Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-27
CHAPTER XII-Continued.


Dorrisons story was that to get batter
command of the craft Jack had fastened
the sheet OF the mainsaiI round his wrist
and he declared al the inquest lat lie
had often seen him do this befocr. The
result was that when the boat sank Jack
was held down by it.
But the cord which Sadie had taken
from his wrist was quite different in lex
ture from any tina: would ever be used for
the sheet of a mainsail. If the boat were
to be raised. she knew that that rope
would be found intact But II lay in the
deepest part of the lake: and as no one
thought of questioning the word OF 4
member of parliament who had nearly
lost his life in his efforts to save his
young friend no suggestion was iilaie
to raise the boat
Sadie held her tongue. She could not
leave Eva's bedside to attend the IN
quest, and although the question was
raised whether or not any cord was round
the wrist when the body was brought
ashore-a point of dispute at the time
the marks on the flesh were taken as sui
ticient proof and a verdict of accidental
death was returned.
But when she had decided in her own
mind that there had been foul play Sadie
found herself confronted by the question
as to what she ought to do. Long and
carefully she poudered this and the terri
BILE problem it suggested as TO Dorrison' s
next action.
Broadstone was bad enough, but Dor
rison d hundred times more dangerous.
She believed she could see his ultimate
object. He was a shrewd. tar-seelnS
man, and utterly reckless of the means
by which he secured any desired end.
And his end now was to succeed to the
title and estates And not those alone,
but the immense fortune also which
might now go with them.
Jacks wealth would now go to Eva.
Her will left everything 10 Broadstone;
and these two lives would stand between
Dorrison and his coveted purpose.
1t was probably at his suggestion that
Broadstone had announced Jacks death
as he had-to make the SHOCK as terrlbie
as possible. He would use Broadstone as
a tool to get Eva out OF his way; and
then-the turn of the camp sponge
himself would come.
So long as Eva's death was worth
million and half of money to Broad
stone directly. and to Dorrison Indirectly.
her life would be in hourly danger.
There was but one means by which her
safety could be secured. Sadie must
avew herself Broadstone's wife.
/ But then came. the question of Eva $
happiness. That Don Stuart would gladly
welcome the chance of making her his
wife Sadie did not doubt, any more than
that Eva loved him.
Both IN her delirium and IN the inter-
walls of consciousness she spoke con-
stantly of Don. At times she forgot alto
gether her marriage and was happy with
har old lover Sadie came to believe. in
deed, that the loss of her lover had SO
preyed secretly upon her mind that it was
but little less responsible for the collapse
than her brothers death.
But whether she would ever consent
to marry Don after the tragedy of her
marriage, which was no marriage, with
Rf01dStOne
could not answer. OF this she must
first convince herself: and to do this she
resolved upon the hazardous step of
bringing Don to the Towers.
The means for this were readily found.
She secured one of the cards of invita-
ton to Jacks funeral and sent it to
Don.
Two days before the funeral Eva was
better: and her first words confirmed
Sadie in the prudence of the step she
had taken.
Have been very ill. Margaret? she
asked
Yes; but you will soon be well again.
now
II wish had died. 1 don't want to
live. Oh. I wish l had died.
Why
Because Jack is dead and She
broke off. Was / delirious and was any
one here she asked. wistfully.
NO one but me-
pause. What did I talk about?"
Don Stuart and fine old days
Eva closed her eyes and bit her lip with
d deep sigh and was silent d while. Then
she put her hand in Sadie's. ''You-you
won't tell dear?'
Il have always known your secret, my
dear was the answer with smile.
You were going to tell it me, you know,
once; but ! knew it before I came here"
Il like You to call me my dear Mar
l.>,r ,+.I -. Ia,- a
friend-likc you
Please God, l shall always be your
friend
The doctor told me this morning you
had saved my life-but IL almost wish
you hadn't Margaret. / wish I could
have died'-a desolate little piteous cry
that made Sadie's heart ache.
rs that how Don Stuart would have
you speak?" she ventured.
Eva did not answer for some moments
then very slowly. But | have tried so
hard. oh. so hard. to forget him. and
and I cannot. 1t nearly killed me then;
and now that Jack is dead She
fa:tered and burst into tears.
1T is time for your med cine and then
you must sleep. You must make All eff
fprt or you will not get better
There is hope in that" she walled
Il would rather die
Later in, the day Eva asked: when
is lne-lS JACK 10 ne Dured
1.-The day after tomorrow.
Il shall go to it." she said.
We will see what DIR. Bradford says"
replied Sadie.
Il don't care what he says: | shall
go. You'll help me, Margaret"
IF you are strong enough. yes: if not,
1 will do my utmost to prevent you
II shall be strong enough. | must see
the--last of Jack. Oh. dear-the last.
want to see the grave. tool shall soon
lie in the same grave with him. she
added. Just Jack and | together-at
peace"
1t was useless to argue with this NOR
Did melancholy: SO Sadie fetched book
and read to her. That the illness was
mental was shown by the fact that after
the resolve to get strong she gained in
strength every hour. The next day she
was up for some hours. and on the day