The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-06-30
CHAPTER XIV Continued,

Barker" he said What the dickens
does he want here tonight? He's always
worrying. He Is becoming an intolerable
nuisance" He tore open the note. l
must put a stop to him somehow or 9TH
er." ne added, sinking his voice. Il -
He stopped sharply, drawing in his
breath with q harsh rattle. Evelyn's
gray eyes saw the pallor spread upon
his face. and her hands resting in her
lap trembied a little over her fan.
He crushed the note in his fingers and
rose 70 his feet, standing for a moment
with his face turned from her go that
she could not see It. She leaned forward
a little. and he turned again, suddenly,
7 must 90 to him, after ALL he said,
in a queer rasping, rather unsteady
voice Tit is something rather i'm
portant. and I must try TO see him i'm
mediately. VIII you forgive me for TAX
Ing you back to the reception room
She got up at once.
7 viii come with you as far as the
library" she said, a little stifly. "Danc-
ing viii be beginning directly, and every
body viii be drifting toward the ballroom.
Iii go with you"
For an instant he hesitated and she
looked at him sharply. Then her thin,
wEite-gloved hand linked itself in his
arm
She glanced down. The note was still
cleuched IN his hand. and the sight of
il fred her afresh. Had Barker men
toned Hetty Lancaster in it? And if so.
what did it mean? Why had her name
come up again in this strange way after
all those years? She would find out
She Ioosened her hand from his arm,
as they reached one Of the entrances 10
the great library. and then caught him
again sharply by the elbow. He turned
with a jerk. The corridor was full, and
as he wheeled round she managed some
how TO strike the note from his hand A
crowd Of people were sauntering up. A
girl touched her lightly on the shoulder
with her fan, and Evelyn turned 10 speak
10 her. But as she did so her bright
gray eyes never left Lord Fanshawe's
face her quick wits were in two places
at once. and before he had time TO move.
her foot was planted firmly on the noto
as Il lay on the floor. She waved her
hand 70 him lightly. You can leave me
now she said. IN stay here Good
bye"
Almost mechanically he turned and
crossed 20 the library door. Mechanically.
and without realizing that the note had
gone from his grasp he put his hand
on the handle and. turning It. pushed
open the door and entered.
AS he disappeared Evelyn stopped
swiftly. and picking up the note. slipped
it in her glove A minute later she made
some excuse and ran back along the cor
Tidor until she found an empty corner
She looked around quickly A palm hid
her from the moving crowd in the cor
ridOr. and from the other end came the
sound OF music. Dancing was beginning
On her card was a mans name, but she
cared nothing for that He might look
for her in vain. She did not care.
she sat back, and. drawing the note
from her glove. looked round a little
ureathlessly before she opened it, Their
she did so carefully shielding it with her
fan in case any pTying eyes might see
it, and bending forward, read It slowly
Twice-three times she read it before
her dull wits seemed to gather in the
sense Of the scrubbed words Then she
looked up with the last drop Of blood
drained from her cheeks. with the words
dancing before her feverish eyes in let
ters Of FIRE
L must see YOU" it ran. THE worst
has happened. It's all out, and Bas-
sic Merrill has got Hetty Lancaster
here in Oldcastle, with all the truth
about your marriage to her, and the
murder Of her father at their fingers
ends TIN be a bad lookout if you
don't take care. FRED BARKER"
Evelyn rose slowly TO her feet He,
face was set and gray and stony-tht
face Of a woman with her heart frozer
in her breast.