Charlevoix county herald., 1915-05-01
BY Howard p. Rocky
Copyright 1914 Howard n. Rocky

1 AS he sat wondering over it all,
Fergus entered and stood waiting for
him to speak. Harcourt looked up
slowly, and nodded to the man.
''If you please, sir, just found this
trinket on the stairs, sir"
Harcourt took it from him-a small
piece of carved silver, with a bit of
finely joined chain hanging from it.
With an effort he controlled himself,
and then, with a wave of his hand
dismissed the servant.
The pendant was skillfully carved
replica of the mysterious monogram.
For several minutes he stared at it,
| fascinated, and as he held it i'm the
palm of his hand, there came a rustic
of skirts behind him. With start he
arose as Grace came forward smiling.
Once more he looked at the silver
charm and Grace gave little .ex-
clamation as she recognized it.
"This is yours ?" Harcourt asked
hesitatingly.
She nodded, and held on. her hand
for it.
where did you get it," he ques-
toned sharply.
"That is a secret can't tell you
-
"You shall tell mew he cried an
grily. 81 have not had opportunity to
speak with you alone since-since
what occurred last night. In view of
what happened then, I wonder that
you came here today"
"Jackw she exclaimed, the color
coming into her cheeks. BE careful |!
l came here because l felt it my duty
to stand by you in your danger. You
seem determined to make me change
my mind, and if you persist you will
yet force me to desert you now that
the breaking of our engagement
would only tend to make your position
all the more dangerous
"Do you know what this symbol is ?"
he asked, watching her narrowly.
"Yes," she said, simply.
He stared at her, unable to believe
her words. She returned his gaze
steadily, and her manner grew more
naughty as he leaned forward angrily.
"You heard Darlington say that an
other and more important arrest is
expected within a few hours-that
even now the detectives may be on
their way here to make that arrest ?"
His voice trembled with suppressed
emotion.
Her lip quivered and she grew pale.
She took step forward, and was
about to speak, but she only held out
her arms appealingly, and sank into
chair. Harcourt did not move. He
was watching her strangely. Then,
without another word, she burst into
tears.
"Oh, jack she moaned. IF only
I'd never"
Never what ?" he demanded.
"Don't-don't ask me! It's too late
and | can't tell you--noww
Her body shook as she wept bit
terly, and as Harcourt stood staring
down at her, Adele and Darlington
entered the room. Just behind them
were Marston and Farndale, and the
little group paused, startled, upon the
threshold
"What-what has happened ?, Sir
Thomas exclaimed, Fastening forward.
Harcourt turned and faced them
calmly. II have just told her that
am Towneshend's murderer" ne said
quietly.
An exclamation of horror broke
from their lips, and with scream
Grace rose quickly to her feet. "No!
No! she cried in anguish. Don't
believe him! He is mad!"
Then, with a great sob, she fell
unconscious into her fathers arms.
Her nerves had given way. To tell
Harcourt how the charm came into
her possession would only arouse UNI
just suspicion in his mind To tell
the others was impossible, especially
now that the mysterious monogram
had attained so giuesome a signif-
canoe.
rIIA DTL,D