Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-21

, philosophic equanimity," Sartoris laughed.
| 80, we will get to business as soon as pos
dead I want to know all about that affair
| without delay. What did he die of?'
How should 1 know? Old age and too
much pleasure. And that's all 1 can tell
| you. l found him first" =
"Oh, indeed The evening paper says
nothing about that"
For the simple reason that the evening
papers don't know everything" Riehfe ord
| Charles dead in his bed. l dared not say a
i word about 1t, because, as you know. l was
going to marry his daughter. But, Of
course, you all knew about that, too. You
see if l had made my little discovery pub
| lic Beatrice would have known that death
had freed her and her father from certain
very unpleasant consequences that you and
l wot of. and would have refused to meet
me at the altar. So 1 locked the door and
!, dscreetly said nothing. my good Sartoris."
| The little man in the invalid chair rolled
about horribly and silently.
| Good boy" he said. You are a credit to
your parents and the country you belong to-
| What next?"
| why, the wedding. of course. Lord
Marlborough, as head Of the family, was
giving Beatrice away Sir Charles did not
turn up. but nobody wondered, as he had
| never been known to attend to an appoint
| ment in his life. And SO we were married"
Once more the little man shook with UNI
And the girl knows nothing about it?'
he asked. II suppose you'll tell her some
day when she is not quite so loving as she
might be? Ho. no; it is a joke after my
own heart"
Richford laughed in ais turn, then his face
grew dark. He proceeded to tell the rest
of the story. The little man in the chair
| became Quieter and quieter his face more
like parchment than ever. His eyes blaZed
with curious electric fire.
so you have lost your wife before you
| have found herr" he asked You fool!
/ l1,,h L. 1,,nl x1ot DIV 1,O coc
to tell her story, suspicion falls on you.
| And if anybody makes fuss and demands
an inquest or anything of that kind"
They are going to hold an inquest. any
way" Richford said sukily. "Dr. An
| drews was in favor of it from the first and
| the family doctor, Oswin has agreed The
| police came around and sealed up that suite
! of rooms before l left the hotel. But why
this fuss?'
SILENCE. foolr' came from the chair in
kissing whisper. Let have time to
think. That senseless act of folly of yours
over the telegram bids fair to ruin us all.
You will say so yourself when you hear all
that 1 have to tell you. Oh. you idiot!''
Why" Richford protested. ''How did
know Sir Charles was going to die? And If
his death took place in perfectly natural
manner and there was no foul play"
"Oh, if it did. Perhaps it was wrong on
my part not to take you more fully into
my confidence. But there is one thing GER
tain. Listen to me, Richford. Whatever
happens between now and this time tomor-
row there must be no inquest on the body
of Sir Charles Darryl!'
The words came with a fierce kissing in
drawing of the speakers breath He tried
to get up from his chair, and fell back with
a curse of impotence.
Push me along to the door, he said.
Take me to that little room behind the Ii
brary where you have been before. l am
going to show you something, and I'm going
to reveal plot to you. We shall want all
your brutal bulldog courage tonight"
The chair slid along on it's cushioned
wheels, the door closed with gentle spring,
and, as 1t did, female figure emerged from
behind a great bank of flowers just inside
the conservatory. She crossed on tiptoe to
the door and as gently closed it. AS the
light fell it lit up the pale. sad features of
the gray lady-the Slave of Silence.
(To be continued tomorrow