, 1908-05-21

'isudl. not to say uncon yentjonal cir.
cumstances. Squire Glenarm, Please
go away or turn your back. I wan IN
get out of this donjon keen"
She took my hand coolly enough and
stepped down into the passage. Then
l broke out stormily.
o don't seem to understand the
gravity OF what you are doing, Don't
you know that you are riskinx your
life in crawling through this house AT
midnight?-that even to serve Arthur
Pickering a life is a pretty big thing
to throw away? Your i%nfatuatIon for
that blackguard seems to carry Won
far, Miss D~evereux."
She swung the lantern at arms
length back and forth so that its rays
at every forward motion struck my
face like a blow.
1T isn't exactly pleasant in this cav
ern. Unless you wish to turn me over
to the lord high executioner. will bid
you good night"
But the infamy of this-of oming
in here to spy upon me--to help nv
enemy-the man who is seeking plum
der-doesn't seem to trouble you"
NO. Not a PARTICLE" she replied
quietly, Inc then, with an impudeut
fling, "Oh. mo-" she held up the lantern
to look at the wick. I'm really disap-
pointed to find that you were a little
ahead of me. Squire Glenarm. didn't
give you credit for so much-persever-
ance. But If you have the notes."
THE notes! He told you there were
notes. did he? The coward sem YOU
here to find them, after his other tools
failed him."
She laughed hat low laugh of hers
that was like the bubble of a spring.
"Of course no one would dare deny
she SAID witheringly.
You can't know what your perfidy
means to me-" | said. That night at
the Armstrong;. | Il gilled at the sight
't YOU. - rou amt down the stair.
WI Ito OF you as my good angel
and 1 belonged to you,-all my life, the
better future that l wished to make for
your sake"
Please don'ti" she exclaimed sor-
sowfully, the mirth all gone. I felt
that my words had touched her; that
there were regret and repentance in
her tone and in the gesture with which
she turned from me.
She hurried down the passage toward
the chapel, swinging the lantern at her
side. and l followed, still mystified,
and angered by her composure. She
evan tnrnad with nratty rn,trtacu RI
hold the light for me at the crypt
steps,-a service that l accepted per.
force and with joyless acquiescence in
the irony of 1t. l knew that l did not
believe in her; her conduct as to Pick
ering was utterly indefensible,-I could
not forget that; but the light of her
eyes, her tranquil brow, the sensitive
lips, whose mockery stung and pleased
in a breath,-by such testimony my
were alternately reinforced and
disarmed. Swept by these changing
l followed her out into the
crypt.
You seem to know q good deal
about this place, and I suppose l can't
object to your familiarizing yourself
with your W property. And the
notes-In give myself the pleasure Of
handing them to you tomorrow. You
can cancel them and give them to Mr..
Pickering,-s fitting pledge between
YOU"
thrust my hands into my pockets
to give an impression of ease l did not
possess.
Yes" she remarked in a practical
tone; $780, 900 dollars is no mean
sum of money. Mr.. Pickering will I'M
doubtedly be delighted t. have his
debts cancelled"
IN exchange for a life of devotion"
I sneered. so you knew the sum
the exact moun Of these notes. He
hasn't served you well. He should
have TOLD you that we found them to-
day"
You are not nice. are you. Squire
Glenarm, when you are cross? But
Mr.. Pickering wasn't kind not to tell
me. Why. | might catch a dreadful
cold down herei".
She was like Olivia now. I felt the
utter futility of attempting to reason
with a woman who could become q
child at will. She walked up the steps
and out into the church vestibule.
Then before the outer door she spoke
with decision.
1--WE part here, II you pleasel And
i have not the slightest intention OF
trying to explain my errand into that
passage. You have jumped to your
own conclusion, which VIII have to
serve you. I advise you not to. think
very much about ito the exclusion
of more important business,-Squire
Glenarm!"
She lifted the lantern to turn out Its
light, and 1t made a glory OF her face,
but she paused and held It toward me.
Pardon me! You will need this to