Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-14
THE SLAVE OF SILENCE
BY FRED NJ. WHITE.

| can see the likeness plainly enough. / don I
! say that l should have done had 1 not
| had SO strong hint little while ago, but
| you cannot disguise features out of recog-
| milton. And l say that those two people
are no more than vulgar swindlers."
Again the woman laughed, but the mans
| face grew dark.
You are very bold the man called Reg
| gle growled. If you have any friends
near"
1t was on the tip of Beatrice's tongue to
say that she had, but she wisely restrained
| herself. At the same time it was good to
De reminded that Bennington was close by
and that perhaps he was listening to the
conversation at the present moment.
Il am stating no more than the truth"
Beatrice went on. THE so-called countess
| came to me and she pretended sympathy.
She made me believe that she was an old
friend of my father. Then she went away
leaving Gen. Gastang to talk to me- 1 will
tell you presently what she was going to
SELF
The woman did not laugh this time: there
was an angry spot on either cheek.
You are piquante and interesting" she
SAID Pray believe that 1 am listening to
you with the deepest attention. 1t is good to
have ones thoughts read for one in this
fashion,
Il was alone with the general" said
Beatrice ignoring the last speaker altogeth-
er. Fortunately for me- the general rec
OgniZed some acQuantance-probably a no.
lice officer-for he disappeared discreetIy
and left me to myself and my suspicious
|, My suspicious led me to my bed room pres
emily, where l had left some extremely val
liable diamonds"
1.-The same that you have in your pocket
at the present moment" the woman Cora
exclaimed. If
A furious oath rang out from the man
Reggie. Just for moment it looked as II
he were about to strike the incautious
speaker. She Redeemed and grew confused
Sartoris listened, with an evil grin on his
face. He seemed to be amused at some
thing.
1T is good of my friends to come here to-
night" he said. so kind and disinterest-
ed. / shall know how to thank them later
on. Pray proceed
I'm my bed room was the countess"
Beatrice cried. She was SO staggered to
find that her possession of the gems was
known to this couple that she could hardly
proceed. THE countess had evidently been
overhauling my belongings. But l was just
in time"
Call me a thief at once" the woman
burst out furiously. why don't you do
it?"
"As yet have no legal proofs to justify
me in SO doing" Beatrice said. But /
have not the least doubt in my own mind.
You were good enough to come back and
pretend that your maid was i'll, and you were
good enough to let me smell that scent SO
that yeu gave me sleep that rendered me
insensibe to the strange things that were
taking place SO near me-"
You seem to know a great DEAL" the
woman Cora sneered.
Indeed l do" Beatrice went on II
know that you were in my bed room plan
ming some -villainy with my husband; l
know that you took wax impressions of
the seals of my fathers room; 1 know the
part you both played afterward. Then you
disappeared, leaving no signs behind. But
you have been SO kind as to confess your
own identity. You will be well advised to
stand aside and let me pass"
Just for a moment it looked as if Beat
rice's audacity was going to carry her
through But it was Sartoris who interfered
this time. His face had grown black; he
had thrown aside all traces of amiability
now.
you are a very clever young LADY, he
said with a dry sheer "a most exceedingly
and remarkably clever young lady. But
you are too proud of your discoveries, you
talk too much. You see, these good people
are friends sof mine"
II know that Beatrice retorted. But
one thing 1 am certain of-had you known
graphs would never have been left for me
to see. You need not have been under the
necessity of lying about them, and 1 should
have gone away, never dreaming that l had
the countess and the general again."
do / understand that you drag me into
your charger" Sartoris demanded angrily
Certainly I do" Beatrice cried. Her
blood was up now; anger had got the better
of discretion. She was furious to feel that
she had been lured into a den of swindlers,
and so all her sagacity and prudence had
gone to the winds. Those people are ac-
completes of yours; the very lie that you