Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-11

do you? She'll make it pretty hot for you
If she does
You'll leave Broadstone at once"
''Of course. I've no fancy for a sick
house with such a plaster saint as you
very much the worse for wear at the
mead Of it,
'Why did you come back at ALE"
ITO look after my own interests; and
having done that. I am going again. But
what are you going to gain by Quarrelinl
with me in this sudden rush of virtuou.
Indignation"
"I'll have no more to do with You as
long as l live"
We'll that won't be long unless YOU
get sent to gaol as a bigamist. 1 believe
the prison routine is very healthy"
1T won't be long if you have youl
way
Dorrison laughed. "You needn't be II
such hurry to show the white feather
about me. Now look here. I'm of
directly; but before start I want to pu,
little common sense into your head
The best thing that can happen for yot
all-especialfy for you-is that Eva should
die"
'I.don't want to hear any more of thai
sort of common sense"
"She is the only one who can punish
you for the first marriage. If she re-
covers, you may trust that she-devil up
stairs. who calls herself Margaret Hutch
inson. to do her worst against you. She
can twist Eva round either of her little
fingers: and. If Eva gets better. you'll
stand in the dock and lose million and
half sterling into the bargain"
go to the devil, Gilbert
you've got chance the devil himself
might have sent you. Use it. and don't be
a squeamish fool. She won't wish to live
help her to realize her WISH
With that parting counsel of evil. Dor
rison went out to the carriage that was
waiting to take him to his train. He
was in quite comfortable, self-congrat-
ulatory mood. His return had been
him were destroyed. and he had nothing
now to fear.
Gardiner might swear himself black in
the face. and Mrs. Porlock might tell
Nothing could touch him. That night
attempt would be laughed away as a
sleepy woman's dream. No motive for
any such attempt could now be proved
and without a motive there were not a
dozen men in the country, to say moth
ing of inside a single jury box, who
would believe such charge for an in
slant
There might be some gossip on the
score Of the bluntness with which he had
could be easily explained as the result
Of excitement. 1t was the news itself
that mattered, not the way of telling It.
While II she died, no one would ever
know 1t.
Moreover, he had made his succession
to Broadstone certain. Bertram would
try no more matrimonial ventures even
with Gertrude Hamyl.
On the way to town, therefore. he
mapped out his movements. He would
have a little trip to Paris and Vienna
he liked Vienna-as soon as the result OF
Eva's illness was known. What would
be the result? Would she die? Much
better for her. if she did And much
better for Bertram, too. And with
cynical smile he sat back smoking In the
corner Of his carriage and speculated as
to what Bertram would do
If his lordship got a chance. the odds
were pretty heavy against Eva's recov.
cry. But then he was a coward. and
would do. Anyway, he himself was safe;
and, tossing away the stump of his cigar
he went to sleep, to make up for his
broken night.
Lord Broadstone was asking himself
the same question as to the chances OF
Eva's recovery, but in place Of Dorri-
sons comfortable feeling of success and
security, he was profoundly agitated by
the consciousness Of his own danger.
him to the core. Upon Eva's life or death
his safety depended. He drank freely to
dissipate his fears, but the drink depress-
ed instead of celebrating him. He saw
himself in the dock: and in a fit of NOR
bid curiosity he got down a law book
and read the penalty for bigamy. AS he
read he turned chill and sick with fear
There was the chance tnat she might
not prosecute him. of course. but even
then his case was as black as 1t could
be. He would be a pauper. He had
mortgaged Broadstone up to the last
farthing. and that last five thousand
pounds for Dorrison had taxed him to the
utmost. He had other personal debts,
too, running up to thousands.
Go be continued tomorrow