A PAIR OF ROGUES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5880, 11 July 1890, Page 4

A PAIR OF ROGUES.

CHAPTER XIII

ME SiriTll EXPLAINS,

Much to Strange's surprise this discovery of the names of the leading fianres in his story, which ho had prided himself on as having been made in a really dramatic fashion, produced no effect on his companion. The tall, gaunt man merely walked over to the window, and stood with his hands'in his pockets peering out in the darkness. Then he turned and walked up and down the room several times, and suddenly said: " But the housekeeper's name was DawBon."

"That," said Lemuol in astonishment, " was my mother's maiden name. She was known as Dawson until I was nearly 15 years old. But how on earth do you know anythinsr about the Houston family f " "Because," said the other slowly, "my name is John Houston, and I lira the man whom your mother—if you are not lying, and for once I believe you are not—drove into exile, and whose wifo she murdered."

" But—but—John Houston ia dead— killed by Nugent, as you yourself told me." " No. It suited my purpose to let you and Nugent suppose »o, tut though to the world I was dead, I have dragged through <v Fcore of years in poverty and misery." " But the paper you showed, signed by the dying man, and properly witnessed." "So fur as it goes, the document is authentic. I did make that statement, and it was signed by the man who rescued me, hut afterward,, by a miracle almost, I recovered."

" And why have you kept silent all these years?" " Because, as I tell you, I was poor and friendless. When, after months of hard ship and iliness, I reached San Francisco, it was to find that ray last remnant of money had been taken from mo by tho scoundrel who stole not only my mino but my name. I could do nothing; for my pretensions were laughed at, but I waited, for I knew my opportunity must come. Moro than once- I managed to save a littlo money and prepared to start to the East, but always sonio unforeseen calamity prevented me, until about a year ago, when I mado a real strike and a fortune, I came to New York, as ardent for revenge as ever, but with a well defined plau of action. Chance threw you in my way, and my scheme matured on tho instant."

"Well," said Strango, "I don't think yon havo any reason to bo dissatisfied so far."

" May be not, but I have gono quite far enough. In any case, I pball not allow you to benefit any longer by my enemy's downfall."

" Whit do you mean ?" asked Strange in an alarmed tone.

" Time tho piny is played and to-morrow I put Nugent in the possession of certain infursnntion tbnt will land you in Sinir Sinsr. !!iy man. You ir.avrv ft pure yourg girl ! F.-ih ! It sickens me to think of it." Sirange'is expression gri'W set und hard. Even n rut -n-il! fiuht n-lion it ..■in-. «i.>t run, ami tii) he, when ha saw th« whole fabric of his futuio happiness «:id security ensmbiu nw.'iv. became for the menu-tit brave.

''*And you think I. am .iroiiijr tv fold my hands and give up without a strugjrlt- '■! Why matt '. " Whit proofs luivo you tlmt yo»i are Houston?" " I don't think Nugent as he calls himself, will need a second look at me. I have isot changed much more thiiu he, and I knew him'at a glance. Besides, as you may remember, I took steps to prevent you showing your teeth. 1 think 1 have in my pocket hero a coufesiion of a certain felonious assault committed by one Lemuel Stnuige and witnessed by me.

For the last moment or k> Lemuel had been fumbling unnoticed by the other in a draper in front of him Now ho suddenly sprang up. "Then, by God r" ho cried, " you dem't leave this room iilivo unless you pivo that piiporbiiok to me !" and lie pointed a rcvolvrr at tlies other. Qrrick as a fi-wh Houston* right hand skipped to his hip, but with a look of chagrin ho murmured, " I havo forgotten ruy gun;" then in v louder tone, but still cool arid collected, ho answered, "Don't play with that. It might k° ofl. You foo! !Do you think voa will mend matters by murdering me? People get hanged in this part of the world for that sort of thing."

With a cunning leer Strange replied, still pointing the pistol at the other, "I have thought of that. You are unknown, while 1 urn v man of undoubted respectability. Don't you think it will be easy for me to tell a htory of attempted robbery and assault, and a hasty phot fired to scare"but unfortunately having a fatal effect. Now will you give me tho paper or not 'r" " You're pluckier than I gave you credit for," caid Houston, eyeing him steadily. " Suppose we compromise. 1 will let you go and any nothing to Nugent, provided you are out of the country inside of twentyfour hours."

" Thank you, you're very kind," sneered tho other, " but I mean exactly what I say. Hand me that pnper or I fire."

Houston slowly unbuttoned liis coat and apparently was going to place his hand inside the inner breast pocket when with an agility hanlly to be expected from one of his years, he made a sudden dart at Lemuel. As he did so there came a hasty knocking at the outer door, and between the surprise of thi.«, and the nuddeuneKs of Houston's movement, Strange lost his head for a moment. Tht! elder man closed on him, tlioro ■was a short struggle for the pistol, a report, and when the c.moke cleared away Lemuel was lying stretched out on the iloor with a Btream of blood trickling from his forehead, and the etill smoking pistol clasped firmly in his head. He had discharged it himself, but the bullet hud taken his own life instead of that of his adversary.

Houston walked to the door as coolly as though nothing had happened, unlocked it, and Proudfoot rushed in followed by Jauk.

"Then you are not hurt?" gasped the former. " But when) is Stranger ,,

"I don't know who you are, sir, but. it you are a fritud of Strang's you had better send for a policeman. He is lying in the inner roum shot through the head, aud 1 am inclined to believe he needs a coroner rather tbun a doctor."

" Thank God !" panted Harold,

"That (sounds as if you knew Strange well !" naicl tike other with grim sarcasm. " I mean, I am glad you arc unhurt, 1 ' was the answer.

"But what is it all about? And what clocß it menu ?" brokoin Juuk, who thought, as be afterwards averred, that the stranger must be an escaped lunatic and that Harold had caught tho irmliidy from him. " I was about to ask that question myself," paid the stranger, "' for mutters .seem it little mixed. Suppose to begin with you tell me who you are," and he turned to Harold. " 1 urn Harold Proudfoot, of the Chronicle." " And your friend?" " la Mr Jack Houston." Houston stepped up to Jack smd putting hie hand on his. .shoulder peered eagerly into his fife. " Don't think mo too eccentric," H.-iid he with a queer niuilu, " but I want to havo a good to<>k at you. I urn John Houston, your father !"

(TO UK CONTINUED.)

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