Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07


there as sttache of the American legation
Yes, and You may have seen her with me"
Geraldine had. indeed. seen the two together
IN st Petersburg. and. guessing mistakenly
that they were lovers, had let jealousy madden
her. But she did not now betray her emotion.
what a lovely facet Such q one as men
rave about: as some, perhaps, go mad to lose
and never forget or forgive the loss. In that,
possibly, lies the secret of this dark crime.
When did your father marry this lady, and
where? Tell me everything you know OF her
life, past and present."
Romaine told her all he knew. Ten years ago
his father had met and married Margaret Carr,
then slx-and-twenty. She was the orphan
child of a lawyer in a rural village, where he
had died some two years before her marriage.
But Margaret had never spoken much OF her
earlier life, as it had not been happy. She had
never mentioned any lovers that Wilfred heard,
though she might have told his father more
than she had spoken of to himself.
"A girl so lovely must have had admirers"
said the agent. resting her pretty chin on her
hand and looking at the artist, however poor
she was"
''She was no coquette, you see. to boast of
conquests," he added, with a fond, proud mem
DRY of Lis dead. ''She loved my father and
cared for no other alteration
But others may have cared for her, and
since no clue is visible in the present shall go
back to her youth and try that trail"
Thank you; it is now quite in your hands,
but you must have plenty of money" laying a
roll of notes before her.
She counted them, smiled q little and said,
Half that was plenty at present" but Romaine
answered decisively that she must not be
hampered.
You like your own way, / see, Mr.. Romaine, :"
Geraldine said, smiling again as she wrote out
receipt; this will be accounted for to you, Of
course"
,'.As you please he said carelessly but bit
ing his lip as he rose and began refastening his
ulster. Il wish Mr.. Marsden were here, and l
would tell him myself that want you to do
this
The agent laughed and pointed to the door
which she. facing it, had seen open while VIII
fred said the last words, and he turned quickly
to see fine-looking, brown-bearded man quite
forty or five-and-forty, with an erect and a di-
rect. shrewd gaze that went straight to the
visitor.
Il beg pardon, SIR" he said, bowling. 81 was
not aware any one was with my agent, but I
heard your wishes and you shall certainly be
obliged, as Miss Laval is just disengaged and
myself, as rule, find the executive post as
chief fills my hands"
Certainly: thank you, Mr. Marsden. Then
shall consider that settled, for this lady seems
to so exactly understand my business She will
explai.l it to you, doubtless, SO 1 will take
leave"
1t was too much pain to him to repeat the
story needlessly. and Geraldine felt that as he
shook hands with her exactly as he would with
any other lady in her own drawing room, or
rather not like ANY other" for no other touch
had ever made his pulses throb as this woman's
did, no other face so haunted his vivid imagina-
ton and soul as this one. What cruel reversal
of fate had flung her into such . life as this?
He longed to question Marsden, who escorted
him to the street door. but Of course could not,
for naturally such questions might be miscon-
strued. He must wait for chances favor and
meanwhile paint her. Memory would serve
he 70 10 hay
Good evening, Mr.. Marsden,' he said, pass
ing ont.
Good evening, sir
MGrsden went back to the warm room and
fireside. by jove, that's handsome fellow"
said ne, bending to hold his hands to the fire,
case? A runaway wife to trace, stolen heir
Or
Murder" said the girl, with quick frown =
somehow the usual careless, professional tone
Jared out Of tune on her this time-"the
Romaine murder
Marsden swung round and faced her with
long '.Whew-w,' then striking one hand on
the other in eager gladness. "By the Lord.
what luck for us to get such case. Unravel
that horrible mystery and the repute of this
Office is made. And that was Romaine?''
Geraldine shivered.
Yes" she said, looking down into the FIRE,
.'poor fellow, it ID such q tangle. We must not
hope too much, nor you-clever even as you
consider me, and experienced as l am
I'm too old bird, my dear, to expect mira
cles." returned her chief half laughing ION
my word, it's too bad for you to have the luck
of such piece Of work as this. Don't think
I'd have promised it so easily if had known
only really my own hands are full" looking
into the blaze. $50 - well, you We
got the weather side Of luck, my dear, anyhow,
and, of course. il you do falter here am to
consult with. II ID m your haatis nov and Won
must do your best not to fail Are you going
home now9' for she moved to take up a fur
jacket.
'.Yes, have some packing to do. I am off
early in the morning to make start"
'Ha, ha! Smart work. Where to? / won't
bother you for details now
Il go to where Mrs. Romaine came from. Do
you know the placer
Not at all, my dear; do you?'
II - no; how should I when I've lived
about. / had better say-till
came to your service three years ago. Good
bye"
They shook hands and the agent went out.