The Detroit times., 1910-05-13
a Powerful Serial Story.
ny p M WHITE

had always cared for Ronald Bray
brooke, and after all he owed a deep
debt OF gratitude to the so-called John
Stern. Ronald Braybrooke had been
a bad man. but at the same time there
had been plenty OF good In him, as
Cecil Wanless knew very well. And
good or bad. Ailsa LEROY had never
wavered In her faith In her lover. II
John Stern could only be found now!
Wanless turned the collar OF his
coat up higher as he walked along,
obedient TO the suggestion made so
strangely by O'Brien. The more he
thought OF the task before him, the
more he dreaded Il. He was going TO
make a clean breast or the whole
thing; he was going to appear In any
thing but pretty light before Ailsa
Lefroy's eyes: but he kept doggedly
to his purpose. After all, he was
playing a higher part than he knew.
Once this was done. he had made up
his mind to leave no stone unturned
to find John Stern, who was probably
mere nomad In London. Perhaps
he was like the man who was singing
on the other side OF the road II seem.
ed dreadful to think about: all the
more dreadful as Wanless's thoughts
dwelt upon the secret that he had to
tell Ailsa. He glanced curiously at
the singer. In the lamplight he look
ed like man who had seen better
days. His face caught the glare of
the gas.
Got him." Wanless said hoarsely
What slice OF luck! | may be a
bit or coward morally, but there's
nothing the matter with my physical
pluck. And II he shows fight I'll
knock him down and drag him home
Here, my good fellow"
With his face In the shadow Wan
less held out sixpence. The singer
hesitated to show himself, but he
crept forward presently with his head
on HE breast. He took the sixpence
with a murmur of thanks. Wanless
could see that his knuckles were blue
with cold. The man was thinly clad,
but he looked scrupulously clean. The
next moment Wanless had him by the
arm.
so you don't recognize me-" he
said. Il know you, John Stern, which
Is much more to the point. nd
know all about you. Don't pretend
that you fail to recognize me. | dare
say you think your conduct Is brave
and deserving OF all praise, but re-
gard 1t as slightly, quixotic. Come
with me-"
In spite OF the cold John Stern
laughed. There was a sardonic CLEAN
in his eyes.
Il did not want 10 meet YOU" he
said. Il should not have come quite
so close TO your house II | had given
1t moments consideration. have
just been singing a song that | used
to sing to a girl I loved years ago.
There were verses OF my
own to 1t. And the girl
came into my. mind A girl actually
did come to door opposite, and call
to me, but | hid myself behind a pill
lar Sounds very comical to you,
suppose? Let me go, Wanless. Let
me go and keep my secret. You
know the girl care for. And, per-
haps, in years to come, when | am
really worthy Of Ailsa, might"
1T sounds improbably painful and
sad Wanless said. Look here, my
friend, you evidently regard me as
the mixture OF knave and fool that
you used TO know as Cecil Wanless.
All that has changed. | have man.
aged to retrieve my character more
by good luck than judgment. and
have turned over a new leaf. That
is why / am looking for you. Ronald
Braybrooke. Man, your mania for
self-abnegation is killing you"
Ronald Braybrooke is dead, and
you know 1t. You promised to keep
my secret. | am starving. but take
favor from no man. | shall get
something to do soon. And you
promised, when you witnessed that
so-called will Of mine, not to tell Ailsa
that"
Il know did. But II ever a man is