New-York tribune., 1906-09-23

TO dccoy Dibbn away from London revealed that
the pursuit had begun. For an instant She was
tempted to appeal to David for help. But She had
given her word not him, and that was sacred,
even in relation to whom she considered to be
the worst man breathing.
The clerk promised readily enough 20 observe
due discretion anent her visit. He would have
promised nearly anything that such a mce-looklnS
girl sought of him. Suddenly Violet recollectcd
that the hOuSe-agent might know the Whereabouts
of the real Sarah GiSSing. She asked the question:
and. Dibbin being a man of dockets and pigeon
holes the clerk found the address for her in half
minute, told her where Chafont was. looked up the
next train from Bakcr-st, and sent her on her way
Violet. like the majority of her charming sex,
paid small heed TO time and, indeed, time frequently
returns the compliment to pretty women. IL was
five hours ere Dibbin was due at Kings Cross, and
FIVE hours were sufficient for almost any undertak-
ing So she iourneved to Chaont found the gen
uinc Sarah, and was alarmed and resSSured AT the
time by the girl nearly taInting away when She
set on her.
Here then at last was real news OF her Gwen: She
could have listened for hours The landladY OF
the little hotel chartaby let the two talk their fill,
and sent tea to them in the small paror where David
had met Sarah. Like David, too whom Sarah
Gentleman. ' Nr. Harcourt." Violet out-staycd the
time, and, when She did make an inquiry on
this head it impossible to reach Kings Cross
at SiX-thirty p NJ.
Amid all the tears and poignancy of grief aroused
by the recital of her sisters lonely life and tragic
end, there was one strange, unaccountable feature
vciled inference did Sarah GiSsIng attribute deiber
ate neglect or unkndneSS To Strauss. If anything,
her simple story told of a great love between those
two and there the evidence of 1t in GwendOne'S
latest distracted words about him. OF course had
Violet read the diary. this would have been clear
enough. but, in view of the mans present attitude.
this testimony of the servants hard To-
understand
At any rate. Violet, sure now beyond the reach of
doubt that Hupfedt was Strauss, and that he
was engaged in inComprehcnSIhle conspiracy,
nevertheless felt a sensible SoftcnIng toward him.
Perhaps her escape from the threatened marriage
had something To- do with this and then. the man
seemed to have almost WorShIpcd Gwen
Assurcdly the gods, meaning to destroy van Hup-
fcldt first decided To- make him mad When he
reached Dibbins office the clerk recognized him
Strauss and was rendered suspicious 10y his
appearance, after this long time within an hour
of Nolct's call, seeing that the first person he in
Qured about was Violet herself. Hence. being of
the same mind as Miss Ermyn L'Estrange as
To the secret of success in London life, he failed
to recognize any young lady name Mordaunt
among the list of Dibbn visitors that dav. Fur
ther. when van Hupfcldt. goadcd 10 eXtremitieS
fain To- confess that 1t was he
who had telcgraphed from RigSVorth.
the clerk became ObtuSc on the mat
ter of his EMPLOYERS whereabouts
All he could say definitely was that
Dhbin would be in his office next
morning at ten o'clock
The outcome of these cross pur-
poses, seeing that David was i'm mo-
hurry 10 meet the agent was that q
mot, only - ...1.- L.