Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20

his face as Beatrice finished her story and
handed over the telegram. At the same
of relief
1T was the act of scoundrel. darling"
he said And yet things might have been
worse For Instance, you might not have
done so, the game is all in your hands. You
are quite right to defy that fellow and re-
fuse to live with him. He dare not oppose
you. Beatrice. Thank heaven, I shall be
able to think OF you pure and free from
contamination. But what are you going
to dog"
trice said with faint smile. For day or
two I shall get the Rashboroughs to give
me a home. When my fathers affairs come
to be settled up there will be a little less
than nothing for me to have. Still, have
some jewels which may bring me In few
hundred pounds. But shall find. something
to do
Mark shut his teeth tightly together to
keep back the protestations Of love that
rose to his lips. 1t was no time to speak
of that kind of thing. He felt that he had
he had ever cared, but, thank goodness, he
would not have to think of her as dragging
out frightening chain by the side of
Stephen Richford. And Beatrice would find
something to do-of that he felt certain.
II will come and you in few days,
dearest" he said. Though you are bound
to that man by the cruel sport of chance,
you still belong to me. There can be no
harm in my helping you. And may God
bless and keep you wherever you go. dar-
ling"
Mark bent and kissed Beatrice's hand
tenderly and made his way down the stairs
There nothing now to stay for; Bea-
trice would go to her friends and the
strange ending of the Richford-Darryll
marriage would be food for the scandal
| mongers for many day to come. All
these thoughts crowded into Marks mind
he made his way down into the big
dining room for luncheon. He was sad and
toll hnor h1yt all H.
same. He did not look If he could eat
here at present, for every table was filed.
The last seat had fallen to Richfprd, who
found himself seated opposite to Col Ber-
rington. Rjchford would far rather have
been anywhere else, but there was no help
for it.
surly nod. Richford belonged to a class
that the gallant soldier frankly detested.
He expressed no surprise at seeing Rich
ford here; 1t was natural under the circum-
stances that Beatrice should keep to her
own ROOM And Bennington had heard
| nothing of the matter of the telegram.
''Oh, never mind all that rubbish" Rich
| ford said testify, as the waiter passed the
elaborate menu with its imposing array of
dishes. Whats the good of all that for
eign cats meat to an honest Englishman?
Give me steak and plain potatoes and q
decanter of brandy"
The brandy came before the steak and
Richford helped himself literally to the
| LIQUID. Bennington was a little astonished
He had more than once heard Richford
boast that he was positively teetotaIler
He usually held in contempt those who
called themselves merely moderate drink
ers..
What a time they keep you here" Rich
ford growled. ''If I'd gone to one Of those
city places I should have got my steak in
half the time. oh. here the fellow comes.
Now, then, L"
Richford paused in his growing and con-
templated the red-hot plate on which the
steak was displayed with a queer CLEAN
in his eyes and a clicking of the corners
of his mouth. Just for the moment it
seemed to Bennington as if his vis-a-vis was
going to have fit of some kind.
There is salt in the plate" Richford
gasped. who has taken the liberty of put
ting
He said no more: he seemed to be in
capable Of further speech. The waiter
looked sympathetic; 1t was no fault of his
And the salt was there, sure enough
1T certainly is SALT the waiter said. ST
did not notice 1t before. It's lot of salt
| and it is exactly in the shape of a rife
| bullet: It's When I was in South Az
RIGA"
Berrington's glass clicked as he raised
1t to his lips. Just for an instant his face
was as pale as that OF the man opposite
him. With gesture Rlchford motioned
| the waiter away. Then he rose unsteadily
from the table and finished the rest OF his
brandy without any water at ALL He
crossed the room like ghost. Directly he
had passed the swinging doors Bennington