Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19


from Cynthia's grasp and rushed at Car
fax.
Then what happened was so swift and
terrible that no one had time to interfere.
Carfax. who was young man OF great
strength. flung Crawshay to the ground
with one movement of his arm and.
clutching Gaunt round the waist. bore
him backward onto the table. There was
clatter of knives and crockery. and a
scream from Cynthia. and the next mo-
ment the great fat hands OF Carfax were
at Gaunt's throat. But they were only
there for three seconds. Gaunts hand
closed on an overturned bottle, there was
a crash. b tinkle of broken glass. and
Lord Carfax staggered back with the
blood pouring from his forehead. Then
he fell heavily backward on to the
fender. and there was silence.
Gaunt Law motionless on the table for
few moments, while Cynthia and Craw-
shay rushed to the side of the fallen man.
Then he rolled over on to his face and
lifted himself to his feet. The neck OF
the bottle was still in his hand.
You've killed him. cried Crawshay,
quietly.
crouched white and quivering, on the
floor. and held the limp warm hand or
the fallen man.
Don't be fool" said Gaunt. Hes
only stunned. Get some water ana Dathe
his forehead"
Hes dead" said Crawshay. in low
voice. His neck was broken In the fail.
He must weigh thirteen stone
''Send for a DOCTOR" moaned Cynthia.
mo- said Crawshay, sharply He Is
dead and doctor can do no good ! can
tell you that he is dead. We must think
what to do"
ut was an accident" said Cynthia.
quickly; I'VE must all say it was an acct
dent. He fell on the fender. He was
drunk
Crawshay pointed to the terrible cash
on the dead mans forehead. The blood
had already ceased to flow from it.
"When a man falls" he said. quietly.
che does not strike the ground with both
the back and front of his head"
''He is not dead" exclaimed Gaunt,
doggedly. He is only stunned"
.Oh. yes. he is dead replied Crawshay.
"His heart has ceased to beat. See, his
jaw has dropped. What are you going to
do? Shall we send for the police?'
Yes" cried Gaunt: but not yet. 1
will go at once. I will leave the coun-
try"
rising to his feet. 1t Will be an ugly
business, Gaunt."
What do you advise me to do?'
Crawshay was silent. and looked stead
Ily at the face of the dead man. He had
had died. and the memory of that far-on
day returned to him.
II will help you." he said. after pause.
Leave the fat at once and 1 will send
for the doctor"
And what them" asked Gaunt.
IT will tell him about the quarrel. and
the-the accident. But / will say that 1
did It myself"
your cried Cynthia
Nonsense" said Gaunt. do you
think that 1 could"
Listen to me- Crawshay interrupted.
hastily. 1T will only be case of man
slaughter. The verdict doesn't matter to
me. I have. as you know already. been
sentenced to death. The doctor gives me
six months. perhaps less. to live. Prob
ably shall be dead before 1 am put in
the DOCK
''It is impossible.'' cried Gaunt Are
you mad? Why should you do this?'
ASK Miss Paradine to leave the room
for q few moments and ! will tell you
Gaunt did not speak, but he looked at
Cynthia, who still crouched by the fender.
staring at the dead mans face.
please leave us alone. Miss Paradine."
said Crawshay, quietly.
Her face was CHASTITY white. save for
two patches Of rouge which famed out on
her cheeks long. thick strand of her
hair loosened by the dancing. had fallen
miss Paradine." said Crawshay. stern
ly, please be calm. This is time when
we must keep our wits about us"
She did not reply. and the man stopped
down and grasped her roughly by the
arm. She did not resist as he dragged
her to her feet. and allowed him to lead
her to the door. please go into your
room for minute l want. If possible.
to be saved?''
He opened the door, and she passed
slowly through it, like a woman walking
in her sleep. Then he closed and locked
~ n GauntS side.
Look here. Gaunt." he said. sharply,
.if you'll do what l asked you 10 do
few hours ago. I'll take all the blame of
this matter on my own shoulders; and II
there's to be any punishment. III take
that toof
Gaunt did not answer. but stared stu
pidly at the face of the dead man.
Quick" cried Crawshay, which is 1t
TO be? Yes or no."
IL can't tell you" stammered Gaunt.
with look of fear in his eyes, Give me
time-time to think.
Time to think. exclaimed Crawshay.
doctor must be fetched at once. or else
it will look like murder. Which is it to
be? Yes or mop
Yes" muttered Gaunt. moving toward
the door with his eyes still on the face OF
the dead man.
''Is there any oath that'n bind you? Is
there anything you hold sacred?"
II will keep my word. 1 am gentle
man. if am blackguard.'
well. swear to me by all you hold
most sacred that you will hunt down the
man who dishonored my sister. that you
will devote your life TO the task. and
that. IL you find him, you will hound him
TO ruin ana death. I'll leave you the
money. But swear the OATH
IT swear to do this said Gaunt, faint
ly II will look for him till l find him.
and will not consider myself absolved
from my oath till he Is dead.
He glanced at the body of Lord Carfax
and shuddered. Then he suddenly step
ped forward and knelt down and laid his
hand on the dead mans sleeve.
May the dead rise up against me and
destroy me-, he whispered. IF / do not
keep my OATH
THAT will do said Crawshay. '1ll
see that all the evidence Is placed in your
hands. Now clear out as quickly as pos
sible. You left here at 10 o'clock. Can
you remember that?
Gaunt walked unsteadily toward the
door. unlocked II and then paused.
1T might be friend OF mine. he said,
hoarsely. II did not think of that"
Crawshay shrugged his shoulders.
II don't think you'd care II 1t was. he
answered.
Gaunt turned on his heel and closed the
door softly behind him.
When Gaunt had left the fiat, Crawshay
knocked at the door of Cynthia's room.
Il want to speak to you" he said. hur-
riedly. please come out at once
She opened the door and came out into
the passage.