The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-02-14
HIS WIFE'S !
REVENGE
CHAPTER xxx-continued.

his chambers, where he had an ap-
pointment, got tired OF waiting in the
grounds. He thought that, perhaps, he
had misunderstood Claire, and that
she intended him to come to the draw
ing room. So he got up from the gar
den seat under the trees and went to-
ward the house.
| He crossed the lawn and entered the
drawing room through the open
French window.
May was standing in corner, out
of his line of sight, looking at a large
framed photograph OF Claire Barton in
theatrical costume.
Are you there?" asked Sir Mark.
as lie entered
May, startled by the voice, turned.
"Oh, | beg your pardon; didn't see
The rest of the sentence died away
upon Mark Brettingham's lips.
| Silent. dark-featured, he stood pet
ritied with fear.
With a low cry May staggered to-
ward him.
joint she gasped.
Then she sank down and fell for
ward in dead swoon
Sir Mark Buckingham stood for a
moment terror-stricken. unable to
move. Then, with violent effort, he
recovered himself. and leaving the
senseless woman where she lay he
| went rapidly across the lawn to the
lodge gates. where his motor was
waiting for him.
Tell your mistress l couldn't watt
he said to the lodge-keeper.
In few seconds he was being
whirled away. hidden in the cloud of
dust that rose from the dry roadway
as the car sped over it.
A few minutes later Claire came
back.
Nov I'll go and find Mark" she
said, as she entered Then she caught
sight Of May.
why, May-May!" she cried
whats the matter?'
She rang a bell loudly and knelt bv
the PROSTATE woman, raising her head
tenderly.
\ maid came in and helped her to
place May on a couch. The movement
! reused her. She opened her eyes and
! stared about her.
Claire sent the maid for some
water.
Where is he?' exclaimed May.
Where is he?"
"He-who? There's nobody here,
dear. There's been nobody here
May pressed her hands over her
eyes.
But I saw him--1 heard him speak
-l--'
"Who?" exclaimed Claire. What.
ever do you mean, dear?"
May looked at her and then round
the room vacantly
Il thought it was" She checked
herself suddenly She had never
breathed a word about her secret to
Claire.
There's been no one here-there's
no man near the house but Mark. and
he is in the grounds somewhere"
You are sure? There is no man
near the house but Sir Mark?"
Quite sure. But why do you ask ?"
May began to believe that she had
been the victim OF an hallucination,
She had been thinking of her dead
husband. and she had fancied she saw
him-and she had tainted. 1t must
must have been that But it was all
so real. She felt i'll. and her head was
sching. She wanted to get away-to
get home-to he alone
She rose with difficulty from the
soft. please let me 60" she said.
I'm not WE'LL want to get home
Claire tried to persuade her that she
would be better there for awhile but
May srook her head
NO" she said. Let me go-please
| let me 60
! She went out of the house and into
the Park. Claire went with her to the
lodge gates. The lodge-keeper waited
till Miss Barton had hidden her friend
goodbye, then she gave her Sir Mark
message
Sir Mark told me to tell you, miss
that he couldn't stay any longer
Claire, in her excitement at Mays
sudden illness, had forgotten that she
was keeping her fiance waiting in the
| grounds. and that he was in hurry tt
get away.
Inspector Millett made a rapid. com
p!etion of his electric light inspection
and as he passed through the kitchen
to leave by the tradesmens entrance
he heard the servants talking.
! Miss Barton's visitor, left alone fol
a few minutes in the drawing room
Lad had an attack of some kind. She
had been found in dead faint
It's very queer said, the maid, wht
had been summoned in to assist. &C
heard her say she'd seen somebody
and that's what sent her off,
The words startled the inspector
lie blamed his stupidity. John Wilson
had been there and had seen his wife
4 Beside himself with wrath at HIS Nv,