The evening world. Newspaper, November 28, 1914, Page 9

tont wake ‘ed taty “Sisk Oona, We fictnate them; aloo Mr. ond Ma. Gre am, over whem henge 0 cloud, One or two Rappmings t the days fdlowing their arsival atte the gile and put their nerves on ofge, At @e emsty hotel o Mr. Bundy to potted of by oy egret Ae the victatty te “emperied of the theft. The cite @ few niche that he was floundering badly, and turned to his companion. “Tell them, Blake,” he @emmanded. “This thing has got to be explained, and, aftesfall, it's your Wusiness, not mine.” “Yes,” said Gabrielle, in her most Mgh and mighty voice; “it does seem to need explaining.” T admired her very much just then, of stiff petticoats to sustain her moral ‘backbone. ‘Mr. Blake cast an anxious glance teward the recess from which he had emerged. “One moment,” he said, then disap- peared into the darkness, whence we plainly heard a subdued whispering. “Are there more of you?” demanded Gabdriellx, but with rather a forlorn quaver in her voice instead of the mote of stern interrogation she had ietended. ss “It's all right,” sald Gordon Ben- tom, “On my honor, Miss Gabrielle, I bad not intended to speak; the words escaped before I was aware of it, He turned and looked at me steadily, and again I involuntarily averted my eyes. shook.” ‘We went up to the living room, Bltsabeth and I very conscious of our @ighebilie and inclined to shrink into ark corners, Gabrielle stalking ma- Jeatically on in front with disgust and disapproval written in capital let- tere across her back, and indignation hanging from her shoulder blades. “Well?” ashe said coldly, after a moment's silence. “First,” said Mr, Blake, with a note of calm authority in his voice, “1 must ask you to fisten to my story without interruptions, and to accept for the time being any statements I miny make. Later I shall be in a posi- tien to prove them.” 1 hope eo,” murmured Gabrielle, plainly unimpressed, Mr, Blake handed her a chair with the same careful courtesy which had hitherto marked his intercourse with us, and waited until she was seated before saying anything more. “I do not suppose,” he began, in the calm, level tone so irritating when one's excitement is at fever mest, “you will believe me when I eay that Mrs. Bundy's emeralds are ig your safe. Please don’t take the trouble to deny it, for I know I am opeaking the truth. “aise, I wish to say that they were placed there by the woman you Rave received and entertained os Lady Edith Campbell, but who is in reality a notorious character and wadly wanted by the police.” “I don’t believe it.” 18 wes Elisabeth who spoke, and ‘words were freighted with sin- conviction. “I did not expect you ¢o. It is fwue, nevertheless. This woman is known as Nell Simms, and her ca- Feer bas been marvellous. For some @ @amous criminal named James Kil- Rey, Who geve the police a long, fara chase before his capture. He many etrings to his bow, not least among them the smuggling and other articles none honestly acquired; since his ar- thts women has directed the Gbe is clever—wondertully Inia # was sincere, if unwilling, ad- tone, and he paused i | Hips belie “Hy igt { 1H $6 ne ll TERE Hee i al i E REE ey ga2° Three Girls’ Strange Exploits in a Realm of Jewels and “Cohtrabends y eppwers st Sigs ah ae The Evening World Da familiarity. For come reason I looked across at Gordon Benton, only to find him watching me intently, an anz- Jous expression tn his blue eyes, where relief was mingled with sympathy. I wondered if he knew what I had been thinking, and immediately looked away again. “The son of your servant,” contin- ted Mr. Blake's even voice, “and a dangerous cbaracter—wanted for murder in Montreal. These people, young ladies, have used you for their own purposes. This cottage you live in belongs to them, and you were put here as a buffer to avert suspicion. Your servant was sent here to watch you and drug you when necessary; your boat house was used to conceal thetr boats, and your cellar to store their goods. A passage at the back— hidden by the empty dry goods box— leads into the boat house. With the man's mother as your servant and under their control, it was easy for them to carry on whatever opera- tions they chose, and to baffle the eecret service. But your safety, even your lives, were in danger.” He paused as though there was more to come which he hardly knew. how to say, but Gabrielle interrupted] him, etarting from her chair and standing tall and erect before him. “And do you expect us to believe this extraordinary story? she in- quired slowly. “It is true.” “It is not true, We know there are