The Van Buren press., 1912-06-22


| for your help
'He then proposed 10 her that she
should conceal the fact OF the babys
death from me for the present. but
he would cable Sir John, in Doctor
| Mason's name, that he was the father
OF fine boy Meanwhile, living
child could be substituted in the dead
| ones place. He knew where he could
procure a baby. The fact Of Doctor
Collects death would make the certifi-
cate of birth wonderfully simple. He
would undertake that the dead child
would be disposed OF without remark.
| This scheme was duly carried into
| effect and when | was made acquaint.
| ed with the true facts | knew | had
| been lavishlng my affection on the
baby Of some stranger for over a fort
night. What my feelings were when
this revelation was made cannot de-
scribe. Dayrell attempted to console
me.
"'Don't be fool he said You
want an heir-your husband wants an
heir. II he believes you to be the
mother Of his child, he will be con-
tent You have the heir-and my
silence can be bought.
| Il was too weak to resist him and
the nurse, and yielded to the bastard
ly scheme. From that hour | have
known no peace of mind. Dayrell has
blackmailed me to frightful extent;
have sold nearly all my Jewels to
satisfy his demands. The nurse and
the man know the truth. They prom.
ise secrecy only so long as can
supply their demands. | have paid
| Dayrell thousands Of pounds since
| the birth OF the child. AS for Sir
John, he suspects nothing He Is
wrapped up in the boy, and Of late
1t is with difficulty that can get him
to return to his old interests In scien.
| tific pursuits. | never saw anything
like his passion for the baby. On the
day my husband went to Scotland,
that wretch came to me and demand
ed two thousand pounds. | have not
| the money-what am | to do?'
"You must not on any account yield
to fresh attempts at blackmail," |
| said. 81 confess that | cannot see
| at present how to save you without
telling Sir John the truth, but |
should like to think over matters. On
the face of it, | cannot see why Day
rell Tregenna should wish to supply
Sir John with an heir, when the
property would come to him, failing
| issue, after your husbands death"
II can explain that" said Lady
Tregenna. lie and my husband are
very much the same age, but my hus-
bands is in reality better life than
his. Dayrell is pennlless, or nearly
SO. he has married beneath him ana
has a large family. At intervals he
| has dreadful bouts of drinking and II
is altogether likely that in the natural
course of things Sir John would out.
live him. Therefore, ho concocted the
scheme for the sole purpose OF rails
! ing ready cash"
you must have patience, and allow
me to act for you now," | said. ut
has been my good fortune to get peo-
pie out Of difficulties nearly as bad
as yours. am glad you have had
, the courage to tell me the truth.
will think things over and have an.
other talk with you tomorrow"
That night, to my astonishment and
disgust, Dnyrell Tregenna was one
Of the guests at dinner The whole
party went early to bed; | spent an
anxious and wakcGul night. The next
morning when | went downstairs |
was surprised to meet none other
| than Sir John himself in the hall He
shook hands with me cordially, Hall.
fax, OF all people!' no cried, "Yes, |
have returned unoxpectedly; the wife
does not yet know that | am In the
house, but ! have Just sent message
to the nurse TO bring the boy down.
At that moment the nurse appeared
with the child. He caught sight Of
his supposed father and rushed for.
ward to meet him, Growing ioyously.
Sir John clasped him In his arms,
and turned to me with his face shin.
lng with triumph, II was Just then
that | noticed something which ! had
failed 20 observe when had seen the
baby year ago. The child now boro
an unmstakablo and very striking
likeness TO his fathor--hls eyes smile
and the sturdy way he held his shou.
dors were an exact replica Of Sir
John,
Tho instant I made this discovery
there flashed through my mind pos.
siblo solution Of the mystery Cir
John was no takon up with the baby
that he paid no attctlon 90 my move.
monts | went TO the nurse.
II am anxious 70 have n word with
you In private" said
every we'll" she responded, with n
slightly startled look Sho walked
down the corridor and opened side
door which led into n shrubbory, and
| followed
81 want to ask you n straight Ques.
tlon,' | said, ~ had nm Interview
with your mistress yesterday, In
which she told me the history OF tho
child which she believes TO bo true,
What IL your namoY
Mrs, ll0dgkna," was the reply,
"Well, Mrs, llodgkIns, the whole
story Ia very strange, Under ordinary
circumstances II would be my duty TO
tell II TO Sir John and to ask him
TO bring n detective down from Lon.
don TO probe the matter, For IN.
stance, before believing tho version
| A