Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-24

smile as she aid this.
I told ms ELF she was preparing to
throw dust n my eyes once more, and
i steeled m SELF against her.
would her know II was useless
70 try to r odwink me-to palm upon
me any plS usible falsehood accounting
Tor her presence In the plantation at
such an hour.
mo. Lady Gramont. was not in the
least surprised or startled. I answered
coldiy. you will understand what I
mean when tell you was a witness
70 your meeting with your friend In
Sir Thomas's house last night: and
that 1 came here purposely to discover
what your business with him might
be-"
She turned deathly pale-so pale that.
Tor moment, feared she was about
TO faint
She looked SO beautiful, with her
large. lustrous eyes fixed piteously ON
mine. that had much ado to keep my
neart from relenting towards her;
but the memory OF Gwynne's wrongs
strenc hened me. and 1 continued, as
Sternlv as before:
ut is useless for you 20 seek to de-
eeive me any further. I have proofs
Shat YOU are In league with thieves;
and, in my heart, I firmly believe you
nave the guilt OF murder on your soul
Lad, Gramont. I recognize you as the
woman who committed that murder in
the mountain pass last Christmas
Eve"
Whittier she could not be.
rat was impossible; but the look Of
terror In her beautiful eyes grew deep
er and deeper.
She opened her lips, but no words
came.
She was stricken dumb.
ALLOW me to see what you have In
your hand" said. very coolly, seeing
that although her confederate had
made or with the leathern bag, she
was still convulsively clutching at
something underneath her cloak
As spoke. drew forth her hands
she not attempting to resist me. only
looking up at me with piteous, i'm
ploring eyes.
1 could not repress a slight exclama-
ton when the moonlight flashed upon
necklace and tiara of sapphires.
"Ahi" I exclaimed. This, 1 pre-
sumo. is your share of the spoils."
mo. moi" she painted. Oh, no. moi
They are my own-my very ownI Sir
Harold gave them to me. He did, In
deedl"
Looking at the Jewels again. I was
forced to own she spoke truth In this.
The sapphires had been Sir Harolds
gift to her.
had seen them before, and recog-
This was an unexpected turn for the
affair to take.
1t nonplussed me. I must confess:
but. after a moment or so, fell back
on my conviction that there was some
thing very seriously wrong, and ] de-
manded. with no abatement OF my
sternness:
what are you doing with them
She did not answer-simply stood
here?"
before me in silence, her head droop-
ing, her cloak fallen back a little so
as to reveal the fact that she was In
evening dress.
The very sight of this took me back
to last Christmas Eve.
1 laid my hand on her arm. and T
said. slowly and distinctly:
IF you are not what 1 suspect Won
to be. the proof lies ready to your
hand You can convince me in n
single moment. IL you choose"
She did not appear to understand
me, but I concluded this was only an
other piece OF her matchless acting.
Her lips moved family, and formed
the one word: ''How?''
SHOW me your arm" went on.
mercilessly. THE woman whom sus-
pect OF being a murderess has a wound
upon her arm. caused by cauterizati ton
Following the bite Of a dog. Show me
your arm, and, IL there is no such
mark upon 1t, will let you pass un-
II wi
know what you are doing here"
She looked up into my face with
those beautiful eyes OF hers.
There were tears in them-tears In
her voice, too, as she painted forth:
'Oh, no. no! At least, not nowl How
could 1? Oh, for PHYS sake"
stopped her with a curt, sharp
gesture.
pray do not think those protesta-
tons viii avail with me-" I said. at
Is a very simple thing / am requesting
you to do-nothing that need shame
the delicacy OF the purest woman. I
only ask you, in proof OF your own in
noce nee, to allow me to look at vour
arm. You need only roll UP your
sleeve to just a little above the elbow.
Surely there is nothing in that to cali
for such agitation, or for such piteous
entreaties."
Spare met Oh. spare mel" she
| cried, and she folded her arms, rs
though involuntarily, across her breast.
/ was angered by her obduracy-
moved. too. by a fear that, If I did not
take advantage OF this opportunaty.
she would escape me after all.
How did / know but that she might
find some means either OF removing the
| scar from her arm, or of plausibly ac-
counting for IT, II once let her go?
Never before. in my life. had offered
violence to a woman: but I was re-
| solved to use ii now.
Lady Gramont." / said, sternly, at
is useless to seek to evade me. 1 am
| firmly resolved to know the truth of
this matter; and. If you will not con-
sent to show me, why, much as 1 shall
regret to use even the shadow of force.
I shall simply have to examine Your
arm for myself without your consent.
/ can only say that, If find no scar
there, shall be willing to submit To
any punishment you please. Once
more, ask you, will you show me your
arm?"
Once more she answered.:
| ooh no. MOI Have Ditvi Cnar- -, - o