Evening journal., 1900-12-26
Continued From Mouday)
CnAPTER XI-Contlnued.


I'd, at 0 O'Clock. and that want to
him particularly; only don't tell him
at It is about or mention it TO any
else. | did not mean any one to
NV till he did
81 She began TO cry afresh and / made
lie down and put shawl over her,
81 then left her, as had still to dress,
/ knew that Aunt Mary was not
ming down. l was late as it was"
is that ah:" said Charles, who had
IA listening intently.
'Al," replied Evelyn. I'VE shall
N know the worst now"
4 Very soon" said Charles. "Ralph
y come in here at any moment.
elyn and Middleton. viii you have
b goodness to come with meg" And he
the way into the hall.
We could hear Ralph in the next
,m humming over an old Irish melody
tn an improvised accompaniment.
q Now show me her room." said
3 iarles, "and be quick about it"
& Evelyn looked at him astonished, and
en- led the way up stairs, along the pict-
= o gallery to another wing Of the
use. She stopped at last before door
the end Of the passage, dimly lighted
lamp at the further end. There
B as a light under the door, and bright
ink in the keyhole, but though we list
F 4ed intently we could hear nothing
4 irring within.
KNOCK again, said Charles to Evelyn.
q LOUDER as her hand failed her.
There was no answer. As we listened
he light within disappeared.
Bring that lamp from the end of the
lssage," said Charles to Evelyn, and
ae brought it.
"Hold it there" he said; "and you,
Middleton, stand aside"
i lie tool, few steps backward and then
Hung himself against the door with his
hole force It cracked and groaned,
|nlt resisted.
"Ihe loc., is old. It is bound to CO.
said, painting q i.t.le.
"Really, Charles" ! remonstrated-"a
ldys private apartment Miss Derrick,
wonder you allow this
Charles retreated again. and then
aade fresh and even fercer onslaught
IN the door. There was a sound Of
plintering wood and of bursting screws,
lind in another moment the door flew
lpen inward, and Charles was precipi-
ated headforemost into the room, his
svening pumps fourishing wildly in the
air. In an instant he was on his feet
again, gasping hard, and had seized the
amp out of Evelyn's hand. Before 1 had
,time to demonstrate on the liberty that
he was taking we were all three in the
room.
1t was empty
In one corner stood a box half pac ked,
with various articles of clothing lying
by it. On the dressing table was q
whole medley of little feminine lmick-
knacks, with a candlestick in the midst,
the dead wick still smoking in the socket
and accounting for the disappearance OF
the light few minutes before. The fire
had gone out, but on a chair by it was
laid little black lace evening gown
evidently put out to be worn, while ovel
the fender dainty pair Of silk stockings
had been hung, and two diminutiv6
black satin shoes We're waiting on the
hearthrug. The whole aspect Of the
room spoke Of a sudden and precipitatC
fight.
"Bolted" said Charles, when he haC
recovered his breath. "And 80 the mys
terry is ont at lastl l might have know
there was a woman at the bottom Of it
Unpremeditated, though" he continued
looking round. "She meant to hayl
gone tomorrow, but your recognition o
that paper frightened her, though shl
turned it off well to gain time. No foe
that. She only had an hour, ald shl
made the most Of it, and got off, ~
doubt, while we were at dinner by tn
500 London train, which is the last to
night, and after the telegraph Office wa
closed, tool She knew nothing could b
done till tomorrow. She has more wit
than gave her credit for"
81 distrusted her before, though / hG
no reason for it, but never thought sh
was gone" said Evelyn, trembling vic
Iently, and still looking round the room
Il knew it" said Charles, 'from til
moment l saw the light through tn
keyhole. A zeyhole with key in
would not have shown half the amour
of light through it; and a locked doc
without key in it is safe to have bee
locked from the outside. Had she
maid with herr"
"No," replied Evelyn, "she used
come to me, next door, when she wante
help-but not often-because ] think sh
knew did not like her, though trie
not to show it.
"Well, we have seen the last Of he
or am much mistaken, said Charlie
sAnd now," he added, COMPRISING h
lips, 'I suppose / must go and te
Ralph"
"Oh, Ralph, Ralphl" gasped Evelyl
with a sudden sob. "And he was {
fond of her"
"And so you distrusted her befor
Evelyn. And why did you not mentic
that fact a little sooner?"
without any reason for it? Al
when Ralph-oh, Couldn't Icouldn't
said the girl, crimsoning.
Charles gazed intently at her as 81
turned away, pressing her hands tight
together, and evidently struggling Wi