The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-22

II, cl, saw tho other with eyes full Of tn
feur that was lurking within them.
FOR weeks thoy had been ut cross pur
poses, STIMULATING IL courage and ihdiifcr
enoe they did not feel.
! Now each knew the truth. NJ
rho knew that the burden Of their terri
Bic secret was beginning to press and on
/ close them with It's awful weight. Encl
| Md Imagined tho other free from his owl
terror, that terror that lifts UP Its heat
IN times Of night and silence, the dreat
/ Incubus that murders sleep.
The two men went out Of the club 70
| gether without speaking. Ihelr hearI !,
| wero beating like drums within them;
! vas the beginning Of tho agony
Ss l5,}'&
r,lwcllyn, his coat exchanged for q sr11ok
| nR 1nclkct, lay back In a leather chair II
| his library Since his return from Pales
tino no had transferred most of his be
| lon.ings to a small fiat IN New bont
| street. IIo hnrdly ever visited ms WIG
| now. The fiat In Bloomsbury Court Man
1 sions had been glvon up when Gertrude
! Hunt had gone. ~,
IN New Bond Street Sir Robert lived
! alone. A housekecper In the basement
4 Of the buildings looked after his rooms
and his valet slept above.
The new pied terre was furnished
with great luxury. 1t was not the gnrlsh
luxury and vulgar splendor OF Blooms
bury Court-thut had been tho dancer
| taste. Hero Llwellyn had gathered round
hi,n nil that could make lifo pleasant,
and his own taste had seen to every
| thing.
As no snt alone, slightly recovered
| from tho nervous shock Of tho dinner,
but in an utter depression Of spirits, his
! thoughts once moro went back to his
| lost mistress.
r. ,vns in times like these that no needed
| her most. she would distract him, amusc
| him where less vulgar. more intollcc-
| tunl woman would have increased his
| boredom.
| lie sighed heavily, plying himself. ut
| terly unconscious Of his degradation. Tho
! books upon the shelves. learned and
wcighty monographs In all languages,
| his own brilliant contributions to his
| torlcal science among them, had no power
| to help him. He sighed for his rowdy
| Circe.
The electric bell of tho fiat rang sharply
outside In the passage. His man was
out. and he rose to answer It himself.
a friend probably had looked him ul'
for n drink and smoke. He was glnd I;
he wanted compan ionshi2. easy, genial
compa nonship. not that pale devil
Schlabe, with his dreary talk and ever
lasting reminder.
He went out into the passage and
! opened tho front door. A woman stood
there. !,
She moved, and the light from the nall
shone on her face.
Tho eyes were brilliant, the lips wero
half parted.
It was Gertrude Hunt
rhev we're sitting on each side Of the
fire. :.
blazed at him.
she was smoking cigarette, Just as
In the old time.
A little table with a cnraffe OF brandy
and bottles Of settler IN a SILVER s'aho
| stood between them.
11wcllvn,s face was one large circle OF
| Meas, and content. His eyes cleaned
with an evil triumph as he looked at the
"Good Ieavens!" he cried. why, Ger
tio. IT'S almost worth while losing You
TO have you back again like this. Us
lust exactly as 1t used to be, only net'er;
YES better! So you got tired OF It all
ana yoI,ve come back. What little
fool YOU were ever to 30 away, dear!
Eyes, l got led Of IT. she repeated
hit in n curiously strained voice
IIe was too exhllarated to notice lie
strange manner of her reply.
"Well. I've got any amount ct ready
cash now" he said joyously. You can
have anything you like now that you've =,
given up the confoundad parsons ana ne ne
come sensible again"
She seemed to make an effort 20 throw
Off something that oppressed ler'
Nov, Bob she said, don't talk about
It. i've been little fool. but thats
over What q lot you've got to tell me!
what did you do all the time you were
awav? Where did you raise the 'oot
from? Tell mo everything. Lets 6, Dc as
we were before. No more secrets!
FIo seemed to hesitate Tor q 1lo OF ~,
size saw that, and stood up. come
- az Lea mo, Bob" sho said. No went
e. t.,'0 her with unsteady footsteps. Us II nc
we've intoxicated by the fury OF ms
passion /, .ho ,,h,s.
nered into his ear
THE man surrendered himself TO hcr'
utterly. absolutely. ~,
s"Gertie." he said, III ten y, you 'ne
aueerest story you ever heara.
He laughed wildly.
"I'vc trcked the whole world, by JoVe
cleared fifty thousand pounds, and maze
fools OF the whole world"
She laughed, n shril, Il high treble.
Dear old Bob" she criedh clever olt
Bob, you're tho best OF them az ~, ~
| have you done this time? TEL me al
| about it, ,,,,, IN
"By God, 4 will" he cried. III tell
you the whole story, little g'rl." His
voice was utterly changed
"Ycs, everythng!" she repeated fierce
w. Her body shook violently rs she
spoke
The man thought It was in response
| To his caresses
And tho face which looked out over
the mans shoulder and had lately bce
tho face Of Delilnh was become rs the
face Of Jael, the wife of fleber the
Kenito
mo more secrets. Dob?"
mo more secrets, Gertie; but how pale
you look! Take some brandy. little girl
Now, I'm going to make you laugh
CHAPTER xI,
| PROGRESS.
Sir Michael Manlchoe. Father Rlpon
and Harold Spence were sitting IN 81
| ti,d, In London