Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-29

unfortunately. hc'
But you've heard of II? Oh. say you've
heard something"
IF / haven't it isn't because I've sat
down and waited for news to come. l went
back to the Garde du Nord after you left me
10 try and get on the track of the men
who travelled with me in the train to Dover.
But | was sent off on the wrong scent and
wasted lot of time. worse luck-lH tell
you about II later. II you care to hear de-
tails. Then. when that game was up, did
what wish I'd done at first, found out and
consulted private detective. said to be one
of the best In Paris
You told your story-my story-to a de-
tective?" l gasped.
No. Certainly not. I said I'd lost
something of value. given me by a lady
whose name | couldn't bring into the af-
fair I was George Sanford. too. not Mr..
Dundas. | described my travelling COM
panons, telling all that happened on the
way. and offered big pay If he could find
them Quickly-espccially the little fellow.
He held out hopes of.spotting them tonight,
50 don't be desperate, my poor girl. The
detective chap seemed really to think he'd
not have much difficulty in tracking down
our man. and even If he's parted with the
treaty we can find out what he's done
with It. no doubt GiIard says"
'Girard." l caught 1vor up rs your de-
teCtive's name Anatole Girard and does he
live In Rue du- Capucin Blanc?"
Yes. Do you know him."
II know too much of him." answered
bitterly
Isn't he clever. after aN?"
Far too clever I'd rather you had gone
To any other detective In Pars-Or to
none
why. what's wrong with him." Ivor be-
gan to be distressed.
only that he's a personal friend of nv
worst enemy-the man I spoke OF to you
this evening-Count Godensky. I've heard
50 from GOdansky himself. who mentioned
the acquaintance once when Girard had
just succeeded in a case everybody was
talking about"
by Jove. what a beastly colnc!dence!'
exclaimed Ivor horribly disappointed at
having done exactly the wrong thing when
ne had tried SO hard to do the right one
Yet low could l have dreamed of it?''
You couldn't l admitted. hopelessly.
Nothing is your fault All that's hap
pened would have happened just the same,
no matter what messenger the foreign Sec
rotary had sent to me- It's fate And it's
my punishment"
still even if Godensky and GIrard are
friends. 1vor tried to console me- at isn't
likely that the count has talked to the de-
tective about you and the affair of the
treaty"
He may have gone to him for help in
finding out things he couldn't find out him
self"
Hardly, should say, until there'd been
time for him to fear failure. No, the
chances are that Girard will have no inner
knowledge of the matter I've put into his
hands. and If he's a man of honor he's
bound to do the best he can for me as his
employer. Have you seen du Laurier?"
Yes. at the theater. Nothing bad had
happened to him yet. but that brute Co
densky has made dreadful mischief between
us. If only I'd known that you would be
SO late might have explained everything
to him
I'm very sorry, said Ivor, so humbly
and so sadly that pitied him (5ut no. half
as much as l p!tied myself. even though
hadn't forgotten that hint he had let drop
about great sacrihce-a girl he loved
whom he had thrown over, somehow, to
come to mel. Il made every effort to be in
time II seems a piece with the rest of
my horrible luck today that I was pre-
vented. ! hope. at least. that du Laurier
knows about the necklace?"
He does by this l answered Yet I'm
afraid he won't be in mood to take much
comfort from it--thanks TO that wretch.
You know Raou hasn't a practical bone in
his body. He Will think I've deceived him
and nothing else viii matter | must
But broke off and laid my hand on Ivor's
arm. What's that?'' l whispered. Did
You hear anything them"
iTOr shook his head and we both listened
It's a step outside on the gravel path"
said ]. my heart beginning to knock against
my side. Il forgot to lock the gate. Some
body has come into the garden. What if it
should be Raoul--what If he has seen our
shadows on the curtain?"
Mechanically We moved apart. Ivor max
ing gesture to reassu-e me. on account
Of the position OF the lights. He was right.
Our shadows couldn't have fallen on the
curtain.
As we stood listening there came a knock
at the front dor. II was Raouls knock
! was sure of that.
l. only lvor had arrived quarter of an
hour earlier. at the time appointed l should
have hurried him away before this. so that
| might write 10 Rauui; but now | could
not think what to do for the bcst-what to
do, that things might not be made tar
worse instead of better between RaOul and
ne. | had suffered 20 much that my power
of quick decision. on which I'd 50 often
prided myself, vaingloriOusy, seemed gone
1T is RaOul." | said What shall | do?'
Let him in. OF course, and introduce me-
Don't act as if you were afraid. Say that
came To see you on important business
and had To call after the theater because
I'm leaving Paris by the first train in the
morning.
NO use"
why not? When a man loves a woman
he trusts her"
mo man of Latin blood | think And
RaOuls already angry. He has the right
TO ba-Or would have. if Godensky had been
telling him the truth. And | refused to let
him come here. | said.I was going straight
TO bed. | tired. He's knocking
again. Hide yourself and Ill let him in
Oh. why do you stand there looking at me
like that? Go into that room" and |
pointed. then pushed him in toward the
door. You can get through the window
and out of the garden-softly-Wh Raoul
and | are talking
If you insist" said Ivor But you're