The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-11
NeMAN> IN M...
BROWN DERBY
BY
90
Wells HASTINGS
s0o Author Of GEO
The Professor, Mystery
lOrShtl9llS Bobbllenl (e
CHAPTER XXX.
(Contlnued.)

(IonunueoD
81 might have been there yet, Tor
all | know, II IL hadn't been for that
rascally son OF his. Under one OF
Ephraim's threats ! signed a paper
which | have since thought was my
will, and. for time, lived IN NOR
tai terror lest my brother should
make away with me altogether. Then,
bv great good fortune. he was calico
away for a day or so. and his SON.
who was always hard up, came In 10
see me. :.
"Erskine needed good deal OF
money. and he needed IL right away
so that | was able TO make terms
with him. He had come prepared,
with fountain-pen and a check
hook. but this was my opportunity,
and for once | stood fast, dear TO
any threat that he might make.
agreed TO let him have twice the
amount he wanted on one condition
and one condition only. My condl-
ton. naturally. was my freedom.
He was afraid 10 do IL at first. sorely
as he needed the money, but despera-
ton and his natural criminal bent
finally suggested way that was sat
isfactory and fairly safe for both
OF us.
"He had at one time half COM
pleted course in some medical col
lege and still retained one or two
friends among the more interruptions
members OF his class. Through one
OF them he obtained body, and with
il certificate that had died OF an
infectious disease; so that | was out
OF the house, and my funeral over.
before his fathers return. II was
beautiful plan. for II left me free 10
go where liked as long as | kept
the secret OF my identity, and think
that until my brother went TO the
bank the other day with his papers
as executor and found that |, in the
flesh. had withdrawn all my funds.
he never suspected anything.
hadn't been dead much more than a
week when ! met you Ia that cafe,
Mason, and took you up 10 my rooms.
where you gave me news OF Nancy.
You almost killed me with IL. but
| / think | managed to hide II. As II
all turned out, my dear" he said 10
1 Nancy. II could not be better pleased,
/ but | shall never get over being
ashamed OF myself l ought OF
course 10 have got you right away
from my brother but | could think
OF no harm that could come to you
and put II off little. 1t was a
dreadful and cowardly thing to do.
81 don't know whether you can
understand il. child. but | hope you
can. 1t Is many years since | have
been a man OF action. and an
afraid my moral courage suffered
sadly. Long years OF absolute con
/ finement made me timid as we'll as
\ weak ! was free. free at last IN
the great, wide world, and | dared
not face Ephraim | planned in g
/ little while to take legal steps, which
should secure freedom for us both
but at the very first | didn't dare
had been told / was insane for 81
long. that | had come. myself, tC
mistrust my mental balance. What
/ thought. IL II were really true, anC
they were able TO lock me up again
IL takes some little time for a mar
10 get back his courage | spen
my first week OF freedom buyine
everything | saw in the shops.
was childish of me, but ! had 81
often thought OF doing IL. Every
thing you saw in that room, Mason
was brand new. had revel o.
buying
He gave Nancy great hug ant
chuckled.
But the beautiful part OF IT wa
the suggestion of the whole affair
Erskine had seen how easy 1t was 4
shut some one up and say that h,
was Insane. | am sorry II suggested
his way OF kidnapping you, daugh
ter dear; but have found a greateI
love and happiness through it anC
II has all come out all right. Yol
and Mason will be the closer for 4
all your lives. But the Joke OF 1
all, the beautiful joke of 1t all, Il
that he tried ii successfully on al
own father; that he gave him a tast,
of what / suffered so many years.
could almost forgive him his othe
misdeeds for that"
But where are they now, father
and SOM" asked
We'll" said Jared Bond, al hat
lproof Of their rascality. evidenc,
enough to send them both to jail
some OF which you gave me. Mason
so that, as soon as | got back L
New York, | put detectives on them