Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-10-17

to hang, mind you!" reiterated Sir
Thomas with almost cruel bluntness.
IF he is condemned in order to allow
the real criminal to escape?"
Yes"
And you yourself have no notion as
to who this person may PEP"
NO"
rs there anybody, do you think. who
is likely to know more about Luke de
Mountford's past and present life than
you do yourself?"
Yes" she said, Lord Radcliffe"
odd Radclyffe?" he calculated.
why, yes. Lord Radclyffe adored
Luke before his awful man came be-
tween them. He had him with him
ever since Luke was a tiny boy. There's
no in the world for whom he cared
as he cared for Luke. and the affection
was fully reciprocated. My belief is
that Lord Radcliffe knows more about
luke than any n else in the world"
But old Rad is very i'll just nov
unfortunately"
1T would kill him." she retorted. %f
anything happened to Luke, whilst he
was being coddled UP as an invalid.
almost as a prisoner. and no news al
lowed to reach him."
Sir Thomas was silent for a nom ent,
obviously buried in thought. That he
was still fncredulous was certainly APP
parent to Louisa's super-sensitive per-
NSPNiOkASs OQN lAdS uo lIlSduI 10 Dc Oh
help to her, in spite OF this incredulity
was equally certain. Therefore she
waited patiently until he had collected
his thoughts.
Well. my dear" he said at last. "IIl
tell you what l will do. Tomorrow
morning I'll go and see IL I can have a
talk with old Rad"
Tomorrow morning" she broke in
gravely, Luke will be dragged before
the magistrate-the first stage of that
awful series of h%umiliations which you
yourself say. Uncle Ryder, that no man
who is innocent IA possible endured"
II know, my DEAR" he said almost
how that can be avoided"
w could see Lord Radcliffe to-
night"
Tonight" he exclaimed. "why, it's
nearly 10 o'clock"
In matters of this sort. time does
not count"
But old Rad is an invalid!"
He may be a cad man tomorrow, IL
he hears that Luke-Luke. who was
the apple OF his eye who is the heir
to his name n title. is being drag
ged in open court before a police mag
istrate. charged with an abominable
crime"
But the doctor. understand. has
forbidden him to see any one"
Il think that the matter has passed
the bounds Of q Doctors orders. 1
would go and force my way int his
presence without the slightest scruple.
l know that any news that he may
CLEAN about Luke. within the mex few
days, will be far more fatal to him.
than the few questions which / want
to ask him tonight"
THAT may be. my DEAR" rejoined Sir
Thomas dryly, but this does not APP
ply to me. Old Rad is a very old
friend OF mine. but IL / went with you
on this errand tonight, / should b. go
capoctty, and as such l cannot do it
without the doctors permission"
Very we'll Them she said quietly,
Wen ask Doctor Newington's PERMITS
SION"
For a little while yet Sir Thomas
Ryder seemed to hesitate. Clearly the
girls argument. her simple conviction.
marked impression upon him.. He was
no longer the sceptical hide-bound Of
fetal; the man. the gentleman. was
tearing away at the letters OF red tape.
All the old instincts of chivalry which
at times might be dormant in the heart
Of an English gentleman-but which
are always there nevertheless. hidden
away by the mantle Of convention
had been aroused by Louisa's attitude
toward the man h loved. and also by
the remembrance Of Luke's bearing
throughout this miserable business.
After all what the girl asked was not
30 very difficult Of execution. There
are undoubtedly cases where the usual
conventional formulas OF etiquette
must give way to serious exigencies.
And there was unanswerable logic in
LOutsa's arguments at any time
in the a future that old Rad
either through his own obstinacy,
nR fhA 0fNrn{AtfVy NR -vryl -
servant--got hold Of a newspaper.
the suddenness Of the blow which he
would receive by learning the terrible
news without due preparation. would
inevitably prove fatal to him. Sir
Thomas Ryder prided himself on being
g. diplomatist Of the first water: he did
believe that he could 80 put the neces-
sary questions to Lord Radcliffe, with
regard to Luke. that the old man
would not suspect the truth for q mo-
ment. The latter had: OF course, known
Of h murder before he had been
time answered the questions put to him
by the police officer, without seeming
to be greatly shocked at the awful
occurrence: and 1t was not likely that
he would be greatly upset at . pro-
fesstonal visit from an old friend. who
ct the same time had the unraveling
OF the murder mystery at heart.
All these thoughts mirrorod them.
selves ON Sir Thomas wrinkled face.
He was taking no trouble to conceal
them from Louisa. Soon she saw that
she had won her first victory, for her
uncle now said with sudden determine
tion:
wen. my dear, you have certainly
got on tho right side Of me. Your
aunt always said you had . very per-
suasive way with you. I'll tsil you
what We viii do. It q now Z ouartar
20 ten-lato enough. BY lingo! Wen
get into ono Of those coufounded taxis
and drive to Dr.. Newington's. mi ~