The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-17

and az the instant found II a lantern
flashed blindingly in my face and I drew
back, crouching involuntarily. and
clenohing the club ready to strike.
Good evening. Mr.. Glenarm!'
Marian Devereuxs voice broke the ST.
lence, and Marian Devereuxs face with
the full light of the lantern upon Il, was
bent gravely upon me. Her voice, as heard
IL there-her face. as. / saw IL there. are
the things that / shall remember last
when my hour comes to go hence from
this world. The slim fingers, as they
clasped the wire screen of the lantern.
held my gaze for a second. The red tam
o-shanter that had associated with her
youth and beauty was tilted rakishly on
one side Of her pretty head. To find her
here seeking, Ike thief In the night.
for some means OF helping Arthur Picker
ing. was the bitterest drop In the cup.
felt as though l had been struck with a
bludgeon.
II beg your pardon. she said. and
laughed. "There doesn't seem to be any
thing 10 say. does there Well, we do
certainly meet Nnder the most unusual.
not tho say unconventional circum-
stances, Squire Glenarm. Please go away
or turn your back. / want to get out of
this donjon keep"
She took my hand coolly enough and
stepped down into the passage. Then
broke upon her stormily.
You don't seem to understand the
gravity OF what you are doing! Don't
you know that you are risking your life
in crawling through this house at mid
night?--that even 10 serve Arthur Pick
ernR. n life Is pretty big thing 10 throw
away? Your infatuation for that black
guard seems to carry you far. Miss Dew
ereux"
She swung the lantern at arms length
back and forth so that its rays at every
forward motion struck my face like a
blow
1T isn't exactly pleasant In this cavern.
Unless you wish 10 turn me over to the
lord high executioner, will bid you good
night"
But the infamy Of this--of coming in
here TO spy upon me--to help my enemy
the man who is seeking punder--does-
MT seem to trouble you"
mo. not particle," she replied quiet
ly, and then. with an lmpudent fling. "oh,
MOI" She held up the lantern to look at
the wick. I'm really disappointed 10
find that YOU were a little ahead OF me,
Squire Glenarm. / didn't give you credit
for so much--perseverance But II you
have the notes"
"The notes, He told you there were
notes. did he? The coward sent you here
TO find them, after his other tools failed
him?"
She laughed that low laugh Of hers that
was like the bubble Of a spring.
"Of course no one would dare deny
what the great Squire Glenarm says"
she said witherinely.
You can't know what your perfidy
means TO me" | said THAT night. at
the Armstrong;, | thrilled at the sight
o. you. AS you came down the stairway
] thought of you as my good angel, and
/ belonged to you--all my life, the bet
ter future that wished to make for youi
sake"
Please don't! And I felt that my words
had touched her; that there were regret
and repentance In her tone and I'm the ges-
tLre with which she turned from me.
She hurried down the passage swinging
the lantern at her side, and | followed,
So mystlhed. so angered by her compos-
ure. that ! scarcely knew what did She
ever turned. with pretty courtesy. 90 hold
the light for me az the crypt steps--a SER
vice that ] accepted perforce and with
joyless acquiescence IN the irony OF IL.
I knew that I did not believe In her: her
conduct as 20 Pickering was utterly In
defensible-1 could not forget that: but
the light OF her eyes. her tranquil brow.
the sensitive lips, whose mockery stung
and pleased in n breath-by such teStl-
mony my doubts were alternately rein
forced and disarmed Swept by these
changing moods 7 followed her out into
the crypt.
CTo be Continued Tomorrow)