Jewels in that safe. Lady Edith put them there after the robbery at the hotel, because she was afraid of los- ing them. But they are pearls, not emeralds, and to-morrow I will ask her to show them to you.” “I do not wish to see them.” “I do not know, Mr. Blake, what you were doing in our cellar to-night, It seems @ very strange place for a guest, but no doubt you can offer some eatisfactory explanation of your in- tentions, We are waiting for it; your unwarrantable attack upon our friends hardly seems eufficient rea- son for your presence here at this hour.” Mr. Blake looked at hie watch, then replied very calmly. “Your friends,” he eaid, with a He came nearer and held out bis Mr. Graham. ‘E done it—e struck ‘im, per'aps. Bi slight emphasis, “will return here to- are sorry, as Mr. Benton bas already aaid, that you discovered us, for we “I will not give it to you.” meant to conduct the thing quietly.” “f should regret to use force with ved and breathed and worked for voice, “remove the prisoners.’ ‘er ever since the evil day he fust | The officers now approached the watched it with swimmi “It ‘9 impossible,” said Gabrielle. a woman.” ard H handcuffs tow ‘er—the day ‘e come to me and Pomnut "ane shrank away againet (rembllne lips until ¢ made “I—we—why, I know you must be put we could bear no more, and #2 mistaken.” “You can see for yourself,” he re- Hy-Meestles. Setar Men Who Fail---IIL. wy A “JUST TILL PAY-DAY, OLD MAN.” in an even, mechanical voice, of her gingham apron and round “So Willy went out in the boat “I congratulate you upon the suc- red face. * alone with Mr, Gi cess of your coup.” ‘e struck the e killed ‘Im—'e looked out, hand authoritatively. said. and the yellow ‘air, Ask ‘er why hi done it.. Ain't she ‘is wife? Ain't my boy—not my boy.” Yome “ gald Mr. Blake’ with one accord pushed aside the cur- told me ‘e was agoing to take up a the wall. and disap: tain and entered the room. 4 ft bh ice had con- turned. “I must ask you to allow me “It isn't true!” cried Elizabeth, ble? Wot did she do fur ‘im? She Dog’ an that! Iwill go quietly. 17; to put out the lights.” “I will not do it.” “But, Miss Gabrielle,, you really must,” interrupted Gordon Benton, quickly. “So much depends upon it! If we are wrong, we will apologize in sackcloth and ashes. Tell her it is the only thing to do, Miss Etizabeth.” ‘We finally agreed, and hid behind the portiere at the dining room door, feeling wretchedly guilty ourselves, Qs well as disloyal to our absent friends. I do not know how long we stood there in the dark, but it seemed an age, as I distinctly felt the thuffip- ing of my heart and listened with strained attention for a eound from the surrounding darkness. . At last it came. A stealthy step, a subdued rustle of skirts, a whispered word of caution, and we were aware that some one had entered the dining room and stood so near the shelter- ing portiere that it moved slightly. ‘We could hear a low voice command \#ome one to go to the foot of the italrs and listen for movement: above, Then silence again, and a whisper from Mary Anne that every- \thing was quiet, A faint light appeared through the pening of the portiere, and, parting it still further, we saw ¢wo figures— one, @ man, on his knees at the door of the safe, while the other, a woman, held the lantern, Her back was to- ward us, but we knew only one per- son with that wealth of golden hair, elim, graceful figure, and those das- sling white shoulders enhanced by the low-cut black gown. Elisabeth's fingers closed tightly on my arm, and I knew she too had recognised Lady Edith Campbell. The man bungled at the lock, and she spoke sharply to him, her voice hard and stinging. He muttered something, but she did not answer, for the door of the safe swung open, Gisclosing the box she had placed there in ite wrappings of soft white bie paper. Eagerly she bent to get it, eho took it in her hands a making @ aim to the officers who Willy—git ‘im fur somothin’ ‘o done On the woman, You Know how ale 4 oo 10 osphere undoubtedly Picture.” for you also were watching her. The was, it esemed less depressing than “8° you are going to be married?” Gold key 1s the badge of thie partl: our pretey little rooms, and, besides, 1 scarcely recognised my own volo, it haa happened to you. “Be 4 but whistle blew ebrilly, hasty steps proached, and the room suddenly seemed full of people and lights. The man sprang to his feet with an oath, but bis arms were seized by two men in uniform, who in terms more forceful than polite admonished him to keep quiet and make no trouble, + And the woman—Lady Edith? She stood erect, with