The Washington times., 1913-11-14

ClOtheS men come put them in the IL
brary, just behind the curtains. Shortly
after, another guest will arrive-you
know what to do about him.
Yes, sir! said Williams promptly,
iay1ng one revolver down upon the pol
ished surface of the table.
Thus 1t came about that when Yorke
entered his study that evening he found
three anxious men awaiting him
Dysart, looking stronger than when
1orke had last seen him, was pacing
iestlessly back and forth. His jaws
were set, the lines in his face seemed
to be craven even deeper and his eyes
flashed with steely briIliance. The de:
tective realized with relief that here
was no weakness, no sudden collapse to
be feared; he knew now that this man
would go on to the end, buoyed up by
his set purpose. When that was ac.
complished, prostration might come, bu,
until then he would be adamant
Paul Hildreth, pale and very grave
but self-contained. as usual, had taken
seat little in the background. and
Robin sat in a large, armchair by the
table. with a huge white-and-b
shape crouched at his feet
AS Yorke approached, the dog lifted
his great. black-rimmed eyes, and re.
garded him moodily, but made no other
sign. He seemed, curiouslJ enough, tc
divine the tension of suspense in the air
and to partake Of it. 1t was as IL he
too. were waiting.
Good evening. I am glad you have
come in time" Yorke said gravely. 81
have much to tell you that will, I am
afraid, be an inexpressible shock to you
all. particularly to Mr.. Van Rensselaer,
and Lsznust ask you to hear me out with
patience. 1 will be as brief as 1 can. y
Are the others comins?" asked
Robin.
"The others?" echoed Yorke.
'Merrin,an, you know, and the Good
alls. and Mrs. Ashley
what have to tell you is purely a
family matter. in which no one else is
concerned" Yorke returned, and ther
the portentous gravity in his face deep.
ened. CAS- for the ladies-this will be
no place for women tonight"
"You mean"-almost shouted Robin
starting from his chair.
Dysert turned upon the detective, two
red spots leaping in his pale cheeks.
'T must ask you all to come and sit
over here, so that any one entering
from the hall will be unaware of youi
ROOM Yorke said imperturba bly,.
That's right: keep the dogs leash
wound tightly around your wrist" he
added to Robin. Later 1 expect-a WIS.,
itor."-
When they were seated he turndd tc
Dysart with an infinite compassion In
his eyes, and said. as gently as he
could: "Mr. Van Rensselaer,. I know
you want the strain of suspense over as
soon as possible, even though it makes
your suffering more deep than anything
you have yet endured. / have discoy-
cred the murderer Of your wife"
Dysart drew in his breath sharply.
1T was her only living relative-her
BROTHER
There was a moment OF tense silence,
and then Dysart cried out N amaze
ment:
"Rut there must be some mistake,
Victoria had no brother
Victoria Bigelow never existed" said
Yorke quietly.
You are madr' Robin burst out
Paul Hildreth sat mute, his eyes fixed
upon the detective.
MARY Hildreth Bigelow never gave
birth to a child"
Yorke spoke slowly. as if weighing
each word.
AFTER twelve childless years Of mar
riage she adopted a baby girl. You are
ali familiar with the terms of her
Grandfather's will. by which she would
Inherit a large fortune only through the
birth of a child TO her.
life. before Dr., Bigelow had attained
the eminence he afterward achieved,
they were struggling along mainly on
his income as an obscure minister. She
was young. beautiful. extrava gant-and
the doctor committed his first sin. He
church, hoping to increase his capital
Speculated-and lost
Discovery and ruin stared them in
the face. and they adopted the desperate
expedient of passing off an adopted
child as their own. How well their plan
succeeded you know. But some one dis
covered their secret fifteen years ago
some one Systematically blackmailed
the doctor and practically bounded him
to his grave. then turned to the adopted
daughter and bled her until she would
give no more. Then he killed her. And
that some ons was, as I have said. her
own brother.
He had been brought up by people of
more humble circumstances. and on her
deathbed his foster-mother told him his
true history. He traced his sisters.
found that the elder one was dead and
the younger in an equivocal position
from which money could be made.