Evening star., 1907-09-03

York than / should have done. I recog-
nized that when she appealed to me, and
dropped out of the game. But I'm back
now. and in a position to show up your
duplicity in a way that will make the
world stare. 1t rests with you whether
l expose you and publicly piliory you or
not. You pretend to care for Mrs. Ran
doph.''
Don't Sully her name by speaking of
it," l shouted at him in suffocating rage.
Il think l have shown far more regard
for her good name than you have. 1t will
be assailed by every gossip if you force
me to give my knowledge of you to the
world. 1 want to shield her from the pub
licity of that
why are you so interested in Mrs. Ran
dolph?' l flashed at him.
Il was employed by her to look after her
business interests, and merely as matter
of friendship think should"
You are in love with herr! You want
to marry her!''
"She is very charming woman" he
sad smiling at my heat.
He caught my arm, for I vas steering
Nlindly
You'll be into that wall in a minute!"
/ shook off his hand.
Don't touch me!" / shouted II didn't
invite you. into this auto and 1 won't listen
to your nonsense"
'See here!" He lowered his voice. Are
you going to compel me to do this thing?
ask you to think of Mrs Randolph. You
pretend that you care for her. l know
that you are not her husband. Your re-
semblance to
You never saw Julian Randolph
mo. And / do not see him now when l
look at you. Now there is a woman at the
hotel down here; she is from Philadelphia,
and from that school where you were an
instructor. She is Mrs. Trencher. All! 1
see that you remember her"
/ remembered her. Mrs. Trencher was
matron of that school,
tify you. She will be able to see you in the
streets or somewhere even if you refuse
to see her, and she will know that you are
Louis Armitage. 1t is my intention to in
troduce her to Mrs. Randolph and have her
acquaint Mrs. Randolph with her dis
eovery."
Against myself l felt rush of sudden
anger, realizing that my face had shown
fear Then that anger famed out against
Lane, and l denounced him with weak and
foolish Vehemence.
He leaned back against the cushions
smiling. and as If to show his utter con-
tempt of me he took out box of cigarettes
coOlly selected one, set it between his teeth
and lighted it.
What do you say?' he asked as the
smoke drifted through his thin nostrils.
That you're a scoundrel; that you re
"a
But about this other matter? What do
you say about that? Why not confess to
Mrs. Randolph that you have deceived her?
u
s BILE. Then get out of the country, and
permit her to make whatever explanations
she sees fit. It's the sensible way. And
| it's the only safe way for YOU.
You are through" l said when he
stopped.
My voice trembled
Yes. I'm through for the present.
He was insufferably cool.
You have undertaken this thing"
ITO unmask a villain he INTERRUPTED,
with biting emphasis.
You have undertaken it because you dis
covered that l intended to expose you and
prosecute you for swindling my wife while
processing to conduct her financial affairs -
| cigarette from between his lips and looked
| at it incuriously. Yes, that's good-ine.
! You would do for a hero Of meodrama"
| mo jesting," l said angrily. Il mean
| what l say
And 1 beg you to believe that I mean
| what l say
Il intend to put you in Sing Sing. When
| l start at that the world will understan nd
| how disinterested you are, no matter what
| you may profess or try to prove agains,
| me-"
My words sounded bold enough, vet
| had never felt my position to be so weak
| He seemed TO realize it and laughed cor
| temptUously.
Il have conducted Mrs. Randolphs finan-
| cial affairs just as if they were my own"
! Il don't doubt it," l cried. But he tg-
| nored the sarcasm.
You don't intend to admit your in
| quity?" he said
| Il have nothing to admit hurried bach
at him, "and defy you!'