Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18

out: He was mad! oh, he was madv'
mo. don't think So" Reggie said
gently. He was speaking out Of his
heart"
ooh, how cruel! Why does he say
I called myself his wife?"
I'VE only found that out after he
was dead. He was married to Caroline
Power" Reggie laid on her lap the
marriage certificate.
s'Before''-her hands shook so that
she could not read it-"before he mar
ried me! Then Il
1--WE kept it from you while we
could" Reggie said. But that man
mustn't spoil the lives Of your chill
dren."
"The children she gasped. She
caught at her heart, she was bent
with pain and painting
Reggie laid her down on the couch.
Your medicine! The nitric OF amyl.
Where is it?''
The pungent smell filled the room.
The spasm Of pain passed,
she lay faint and still.
She lay silent while he gathered
up the papers. She watched him. fear
in her eyes and wonder.
y =
THERE was some talking outside
the windows, Superintendent
Bells voice and another voice that
Reggie knew. 1t was asking whose
car that was. Mr.. Fortunes
car. Reginald Fortunes?
Where was. he. then with
Mrs. Weir. u 80
There was laugh, a hurry Of feet,
going to them, go with you, my
lad" !. Into the room, his
right arm firmly gripped In Bells
hand, broke the young man OF the
cottage.
what do you want with my
mother?'' he cried. Its me you've
got to settle with
MALCOLM. Malcolm she started
up from the couch and held out her
hands to him. I've been wrong. It's
all a horrible wicked thing. made
you do it: My dear. don't be angry.
I didn't know. We must forget it
all. Forget everything"
!'Forgetr' the lad cried. He strobe
upon Reggie. What have you been
telling her? You know who am.
I'm Claude Weir's son. You know
what I've got against your
you have nothing against me. Mr..
Weir. Before he died your father con-
fessed that he killed Caroline Power"
Its a Her
"No, nos His mother tottered to
him. Don't, Malcolm, don't. I've
seen the confession he wrote. It's
it's wicked! You don't want to read
it, my dear. He doesn't have to read
it. does ne, Mr.. ,Fortune?"
He did murder her?" the lad
cried. You read his confession? Oh,
mother" She drew him into her
feeble arms.
I'm sorry. dear; I'm so sorry!'' she
sobbed.
TITS over now" Reggie said gently.
you've got to live. "Good-byr' He
laid his hand on the boys shoulder a
moment. ''Good-by!'
He stood outside the gray house
with Superintendent Bell.
What are we going to do?" asked
Bell.
"DoY' Reggie stared. s'oh. rye done
enough. Nothing. man. nothing! It's
finished!''
but what am I to tell Mr.. Lomas?.".
81 told Mr.. Tomas last night. Tell
him-tell him what you saw in that
room.''
His car carried. Mr.. Fortune away
to the house by the river. Sergeant
Underwood opened the door. what
have you got to tell me?'' Reggie
smiled wearily. Nothing? Good!
Just tell Janet want her. In the
study
Janet brought pale face. "It's
all over, Janet" Reggie said. you'd
Better go -hotne to your mother
And there was silence while she
looked at him and fought to be calm.
All, you know she cried. you
know about me!'
Yes. Some time ago. my child"
oh, / can't bear it! thought you
knew after you came back from that
horrible cottage alive. Mr.. Fortune,
It was me took that cottage. told
.hem about your going on the river
at night
Il know 1t was what you were
here for"
What are you going to do with u.s.
I've just come back from your
mother. I've shown her your fathers
confession that he murdered Caroline
Father did tn she cried. Mother
knows that now2 She believes it?'
She knows there isn't any doubt
at ALL
aAh.' She thrust back her hair.
II feel as IL / was mad! And we
we've been trying-we tortured you in
that awful cottage What arc you
going to do with u.s."
Nothing, my DEAR Reggie said.
She stared at him with wild eyes.
.Nothing?" she said, in a faint, won
dering voice. "You-oh, you're .
ION. mol Not ms.' said Reggie
Fortune sadly.
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