Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-12

l not forgotten that delightful CONVERSE
! ton we had before tea the day called
new and continue it. Miss Ogilvie must
be very happy girl to have, in addition
to such nice parents, who love her 50
much. an aunt like you, so much her own
cannot tell you how much am obliged to
you for writing. 1 look eagerly for an
other letter. Believe me, Yours very sim
cerely."
There he hesitated. He had meant new
er to write again the name Richard
Hardy. Here the letter seemed to de-
mand It. He had already thought the
matter over in all ways and from all
points OF view. and had. ne thought, made
up his mind to go through with the fraud
as long as 1t was absolutely necessary.
There was no other way. But now when
he had to write out the lie-as it appeared
| to him to be-his very soul revolted at it.
1t seemed somehow to dishonor Joy.
Since he had looked into the depth Of her
eyes scruples had come to him which
had not ever before troubled him. 1t was
unworthy Of her and of himself to con-
tinue lie. And so with him began again
Of what was false.
A lie, little or big seems gifted with
immortality. At Its creation 1t seems to
| receive that vitality. which belongs to
serve disease survive the Quicklime of the
plague pit and continue after the seeth-
ing mass of corruption has settled into
earthly dust. and when the very bones
have been resolved into their elements
the waiting germs come forth on disturb
ance of the soil strong and baneful as
ever.
Sometimes .Athlyne grumbled to himself
of the hardness OF his lot. 1t was too bad
that from such little thing as taking
another name. and merely for the purpose
of q self-protective investigation Of q lie,
he should find himself involved in such
a network of deceit. Other people did
things a hundred times worse every day
of their lives. He had often done so him
self, but nothing ever came of it. But
| now, when his whole future might de-
pend upon 1t, he was face to face with an
actual danger. II Col. Ogilvie quarreled
with him about 1t that would mean the
end of all. Joy would never quarrel
with her father; of that he felt as surely
as that he loved her. All unknown to
himself Athlyne had an instructive knowl-
edge Of character Any one who had ever
seen him exercise the faculty would have
been astonished by the rapidtty of Its
| working. The instant he had seen Joy
| he had recognized her qualities. He had
glance, otherwise he was too shrewd
| man to trust him as he had done. It Is
not often that man will 1ntrust the
first conner in a crowd with valuable
horse. To this man, too, an utter stran-
ger. he had intrusted his secret, the only
person who now knew 1t on the entire
American continent. So also with Col.
Ogilvie. He was assured in his Inner
consciousness that that old gentleman
| would be hard to convince Of the neces-
| sity for disguise. There was something
| about his fine stern-cut features-so ex-
quisitely modified in his ,daughter-and IN
his naughty bearing which was obnoxious
/ to any form of deceit.
One Of these grumbling fits came on him
| now, and SO engrossed him that he quite
forgot to sign the letter. 1t was In the
kAl 10 fC0la
He rejoiced when he did so that he had
| not written the lie. 1t was queer how
| sensitive his conscience was becoming!
One immediate effect Of the awakened
motor car that very afternoon. He had
| said to Miss Judy that he was getting
one. and his words had to be made good.
Moreover he had, In addition to the train
ton of Col Ogilyie's getting q car, sort
! of intuition that it would be OF service
to him. OF service to him meant Of
course in his present state OF mind with
love affair. He had wished for a horse
and got one. and 1T had bought him to
Joy. Now he wanted a motor. The
chain Of reasoning seemed SO delightfully."-
simple that 1t would be foolish to dispute
It. Subconscious intuition supplied all
lacunae.
The logic of fact seemed to support that
OF theory. He looked in at his club to find
the name Of a motor agency. There in
the hall he met an old diplomatic friend,
who after greeting him said:
'"This is goodbye as well"
| "How so?. he asked.
| 81 am of for Persia. Ballentyre got
stroke just as he was starting. and they
sent for me in hurry and offered me
| the post. 1t Is too good to refuse. so
| am booked for another three years. /
was promising myself q long rest, or
spell in a civilized place. anyhow. 1t is
4 hoA met vuho I
my new Delaunay-Belleville car, which
has been nearly a year In hand"
| DO you take the car with your asked
AthIyne, feeling queer kind OF beating
/ of his heart.
mo. 1t would be useless there-at all
events until 1 see what the country and
| the roads are .like. was just on to the
agents to tell them to sell it for me-
| "Strange we should meet. I came here
to look up the address OF an agent. I
1 want to buy car
Look here. Athlyne, why not take over
this? shall have to sell 1t at q sacrifice.
tage? I'll let you have it cheap; would
rather clear 1t all up before l CO."
..Ali right, old chap. I'll take it.
WHAT'S the fgure?'
Il agreed to pay 1000 pounds You may
/ "All right. Can We settle 1t now?'
"By all means Athlyne took out his
check book and wrote check which he
handed to the otner.
IL say" said Chetwynd. You have
made this for the full sum-
'Ouite So What else could I offer
Why, man, do you think would beat you
down because you are in q hurry. If
there is any huckstering 1t is I who should
pay 1 get my car at once. the very
car wanted. should have to wait
another year."
Three days after the car arrived. Ath-
lyme had spent the time in getting les
sons at a garage and learning something
fair mechanic and a fine driver of horses,
SO that before another week was out he
had learned to know his car. He got a
good chauffeur so that he would always
have help In case Of need, and before the
next letter arrived from Miss Judy he was
able to ny about all over the country.
The new car was a beauty. 1t was 100
ITO hip. and could do sixty miles an hour
easily.
The next letter which he received from
Miss Hayes was short and devoid. SO
far as he could discern after much study.
Of any cryptic meaning whatever She
thus made allusion to the fact that he had
not signed his letter:
by the way. 1 notice that you forgot
to sign your letter. suppose you were
thinking at the time Of other things"
information In the letter was that Col.
Ogilvie and Ibis daughter expected to
be in London on the Saturday following
her letter and would stay at Browns
Hotel Albemarle street, where I have
no doubt they will be happy to see you
IL you should chance to be in London at
the time. think Lucius intends to write
YOU
The latter sentence was literally gall
tn him He knew that he must NOT he