The Washington herald., 1906-12-06
THE RED WINDOW.
By FERGUS HUME.
Copyright, lsl by c. W. Dillingham; Company.

back your ring-here it is" She wrenched
/ il from her finger Now leave the house.
MIR. Beryl. I am mistress here"
julius looked at the ring which she Sad
thrown at his feet. and laughed You
take a high Tone" he said, sneeringly.
But remember that If Bernard is dead
] the money goes 70 charities"
$50 much the better. You do not get il. -
| Nor you either. You will have to turn
out Of this luxurious home and live on the
pittance Sir Simon left you"
Would / be better off if I married
you?"
Il think you would. 1 have not much
money now, but will have some-a great
deal, some day
BY blackmailing Bernard" said Lucy,
Indignantly
Julius picked up the ring and slipped Il
into his waistcoat pocket calmly. I'VE
don't know that Bernard is alive But
the fact Of Commission leaving the army
and from Durhams attitude, ] shrewdly
supect he is, and in hiding l shall find
out where he is, and then 1t depends upon
him whether he is hanged or prefers to
live abroad on a portion Of his money"
The lesser portion. ! know the price
OF your silence" said Lucy, vehementIy.
You will want the Hall and large in
come"
"An I can get. rejoined BeryI. quietly.
And you have refused to share my for
tune with me-"
Yes 1 will have nothing to do with
you. And remember that if I catch you
plotting I will tell Mr.. Durham"
You can tell him the whole Of this con-
versation." snarled Bery1 I am no;
afraid of Durham If Bernard is alive.
he'll have TO pay up or be hanged.
He is innocent"
Julius shrugged his shoulders and walk
ed to the door. There he paused to utter
a final insulting speech. 4 don't know
whether you intend 70 marry Bernard or
Lord ConnistOn," he said. but / wish
whichever It IS Joy Of a spitflre'
And an honest woman" said Miss Ran
dolph, wrathfully. for the reference TO
Conniston touched her nearly: but you
go too fast. You can't yet prove that
Bernard lives"
Il go 10 do so" sneered julius. and
bowed himself ironically out Of the room
leaving Lucy furious both with him and
with herself.
She was angry with herself because she
felt that in speaking OF Conniston she had
colored. And as matter Of fact she
greatly admired the young lord. even
though they had only met once. for Con-
niston was one Of those irresistible men
who appeal to women Lucy thOught--but
Il matters little what she thought. An She
knew was that her engagement TO Julius.
which had always weighed on her CON
science, was at an end. Il am free now
free" she said. stretching her hands. .'Oh.
what an escape I have had from that
wicked man. He has shown his hand too
plainly. I viii put Mr.. Durham on his
guard. and'-here she blushed-"and Lord
COnniston.'
Julius, walking toward the Bower, was
also angry with himself. As Lucy thought.
he had shown his hand too clearly. 1T
would have been better" he considered.
TO have held my tongue I should have
done so had she not gOaded me into
speech. She will tell Durham and that
interfering Conniston and put them on
their guard. Well'-he laughed and look
ed at the small boy trotting beside him
Il am equal 10 both
The boy was q handsome. innocent
looking little fellow. rather understood.
With his clear skin. his fair hair and wide
blue eyes, he looked like the conventional
picture Of a cherub. No one would have