The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-07-13
INSTALLMENT NO. 8.


8 and l see how you look at me now
/ You are very clever lawyer; but
/ happily for the interests that l com
r nit to your charge, you are also a
s thoroughly honest man. After twenty
3 years experience of you, you can't
3 deceive me. You bring me bad news.
} Speak at once, sir, and speak plainly.
? Mr.. Troy yielded, inch by inch, as
, it were. 81 bring news which, l fear,
may annoy your ladyship." He paused,
and advanced another inch ''It is news
which l only became acquainted with
| myself on entering this house." He
waited again, and made another adj
, vance. 81 happened to meet your lady
} ships steward, Mr. Moody, in the
: hall"
Where is he?" Lady Lydiard inter
posed, angrily. Il can make him
speak out, and l will Send him here
instantly"
The lawyer made a last effort to
hold off the coming disclosure lit
tie longer "Mr. Moody will be here
directly" he said. mr. Moody re-
quested me to prepare your lady
ship"
will you ring the bell, Mr. Troy, OF
must II"
Moody had evidently been waiting
outside while the lawyer spoke for
him. He saved Mr.. Troy the trouble
of ringing the bell by presenting him
self in the drawing room. Lady Lyd-
iard's eyes searched his face as he
approached. Her bright complexion
faded suddenly. Not word passed her
lips. She looked and waited.
In silence on his side, Moody laid
an open sheet of paper on the table.
The paper quivered in his trembling
hand.
Lady Lydiard recovered herself
first. rs that for me?" she asked
Eyes, my lady"
She took up the paper without an
instant's hesitation. Both the men
watched her anxiously as she read it,
The handwriting was strange to her
The words were these:
Il hereby certify that the bearer of
these lines, Robert Moody by name,
has presented to me the letter with
which he was charged addressed to
myself with the seal intact l regret |
to add that there is, to say the least |
ferred to by the anonymous writer, of |
the letter, who signs "A Friend in |
Need has not reached me. No five
hundred-pound bank note was in the
letter when l opened it. My wife was
present when 1 broke the seal, and
can certify to this statement if neces-
sary. Not knowing who my charitable
correspondent is (Mr Moody being
forbidden to give me any information) |
can only take this means of stating
the case exactly as it stands, and hold
myself at the disposal Of the writer
of the letter. My private address is
at the head Of the page
SAMUEL BRADSTOCK,
Rector ST. Anne's,
'Deansbury, London"
Lady Lydiard dronned the paper on
the table. For the moment, plainly as
the rectors statement was expressed, j
she appeared to be incapable of un- '
derstanding it. What, in Gods name, {
does this mean?" she asked q
The lawyer and the steward looked I
at each other Which of the two was
entitled to speak first? Lady Lydiard s
gave them no time to decide. Moody" i
she said, sternly, you took charge S
Of the letter; look to you for an ex-
PLANTATION" y
81 undertook to deliver the letter t
at it's address," he said 81 found it
sealed, on the table. Your ladyship 1
has the clergyman's written testi- c
mony that I handed it to him with b
he seal unbroken. | have done my
duty, and have no explanation to il
3ffer." b
Before Lady Lydiard could speak a
gain, Mr.. Troy discreetly interfered c
lie saw plainly that his experience y
vas required to lead the investigation t
II the right direction.
Pardon me, my lady" he said,
With that happy mixture of the posi- r
i've and the polite in his manner OF