The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-12
CHAPTER xvII.-(continucd.,

+
CHAPTER xvIT.-(Continucd,
"Tigress! You would Kill me IL you
could. But that doesn't make me love
you less. Would Du Laurier have you
II he knew what you areas he will
know soon unless you let me save YOU?
Yet III would love you II you were q
murderess as we'll as a--spy."
1T is you who are spy!'' / faltered,
now all but broken.
IF i am, / haven't spied in vain.
Not only can / ruin you with 2du Lau.
rier, and before the world. but can
ruin him utterly and in all ways"
.No-no" 1 gasped. You cannot
ing"
Nothing tonight, perhaps. I'm not
speaking OF Tonight. l am giving sou
time. But to-morrow-or the day af-
ter. It's much the same to me. At
first. when / first began to suspect that
Something had been taken from its
place, had no proof. / had to get
that. and l did get it--nearly all I
wanted. This affair OF Dundas might
have been planned for my advantage.
1t is perfect All It's complications are
Just so many links in chain for me.
Girnrd--the man Dundas chose to eni-
ploy--WhS ttle WHY Ihtl j ~ Scill w
England; on what errand. do you think?
To watch your friend the British For
eign Secretary. He followed Dundas
TO Paris on the bare suspicion that
there'd been communication between
the two. and he was preparing a re-
port for me when--Dundas called on
him.,
What connection can 1vor Dundas'
coming to Paris have with Raoul du
Laurier?" 1 dared to ask.
You know best rs to that"
"They have never met. Both are men
OF honor and"
Men OF honor are tricked by women
sometimes, and then they have to suf-
fer for being fools, as II they had
been villains. Think what such a man
"a man Of honor. as you say--would
feel when he found out the woman!'
"A woman can be illuminated as we'll
as a man." l said. You are SO I'M
scrupulous, you would stoop to any
thing. I know that. Raoul du Lau-
rier has done nothing: IL have done
nothing. OF which to be ashamed. Yet
you can lie about US. ruin him perhaps
by plot, as II he were guilty, and
and do terrible harm to me.
II .can-without the trouble OF lying.
And will. unless you'll give up duI
Laurier and make up your mind to-
marry me. always meant to have
you. You are the one woman worthy
of me-
any woman. But. give me till to-mor-
row evening--at this time-to decide.
Will you promise me that
NO, / know what you would do. You
would kill yourself 1t is what is .ai
your mind now. I won't risk losing
you. have waited long enough al
ready. Give me ring of yours. and
written word from you to du Laurier
saying that you find you have made
mistake: and not only will l do moth
ing to injure him. but will guard
against the discovery of-you know
what Besides, as matter of course.
I'll bring all my influence to bear in
keeping your name out Of this or any
other scandal. can do much. every
thing indeed, for l admit that it was
me the Commissary of Police
trapped you with Dundas. 1 will say
that I blundered. know what to do
to save you. and will do it-for my
future Wife.
mo power on earth could induce
me to break with Raoul du Laurier I'M
the way you wish ! said. Tiff
am to give him up. ] must tell him
with my own lips. and bid him good
bye. l will do this tomorrow. II you
VIII hold your hand until them
We looked at each other for long
In silence. Godensky was try
ing to read my mind, and to make upl
his accordingly.
You swear by everything sou hold
sacred to break with him Tomorrow"
by the memory of my father and
mother martyred by bureaucrats like
YOU. I pledge my word sthat-that-ifl
I can't break with .Raoul to let yon
know the first thing in the morning.
and dare you to do-what you will.
you will not dare me, I think. And
because / think so, will wait-a lit
tie longer"
.Until this time Tomorrow"
mo. For If You cheated me, III
would be too late to act for another
twelve hours. But will give you till
tomorrow noon. You agree to that"
81 agree" My lips formed the
words. / hardly spoke them; but he
ind erstood. and with atlash in his eyes, |
took a step towards me as If to snatch
my hand drew away He followed.
hut at this instant Marianne appeared
at the door. 81
'.There is young lady to see Mad |,
emoiselle," she; announced, her good
natured, open face showing all nef us
like of Count Godensky. "A young
lady who sends this note. begging that
will read it at once, and
consent to see her."
Thankful that the tete-a-tete had
been interrupted, i held out my hand
for the letter, Marianne gave It to
me. I glanced at the name written be-
low the lines which only half filled the
frs page OF theatre paper, and found
1t strange to me. But, even II had not
been ready to snatch at the chance OF
Kidding myself Immediately Of Goden-
sky, the few words above the unfamil-
lar name would have made me say as
/ did say. Bring the young lady In
at once"
81 come to you from Mr.. Dundas, on
business which he told me was of the
greatest and most pressing tmpor-
lance, ''DIANtA FORREST"
That was the whole contents Of the
note, \ but q dozen sheets closely filled
with arguments could not have moved
me more,
CHAPTER XVIII.
Maxine Meets Diana.
Godensky was Obliged to take his