Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
THE GREAT SECRET
Continued from page IL


she spoke, knew that tragedy was in the room
with me.
Mr. Courage" she said, "once was to have
married him, and l have cared for no one else
all my life. There was great political scandal,
lips were sealed. l did not understand then
but | understand now. | sent him away. |
joined with the others who prosecuted him.
And all the time-all the time he was 1nno-
cent?" Her last words were almost wall.
His life has been one long exile she said.
He has never married; he has been dead to
the world for many years. His name of course,
is not Leslie Guest. If | dared tell you, you
would understand. l want him-oh, | want
him SO much to have few years of happiness!
What can we do?" 1 asked earnestly.
Take me to him alone"
Guest was still writing. The air OF the room
was thick with cigarette smoke. opened the
door gently and Lady Dennisford glided past
me. | myself fastened down stairs.
Stanley was apparently comfortable. He
was smoking one of my best cigars, and
whisky and soda stood at his elbow. He looked
LADY Dennisford is with him. l said
"She will endeavor to persuade him to see you. y
Excellent" he remarked. Pray, do not
trouble to stay with me, if you have other
matters to attend to. l have both time and
patience to spare
the need of being alone 1t must have been
nearly an hour before a servant found me and
announced that my guest desired to see me IN
his room.
Lady Dennisford was sitting by Guests side.
She looked up as | entered again, and l saw
that the shadows lay deeper still upon her face.
He chooses death!' she said simply.
He leaned over and touched her hand. His
tone and manner had softened wonderfully
Eleanor" he said earnestly, it is not who
choose. There is no choice. Your TREND
down stairs would say: Tell me all that you
know of a certain matter, and the sentence
which has been passed upon you shall be held
over But when l had told him, when he
knew everything, no agreement no promise,
could possibly be binding. l could not myself
expect it. In his place | should make very
sure that III matter of hours | was dead
man. l say that myself whose whole life has
been sacrificed to a matter in which honor
was largely concerned
Lady Dennisford began to weep softly. He
laid his hand upon hers.
'Are YOU sure, Mr. Guest" | said, that
YOU are not exaggerating the Importance OF
this secret knowledge of yours! L dare say
that Stanley, like every other man, has his
price. If money"
He interrupted me, with slight gesture Of
impotence. My young friend he said, .
with as a single individual. He represents a
system. Believe me now when | tell you
that there are only two things in the world
which can be done for me. The first is that
you leave me few minutes to say good by to
Lady Dennisford, and the second that you
keep everyone away from me for one hour,
while l finish these documents
l left them alone. There nothing else
which | could do, and waited in the hall
below for Lady Dennisford.
When she came, she walked like woman in
a dream Her veil was close drawn, and l
could not see her face; but was sure that she
had been weeping. | had already ordered her
carriage round, and she took her place in it
without word. Without word she drove off.
| went back to the man in the library.
"Our friend,'' 1 said, has asked for one
hour for consideration. If you will allow me,
l should be pleased to show you the gardens
and stables I"
He accepted my offer at once, and proved
himself an intelligent sightseer. 1t was an
hour and a half before returned to the
house | left him once more in the library,
and was on my way up stairs, when | came
face to face with Rush and another man
on their way down. For moment | was
speeches..
=" Professor Kauppmann was unfortunately
indisposed,' Rust explained; but he has