Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

back to his chair with laugh and lit
cigar
What's all the row about?" asked
BrOddStone.
The Internal idiot tried to jump me
and squeeze thousand POUNDS out of
me for these" and ne pulled the two
cords from his pocket. This is the bit
that woman Hutchinson upstairs cut from
Jacks wrist and this is bit to match
Iit-which he wants TO make out had in
my possession. Nice little yarn, eh -
BroadstOne whstled and sWore softly.
You have some nerve. Dorrison, to
treat him like that. l couldn't have
done it,"
| I've got them now. so what matter?
I'll keep my word with him, too If he
doesn't clean ouE tonight Ill charge him
tomorrow"
But if those things were produced
well, might what?'
Nothing sad Broadstone: and he
mixed himself Il whisky and soda, and lit
a cigar
ened his fear of his cousin. and he was
willing to give a big sum OF money to get
rid Of him. If only Gardiner had come to
him instead of Dorrison. there would have
been a very different interview. If he could
get hold of those cords, would the valet
and the woman upstairs stand TO their
evidence?
Dorrison was the stumbling block to
everything. 1t was only he who knew
about that first marriage: il was he who
was goadng him now to the ling from
which his cowardice. not his honor,
shrank.
If Dorrison were only out of his path.
you're very silent Bertram' broke In
Dorrison. who had been watching him fur
lively but closely. What is it,"
Nothing.
For a man who is thinking of nothing
you are pretty deeply absorbed. Out with
IL. man"
well, I was thinking you've made d
fool of yourself That fellow of yours
will blab everything he knows
And if he does?"
"Of course | don't know what he
knows. but
"Ccnfnund your broken sentences. Why
can't you finish them cried DorriSon
testify. You've got something at the
back Of your mind / can see that. What
is t?''
Hang IT, man. don't talk TO me like
that I'm not your servant. am /? I'm
not bound 10 shout all my thoughts into
a phonoeraph for your benefit, | suppose
'Wli it help things for us to quarrel,
Bertrand"
Well don't do 1t. then was the
swer, in surly tone.
They both smoked awhile in silence,
and then Dorrison sad coolly: IF you
won't tell me. I'll tell you. L saw you
suuinting rather generously at these two
little bits of evidence, and you We're
thinking that you'd like to use them.
Try 1t. Bertram il you think you dare.
And with nonchalant air he held the
cords toward his cousin.
Their eyes met for moment, and
Broadstone was the first to drop his.
Don't be a fool. L wasn't thinking any
thing of the sort.
so much the better" said Dorrison
dryly. as he dropped the evidence" back
In his pocket.
Another long gap in the conversation
followed and again Dorrison broke the
silence. Il have been thinking this time,
Bertram," he sad. land I'll tell you my
decision. What you've got to do must be
done tonight.
''Tonip,ht, mani What do you mean?'
Dorrson looked across the table at
him through partly shut lids, and an
swered very deliberately: You see, It's
this way. If you were not thinking what
| believed you We're just now, | may
have put the thought into your head. And
l don't want any trouble OF that sort.
II il is not done tonight tomorrow morn
ing l shall tell the little lady upstairs
that she's not your wife, but your
I'll give you a broken sentence this time"
He put his cigar back in his mouth with
smile.