Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-03


, would have been mine. Not a word.
than you know. l think I know why
Escudera did not pay much attention
to the game, but It does not matter"
The game was brought 20 close &C
cording to the arrangement, at O'Clock
I'm the morning, and as the guests were
departing Escudera, who had partially
retrieved his losses OF the earlier part
| OF the game, loitered behind the others
and was the last to bid his host goodby.
Wyndham guessed that he had
/ something to say, but he was hardly
| prepared for what came.
81 should not think you would enjoy
living in these rooms" he said.
| "Why not?" asked Wyndham.
ooh. nothing; only there is something
suggestive of the uncanny about a
place where a man has been murder
| ed
| mot when that man was your best
and dearest friend, senior. On the con-
trary, these rooms keep me reminded
Of something that l have to do"
what is thatT
Bring the murderer to Justice"
The Mexican shrugged bis shoulders.
81 will confess" be said, that have
felt rather grewsome here. | have not
been here before since that night. You
know | belong to superstitious race.
Good morning."
Now. what the devil was he driving
atT' muttered Wyndham after Escu-
dera was gone. "He had something
| n1co 20 h,,& ~ y
wonder what II was that made him
nervous. Was II beca use be was In the
rooms where be had killed a man or
was It because he was worried over my
absence? Whatever ii was, his time
for uncertainty is short. He at least
viii soon know the worst"
! Instead OF taking a few hours OF rest,
as most men under the circumstances
| would have done, Craig Wyndham
plunged into cold bath, after which
old James gave him a thorough rub
down" Then, although II was still so
early that he knew none OF his &C.
quaintances would be abroad, he went
out on the street and took a sharp walk
OF three miles or more.
l IF man avoids stimulants, takes
brisk exercise and cold water baths, he
can do without sleep for seventy-two
hours" he said to park policeman to
whom he talked while he rested from
his brisk peregrination.
He had walked oil the way out to
Mount st. Vincent to make arrange
ments for that luncheon, and with all
his straightforwardness he would have
laughed to scorn any implication that
he had done II for any other reason
than the exercise; but all the while as
ne walked there were bright-no, bril-
liant-eyes leading him on. the eyes OF
the sister Of his dead friend, the eyes
Of the woman TO whom he intended TO
be brotherl
Self deception is deception OF the
worst sort, for there can be no betray-
al. Craig Wyndham did not know that
he was deceiving himself. All his life
he had been so direct In everything he
did that the symptoms were unrecog-
nizable. he only realized without know
Ing why that something was strange
and new.
II ever a man hated deception OF
any sort. Craig Wyndham was one.
The Interview with Carmen, the exer-
else and the conscious force of his own
strength had given him new and
strange confidence, and while he was
returning from the park he made up
his mind that there should be no more
Of that. With the knowledge he now
possessed he believed that he could not
only defy the Vaccinations of Carlos
Escudera, but that he need no longer
ipretend friendship for a man he hated;
also he resolved that he would make
no effort to conceal from him or his
followers-if he possessed any-what
he should do that day. In other words,
he felt entirely competent to care for
and protect Carmen Pendleton. There
may be some who read who have had
this same sensation and can under
stand better than 1t can be described
here the sensations by which he was
laceuated.
1t was In consequence OF these sever
al emotions-if they may be defined by
that word-that at the appointed hour
of noon Craig appeared at the door of
the hotel where the sister Of his friend
WAS stopping and, without any attempt
lat concealment, drove away with her
land the duenna, Nor was 1t with sur
prise that, as they drove up the ave
nue., he was saluted with raised hat
and fourishing bow by Carlos Escu-
dera.
Garments seat In the carriage was
lsuch that she did not see the Mexican,
land it was therefore supposable that
1.-THE Mexican did not see her. The du-
Jenna, being on the front seat, was, OF
tcourse, unseen, and Wyndham smiled
when he realized that after all 1t was
lonly his own movements that Escude-
ia and his hirelings were watching.
AS yet Escudera did not even suspect
the presence Of his cousin In the city.
At Mount St Vincent they sought a
far corner OF the restaurant. The du-
Jenna, Maria, was given an adjoining
table. A tip to the waiter made it i'm
possible for other guests to occupy the
NEARBY tables at an hour when there
iwere so many that were vacant In
,other parts Of the room, and thus
EXUrDIhap, 81