Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-09


able. indeed, that he had said some such
words to he as had been repeated to him
by his mysterious hostess. Well, II he had
he would stand by them now. if only for
the old sake's sake, ne said to himself, as
he turned from the familiar face and fol-
lowed the line Of the little gallery of por-
traits. There were some Of his hostess.
which failed, as photographs always fail,
to renew the essence of her beauty: there
" ere several, too, of a man, a big man of
black favor. strong, swarthy ard, to Ames'
eye. forbidding. But his study was inter-
Iupted by the sound. OF an opening door,
ard he swung around to salute meta
morphosis. The Lady of the Embankment
had shed her street attire; In place of the
long, sblack cloak and the smaH black hat
she wore now a clinging dress, white with
the alluring wilderness of the softest silk
and the softest Iaces. foppishly refined.
provocatively negligent, seeming more like
garment slipped on for the iaZiness of
some last hour before bed after ball
than for any more wideawake moment of
the four-and-twenty hours. Philo felt an
admiration of her in his heart which must
have betrayed itself In his eye, for she
smiled upon him royalty.
WELL" she said "do you still think that
/ am beautiful"
Philo Ames had only one answer to maze,
such absolute sincerity in his voice that the
VIC mans gale face flushed with the unavoid-
able feminine pleasure in praise. Ames
was thinking to himself that he had never
WELL" she said, after pause, in which
she stood before him, daintily defiant, IAN
good enough to die for-at least, am good
enough to risk dying for?,s
Again Ames, in the honesty of his soul.
had but one answer. Indeed you are" he
affirmed, and the way in which he uttered
the common words made them uncommon
In sincerity.
She gave laugh, exultant in satisfac-
ton. You will have your chance now"
she said-"here and now"
Even the GOODNESS of Philo's temper. even
the composure of his carris ge, could not
prevent him from start of surprise at
this menace of imminent, unseen danger.
He looked watchfully at the door of the
followed bis glance and shook her head.
Listen" she said. "Do you hear mans
step in the street, mans step on the
stair; horrid step that seems to fill the
with its tread step that makes the listen
er's heart throb with fear and loathing?"
Moved by the passion in her voice, Philo.
oheying her. listened. NO he said, Il
hear nothing
"You will soon." she cried-"the tread of
the man l hate, the man to whom l am
bound. the man from whom you will free
me-
Philo felt that If he were indeed dealing
with madwoman it were wisest to humor
her.
ly. wondering what she was going to say
next. She pointed to the clock.
HE will be here in minute or two
He! Who?" Philo asked, with COM
pcsure which his pulses belied.
1.-The man. 1 tell You. the man." she an
swered. That man. and she pointed to
the swarthy face in the photograph. He
is my lover and 1 loathe him. He is a
finds you here he will try to kill you
THAT is very thoughtful of him, and Of
you,' Ames said, quietly. The woman
might be mad or she might not, but, in any
adventure tickllSh. and
blood the only wisdom.
If he kills you,' the woman went on, with
her eyes fixed on Philo's face. then he is
a murderer and so 1 well rid of him.
If you kill him, as 1 hope. then you have
acted in self-defense. and are innocent-and
SO, too 1 am well rid Of him.
You seem to have thought things out
very carefully" said Ames But why did
you honor me with your choice of cham
pIon?'
Because of your reputation" she said,
with a smile that was half sheer; per
haps because of your big boast. Women
have done SO much for you that it was time
you should do something for women"
Phi,o shrugged his shoulders. You fiat
ter me- he began, but the woman inter-
rupted him.
"Hush.'' she said. II hear football
Philo, stratning his sense of hearing.
seemed to catch the faint sound Of dis
tant ascending step on those distant
cending stairs. He slipped his hand to his
hip pocket and pulled out his pistol The
woman's eyes flashed at his action.
"Of course" he said, Il can only feel fiat
tered at the honor you have done me. If
your friend attacks inc, as you seem to as
sume-well, as 1 believe 1 am considered to
be good shot. and as believe that JUS
tify the impression, l should imagine that
you will be relieved of your difficulty in
about five minutes"
Even as he spoke the steps came nearer
and nearer. and sounded louder and louder
In the gaunt loneliness of the place. But
Ames' blood. growing hot with the excite
nent of the moment, suddenly cooled at the
sight of the womans face. 1t had grown
curiously pale and drawn and wan, and it's
lcok of anxiety touched him with quick
pity. She seemed to be listening curious
ly he to the on-comirg steps. but with
a very different interest. He thought to
himself. trying to translate her expression,
that the steps sounded sngularly light to
be those of the black-visaged savage whose
face grinned on the chimney piece. The
steps came close and stopped before the
door. There was a moments silence-and
then ring.
The woman remained motienless for a
moment. like one under the influence of
some ungovernable fear, some unnameable
horror. Ther, as if shaking off the lethargy
of a dream, she walked to the door ard
went into the hall. Philo followed her.
with a revolver in his hand. She opeaed
the hall door, and Ames mechanically lift
ed his pistol. but lowered it again as his
gaze encountered nothing more alarming
than a telegraph boy dimly visible in the
faintly-lighted corridor. Before the boy
had time to say a name, the woman had
caught the message from him. looked at it's
address and swung the door to.
Phio Ames and she were again alone to-
gether Philo could hear the boy whistlng
and stamping as he went away, but the
woman stood still, holding the message in
her hands. 1t was only for a minute, but 1t
seemed an age; then she turned and walked
ir tc the drawing room, Ames making way
for her. She tore the envelope open, read
the message gave a little cry, which she
forced fiercey into a laugh as she handed
the slip of pink paper to Ames. He read
foiir words in fash. The four words were:
Sa!s(tx2
! IA il A. | :.