Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

And ~ any woman can deceive him Won
can, Mary" he laughed. I'm those widows
weeds Of yours you could deceive the very
devil himseIfi"
Mrs. Courtenay's airy talk Of deception
threw an entirely fresh light upon her char
acter. Hitherto. / had held her in consid-
cradle esteem as q woman who, being bored
to death by the ecoentricities OF her in
valid husband, had sought distraction with
her friends In town. but nevertheless honest
and devoted to the man she had welded.
But these words Of hers caused consider
able doubt to arise within my mind. That
she had been devoted to her husbands in
~terests was proved by the clever imposture
she was practicing; indeed It seemed to mo
very much as IL those frequent visits to
town had been at the dead" mans sug-
gestion and with his entire consent. But
the more I reflected upon the extraordinary
details Of the tragedy and its astounding
denOuemcnt, the more hopeless and mad
dening became the problem.
II shall probably go to town tomorrow"
she exclaimed, after smiling at his declara-
ton, Where are you In hiding Just now!'
I'm Birmingham. A large town is safer
than a village. l return by the 8 o'clock
train. and go again into close concealment.,
But you know people in Birmingham.
don't your We stayed there once with
some people called Tremlett, l recollect.'
"Ah, yes,' he laughed. but I'm care
full to avoid them. The district in which /
live is far removed from them. Besides
never, by any chance, go out by day. I'm
essentially a nocturnal roamer."
And when shall we meet again 2"
by. appointment, in the usual way"
A the usual placer she asked.
There can be no better, l think. II
| dOpq mt tnEa from, hn,,x 49, -
quite unknown down here"
If any Of the villagers over met us
they might talk and declare that l met a
secret lover" she laughed.
III you are ever recognized, which
don't anticipate is probable. we can at
once change our place Of meeting. At
present there is no necessity for changing
It,"
Then In the meantime 1 will exercise
my woman's diplomacy to effect peace be-
tween Ethelwynn and the Doctor" she
said. ut is the only way by which we can
obtain security"
For the life OF me I can't discern the
reason Of his GOODNESS toward her." re-
marked my dead" patient.
He suspects her.
o what?'
Suspects the truth. She has told me
So"
Old Henry Courtenay grunted in dis
satisfaction.
Hasn't she tried to convince him to
the contrary" he asked. 81 was always
under the impression that she could twist
him round her hnger-So hopelessly was
he in love with her"
80 she could before this unfortunate
AFFAIR"
And now that he suspects the truth he's
disinclined to have any more to do with
her-eh2 Well" he added, after all it's
only natural. She's not so devlish clever
as you, Mary, otherwise she would never
have allowed herself to fall beneath sus-
picion. She must have somehow blum
dered."
Tomorrow 1 shall go to town." she said
in a reflective voice. "No time should
be lost in efecting the reconciliation be-
tween them"
"You are right he declared. You
should commence at once. Call and talk
with him. He believes so entirely in you.
But promise me one thing, namely, that
you will not go to Ethelwynn,' he urged.
why not?'
Because 1t is quite unnecessary" he
answered. you are not good friends;
therefore your influence upon the doctor
should be a hidden one. She will believe
that he has returned to Der Of his own
free will, and hence our position will be
rendered the stronger. Act automatically.
II she believes that you are interesting
yourself in her affairs it may anger her."
Then you suggest that l should call
upon the doctor in secret and try and in
iiuence him in her favor without her being
aware of it,"
Exactly. After the reconciliation is
you may tell her. At present, how
ever, It is not wise to show your hand.
vnur yiaft fo fha dnaAnr SO,
able to obtain from him how much he
knows and what are his suspicious. One
is certain, that with all his shrewd-
ness he doesn't dream the truth" .
who would?" she asked with a smile.
III the story were told nobody would be-
lieve it,"
That's Just it, The incredibility of the
affair is what places us in such a
position Of security; for as long as I lie
low and you continue to act the part of the
Interesting widow nobody can possibly get
at the truth"
81 think I've acted my part we'll up to
the present" she saids "and 1 hope to
to do SO. To influence the doctor
will be a dificult task, l fear. But I'll do
utmost, because 1 see that by the
reconciliation Ethelwynn's lips would be
4
"Act with discretion, my dear" urged
The old man. "But remember that Boyd is
a man to be trihed with-and as for
hat aceursed friend of his. Amber Jevons.
be possesses the Ingenuity OF the very
ding OF darkness. himself"
Never fear" she laughed confidently. o.
Leave II to me-leave all 10 me-"
And then. agreeing that II was time they
vent back. they turned. retraced their
Iteps. and. passing through the small gate
INTO the meadow, were soon afterward lost g
o sight.
Truly my nights adventure had been as
and startling as any that has hap
,ened to living man, for what I had seen
md heard opened up a hundred theories, T.,
zach more remarkable and tragic than the
,ther, until / stood utterly dumbfounded
md aghast.
ITO be Continued.)
NIFE CAUSE OF HIS TROUBLE
Commander John E. Roller Ordered