The evening world. Newspaper, March 31, 1916, Page 23

— Dea SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS, Amos Trenoweth has secured and the Great Ruby of Ceylon. « Gilded by, dicections tn i it, 8 Railton, kill af the clam in. tissing a t lous letters and. figures tart of the clasp, He keeps tte clan dense, brain?” “Very well, then, counterpane with “Oblige me by counting first the notes, th finally the silver. much trouble, ref Modest couch recline bank note threo = thow one twenty pounds, gold sovereigns to the Sumber of three hu we? Whence by an easy subtra um we obtain a remainder of silver, n value three pounds ixpence.”” du he st fo that [ propose we ! 2 drink-—-for [ have provided drink to the Luck of the Stunned with the events of the last I sat down to ely touch my food, fom's tongue went “enty-four liours, le, but could sear spologizing for th ldressing me as valth and pre r you ill le table a yand down shook my h - \"Tom," I re nge is dead.’ “Dear me! when did tt must have been very sudden.” “It died i ‘Jasper my shoul ter arned your brain first plac fmur. Secondly, w odgings narrow, a westward to St. J to conform to the to be medical stude I did not see tfall. But let caching and | to the bles sund ond time I saw my Before long |} learned her name re Luttrell. I had also seen blue eyes and «il professional inval So the summer wo fleetly—to nin, after these wear thet Satu her, and hi pectant? And s met for the first member?” “Of crurse—it was My.” eet ‘most bles gret it?” (Why ed day ed of my wos <% Ave CH ianged- , | iangea mi not oping th your" Maire! 1 ast all re e pug up her hand as | & turthofr speech, but snc erself, “Answ@r me, Claire: give me some y newer, #f only a word wore thikn the beg our boa t that d course, y u Phipase forget that a beg lea 3ut IT lam a beg 8 be fore you, Man A Romance of Buried Treasure and of a Strange Quest. on the remaining CHAPTER IX. (Continted.) Tells an Old Story. “ SPER, you are singularly much success has turned y, Jasper, that success has not “Not that I know of,” I replied. said Tom, step- ping to the bed and pulling back the Or, if that ndred and forty~ thirteen and “But, Tom, surely we never won all though, and may for the ys settie down as com- jolden Clasp.” Mining imaginary guests, and always ty remarked ting to excess all day.” Do U gather that you wish to leave pursue your m: ford Street?” ed solemnly, “neither Qo enlght nor any other night * said Tom, laying his hand bly given you sanity ; CHAPTER X. {How I Told and Heard News, WEEK pas /\ interval Tom several discov lief, we discov anknotes were received of England without struck us that our clothes would have. Occidental civilization, 4% and also that unl we intended necessary to become Lastly, it began to daw that “brancesea: A Tru Fears turgid perfo ded by six days of work, that a holiday on Sunday was de- er or the next, though twice the river between ¢ fangbourne from euriy morn, en for a sec- @me ani yet one worn and timid wo years, It was a gorgeous August evening. A week before Claire ay would be a holiday 4, when pre @ design of spending river, Need it be confesse: uMay saw me also in 1 on she was I who spoke first, “This is the very spot on which we wed, admitt es man on these ¢ h heap of quest ould 12" es woman very with anot pig nor hs have carried me? ave carried red, with eyes gently low. Ik to the san ing to sum ight me back to this spot, it 6 the place hanged at all? Am [still no * T broke out, you not guessed? Will y guess? Oh, have pity on me I could see the soft bosom heaving now. “Claire!” and now there was a ring of agony in the voice; the tones came jen and scarcely recognized aire, [ have watched and waited for this day, and now that it has come, for good or for evil, answer me —I love you! And she? ‘The words, as thoush they smote her, chased for an in- stant the rich blood from her cheek. “Speak to me, Claire! I love you! With my lite and soul T love you. Can you not care for me?” 1 took the little hand. “Claire, my heart ts in your hands-—do with {t what you will, but speak to me. Can you not-=do you not—eure for me?” The head droo warm fingers quivered within: mine then tightened, and What was that whisper, that less than whisper, for which T bent my head? Had T heard aright? Or why was it that the