Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1902-05-10 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER XXIV. "I HAVE NO BROTHER. "  "Then you have at least been able to track the child," murmured Felix Dering ; "thank Heaven for that. But the cheque, Miss Garland, have you realised how it may be construed? If I had only filled it in to you, the fact would have sufficed to prove the theft. As it is, made out to bearer, it cannot but suggest a plot between myself and the abductor." He hesitated and glanced smzpiciou.sly at Judita—she wiokled the reins like  Of\  a born whip, the 'ponies. moved at a l free, quick trot, the light cJrriage swaying on its springs. "For an amateur 'detect ive," added Felix, " you have worked with singular skill, Mias Garland. The problem you claim to have solved has so far baffled the keeinr,t professional minis. What oi9e have you learned who is tho scoundrel must take immediate a.ction." S-s-s-s-t !" said Judith Garland, niiilor her breath; " speak -111 w, you forgot the groom behind us. This is not the moment for a full explanation. But abandon all thoughts of desperate rl,lllfsfl;P:,. Vim are at the mercy of a d:Lnge.rous man; he it %CRS who disiovered the blood-stained liiik.s of your chain arid interpreted their signitiC%411e0; he it was alto abducted Brian; ho it is who now assures me that the child can never be regained alive." 'rho listener gasped_ But his--his motive?" stammered Felix, bewildered by this now development of the mystery. " -I dare but conjecture it," whispered Judith, and her voice broke in a clever assumption of drend ; "yet I have wondered if he had any grudge against Sir Christopher, if he had been pursuing a terrible Bcliwne of revenge, if---he was the—the---one who—" I " Good Heavens r ejaculated Felix, "the one who murdered my uncle I Miss Garland, you are the possessor of ghastly secrets. Then those bloodstained links you represented to me as the evidence of my crime LIJAIIO possibly from the actual murderer himself. But. why should he give you th:ni?" I will come to that, in a moment," said Judith Garland. "Mr Dering," and, under cover of the driving-apron, she laid a hand on her companion's, "I told Lady Dering I had to go to London this weck on family business. I spoke the truth ; the unhappy wretch of whom I have.. been speaking is—is my  brother." Felix felt himself the prey of some frightful nightmare. " YOl7 r--your brother!" he repeated. "The brother for whom I advanced you, by means of that cheque, the twenty pounds of salary you could not ask Lady Dering for?" The ame," assented Judith. "He appea.red unexpectedly at Wyresdale, in a piteous state, and implored me to aid him. I asked him why he needed the mont,y, and he would not answer. When I took him your cheque he found, by chance, in my presence, those links of your chain. T recognised them impulsively, and so placed you in his power; for you denied being at Wyremlale the night of your uncle's dentli, and he himself had seen you by the cro-, that evening. And now, Mr Dering, I don't know IN 11 iCh is guilty, you or Ili y miserable brother." She stirred the soft palm which had slipped upon his. 'But," she said, since I gathered, the other day, that you bad come back for a dear, romantic reason—to he near a certain person who cares for ru as much as you can do for licr—l have liked to believe you Felix shuddered. How could he attempt to convince Judith Garland of the mistake into which she had fallen; it seemed so naturally—how confess to her is was not her window he had returned to gaze at the night of Sir Christopher's death, but Esther Carew's? --we must consider what can be  done," whispered Judith, as she guided . the porlics up the winding avenue that yielded access to Diving House; "but remernberr, Neal--my brother— can ruin you in two ways; he can prove you were in Wyretidale House, though you chivalrously denied the suggestion rather than direct attaiition to a lady. And also he is able to allege, by producing a cheque, that you paid him to kidnap Brian." A sense Of paralysis seized on Felix. FatALity had dogged him with a Perfect