The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-11-17
CHAPTER IV-Continued

Simply Lady Elizabeth told us her
story-a grim confederation Of the
statement her father had made. She
could not remember the time when
her cousin had not been at Brief.
It was his home as much as hers,
and though she was given prece-
dence, he was used as the son of the
house. The Count had done much
for him, but little or nothing for her,
and again and again she had had to
fight for her rights. But for these,
she would have been gone, to make
her own life, for the House of Brief
was divided against itself. She hat
ed the Count and her cousin: they
hated her back: and the Count was
afraid of Percy, and Percy despised
the Count.
BY the terms of her mothers will,
she received 1000 pounds year.
This income the Count had received
until she was twenty-one, and when
she had come of age he had done
his best to retain the half for him
self: but she had gone to the law
yers and forced his hand. Since
then he had continually complained
that he could not meet the expenses
to which he was put, while Percy
and he were always at variance
the former demanding money or
moneys worth, and the latter de-
claring with oaths that he had not
the wherewithal to maintain the es-
tate.
Her mothers will also directed
that when she was twenty-one she
was to be given possession of all
her mothers jewels, and these, she
told US frankly, were very valuable.
"And where are they?" said Her
rick.
"In England. They were being
cleaned and reset when my mother
was killed, and ever since then
they've lain in the jewelers. safe. I
could have had them out three years
ago: but what was the good? Be-
sides, I was afraid to have them:
they might have been stolen-by
someone within the house. Times
without number they've urged me
to have them out: Percy offered to
get them at last and actually wrote
out letter for me to sign, authoriz-
ing the jewellers to hand them over
to him. Thanks very much said,
but I'd rather they stayed where
they were. But I'll lend you five
pounds to go on with, if that's any
good For once he had no answer
he couldn't get round the truth.
That was six weeks ago -
A sudden apprehension stabbed at
my mind. :.
''I'n lay monkey they're gone"
! cried.
Lady Elizabeth started, and Her
rick frowned.
"why d'you say that?" said the
former.
Shamefacedly, told her of Inskip
the every big" diamond mer-
chant, whose company Virgil was
keeping when first I had seen his
face.
"But he'd never dare" she cried,
flushing. ST mean, if he'd forged
my hand"
she would have" said Herrick,
rising, "a very pressing reason for
putting you out of the way"
There was a deathly silence
which I employed in cursing my
reckless tongue.
Lady Elizabeth sighed.
t'That's. right" she said, slowly:
''that's right. You know, it's pain
fully clear that he is his fathers
son."
The next day I drove her to buy
some clothes in Salzburg-a very
long way: but shop any nearer she
dared not, because she was too WEI
known. Brenda came with us to
help her, because she had so much
to buy, and in view of the miles be-
fore us, Herrick was more than con-
tent to be left behind.
For most of the day I drove, and
she sat by my side, and before we
got back that night think had told