The Detroit times., 1910-04-19
CHAPTER xxxll-(continued).

4
Charles and Lady Altamont as being
people utterly beyond question ohiy
Inspector Burles, OF Scotland-yard,
has an idea or the true state of things
and as he is privately engaged upon
the recovery OF Mrs Wanless Jewels
he naturally does not desire 10 arouse
suspicion before he has accomplished
that affair. Thus II is that Lady AHA
mont's statement that the injured Wo'
man is stranger 10 her passes mus
ter for the moment. But cannot you
| give a guess as 10 the identity f-tifs
poor creature?'
Not to save my life. Brien ad-
mitted candidly.
We'll. you have heard OF La Belle
Atalanta. A success on the variety
stage Would you be surprised TO
hear that La Belle Atlanta Is Lady
Altamonts sister,"
"Of course, she is" O'Brien cried.
Il had forgotten that. But my dear
Bray brooke, do you really mean 10
Say that La Belle and that poor crea,
ture-"
Are one and the same person. That
| Is precisely what | do mean TO say.
AS tar as | can gather, the actress
she has not been long in England
| found her sister out. and tried 10 get
Eioney from her. This did not exactly
suit Lady Altamont's book, especially
as she happens TO be in desperate
need OF cash herself just at presen'.
All the same. she wrote note to
her sister asking the latter 10 call
and see her. which note is now In
the possession Of Inspector Burles. My
theory is that a quarrel took place,
and that Lady Altamont in nj or
passion, made murderous attack on
her sister She thus placed herself
In a desperate situation The happy
| idea occurred to her OF leaving her
sister In a dying state and processing
10 know nothing about II. The simple
yet sublime audacity OF the scheme
was very nearly successful. especially
| II we had known nothing and the wo-
man had died"
But there is not the least likelihood
OF her recovery" O'Brien suggested.
There was no chance little while
ago" Braybrooke intimated. darkly.
But | have changed all that | was
present tonight at Lady Altamont ,
masked ball, disguised as tramp.
found out that Lady Altamont had a
scheme on foot 10 dismiss her sisters
nurse, and thus hasten the poor girl >
end The nurse was actually dis
missed In fact, II was put-up thing
between the woman and her employer.
Bot servants can be bribed. and | laid
my plans accordingly. II so happens
that there is mean of Communica-
ton between No. Is and No. ~. Yer
nun-terrace, and upon that informa-
ton ! acted. had Miss LEROY on
my side. and knew that could count
upon old Susan as long as her hus-
band Thomas was not In the house.
took the bold course OF carrying the
Belle Atalanta from one house TO an
other"
Il see" O'Brien said, thoughtfully
And IL old Thomas goes back?"
Precisely He will find out exactly
what has happened, and tell every
thing TO his master And now | am
going to surprise you. The real rea
sen why Archibald Colville is TO know
nothing OF this is the fact that La
Belle Atalanta is his wife.
OBrien broke into ordinations OF
surprise. He had not expected any
thing half so dramatic as this. He
. | Ndltcu iOi OiObho W PACNNNN'
Now YOU see what a complicated
state OF affairs II is the latter said
'No. 10 Is a big. dreary old house. and
Archibald Colville is fast losing his
sight. In ordinary circumstances, he
would know nothing about the extra
guest-that is. so long as Thomas is
away | spent every farthing | could
rake together to get Thomas out OF
the country, SO that | could play his
part and have the run OF the old
house. Mainly, | was after those
forged checks | should have gone on
perfectly secure had | not come here
tonight. And now, can you show me
some way ont OF the grave difficulty?'
OBrien professed himself to be
absolutely at loss to know what "a
do. He could see the necessity oil
getting Thomas out OF the way clearly
enough.
Let us go and listen to those fel
lows again, he suggested Maybe
We can get a hint that will prove OF
use to US. Meanwhile III try and wor
ry out something"
The two returned 10 the passage
again and then watched the progress
OF the cardplayers. They were evil
IDENTIFY in deadly earnest, for their
faces we're grim, and they scowled
over their cards. Presently old Thorn
as had played out his hand and got
I'D with an oath.
THAT cleans me out" he said
Did anybody ever see such cursed
luck? | got here three days ago with
fifteen pounds In my pocket and
there's my last shilling. Let's have
another rubber Lend me pound OF
two 10 go on with. Billy"
Not me-" said the man ADDRESSED
as Billy. with a grin. Trust nobody
is my motto Besides, who are you e
come borrowing money in this lordlj
way7 Think we're a lot OF toffs play
ing at a swagger west-end club. l
YOU can't pay, stand out"
You've had all my money between
YOU" Thomas growled. 10 yot
mean 10 say that not one of you vii
lend me a few shillings?'
The silence that followed was clio
ouent enough of the feelings OF the
listeners. Thomas rose from his sea
with passionate outpouring Of rage
Very we'll" he said between his
teeth. I'm not the man To be done
tllke this. You Just stay here till
come back. III be here presently wit,
more money than most OF you have
ever seen. And Wen play TO- gold
i gold | tell you
The other men laughed and ex
changed Chances. OBrien smiled, too
las he pulled Braybrooke back In tbs