Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-01

remorseful one. BY George, I love you
for telling me ths!'
A shocking suspicion hurtled through
her brain
You mean there is-another woman"
she said with brave effort. She even
smiled accusfngly
Some day I'll tell you all about it, he
said. evasvely. II suppose it would be
an right Tor me to go round and call on
Agatha this evening"
She is not in town. California" said
Betty
Great Scott" In Californian The
dismay in his face was even greater than
relief of the moment before
Not exactly. She's on her way"
by George. I wonder II can catch her
by wire? 1 must-I really must see her"
He was SO agitated that she observed
beads of perspiration starting on his
brow. She was mystified beyond descrip-
ton. Was he. after all. she found her
self wondering, playing a part? Was It
in his crafty heart to follow and kill
Agatha Holmes?
"Ah. no: you can't do that" she pro-
tested quickly. Wont you-come out to
confusedly. I'VE can talk over old times"
Thanks. Betty. but I can't" At the
same time he glanced neasily at q cab
which drove along close behind them.
"You were going to call upon Agatha"
she pouted.
But not at dinner tine,'' he said, mop
ping his brow. TN come up about Q.
If I may
He came at o. trife out Of breath
and uneasy In his manner. The great
Green ruby hung from the chain that en-
circled Bettys slim. pretty neck. Its soft
red eye glowed loke a coal against the
white skin. but If she thought to surprise
him with it she was to be disappointed.
He did not look at 1t
She did not know at the time that a
giant Patagonian stood beneath the gas
lamp at the corner above the Carrithers
mansion in st. Charles avenue. His
gaunt, dark face was turned toward her
doorway and his fierce eyes seemed to
bore holes through the solid oak.
IT can't stay very late" he said. al
most he responded to the greeting.
COMPOUNDED business engagement. Where
is Agatha to stay in Californian
II don't know. It wasn't decided. Per-
haps they'll go to Japan"
Good Lord.'
you seem terribly interested for man
who doesn't care" she said.
Il should say I am interested-but not
In the way you think" After a moments
reflection, as he stood looking down upon
her, he went on, excitedly 'I'll tell you
something. Betty. You're a good sort.
and you can keep a secret as long as any
woman, which isn't long. Of course. But
1t will he long enough for me to get out Of
town first. I must go to California to-
morrow. Wait! Don't look like that! I'm
not going to annoy Agatha. She'll under
stand when she hears what have to say.
Have you ever noticed the ruby pendant
that she wears-or wore. perhaps?"
1.-The big one that she called her coal
of fire because it burned her conscience
so terribly? Yes
"Well. gave it to her. I've just got to
have it back. That's the whole story.
That's what I'm here for. That's why
that awful black devil is standing out
there on the corner. See him? Under the
gas lamp" He drew the curtains aside
and she 'peeped out. He's waiting for
me-"
what does it mean?" she cried. with
a nameless dread creeping over her.
HE is there in the interest Of my
father-in-law.' said Mr. Green.
"Your-your father-in-law?" she gasped,
staring at him wildly.
"Yes-my wife's father" he said some
what plaintively. He sat down near her.
a nervous, unsettled look in his eyes. She
felt her heart turn cold: something SEEM
light of hope that had been tanning began
to flicker its way to extinction.
'You are married?" came from her stiff,
unconscious lips
yes he replied. doggedly. "A year
ago. Betty. II did not write to Agatha
about it because II hoped that she'd
never know how false was to my prom
Use. But she's done the same thing: that
takes terrible load off my mind. feared
that I might find her waiting. you know.
1t would have been hard to break it to
her. don't you see?''
To his amazement, she laughed shrilly,
almost Historically. In the flash Of mo-
ment's time her feelings toward Harry
Green began to undergo a change. 1t was
not due to the realization that she had lost
all hope of having him for her own; 1t
was, instead the discovery that her small