Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-09
CHAPTER VII.
wYNpHAM's GAME OF poURLEs.

Al A during which HOtuluS worthy
Of record here happened
Wyndham and Escudera continued to
meet as they had done before, and
there We're other interviews between
James and Wyndham. which, however,
developed nothing new.
The letters sent to Mexico by Wynd-
ham were answered, but from them he
derived no information that was OF
benefit to him in his search for the
defiant mystery that had shrouded the
life of Burr Pendleton.
With the exception that now and
then some incident would recall the
event to the memory of a reporter, the
tragedy of which Pendleton was the
victim was almost forgotten.
Even Wyndham himself began to de-
spair of ultimate success. or, rather
he had about made up his mind to go
to Mexico himself, where he believed
the solution of the affair was located,
when an event occurred which altered
all his plans and which brought things
ultimately to a climax.
He was sitting idly in the clubhouse
one afternoon, wearly thinking over
all that had occurred and endeavoring
to decide what was best for him to do
next, when one of the servants inform
ed him that q lady in carriage at the
door wished to speak to him.
He rose wonderingly, for Craig Wynd-
ham was in no sense n ladies' man. He
never sought their society and, in fact,
avoided them when he could. That
one should drive to the clubhouse door
and ask for him was so utterly unprec-
edented that he was for the moment
nonplused. However. he obeyed the
summons ut once and in another mo-
ment was standing at the curb beside
the vehicle.
The lady who had summoned him
from the club occupied the rear seat OF
the carriage. Opposite her was another
woman. Both were yelled. He rightly
guessed that they We're mistress and
servant and therefore bestowed only
bne quick glance upon the woman who
occupied the front seat. The other he
regarded earnestly, for an instant only,
while he tried in vain to peer through
the meshes of her veil.
1t was an artfully constructed affair,
evidently arranged with an attempt to
conceal the fact that it was intended
for a disguise, and yet so cleverly worn
that it effectually concealed the fea-
lures of the wearer. Closely woven
nd tod Inv
spots and doubtless doubled, it was
only sufficiently transparent to permit
Wyndham to discern two glowing eyes
behind it and to guess rather than to
see that the face to which they belong
ed was young and beautiful.
Perhaps there was something in her
voice which impressed that idea upon
him, for he did not remember ever hav-
ing heard one just like it before or one
that suited him quite so well.
Are you Mr.. Craig Wyndhnm?" she
asked the moment he approached her.
He thought seemed to him, and yet
he was by no means sure-that there
was a slight touch of accent in the
words, such an accent as young girl
for long time at school abroad might
acquire.
YES" he replied, 81 am Craig Wynd-
ham. l do not think, however, that l
have the honor of your acquaintance"
he added bluntly.
NO." she assented. II am unknown
to you, Mr.. Wyndham. Will it serve as
sufficient introduction for the present
if tell you that was Mr.. Pendleton's
friend?"
Ills friends-that is, his real friends
am" was the diplomatic reply.
Ibid he never mention to you one
whose given name is Garment" she
inquired next.
Never
"Did he not tell you about the duel
In Mexico!" was her next question.
"He mentioned it; that is all. never
heard the particulars"
She was silent for moment then,
hut suddenly she extended one hand to-
ward him. and he saw that 1T contained
card.
81 will not mystify you any longer
Mr.. Wyndham," she said. ''There is
my card have written upon it the
name of the hotel whereh am stopping.
Would you like to hear the particulars
of the duel to which have already re-
fcrred?"
II should, very much indeed"
"If you will call upon me this even
ing, there is much that l would like to
tell you. The woman who is with me
now is my servant. She will be present
when you call, but she does not under.
stand word of English. Will you
Gomez"
"Aost certainly l will come. VIII
you name the hour when you Will cA-
poet me?"
Eat 8. l have private parlor, where
we can converse undisturbed. NOW,
one more question. Mr.. Wyndham."
He bowed. and she continued:
.Do you know of n gentleman who is
here from Mexico, by name Escniern Z?
II do"
81 hope, for the present at least, that
he may not learn of my presence IN tue
city"
Nobody will learn that fact from
me. I can assure you of that
"How abrupt and how direct you
are, Mr.. Wyndham! Too much of both
In coping with such man as Escude-
ra, If you will pardon me for saying 1T.
But did not mean my remark as you