Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-30
TRAGEDY OF A WEEK.
BY E. Phillips Oppenheim.
CHAPTER III.


st James at the unusually early hour
OF 1890 and turned down into Piecadil-
", none among the throngs of people
among whom he threaded his way
could have guessed his secret. 1t is
true that for cold night it seemed a
little odd that his overcoat should be
flying open, disclosing his thin evening
clothes, and there was also a certain
vacancy in his expression which rem
dered him oblivious to the greetings of
several Of his acquaintance whom he
passed. But these were the only signs
1t would have been impossible for any
passer-by &c have gathered from his APP
pearance or expression that here was
man who had said farewell to his fel-
lows, who already saw himself head
over heels in the dark waters of ruin
and disaGnor.
Where was he going? He had not
the least idea! After the tension of the
last week, the tension of concentrated
and absolutely unceasing thought upon
one subject, his mind suddenly quilted
hold OF it and began to wander He
was conscious only In dim, uncertain
way OF the stream of faces which hur
ried past him. Before he had gone
half the length of Piccadilly, however,
they began to vaguely annoy him. He
crossed the street to the park side,
where the lights were less brilliant and
the pedestrians fewer. Here he slack
ened his pace.
Marlborough, word with you, II you
don't mind"
Lord Marlborough turned quickly
round. A tall man in a long Inverness
and smoking cigar had laid his hand
upon his arm.
"Massinger| he exclaimed. why,
what do you want with me? | Thought
left YOU in the smoking room at the
club?'
Il was there" the other answered,
walking slowly beside him, and not yet
releasing his arm. TO tell you the
truth, Marlborough, followed you out. =,
A week ago Lord Marlborough would
have elevated his eyebrows in a man
ner peculiar to himself, and in some oc-
cult way would have made 1t very clear
that he considered such step an in
fernal liberty. Tonight he simply
stared listlessly ahead Of him and an
swered in a perfectly spiritfess manner.
What did you do that for? wanted
to be alone
Il saw that YOU did" the other an
swered, quietly. On the other hand
there are times, you know, when it
isn't good for a man to be alone. 1t
seemd to me that it was enc or those
times with you"
A shadow Of his former self returned
to Lord Marlborough.
The man who had addressed him, al
though they were fellow-chubmen and
had met constantly during the last
seven or eight years was not one of his
intimates. There was nothing against
him. His family was excellent, al.
though he was almost the last repre-
sentative of It, he had the reputation
of enormous wealth acquired through
shrewd foreign investment, and had a
sure footing In any society which he
chose TO enter He had also another
and more fascinating reputation
the reputation of man OF brains. RE
had written book remarkable for it's
curiously blended morbidness and Gym
ictsm. He was a member of parlia-
ment and reputed to be one of the
shrewdest and keenest of dehaters. But
for all that he was comparative
stranger to Lord Marlborough, and in
some surprise he drew himself up and
frowned
Much obliged to you, Massinger," he
said If you'll excuse me-"
Mr.. Massinger held up his hand
Half a minute" he exclaimed.
Hear what | have to say first. dare
say you think I'm taking a liberty. My
only intention is to do VOL kindness.
| admit that the mountaineering be-
tween us scarcely amounts to friend
ship. Against that | put the fact THAI
since Mountford went to Rome aud
Dudley got married your set broke UP
and you haven't an Illuminate friend
left in England. That's 50, isn't it,
Lord Marlborough nodded. 1t was
true.
That's why I'm presuming a little,
Mr. Massinger continued. Fellows
will talk, you know. and every one
knows about your losses on Thursday
night and over the Leicestershire handi-
cap last week. There's a rumor, too
that you are interested in this Hoyes-
dean affair Tonight when you left the
club you looked pretty we'll cut up
Now, | want 10 know whether cant Of
st any assistance 10 you? Remember
YOU may not think much of me person
ally, Lord Marlborough, but I'm rich,
and it's temporary affair and ! can
help yon-well, I'm willing
Lord Marlborough turned and looked
III his companion. There was q curious
vein of earnestness in what he had said
but the tone itself was peculiar. For Z
moment he hesitated In vague sort
of way he had disliked the man-had
aisliked the fiippant cynieism and 2 Ger
tain hardness in his manner. Perhaps
he had misjudged him, Just az ina,
moment dit any rate he felt inclined
to think so,
..Yon, Ne n good fellow, Massinger, hs