Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-28

Yes 1t was one OF those strange
and complete assumptions of person
atty which puzzle the alienists Will
frid Blair's diseased mind had fasten-
ed upon the strange history of his an
cestress and brooded on IL until he be-
came convinced that her spirit was re-
incarnated in himself. Undoubtedly
his striking likeness to the portrait of
Camilla Grosvenor powerfully aided
the obsession.''
I'VE thought IL melancholia." said
Alexander Blair. LAS you say. he had
been very secretive, very silent too.
We kept Gansett Jim with him as a
sort of bodyguard."
4 II must understand this ALL said
Marjorie. "Wilfrid's body is where?"
"In Annalaka churchyard."
Then who-what is buried in his
grave at Hedgerow house,"
Nothing said Alexander Bliar.
"a mock funeral
My dear" said the mamie seemed
10 have grown suddenly old under the
unspoken arraignment-"I could not
tell you what l thought the truth. I
thought then that wilfrid had encoun-
tered Mr. Sedgwick and that-that
there had been fight. in which he
was killed. Rather than face the scan
dal of a murder trial. a scandal In
which the family name would have
been dragged through the mire of the
public prints again. / chose the part OF
deceit"
But you made me believe that Mr..
Sedgwick killed Wilfrid.' she accused.
II believed it myself" he retorted.
hos I,a 90
pecting me of the crime:" cried Sedg-
wick. turning to Marjorie Blair.
She flushed to her temples. IL
thought" she murmured. that he
might have known of our acquaint-
ance and have misconstrued; that he
might have gone to find you and at
tackled you and that you killed him.
In self defense. mean
Thank you for that last at least"
said Sedgwick rather bitterly; then.
as he saw her vince. Forgive mer
he added in a low tone. But TO be
suspected by you, even though you
were misled''- He stopped. catching
Kent's frowning glance.
who discovered that the burial was
a false one?" she asked after pause.
Professor Kent" said Blair. He
and Mr.. Sedgwick exhumed the cof-
jim"
THAT was the night Her eyes
questioned Sedgwick.
THAT found you at Hedgerow
house. Yes" he said gently.
Whatever wiIfrid may have BEEN
she continued after a moments ST.
Ience. he was my husband. 1 bear
his name. and TO leave him in a name
less grave is to dishonor not him
alone, but myself"
you would claim the body?" cried
Alexander Blair.
What else is there for us to do?"
she countered.
And bring down upon US unavoida-
bly, the publicity which we have es-
capped at so bitter a price," cried the
elder Blair. Have we not suffered
enough from the scandal of his life
that we should be further involved in
the scandal of his death?"
He's right. miss 1t won't do" said
the sheriff kindly.
The tension was broken by n tremen-
dous sigh. All eyes turned 10 Preston
JaI. who had risen and was leaning
against the wall, his chin Jerking gal
vanically.
"Well!'' said Kent.
What are you going to do with mel'
"Youz oh, you go back TO Irene"
said Kent. with his half smile. That's
your sentence If Mrs Blair approves"
The astroIoger drew a quick breath.
The light Of "A great relief softened his
hard little eyes. A startled look wild |
pIafr
trouble forgotten for the moment, rose |
ana went over to him, the reelection OF
anothers happiness shining in her face
and making II doubly lovely. A ring |
gl.nted in her outstretched hand
Take this" she said softly. for your |
Irene. May you be very, very happy \
tOgether"'
"Wh-wh-whutll say? Whut'n 1 |
do TO thank you. ma'am? I-I-Ill jest |
tell you this: It's me for the straight /.
and narrow from now on And II ever
you or Professor Kent or any OF you |
want an Al. special charted. extra ce-
lestial star reading for self or friends,
c-c-c-come'- He made
a rush for the hallway, and the door
banged a period to his emotion
81 think" said Chester Kent gravely,
that lesson will last"
AS Marjorie Blair stood smiling. soft
,yed. at the door whence the overcome
had disappeared. Sedgwfck
started to pass. With quick and unex-
lected tact. Alexander Blair drew the
,heriff and the lawyer aside, giving to
he Young people their moment She
ooked ND at Sedgwick with lifted eye
)rows.
Are you not going to speak to meF'
he said sorrOwfully-
What Is there 10 say. except one
hing-and that / may not say now
NO. nor she whispered. in alright
But say you forgive me"
You. For what"
For having believed. even Tor an
Instant, what Father Blair SAID, that
on were the murderer"
Sedgwick smiled brayely. THAT Is
A