Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16
THE MARATHON MYSTERY,
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON
Coryrght by HenryH Holt & Co
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON.
Copyright. 1904. by Henry Holt & Coz

can say much?"
She wrested her eyes away from his and
turned again TO the fire.
You strangely mistake me" she sail In
n cold voice. You are reading your own
t"turc INTO mo. | would ask no man to
commit a crime FOR my sake-I should alb
nor The man who did"
He did not answer. but stood looking n.
her WITH a gaze which seemed to cuvelon
, her, 10 pierce her through and thro,,rb
brysdale felt the perspiration start across
could not.
door at the farther end of the hall
opened and Delroy came in. The bonds
ioosened and Drysdale fed back to his
room. II" needed to compose himself
Mrs. Delroy did not come down To din
ner, pleading "A headache. and after the
meal was over Dclroy carried Tremalne of
TO the library for last talk over the de-
thIS or The railroad enterprise They in
tended going into New York I'm the morn
ing Tor an interview with certain capital
! ISIS that would be crucial. and they needed
TO arrange their plan of attack
Drysdalc. left To himself threw away hts
cigar and went straightway to seek Grace
croydon He found her sitting before the
iire In the hail. gazing into IT, her head i'm
her hands She did not hear his approach.
ana Tor a moment, ne gaZed down M
her, ne doubted whether he had really
Witnessed that strange interview of an
hour before. Had he not rather dreamed
~ Was II not merely wild imaglning7
lie passed his hand before his eyes and
cropped into the chair beside her
she started at the sound. turned saw him
ana smiled. But 1t was not the smile that
had greeted him the night before; It was
iiot from the heart; it did not reveal II
dissembled. He saw the change and rem
pled as he guessed its meaning Then he
put hesitation behind him.
grace, he said gently, 'as l was COM
ing down TO dinner tonight, | happened 10
see you and Tremaine standing here to-
gether, and without intending to. / over
heard sentence which stopped me up
there at the turn of the stair
She looked at him. her eyes dark with an
prehens!on. up
You mean that you listened?" she asked
After that first sentence 1t seemed to
me that l had right to listen"
Her lips We're curling in scorn, her eyes
We're burning through HIM
"Oh. right"
40, Yes; right" he repeated boldly. NO
man should be permitted to talk to you as
ne talked. Why. he insulted you: he
threatened you-heaven knows what out
rage he was ready to commit Why did
you permit t?'
She turned away from him and bar arr,s
dropped YEARLY by her sides.
1our proper course is to inform Delroy"
ne, ne continued. doggedly. Drawing the GER
Will. and then kick that scoundrel out i've
already had one quarrel with Dickie about
him
Have you?" she asked lstlessly.
Yes, l distrust him. Why did you per-
m.t MIN to talk to you the way he did?'
can't tell you." she answered hoarsey
But have right to know"
Yes. i suppose you have Why not break
IT of? Then you won't need to worry about
me any more
He started from his chair at the words,
but controlled himself and sat down again
DO you mean that you want to break II
off?" he demanded. in Quivering voice.
DO you mean that you can possibly care
for that
She turned upon him with blazing eyes
DO you insult me, too?'
For an instant he sat motonless as stone;
then he fell at her knees and caught her
hands and covered them with kisses.
Forgive mel" he cried. Forgive me, 1t
was unworthy. But. oh, Grace. give me a
word-just a word-tell me -
Listen" she said, bending over him, in
stantly moved. instantly tender: you told
me last night that you trusted me-.
Il do with my whole SOUL
And Kate the Queen needs you as she
said she would. Only l must have time
to think; to straighten out the tangle. To-
morrow will tell you-tomorrow night-till
then"
He seized her and drew her down to him
and kissed her on the lips.
I've never doubted you he said. And
III fight the battle Of my life before give
you up"
At the farther end OF the hall door
closed very, very softly.
(ro be continued tomorrow.)