The diamond drill., 1920-04-24
BROUGHT
TO BOOK !

"Alton Morse" with an ardent haart
and high hopes. He sat now in It's
library confronted by It's owner. whose
grim. forbidding face chilled him.
whose disclosures were dlsconcerting.
Two months previous while visiting
his sister at seminary. heHhad met
Lucia Sterling. The acquaintanceship
had blossomed into mutual friendly In
terest and. on his part at least, into
genuine love. She had told him that
she lived with Mr.. Morse. that her
parents were both dead and that the
attorney, because her father had been
a former client. had practically adopt
calling on her when she left school
anc she had told Mr.. Morse OF the ex-
pected visitor.
Blair had been ushered into the IL
brary OF the house when he sent In
his card. and sinister faced. It's occu-
pant had received him coldly.
II know who you are. and Of your
family" said Mr.. Morse. Il also fancy
know the object OF your call. IL is
Miss Sterling"
YES" replied Blair. II hope she is
we'll"
"She Is far from that" replied the
lawyer gravely. do not be alarmed.
sir IL Is mental. rather than physical
ailment. Miss Sterling has received
some disclosures relative to her past.
or rather that of her parents, that
have been considerable of shock.
She knows OF your Intention to call
and has authorized me to see you In,
her stead" ~
Il do not understand" began Blair
In a perplexed way. n
II can say only that, considering
your high social standing and illus
trious family name, Il Is better that
your acquaintance with Miss Sterling.
should terminate utterly" -
"You insinuate some mystery which,
no matter what II may Involve, could
not in any way affect the regard I
feel for Miss Sterling" spoke Blair
stanchly "Mr. Morse, / must Insist
on having decision from her lips
alone"
Alton Morse arose with n peculiar
expression on his face. 81 will convey
your message TO my ward" he said
icily, "or rather my dead friends
daughter" and left the room. He re-
turned shortly bearing a folded scrap
of paper.
Miss Sterling declines TO see you,"
he reported, This Is her only and
final word, and Blair bowed his head
In despair as he read; "Mr. Morse
must speak for me. / thank you for
all your courtesy and regard, but we
must never meet again"
without another word Blair left the
house. Dusk had come down. but ns
he slowly passed the garden space he
glanced back. One upper window at
the side of the house showed a light.
Blair proceeded on his way. but so
mystifed by the strange incident
that after he had turned the next cor
ner he reversed and confronted tho
stranger.
He was man over fifty. bearded
and bronzed and wore great blazing
diamond In his tie and another OF un-
usual size on one finger Two men
crossed the street. evidently attracted
by these signs Of onulence When
within twenty feet OF the corner they
suddenly sprung upon him.
Blair FASTENED to the rescue. He
drove one OF the men PROSTATE with
vigorous blow. The other had pIs-
to aimed az the stranger. Blair
struck up his hand. but himself felt
n stlnging contact In one arm. Az
the men dispersed the victim seized
Blair by the hand with the words:
"You have saved my life, young
man. Why what Is this blood You
are woundedw
"Only slight scratch" declared
Blair ncgligently. but the other hailed
cab, solicitously attended his res
cuer, and, arriving at his hotel at once
sent for a surgeon.
The latter dressed slight flesh
wound. and the stranger secured n
room for Blair connecting with his
own. When Blair awoke In tho morn
ing he noticed HIS host with startled
eyes gazing ansome articles he had
placed on a stand.
what Is this--where did you get
it7' he inquired. holding up a photo
graph Of Lucia Sterling.
A strange emotion was manifest I'm
the mans face as Blair's story came
out. His face hardened as he muttcr.
ed the name OF Alton Morse. Come
with me-" he spoke, III you feel able.
There is something you have an In
terest In"
An hour later they faced Alton
Morse. pale, cringing. In terror. With
In the hour Blair knew that the stran-
ger Of the garden was Robert Sterling.
the father OF Lucia.