The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1917-07-12

mise fooled even my sweetheart.
Nerve, cambridge. nerve-that's It.
and your wits about you every min
ute"
But. my boy! Why have you kept
this secret so closely guarded? Why
did you not come to me?n cried his
attorney and long time friend.
Il took ne chances against defeat"
was the Illuminating explanation.
Remember. cambridge. the charge
against me had to be proven false
This could he done only by exposing
the true criminal and obtaining his
confession of guilt. ="
Have you got that?" interjected
Mr. Banhridge, eagerly.
Miss Dare has it. At least l think
she has - replied his visitor, sudden
~ troubled. He picked up his hat.
Come We will go to Miss Dare, -
And he hurried ont of the room. fol-
lowed by the excited trust officer
ON the ride 10 the DareS. the man
beside Mr.. cambridge asked the ques-
tons originally in his mind.
My estate-has it ever been dis
trhutedT
NO. Your legatee refused to touch
the money. Through an order of coCrf
| have held your entire fortune IL
trust. Every penny can be accounted
for-and more" replied the attorney,
smiling mysteriensly.
what do you mean by those last
words?"
Il transferred your real estate hold
grade. They have Increased astonish-
ingly in value, at least=by one hundred
thousand if not more.
"HoN's that?" was the sharp ques-
ton Stocks and bonds of what ma
ture?n
/ War brides -
The man at the wheel turned TO his
attorney quickly. Sell out, Mr.. Balm
bridge, at once!" he exclaimed, with
show of irritation. 81 couldn't touch
that money. AS to the surplus" he
paused, smiling peculiarly, suppose
YOU make draft, payable to bearer,
for one hundred thousand. | have i'm
+ hitdtdte uSe loi TINT eAdCl diilouHes
The lawyer looked at him in aston
ishment, shaking his head sadly. The
man surely had changed. That's a
very large sum-" he ventured.
"0h, yes smiled the other. blandiy
1T will make substantial wedding
gift to two needy unfortunates who
have just been married.
wedding gift" mumbled Mr.. Balm
bridge, under his breath: and there the
conversation ended, for they had
reached the Dares.
Mr.. Bainbridge was dropped off at
the house and his companion proceed
ed with the car, as usual, to the
garage. He seemed to take = longer
/ time than necessary in putting the car
away. Indeed, now that the end and
Il new beginning of things was about
to come to pass. he showed reluc-
lance to hasten the change.
He sat down on the running board
of the big limousine, resting his chin
in an upturned palm, and fell into
brown study.
Meanwhile in the Dare library Law
yer Bainbridge and the colonel were
shaking hands with more vigor than
either had shown for many day. The
house WAS agog with expectation.
Major Brent and his wife had arrived,
the latter proceeding at once TO the
suite she had SO long occupied. Bertha
was now happy and serene woman.
Pearl Dare came running in and the
two, as women do at such times, fell
into each others arms, weeping hys-
terieally.
Isn't it wonderful?" cried Pearl,
amid her ecstasies Il know ii. Ber-
tina. l knew that he was different. All
along | felt strange, familiar some
thing in our relations. something which
was not clear but which drew me 10
him, even when | doubted him the
most !"
Where is he now?' asked Bertha
Brent, almost as excited as Pearl.
Pearl led her by the hand to win
dow overlooking the garage, There,
in the shadows inside the wide-open
door. they saw the man of the hour
seated on the running board of the big
limousine.
Have you talked with him?"
Pearl shook her head, unable to re
move her loving and beaming eyes
from the figure.
HE is waiting for you. Pearl"
Il cannot go to him." she breathed,
her voice catching. "Fhis is the most
profound moment of his life. l must
wait until he is ready"
Together they went down the stairs
arm in arm. and joined the group in the
library. Here they found Lawyer
cambridge, the colonel and Major
Brent engrossed in the communication
to T. o. Adams found in Toko's room.
1t was a paper Of an altogether start
ling nature. Pearl, by whom every
word had been memori2ed, found her.
self once more absorbed in its revela-
tons as she sat beside her father,
clinging close. Bertha sat on the arm
of her husbands chair Brent, in
whose features new manliness and
latent strength of character was now
revealed, listened gravely and with
evident self-reproach.
The lawyer was reading aloud.
The communication was without
date. 1t was addressed to Adams and
signed. simply "Toko." It was in the
English language. Its phrasing gave
evidence of the cultured mind of the
writer.
Monsieur Adams: The Canal Defense
plans lie in the bottom of the canal