The Washington herald., 1908-03-13

admission on the part OF the doctors
daughter that he was hoping to elicit
Marion, he said presently. in a low.
| intense voice, Marion, I love YOU. If
did not trust you. do you think my af-
fection would be so strong for you as II
plying
That all depends" she said. you
might suspect me of double-dealing, and
yet love me at the same time."
But do not doubt you. darling" he
assured her at the same time placing his
arm around her slim waist and kissing
her upon the lips. Il love you; surely
you believe that?"
Yes. Max, I do" she murmured. q
debut +"
But What?' he asked, looking straight
into her ine eyes and waiting for her TO
continue.
She averted his gaze. and slowly but
firmly disengaged herself from his en-
brace, while he, on his part, wondered.
She was silent. her face pale, and in her
eyes look of sudden fear
Tell me- darling he whispered. "You
have something TO say to me-is not that
sog"
He loved her. he told himself. as truly
as any man had ever loved a woman. II
was only that one little suspicion that
had ar.sen-the suspicion that she had
not been 20 Queens Hall with his friends s
! daughter
He took her hand lightly in his and
! raised il courteously TO his lips but she
drew 1t away, crying, mol No, Maxi
| No
"No?" he gasped. staring at her. What
do you mean, Marion. Tell me what you
mean"
II mean that-that though we may
( love each other. perfect trust does not
exist between US"
"As far as I'm concerned II does" he
declared. even though he knew that his
words were not exactly the truth why
have you so suddenly changed toward
me. Marion? You are my love. 1 care
for no one save yourself. You surely
know that-have / not told you so a hun
dred times? Do you still doubt me?'
NO, Max I do not doubt you. It is
you who doubt me-"
I do not doubt" he repeated. 81 have
merely made inquiry regarding Maud, and
the confession which you yourself told
me she made TO you. Surely. in the cir
cumstances. OF her extraordinary disap-
| pearance. together with her father. il is
L NJ
! terested in her?'
Il am quite as surprised and interested
over Maud's disappearance as you are"
Not quite so surprised"
Because / view the whole affair in the
| light of what she told me-"
Did what she tell you in any way con-
Germ the DOCTOR he asked eagerly.
Indirectly il did-nOt directly"
Had YOU any suspicion that father
and daughter intended to suddenly dis
appear"
NO: but as I have before told you.
am not surprised"
Then they are fugitives. take it7'' he
remarked. in changed tone.
Certainly. They were no doubt driven
to act as they have done. Unless there
there has been tragedy"
But the men who removed the furni
ture must be In some way connected with
the Doctors secret" ne remarked. There
were several Of them"
L know You have already described
10 me all that you have discovered IL is
very remarkable and very ingenious"
A moment ago you were about TO tell
me something, Marion he said. fixing
hts gaze upon hers. What is it?"
oh" she answered. uneasily. Moth
ing-nothing. 1 assure YOU"
Now, don't prevaricater' he exclaimed.
raising his forefnger in mock reproof.
you wanted TO explain something to me.
What was it?"
She tried to laugh. but it WAS only a
very futile attempt, and il caused in
creased suspicion 10 arise within his al
ready overburdened mind. Here he was
endeavOring to elucidate the mystery Of
the disappearance of a friend. yet she
could not assist him in the least. His
position was sufficiently tantalizing. for
he was convinced that by her secret
knowledge she held the key to the whole
situation
Usually, women are not so loyal to
friends Of their own sex as are men. A
woman Will often give away smother
woman without the least conIpunction.
where man viii be stanch. even though
the other may be his enemy. This IS a
fact well known 10 all, yet the reason We
may leave aside as immateriaI TO this
curious and complex narrative which I
am endeavoring TO set down in intel
ligible form.
Marion, the woman he loved better than
his own life, was assuring him that she
had nothing 10 tell. while he at the same