The Washington herald., 1908-04-11

Brothers OF perhaps a million sterling.
II was therefore 70 the interest OF the
firm that the present government should
remain in power, and that the country
should be allowed to develop and progress
peacefully.
He tried 20 put behind him that tncreas-
Ing suspicion that old Sam was the
friend to whom the diplomat had so
mysteriOusly referred
And yet as ne watched every movement.
every gesture Of the pair within that long
room where the lights were 50 artistical-
" shaded-the room wherein deals involv-
ing the loss or gain Of hundreds Of thou
sands OF pounds were declded-he saw that
the girl remained still defiant, and that
the man stood vanquished by her slow,
deliberate accusation.
Old Sans bony fingers were twitching
"a sign of suppressed wraa.h which his
secretary knew we'll He held his thin
lower lip between his yellow teeth, and
standing with his back 20 the fireplace,
he now and then cast q supercilious
smile upon the pretty girl who had come
there in defiance of the eonvenanees-
IN defiance evidently, of his own inpe
rious commands.
Samuel Statham al that moment was
not the hard-faced old benefactOr who
haunted the seats IN the park and gave
so much money anonymously to the de-
serving among the submerged tenth. :"
lie was a man lighting for his honor, mis-
reputation, his goId-nay his very life.
He was a man whose keen wit was now
pitted against that of a clear. level
headed girl-one who had right and jus
tice on her side.
Was it possible, Charlie thought, that
I 4 l. A. a
cret-that secret which, before he would
face its exposure, he would prefer the
grave itself?
He watched Maud and noted how bal
anced was her beautiful countenance,
and yet how calm and how determined
she was. When the old man spoke she
listened with attention. but her replies
brief and pointed. were always made
with a gesture and expression of triumph.
as of one who knew the naked and
astounding truth.
What can Il all mean?f whispered
Max. why is she here? How tantaliz-
ing It is that we cannot catch q single
word she is utteringr"
THE doors bolted,'' Charlie said in a
tone of ehagrin. I'VE can only watch
See!-shes evidently telling him some
home truths that are the reverse Of
palatable. He looks ss though he could
kill herr"
He'd better not attempt it." remarked
Max grimly, and they both stood again
/ in silence, peering forward in breathless
Ieagerness.
For fully ten minutes longer the old
man and the young girl were in heated
discussion. Sometimes Statham spoke
/ quickly and angrily. with that caustic
Z
overbearing. OF a sudden both watchers
were aware Of a slow, stealthy movement
/ behind them-a shufiiing Of feet. II
seemed.
| It was old Levi. on his tour Of inspee-
| tion. to reassure himself that all was
/ secure. In an instant both intruders
drew back into the deep shadow behind
a high stand upon which stood choice
plants in tiers, or rather the dried-up
/ pots which had ones contained them.
! They We're only just in time for old
/ Levi peering forth into the semi-dark-
| ness as he stood in the doorway leading
/ from the hall, searched around. Then,
| finding all quiet and detecting nobody, he
closed the door and locked Il.
They were thus locked out by both
doors!
To re-enter the house would be difl-
cult 1t was a contingency for which
they had not been prepared.
! Still, they were too interested in watch
/ ing the pair within 20 think much of the
| eontretemps that had occurred. Old Levi
! had shuftied away, and was waiting no
doubt, to usher out the dainty little vis-
/ itor before returning 10 the regions below.
! Maud however, showed no sign Of haste
| to leave Comfortably ensconced In her
/ A..
facing him, and replying without hesita-
ton to his allegations.
1 The sinister expression upon the old
mans face told its own tale. His I'm
patient bearing and quick gesture showed
/ his eagerness TO get rid Of her. But she,
on her part, seemed to have no intention
| Of leaving just yet. She was speaking,
| her gloved finger raised to emphasize her
words-hard words, which. from the ex-
preston upon her face, seemed full Of Bit
| ter sarcasm and Teproach.
! OF a sudden he turned upon the girl
with a herceness which took her by sur
prise. He uttered a few words, which
/ she answered quickly. Then, striking his
/ hands into the pockets OF his trousers, he
/ bent toward her with an evil grin upon
] his gray face and made some remarks
which caused in her a quick change Of
attitude,
! She rose from her chair, her face afiame
with anger, and, taking a couple of PAGES
| toward him, replied with a vehemence
which neither of the unseen onlookers
suspected.
The battle of words continued. He was
making some allegations, the truth Of
which she was denying This girl, not
yet out of her teens, was defiant Of the
man whose life had been one long strug-
| gle to grow rich, and whose gigantic
wealth was now crushing the very soul
! from his body Surely they were an in
eongruous pair. His defiance of her was
only a kaif-hearted one. His sarcasm
had irritated her, and now, alleging some
thing. which was a lie, he had goaded
her into all the fierce ebullition of anger
which woman. however calm and level
headed she may be, cannot at times re-
strain.
II wonder what the old, blaekguard
has said?" whispered Max to the man
at his side,
''It seems as though he has made some
charge against her"
cor against her father" Max sug-
gested.
You suspected me of being privy to
/ the DOCTOR 0iSdppedEances MAX, CnafHo
said, still in q whisper. You said that
you saw me at Cromwell road that night
Are you still of that opinion?''
NO" responded his friend. There was
plot-a cleverly devised plot Some one
went there dressed exactly like you"
But you say you saw his face
$50 / did. And I could have sworn 1t
was you"
1T is that conspiracy which we have
to fathom,' Charlie said. "At least, we
have established the fact that Maud is
alive. And having found Maud. we may
also find Marion. Possibly she went to her
into safe hiding from US"
/ arAIoro than nosslhla think .