figure drooped closer and the bird's note sprang up ju- bilant? “Claire!” A moment—one tremulous, heart- shaking moment—ond then her form bent to mea abandoned, conquered; her face looked up, then sank upon my breast; but before tt sank 1 read upon it a tenderness and a passion infinite, and caught In her eyes the ect light of love, bias while listened to the beating of that beloved heart died with my a someth ng on ag ay own . vell-nigh turned m: yn he weiee At first @ hghtest shadow— breath upon heaven's mirror, no more, Then as I gazed, it deep- ened, gathering all shadows from around one spot in the troubled west s-a shape that grew and threatene and still grew, until 1 looked on— w a p from the calm sea of air rose cne solitary island, black and looming, rose and took shape and stood out the very form and semblance of Dead Man's Rock! Sable and r 8 deat it towere there against the 1 evening, until its shadow, falling on my heart itself and on the brown head that bent nd there, lay roun us clasped so, With its frown cursed the morning of our love, Something in my heart's beat, or in the stiffening of my arm, must have siurtied my darling, for as L gazed I felt her stir nd, looking | down, caught her ¢ rned wistfully ward, My lips bent to hers, Min And t , Claire! Mine forever!" ere, beneath the shadow of the Rock, our lips drew clos and were locked in r firs When [looked up again the shy had vanished, and the west wa and clear, Claire said timidly: “Can it be true? of me,” “I Know you love me, What should I know, or wish to know?" “You do not know that L wo my living all the week? “When you are mine you shall work no more, “But sit. on a cu gold seam Ali. nm Hy is str stran “What is strange, Claire?” “That you have never seen me ex- cept on my holidays—that we have never met, What hav jot since you have been in Ls J thought of my walks and tireless quest in Oxford Street with a kind of tion and sew a 1 hay wo: aid musingly, "so shame, ‘Thot old life was severed from the present by whole world “Tl have | very quietly,” Loans swered, “But is it so sirange that we have never met erhaps not. Come, let us go to nsw st lips! We went her the and han ind entered the room where her mother ent As looked up and saw us stand ing t ogether she knew the truth in noment, Her biue eyes filled with sudden fear, her worn hand went upward to he Until that in- stant now: of my pry ad in a flasia diy © answered at ny at stood we ared it, been expecting wre YOU sure? OF ore you leave a Claire drew her tnother's head down ard her and whispered in her Luttrell frowned, hesitated, aud ly said “Well, it. sh eas you wi though | dou be wis A bless you, Claire-and you, sir; but ertain! oa a oh, be « Stil] rapt with the glory of my great triumph, and drunk with the passion of my farewell kiss, I walked into our lodgings and laid’ my hand on Tom's shoulder Tom, | have news for you.” ‘om st fup, “And so have T you. eat ne Horious news Tom, listen; 1 am accepted.” “Bless my soul! Jasper, so am 17" “Yo Whe ernoon. our sues cess has come at last; you the wes, for me the Mu Jasper, dear ‘bey worth th y hav red her My blank-verse play. ree months T shall be next November ‘Fr will be produe; CHAPTER XI. “Francesca: a Tragedy.” GAIN my story may hurry, for on the enchanted weeks that llowed it would weary all bat lovers to dwell, and lovers for the most part find their own matters sufficient food for pondering. Tom was busy with the rehearsals of “France: at the Col iseum, and fT, being left alone, had little taste for the Materia Medien On Sundays only did | seo Claire; for this Mrs. Laittretl had stip 1 iny love, too, most mysteriously” pro fessed herself busy during the week ‘om had been growing silent and moody of late--a change for. which [ could find no cause, He would an- sewer my questions at random, pause THE By W. B. M. Ferguson Next Week's Complete Novel in The Evening World. Here is a story—by the author of “Garrison's Finish” | —that is not only alive with mystery and suspense, but which is altogether ‘different.’ Don’t forget to read it. Y \S face with the yellow woman—tl. mistress of the gambling hell, Si was seated there alone, 1 lower yet, the) | Mr. Trenoweth,” she began, “and y jong tiny sho slowly exit on her lap for a moment. “If the question be allowed, how did you be- come it possessor?” WAKE UP JOHN | YOU ARE MAKING SUCH QUEER NOISES ‘I CAN'T” | not dark You know uothing | kk for is work to gaze long and intently “All about love?" on the way back to Streat had not yet is startled by the y wholly regal nd she seemed disinelinet to solace myselt secounta ble iv a& good deal in tt, Considering tt wis author had no idea written when t It to find his tf ne evening, This tragedy oul how poorly would show pu not well, Claire?” Yes, yes; go on, Materia Med- read aloud 1 dexeription I frankly eriti- as too Massive fool and blind! Presently my love asked musingly: “Claire ca she? ft looked everywhere for vou at first, and only e for an inst hearsals lately he snapped ‘Claire, how You remem *L replied with dignity nor stupendous.” the first night was saying, is neither stum r what mother said ing me no fallen in love niust needs substance of Hox No. 7 was no well, Claire by the fan. you sure you aye contemned, Claire you must bi fer that husband and now should bE gut ‘6 is no such wom- if you could welf-reprouch, y text that f ments, IT bored you 1 vou know this Vast multitude Fan hendon $f lence which had fa the like? Can a man help ping her? But for her, ‘F CHAPTER NU. 1 Saw a Face in the Fog. # very famous night that was big but Lexpect, from his descrip 1s of the usual stam dy queen, tall and loud, wi as we entered, the theatre had no stalls, so we in the front row of the dresn circle, ‘Tom having in his modesty He was behind the sc some five minutes before th gan, 80 that before he joined me | ample time to study the house and look about for some sign T could not find her. There were twelve on eit side of the house, and was but for an in- stant, but in that instant £ Yd he tell you that?” of course Tom raves about tut there is no accounting for what a@ lover will say.” ‘This std made with all the sublim and mutely challenged “Is the passion Tom's grasp could neither echo applause nor answer him, #0 wildly, grotesquely improbab| How could [ tell him? + word to her, ent on, “and ean tell me eription is true, I sup~ same as other w far his des pose she ts muc is she not?” How should T none of Falstaff and Prince Hal, and [ will read myself a chastening discourse on the vanity of human wishes, ‘Do thou stand for me, fa strangers occupied all of ( the box nearest the stage of the tier, where [ was sitting. occupants of this were out yellow and was swaying slowly T turned my eyes upon C1 pause, "do you ever uperb; beyond all ehal+ about twice e been in London.” such betrayal bey such things "I laughed, “Il do not expect would have of Tom's choice, if tha dreary play to @ triuinplant success, i. is what you ing quite jealous of this friend.” rsion caused by tion of this pricked my « ars that his case He worships he und says that she “Rut really ‘Tom is the best and tf T talk seemingly tireless; but ey if as cold as tet pages dB told his lov * | stammered T was positive He is so clever of this gentus— vad bh ses wickod 1” om returned begins in five minutes sald he, and h roIns to seo" ax L mutters Do you mean to say I have Soe ie T muttered thing is ready,” fri of th should kno: opening night Then possibly wae look out for me “Let me take You will see be able to congratulate triumph. So let me meditatively, is Loveday sought in vain to hide hall meet, WIL numbers here should flatter you and smile approval on Tom there, followed another diversion, going to say about 1 was struggling to en Lt heard avo! ra died slowly 4 , and the curti 16 shook her head » deeply im love." + Dut deposed note was pot fr ace by the intrigues id driven from bh f his younger It was werit course Twas quite as ba “We were talking of Thomas Love- she quoted, we must be travelling with hia son Valentine near the haunt of his injured ' entine stops to admire tlic iwing his father to join is getting late; or perhaps you do not way to "No, rate, Tom has written a tragedy,” A most strange sence fell upon us him at the As 1 did 60, it great serial. I you should receive a mysterious sealed box, with solemn orders not to open it until a certain date— Would you obey those orders? Perhaps you would follow the example of the hero of SON i ou can’t afford to miss this ) this, from its position, must be the one which contained the black and yellow fan, By this time