head flung back and Diasi yes. A scarlet spot flamed in her cheeks, glowing brilliantly at first, then fading to marble whitepess as she looked at the array against her, Fore moment she said nothing; then, turning ¢o Ms Blake, she poke > Py Pere] BASEL Qh rushing to her side, “Say it isn't *miled on ‘im and she coaxed ‘im Not that.” true, and we will believe you.” With ‘er sweet voice and pretty wa; “Then go," Mr. Blake said sternly, “Even now, in the face of every- she said she couldn't live wi'out ‘im, “and remember resistance is useless, ioe utside, and thi thing, would you believe me?” and more, too. And she told ‘im ‘ow Ptah Beha larga Yee," I sald; “we would indeed, 7.5% She was and ow easy she made Bhe turned once and looked at us It is your word against theirs—why i whatever she jaid as she walked between the two offi- hould we not believe you? Only s ie Fi say It Is not true, The box is yours, rrionas in the States. Wot did she nyo na ee Lan PN rr of but why did you get it this way? You marry ‘im’ gust ‘ Mi Puget eld had only to tell us you wanted it.” jim Meo diea't love shank you Fol en and sich acrost the border to ‘er “ertainly. “You hear?” sbe said, standing tall ‘The man made a sudden goodby.” known, very melancholy they though: tons, and erect, her eyes on a level with but the olticer tanainine Gand The train of her black gown swept and wandered around picking up ‘ow could Merdi' ant Mr. Blake's as she looked at him, UPOn his army dnd Mary Ange con- the floor as she crossed the hall. but stray lest restgned trustia’ me, even when you ‘casa, ignoring his outatretched hand. “MY gteady' stream which admitted of ne the door clone, and steps cross the jtlence which grew moreand morede- ane talkin’ in the eqiar? word against youre, and they believe interruption. veranda, and then Mr, Blake re. Dressing as the afternoon advanced, 1 brought you the ten mynelf me—me!" “he wanted somebody to do ‘er placed the cover on the glittering “It might have been clear, our last night, Miss Kites, when she . 1 ry t “ob dirty work, that's why she married emeralds and again wrapped them In day,” observed Biisabeth, flattening give it to you ‘emnelt should regret ‘use force,” be ‘im, and tired enough of ‘im she soft white paper. apes and pee : a he got, her nose against the window pane as der tn it repeated. ‘The box, if you please.’ fur all the gold key she gave ‘im an’ “and this,” he sald to Gabrielle, the peered out into the gray drissie to send you to cledp; “stop!” ald Gabrielle quickly. the cuff button which I thought I'd “explains our presence in your cellar Wouldn't let ‘er, Ser all ake “Lady Wéith, may I take the pog? {0 When 1 seen it in yer ‘ands, Miss to-night. I hope ‘you are convinced which harmonised eo well with our Elise. Was there a at “ ‘Thank you. Burely it fe a simple didnt send ‘lm out om thee wosre 1 spoke the truth. matter for you to satisfy this man. S. a Bees ie ae aide, Let us open and prove him wrong fary ever come nity @ thing of the past. * once for all, and then neither you eee ee Oho care fur any: nor I need ever see him again.” “Don't I know ‘ow fur years, ever Volce—"go away, and ne’ never Ghe unwrapped the firat layer of sence she fust seen ‘im, she's made let me see your face agal paper, them paused tainty. honest man 'e wi ‘at fust, with turning to his friend with a puss! “Tell me they are ." ahe eald a wife and child.” bur wot ‘aia ina air. in @ queer, choked volce—"your care? "KE was crazy about ‘er, and | Elisabeth now had the floor, and 4.” mother’s pearle—and I will believe once! heard im say ‘e'd foller ‘er to the mantle of dignity descended’ upon last e 5 er. you, Only look at me and tell me Wife and child whenever she calles fata ©." @ lock o' ‘alr “we need n ‘The great brown eyes looked into face, and when he come around she Benton turned helplessly to for a minute perhaps, then faltered; ' miles and to spare, with nothing mee ie vas now my turn to be the long lashes drooped upon he: lo cheek, and she turned aside, apeech- Sharp words. Oh, I know! “Will gome one stop the woman?” lese—eelf-confessed a thief. eaid Mr. Blake helplessly; but Mary baa hay | Garance me. almost a sob, handed the box to Mr. to her daughter-in-law, addressing joftily. “i quite agree Blake, He bowed gravely, removed D*!,directly. friends.” the cover, and Mrs. Bundy's famous id, “and ‘e come ae usual, “ rT emeralds glittered in thelr bed of tilike it because he brought 2 Mr. Blake, “as though we might fJeweler's cotton. As long as I live I 18 wife—pore, pale, homely little as well go home.” when you met in the boat- recall that