Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-12
JOHN ERLEIGH, SCHOOLMASTER
4 GRIPPING STORY OF LOVE MYSTERY AND KIDNAPPING
B0 CLAVER MORRIS o Brodon.

for you, but you mustn't get into your
head that 1 know anything about Guys
disappearance. It's quite likely that this
fellow Vertigan has something to do
with it. You admitted that the man had
you in his power. Perhaps that is why
he came to Harptree
She smiled as she looked at him. In
stead of troubling to defend herself any
further, she had chosen to attack him.
He could not meet the inquiring look in
her eyes.
Perhaps" she went on, "he is in an
impregnable position. Supposing he were
to come to you tomorrow and say to you,
know where Wimberley is, but l do
not choose to tell you What would you
do?"
What should I do2" Erleigh echoed.
Yes. Would you. dare to hand him
over to the police, knowing that he could
ruin you and ruin the school-sweep
away your lifework with a few words?"
He was silent, and then suddenly the
truth broke in upon him. His sister had
been mixed up in this plot to abduct
Lord Wimberley. She had threatened to
betray her accomplice, Vertigan had told
her that II she betrayed him he would
ruin her brother; Vertlgan had never
asked her to be his wife.
"You-you are mixed up in this?" he
stammered. 'I see 1t all now. You
wished to get out of it when IL became
engaged to Lady Wimberley. Vertigan
has threatened to betray me. When you
came to me the other day-with that
story about his having proposed to you
l quite understand"
She did not speak. Her face was very
white, ard she looked down at the fire
Grace" he said iercely, do you think
I'd let my own interests stand In the
way2 For Heavens sake, If you know
anything that Will help me to find young
Wtmberley tell me-"
II know nothing" she answered In a
low voice. II cut myself of from them
some time ago"
but you knew that they intended TO
take the boy away You can come for
ward and give that evidence to the po-
lice"
"I could do so II I choose"
And you do not choose 10 do so7'
II do not. If you take me into court
"WhyT"
because my evidence would not help
you to ma young Wimberley. and 1t
would destroy you-completely."
''Do not think OF me-put me aside"
She shook her head. my dear Jack -
she said. you have behaved very de-
Gently 10 me-all my life Do you think
I'm going to smash you up? It isn't even
as II my doing so would help you TO
find Wimberley. You and Lord Arthur
have already suspected Vertigan and
Dick Meriet, can't help you to bring
the crime home to them. know nothing
about this affair at all-absolutely moth
ing. You had better tell me all you
know"
He told her. as briefly as possible
When he had finished she said:
"Its possible Wertigan and Meriet have
nothing to do with It'll suppose that
hasn't occurred to you"
He made light OF the suggestion and
once more began to entreat her TO come
forward and tell the police what she
knew about Vertigan and Meriet But she
was resolute, and would not give way an
inch. An hour later he left her He
could not afford to waste any more time.
But he had quite made up his MIND
that he would force her to speak the
truth-even II the telling OF It branded
him as a murderer Ia the eyes OF all
the world.
Continued TomorroWl
Copyright 1914. BY Associated Newspapers.
limited.