The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-11-16

"Againi" growled Molyneux. 81 seen
unable to give that brute the slip"
Through the open window he hear
the roar Of motor-ear. It ceased a.
it drew near to the building. Up anC
down paced the fugitive, Tuning ant
fretting.
Suddenly he turned swiftly. Tn;
door was open, and he heard the
voice of Geoffrey's servant:
mo, he will not be long, madam;
and IL you will wait-ah. had for
gotten"
A well-dressed and beautiful figure
entered the room. Seeing Molyneux
she uttered a sry of astonishment
Molyneux, whose feelings never b.
trayed him. turned to the servant and
dismissed him with a couple of words
Then he faced tne newcomer: he tool
her hands; he looked long and ardent
ly into her face. which paled, then
burned with crimson.
Claire! You here? After all these
years."
The woman trembled. In a moment
the deeps Of q passion she believed sha
had sealed forever. broke forth. She
chung. almost fainting, to his broad
shoulders. Richard Molyneux It was
whom she had loved in the past. He
exercised an extraordinary fascination
over Claire Ashberry.
~ came to see Godfrey" she ey-
planned hurriedly. 81 am staying ::
Hastings. He expected me at Brign.
ton to-day. / came over to tell him
that / must defer my visit. That Is
all. And you-you-what are you do
ing here. in this room? Geoffrey's
room?"
Didn't you know that he was a
friend Of miner"
"a friend-to your" Claire disengag.
ed herself from those strong arms.
II m. him two hours back. He
promised to hide me-"
ITO hide your" The voice rang out
in alarm True enough"
Molyneux laughed bitterly. Come
here" said he, drawing her to the win.
dow. "You see that man-ah, there are
three Of them. Trapped"
Forgetful of everything save his
danger, Claire Ashberry chung to Molly.
neux's arm. "Who are they. Richard?
Who are those men?" she demanded
Police officers. Let me go, dear one.
Yes, the old game. State papers; a Sc
cret sold. You'd better let me 90. |
must escape.
You must escape; you shalt" cried
Claire, wildly.
"How?" The things impossible. II
| had a fast car"
You have! There is mine; It is wait.
Ing for me. Come-oh, come quickly"
she implored.
For an instant Molyneux stood irres.
solute; then he said quite calmly:
Il will. And your"
Il go with you" said Claire steadily
u Shall strike northward into the
Dover road, IL possible, and quit Eng.
and tonight" he answered.
=, Where you go, 60 Also" said
Claire.
They ran from the room. The car
waited at the rear of the hotel. A
minute later they were flying like a
'ale down the Kings Road.
"You mean to tell me, Clarkson Sc.
iously. that | have been in bed three
lays?"
"Three days. sir" answered Geof.
rey's servant.
"A queer yarn; this, that you tell me
bout those two visitors" went on
ieoffrey, thoughtfully. "They went off
ogether, you say? Godfrey broke the
zeal OF the letter which had Just ar
lived, and which bore a foreign post |
mark. He sat as if stunned, while his
yes read again and again one passage
q the communications:
"Call my conduct madness. or nv
whatever term you will. | cannot fight |
against fate. l have married Richard |
lolyneux. We shall live abroad. He
as promised me many things. Forgive
ne, Godfrey; or if you cannot forgive,
orget me-"
Godfrey rose after a long silence.
lie turned his steps toward the Old
'teyne, but he had not covered a hun
red yards before he saw her-Verna-
ltting on a chair on the Brunswick !
aWns. She was looking out to sea. A
Gorgeous sunset had purpled the wa.
ers of the channel.
Geoffrey went up to her, softly, SLOW
Y, SO that she did not hear his ap-
roach. And, leaning over her chair.
uddenly, he whispered in her ear:
"Verna, it was not good-bye-after