Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22

better-looking, and you might have secured Edith
affections dozen times over before this lnterlope1
came from his African swamps. But of course nc
girl of spirit would endure your conduct-your
philanderings with the Isabes and Gerties and Mays
of the village. Why, | told that girl named
May Mannering has had the impertinence to report
that she is engaged to you
''She may be- growled Harry; but I'm hanged
if l am engaged to her, though l might do worse
for, whatever happens, l believe she would stick
to me through thick and thin"
so would your dog" retorted Mrs Warren
coldly. However, l would rather not discuss peo-
pie of that class The most important matter at
present is your financial position You must be
aware that every moment threatens you with I'm
speakable dangers?"
What do you mean?" exclaimed Harry, with
a gasp of anxiety
''Oh, my son, don't try to deceive me! l may
not know all, but know enough to realize that if
Mr. Angler goes through certain of Lord Arncliffes
books, it means utter ruin to YOU.
Warren looked at his mother aghast, and then
began to whimper with maudlin self-pity 1T
not my fault" he protested. Il dropped four
hundred the Leger but | should have pulled
it all back. And if the Grand National favorite
had not gone lame Besides, what did few hun
dreds matter to old Arnclfe?"
"A few hundreds!" said his mother reproach-
fully.
well then" sul1en1y, "a few thousands"
And So" continued Mrs. Warren, you opened
a private account with Lord Arncliffe's bankers to
enable you to supply him with a forged pass-book. 4"
Yes" said Harry hopeessly He did not at
tempt to inquire how his mother had obtained her
information.
'Well, now, do you not see that your only safety
lies in destroying that forged pass-book and the
book which Lord Arncife kept to check his banking
account. If that is done, people may indeed know
that something is wrong, but they not likely to
suspect you, and in any it will be impossible
to prove anything"
Il tried to the books the night Angler
arrived" said Harry but | heard somebody
moving and did not dare to stop in the library.
AS it was, Angler caught the stairs and
seemed very suspicious. l have not had a chance
to get at them again; but I was hoping that Edith
would accept my proposal, and then, of course,
things would easily have come right"
Il hoped too rejoined his mother bitterly;
"but | fancy that few girls would be likely to
accept proposal that reeked of brandy. STILL we
must leave that matter for the present. The main
thing is to secure those books at any hazard. Mr..
before came out, and for all know he may be
examining those very accounts at this moment"
But what am to dor" asked Warren helplessly.
do anything" returned Mrs. Warren with real
impatience 80 long you do not absolutely COM
nit yourself. Until those books destroyed you
a risk not only of prosecution for forgery and
embezzlement but for something much more serious.
You must not forget that Lord Arncfe muir
dered
Warren's face pa1ed grayly, and his hand went
up to his throat. That is all a beast1y plot |
don't believe a word of itr he murmured hoarsely.
Yet it may be true. And people are seeking for