The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-25
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1T is very nice Of you" she said
softly.
rubbish" he answered 7 could
not have stayed in Paris and waited
for news. Tell me exactly what has
happened. Even now 1 do not under
stand Is the man Hill dead2'
She shook her head
He was alive at O'Clock this after
noon" she answered. but the doctors
give little hope OF his recovery"
What is there TO be feared?' he
asked her quietly.
She hesitated.
You are my friend" she said. ii
any one is 1 think that 1 viii tell
YOU The man Hill has prosecuted me
for mOnths-ever since I have been
in England. He claimed me for his
wife, and showed TO every one mar
riage certificate. He shot at me at
the Universal and the magistrates
bound him over 10 keep the peace 1
found him once in my rooms and 1 be-
lieve that he had a key 10 my front
door. Last night Mr.. BrendOn and l
returned from the Universal and found
him lying in my room shot through the
lungs. In the crate were some charred
fragments OF a marriage certificate
We fetched the doctor and the police
From the first I could see that neither
believed my story. am suspected or
having shot the man"
But that is ridiculous," he ex-
claimed
She laughed a little bitterly.
Il am under police surveillance" she
said. $50 is Mr.. BrendOn."
But there is not a shadow OF evidence
against YOU" he objected The man
alone could supply any and If he re-
covers sufficiently 10 say anything.
what he would say would exonerate
you"
Yes"
There was a moments silence An
mas face was half turned from him.
but her puzzled expression and the
tone Of her monosyllable puzzled him.
He stepped quickly toward her. Her
eyes seemed TO be looking backward
She distinctly shivered as ne forced
her 10 look at him He was bewild-
cred.
Anna" he exclaimed hoarsely.
Look at me What is it2 Good Cod"
An unhappy little smile parted her
lips. She clenched her hands together
and leaned forward in her chair, gaz-
ing steadily into the fire.
4 think" she said, that I viii tell
you everything. 1 must tell somebody
and you would understand"
Il am your friend" he said slowly.
You can trust me, Anna You know
that. I will be as silent as the grave
Not long ago" she said, you left
me in anger. partly because OF this ex-
change Of identities between Annabe
and myself. You said that Il would
bring trouble. 1t has"
Yes"
"Annabers reason for wishing TO
leave Paris, the real reason she mar
ried Sir John FerriughaI, was because
Of verv foolish thing which she did
1t was-in connection with this man
Hill. He personated over there a mil
liOnaire named Neysey Hill, and IL
seems that he Induced Annabel to go
through some SOFT Of marriage with
him at the embassy"
''where2' Courtlaw asked quickly
In Paris"
Courtlaw seemed about TO say some
thing. He changed his mind, however,
and simply motioned to her 10 proceed
Then there was motor accident
only an hour or 50 after this ceremony
and Hill was reported TO be killed. An
mabel believed il, came 20 England and
married Sir John. Now you can under
stand why 1 have been obliged to-
Yes, yes, understand that" Court
law interrupted. But about last
night"
"Annabel knew where I lived" Anna
continued slowly. She has been TO
my fat before. I saw her come out
from the fat buildings two minutes be-
fore We entered it last night. picked
up her handkerchief on the floor"
You mean-you think"-
Hush I think he was concealed in
my room and Annabel and he met
there. What passed between them I
cannot think dare not The pistol
was his own, II is true, but II was
one which was taken from him when
he forced his way in upon me before.
Now you can understand why every
minute is a torture 70 me 1t Is not
for myself fear. But II he speaks
1 fear what he may tell"
You have been TO herr" he asked.
II dare not" she answered.
II Will 60" he said she must be
warned. She had better escape II
she can"