The Red Cloud chief., 1906-01-12

down, perhaps even on the verge OF
hysteria. You must bring her to US at
Paris, Mr.. Lester"
l saw the wisdom Of her words.
That's very kind of you," I said.
Il nm sure Mr.. Royce will agree. But
we have first to find her"
l was glad for my own sake too.
The parting Of tomorrow would not.
then, be II final one.
She left me presently, and for an
hour or more I sat there and looked, In
every aspect, Mt the theory h had sug-
gested. Certainly there was nothing
TO disprove II, and yet. as she had said.
1t merely served to deepen the mys-
terry. Who were these people, / asked
myself again, who dared to play so bold
and desperate a game? The illegiti-
mate daughter might. Of course, i'm
Gssr.aLa S!as --"@-a-:- but who was
the elder woman-her mother? Then
the liaison must have taken place In
France-her accent was not to be mis-.
taken-but in France Mr.. Holiday
had been always with his wife. BE-.
sides, the younger woman spoke Eng.
fish perfectly. True, she had said only
Il few words-the hoarseness might
have been affected to conceal a differ.
ence In vOice-but how explain the
elder woman's resemblance to Hiram
1olladay's daughter? Could they both
be illegitimate? But that was non.
sense, for Mrs. Holiday had taken
her into her life, had loved her
And Martigny? Who was he? What
was his connection with these women!
That the crime had been carefully
planned | could not doubt, and 1t had
been carried out with surprising skill.
Doubtless 1t was Martigny who had
arranged the plot, who had managed
Its development. And with what bold
ness! He had not feared to be pres
ent at the inquest or even to APP
proach me and discuss the case with
me. / tried to recall the details of our
talk, impatient that l had paid 50
little heed to 1t. He had asked, l remem-
bered, what would happen to Frances
Holiday If she were found guilty. He
had been anxious, then, to "a v her.
lie ~had-yes, l saw it now-he had
WIllttIt tlt IOtC WHICH, ulu SuNC hCl bc
had run the risk Of discovery to get her
free!
But why?
If | only had a clew-One thread to
follow! One ray Of light would, be
enough. Then l could see my way out
Of this hopeless tangle. l should know
how to strike. Blu to stumble bllndly
inward In the dark-that might do
more harm than good.
Yes, and there was another thing for
me to guard against. What was to
prevent him the moment he stepped
ashore wiring to his cOnfederates,
warning them, telling them to fee? Or
he might wait. watching MS, until he
saw that they We're really in danger.
In either event they must easily es-
cape. Miss Kendall had been right
when she pointed out that our only
hope was In catching them u%nprepared.
The impulse was too strong to be
resisted. In q moment | was on my
feet. But, no! To surprise him would
be to make him suspect. l called a
steward.
Take this card up to NJ. Martigny,"
I said, sin 375, and ask II he Is well
enough to see me-"
AZ he hurried away a sudden doubt
seized me. Horrihed at my hardiho0d.
I opened my mouth to call him back.
But did not call. Instead ! sank back
into my chair and stared out across tho
water.
m. Martigny," said the stewards
voice at my elbow, answers that he
will be most pleased to see NJ. Lester
Mt once" ,,
Ira ha Cnptinno1