Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-31
Copyright. 1905. by c. ". Dillingham; Company
By FERGUS HUME,


only in your Imagination.
1.-THE stiletto"-
"What are you talking of, Mrs.
Ward?"
!" in that drawer1 She pointed
to taRtable.
ooh, dear, no, it isn't" said Derring-
ton blandly: there Is no stiletto; there
never was one. We have had nice
talk, and now we must part"
mot before have had my say" said
Mrs. Ward savagely. 81 see perfectly
we'll that l have been foolish to let
that stiletto get into your hands, but
I thought was dealing with man Of
honor"
"Ah, Mrs. Ward, few Of us can aspire
to your high principles"
The sneer infatuated her. you can
deny the stiletto II you like to the pub
lie, but you dare not do 80 to me-"
"Why not? For the sake OF argu-
ment we will admit the existence OF
the weapon. You come here with 1t IN
your hand and state that you found it
in my coat-in the lining Of the coat
BY doing so you have defeated your
own object. Had you produced the
weapon from the coat and showed 1t to
me at the very moment, your ACCUSE
ton might have held water. As It is
the thing Is simply ridiculous. You
come here, you accuse me Of crime
II did not accuse you" said Mrs.
Ward, beginning to find that Derring-
ton was too much even for her. II be-
lieve Brendon killed the woman-oh,
yes! You went to the house, and you
saw him. He and Mrs. Jersey had
words, as she would not confess, and
Brendon killed her with the stiletto.
Then you came in, and to save him
you put the dagger into your pocket,
sent him up to bed ard promised to
hold your tongue, and"--
Darlington laughed. "You have
most vivid Imagination, Mrs. Ward"
he said, with a shrug; but, as 1t hap
pens, you are talking nonsense. was
not at Amelia square that evening, but
at my club, as any member then pres
ent can assure you. can prove IN
alibi from the minute left this house
to the minute l returned to find you
here. As to the stiletto you say you
took out of my pocket, that is rubbish.
On the whole, think you had better
hold your tongue"
"If / 60 to the police they will open
that drawer"
ooh, no! An Englishman's house is
! his castle, you know. and man in my
position cannot be treated in the way
you suggest with impuaity. Moreover,
Mrs. Ward, there is ample time to de-
stroy the stiletto."
(Which you will do" she said, recov-
ering her composure now that she
found 1t was useless to protest.
"No wouldn't even mind showing
it to the police and saying how you
brought it here with al1 accusation. If
the police can prove that this Is the
weapon with which Mrs. Jersey was
stabbed, and II you and the police can
prove that the stiletto was in my
pocket on the night of the murder,
then you and the police are extremely
clever"
ooh, very we'll" sud Mrs. Ward,
realizing her defeat, III shall say moth
ing about you. But Erendon"-
you will hold your tongue about
him also. quite understand how you
proposed to hold this stiletto and the
tale Of its being discovered In my pock-
ct over me. If did not consent to
the marriage Of Miss Ward and Wal
tereh7'
''She shall marry him"
"Why do you hate Brendon SOP
asked Darlington. Il know he is a
strong man, and for the moneys sake
you do not want him to be your SON.
in-law. But even this does not ac-
count for your hatred. Why do you
hate himw
| IT have nothing to say" retorted
Mrs. Ward, who had flushed and paled
alternately during this speech. please
see me to the door,
Darlington walked to the door and
opened it, with bow. 'sWillingly. I
think we understand one another. l
am sorry to ask you to leave me so
soon, as our conversation was most
enjoyable. But have to see a Ger
tain Mr.. Ireland"-
"Is that Brendon's guardian" asked
Mrs. Ward, coming to sudden stop
in the hall.
"His. former guardian" corrected
Darlington. How do you come to
know of him, Mrs Ward?"
II think Dorothy, mentioned the
name" she said in rather faltering
tone. please tell your man to call a
cab. l sent away the carriage"
let me send you home In mine"
mo! No. want to 60 at once" and
she approached the door quickly
when did you say Mr. Ireland was
coming7"
Darlington glanced. at his watch
"He is due now" he said aud looked
at her, wondering why she asked the
question.
Mrs. Wards face was turned away
She was dressed IN furs and carried
mufY. When the door was opened by
| the footman a gentleman appeared on
the threshold Mrs. Ward lifted he1
muff to her face, but not before the
stranger had caught sight Of her face
! and had uttered an ejaculation OF sur
prise. your he snid, stepping for
ward.
what do you mean?" said Mrs