Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-27
CHAPTER XIV.
Dallas Makes q Discovery,

like or unlike her mother, but l fear that
she must be, otherwise that man Silva
would never have got on my track, as l
have felt quite sure lately that he has done.
Doubtless in some of his wanderings he
has seen the girl, he has recognized the
likeness. and made up his mind that he has
found the object of his search at last. You
see. he has only to make a few inquiries
among the servants, who would tell him
that Vera IS my ward, and that. to the
rest, she Is more Or less of a beautiful mys-
terry. One can understand now why he
should come to my studio and steal that
portrait"
II think l can see a better theory than
that" Walter said. Wasn't the portrait
exhibited before it came back to the studio
again! | seem to remember something of
the kind"
"Of course it was" Ravenspur exclaimed.
Il had quite forgotten that. Silva must
have got his inspiration from the picture.
l suppose that is why he made that MUIR
derous attack upon Sir James Seton the
other night taking him, of course. for me.
But that is not the first warning l have
had of the impending danger and l am
afraid it won't be the last"
Walter listened to this Responding view
with impotence.
But surely you are not going to take it
like this, sir?" he expostulated. by
greatest good fortune we have discovered
who your mysterious foe Is. 1 think it has
been a wonderful slice of luck and we
ought to take advantage Of it. Surely you
couldn't do any less than place the matter
In the hands of the police. telling them all
that has happened. At any rate, you can
DO nothing else. They can drive this man
silva out OF the country. If / may be al
lowed suggestion, you will let Inspector
Dallas know without delay. If you don't
care to tell him yourself, let me breach
the matter. Indeed, 1t seems my impera-
do Pall \, he
OF this man now l should feel morally re-
sponsibe for your death. And, besides, If
anything happens to you, what are we GO
ing to do about Vera? She is not yet of
age She might at any moment be claimed
by her mother. who. you say, is a perfect
fend. And. besides, though this is minor
matter. am deeply attached to Vera my
SELF
"Oh. I know. know" Ravenspur
groaned. THE thing Is hedged round with
troubles and difficulties. You know why l
was against your marriage with Vera, and
how greatly distressed l was when found
everything out If there had been nothing
In the way, nobody would have been more
delighted at a match like that than my
self. But you see the danger though you
little know how deep and far-reaching
those Corscan vengeances are. How do l
know that if you marry Vera you would
not be marked down for the same fate as
myself?'
II am prepared to risk that" Walter
we have far more important things to talk
about. And Vera must know nothing OF
this
MY dear boy of course not 1 should
never dream of telling her. But sooner or
later she must discover everything for her
self, l am afraid. l have been thinking
over what you said just now. and perhaps
it would be as we'll to let, the police
know"
You will do 1t at once?" asked Walter
eagerly.
We'll, no. I don't propose to do it at ALL
You have been 50 clever and cool-headed in
this matter that l have decided to leave
everything to you. The whole problem Is
so complicated that l am utterly unable to
grasp it, l can see no connection between
the two. but 1 am perfectly certain that
the death of poor Delahay is all part of
the coil"
81 feel that. too" Walter said But we
need not concern ourselves about that at
present. By the way, have you seen any
thing Of Mrs. Delahay today?'
'She won't see me- Ravenspur replied
She obstnately refuses to see anybody
She remains wllfully blind to the fact that
she Is In a serious position. You see she
declared In her evidence in chief that she
had not been outside the hotel on the night
of the murder. and yet on the testimony
of three independent witnesses we have II
that she was away upward of three hours
OF course. that man Stevens Is a very sus-
picous character. but he could have moth
ing to gain by swearing that he saw Mrs.
Delahay with her husband very early in
the morning In FitZjohn SQUARE More
over. the mans evidence was not In the
least shaken. What to make of it l don't
know. l wish you would try and see her.
You know her far better than do. because
you were a deal in Italy before Delahay's
marriage and I think she likes you or
course she might have some strong rea-
sons for leaving the hotel and for keep
Ing the thing secret, and she may be
utterly and entirely innocent But really
hog hat 10
the meaning Of this mystery"
Walter glanced at his watch. It still
wanted some minutes to II o'clock and it
was no far cry to the Grand Hotel. A ham
som took him there in ten minutes. Mrs
Deiahay had not yet retired for the night
and Walter sent up his card, with few
urgent words penciled on it. A maid came
down presently with the information that
Mrs. Delahay would him for mo-
ment.
She came into her sitting room perfectly
calm and self-possessed, though the deadly
wilderness of her face and the scintillating
of her eyes told of the torture that was GO
ing or within.
Il wish you would let me help you" Wal
ter said as they shook hands. Il wish you
would be advised by me. My uncle tells
me that you refused to see him altogether"
Il was bound to- Mrs. Deahay said in
a low voice. "Oh, l know exactly what
you want. l am the victim of a set of ex-
traordinary circumstances. NV innocent
lie may get me into serious trouble l am
not blind to that knowledge. but at the
same time l cannot speak l must allow
neople to think the worst. But | swear to
you. if 1t is the last word I ever utter that
| was not with my husband. | was not the
woman the witness identified as the person
he had seen with Louis Delahay in F'itZ-
john Square that terrible morning"
The words were quietly. almost coldlv
uttered. but Walter believed them as he
would perhaps have refused to believe a
passionate outburst on the speakers part
But surely" he argued. you can give
some account of your movements. You can
say why you went out and what for?''
Il cannot Maria Delahay went on in the
same even tones. There are the most
pressing reasons why l should keep silent
My dear Mr.. Lance, am grateful from the
bottom of my heart for all your sympathy
and kindness, but nothing can move me
from my determination. \ ter all said and
done, the police can prove nothing against
me. For the rest of my life | shall be
person to be Stunned and avoided. but
shall know how to bear my punishment I'M
comparatively And. in conclusion. L am
quite convinced of ths-if l told you every
thing, you would say that l was perfectly
justified in the course l am taking. Further
argument Is useless"
Walter the futilty of it, too. He
saw in the woman's averted head and out
stretched hand. the sign that he was no