Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04
The Great Secret

of; but l had never been a liar. This was
my first essay in a newT6le.
Ny next visitor was very different sort OF
person, a fair, f1orid little man, with easy
courteous manners, and dressed In deep
mourning He introduced himself as Mr.
Raynes, of Raynes & Bishop, solicitors, Lin
coins Inn, and alluded to the telegram which
had sent him earlier in the morning
May l inquire" he asked, after we had
exchanged a few commonplaces, =" you are
aware that Mr.. Leslie Guest was an assumed
name of the deceased"
Il was in his confidence toward the last"
l answered. He told me good deal of his
history"
IL have here" said Raynes, Lord Les
lies will, and instructions as to his burial.
presume you would like me to take entire
charge of the arrangements?
Certainly, l answered.
His Lordship wished to be buried very
quietly in the nearest churchyard to the place
where he died." the lawyer continued. Il
presume that can be arranged?"
Quite easily" l answered. The clergy
man is waiting to see you now"
In the hall we met Lady Dennisford. She
was plainly dressed in black, and carried a
great bunch of white roses. | introduced
Raynes to the vicar, and hurried back to her.
You would like to see him?" | asked.
She nodded, and | showed the way up stairs
/ descended into the hall, and there upon the
steps, looking at me with black beady eyes,
deep set in his wrnkled face, my friend, or
rather my enemy, Nagaski. He eyed my ap-
proach with gloomy disfavor. He opened his
mouth in seeming yawn; little red tongue
shot out from between his ivory teeth. Then
/ heard him called by familiar voice, and,
passing out, found his mistress leaning back
in the corner of Lady Dennisford's victoria:
She welcomed me with a slow, curious smile.
II shall get out" she said. There is some
fbDo cbn111d Ike tn RI "
handed her down. She led the way on to
the terrace. Il suppose" she remarked,
that ought to congratulate you. You are
certainly cleverer than l gave you credit for.
not at all an easy person for a beginner to
deceive"
kept silence began to see the trouble
into which l was drifting:
But" she continued, you did not attempt
to deceive me. And in this matter, Mr.. Stan
you have told him?" exclaimed.
mot yet" she answered; but l am
forced to do so, unless"
UNLESS WHAT"
She looked me in the face. UNLESS you
| give me your word of honor that you make no
attempt to carry on the task which Leslie
Guest had assigned himself; that you C not
regard yourself in any shape or form - lis
successor. Don't you see that it must 50?
| You plead that you must keep faith with the
dead. l, at least, must keep faith with the
| living l offer you a chance of safety, and
beg you to take it. | can DO no more. 1t |
speak, there is no hope for you, and if l
keep silent there is danger for me, and l am a
woman forsworn. If only had never gone
to Lords and seen you play cricketl'
Would that have helped us?" l asked.
"Of course. should never have counted
upon you as possible tool. l saw you strain
every nerve in your body to catch ball, and
l judged you by your pursuits, and all this
has come of it. We go i'll together, you and
l, and one of us must suffer.
81 can only pray then" l answered, as
helped her into the carriage, that it may be l"
Nagaski sprang upon his nistresss lap, and
his was the only farewell l received as the
carriage drove away
| CHAPTER XVIII.