The Washington herald., 1907-10-20

silence on St Quintins part If not,
what will YOU do?''
The younger man walked restlessly up
and down the room.
Il don't know yet. All I'm absolutely
certain Of is that love her madly, pas
sionately, and that I shall never rest till
I've made her my wife"
You don't think there's anything
wrong about the girl too?"
St Quintin turned upon him with rage
in his eyes.
I'm absolutely sure OF that, too. She
is modest good, sweet, everything that
a woman should be. I won't hear
word
Ince put up his hand,
Indeed, y0uu hear nothing against
any of them from me-" he said, quietly.
1t was YOU / think, who first said you
did not care for the relations, and ac-
cused me of parroting when I called them
charming"
St Quintin looked confused and
abashed
Wei. the fact is. 1 suppose I'm so
much in love that / scarcely know how
10 speak nationally when she is in any
way concerned. But the fact is. I have
French ones. I'll tell you an odd expe-
rieence I had the first evening / went
down there"
And he told. straightforwardIy and
shortly, without dwelling upon any point
unduly, the strange story OF his hearing
the cries OF Help Murder" of his see
Ing the window close. and of MS going
back 70 the house. and having it proved
70 him, to the satisfaction Of his own
eyes, that there was no one in the study
and no trace of any crime having been
committed there
James Ince listened very quietly. and
made no comment whatever when he had
heard ALL It was left for his friend TO
say sharply.
'WeIl, what do YOU thing Of lt2"
1t looks, replied Ince. calmly, "as If
they made business of Offering their
niece in marriage to the man who is able
TO pay the most in jewelry, or perhaps
in other things. Now. doesn't it?"
st. Quintin was trembling.
L can't think it's quite as bad as
that" he said hoarsely What 1 think
is that this man is COvetOus-indeed. he
confessed as much-and that he is try
ing t0-tO-tO-"
Wei. what do you think he's trying
to do?"
ST. Quintin made a gesture Of despair.
i think you're right said he, at last,
desperately Hes holding out. with the
intention Of inducing her 90 marry the
man who pays the most handsomely for
the privilege. Yet why a man who must
certainly be well off himself
How do you know that?' asked Ince.
quickly.
Look at the house, the servants. the
ladies' jewelry and dresses"
Might they not all be part Of the plot
to make her pass for an heiress when
she IS really nothing Of the sort?"
ST. Quintin drew long breath
There must be money somewhere" he
said Either she has plenty. or he or
MS wife. For think of the enormous
sums he would have 10 get out of every
body TO keep up such an establishment,
And all he gets out Of his niece's ad-
mirers is a few tTinkets"
You mean as far as you know"
St Quintin, trembling so much that he
had to support himself against the table.
stared at mis- friend
"Oh, no, ND, by heaven! It's not nos
sible. You mean that they use Marie
that lovely, charming girl. as a decov,
A." He thrust his hand through his
hair in a stupor of incredulous dismav
No, no. no. They know I'm well off. If
lhey hdd been you say. do you
think they w0ulG have tried to get
something more out OF me- than dia-
mond watch2 Just ask yourseIfr'
James lnce got up, and leaned over
his friend.
'Yosve only been down there two or
three times. Perhaps they've scarcely
begun the bleeding process properly YET
The other started up with a cry.
BY Jove, ] won't believe it; I won't I
i must go down at once. see Marie. and
md out the truth. She must know some
thing about the way of life Of her uncle
and aunt She"
"Ah-'
The effect Of that monosyllabIe upon
ST Quintin was paralyzing, for it summed
up all the incredulity. all the ugly
conviction, which had been ripening in
the mind Of the elder man on the way
back from Briar Lodge that night.
st. QUintin made a rush for his friend. !
who held him off and tried to soothe
him into listening quietly.
Hush. BE quiet. there's a good chap
All I meant was that you must not now
be content to let things slide: you must
find out, once for all. how much the girl
knows"
st Quintin glared at him.
t'She knows nothing Of what Won mean.
nothing Of anything wrong. I'll swear"
Then, if you were 10 suggest to her |
that there is something shady about the |
place, and put few plain facts before |
her-perhaps you'll open her eyes-aIways |
supposing they're not open already |
and YOU can get her To choose between I