The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1912-01-18

| confident tn.. ne wc,::. =. u-vv a.-l::
his possession OF Il and offer some
explanation that would Immediately
satisfy everybody LeDuc was look.
Ing steadily ct him. apparently as pu=-
zled by his answer es was |. To all
outward appearances there was some
thing hidden beneath the skin here,
and ! determined to make quick
thrust at the heart of the matter.
bleeding him Of his secret for his own
good.
Where were you last night. Druce!"
l asked quietly. The pallor Of his
cheeks took on the unhealthy hue of
wet ashes and he stood mute with an
unpleasant narrowing of his eyes. For
a long minute the silence was un-
broken. LeDuc scanning him impa.
tiently and Clare, her pupils expand
ed, leaning far forward in her intent
ness. Then he shifted sullenly upon
his feet.
Il have no reply 10 make TO that
question at present"
| signaled to LeDuc, who instantly
caught the cue. But perhaps If the
young lady would pardon us" he
murmured with a courteous bow to
Clare. She arose upon the instant,
and glancing neither to right nor left,
passed into my uncle's apartments,
while Bruce glooming after her with
frightened lips moved no muscle AS
the door closed behind her made an.
other effort in his behalf.
Il wish you would be reasonable in
this matter, Bruce. You ought to
know that you can trust us implicitly
when give you my word as | now do.
II you have any reason--any mans
reason--to think that your where.
abouts last night il known to Clare
would distress her, Mr.. LeDuc and /
will bind ourselves upon our honor to
keep your communication confidential.
Later on you make such explanation
to her as you may DESIRE but in view
of certain statements which you made
to ME it is necessary that our mutual
friend here should know where you
spent the night Will you tell us?"
a pale glow of passion, phosphores-
cent like, appeared deep behind his
eyes and he answered me doggcdly, |
almost deiantly.
NO. 1t is matter which at pres
ent concerns only myself Nor do |
! understand your insinuations when |
you say it is for my own good that |
make conhdants of you. What do |
you mean by such attempted intimida-
tion?"
Ignoring tho gathering storm, ] an
swered him in a calm tone:
Bruce, trust you implicitly and |
tell you now that it would take moth |
ing less than bombsh9ll of absolute |
proof to shatter that belief. That be
ing the case. when | assure you that ,
have reason to believe that it is for |
your own good to do so, think you
might honor me with your confidence
Along that same line ! am going to
ask you another question. Do you OBJ
ject to showing us the contents Of |
your pockets--everything?' He turned
L dull red, seemed about to explode
with the heat Of his passion, and thenA
growing suddelly cold bowed friSidly |
and began laying before us the con-
tents OF his clothes. It was the u.s. .
lal miscellaneous assortment of n
mans personal carvings. and when /
ne had finished glance told us that
The object for which we were search
ing was not among them.
The pockets Of your overcoat,
please" purred LeDuc. With hooking
Bruce began turning the
folds and crevices of that garment |
inside out. Nothing of interest was
exposed 10 us, and when he had fin
shed we sat cycling each other with
silent lips. broke the hush.
Bruce. you had key to the house
yesterday. You pounded upon the
table with ii as we sat together down |
town and then put it back in your
side overcoat pocket noticed it |
distinctly. Now Clare's key has dis
and it is impossible for us
10 overlook the coincidence. Where
did you get the one you had and |