Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23

realized till now HaZen suspicious of him.
that meant what? He wished that he had
Mr.. Harper at his side to enlighten him.
1t was now ) O'clock and he was sitting
in his room awaiting the usual report from
the river, when a quick tap at his door was
followed by the entrance of the very man
he was thinking about. He rose eagerly to
receive him, determined, however, to allow
no inconsiderate impulse to drive him into
unnecessary speech.
Il have already said too much,' he re-
minded himself in self-directed monition.
It's time he did some of the talking
HaZen seemed willing enough to do this
Taking the seat proffered him, he opened
the conversation as follows:
Mr.. Ransom, / have been doing you an
injustice 1 do not consider 1t necessary to
tell you just how L have found this out, but
am now convinced that you are as much
In the dark as myself in regard to this I'M
fortunate affair and are as willing as ! am
to take all justifiable means to enlighten
yourself. / own that at first l thought it
more than probable you were in collision
with the girl here to deceive me- That L
wouldn't stand. I'm glad to find you as
truly victim of this mystery as myself"
Ransom Strengthened himself
IF this Is an apology" he returned, 81
am willing to accept it in the spirit in which
1t is proffered. But l should like something
more than apology from you. Candor for
candor-your whole story in return for
NINE"
I'm afraid it would be a trlfe tedious
my whole story" smiled Hazen. IF you
mean such part OF 1t as concerns Geor-
CLANS peculiar actions and the compiica-
tons with which we at this moment
struggling, l can only repeat what l have
already told you, both at the ST. Denis in
New York and here. 1 am Georgian's re-
turned brother, saved from the jaws of
HI to see my own country again. ar
rived in New York on the 10th. Naturally
after securing room at the hotel l took up
the papers. They We're fun of the ap-
preaching marriage of Miss Hazen. recog-
nized my sisters NAME though not her
splendor, for we We're the sole survivors
of poor country family and knew moth
ing of the legacy l am now told she re-
ceived Anxious to see her, attended the
ceremony. She recognized me. / had not
expected this, and, feeling old affections re-
vive, I followed her friends to the house
and was presented to them and to you.
What 1 whispered to her on this occasion
were my assumed name and the place
where 1 was to be found. My changed
countenance called for explanations, for
which a bridal reception offered oppor-
tunfty. Besides, as have already said, I
stood in sore need of definite amount of
money. meant her to come and see me.
but did not expect her to play trick on
You in order to do so. This had it's birth
in the to me unaccountable mystery en-
whom I'm not ready yet to name. For when
/ do, action must follow conviction and that
without mercy or delay"
"Action?' repeated Ransom, with quick
suspicion and confused rush of contra
dictory visions In his mind. What do you
mean by that?'
Hazen covered his chin with his hand
II will try and explain" he replied. eff
I am abrupt in my language, it is owing
to the eXigencies of the case. l have no time
to waste and no disposition to whitewash
rough piece of work. To speak to the point
1 have an intense interest in my sister
Georgian. l have little or none in my sis
ter Anitra Geo"gian's intelligence good
will and command of money would be Of
inestimable benefit to me. Anitra, on the
contrary could be nothing but a burden,
unless" Here he cast a very sharp
glance at Ransom-"unless Georgian should
have been sufficiently considerable to
leave her good share of her fortune in
the will you say she made just before
her disappearance and supposed DEATH"
THAT 1 can say nothing about rejoined
Ransom in answer to this feeler THE will
is in the hands of her lawyer, but IL it will
help your argument any we will suppose
that she left her sister to the care of her
friends without any especial provision for
her In the way of money"
The steady fingers clutching the SCARED
neck loosed their grip to wave this SUPPOSE
ton aside.
"A hardly supposable case" was the cold
comment with which he supplemented this
disclaimer, "but one which would make
| the girl a burden indeed: burden which
for many reasons 1 could not assume y
Here he struck himself sharply on the neck
with the first display of passion he had
] shown. My advantages are not such as