The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-04-23
CHAPTER XVII.

| utu mdIy DICnt, oNCi WhCihhSo W
the extraordinary news she had just
heard, had taken her departure with
Griffin and Mr.. Dodson. Miss Dauncey
returned to the drawing room, where
she found Winton standing on the
hearth-rug calmly lighting . cigarette.
"You keard?" she asked.
Yes, I heard"
"And you married herr"
IL tell you 1t was no marriage at
all, 1t was a trick, and IL this oma
presumes to assume my name she
win find herself in trouble with the
law courts"
81 don't think | would say much
about conrts of law, If / were you. In
the face Of your present danger"
They have not caught me yet, and
even IL they do they will have some
difficulty in proving that | had any
thing to do with the robbery of the
Empires Dream .
But you forget that Jasper Garlick
is wanted in connection with other
things"
Pooh! That is so long ago that |
am not afraid, and it is just possible
that l have my title by this time, and
a peer has many privileges. 1t is
enough to make one swear at fortune
to think that Mary Brent is my cousin,
and how near she was to becoming
my wife. Instead of inheriting the
title ard the ~beggarly entailed estates,
| would have handled a fortune"
81 thank heaven that she has escap-
ed that; but what are you going to
do? You cannot stay here. In the
face of what Griffin said | have no
doubt that this house is watched, as
he suspects that | am in communities
ton with you"
Winton was silent for a few min
his face.
"You have promised Il take my
message to Hammond and TWIST"
Yes; and l will keep my promise"
Then give me the money and |
will go; / have no wish to fall into
the hands Of the police just yet"
And you had better go quickly, as
| expect Mr.. Drawn here any minute,
and / would not give much for your
chances If he once laid his hands upon
you. How you are going to escape I
do not know
ooh, l shall manage all right IL
Twist to me at Nottingham.
When he has supplied me with funds
| shall make my way out of the coun-
try and stay abroad until this trouble
has blown over"
why not put an end 20 the trouble
by restoring the diamond?"
Il have already told you that | can
not do it. and. besides, things have
gone too far. No, l must carry it
through now, and get away from Eng
land as soon as possible; and under.
stand that I am looking to you to help
me and not play me any tricks"
Il have promised to do my best, and
cannot do more, thankless task
though 1t is"
You and Judith Ballard made a fool
Of me at Hampstead, and II I thought
you contemplated ~betraying me l
would kill you where you stand"
Il have M doubt you would be quite
capable of that, but your threat has
nc terrors for me. Had l wished to
betray you l could have done so when
Grimm was here"
That is all right, Kate. know I
can rely upon you, but a man In my
position is suspicious Of everybody"
You have no need to suspect me,
for, although I have all the bitter
ness OF my life to thank you for, I
have no wish for you to suffer the
tortures of a prison. The sgonizing
horror Of such q punishment is too
awful for me to contemplate. even for
you. Here is the money; it is nearly
all I have. but. eve II Twist does not
meet you. l think 1t will be enough to
take you out Of the country. will
thank You now II you will co"
my dear Kate"
~ do not want your thanks. Please
leave me-: and may ! never see your
face again"