Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-20

SehSetS naturally people expected TO
see me monopolize the greater part OF
her time. but In this l think they were
disappointed. Indeed purposely kept
aloof from her. though II might have
been an act OF charity II had stood by
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 abin. and
my reply TO the Invitation, which was
as delightful as 1t was unexpected. was
hasty brush up and fiurried appear
ance. | thought 1t hard that poor old
Jim should have been left out In the
cold. and | apologized to him before
going; but. lear old fellow. he never
looked for the slight and consequently
JAILED to find It. Moreover, they had
not seen much of him. and they were
quite Ignorant OF the fact that Mr.
George Garter was the uncle of Mr..
Frederick Cray. who was not Mr.
Frederick Gray at all.
L was received with the utmost cour-
tesy by the widow and her daughter
and though we strove hard to talk of
many things l knew we were rigidly
eschewing that subject which OF all
others was the most interesting. In.
deed during my previous visit to this
cabin 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 generalities, as though
the lamentable occurrence had bee,
the result merely of accident From a
perhaps mistaken sense of modesty l
also refrained from directly broachinc
the subject, but at the time 1 thought
IL strange. and l almost thought II
stranger now
We solemply drank our tea and made
Dretense Of eating biscuits, but all
the time there was a feeline In the air
OF an impending outbreak, and present
ly 1t came.
DO you know. Mr.. Gray" Miss
Hurst began. my mother and I have
been greatly impressed with your good
ness TO US. 1 myself can never suffi.
ciently thank you, though perhaps YOU
won't think me unPrateeul II I saw that
L fear your heroism Will I'm the end
avail me nothing"
NO. no. Cecilp' cried her mother. eff
is wicked of you to say such things IN
the face VI Gods goodness"
And your courage" said she. turn.
Ing toward me with sad smile. "But
L cannot expect always to have this
gentleman Near me In the hour of
danger"
II was an opening OF which I dared
not avail myself, but managed to saw
something not entirely unsuited to the
occasion. And then I boldly asked
what this danger was which seemed to
threaten them. for already I seemed
10 think that her joys had become
mine, her sorrows mine also.
II think we owe you an explana-
ton" began the girl. 'and with your
permission l Will begin at the begin
nlng ana make you acquainted with
what no one on board for a moment
suspects. Hurst is not our real name.
A short time ago my father was MUIR
dered in London under conditions of
horror and mystery which excited con-
siderable public interest, and as a uro-
lection against the curious and the In
quisitivo we adopted another name"
perhaps recollect the occurrence"
replied, feeling deeper interest than
ever In these two poor women who.
ike myself, were forced to such a con-
temptible subterfuge. ain what part
or London was the crime &C hmItted?"
AT the Hotel Victoria. We had inst
arrived from Australia. with every
prospect In view of a 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
the thoughts which rushed tumultuous-
ly through my brain. ''but your name
was Hllburyr'
Yes, Hllbury. You remember the
murderr'
Only too wen. And now" contin-
ued, warming TO my subject, at Is only
right that | should return confiden ce
with confidence. Not alone do remem-
Der the murder. but 1 know who COM
mitted It."
You known
Both women uttered the exclamation
In the selfsame breath, and as looked
at their white. scared faces 1 saw that
the Terror had as strong a grip upon
tnem as II had upon my father In his
worst days.
Yes. l know. The mark upon his
forehead was that OF the Society of the
Hidden Meaning"
The ladies rose painting from the set.
tee and confronted me with faces
which were now ghostly In their paIlor
How do you knowi How do you
known
Il viii tell you. l saw II once upon
my mothers forehead. saw 1t later
upon my fathers. Ii would have been
seen upon mine long before this but
for the love OF Providence. 1t Is called
the writing Of Kung and is the symbol
of death"
How do you known Who are your
The girl pronounced these words
remblingly and yet deflantly, as
though even l were not above suspi-
cion. l thought, though it might have
hpan only nv -