Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
guests. Rowland was in the highest

the guests. Rowland was in the highest
spirits
At last the evening before the ball came
and went. Vandeleur's grand coup had not
come off. 1 retired to bed as usual. The
night was a stormy one rain ratified
against the window panes, the wind sighed
and shuddered. had just put out my cam
die and was about to seek forgetfulness in
sleep when once again in his unceremoniouS
fashion Vandeleur burst into my room.
II want you at once, bruce, In the bed
room Of Nine. Sara's servant Get into
your clothes as fast as you can and join
me there
He left the room as abruptly as he had
entered 1t. 1 hastily dressed. and with
stealthy steps. in the dead of the night. to
the accompaniment of the ever-increasing
tempest sought the room in question.
l found it brightly lighted; Vandeleur
pacing the floor as though he himself were
the very spirit of the storm; and, most
astonishing sight of all, the nurse whom
Nine. Sara had brought to Rowland's Folly,
and whose name l had never happened to
hear, gagged and bound in a chair drawn
into the center of the room.
$50 / think that is all, nurse" said Van
deleur as l entered. pray take a chair,
bruce. We quite understand each other,
don't we, nurse? And the facts are wonder
fully simple. Your name as entered in the
archives of crime at Westminster is not
as you have given out, Mary Jessop, but
Rebecca Curt. You escaped from Portland
prison on the night of November 80, just a
year ago. You could not have managed
your escape but for the connivance of the
lady in whose service you are now. Your
crime was forgery, with strong and very
daring attempt at poisoning. Your victim
was a harmless invalid lady. Your knowl-
edge of crime, therefore, is what may be
called extensive. There are yet eleven
years of your sentence to run. You have
doubtless served Nine. Sara well-but per-
haps you can serve me better. You know
the consequence If you refuse, for l eX-
planned that to you frankly and clearly be-
fore this gentleman came into the room.
bruce, will you oblige me-will you lock
the door while | remove the gag from the
prisoners mouth?'
/ hurried to obey. The woman breathed
more freely when the gag was removed.
Her face was swarthy red all over Her
crooked eyes favored us with many shifty
glances.
Now, then. have the goodness to begin,
Rebecca Curt" said Vandeleur. Tell US
everything you can"
She swallowed hard and said:
you have forced me-
I'VE won't mind that part interrupted
Vandeleur. ''The story. please, Mrs. Curt"
If looks could kill, Rebecca Curt would
have killed Vandeleur then He gave her
in return a gentle, bland glance and she
started on her narrative.
Madame knows secret about Antonio
Ripley"
''Of what nature?"
ut concerns her parentage."
''And that is
The woman hesitated and writhed
1.-The names Of her parents. please" said
Vandeleur in a voice cold as ice and hard
as iron.
Her father was Italian by birth"
His manner"
Count Gioletti. He was unhappily mar
ried and stabbed his English wife In an
access Of jealousy when Antonio was three
years old. He was executed for the crime
on the Goth of June, 1S-. The child was
adopted and taken out of the country by
an English lady who was present in court
her name was Mrs. Studley. Nine Sara
was also present. She was much interested
in the trial. and had an interview after
ward with Mrs. Studley. 1t was arranged
name of Ripley-the name of an old rela-
tive of Mrs. Studley's-and that her real
name and history were never to be told to
her"
IT understand" said vandeleur, gently.
This Is of deep interest, Is il not Druce?'
nodded, too much absorbed in watching
the face of the woman to have time for
words.
but now" continued Vandeleur, there
are reasons why madame should change her
mind with regard to keeping the matter a
close secret. Is that not so, Mrs. Curt?'
Yes" said Mrs. Curt
ssYou will have the kindness to continue"
Madame has an object-she blackmails
the signora. She wants to get the signora
completely into her power"
Indeed! Is she succeedingy
Yes
How has she managed? Be very careful
what you say, please.
THE mode is subtie-the young lady had