he
acted towards him"
And how should | know all this?"
Lady Altamont protested.
Because Colville's wife was your
sister. Mrs. Colyille, La Belle AtaIan.
Ia call her what you like. There was
a time when you and your sister were
friendy enough--a time when you used
to work together. Then your sister
quarreled with Colyille, and in a 1T
or passion he turned her out OF the
house. That put an end to the
scheme you had in hand for getting
hold Of certain documents that might
have proved useful. You did not want
| TO see your sister any more, but she
turned up Unexpectedly and began to
poster you for money. She knew too
much, didn't she?"
You seem to know a great deal.
also Lady Altamont flashed out
! But go on; should like to hear all
that you have TO say to me"
We'll, | am not likely to detain you
much longer. Your sister wanted
money at a most inconvenient time,
and your one idea was to get rid OF
her But she held some very strong
cards in her hand, and you hardly
knew what to do. For instance, with
certain documents In her possession.
she could have made II very awkward
! for you with the authorities in Berlin
over that bogus matrimonial agency
YOU raH there some 10 years ago Your
sister found you In apparently a splen.
did position, and she made up her
mind that she was going to benefit by
~. YOU made up your mind that she
should not do anything OF the kind
That is why you got her TO come In
your house here and made that
attack upon her. The audacity
OF your denial OF all knowledge OF your
sister was magnihcentIy splendid. But
| knew all about &c. for | was I'm the
house at the time the attack was
made"
''You were actually here?" Lady A.
lamont cried.
Yes, why not, Was ] not with YOU
a year or two ago. when you took this
house? Did ] not go over IL with you
when II was empty? And did not
design the idea OF the revolving walls
In the little room. so that we could
all hide ourselves away from the po-
lice and transfer gambling saloon In.
TO a respectable dressing.room. with
hiding places behind the shelves. at
moments Rntiee-rAe--h big scheme
never came TO anything, but the room
has been very useful on one or two oc-
casions, as you know"
II owe you one for that idea" Lady
Altamont said grudgingly. But whar
has all this to- do with the attack on
my sister,"
Il am glad TO hear YOU admit the re.
lationship. and decline to continue the
farce with me-" O'Brien went on. IL
was In the room that night for pur.
poses which I need not go into, and
heard all that ! wanted 10 hear ~
was murderOus attacn yca made.
and no fault OF yours that IL did not
end fatally ! think that Il was from
that moment that | made mp my mind
TO change my life. I tell you what
You don't know. ] may say that IL
! WIS John Stem, alias Ronald Bray.