The Washington times., 1901-07-21


Her grizzIed curls hung straight and
lank under her left en- as, in sheer tired
forgetfulness, she sank into the first
| chair that came to hand, and with a dep
recating futter of the black cotton
| gloves. OH sir she cried dramatically,
what a h'orful night,''
But it was not until the brandy he ad-
ministered had brought-a tinge of color
into his wifes pale cheeks that Aims
worth trusted himself, to remark re-
proachfully. Where ,haye you both been
| tor
Eve sat bolt upright In her excite
ment. 1T wasn't my fault-or Baines-or
| anyone," she protested. 1T was all that
| porter at ST. Pancras-oh. how could he
| be so careless? And l knew
you'd be anxious . But if you'd
! only seen us at York. and those
horrid sandwiches, and that wicked old
| man who laughed And oh! it
| was dreadful
| Ainsworth, his brain in a whirl. gazed
| from one to the other appealingly; York
sandwiches, the man who
| laughed What was she talking about?
Instinctively he looked at Baines Yes,
there was bag by her SIDE and nothing
| else.
| jewel case?" he demanded somewhat
sternly.
''Why at Dyke and Mills ,"-said
his wife with a look of surprise But
oh! of course, you don't know; 1 broke
the key in the lock, and left it to be
mended on my way yesterday" Aims
worth heaved a great sigh of relief.
Then you didn't mean to leave me,
after alp he lamely remarked.
Leave you," Eve stared at him in
amazement; and Julian, somewhat abash-
ed, hurried her in to breakfast And it
was only an hour later. as they sat side
by side again in the cosy smoking-room,
that the whole mystery was satisfacto-
rily solved.
After Ainsworth had gone. as the slow
afternoon wore on. she had felt dismal
she confessed; and among the letters of
the morning she remembered one from
her friend Eleanor Case-here Julian
smiled to himself a little guiltily-in
which the writer had begged Eve to come
and see her before she went abroad
The railway journey barely amounted
to half an hour, but by the time she had
made up her mind to go she realized that
it would be dusk before she got back to
Mount Street, and. unaccustomed as she
was trdNeliDS Dy nerSeiI, SHe
to take Baines with her.
She dressed quickly, and In her hurry
to get out some extra gold which she
kept in her jewel case she broke the sen-
der key off in the lock, but looking inside
her purse she found that she had ample
money for the small fare: and at the last
moment she remembered that she should
want her diamonds for Lady Baring's
ball next night. and decided to leave the
case at the jewelers. on her way to the
station
BY the time she had stopped at Dyke &
Mills. had had the the damaged lock in
vestigated. and had7driven on in the
slow cab to the station 1t was close upon
the hour for starting, ~
Baines hurriedly secured the tickets.
and they sped over the bridge. dema nding
as they went the train That's it, said
a surly porter pointing to the second
platform. "and you'll ave to 'urry up"
Breathlessiy Eve tore open the nearest
door, Baines bundled In after her, and
before they had time ITO recover their
breath the train was off,
She noticed at the time how few the
corridor carriages were,-and 1t struck her
as they whirIed through suburban sta
tions that the speed was great.
1t must be an express" she remarked
aloud to the still breathless Baines. and
added comfortably. "at this rate We shall
soon beSthere." .>~v--7--.
We're due at York ats11:2o. believe.
madam came a erusty voice from the
third occupant of the carriage. shrivel-
ed old man muffied In heavy oyercoat
despite the warm June afternoon
AT York possibly Eve politely ac-
a. slt,t n,tf NJ Mo- iolr
The old man chuckled aggressiveiy as
he looked out at the fast-vanishing coun-
try scenes.
II don't see how you're goin' to do It,
m'arm,' he responded grimly.
WHAT cried Eve IN a startled voice.
But at that moment the door was swung
back. and the ticket collector appeared in
the narrow passage.