thoroughiy curious, | knocked, me in,” said a low voice which med to remember, found myself face to I entered a “You seem astonished to see me, have n looking for you for # 1 bowed, “So you know Clarissa Lambert? vered an affirmative, You admire her acting?” saw it until to-night,” ait is sirany and yet you know he is @ great success--on which I Neratulate myself, for I discovered xclaim, etraordinary? out" T could only Yes, 1 In it so ¢ She and L are connected, #0 to speak; Which makes it the more odd that sho should never have mentioned you. L should greatly like, it L may, io look upon your talisman-—that golden buckle or whatever it was that brought such marvellous luck, Is it on you to-night?” ‘ her. is relic,” said he, as ined it and laid it 1 showed it “It ts a our belonged to my father,” I answered, “The writing seems to be nonsense, What is this--"Moon, end. south— deep, at, point? [can make no meaning of it, I suppone there ts a m ining “So this belonged to your father, | Tell me, was he at all tke you? wit, | should aid I, wondering at this new “but otherwise quite un- He was « fair man, f am dark.” But your grandfather—was he “Me was about my “L believe so,” [ answered, “but Hy"? “Tee that [puzzle you. Here, take your talisman, and guard it Jealously; 1 thank you for showing it to me, but if were you [should keep it secret, Shall L wee you again? 1 suppose not. 1am afraid L have made you miss some of the tragedy, You must par- don me for that, as | have waited ong to nee the last act | careful of ye At any me, Goc Pr talisina’ As she spoke she shut her fan with rp click, and then it’ flashed e that it had never ceased its ulous motion until that instant, Wax & strange idea to strike me n, but & siranger yet succeeded, ate, there is -by, and be Was it that | heard a low mocking laugh within the box as I stepped out into the passage? I cannot clearly 1. 1 went ba t bemde k to my # said ‘Tom, b jes a yel the kust act, w fan, does ht wight of you Mt by merest chan ather shabbily in giv- nee for eritictsin, for never caught a glimpse of her, I 1 behay hope she adinired—Halloo! she's Kone 1 followed his guse, dnd saw that nger occupled “L suppose you saw her off? Well, Ido not admire your taste, L must confess——nor Clatre's—te go when Vran her « lovers make me sea Was beginning to touch cnidest ght. Whew! you Dito! you, Tom lad bowed his acknowledg- had been flung, © last cheer had died away as we t into Strand together. t was wrapped in the de tof November fogs. Tom was the first to break the st en upon us, Jasper, did’ you ever see or hear ovship- ancesca' ould have been hissed. [ know it, ould see it; and now, 1 suppos be fa rus!’ continued he, soliloquiz- ne “Three months ago I would have xiven the last drop of my blood for fame; and now, without Clarissa, fame be a mockery, De t have any chance nea?" hen, with a chang@®of mood, ne ght my hat from off my head, and ot his own In Its place “We will change characters for the he said, “after the fasbion you think [ the least and I'll play my ver! Eh, Jasper Weill, here | am get,’ quoted 1, ontent to humor him: Well, then, T know the thou art vis Loveday, a beggariy Grub author, i faith,’ a man who" was that? [saw a figure rt_up as if from below our feet and Tom's hand go up to his breast. There was a souffle, a curse, and as I dashed forward, a dull, dim gleam and ‘Tom, with a groan, sank back omy arms That was all, A moment, and alt ypened. Yet not all: for as aught the body of my friend, and saw his face turn ashy white in the I saw also, saw unmistakibly 1 for an instant in the blackness fox a face | knew; a face I until death robbed my 4 of aight and my brain of re- “mbrance-—-the face of Simon Col- liver. nent, and before T could pur- ore T could even shout or wu its name, it had faded into the larkness, and was gone CHAPTER XII. The Golden Clasp. OM was dying. | had sent a note to Claire, telling her of his condition and begging her to come to him. I knew that he had re- elvad the blow meant for me, and that the secret of this tov, as well as th assault in the gambling den, hung on the Golden 1 a the Great Muby. Whatever that secret Was, the yellow woman knew of It, and held It beneath the glitter of her awful eyes. She tt was that had directed the murderous knife in the hands of Simon Colliver, Then