The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-10-31

q coat and skirt OF dark green Harris
tweed. with leather collar and cuffs.
and a simple sailor hat.
Megbie, who had never met Miss
Poole In the country, but only knew
her In London and during the season,
had never seen her dressed like this
before. He had always admired her
beauty, the admirable poise Of her
manner, the evidences Of intellectuali'
ty she gave. At the moment of her
entry the journalist thought her more
beautiful than ever, dressed as If for
covert-side or pu~rple-painted moor.
And his quick brain realized in a mo-
ment that she was dressed thus in an
unconscious attempt to escape obser-
walton, to be ~incognitio, as it were.
But why had she come to see him?
She was In trouble, her face showed
that-it was extraordinary, altogether
Unprecedented.
Megbie showed nothing Of the
thoughts which were animating him,
either in his face or manner. He
shook hands as If he had just met
Miss Poole in Bond street.
do sit down." he said; "T'think
you'll find that chair a comfortable
one"
Marjorie sat down. "Of course, Mr..
Megbie," she said, you will think 1t
very strange that I should come here
alone. When tell you why, you will
| think IL stranger still. And l don't
want any one to know that I have be n
here. l shall tell mother, of course,
when | get back"
Megbie bowed and said nothing. X
was the most tactful thing to do.
Il feel you will not understand my
motives the girl went on, when l
explain myself. In certain cases, and
among certain persons, conventions
are bourgeois. We don't know each
other very well, Mr.. Megbie, though
we have occasionally had some inter.
esting talks together. But in a sense
/ know you better than you know me.
You see, / have read your books and
other writings. In common with the
rest of the world l can gather some
thing of your temper of mind and OF
your outlook upon life"
Megbie once more inclined his
head. He wondered ~furiously what all
this might mean. At the moment he
was absolutely in the dark. He
stretched out his hand toward a tin
of cigarettes that stood on a bracket
by the side Of the fireplace, and
then withdrew II suddenly, remem
bering who was present.
ooh, do smoke" she said, instantly
interpreting the movement. Nov
let me tell you exactly why | am here,
why | had to come here. OF all the
men | know you are the most likely
TO understand. You have made a study
Of psychical affairs, Of what the man
in the street calls 'spooks'-you
know about dreams"
At that Megbie started forward,
every muscle in his body becoming
rigid and tense, his hands gripping the
knobs Of his chair arms.
"Of counsel" he said, in a voice
which rippled with excitement. Go
on, please. l might have known
Your coming here this morning is all
part of the wonderful and uncanny
experiences I had last night. You've
come about Gerald Rathbone!"
1t was the girls turn to start. Fear
came creeping into eyes which were
not wont to show fear: the proud
mouth grew tremulous.
Marjorie stretched out her hands
little hands in tan-colored gloves.
"Ah!" she cried, in a voice that had
become shrill and full of pain. Then
1t is true! Things have happened to
you, too! Mr.. Megbie, you and I have
become entangled in some dark and
dreadful thing. l dare not think what
it may be. But Gerald is not dead"
Megbie answered her In the same
words.
NO." he said, Gerald Rathbone is
not dead" His voice had sunk sew.
eral tones. 1t tolled like a bell.
Miss Poole he went on, "tell me-
tell me at once what happened to you
last night"
(To Be continued.)