The Red Cloud chief., 1907-08-02
CHAPTER XXI.

a small round dining table,
from which everything except
the dessert had been removed.
Duncombc filed his own glass and
passed around n decanter of port. Pei.
ham and Spencer both helped them.
selves almost mechanically. \ cloud
Of restraint had hung over the little
party. Duncombe raised his glass and
half emptied its contents. Then he
set ii down and leaned back in his
chair.
well" he said. IL am ready for the
inquisition. 60 on. Andrew"
Pelham fingered his own glass ner.
vouSly. lie seemed to find his task nc
easy one.
George" he said, 1--WE are old
friends. | want you to remember ii.
! want you also to remember that j
am in Il hidcous state of worry and
nerves." He passed his hand over his
forehead just above his eyes, as
though they were hurting him. ~ am
not behaving to you as n guest should
to his host. / admit it freely. i have
lost my temper more than once during
the last twenty-four hours. | am sor.
ry. Forgive me If you can, George"
"Willingly. Andrew" Duncombc an
swcred. 81 shall think no more about
It,"
AT the same time" Pelham contin
ucd, there is another point to be con
sidered. Have you been quite fair Ia
Inc, George? Remember that Phyllis
Poynton is the one person whose exist.
cuce rcconciles me to life. You had
never even heard her name before |
sent for you. You went abroad, like
the good fellow you are. to find her
for me. You assure me that you have
MISUNDERSTANDING. Let me put you
upon your honor, George. Is this alb
solutcly truc?'
IL have discovered nothing about
Phyllis Poynton," Duncombe declared
quietly.
about Miss Fielding, them"
"Phyllis Poynton and Miss Fielding
are two very different persons" Dun
combe declared.
THAT may be So" Pelham said, cal
though l find it hard to believe that
God eyer gave to two women voices
SO exactly similar. Yet if you are as
sured that this is 50 whyenot be al
together frank with me?'
What have you to complain OFF,
/ Duncombe asked.
something has happened at Runton
' House, in which Mr.. Fielding and his
daughter are concerned Pelham con-
tinued. Il have heard all Of
1 strange rumors. This afternoon l dis
tinctly heard the girls voice In the
lane outside. She was crying out as
though in fear. A few minutes later |
heard you speaking to some II in the
library. Yet when | entered the room
you would not answer me-"
Surprising | grant everything that
you say, Andrew" Duncombe answer
ed. "Supposing | admit that strange
things have happened with regard to
Mr.. Fielding and his daughter which
have resulted in their leaving Runton
uouse-eyen that she was there In the
lane this a~fternoon-hOw does all this
concern your"
BECAUSE" Pelham declared, striking
the table with his fist, II am moi salts
fed that the girl who has been staying
at Runton House and calling herself
Miss Fielding is not in reality Phyllis
PoyntOn."
Duncombe lit a cigarette and passed
them round.
"DO you know what they are saying
tonight of Mr.. Fielding and his daush-
ter?" he asked quietly.
"No!'
"That the one Is a robber and the
! other an adventures" Duncombe an
swered. This much is certainly true.
They have both left Runton House at
a moments notice ond without taking
leave of their host and hostess. Re
member, l never knew Phyllis Poyn'
ton. You did. Ask yourself whether
she Is the sort of young person to OBJ
tain hospitality under false pretenses
and then abuse ito associate herself
in a fraud with a self confessed rob-
ber."