Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-25


the dinner was served
That will do said Tremaine pressing
a coin into the hand of each of them
Wen attend to ourselves. Send up in an
hour for the dishes. / thought that was
best, he added. as he closed the door after
them. I'VE can talk freely now
He stepped to the inner door.
"Cecly!" he called.
She appeared in moment, with eyeids
a little pulled and red. but on the whole
in much better spirits than ! had expected.
She was arrayed in all her finery-she had
put on every piece of jewelry, l think-ard
she paused In the doorway to throw me
courtesy. Tremaine TOOK her hand and
led her to a seat, with grace worthy Of
the grand monarque.
See the spoiled child,' he sa d. laughing
across the table at he- a moment later,
She's been making hergef miserable for
nothing. In two weeks We shall tie together
again at Fond-Corre.".
She answered his laugh with thin
smile, and shot me a glance pregnant with
meaning. l knew she meant that her
prophecy had come true
He brimmed her glass with. wine.
Drink that" he sad. ITO our meet ng
in two weeks
ITO our meeting in two weeks!'' she re
peated ironically. and drained the glass.
But in few moments the mood passed
and she became quite gay. Not TIL then
did it occur to me that Tremaine had made
no reference to the tragedy at Ed-emei e.
Then | caught myself just in time, for i
remembered suddenly that was not sup
posed to know he had been there.
so you have been successful?' ! asked
finally.
Yes, believe so. I've succeeded in in
perhaps you know him.
NO: only by reputation"
HE has helped me greatly.
You got through, then, sooner than you
expected?''
''Yes-I thought it would take week. at
least. Mr.. Delroy had arranged that the
conference should take place at his coun-
try house. near Babylon We finished the
details yestcI day. and. he added. after the
faintest Hesitation. IAN extremely unfortu-
rate event occurred there last .ght which
made any further stay impossible-I dare
say you saw an account of it in the even
ing papers,
"Oh, yes; that murder and robbery. The
evidence seems to point ve.y strongly to-
ward young fellow named Drysdale."
Very strongly" he agreed. noddng with
just the right degree of concerp although
I'm hoping that he may be able TO prove
himself not guilty. An amiahle young fell
low-somewhat mpulsive and headstrong-
but let us not talk about it.. It's too I'M
pleasant This evening we must be gay"
There is no need for me to detail what
we did talk about, since IT in no way con-
Germs this story; but l had never seen Ire
maine to better advantage. He was the
uEexceptonable gentleman the man of the
world who had Travelled far and tasted
many things. brilliant and witty talker-
a personality, in word on the whole so
fascinating and impressive that long before
the evening was over / had dismissed as
ridiculous my vague suspicious of an hour
before. The story that Godfrey had built
up was 1 reflected. wholly hypothetical,
titmsy with the fimsness which always at
taChes to ycircumstantial evidence. l knew
how jury, looking at Trsmaine, would
laugh at it. No lawyer would risk his rep
utation with such a case. no magistrate
would allow ii to proceed before him. Why.
for all l knew, Tremaine could prove an
abb for the tragedy In suite fourteen as
&C mplete as that which Delroy had offered
for him in the Edgemere mystery Cod
frey and l had been forging a chain OF
So nd. imagining it steel! As for that prison
photograph / had been deceived by a
chance resemblance
The boat starts from pier fifty-seven,
Nerth river, at the foot of West Twenty
seventh street. at o'clock were Ire
foi you there"
Is there any virtue in dreams, l wonder?
That night, while l slept, the tragedy in
suite fourteen was re-enacted before me- l
witnessed its every detail saw Tremaine
snatch up the pipe and strike a heavy
blow-then. suddenly, behind him, APP
peared face dark with passion, hane
shot out. a pistol flashed even as Ire
maine tried to knock it aside, and Cecily
loci ed down upon her victim with eye0
blazing with hatred
l was at the pier in good time, for. let
me confess ii. | was curious to see the de-
tails of this leave taking. Cecily and Ire
maine were there before me- the former
leaning sadly against the rail while the
latter directed the checking of some bag
gage.
I went directly to her
$50 here you are I said. ready TO go
back to that ST. Pierre you love so much
Aren't you glade
oh. very glad, she answered, with
single listless glance at me. Il shall never
come back to this horrible place
And Tremaine will join you in two
weeks. l added
This time she looked at me-a lightning
1ash-a glance that brought back wildly
my dream.
Will he?" she asked between her teeth
why" ] questioned. in affected surprise
don't you think he will?"
She drew in her breath with quick gasp
What does 1t matter? I'm only flle-de-
couleur. ! shall laugh and forget, like all
the Others" and, indeed, a strange unnat-
ural excitement had come into her face.
1 saw her eyes devouring Tremaine lie
approached.
Everything is arranged" he said cheer
ily shaking hands with me Here are the
checks. Cecily. Now take us down to your
state room and do the honors.''
''As you please. doudouX," she answered
quietly, and led the way.
1t very pleasant cabin one of the
best on board, and / saw that some of her
personal belongings were already scattered
about it. Against the hot-water pipe in one
corner was hanging Fe-Fe's cage. A cur
tender occupant from the cold.
Il see you're taking Fe-Fe with YOU" l
remarked.
ITO be sure she is said Fremaine. "She
knows the snake would starve to death if
she left It with me. But we must drink to
good voyage"
He rose and touched the electric button.
Cecily followed him with eyes cleaning like
two Goals of fire. Looking at her l felt
vague uneasiness-did she have concealed
in the bosom Of her gown that same revol-
ver-was she only waiting a favorable mo-
ment-
THE first toast is yours, Mr.. Lester" said
Tremaine, as he filed the glasses.
ITO Cecily.' ] cried. Her health long
life and happiness!'
THANK you, che" she said simply and
very gravely, and we drank it.
Just then bell sounded loudly from the
deck and a voice shouting commands.
Come we must be going" said Ire
maine, rising hastily. That's the shore
bell"
1 passed out first, and for an instant held
my breath. expecting l know not what--a
dull report-a scream. But in a moment
they came out together. Tremaine and
made rush for the gangplank, while Cecily
again took up her station against the rail.
We waved to her and waved again, shout