Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-02-18
CHAPTER Continued,

American helTeSs there mas been Such
fuss about ~
al do mean the American heiress," re-
turned Montresor, fixing his eye sternly
on the others rosy, kindly face.
The kindly face now assumed an ex-
preston of compassion.
MAY / ask, sir" said Mr. Wilson very
gently, "if you are a friend of that un.
fortunate young lady?"
"He thinks L am mad" thought Mon
tresor; "or he pretends to think | have
gone mad. Now, is it better to run the
risk of making fool of myself or to
run the risk of missing possible clue!
had better make fool of myself, if
necessary This amiable gentleman may
be a villain, after alp
These thoughts passed through Mon
tresor's mind during the few seconds
that Mr., Wilson continued to look at
him with pity and perplexity.
NO." replied Montresor, 81 am not
personally acquainted with Miss Laven-
ham. | am only an honest English gen
tleman who will not sit idly at home
while defenseless girl is robbed and
bullied."
II can assure you, my dear sir" an
swered Mr.. Wilson in a soothing tone,
Il have had no hand in robbing and bull
lying Denzilia Lavenham"
Montresor, with an ever-increasing
conviction that he was making fool of
himself, drew forth Denzilia's letter.
Mr.. Thomas Wilson took the letter
and read it through Then he looked
fxedly ut Montresor.
= ~ IL
knave or fool" he said, with sudden
solemnity. Some one has been hoaxing
you, or you, for purposes of your own,
are trying to hoax some one else.''
1T looks like it." said Montresor
simply.
IF it were not so utterly ridiculous"
continued Mr.. Wilson, Il should be very
angry" He again scrutinized Montre-
sor's face closely. 81 believe you have
been hoaxed." he added "Come up to
luncheon with me, and I will show you
into every hole and corner of the house
and you viii see how utterly impossible
it is that l can be harboring Miss I.aven-
ham on my premises"
81 begin to see that already" NUT
tered Montresor ruefully.
Nevertheless, GOMEZ" insisted Mr.
fAAoOus liz W Tie group Oh chill
dren who were waiting with i'll concealed
impatience while their father held this
conversation with stranger. 81 am 60
ing to take this gentleman with me in
the dog-cart," he said, $50 you must all
go in the wagonetLe"
'Now, look here" observed Mr.. Wilson,
when they were fairly Oft don't wish
to be impertinently curious. but as some
hndxz hos haay1 V1nolrspr,
name, / should like to hear all YOU are
willing to tell me about this hoax that
has been played upon you"
Montresor considered this a very rea-
sonable desire, and said So ne ex-
planned to Mr.. Wilson the whole facts
of the case, emitting merely his own
romantic attraction for the face he had
seen at Nottingham.
But his determination to spare Lang
rishe all he could was frustrated by the
sight of Langrishe himself standing on
the steps of Thomas Wilson's house as
they drove up.
"Who is that ?" remarked Mr.. Wilson.
when he saw the unfamiliar figure of the
American.
He was not addressing Montresor. He
was merely soliloquizing aloud But
Montresor not unnaturally took the
question as put to himself.
That is" he stammmered. "a-a-
friend of mine. If you will allow me,
will speak to him."
Without waiting for the permission
he asked, he sprang from the dog-cart
before it was well pulled up.
"For Heavens sake, get out of this!"
he exclaimed in a hurried undertone.
1--WE have made frightful fools of our
selves!"
Langrishe looked at him with his SUI
perior smile a little more accumulated
than usual, although he could not con-
ceal a slight sensation of surprise which
mingled with his superciliousness.
'You may have made fool of your
self, my dear fellow" he said composed
~. SIT is not for me to contradict you
IF you say so; but I. on the contrary,
have been wiser than usual" Then, ad-
vancing towards Mr.. Wilson. he went
on: SHAY beg the favor of few min
utes' private conversation with you? /
do not contemplate excluding you from
the interview" he added in a mock aside
to Montresor
Are you also come to demand Denzilia
lavenham at my hands?" asked Mr.
Wilson, half sngry, half amused.
mo, Mr.. Wilson, replied Langrishe ia-
perturbably. II am well aware that
you know nothing about Miss Laven-
ham, but I nave accidentally made a
somewhat importar3 discovery, aid YOU.
hs a magistrate, are in Il position 10
help me-"
Il will give you any help You wish +"
replied Mr.. Wilson; "only, if YOU don't
mind, we will have luncheon frsf.n
Accordingly The two young men were
introduced to Mrs. Wilson, who ex-
PRESSED lively interest when she heard
they had come down in search of the
leiress whose disappearance had been
discussed through the length and breadth
Of the land, and they were RECALLED with
an excellent luncheon. After this thev
adjourned to Mr.. Wilson's study, where
iangrishe gave the following account of
his discovery:
On his arrival at Carleshope he had
gone straight to the inn in order IN