Evening star., 1909-09-12

Suddenly 1t came to him. as an inde-
pendent and wholly unconnected thought,
that he was entitled to an explanation
from Billings, the man to whom he had
intrusted the plotting of Calden across the
line. of his failure to carry out his agree
ment. And then. instantly, he knew, how
or why he did not ask, that the man
whom Fry was following was Billings
himself
But this In place Of helping him only
rendered the riddle the darker. 1t might.
of course. in a degree explain why Fry.
who was essentially man of limitations.
was keeping Billings in view; but what
was Billings doing?
A sense of hostility to Fry and his ilk
seized on Grimbieshaw, so that he longed
TO warn Billings that some danger. un-
known though it was as to its nature.
threatened him. 1t was an odd thing.
this OF seeing one man stalk another.
There was something. too, In the silent
persistence of Fry that made Grimble-
shaw uneasy. and tor the moment caused
him to forget that it was through Bill
ins's unfaithfulness. or want of cunning.
that CaldeE was In the hands of the au-
thorities, instead Of being already beyond
the line While he was considering the
matter hoofs sounded behind him and
Judith Caiden rode into the wood road.
AT once he threw precautions to the
wind and was at her side.
i was trying TO decide whether ought
TO come and see YOU he said
''You have taken long way round. IL
you were to. decide that you should
come she said smiling sadly.
u came this way because ! wanted SO
tremendously to come directly to you
that ] dared not trust myself Even as
II was ] was on my way. you see."
why shouldn't you Gomez" she asked.
II was in some subtle way that he felt.
but could not have explained. as If she
asked. had that arrest made the differ
ence
Because Horace and 1 have quarreled.
II didn't seem quite fair to him
Then you were thinking Of him and
not of me?"
Thinking? Yes But my will, my
heart. my hopes were all with you, and
these guided my feet in spite of my
thoughts"
Il haven't so many friends" she said.
with tears in her eyes. that the few
have should doubt long II they should
come 10 me In my trouble.
He saw his act in a new light, as If he
had shaped IT by his own wounded pride
rather than by her need and the demand
of true friendship.
oh IL l had hoped that / could help
YOU
In such trouble as this even the knowl-
edge OF friendship helps" she said, softly.
He had motioned her as he came to her
side not to stop her horse. and had
walked beside it along the wood road.
the two men had come from the under
growth. and he had noted an indistinct
path that seemed to lead off to the right
along which they must have come. He
fixed the marks SO that he could find the
spot again.
But he said, IT felt that IL Horace
doubted me had no right to come"
Poor Horace" she sighed: lit has
been very terrible for him."
NO more than 1t has been for you: not
80 bad for he Is man." he said. resent
fully.
'Ah, but he has been under suspicion
also; suspicion Of the detectives; sus-
picion Of the public: suspicion of his
father and" she dropped her voice,
''even OF myself"
''Yee." he said. IT know how terrible
al, that must be. for / have been through
a par of II. and that last. .hat even you
shou.c suspect me would be the most
terrible o. all.''
''I;' she exclaimed. "I suspect you!
Never. Why. no one could: least of all
IT,
"Ah.'' he said. smiling with JOY at the
S.rc:gh Of her assurance. many have.