San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-25

Jim repeated. looking at Herue Lin
gard. as be stood swaying in the open
doorway Of the house to which we
had come with no idea that we would
find anything wrong with its owner
What makes you think you killed
him? Don't you know"
Il told him | love Arlette." repeat
ed the EngliShman duly. Il told him
what | felt for-Lisa in the old days
was only pity. L explained that what
had weakened me mentally Waste
morse. | know now that perhaps if
had not taken Lisa from those who
had a right to protect her. she might
have lived. But DIR. Willis, was
proud and had strong caste icel-
ing that put him against my wanting
to marry Arlette. He thought | need
cd protection. The worry and excite
ment killed him."
You are mad" jim said grlmly.
pushing by BERTHE and into the hall
of DIR. Willis house. Il think | shall
lust stay here until the sheriff comes.
"And | shall tell the sheriff what i
know" / said reaching out a plying
hand TO poor BERTHE Linglrd who stood
covering in the hall with no sign OF
the mental health and clarity to which
DIR. Willis had restored him.
what do you know" demanded
jim. scornfully, and with every sign
of thinking that | too had gone mad
from the shock of Bertie's news.
That the old DR.. had 4 weak heart.
He went into a long faint one hot
day when he dropped in at the Birches
to rest after doing little too much
walking. | know certain things about
doctors life-his longings-his sweet
ness and his physical weakness that
make it seem very likely to me that
he died of joy when BERTHE told him
of his love for Arlette-"
Don't make me laugh" Jim cried
jeeringly. But the expression of dawn
ing hope. Of relief and conviction on
Bertie's face told me that the sensi-
tive Englishman needed just a little
boltsering and then he would weather
this latest storm in which his bark in
volved. So / asked quietly:
May | see the doctor:"
"The housekeeper is with him" Ber-
tic said. will you come? We are not
allowed to touch him until the sheriff.
comes-and the coroner and the rest
OF the people to whom / telephoned
when found nina little while ago.
| shall always be glad that l con
quered my dislike of looking upon
those who had entered upon the great
sleep. For the smile of lovely con
tentment-of surprised joy-of relief
and relaxation on DIR. Willis face
was superbly encouraging and reassur-
ing.
You said he died Of joy" jim
exclaimed standing reyerently at the
foot of the couch on which the
doctor was lying. at looks that
way"
BERTHE Lingard looked at US qucs'
tioningly, and this time it was jim
who put steadying hand on thS
Englishman's arm as he explained:
Il came over here TO tell the old
doctor that [ wouldn't stand for &
certain condition / heard we woulf
find in his wilI-the naming of my
wife as Arlette's guardian. But HI
will stands-whatever it was
"You-Arlettes guardian" asked
BERTHE Lingard. looking at me wit
the strange. alert sensitiveness tha
makes him seem like q faun out Of :
NEUROLOGICAL fable. "But what hav
you to do with Arlette?"
What had he
He said he wanted me TO be be
guardian" / murmured. He wa
planning to have Zeke Schmidt an'
Nicholas Perry witness the will an
this morning Nick was ut The Birch"
we were discussing Arlette and b
said nothing - Of the doctor
will
"He doesn't know" BERTHE I.insar
said quietly. 1.-THE doctor decided I
have his neighbors witness his nc'
will. He called i'll the father of Ton
my Haley. the boy who drove his ca
before / came - and Farmer Nj,
Candless, from the back-road. The
are both sturdy, substantial citizcn'
The doctor told me he was revokia
all previous wills. But why shou.
Arlette be his heiress? Where d
you come in? He was telling me e
day when-when I killed him wit
my rashness and precipitate-'
"Now I'll interrupt" ] broke
CURLY. you had Just told the do
tor of your love for Arlette-honol
able, devoted love-hadn't you-whe
he-went:'
"Yes," said BERTHE sadly. But som,
how-that is what killed him. u
was proud. He didn't want the Eni
lish lord he had befriended TO mari
> a little"
ITO marry his granddaughter
said quietly.
The look of utter astonishmel
which BERTHE Lingard turned on W,
! a revelation.
Were you thinking Of marryiV