Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-18

what Oliver would nave Ilked to dO
and is himself wounded in the
counter. Peter Lionel relates, in fit
of jealous anger over woman, had
affronted him and drawn his sword;
he had killed merely in self-defense
Terror-stricken, he extracts a promise
from his brother to keep the affair a
secret Suspicion fastens upon Oliver
who unavailingly protests his >inno-
cense to Rosamund and her guardian,
Sir John KilligreW They tell him a
trail of blood, undoubtedly that Of the
murderer, has been found to lead from
the dead body to his doorway.-Now
go with the story.
CHAPTER V (continucd)
He returned home with hell in his heart
He knew not what the future might hold in
store for him; but such was his resentment
against Rosamund that there was no room
in his bosom for despair. They should not
hang him. He would fight them tooth and
claw, and yet Lionel should not suffer He
would take care of that. And then the
thought Of Lionel changed his mood little
How easily could he have shattered their
accusation, how easily have brought her to
4 her proud knees implOrng pardon of him.
! By word he could have done it, yet he
feared lest that word must jeopardize his
brother.
In the calm still watches of that night as
he lay sleepless upon his bed and saw things
without heat, there crept a change into his
mental attitude. He reviewed all the evil
dence that had led her to her conclusions
and he was forced to confess that she was
IN some measure justified of them.
1t was heavy cross to bear. Yet fot
! LloneIs sake he must bear it with what
fortitude he could. Lionel must not be sac
rificed to his egoism for a deed that in
Lionel he could not account other than
| Justified He were base indeed did he 50
much as contemplate such way of escape
as that
But If he did not contemplate it, Lionel did.
ana went in terror during those davs 4 fer
rof that kept him from sleep and so fostered
the fever i'll him that on the second dav after
that grim affair he had the look of a ghost
holloW-eyed and gaunt. Sir Oliver demonstrate
ed with MN, and in such terms as to put heart
| INTO him anew Moreover, there was other
news that day to allay his terrors; the Justices
at Truro had been informed of the event and
Inc accusation that made; but they had
refused polnt-blank to take action in the mat
ter The reason Of it was that one of them
was that same Master Anthony Baine who had
witnessed the affront offered Sir Oliver. He
declared that whatever had happened to Mas
4 Ter Godolphln as consequence was no more
than he deserved no more than he had brought
upon himself, and he gave it as his decision
mat his conscience a man of honor would
constable
Sir Oliver received this news from that
other witness, the parson, who himself had
suffered such rudeness at GodOlphin's hands
and who, man of the Gospel and of peace
though he was, entirely supported the Justices
decision-Or he declared
Sir Oliver thanked him, protesting that it
was Kind in him and in Master Baine to take
such view, but for the rest vowing that he
mad had no hand in the affair, however much
| appearances might point to him
When, however, it came to his KNOWLEDGE
| two days later that the whole countrvsid2 was
I in ferment against Master Baine as a conse.
quence of the attitude he had taken up. Sir
/ oliver summoned the parson and straightway
! rode with him to the Justices house at Truro
there to afford certain evidence which he had
| withheld from ROsamund and Sir John KILL
grew.
Master Baine," he said, when the three of
them were closeted in that gentIeman's library.
Il have heard of the just and gallant bro.
nouncement you have made and l am come
! to thank you and to express nv admiration
of your courage"
Master Baine bowed graveIy. He was a
man whom Nature had made grave,
But since | would not that any evil con-
! sequences might attend your action, [ am
come to lay proof before you that you have
acted more rightly even than you think, and
that am not the slayer"
you are not?" calculated Master Raino in
! amazement
"Oh, L assure YOU I use no subterfuge
! with you, as You shall judge. [ have proof
10 SHOW you, as say; and [ am come to do
SO now before time might render it impossi-
/ pie l do not desire it to be made public
Just yet, Master Baine; but I wish YOU to
i draw up some such document as could salts
/ ty the courts at any future time should this
! matter be taken further, as well it may
Il assure you, Sir Oliver, that had YOU
killed him after what happened I could not
hold you guilty of having done more than
punish boorish and arrogant offender"
! Il know, sir. But it was not so One of
the pieces of evidence against me-indeed
the chief item-is that from Godolphin' s
body to my door there was a trail of blood -
The other two grew tensely Interested
The parson watched him with unblinking
eyes
Now it follows logically, I think, inevita-
, bly, indeed, that the murderer must have
been wounded in the encounter The blood
could not possibly have been the Victims
therefore it must have been the slaver's
That the slayer was wounded indeed we
know, since there was blood upon Godol-
phin's sword. Now, Master Baine. and YOU
Sir Andrew, shall be witnesses that there is
. upon my body not so much as scratch Of
recent date 1 Will strip me here as naked
as when first l had the mischance to stray
into this world and YOU shall testify your
selves of that. Thereafter I shall beg you
Master Baine, to indite the document l have
mentioned"