Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-02
CHAPTER Xxx.
Waldo In a New Light.

laid his card, which found at length after
a long search. Seeing that the address
was Fitzjohn Square. l thought 1 would
come and interview Mr.. Deahay. 1t was
quite late at night that I found that he
was staying at the Grand Hotel, and as
things We're very pressing indeed, / sent
him an express letter asking for an inter-
view early In the morning. In response L
received telegram saying that he would
see me at once and If could manage TO
be at the corner of F'itzjohn Square at 1
O'Clock In the morning. 1 told you just now
that things were very urgent because l
had taken this house furnished, and l had
already had one or two unpleasant inter-
views with the landlord. who naturally
wanted his money. The telegram seemed
to be reasonable enough. Artists are very
late people. and. besides. 1t occurred to me
that Mr.. Delahay had probably had those
jewels In his house. At any rate, l met
him. You can imagine how astonished he
was when he saw my face. OF course, he
naturally concluded that l was your sister,
but he seemed to think that you had told
him that I was dead. l suppose that was
So"
Certainly 1t was" Mrs. Delahay said.
Il was definitely told that you were dead.
And when l related our unhappy story to
my husband 1 always spoke of you as one
who was no more"
Yes, 1 quite see WE'LL we went along
very pleasantly together to the house, and
it seemed to me that all had to do was to
get those jewels and come and call upon
you. Naturally, 1 had not heard Of you for
years. Indeed, l regarded you as dead,
much the same as you were under the I'M
preston that l no longer lived But when
reached the studio, light was burning
there, and looking In, l saw a man paint
ing: a handsome man, whom your husband
told me was Lord Ravenspur You can
imagine that neither of us wanted to be
seen. There was no occasion to raise any
doubts in the intruder's mind, and SO we
Ia W
jewels was handed over to me and / came
straight back here. Not till late the next
afternoon did 1 know what had happened"
Then there Is nothing more you can tell
me?" Mrs. Delahay asked.
Il am sorry to say there is not. But
since you have been here certain suspicious
have begun to grow in my mind which fill
me with dread. 1t would not be fair to
my facts. Still. am gla. you have come
now, because l think you will be of assist
ance to me. You heard me speak just now
of Luigi Silva, but, of course, you will re-
member him perfectly well?"
Il recollect him." Mrs. Delahay said "A
queer-tempered man, with strange and way
ward moods, but he was sincerely attached
to US. l should like to see him again.
You shall see him." the countess said.
And if you have half hour to spare 1t
shall be this very night. When dis
covered that my daughter had been stolen
l got in touch with Silva, who, as l told
you just now, under the impression
that | had taken Vera away and placed
her in safe custody, lest the authorities
should interfere and remove her from my
influence. When he found that l had bare
ly given Vera a thought all these years he
was furiously angry with me. Indeed, his
rage knew no bounds. He had always been
so faithful; he had always worked so hard
for me, that / was astounded. He refused
to have any more to do with me. He went
off without leaving his address, and for
some little time 1 have been searching for
l. n,rftn 1y~f l.
the other night. He seems to have turned
his athletic powers to advantage, for he is
performing in London now a kind of
flying man. / have seen the performance.
and it is exceedingly clever. But that isn't
what l want to talk to you about l know
where Silva, or Waldo, as he now calls him
self, Is to be met with. Within few mo-
ments l want you to come along and add
your persuasion to mine.
Il will do anything you like" Mrs. Della
hay said; anything to get to the bottom
of this singular mystery"
The countess started up at once, and
proceeded to don her hat and cloak. Then
she led the way to the back of the house
There is a way out here she said.
which leads into lane. Now. come along
We have not very far to CO.
They turned out of the lane presently
into a quiet, secluded thoroughfare. where
the countess stopped. They had not long
to wait, for presently two figures came
down the road talking earnestly together.
sufficient to show Mrs. Delahay that one
of the men was James Stevens.
The witness, Stevens" she whispered.
He must not see us together. There are
many reasons why 1t is nadvisable that he
should learn the truth. The other man
looks like Silva; only it is difficult to be
after all these years. Let me stand
In this doorway till You have managed to
get rid of Stevens
The countess nodded her approval, and
Maria Delahay slipped into the shadow of
the door. From where she stood it was
quite possible to see what was going on
She saw her sister approach the two men.
She did not fail to note Stevens start as he
recognized. or thought he recognized. the
woman who was known to him as Maria
Delahay. On the still air she could catch
a word or two.
Very WELL" she heard Silva say sullenly
Il have one or two things to say to my
friend here and then I'll come back to
you
The two men came past where the woman
was standing in the doorway. They were
conversing In deep whispers. SO that the
listener could catch only word or two, yet
those words filled her with vague apprehen-
sion. She caught the name of Ravenspur
1t came Kissing from Silva's lips. Then
there was something she could not follow,
word tonight moment later and
Stevens was shutting off down the street
while Silva returned to Countess Flavio
AS Mrs. Delahay Joined them the little
so you are both here" he said
There something In the insolence of
his manner that moved Mrs. Delahay to
anger.
Il should hardly have known YOU" she
said; T'certainly 1 should not have known
YOU from the tone In which you are ad-
dressing US Have you quite forgotten
what you owe to your late masters chill
dren?'
Il have forgotten nothing" Silva SAID.
why do you come here prosecuting me
like this? Why cannot you let me alone7
But for me your sister would have been in
a dishonored grave by,n l saved her
life. / saved the good name of the family
And how am l repaid? What does she
care SO long as she saves herself. And yet
/ remember her a sweet and innocent child
just as l remember her own little one All,
/ was fond of her, and she was fond of me-
l could never have gone off and hidden N.Y.
self and left little Vera to the tender
mercies of the world. l. a man. no rela-
ton. couldn't have done that. But that
her mother could have done such a thing
ah, 1t seems unnatural unwomanly."
You will find her for me?'' the countess
said timidly.
Il have found her" Silva whispered
fercely. But whether l have found her
for you or not is quite another matter, I
Cd fria T