New-York tribune., 1907-11-24

III no was interested with Hobart
allloughby and Dick Essington III
a rat. important mining venture, was
rapid bringing Mrs Essington to a
conc IN of despair. In accordance with
her aashand's wishes, despite the estrangem,
had sted so long,-so very long it seemed
Of them lbetween the two she always had {
utru.-t to make his home a pleasant one
Ess.ug gton had asked Lee and WillOughby
wit them informally, IN order that the tn
might have an opportunity to talk over the
of their business quietly. She had planned
str.eu 10 make the dinner a pleasant LITTLE
but Lees taciturnity fairly batfled her. TT
would. it seemed impossible to find subj
infested him, and her every effort at CO
ton fslled TO draw from him more than
sylla.c replies.
J. vas not, indeed until Willoughby h;
casu-lly TO speak of Cossesly that he seemed
70 lose the restraint that had possessed him.
a De heard that name, however, he looked
up --ickly from the plate at which he had
bee ztarlng and leaned across the table
tov I'd Willoughby.
beg Your pardon" he asked, appar-
en- with considerable interest, Il but was
tr- 0ssesly you mentioned by any chance
R Cossesly?"
W'loughby smiled genially back at him.
o. nat is the very man, he replied. You
e. mean to tell me that you have met
h out West?"
e long life in the open had taught Lee
notice little things. He saw now, even
ugh Willoughby did not, that the men
u of the mans name had had certain
Curious effect upon both his hostess and
] IS host. The latter was bending over his
ate in a manner that evidently meant to
] ply an entire lack of interest in what
4 IS being said, while the former sat quite
s..l N an unnaturally rigid position, waiting
! entity, it seemed, for him to speak. 1t
this evident constraint that led him to
g. lle his answer so curt as to end the sub
Yes" he announced briefly, Il have
him
HIS manner failed utterly to impress
y llJughby. Indeed, it appeared that he
Cl not even notice the tone-One almost
{ positive rudeneSs-with which it was
c .Vered.
By Georgel" he exclaimed, beaming.
u don't tell me- How IS he1 What
l. doing? Did you know him well"
ne volley Of questions convinced Lee of
( .npossibility of attempting TO stop
J. rughby without showing the Others
(. he had noticed their embarrassment.
I u instant he was silent as he looked
d INTO the wine glass he was thought
f. twisting between his thumb and fore
f. r.. and when he did speal, he steadily
k his eyes on the table before him.
can answer all your questions" he
s. slowly, by answering the last one.
not know him well; for | met him
or ance, he paused for just brief in
st and then continued in a low voice.
It night he died
silence that followed his words were
ain painful Even though he did not
glar at her, Lee knew that Mrs. Essing-
ton face had gone quite white, while
he her husbands eyes fixed with a
str incredulous stare upon his face.
It Wiloughby at last who spoke.
I-ad!" he whispered. Poor old Roger
Lee raised his eyes and looked over
le he replied with a nod; he died in Il
vi aering a woman's name.
Gods!" The cry was wrung from Wild
IL from which the blood had fled.
ln his agitation 1t seemed doubtful
TeaH1ed what he was saying, nor did Lee tn
Nj Eaeangton had heard or had taken Of
1t Indeed. though he had kept his eyes
averted from her, he could have sworn tha
taneously with Willoughby's cry he had h
take her breath in sharply as one does who is