most painful scene, bring- ing vividly before me the averted face, and bent golden head, of our once loved friend. mined aspect about the chi “T want to tell you,” he I found the scarf pin on tl and my boy here ‘le ‘eart out with And you made a left behind, eatt: love and jealous; man yu call Lord Wilfrid, and the Fs ° gether alwiz, fur you. thought. you ! viitrid, and the days, I left Elisabeth ere is’ no uae In prolonging thie SoUda't live apart, you sald So "e fad promised ‘bi not to admit to with the blue devils which bed got “there is no use in prolonging this ve ‘ls wife fur good and all scene.” and abroad, and you was to join “None whatever,” agreed Mr. Blake, im th here, Sask feria’ tbe goles at @ pin, and wished to try the effect held the man I even now think of because you told ‘im to, But you as Lord Wilfrid. wanted to close up the bisness ‘ei “I arrest you,” said the office fust, you sald, and git the emer cy safely landed, eo'a you would be the murder of Harry Graham.’ of the money they'd bring, And " a Something flashed in the light, and Wily wasn't to git a cem, fur you needed it yerself, but ‘e thought ' we heard a sharp click, accompanied had ‘om, fur you sive ‘im @ bor jen slowed to, 60 fi ‘by @ auppressed scream from Mary like it one night, and started ‘im 4 eres, end Mr, Graham off for (29, other rey Dauend omae a a a shore, You never thou ouRt Not that!” she cried. “Ob, g004 When'you two was talkin‘ inthe boats Lord! not that! Don't put the ‘and- house jest before they sailed, that anda ly was in the Passagew: » “for Gular band of smugglers, and they 1 I know you would time be of service to you, or if, for you see the game ‘s up?” empty, box, and sail away immediate, then She did not heed him, but stood leavin’ ‘im caught hard and fast, trud before the officers with raised hand Well you knowed ‘e would never The hall door slammed with some ‘Which commanded attention in egite a . aft poh Retna eed mh ovember 28, By Robert Minor! paay. W we to cry, while Mary jraban, and with ‘ls in the kitchen sobbed heavily. when st angie which tet cold water Grip Gown parkied and my neck, “will shield us both.’ and the “ ” ‘eart black wi’ nd ion. And This di all ‘Aye,” she said; “the murder of so'Struck the man, meanin’ to stun leat Magli 4 the blow—but why? Ask the woman walle, efile Lied read Cred he Sitsered a the poring es ren ” p " in ‘eaven knows I'm right, whole world em! at us ie assume « careless alr. night. We are waiting for them. We “1 will relieve you of that box,” he beside ‘im, ‘er with the soft ‘ands woman murdered ‘Arry Graham, not had pies hdl quiet Gark object moved ewitt); trade and live honest and respect. “Not that!” she cried, with the fst wate with & basa that shoos aig “There goes Lady and we looke@ out over the empty ocean in silence. “Tm not much shielded,” £ repiied, WOR clever, she wan But - ove it up. I went cat und s email, put thea, 1 did not asts to be: py bye dh. i eyes and I coulda’s oft 14 ti) ment day. Labaaia cusn that aight, Milas Mlon, a ooen She foam te ita evasy, pore lad, because jest an ‘i as you was out of sight che up ‘WaKh,” ehe sald; ‘ined ‘Arry Grebam and west out the water wi' ‘im. And them roses, Misa Gabrielie—you seca, was. Aad she alwis ‘a4 ’em, al CHAPTER Xill. ‘er ‘ands on, and smuggling jools cers to the front door, and paused un- W jE were geing home Our 43 E ? . t each known you. Please forget me, and— fica i i 3 { But Gabrielle was on the couch, her “IH is Mke our first week face hidden in the cushions, her dig- isiand,” replied Gabriele, remember how we went out “Go away,” she said in a smothered rin ana found the cottage? " @ thousand years ago.” that pore dead man work fur'er? An ‘What have we done?” he tonuited: “Dear itvtle house!” eald Miisabeth, lavender and are It seems fad pew Setea Goaieeet ates net oo very vemete cithen ant ocean velled monotescasty ou she remarked frigidly, last day, and it was raining. The She liked ‘1 A not trouble you to stay any ocean looked gray end angry, and * liked ‘im, longer. We are quite accustomed t0 the wind blew se mournfully that at Gabrielle's clear hazel ones steadily {0°—liked ‘ls fine figger and ‘andsome peing alone—we prefer to be alone.” 