Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-31
CHAPTER XIV.

had not moved in diplomatic circles all
his life without knowing how to guard
against the display of emotion. With
an utterly eXpressionless face he look
ed at the stiletto. 1t was a slender
steel blade with silver handle of
renaissance workmanship, evidently q
valuable and curious relic Of the mid
die ages But Darlington stared ut Ii
as though he knew nothing about 1t.
"Well." said Mrs. Ward sharply and
rather disappointed he did not grovel
on the instant, what do you say?"
Darlington looked at her IN rather
humorous manner. What do you
want me to say!" he asked. Confess
that l killed Mrs. Jersey and then
brought this weapon carefully home
i'll my pocket for you to discover and
use against me?"
'That is a subterfuge," said Mrs.
Ward. You did not expect to find me
waiting fog you. and you never meant
that dagger to be discovered, Lord
Darlington"
Il certainly never did, he assented
heartily II cannot imagine how you
came to know more than did"
what do you meanw asked the lit
tie woman sharply.
"Well, you see." said Lord Derrinis-
ton quietly, this is a very clever bit
Of business on your part but so far us
am concerned 1T has nothing to clio
with me. l never saw that weapon
before
"Oh, that's rubbish!" said Mrs.
Ward with a mirthless laugh. Il
found 1t in the pocket Of your fur coat
on the very
"You say you found it there" said
Darlington menningly.
"Do you deny that 1t was in the
pocket7"
"Certainly. Had 1t been in the peck
ct I should have known it was there.
But 1t was not in the pocket"
Mrs. Ward stared. you are very
brazen," she said. You knew 1t was
there all the time"
''1n the pocket?" asked Darlington
politely and perfectly calm. a
Mrs. Ward hesitated. Then she
faced him defiantly. II am SO sure OF
my ground" she declared, that don't
mind saying it wasn't exactly in the
pocket. There was hole In the pocket,
and the dagger had slipped down into
the lining between the inside fur and
the outer cloth. 1t lay sideways, and
what with its position and the heavy
fur
IL could not have known 1t was
there" finished Darlington, balancing
paper cutter on his forefnger. you
have found a mares nest, my dear
Mrs. Ward, and II this is your trump
card l am sorry to say 1t won't take
the trick you wish to secure. did not
know that this"-he touched the stilet-
to-"was in the lining Of my fur coat. "
"Then It was. and Mrs. Jersey was
stabbed with 1t"
isn't that taking great deal for
grantedT' said Darlington, with raised
brows. mrs Jersey, according to the
doctor, II I recall the report Of the in.
quest rightly, was certainly stabbed
with weapon similar to this, but why
do you say this is the one?
Because believe you were In the
house on that night"
(Which house? Be explicit, please.
Mrs. Ward was growing angry al
this calm defiance. 'Tn the house in
Amelia square. You went there to
prevent that Brendon creature from
making Mrs. Jersey confess"
Lord Darlington laughed You would
not make good lawyer" said he. by
your own showing did not know that
Brendon was to be at Mrs. jerseys on
that night"
~ certainly came to tell you" said
Mrs. Ward, feeling that she had missed
a point, "but you could easily have
heard it elsewhere"
"Who from? Brendon did not adver
tise in the papers that he was stopping
with Mrs. Jersey on the night in ques
ton"
The little woman rose to her feet
with an artificial laugh and shook out
perfume from her silken skirts. "You
are very clever and obstinate, Lord
bennington, but how will you explain
tfzis"-she pointed to the stiletto-"to
the authorities?"
"There will be no need for me to do
that" said Darlington, and took up
the weapon. Mrs. Ward stretched out
her hand.
my property, II you please, Lord
Darlington"
The old gentleman opened drawer,
dropped the weapon into 1t and closed
the drawer with snap. Its locked
now" he said coolly. II shall take
charge Of this"
"How dare you? l insist
"Oh, dear, no! You insist on moth
Ing" Lord Darlington rose, looking
like giant as he lowered over the lit
tie woman. "My dear Mrs. Ward, .
said he quietly but IN his deepest tones,
II have been very patient with you,
but this thing must end. You must
promise to hold your tongue about
Brendon and
"And about you, I suppose" she
sneered.
"About me" Derrington's tone ex-
pressed surprise what have you to
hold your tongue about as regards
me?"
Mrs. Ward stamped. though as a
rule she was not given to betraying
violent emotion. "Oh. it's too rtiicu-