The San Francisco call., 1907-03-24

IS. There is solid work here, I SAID, !,
something worth the planning"
touched my notebook almost affec-
ticnately, for the work was fascinat-
ing now that It had attained coherent
form. Ray smoked on and said moth
ing for several minutes. Then he looked
UP at me.
Have you a spare bedroom. Du-
caine?"
One or two" I answered They
rate is decent
'wif you put me up for a day--per-
haps two?'
'Of course" I answered, but
He answered my unspoken question.
The Duke has turned me out" he
said grimly. Who would have sus-
pccted the old man of such folly? He
plain truth, and he told me that was
q liar
I II thought that he would be difficult
10 convince" ! remarked.
He has all the magnificent pig
headedness of his race" Ray answered.
"Bienavon is Bienavon. and he can do
no wrong. He would summon him
nome again, but fortunately the young
man himself IL no fool. Ho Will not
come. You told Lady Angeis?"
.tEverything.'
t'She believed your
sT think that she did, answered.
His face softened.
The Duke showed me from the door
himself" he said. you will not OBJ
ject to my sending y note TO Lady An
seIa by your servant
Make whatever use of him you
choose" I answered There are pan
and ink and notepaper upon the table"
Then settled down to my work
Ray wrote his note, and went upstairs
to sleep. In an hours tins he was
down again. There were black rims
under his eyes, and I could see at once
that he had had no rest. 9rooton had
brought his bag from the house. and
a note from Lady Angela He read it
with a1nchanging face, and placed 1t
carefully in his breast coatpocket.
IT atn of to the village to send some
telegrams," he said, and afterWard
shall SO on for wals.
What about lurch?" asked. glanc-
ing at the clock.
None for me- he answered. some
tea at o'clock, if I may have II.
will be back hy then"
He swung of, and I was thankful,
for my work demanded my whole at
tention and very careful thought. At
a few minutes after he returned, and
Grooton brought us some tea Direct
ly we were alone Ray looked across at
me with a black frown upon his face
.sYou know what they are saying In
the village about you, young ran?'
IT can guess" I answered.
who is this girl. Blanche MoyatG'
~ farmers daughter, answered,
"but 1t is true that encour-
aged her to suppress the fact that she
had seen the man In the village, and
that he had asked for me-
what foilyv'
"Pernaps." I answered. "You see,
thought that . verdict OF found
drowned would save trouble.
This accursed woman at the Grange
Is in II, know" Ray remarked, slowly
fiiling his pipe. "I wonder If she knew
that wes about7 That would give
her a xest for the job"
s'shs knows that you were at Bras
ter at the time" I said. TT was the
night OF your lecture
Ray began to blow out dense clouds
Of smoke
"We,ro safe" he said thoughtfully.
both OF US, There's just a link In the
chain missing"
THE police have been here with
warrant in search OF that link" I re-
marked.
They'll never fnd It. for It's in my
pocket" he remarked grimly.
Colonel Ray said. suddenly nerv-
ing myself to risk his anger. there is
a question which must ask you"
I saw MS lips come firmly together.
He neither encouraged nor checked me.
who was that mann
"you are better ignorant"
was It my father"
If he did not answer my question. It
at least seemed to suggest something
to him.
Has that woman been hereg he
asked.
sYee.''
"she believes that it was your
fatherY'
"She does
He removed his pipe from his teeth
and looked at It thoughtfully.
"Ah.'' he said.
you have not answered my ques-
tion," reminded him.
Nor am going to-" he replied
coolly You know already as much as
Is good for you
He rose and threw open the door OF
my cottage. For several moments he
stood bareheaded. looking up toward
the house, looking and listening. He
r1 his watch. and walked sew