Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-21

left you willingly. Have you no idea where
she is?'
He bowed his head slowly
Yes" he said, Il know where she is.
She came to Europe with Lady Carey. She
is staying with the Duchess of Dorset"
THE Countess Radantz?' Helene cried
1T was her maiden name he answered.
There was moments silence. Helene
was bewildered
Then you have seen her?'
He shook his head slowly.
mo. 1 did not even know where she was
until you told me-.
But why do you wait a single moment?"
she asked. There must be some eXplana-
ton. Let me order a carriage now. | will
drive round to Dorset House with you
She half rose He held out his hand and
checked her.
There are other things to be explained"
She obeyed him. mystitied.
For your own sake he continued
there are certain facts in connection with
this matter which I must withhold. All I
can tell you Is this. There are people who
have acquired a hold upon Lucille great
that she Is forced to obey their bidding.
Lady Carey is one. the Duchess of Dorset
is another They friends of mine.
and apparently Lucille has been taken
away from me by them"
IA hold upon herr Helene repeated
vaguely.
1T is all 1 can tell you. You must sup
pose an extreme case. You may take my
l
stances Lucille would have no power to
deny them anything"
"But-without a word of farewell. They
could not insist upon her leaving you like
that! 1t is incredble.'
1T is quite possible" Mr.. Sabin said.
Helene caught herself looking at him
stealthily. Was it possible that this Won
derful brain had given way at last? There
We're no signs of it in his face express
sion. But the Duchess of Dorset Lady
Carey These were women of her own cir
cle-Londoners, and the duchess. at any
rate, a woman of the very highest social
position and unimpeached conventionality
This sounds-very extraordinary, I'M
cle!' she remarked little ianiai5.
1t is extraordinary" he answered driIy.
Il do not wonder that you find it hard to
Not to believe-to understand"
He smiled.
does it matter? Assume. if YOU cannot be-
lieve, that Luciles leaving r;- may have
been at the instigation of these pe1o.r,
and therefore involuntary. If this be so
have hard battle to fight to win her back
but in the end shall do it,
She nodded sympatheticalIy.
Il am sure" she said. that you will
not find it difficult Tell me. cannot ] help
you in any way? l know the duchess very
we'll ndeed-well enough to take you to
call quite informally if you please. She is
great supporter Of what they call the
Primrose League here. l do not under
that | may not join because my husband
is radical
Mr.. Sabin looked for a moment over his
ciasped hands through the faint blue cloud
of cigarette smoke and sundry possibilities
flashed through his mind to be at once re-
jected. He shook his head.
Mo- he said firmly. Il do not wish for
your help at present, directly indirectly.
If you meet the countess | would rather
that you did not mention my name. There
is only one person whom. if you met at
Dorset House or anywhere where Lucille
is. I would ask you to watch. That is Mr..
Brott,
1t was to be a conversation full of sur
prses for Helene. Mr. Brott, Her hand
went up to her forehead for a moment
and a little gesture of bewilderment es
capped her.
will you tell me" she asked almost
plaintively what on earth Mr. Brott can
have to do with this business-with Lucille
ft?'' WIN
Mr.. Sabin shrugged his shoulders.
t'Mr. Brott," he remarked. "a cabinet
minister of marked radical proclivities. has
lately been a frequent visitor at Dorset
House, which is the very home of the old
quai1:ed with Lucille many years ago-in
Vienna. At that time he was | believe,
deeply interested In her. 1 must confess
that Mr.. Brott causes me some uneas;=
ness
Il think-that men always know" Hell
enc said. eff they care to. Was Lucille
happy with you?"
absolutely. I sure of it"
Then your first assumption must be
correct she declared. You cannot ex-
plain things to me. so I cannot help you
even with my advice: 1 am sorry
He turned his head toward her and re-
garded her critically. though making
some test of her sincerity.
Helene he said grsMely. at is for your
own sake that l do not explain further,
that l do not make things clearer to you.
Only / wanted you to understand why
once more set foot in Europe. | wanted
you to understand why I am here. 1t is to
win back Lucille. 1t is like that with me.
Helene. l, who once schemed and plotted