Claire entered the room and bent over him. Tom's face was Rlorified as he looked up at her. He murmured: “T have loved you—yes, loved you. n you forgive? It need not distress yous-now, It was mad—mad—but T loved yor She knelt beside him, fighting back her sobs, He grasped “Kiss me once—once only~on the lips. L shall die happier so, Will you can youdo this? The film was gathering fast upon those eves once so full of laughter, but through it they gazed in passionate appeal, For answer my love bent wravely over the bed and with her lips met his, “Thank God! My love—oh, let me call you that—you cannot help—my loving you, Do not pray—I am happy now and—they are wailing for you at the theatre,” Slowly Claire bent and once more touched his lips, then without a word passed slowly out. As she went Death entered and found on its victim's face a changeless, rapturous smile, A week had passea and I wa. standing with Claire beside Tom's grave, Il was our first meeting with- out witnesses since my friend's death. Presently Claire raised her head and spoke, “Jasper there ts something which have to pardon if you can.” “My love “Do you remember what [ asked you that night, when you first told me about him? “You asked me a foolish question, if I remember rightly. You asked if 1 could ever cease to love you.” “No, not foolish; I really meant it seriously, and I believe! you when you answered m Are you of the same mind now Relieve me, [ am asking lightly.” ee answer you as T answered’ bepat seve i} strong as death.’ “T told you L was oalled, or t called mo Claire, Were you met bd nrised when you saw my name as Clarissa Lambert? “In that all?" T orted, “Why, of course, T knew how common tt is for Actresses to take another name. “My name tn not Lambert. That ts only the name T took when I went on the stage. Nor am T called Luttrell It Is a sad story; but Int me tell tt now, and grit an end to all deception, My mother calls herself Luttrell to vi persecution; to avold a man ; “A villain, Tam sure. “A villain, yes: but worse, He ts her husband; not my father, but « second) husband. My father died when T was quite a child, and she married agin. Ever since that day she has been miserable. [remember her face —oh, so well! when she first discovered the real character of the man, For years she suffered—we were abroad then—until at last she could bear It no longer; so she fled— fled back to England, ‘and took me with her, T think, but Tam not sure, that her husband did not dare to follow her to England, because he had done something against the laws. She changed her name to Lut- trell, At last we were found. Not by her husband, but by his mother. Hip nother Is a strange woman. She promised to inake my fortune if half my earnings should be sent to her » she had me trained for the ell mo" T cried, “who ta thin woman?” “You ought to know yeu were tn the box with Ter during inet of the first night of ‘Francesca.’ A horrible, paralysing dread hed and seized me, 8? = Quick—teli sak “Her nam me, for God's vs Sable He 1s called Simon Col- ve Sut, Jasper, What P what is it? 1 took the chain and Golden Clasp and handed them to Claire without cy Why, what is this?” she cried. “He has @ piece exactly MHke this, the fel low to it; I remember seeing it when 1 was quite small. Oh, speak! what new mystery, what new trouble is 8 “Clatre, Coltiver is here in London, or was but a week ago,” “Here!” “You, Claire; and it wa, murdered Thomas Loveday,” bile “Murdered Thomas Loveday! [ do not understand.” She had turned a deathly white, and spread out he hands as if for support, “Tell me". “Yes, Claire.” T said, as I stepped to her, and put my arm about h “tt is truth, as I stand here, Collive your mother's husband, foully mur- dered my innocent friend for the sake of that piece of gold; and more, Simon Colliver, for the sake of this same accursed token, murdered my father.” “Your father!” She sh off my arm, and stood facing me there, by Tom's grave, with f,jont, of utter horror that froze my pho es, my father: or stay, T am wrong. Though Colliver prompted, his was not the hand that did the deed, That he left to a poor wretah whom he afterward slew himselt— one Railton—John Rallton,.” "What?" “Why, Claire, Claire! What ts it? Speak “I am John Ratiton's daughter, Janet Railton!” (To Be Continued.) oy a