Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-06-07

LndI l nOtlCeQ something WnlCn udC
failed to observe when | had seen the
baby a year ago. The child now bore
an unmistakable and very striking
likeness to his father-his eyes. smile
and the sturdy way he held his shout
ders were an x replica Of 81,
John.
h instant | made this discovery
there flashed through my mind a pos
sible solution of the mystery. Sir
John was so taken up with the baby
that he paid no affection to my move
ments. l went to the nurse.
II am anxious to have a word with
you in private" l said.
Very WELL" she responded, with 3
slightly startled look. She walked
down the corridor and opened a side
door which led into a s%hrubbery, ant
l followed.
II want to ask you a straight qges
ton l said. ~ had an interview
with your mistress yesterday, in
which she told me the history of the
child, which she believes to be true.
What is your name?"
Mrs. Hodgkins." was the reply.
Well. Mrs. Hodgkins. the whole
story Is very strange. Under ordinary
circumstances it would be my duty to
tell 1t to Sir John and to ask him
to bring a detective down from Lon
don to probe the matter. For in
stance, before believing the version
which you and Mr.. Dayrell Tregenna
palmed off on Lady Tregenna, there
are some questions to be answered.
Where was buried the real baby to
whom she gave birth? Where did you
find the child who was substituted"
Now, what is all this about?" said
another voice.
I turned and saw Dayrell standing
before me. He looked more bloated
n disreputable than ever.
Il am talking with Mrs. Hodgkins
over a private matter, and should be
glad to have you retire l answered.
I'll do nothing of the kind he re-
turned, sullenly.
DO as you please" I responded in
differently. after all, what / have
got to say may interest you as we'll
as this m Sir John Tregenna
has returned, and Is at present with
his supposed heir. Lady Tregenna
has told me everything from her point
Of view. 1t is my conviction that she
has been deceived. And"
Il shall tell you all you want to
know, SIR" interrupted the nurse.
At these unexpected words Dayrell
turned pale. He looked at the wom-
an viciously, and made a step for
ward, as though to strike her.
Stand back. you plotting hound
l said to him savagely, and stepped
between him and the nurse. His hand
dropped. and he moved a pace from
me.
Il am a widow with one child" said
Mrs. Hodgkins. when I came to
nurse the lady happened to meet Mr..
Dayrell before the birth of the child.
He spoke to me and expressed his
disgust at the possibility of an neir
being born. When the child arrived
there were grave doubts at first as ia
whether he would survive. DIR. COL
lett had to leave the house shortly
after his birth, owing to an attack
of illness, which later carried hin
off. After his departure Mr.. Dayrel
came to me and asked me how til
baby was. | told him he was in I
bad way, but there was a chance fot
him to pull through, and hurried baci
to attend to him. An hour after ths
child was breathing freely, and al
danger was owe was engaged ~
attending to him, when hat villaill
came to the bedroom door and calleI
me outside. He offered to pay MT
$500 If ! would act or his suggestion.
and send a message to DR.. Collett thar
the child had died. I believe hat HI
first intention was to send the livii |
child away and substitute a dead child
in it's place, which he a confident
he could procure. ! needed the money
badly, and consented to his horrible
suggestion. l sent a message to the
doctor to say that the baby had died.
Almost Immediately afterward a mes
sage came to say that DR.. Collett had
died suddenly, and that another physi.
clan would be sent to attend on Lady
Tregenna. On hearing this news Mr..
Dayrell completed his plot. He saw
there was now no necessity to fetch
another baby. DR.. Collects death
Idu SIulpllISu HldlteIS. Wucu Lduy
Tregenna was sufficiently strong, she
was to be told that the real baby had
died and that another had been sub
stituted in its place.
las | can no longer inherit the
property said Mr.. DayrelI, the only
thing left to me to do is to make
money. | will make thousands out of
that unlucky child. Her ladyship
will believe that he is not her own,
and | shall blackmail her to any ex-
tent
And SO he did. He paid me, OF
course, but no money was worth the
misery | endured. | saw my poor
mistress fading before my eyes; she
could not love the child that she be
lieved was not her own. At last !
began to fear for her eason Oh,
what is to be done?" The woman
sobbed. and ! turned to speak to Day
rell. but he had disappeared.
Lady Tregenna must, of course,
know the truth" / said; but the ques.
ton Is whether Sir John Is to be in.
formed or not. l think it would be
cruel to tell him. Your confession
will give immense relief to your mis-.
l believe Dayrell will con.
sen to leave the country for his own
sake. Come with me to Lady Tregen.
ma f .e