Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-08-17

mise Il fooled even my sweetheart.
Nerve, Bainbridge, nervs--that's II,
and your wits about you every min
ute"
But, my boy Why have you kept
this secret 20 closely guarded? Why
did you not come. to me?" cried his
attorney and long time friend.
II took no chances against defeat"
was the Illuminating explanation.
Remember, cambridge, the charge
against me had to be proven false.
This could be dome only by exposing
the true criminal and obtaining bis
confession. OF guilt. L"
Have you got thatr intsrjected
Mr.. cambridge. eagerly.
Miss Dare has It. At least think
she has It'll" replied his visitor, sudden
ly troubled. He picked up his, hat
Come! We will go to Miss Darrell"
And he hurried, out Of the room, fol-
lowed by the excited trust officer.
On the ride TO the Dares, the man
beside Mr. Bainbridge asked the Ques-
tons originally In his mind.
MY estate-has II ever been dis
tribukedP'
mo. Your legatee refused to touch
the money. Through an order Of court
/ have held your entire fortune In
trust. Every penny can be accounted
for--and more" replied the attorney,
smiling mysteriously.
What do you mean by those last
words?"
II transferred your real estate hold
ings to stocks and bonds OF very high
grade. They have Increased sstonish-
ingly In value, at least by one hundred
thousand, If not more"
"How's thatp-was thu sharp Ques-
ton. Stocks and bonds of what ma
turer'
war bridesl''
The man at the wheel turned to his
attorney quickly. "Sell out, Mr.. Balm
bridge, at Oncep he exclaimed, with q
show Of irritation. II couldn't touch
that money. As to the surplus" he
paused, smiling peculiarly, suppose
you make a draft, payable to bearer,
for one hundred thousand. I have i'm
mediate use for that exact amount I"
The lawyer looked at him In aston
ishment, shaking his head sadly. The
man surely had changed. That's q
very large sum-" he ventured.
"Oh, yes" smiled the other, blandly.
1T will make q substantial wedding
gift to two needy unfortunatss who
have lust 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 OF at
the house and his companion proceed
ed with the car, as usual, to the
garage. He seemed to take a longer
time than necessary in putting the car
away. Indeed, now that the end and
a new beginning Of things was about
to come to pass, he showed q reiuc-
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 q
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 a 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 a 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-
terically.
isn't 1t wonderful cried Pearl,
amid her eestasies. II know II, Ber-
tina. knew that he was, different All
along felt strange, familiar some
thing In our relations, something which
was not clear but which drew me to
him, evon when 1 doubted him the
mostI''
"Whsge IL he now?" asked Bertha
Peank Rimost as excited as Pearl.
Rpoa led her by the hand to win
BOW overlooking the garage, There,
u 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 hin?'
Pearl shook her head, unable to re-
move her loving and beaming eyes
from the figure.
He Is waiting for you, Pearl"
II cannot go to him." she breathed,
her voice catching. This is the most
profound moment OF his life. I 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
Bainbridge. the colonel and Major
Brent engrossed In the communication
TO T. o. Adams found In Toko's room.
1t was paper Of an altogether start
ling nature. Pearl, by whom every
word had been memortzed, found her
self once more absorbed In its rsvela-
tons as she sat beside her father,
clinging close. Bertha sat on the arm
Of her husbands chair. Brent, In
whose features q new manliness and
latent strength Of character was now
revealed, listened gra-ely and with