100 Til oom herself ‘the a left tur Willy but black looks and haughty and unappeased. Even un- jt wag then I announced my in- der the circumstances I could not let tention of walking to the village, to 1s anything get any mat! which might have ac- Gabrielle, with a sigh which was Anne had more to say, and went close more to way, Mr. Benton,” I returned cumulated in the two days since we o with MY had visited the post office, So I the time you were"— got my rain-coat and umbrella, and =, very spoiled, lasy fellow,” he in heard & interrupted gravely, “and a lonely i neha sloomy Rie) we the Le Teste, 2 fellow, too, for success Uk» mine ‘When they reached 1e or, bow- What ve lone my fe" brin acquaintances and few shall hate emeralds, for they can but {iPS —%0 You was extra sweet 0 ever he returned and stood ‘before when I get back to Washington Teagan u sent for ‘im this sum- «1: seems,” he remarked, turning 9, 1 ¢astenea my veil I 4 he sailed you out on the '@@ hat in hand, and @ very deter inieng to make @ fresh start, I will , “that read to the blind, and”—— slip. It Smothering the first inclination to plan, you two, 80's you could be to. Was # sleeve button dropped by the iaugh, which I hed had for some atrugs! any one where I got it--therefore I possession of her alter ego, and went led, as you know, He had it set a8 up to the village, I was giad I went, heavy heart's desire, I want you to see her pag again, ‘out, ob, Huisabern, i rt in various Ways, Your I wanted to be alone, fo I got tho !t sounded go strained and mechan- we have eagh other, moro sinned mail, and wandered slowly back along !cal. ci , and will be the familiar path, with my heart "I truly hope so, but I have not ,, No pething else mat strangely heavy and a very suspi- ventured ¢o ask her yet. Will you well, she's tively, I made no °/ous lump in my throat, which made look at the picture and tell me won ply. me thankful I was not obliged to whether you think she will be kind? “TD think that 1s all,” he concluded, talk to any one. “except to aay that if I can at any when 1 got to the steps leading and it is very vital to mo.” ehip across ; y down to our little slip I paused and ‘How can I tell?” I began petulant. 2 4m not afral ” eaten: . @ny reason, you want to see me, I ’ her son eald. “Don't Ymtenin’ to you. We eard jest ‘ow nope you will let me know, Until looked wistfully toward it, but the ly, then paused abruptly, for it was Gordon le going with mm em shall be careful not to in- fog was ao thick I could see nothing. our picture he laid upon my lap, the apelled went & J letters; he x “I'm going down," I remarked de- one he had #0 shamelessly abstracted ranted to steer a safe peach on you.’ emphasis, and again we listened to °i4edly, as though some one had ob- from Gabrielle's shopping bag, Mo SYOry 3 and @ certain dignity of carriage paused and swallowed convul- steps crossing the yerands. Then, Jected. hy avan re cimukeneously and without restraint 4nd 1 went down, impelied by some with o clutching ot my heest 1914, Another “TARZAN” arate AE A are A of ite recent cocupancy. I looked at | them, vaguely wondering how they spenking of some remote, over 90 calm and unconcerned Paragon of @ girl, but of a when 20 much of importance had been jing bat. if realised connected with them, and then walked too, for when I looked up to the end of the slip and sat de- led Jeotedly down upon the raised ledge, fi, my ripping umbrella over my ehoulder and my damp skirts falling looked 0 forlorn or se utterly friend- the fine soft drissie chasging ea.) lesa, brisk es ae oD nave must im oF I felt frtendiees, too, and as though Monin’ and’ then what, bo nobody wanted me, and I wanted to But first | ae he Ey a aide-comb, I sald I'a do tt nm way, you know, ee I'm put it in myself.” “But not now. T clutched at the handle in an in- competent sort: of way, and tried te lower it, since it was diMcult to held and I was already very wet, but the catch would net work, and I strug- gled vainly with ft until « stroag, brown hand quietly closed ever mine “Allow me,” he remarked, just he bad sald to Gabrielle when she was fishing for the comb, I could only stare Gumbly, all at once acutely conscious of my drag- the Anne Own as he did £0. “This,” he seid, adjusting it at am I wriggled ungratetully and tried | b; it i pi ! i ; tg a H k 4 j 7 4 § #3 Z 7 ; [ i & eit i el £ 4. : aE i § j iit gift ii i i i} | rates sumed with the So the evening ! friends.” “You can always have Mr. Blake,” 90) °q}, I suggested pointedly, as he paused. “Blake is all very well in his place,” he returned, shifting the umbrella to his left hand and feoling abstractedly in his pocket, “but I want something eith wr that matter.’ lota better, and I think I've found my | “Neither did lL. Sheé'lh never Sea ee by aa. \ how would have been! maatters.' she'll 'be ‘very appy, dering hew ‘ne ls res married itfe.” bs You sce, I'm by mo means certain, tg diways dike secre se ry broad eves have enga: a I etared wide-eyed and apeochii