The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-09-25

seemed not a little significant. His
thoughts few at once to the Mr.. Evans
she had spoken OF. Why was he 50
interested in the silver box-so little
in the owner? He had remarked on
1T at the time, though Marion herself
attached no Importance to it.
In face of Esther's letter 1t struck
him as being not a little singular. Wa
there any connection between Evans
and Nevins, and. If so, why this eager
ness to get possession of the box? The
mystery appeared to be deepening.
The Importance of this particular
piece OF silverware seemed steadily
to increase.
He read Esther's letter again.
Esther was confident that he had
come to st. Chloe for one particular
object, and that to get possession Of
Marion Vests trunk. She had in
CURED into his story, and it did not
hang we'll together. He did not look
like an invalid; besides, he was per-
fectly Indifferent to weather. Rain or
shien, he was always grubbing along
the coast. Also he admitted that he
was on the lookout for a cowhide
trunk bearing the initials "R. W." If
there was a Robert Webster alive who
had been . passenger on the Inflated
Nebraska, why did he not put the mat
ter in the hands of the proper authori-
ties? Why these secret and more or
less clandestine methods?
Clement fell an easy prey to Esther's
suspicious. For once, at any rate, a
woman seemed logical. Neyins, or
Evans, or whatever his name might
be, was clearly at st. Chloe for the
purpose of getting possession of Ma
rion Vests property. Ergo, that prop
erty was Of considerable importance.
The next point that arose was:
What could he do in the matter? Fol
the moment, certainly he could do
nothing. He was a days journey from
st. Chloe Bay, and even if he were on
the spot he could do nothing.
During the day he had great diff
Guilty in keeping his mind free of the
subject. Between the events of the
previous evening and the contents of
Esther's letter his brain was pretty
much on the rack.
He was not in the MOOD to begin
any fresh search for Marion. His
pride had been rubbed almost raw,
and the smart of it was still very con
siderable. 1t was true his heart was
aching at the same time for another
sight Of her face; for one little smile
of hers he would forgive everything.
So love and pride waged warfare
still. and the nearest pride csme to
Winning. the more he suffered. Dur
ing the lunch hour he found himself
consulting Kelly's directory. He did
his merely out OF curiosity, he ID
himself, and not with II intention of
using any Information be might az
cujre-at least for the present. Hi~
thoughts TCn in very orderly sequence
Marion had told i m that Il of the
first things she noticed after leaving
the station was this Home for Women
Workers. Therefore she was living
either in the n~elghborhoOd of Water
loo or Padd:ngton. From her descrip-
ton of t.e house the nei9hDorhood of
Waterloo road was certainly not very
clearly indicated. For the class of
worker Marion would be likely to as
sociate with Bayswater would certain
ly be a much more convenient center.
This point settled, he proceeded with
his search. He was not Long in dis
covering the house he wanted-No. A,
Chingford Terrace, w. 1t was a plain
and simple as possible. If he was
anxious to see Marion West he knew
exactly where to find her.
But, of course, he was not anxious
to see her-that was what his pride
said. After the way she treated him
the previous evening he would no
dream of calling upon her. Now that
in a fair way of earning her w liv-
ing. he need not further concern him
self about her. If she wanted friends
she must show herself friendly.
Ito Be Continued.)