Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-06-07
CIIApTI.I. XIV.

citing intelligence had been kept from
me. and the very fact that it was so rem
dcrcd me irritable and nervous. l had
two or three fcvcrish days, but began
to mend more rapidly than DIR. Has
brouck had seemed at first to expect, and
on the seventh day was able to leave my
room.
1t was about 3 or 4 o'clock when l
went slowly downstairs. attended by I'm
Gle Wilfrid. who insisted upon support
ing me Ms though had been q child.
"Consuclo has sent you special invi-
tation to come to her boudoir." he said.
'Shc will give us tea. have been going
to her there for the past three or four
days."
As we three talked in the boudoir. there
came the tinkling of little bell from.a
room adjoining. or near, and COnsuelo
sprang to her feet with q movement sud
den for her.
ut Is Miss Traill." she exclaimed. "Hcr
room Is only separated by one from this,
and ] left the door open that l might
hear her II she rang. You will forgive
me IL 20 to her for n moment!'
1t was scarcely SO long before she came
back. and thought that her face showed
surprise.
Miss Trail is anxious to speak to you,
Mr.. Darkmorc." she said. 1T Is some
whim Of hers; but. IL you feel equal to
II, do you mind humoring hcrY'
"Of course l will go to herw I en-
claimed. And Miss Hope watched me as
arose with certain wistful anxiety.
tapped and entered with a slight hes
itation, but the harsh voice babe me
Come In" and l obcycd, to discover
Miss Trail half sitting, half lying on
a lounge. with the mongoosc curlcd upon
her shoulder.
WELL" she said with an affected
checrincss. $50 we've been companions In
misery, and both suffering from wounds
Mr.. Darkmorc, when do you expect to be
about againT"
II mean to get out in a day or two,
whatever they may say" I returned.
"Ah! then by the last Of the week you
will he going back to town."
Eyes, by that ut least. What can ] do
for you when l go"
"Whnt I want needn't be done In town.
But begin to zee that l shnn't get well
until It Is of my mind. Now. will you
do it?"
w ouhs wv ptVuSCu OC"
gan. but she cut me short.
Don't say the conventional sort Of
thing.' she exclaimed fretfully. II know
anybody to trust, and I believe IL you
said you'd do a thing you'd do It. with.
out any tricks. ! can't do anything for
myself" she continued. pecvishly. IAN
l want to do Is to write letter, and
III. - l.
bad. ] cant ask COnsuelO to do 1t; and
I darcn't ask one OF the servants. She
won't suspect that l would ask you this
that's my safeguard. For PHYS sake,
find me a large fOolscap envelope. out OF
the desk over there by the window-thc
left side. Thank you. Now sit down
and address 1t: Mr.. Jonas Hcckleberry,
The Spider Farm, near Market Pcyton,
Hants.' Thank you again. Now. please,
give It to me-"
With u sidelong look at me. she began
funbling with her uninjured hand for her
pocket. and drew out something which
appeared to be Il bit OF, folded rag. For
a moment or two she worked over It, all
cagerncss. evidently wishing to remove
two or three clasp-pins which held 1t to.
gether. hut being unable to do 80 on
account Oh her bandagcd hand and arm.
At last she gave 1t up In despair.
II can't manage it!' she exclaimed an.
grily. For goodness sake, do 1t for me!
Take out what Is inside. and slip 1t into
the envelope ns quickly as you can"
She held out the parcel OF grayish-
brown stuff. and no sooner had got II
into my hands than ] saw It was q
pocket torn out OF q wOman's dress, and
| carefully pinned around Its contents.
remembered then Lady Towers story Of
the pocket which Miss Trail had 80 per-
emptOrily hidden her to tear from the
gown to which 1t belonged.
According to her directions, I drew
forth n small square Of yellow parch-
ment, doubled over. like sheet Of writ
ing paper, several times. As my eyes fell
upon 1t, felt dim impression OF hav-
ing seen 1t before; but without givinI
me any time to linger over an inspection
Of 1t Miss Trail impatiently motiOned
for me to pass 1t to her.
Quick, quick" she cried. "Some one
may come-Consuelo, perhaps. Here Is
the envelope. have sealed it. You are
to keep 1t for me. please--treasure 1t as
though it were so much gold, and as soon
as you are well enough to attend to II
yourself, have the thing registered at the
postotlice and sent away. shall be
dying Of anxiety until ! shall hear that
it's been safely received"
Scarcely had the words left her lips
when Consuelo came into the room.
Miss Trails face was dyed with deep
red, and involuntarily she reached out
| as II to take the envelope from me. Then.
remembering herself, she drew back and
feigned Indifference. But her prudent
| thought came too late. She had betrayed
her interest In the letter to the Woman
In Gray.
Consuelo's beautiful eyes dwelt upon
the envelope. raised themselves question
ingly to mine, and then turned with Il
sterner look to Miss Trail.
Naomi" she said-and ! had never be-
fore heard her companions Christian
name-"l see now that you have deceiv-
cd me. Mr.. Darkmore, l beg that you
will tell me what Is In that envelope"
"YOu place me In rather trying sit
uation," / returned.
"YOu are right. Well, I will not ques-
| ton you about II. l will tell you, in
stead, that believe Miss Trail has ask
| cd you to dispose of for her--in Ignorance
Of Its value, In ignorance of the fact that
she has no right to it-a thing which !
| will NOT say was stolen from me, but
which lost. You may remember that
| one night, not long ago, l spoke to You
| OF my loss, and wondered IL 1t We're pos
sible the thing had come into your hands.
] am morally certain that 1t IL In your
hands at this momont ~