Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-11
THE CLAIMANT
BY wEATHERBY cHEsNEY

tAuthor of "Johu Topp. Pirate" etc,

did not or she would not, understand.
| Oh?" she said.
Her tone expressed mere polite acqui-
| escence, but no particular interest. He was
| left to continue the subject or not, as he
pleased. He BIT his lip. and went on:
| THE present holder of the title should be
| good for some years yet"
| He paused for her answer, expectantly.
| Think so?" said the woman, with pro-
| voking carelessness.
| She got up and rang for the waiter. She
| had finished her breakfast, and was pre-
pairing to depart. Wiseman abandoned
| diplomacy and tried holder methods.
| Look here he said, you heard in the
train about this fellow at Holland Abbey.
| who says he is Eustace. 1 know you did.
because have just spoken to the man who
| told YOU.
| She stood watching him. without an an
| swer.
''Well?" he said, somewhat shortly.
| She looked at him with half-closed eyes.
| and with slight smile, repeated his words:
| "Wen?"
| Wiseman felt that he was getting the
worst of the interview with Lady Holland
! from Oporto.
Wen" he said this time with sight
| show of irritation, Il want to hear your
| views on the subject
Yes, l can believe that" she said cooly.
| But I've played the game of life in my
time, bit higher than you think perhaps.
| and one thing I've learned fs not to show
| my cards till they're called. 1 am going
down to Holland Abbey to things for
| myself. and maybe when / have seen III
| tell you my views; but not before. You
| said just now you wanted to help me. So,
as a beginning. you can go and order a
| cab for me-"
I'm drive you down myself" said Wise
man. But what about the boy? Going to
| introduce him to tbs grandmother today?'
your advice on that She said. You know
the old lady, and don't
"Oh, take him, OF course said Wiseman
You think S02 Then I think I won't
No, I'll wait and see what kind of wei
come get myself first. The chambermaid
here will look after him till l come back,
1 suppose?
"Oh. yes said wiseman.
Then you go and harness up. while
talk to her. l won't bother you to take my
luggage either yet"
She left Wiseman staring after her in
puzzled annoyance. He had thought that
the arrival of Eustace's wife from Oporto
would put all the cards of the game into
his hands, but he was beginning to doubt
that now. In ten minutes talk she had
baftied him a every point. She was hand
some, but very much of the people; she had
sailed out of the coffee room with the
grace of stage countess but her voice
did not match her work. Harvey thought
with grim amusement of what the Dow
ager Lady Hollands feelings. would be at
having to receive such a daughter-in-law.
But why would she not speak out? If
Eustace was dead, why did she not say so
at once, claim the estates for her son, and
send the false claimant packing? Surely
1t would be easy.
But what If Eustace was not dead? What
If the CLAIMANT"
The possibility would not bear thinking
of. He went out and saw his horse put in.
They drove for some time in silence: for
the woman evidently did not mean to talk,
and Wiseman was frowning over the new
puzzle which she had given him. The child
was complication which he had not count
ed on, and he was trying to reckon out
To rhap he
began to point out the features of the
country. not because he thought they
would interest his companion, but because
he was casting about the best way of fore
ing her to continue the previous conversa-
tion. Finally he pointed out to her Hol-
land Abbey itself among the trees. and see
ing the eager look of excitement which
came into her face, he thought the moment
propitious for an attempt to trap her by a
sudden direct question.
What did Eustace die of"
She laughed softly.
Have we settled that he is dead?" she
said. You said just now that he was good
for several years yet"
Il said the present holder of the title
was" corrected Wiseman meaningly. But
is the present holder of the title Eustace?
Is he your husband|
That is just what I am waiting to know
It's no good, Cousin Harvey; l told you
1 keep my cards in my hand. Shall l tell
you why?"
Harvey laughed. That's just what am
waiting to know" he said.
We'll. then, I'll tell you. It's because
L know quite well I've got very d---cult
game to play. It's no good pretending
that am lady, because being Lady Hoi-
land by marriage hasn't altered the fact
that I began life lower down, and | know
as well as you do that i show It, But I've
got to make those two women-Eustace's
mother and sister-receive me and my
boy; and as am not of their class l know
that they won't do 1t willingly
They VIII III that the preteO1ar
is Eustace. and your husband" said Wise
man, with a Sneer. They've taken him to
their arms, and they'll take you for his
sake
That so? Then perhaps will"
Wiseman laughed. He had caught her
now, he thought.
IF you hadn't written that letter from
Oporto,' he said mockngly.
You think that bars me?'
We'll, doesn't it?"
NO" she said. When 1 wrote that let
ter l thought Eustace was dead. l had
reason to believe that 1t was So and per-
haps l wasn't very anxious to prove any
thing else-oh, you needn't be shocked!
There wasn't much sentiment about our
marriage. l wanted him to be dead. and
perhaps l was in too great a hurry to be-
lieve that he was. See?"
Then If he isn't dead?" asked Harvey
sourly. What then?'
This man you speak of may be he. I'm
waiting to see"
They had come to the beginning of the
beech avenue. Wiseman pulled up.
by Jove!" he said suddenly I've a
good mind to drive you straight back to
Elgin. l believe you're a fraud, too! He's
not Eustace, and you're not Lady Holland
But you're in the scheme together"
The woman jumped down quickly
I'll walk up the avenue" she said. 'I
wondered how long 1t would take you to get
that maggot into your brain. I'm glad you
have, because it shows me that you are not
quite SO clever as l was afraid you werep'
With knocking laugh she left him and
proceeded UP the avenue. Twenty Yards
away she turned and waved her hand to
him, saying:
III come and tell you presently what
Granny says. Wait for me at the distillery.
l shall want you to drive me back to Ell
GIN"
With a muttered curse Harvey whipped
up his horse and drove into the distillery
yard. Then he went to look for Black
(To be continued tomorrow.)