The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-01-30

Wv" WV WV VWV VvH -!
Wen, nothing or any moment hap
, Pened at Colombo, and the next day
when we were well at sea once more
i Hiss Hurst came up on dec9 and dull
received the congratulations of the pas
sengers. Naturally people expected Il
see me monopolize the greater part o.
her time, but In this think they were
disappointed. Indeed purposely KEEP
aloof from her, though it might have
been an act of charity if had stood by
I to warn of some of the more foolish
people. However, in the afternoon she
sent for me to come and take tea with
her and her mother In their cabin, and
my reply to the invitation, which was
as delightful as 1t was unexpected, was
hasty brush up and Hurried appear.
ance. thought 1t hard that poor old
Jim should have been left out in the
cold, aud apol0gized to him before
going: but. dear old fellow, he never
looked for the slight and consequently
failed to find 1t. Moreover. they had
not seen much Of him, and they were
quite ignorant Of the fact that Mr..
| George Carter was the uncle of Mr..
Frederick Gray. who was not Mr..
Frederick Gray Mt all.
l was received with the utmost co,r-
tesy by the widow md her daughter
and though we strove hard to talk of
many things l knew we were rigidly
eschcwing that subject uhich of all
others was the most interesting. In
deed during my previous visit to this
cabin l had been struck by the fact
that neither mother nor daughter had
referred in any way to the assailant or
the attempted murder, but instead in
dulged In vague generalitics, as though
the lamentable occurrence had been
the result merely of accident. From
perhaps mistaken sense Of modesty
also refrained from directly broaching
the subject, but at the time thought
1t strange, and ] almost thought 1t
stranger now.
We solemnly drank our tea and made
pretense Of eating biscuits, but all
the time there was feeling in the air
of an impending outbreak, and present
ly it came.
DO you know, Mr.. Gray" Miss
Hurst began, my mother and I have
been greatly impressed with your good
ness to US. myself can never sutfi-
ciently thank you, though perhaps you
won't think me ungrateful if l say that
l fear your heroisln will In the end
avail me nothing"
mo, NO, Cecil" cried her mother. 1T
is wicked of You to say such things In
the face of Gods goodness"
And your courage" said she. turn.
ing toward me with n sad smile. "But
l cannot expect always to have this
gentleman near me in the hour of
danger"
1t was an opening Of which dared
not avail myself, but | managed to say
something not entirely unsuited to the
occasion. And then | boldly asked
what this danger was which seemed to
threaten them, for already seemed
to think that her joys had become
nlne, her sorrows mine also.
Il think we owe you an explana.
tion," began the girl, "and with your
permission l will begin at the begin
ming and make you acquainted with
what no one on board for moment
suspects. Hurst is not our real name.
A short time ago my father was mur-
dered In London under conditions of
horror and mystery which excited con-
siderable public interest, and as a pro-
lection against the curious and the in
qnisitiVe we adopted another name"
Perhaps ! rccoilect the occurrence"
] replied, feeling deeper interest than
ever in these two poor women who,
Ike myself, were forced to such con-
temptible subterfuge. ''ln what part |
Of London was the crime committedY
"At the Hotel Victoria. We had Just |
arrived from Australia, with every |
in view Of happy time, when
this cruel deed plunged us into the
very depths of grief and despair"
Pardon me-" said, for now nv |
pulse was going like mad, worked by
he thoughts which rushed tumultuous-
y through my brain, but your name
was Hilbury"
"Yes, Hilbury. You remember the
nurder?"
"Only too well. And now" contin.
led, warming to my subject, at is only
light that l should return contiden %
With confidence. Not alone do remem-
'er the murder, but know who CON-
nitted It."
"You knowT'
Both women uttered the exclamation
the selfsame breath, and as l looked
t their white, scared faces l saw that
he Terror had as strong a grip upon
hem as 1t had upon my father in his
worst dlys. |
Yes, l know. The mark upon his
orehead was that of the Society of the
Hidden Meaning"
The ladies' rose painting from the set
ee and confronted me with faces
'lich were now ghostly In their pallor.
How do you kuow7 How do you
n0w|
Il will tell You. saw It once upon
~ mothers forehead, saw 1t later
pom my fathers. 1t would have been
cen upon mine long before this but
'r the love Of Providence. 1t is called
lie writing Of Kung and is the symbol
DEATH"