Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-19
CHAPTER XIX.
A Dead Mans Letter.

A Dead Mans Letter.
This telegram" said wortley--we will
give him that name henceforth: he has done
with the other now-''is from my. lawyers
In town. in answer to one which 1 sent to
them after I had left you this morning. II
Is rather long. Armitage. Evans a. Armitage
are old-fashioned family solicitors. and they
have horror OF the modern craze for
brevity: but they are very sound. Shall
I read It your
III 1t has anything to do with what we
are discussing"
"Oh. you will see that It hasr'
Lady Holland was feeling curiousy limp.
She had shot her bolt. aiming at what she
| thought was the gold. and she had. It
seemed. missed the large. altogether. Her
bolt had fallen harmless to the ground. and
the man was watching her with a smile
| and noting her evident disappointment with
amusement. She gave herself a shake, and
sat up stif1y.
Read ft!'' she said
He laughed. and began: I'm answer to
your telegram received this morning, by
10 and 20 vict. cap. 96 1t was enacted that
no irregular marriage shall be valid in
Scotland unless one of the parties has lived
In Scotland for the twenty-one days next
preceding the marriage or has his or her
usual residence there at the time.
He replaced the telegram in its envelope,
saying:
Its no good, you seei Neither OF us has
been in Scotland for twenty-one days. and
neither of US has a usual residence here.
But 1 will admit that until received this
reassuring news few minutes ago was
frightened. That was why, shortly after
You left me. ! wired a supposed case to
my solicitor. and told him to wire back at
once what the law was So you see we are
oil
Lady Ellen forced herself to laugh. She
had counted on being able to compel him.
by the lucky chance of that scene in the
study at Holland Abbey to do her will;
and now the ground was cut from beneath
her feet. The fact that he showed such
obvious pleasure In his escape might have
piaued vainer woman. Her only thought
just now was to wonder whether there
was any chance that the telegram did not
settle the question after all
Lawyers make mistakes sometimes" she
said. Perhaps you haven't got rid of
me yeti"
George Armitage is a very sound man.
and an old friend of mine" he answered
confidently. He doesn't often make mis-
takes: Are you thinking of contesting the
point?''
She picked up the telegram and read 1t
for herself.
There is more here" she said. Must
see you at once. Am starting from King S
Cross tonight at 8. Meet me at Elgin sta
ton tomorrow. Consult court circular for
reason G. A. What does that mean?"
II haven't the slightest idea. Some
thing important. no doubt, since he thinks
1t worth while to come all this way"
Are you going to let him conner she
asked quickly. Shall you introduce him
at the Abbey?"
why not? Legal advice Is always use
full"
If you can AFFORD to take It," she said
with meaning. But can your
He darted one of his sharp glances at
her. She was clever woman. and she
false position with any credit left at all.
he must do It hs himself: the law would
not help him here. But what was her mo-
Thank you" he said. II had forgotten
for the moment"
Then you win wire to stop him?"
NO. l will wire him to look out for me
at Grantown. I will run up In my car to-
morrow and meet him there"
Better do it now" she suggested, and
rang the bell. When the waiter came in.
she said: Mr.. wortley has a teIegram
which he wishes to send of at once"
Wondering little at her eagerness he
Wrote the telegram and gave it to the wait
er. She wrote one. too. and told the man to
see that both were sent of without delay.
Lady Holland. the younger. never spoiled
her plots by lack Of decision at the critical
moment.
Now" said wortley. when he and Lady
Holland were alone again, won't you tell
me why you were so anxious for me to send
that message?'
Yes. If you like" she answered with a
smile. 1T is because 1t is just as important
for me as for you that there should be no
lawyers around, ferreting out our secrets
and hampering the moves In the game
which we have still to play against each
other. The game Is not over yet, you
know. though you have refused to be my
partner in it. Does 1T surprise you to hear
that still mean to play out my hand?"
No" he said. But would remind you
that all your cards are on the table now"
mo one has seen them but you"
He recognized that she was defying him
to do his worst. and her pluck extorted an
unwilling tribute of admiration: but her
answer ready for 1t.
"You are boldr' he said You think tina
you will still be able to carry out your
schemer
eff you are my only opponent. yes"
He took an envelope from his pocket and
toyed with It.
'Then." he said quietly. "as do not IN
tend that you should do anything Of the
sort. think the time has come when I may
use this. Do you know that on the night
before / left Oporto had long talk with
your husband? Do you know that 1t was
Abbey at all? He asked me to come. Can
you guess why?'
The woman had gone suddenly pale. A
look Of mingled anger and fear was on her
face as she answered in a horse voice:
mo. Did Eustace give you that?'
Yes. He asked me to go to Holland Alb
hey to protect his mother and sister from a
danger which he believed was threatening
them. That danger was-you!'
Lady Holland half rose from her chair
and then fell back again with harsh, jeer-
ing laugh. In this moment Of agitation all
the music had gone from her laughter.
And you carried out his request-his dy-
ing request-by becoming greater danger
to them yourself! Or" she asked mock
ingiy. was It perhaps by his orders that
you laid claim to his estatesf Are you go
ing to pretend lie like thatT'
. mo" he answered gravely. MY action
was wrong; but. pardon me. I don't think
need justify 1t to you
AT any rate you needn't trouble to In
vent lies for me! am not as simple as Gu
san Lady Holland and her pretty daughter!
So Eustace chose you as the chivalrous
knight to protect his womenfolk, and chose
badly! Well. he was always a fooir'
HE was merciful to you" retorted Wort
ley. HE did not even tell me what the
fraud was which you were medttating. be-
cause he hoped that you would not be base