New-York tribune., 1906-07-29


struck down and helpless like that
David's close interest in her story pleased
the girl. Such nice young man he was! fer-
hans ne might call again some evening
"Mv missus wasn't quite right the rest OF
her time \ don't think" she went on she
wandered about the fiat, restless as strange
kitten. singing bits of songs. and she nad q
sweet soprano voice. I'm sure, that pierced
you through when she screamed OUT tle Ills-
notes. She didn't go 20 the theater any more
after the letter. The next day she comes 20
me in the kitchen. singing and chuckilng 20
herself and she says 20 me, W nat are you
doing heres says she How do you mean
,,,,r17' savs l. Listen, Sarah. says she, put
TING her face quite close 20 mine. you shouldnt
he here; this Is not place for decent giri
like Won. You are 20 understand that am
not married told you that was; out II
was a lie. have a child; but ] am not mar
RED, and she ran of. laughing again 20 hei-
self. as wild as a bird.
mo not that" interrupted David. for the
OutspOken revelation hurt him IL was NOT
so much that which wished 20 hear Let US
talk of the letter and the man You never saw
the letter again? You can't think what your
mistress may have done with 1t ..
"No, I never saw It again, said Saran, nor
can't think where she may have put IT. ur-
less she tore IL up. There only one queer
thing which I can call % mind, and that IS,
that during the afternoon of the day before
she died went out to buy some soda, and when
| came back found her standing on a chaiI'
hanging up one of the pictures IN the long cor
ridOT I wondered at the time whether II
had fallen down or what. though ! didn't say
ANYTHING But now / come 70 think OF It
David thought 20 himself =" She was then
hiding the marriage and birth certihcateS
which Miss L Estrange afterWard saw Wnen l
the Dicture fell. She was reluctant to destroy
them, and vet wished TO screen the man, nav
ing in her mind the purpose 20 take her own
life The mans photograph and the fatal let
ter from him were not hidden IN the picture,
but somewhere else perhaps must search
"6f course" he said aloud. 'yOu could
easily identity her husband ii he was shown
70 you agains"
''Oh. rather, sir Sarah answered, We
seen him dozens Of times. He used to come
TO the fiat anyway twice week, though some
times he would be away for goodlsh stretch'
%Tkey were an afectionate Pair-fond of
HThev were that, indeed" said Sarah with
smirk. as one who understood that sort OF
thing HE I'm sure, wOrshiped the ground
she walked on. and she was just as bad
What name did she call him by asked
David. His name was JOhann STRAUSS
wasn't it?''
"He was Mr.. Strauss, sir. yes. but not the
other name you say. At least, she always
called him Harry"
Henry, too, was the name of the child.
wasn't it, Don't YOU know where it isa
Il only know that she used TO go every
Tuesday and Thursday by the two-seventeen
train from Baker-st., and be back by SIX
o'clock; so it couldn't have been very far
Pom my word, sometimes she'd go half crazy
over that child. There was little box Of
clothes that she's many time made me waste
half a day over. showing me the things, as II
I'd never seen them afOre, everything that
was possible embroidered with violets, and
she'd always be masking"
1t was lust then that the mistress of the
tavern looked in with an unsympathetic face;
so David rose and slipped gold coin into the
hand of the staring Sarah. The talk had al
ready lasted a long while and the inn door
had to be opened to let him out.
He walked the two miles back to the station,
and there learned that the last up-train for
the night had just LETT.
1t was now :; question either of knocking
up some tavern, or of tramping to London
about twenty-one miles However, twenty-one
miles made no continent to him, and, after
posting himself by questions as to the route,
he set out.
Throwing his OvercOat over his left arm, he
put his elbows to his ribs, lifted his face sky
ward, and went away at long, slow, swinging
trot. One mile winded him. He stopped and
walked for five minutes, then away he went
aOaIu NJ a Sfea6vr iOU-frOt. and now with this