The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-03-22

| would rather you knew Take mo
up TO the brightest iisht aud you
WI sss for yourself"
itowlHnd's face wore an aapFaa-
sion impoanlbie 20 fathom. The red
cross lay on the floor. Antonla'n
| eyes we're fixed on his. She was no
child Ia be humoredi sho Was a
woman and despair Was driving her
| wild. when she said. Take ne up
TO the brightest light" no took har
hand without q word and led her %
whore tho full rays OF a powerful
electric light turned tho place into
day.
"Loohl" cried Antonla. 'lookl
Madame wrote Il hera-hers."
She pointed TO her throat.
The words are hidden. but this
ilEht VIII soon cause them 10 np-
I pear You viii see for yourself.
you VIII know tho truth Al last
you viii understand who really
am.-
There was silence FOR few min >
utos. Autouia kept pointing 10 her
neck Rowinnd's eyes were fixed
upon H. After a brsathleas period
q agony vandoleur stepped for
| ward.
Mias Antonia." he cried. you
have suffered enough. am "a a po-
Hitlon 10 relieve your teffota. You
httlc guessed. Rowland. that for the
last few days I have taken an er.
trune liberty with regard a. you. 1
have been In your house simply aud
solely IN the exercise OF my profess
/ hinnal qualities. In the exercise Of
nay manifest duties I came across a
/ CHASTITY secret. Miss Antonio was %
be subjected 90 a cruel ordeal Atme.
Sara, for reasons 81 her own. had In
/ vented one 81 tie most nendish
| plots u has aver been my unhA ppy
lot 70 come across. hat have been
IN time Miss Antouia. you need
fear nothing Liateni have saved
YOU The nurse whom madame be.
hsved 20 be devoted 10 her service
considered Il best foe prudential rea.
sons 20 transfer herself 10 mo. Tn.
dor my ditectioun abe bathsd your
neck today with preparation Of
/ cyanide II potassium You do not
know what that IL. bat II IL a chsfn-
teal preparation which neutralizea
the effect 81 what that horrible
woman has done. You have nothing
70 fear toar secret lies buried be.
meath your white skin"
hut what IL The mystery" eald
Rowland Your actions. Antonio.
and your wofdA Vandaisur. are
enough 10 drive a man mad. What
n ., al ahoatT I will know"
Miss Ripley can tell you or not
- she pisaaes.' replied Sandsleur.
The unhappy child wss TO b. black
mailed Nine. Eara'H object being 70
secure the pearl necklace worth
klnE'a ransom. The cross WAS 20 be
given IN exchanges for the mes klnee
That vas har aim. bat she II do
foatef. Ask me No questions sir.
10 this young lady chooses 20 tell
you. well ard good but ~ NOT the
secret n her own.-
vanaeleuF bowed and backed to-
wards me.
The secret IL mine cried An
tonia. hut II also shah be yours.
GsofEs wiii not be your wife
with this shaNtiy thing between ia
You may never speak TO me again.
but you shall know all the truth.
"CpaH ny word. a brave girl. and
l respect her" whispered Vandrlour.
Come. prucr. our work 30 far as
Miss Antonio is concerned 10 fin
ished."
We lsft the room.
Now 10 soc Mime. sara" oontin-
ucd my friend. We VIII 80 20 her
rooms. Walls have ears In her case.
aha doubtless knows the whole de-
noucment already. but we win find
her NJ once. she can scarcely have
escaped yet"
Hr few upntairn followed him.
We went from on. corridor 20 an
other. At last 40 found mAdaue's
apartments Her bedroom door
stood wide open. Rebccca curt vas
standing in tho middle Of tho room
Madame herself was nowhere 20 be
seen. but there was every sign OF
hurried departure.
Where Is Mime. saraT' Inquired
Yandsleur. IN a peremptory voice.
Roboeea Curt shrugged her shout
ferr.
Has she gone down. IL sha In
the ballroom7 Speak" said Van
dclour.
The nurse gave another shrug.
Il only know that kchmed. the
Arabian. rushed IN hero a few min
utica ago" was her answer. He
was excited. lie said something to
madame. think he had been lis
teninE --eavesdropping. you cell H.
Madame was convulaed with rage.
She thrust few things together
and she's gone. Perhaps you can
catch her"
Vandeleur's face turned white.
IN have a try" he said. Don't
keep ire. Druee."
lie rushed away. don't know
what immediate steps he took. but
he did not return 10 Rowiend's Fol-
iy. Neither was Nine. Sara cap
tured.
But notwithstanding her escape
and her meditated crime. notwith-
standing little Antonias hour OF
terror. the ball went on rnorrlly. ana
the brids-elect opened II with her
future husband. on her fair neck
Rleamsd the pearls. lovely In their
soft lustsr. What chs told Rowland
was never known; how he took the
news Is a secret between Antonio
and himself But one thing II ear-
tain: no ono was moro gallant In
his conduct, more ardent In his
giances of love. than Was the mas