The leader., 1905-11-01
aAgainl" growled Molyneux. Z seem

Again" groWled MOlyneux. 81 seem
unable to give that brute the Slip"
Through the open window he heard
the roar of a motor-car. It ceased as
it drew near to the building. Up and
down paced the fugitive. fuming and
fretting.
Suddenly he turned swiftly. The
door was open, and he heard the
voice Of Geoffrey's servant:
mo, he will not be long, madam;
and IL You will Wait-ahs / had for
gotten"
A well-dressed and beautiful figure
entered the room. Seeing Molyneux,
she uttered sry of astonishment.
Molyneux, whose feelings never be-.
trayed him. turned to the servant and
dismissed him with couple of words.
Then he faced the newcomer: he took
her hands; he looked long and ardent
ly into her face which paleds then
burned with crimson.
claire! You here2 After all these
years!"
The woman trembIed. In a moment
the deeps of passion she believed she
had sealed forever, broke forth. She
clung, almost fainting, to his broad
shoulders. Richard Molyneux it was
exercised an extraordinary fascination
over Claire Ashberry.
81 came to see Geoffrey," she ex-
planned hurriedly. 81 am staying at
Hastings. He expected me at Brign-
ton to-day. came over to tell him
that / must defer my visit That is
all And you-you-what are you do
ing here. in this room? Geoffrey's
room?"
Didn't you know that he was a
friend of miner"
"a friend-to your" Claire disengag-
ed herself from, those strong arms.
Il mt him two hours back. He
promised to hide me-"
ITO hide you?" The voice rang out
in alarm. "True enough"
Molyneux laughed bitterly. "Come
here" said he, drawing her to the win
dow. You see that man-ah, there are
three of them. Trapped!"
Forgetful of everything save his
danger, Claire Ashberry clung to Molly
neux's arm. "Who are they, Richard?
Who are those men?" she demanded
imperiously.
"Police officers. Let me go, dear one.
Yes, the old game. State papers; Sc
cret sold. You'd better let me go. +
must escape.
''You must escape: you slall!" cried
Claire, wildly.
"How?" The things impossible. II
/ had fast car"
You bave! There is mine; it is wait
ing for me. Come-oh, come quickly!''
she implored.
For an instant Molyneux stood irres-
solute; then he said quite calmly:
81 will. And you?'
'sI go with you," said Claire steadily.
Il shall strike northward into the
Dover road. if possible, and quit Eng
land tonight" he answered.
Where you go, ! go also," said
Claire.
They ran from the room. The car
waited at the rear of the hotel. A
minute later they were flying like a
gale down the Kings Road.
= g
'sYou mean to tell me, CIarkson. Sc.
riously. that have been in bed three
days?"
"Three days, sir" answered Geof-
frey's servant.
"a queer yarn, this, that you tell me
about those two visitors" went on
Geoffrey, thoughtfully. "They went off
together, you say? Geoffrey broke the
seal of the letter which had just ar
rived, and which bore foreign post
mark. He sat as if stunned, while hts
eyes read again and again one passage
in the communication:
s'Call my conduct madness, or by
whatever term you will. / cannot fight
against fate. have married Richard
Molyneux. We shall live abroad. He
has promised me many things. Forgive
me, Goeffrey; or if you cannot forgive,
forget me-"
Geoffrey rose after long silence.
He turned his steps toward the Old
Steyne, but he had not covered hum
dred yards before he saw her-Verna-
sitting on chair on the Brunswick
lawns. She was looking out to sea. A
gorgeous sunset had purpled the wa
ters of the channel.
Geoffrey went up to her, softly, slow
ly, so that she did not hear his ap-
proach. And, leaning over her chair.
suddenly, he whispered in her ear:
'sVerna, it was not good-bye-after
ALL"