The Detroit times., 1912-07-06
M.MAN IN M...
BROWN DERBY
A,
Wells HASTINGS
e<s9 Author Of ceSo
The Professors Mystery
(0grshtlslby Bobbsrlena g
(continued.,
CHAPTER XVIII.


WELL Nancy said, 1T frightened
me terribly. For all I knew. yoli
might have turned around and gone
right. back 10 New York. n | told you
about my cousin, was sure that you
would do so. You were all the happi-
ness had IN the world, Mason" She
smiled at me again. Il loved
you distractediy even then. you
see. My father was dead and
you were all had. | didn't
want revenge, I wanted happiness.
wanted 10 put them all out OF my life.
and only prayed that they would never
come into Il again. | meant 10 tell
you some day. when / could make You
understand all that. | couldn't afford
TO risk II then, and ! couldn't tell you
how much l cared. Surely, you know
that never loved Erskine. do not
need to tell you that. Moreover | do
not think that he ever loved me- Uncle
Ephraim knows why he wanted TO
marry me-"
She was trying. I know, to deal
mercifully with the old man In the
tonneau; but. In spite OF herself. a
little tinge Of bitterness crept into her
voice. 49,.
HE arranged the marriage" she
went on; ''he and father between
them, he told me, although ! have
never believed that. have never
known why II was, why everybody
seemed TO want II so much unless II
had something to do with money: for
have never liked Erskine, and they
all knew II. When ne began TO make
love to. me detested him. Was II
money, Uncle Ephraim?" she asked.
Ephraim Bond sank back against
the leather cushions, white and silent
Answer her.. said
He moaned and WINGED as II had
struck him. Mrs. Iathfop hoped 70
her feet and fairly shook him.
Answer herl Answer her!" she
cried. Don't be fool. Nobody
going to kill YOU"
She had some strange power that
Ephraim Bond seemed unable TO re-
sjst. He raised one hand to his trem'
bling lips. and looking away from us,
began TO speak In colorless mono
| tone
1T was the wish OF my brother" he
said ''his living wish and his dying
wish, that our two families should be
held together yet closer. He even
Mr.. Bond paused.
I Eyes" Mrs Lathrop prompted He
even said so In his Will. or course
II was money. You might as well tel
about it,
Against my judgment. the old
man whispered, quite against my
Judgment, he did make such an ar
rangement in his viii He had little
money, not much, but q little. This
was to go to Nancy II she married my
SON."
/ pressed Nancy's hand and smiled
at her reasuringly.
1T doesn't seem possible she said
They told me father wished II, but
I never believed them. He could not
have been himself to have written
such a thing"
perhaps II was written for him.
said. We'll, Mr.. Bond, and IL Nancy
did not marry your SOM"
1T was all quite. quite against my
! judgment" he quavered; you under
stand that; but my brother was so sci
on the matter could not influence
him. ! did not approve Of such Will
but he was very headstrongs very
lheadstrong"
suppose" said Mrs. Lathrop
that, II Nancy refused TO do this, the
/ money reverted to you"
1 Ephraim Bond looked up at hei
! quickly, his rabbit chin trembling and
his pale eyes Wide with terror.
'It was quite against my will" he
repeated.
"of course" Mrs. Lathrop comment
ed dryly
Then / suppose" said, you
quarreled with your son for some rea
son or other. and decided that you
could get this money for yourself
and brought me In to help YOU"
But his fear seemed to have al
last quite overmastered him, making
him incapable of further coherent
thought or answer.
"It was quite against my WISH
he whispered again, as II no thought
were behind the words.
Nancy was crying softly, and I put
my arm about her.
Dear heart" said. can you for
give me I meant SO TO help you, and
| It seems have only done you a
wrong"
She took my face between gentle
hands and kissed me.
wrong" she said, wrong?" You've