The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-08-25

on the table. The trouble was that
he could not absolutely swear he had
not committed the crime.
The situation was not eased by his
stay i'm jail On the contrary, II began
with a revelation terribly repugnant
10 him. lie had not long been lodged
in the cell when he received visit
from Michael Clones, who stretched
out his hand in an agony of humilia-
ton.
"Ah, you didn't do it-you didn't do
il, sir" he cried. "Pm sure you new
or killed him. II wasn't your way.
He was for doing you harm If he
could. An evil man he was, as all
the world knows. But there's one
thing thatll be worse than anything
else 10 you. You never knew it, and
| never knew il till an hour ago Did
you know who Errs Boyne was? Well,
I'll tell YOU. He was the father of
Sheila LIyn. He was divorced by Mrs.
Llyn many years ago, for having TO do
with other women. She took To her
maiden name, and he married again"
Good God Good God" Dyck
Calhoun made gesture of horror.
He's Sheila Llyn's father! Good
God"
Suddenly passion Of remorse
reused him out of his semi-stupefac-
ton.
Michael, Mchael" he said, his
voice hOarse. broken. Don't say such
thing Are you sure" Michael
nodded.
I'm sure. I got II from one that's
known Erris Boyne and his first wife
| and girl--One that was a servant TO
them both in past days. He's been
down TO Limerick TO see Mrs. Llyn
and the beautiful daughter. | met him
| an hour ago and he told me. He told
me more. He told me Mrs. Llyn spoke
to him of your friendship with Erris
Boyne. and how she meant to tell you
who and what he was. She said her
daughter didn't even know her fathers
name She had been kept In ignor-
ance."
Dyck seated himself on the rough
bed of the cell and stared at Michael,
his hands between his knees, his eyes
perturbed.
Michael" he said at last, "if it's
true-what you've told mel don't
see my way. Every step in front of
me is black with vileness. To tell the
whole truth is 10 bring fresh shame
upon Mrs. Llyn and her daughter, and
not to tell the whole truth is TO take
away the only chance l have Of get
ting out of this trouble. / see that -
II don't know what you mean, sir
but III tell you this. None that knows
you would believe you'd murder Erris
Boyne or any other man."
Dyck wiped the sweat from his fore
head.
81 suppose you speak the truth,
Michael, but it isn't people who've
known me thatll try me; and | can't
| tell ALL"
"Why not If It'll help you?"
81 can't--of course l can't. 1t would
be disgrace eternal"
"Why? Tell me why, sir"
Dyck looked closely, firmly at the
old servant and friend Should he
tell the truth-that Boyne had tried
| to induce him to sell himself to the
French. to invoke his aid against the
English government, to share In
treason? If he could have told 1t to
anybody, he would have done so to
Mlchael but If ii was true that in
his blindness he had killed Boyne, he
would not seek TO escape by proving
Boyne n traitor.
Dyck had foolish strain In him.
after all. Romance was his deadly
foe ; IL made him do a stupid, If chival-
rous. thing. Meanwhile, he would
warn the government ut once about
the projected French naval raid.
Michael" said Dyck, rising, 'set
my father. but you're not to say
didn't kill Boyne. for, to tell the truth
don't know. My head''-he put his
hand TO IL with gesture of despair
''my heads a mass of contradictions
Do you know Il seems Thousand
years since | entered that tavern?
can't get myself level with all that's
happened That Erris Boyne should
be the father Of that sweet girl al
Limerick and the husband Of Mrs
LIyn shakes me. Don't YOU see wha
II means? If | Killed him, 1t spoil'
everything-everyth If ! didn't
Kill him, | can only help myself 10y
blackening still more the life of on,
who gave being to-"
AYE. 10 young queen inter
rupted Michael God knows. there's
none like her in Ireland, or I'm any
other country at all y
Suddenly Dyck regained his com
posure: aud IL was the composure ot
one who had opened the door of hel
and had realized that in time-per
haps not far off-he also would dwell
i'm the internal place
michael. | have no money, but Tn
my fathers heir My father Will mo-
| -. 49,. .t,,.,.n Il, ,,icnp NOR xx-apt foi