Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07
mark thirteen years ago. Where did you find
1t, ma am? Only to think now"

marx thirteen years ago. where did You find
IL, ma'am? Only to think now"
You can swear to it. then?''
why, OF course, miss, almost indignantly.
ia know that red mark, all faded as il is out
OF any lot, and Leopold Lsngton, too, I'm sure,
though he be changed. Do you know him.
mo" said the other with q glow in her eyes,
but shall find him If he is living and you
snail test your memory Of him to some pur-
pose. Can you describe him?'
For answer Mrs. Pyke. smiling, fetched from
side cupboard an old photograph album,
turned over several pages and pointed to a
| much faded picture in one corner.
There, said she, triumphantly. az found
tnat among some paper he'd throwd into the
inriepiaee and KEEP it. It's awful faded, but
| 1t II give you the idea
Faded-yes, as cheap photos do: but the
| woman, looking down on it, put her hand to
her forehead, knitting her brows in puzzled
way, as we do when some memory is struggling
| desperately to take form and sentence. When
| ana where had Ehe seen some face of which
this one seemed dimly to remind herAthis
| shgnt, handsome young man with the smiling
mouth and dropping mustache, under whose
| who?
suddenly It felt to the woman gazing as if
ner very flesh began to creep with o vague
horror that each second gained in strength and
snape-that took slow form as each dim remi-
| niscence grew into recollecton-and every
drop OF blood stole from cheek and lips down
down with deadly GOODNESS like half frozen
water.
MY God" she whispered and stood perfectly
round and said in business-like way: do you
know anything more about this Langton-who
be was, whence he came, where he wentg'
| Lord, ma am, only what he said, and that
wasn't much-only that he had been in the gov
| eminent service in Russia and when he left he
said he should 60 back there for awhile
| "Russia-you are sure of that"
''Bless You, ma am, yes"
| another lie of his, them muttered the
other between her teeth; then aloud she said
quietly: '.You must come to the city with me,
| Mrs. Pyke. will make it worth your while"
Three days after that Wilfred Romano. stand
| ing absorbed before that memory picture he
had worked at all these anxious weeks of sus-
pense, scarcely heard his servant at the door
announce a visitor. but perhaps some subtle
sense Of the presence that was never absent
| from his heart made him turn suddenly to see
the living original Of his wrapt thought. The
light sprang to his eyes, to his whole face. and
with q resstless impulse he almost caught her
hand in close clasp.
You" he said, under his breath, '.you-at
| last forgive my impetuosity-you have some
news for me?' he added, instantly regaining
control and readily covering his words as the
woman's cheek flushed and her hand trembled
| in his. Her heart throbbed up into her throat
| and unnerved her for moment Love was not
for her, it never had been in all her miserable,
garish life. And this CLEAN that picture be-
hind-no. no, it was an artists wild and fanci-
| ful romance. Somehow, with this man no cyni-
cal suspicious touched her, and after the slight
| est pause to master herself she could quickly
take up his saving clause.
''Yes, have news At last, Mr.. Romaine; my
theory reached the truth" he started-"your
| stepmother's murderer had once been her
| lover-engaged to her,"
Then she told him the story, he listening with
one hand shading his eyes, silent, still, with the
very tension Of every fiber;
when the faded photo" the detective went
on. suggested to my memory q face l had
known brought this Mrs. Pyke with me I'M
known to anybody. would not even report
myself until was sure of success. To assure
that last yesterday took my witness-I being
disgulsed-to restaurant where / knew the
man suspected usually dined, and presently
he did come in amongst some three OF four
| others. l saw Mrs. Pykes eyes 20 from one to
the other then fasten on him, watch him from
our corner and then she gripped my hand
under the table and muttered in nv ear: That's
him over there facing the window Then
took her away back 10 our lodgings and early
this morning went to q certain laundress who
was employed by my suspects housekeeper.
and showed her the handkerchief Had she
ever had it to wash? Yes, she had; she knew
the faded red mark it had amused her SO much;
the old handkerchief had been black with dust
and had some little bits Of gum paper sticking
to it. She had sent it back amongst the rest OF
come last October. Never read papers OF
heard any newsY l asked carelessly. Lor', no,
ma am she said; 4 wasn't able to- Again this
red mark is strong link in my chain of evil
dence. You see, both Of one individuality,
and showing (as shall yet further) that hand
kerchief to have been in the possession of nv
suspect and in his bureau only three days be-
fore the murder on that fatal night. I will tell
you on the way to the police headquarters what
the man is. Can you come, for you should
10 l,ar h.v H.
for the warrant
Can 1 Gomez Romaine began; then biting
his lips added: Il should not dream of letting
you go alone. Heaven it is all so hard-if
could but spare YOU"
He turned sharply aside, then came back
Forgive me-but this work-for you, young,
weli-bred, refined-a lady, it is too terrible
she looked at him a second with passionate
pain in her eyes, about her lips. but answered
with a stern. bitter endurance under the
quietness.
Il was younger when we parted in Russia
Did you then think me too wen bred or refined
for-well, for worse employment; than detec-
| tive work for an innocent man accused? You
suspected me because my father, although a
Russian count. was professional gambler.
! You knew nothing else against me-
Nor did accuse you OF anything else. 1t
was you who turned me away. Why You did it
| never knew. 1t was not a dismissal out
right, but you avoided me, repealed me, chilled
the love had for you"
Il did all that, but it was when had the
evidence that you loved another. No more of
that. You were deploring my present en-
ployment"
II am used to it-for years. have to live,
and it is better than the foreign gambling
houses Of my fathers lifetme-here, there and
everywhere. My playthings were cards and
dice, the men and women about me-God
knows how was kept from the worst, don't
Shall we start, Mr.. Romano? The arrest must
be arranged and made today. When have
sworn the information we must go and pre-
vent any escape while the warrant is being
made out; the two officers will follow and wait
till call them in. will arrange with them"
Romaine bowed in silence and they went out
together on their grim errand.
CHAPTER III.