Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-21
CHAPTER XIII.
Nv Fellow-Guest.

Yes. He is here--staying with US
He rode into Pickering this afternoon
and hasn't returned yet
II didn't know that YOU were ac-
quainted with him.
Hes a friend OF dads. They met
somewhere on the continent couple of
years ago. I think"
And how long has he been here with
your
He arrived yesterday. He's rather
amusfng-so fun Of quaint anecdotes
And one Of his anecdotes concerned
dear old Granny. eh?" 1 said in a hard
tone.
ston?" she asked, earnestly. There must
be some rnistake-Pm sure there is"
''Of course I said. affecting to treat
tho ma ter humorously. Tho thing is
too absurd. Fancy Granny being guilty
But where is he?" she asked. I've
telegraphed to him twice to the Cecil
today and received no reply"
business and went away quite sudden
The. point which puzzled me was the
motive Of Garshore's open denunciation
Of my friend.
II haven't the pleasure Of Mr.. Gar
shores personal acquaintance" 1 went
on. land If he traduces Granny 1 have
no wish to meet him."
Pm sure there must be some mis-
take: she declared, as she stood just
within the door. Ask him when you
are alone together tonight"
Garshore knows Of my arrival?'
Yes. dad mentioned it at luncheon"
What did your visitor say?"
That he'd be very delighted to meet
YOU"
was silent. I longed to tell the girl
Of the knavish trick that her fathers
guest had played her lover. But my lips
were sealed. All I could do was to re-
main silent and watchful.
That she was deeply agitated at re-
ceiving no response to her kilograms
was apparent. What Ralph Garshore
had told her had no doubt sowed
the seed OF suspicion in her heart
He had declared that the man
whom she worshiped as her
hero was fugitive from justice. Again.
she repeated her questionable I believe
it to be true?
Laughing the suggestion to scorn. I said
In a forcible tone, IF Mr.. Garsi1ore says
friend of yours. Myra. Before We be-
! lieve him. he must prove it,
Yes. Mr.. Ralston.'' replied the girl.
lifting her white. troubled face to me. and
looking at me with those big blue-gray
eyes of hers. HE must prove 1t. When
you meet tonight you Will face him as
Granny's friend and demand an expIana-
ton. won't your
= J.
Then hastily she said:
II must go and dress at once or shall
be late: and dear old dad hates to be
kept waiting for his dinner. as you
knew
When she had gone I closed the door
after her and stood In the center of the
| room rejecting. 1t was surely strange
contretemps that l should be a guest
| Under the same roof with the man who
had ruined my dearest friend.
Half hour lata ubny, r
| the drawing room. I found Ralph Gar
| shore, dark haired. slim and tall, smart
in perfect-titting evening clothes. standing
with old Mr.. Stapleton awaiting Myrs
Let ME introduce you, Ralston." ex-
claimed my host. This Is my friend.
Garshore-a traveller like yourself
smiled, uttered some commonplace re-
mark. and took the manicured hand he
stretched forth to me. My game was. 1
saw, to make friends with this man. He
probably knew me to be friend of
Granny Cough, and 1t interested me to
watch his attitude.
Stapleton has just been telling me that
you spend most of your time abroad he
remarked. pleasantly. Il. too, am very
little In England nowadays. I believe
you know the east. don't your
Yes; fairly we'll" was my response.
Turkey many times. Only quite recently
other places In Macedonia
by Jove!" he exclaimed. Rather
tough travelling there just now, isn't 1t :?
We hear so much of massacres by Greek
and Bulgarian bands"
Yes l said. with laugh. 'It can
hardly be called safe place. Do you
know the east?'
THE capitals only-Sotia, Constantinople
and Athens was his answer. I noted
that he made no mention OF Bucharest,
the capital where he had filched a for
tune from the hands of the man for
whom he had pretended friendship.
"oh. Raiston's like the Wandering
Jew" declared old Mr.. Stapleton. One
never knows where he Is, or what's be-
come OF him. You hear OF him from all
sorts of odd corners. and have to look
up the place In a gazetteer
The evening light was fast falling, and
as we stood there in the summer dusk
detected that the mans eyes were fixed
upon me with an unmistakable look of
followed him UP there for the purpose OF
unmaSking him?
He moved uneasily, though he folded
his arms and endeavored to remain calm
The lights had not yet been lit in the
long. old-fashioned room, with its heavy
odor of roses, and for that the man be-
fore me was evidently thankful
In few moments girlish voice
cried:
Il hope, dad, I'm not late. Forgive me
If am and turning, I saw Myra stand
ing by us. in pale turquoise chiffon. with
pink roses In her hair. sweet dainty fig
ure with face that was perfect.
Upon her neck. suspended by a thin
gold chain, she wore an antique Grecian
charm, given her by an uncle, who had
brought 1t from Patras. where he had
been making archaeological excavations.
It was tiny golden image of some pagan
god of the Trojans, and had ages ago
been worn by the beautiful Greek in
whose tomb 1t had SO long remained un-
disturbed.
Her only other ornament was a plain
gold bangle. a birthday present from
Granny. ! had been with him in Palermo
when he had bought 1t. lie had wished
20 buy her a fine diamond bracelet, but
ut my suggestion he had chosen the more
simple ornament as BETTING the occa-
sion.
You know each other. Mr.. Garshore?"
she asked. turning to my fellow-suest
Dad has already introduced you 10 Mr.,
Ralston. SUPPOSE
The fellow, turning his back upon me
to speak with her. replied In the afirma-
tive, while at that moment the butler ap-
peared and announced that dinner was
served
In the pretty oiI-fashioned dining room,
with its dark paneled walls and old blue
china, Miss Chambers was already await
ing us. In the center OF the table stood