Dodge City times., 1890-05-16
CHAPTER x.-rHE MocKERY OF DECEIT.


Had Mountjoy arrived to take Iris away,
before her preparations for travelling were
complete? Both tho ladies hurried to the
window, but they were too late. The
rapid visitor, already hidden from them
under the portlco, was knocking smartly
at the door. In another minute . mans
voice in the hall asked for "Miss Henley"
varied here and there by the Irish accent
were rot to be mistaken by anyone who
had already heard them. The man in the
hall was Lord Harry.
In that serious emergency Mrs. Vimpany
recovered her presence of mind.
of speaking to Lord Harry before he could
present himself in the drawing-room.
But Iris had heard him ask for her in the
hall; and that one circumstance instantly
stripped of its concealments the character
of the woman in whose integrity she had
believed. Her first impression Of Mrs.
ly atoned for-had been the right impress
sion after ALL Younger, lighter. and
quicker than the doctors wife, Iris reach.
ed the door first and laid her band on the
lock.
Mrs. vimpany hesitated. For the drst
time in her life at loss what to sa she
could only sign to Iris to stand baol Iris
refused to move. She put her t<rrible
question in the plainest words:
''HOw does Lord Harry know that am
in the house."
The wretched woman listening intently
for the sound of step ON the stairs) 70.
fused to submit to shameful exposure,
even now. To her perverted moral sense.
an falsehOOd was acceptable. as . means
of hiding herself from discovery by Iris.
In the very face of detection. the skilled
deceiver kept up the mockery Of deceit.
my DEAR" she said. what has come
to you. Why won't you let me 60 to my
room!"
Iris eyed her with look Of scornful sur.
prise.
s.What next" she said. "Are you i'm
pudent enough to pretend that have not
found you out, yeti"
Vimpany's courage. She played her a.
sumed character against her contemptu.
ous incredulity of Iris, aS she had some
times played her theatrical characters
against the Kissing and h0oting of brutal
audience.
Miss Henley" she said. ''you forget
DO yop think didn't see in your face, I"
Iris rejoiued, ''that you heard him. toof
Answer my question:
What question:"
'You have heard it,
"Nov'
IOu ldlSC WOIndu.
Don't forget, Miss Henley, that you are
speaking to lady"
II am speaking to Lord Harry's spyp'
Their voices rose loud, the excitement
on either side had reached its climax;
neither the one nor the other was COM
posed enou~h to notice the sound of the
earr1age-wheels, leaving the house again,
In the meanwhile, nobody came to the
drawinE-room door. N1 Vimpany Wa
too well acquainted with the hot -heads0
Irish lord not to conclude that he would
have made himself heard, and would hsyo
found his way to Iris, but for some OBJ
stacie, below statrs. for which he was no1
prepared. The doctors wife did Justice q
the doctor at last Another perSon had.
In al probability, heard Lord Harry'o
volee-end that person might have been
Was it possible that he rsmembsrsd the
service which she had asked of him: and,
even II he had sncoeeded in calling It to
mind, was his discretion to be frustedi
A. those questions occurred to her, the
desire to obtain some positive information
- - more than she was able to resist
MA Vimpauy attempted to leave the
oraW1ng-room for the second time.
But the aame motive had already urged
Aiss Henley to action. Again, the young
er woman outstripped the elder Iris do
seended the stairs, resolved to discover the
cause OF the sudden suspension OF events
In the lower part OF the house.
no b coptinued.l