The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-05

| Spencer" he said, you speak as If
your task had been accomplished. 1t
| isn't. Phyllis Poynton may indeed be
where you say. but if so 1T is Phyllis
Poynton with the halter about her neck,
with the fear of terrible things in her
heart. 1t is not you nor / who is the
jailer of her captivity 1t is some pow
er which has yet to be discovered. Our
task is not finished yet. Tonight 1 will
try to question her about this network
of intrigue into which she seems to
have been drawn. If she will see you,
you too shall ask her about it. Don't
think of deserving us yet"
MY dear Duncmobe," Spencer said,
Il may as well confess at once that the
sole interest I felt in Lord NRunton's
offer was that it is closely connected
with the matter We have been discuss
ing"
| You shall have my entire conf
dence, Spencer" Duncombe declared.
The man who called himself Fielding
twas badly wounded, and he passed here
almost unconscious. He entrusted the
paper or letter, or whatever it was, he
stole from Won Rothes messenger, to
his so-called daughter. and she in her
turn passed ii on to me. 1t is at this
moment in my possession"
! Spencer looked very serious.
My dear fellow he said, II congrat-
ulate you upon your pluck, but not up
on your discretion. You are interior
! ing in what may turn out to be very
great matter-a matter in which a few
lives are like the pawns which are
swept from the chessboard. Does any
one know this?'
"She and l only. You heard her
shriek?''
| yes"
"A man threw up her window and
climbed in. He demanded the packet
He searched the room. When he left
her he declared that he should return
at u tonight, and if she did not hand
it to him then he threatened her."
Spencer smiled and rubbed his hands
softly together.
interesting. I am with you, Duncombe
With you altogether! There is only
one more question"
"Well?"
you did not know Phyllis Poynton
You took up this search for her out OF
your friendship for Pelham. You are
a rich man, young, strong, with every
capacity for enjoyment What induces
you TO risk your life in an adventure
of this sort? You see, l don't mince
words"
Then Duncombe became grave. His
face fell into firm, hard lines. Yet as
he spoke there was something boyish
about his expression
1T is a fair question:" he answered
You won't understand me. I don't un-
derstand myself. I've brilliant gal
axy of fools behind me- They've made
the pages of history interesting. They
have been the butt always of wiser mer
such as you. Spencer The girl in that
room may be Phyllis Poynton or the
worst adventures who ever lied hei
way through the mazes of intrigue, but
love her. She is in my life-a part
of 1t. If l lose her-well, you know
what life is like when the flame has
gone and only the embers burn"
Spencer nodded very softly.
THAT is sufficient" he said. You
speak of things that 1 myself do not
understand. But that is nothing.
know that they exist-but-"
"Well?"
But what about Pelham
pelham has no prior claim he an
swered. LAS soon as she is safe he
shall know the whole truth. / would
tell him at this moment, but that
am a little afraid of him. He would
never understand, as we can, the in
tricacy of the situation. And now-tc
the prosaic."
He rang the bell.
Groves" he told the butler. ct an
hungry. Bring me in anything you car
rake up for supper on a tray, and g
pint of champagne
Spencer raised his eyebrows and
smiled. Duncombe nodded.
For her, of course" he said II an
going to take 1t in, and ] want you t.
stay here. 1t is past IL o'clock al
ready"