Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-09
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Contains q Curious Confession.

CONSTANT tTdNel ana OF olIlgent inquiry.
In the latter Cunliffe had been my never
failing assistant.
/ had been back again to CONSTANT
nople. thence north to Vienna, Dusseldorf
and home by The Hook.
Accompanying me from Dusseldorf.
where I had found him at the Park
Hotel was Tom Winch. an adventurer.
it was true. but Grannys friend.
There were certain private reasons why
he should not just now put foot in Eng
land. he had explained to me when |
had first begged him to return: but at
last, l overcame all his objections, and
one dull. overcast day at l. o'clock we
found ourselves standing in small
private sitting room in the big Station
Hotel at York. the window of which over
looked a broad green sward and the
gray Minister beyond.
/ had brought him there in order To
meet Elfrida and Myra-and beside him,
at perIr Of his own personal security.
stood the man he had so unfortunately
denounced to the police-Granny Cough.
The latter. smart and clean shaver as
usual, wore a we'll cut suit of blue serge,
and in his cravat a fine diamond pin
only yesterday redeemed from pawn. be
1t said. AS he stood upon the hearthrug
in low conversation with his fellow-crook
and whilom enemy. he looked the perfect
picture of the prosperous man. No one,
indeed. would ever have taken the easy
going humorous Granny Cough to be an
adventurer: and, indeed in his remark
able personality lay much Of his success.
With Tom Winch 1t was different for
he had the air of the cardroom and race
course about him-an air which he could
never put off.
l confess that l. like Granny, was also
very apprehensive as to the result OF
that meeting. had taken very bold
bold. indeed. that it might be very easy
for me to fail ANONYMOUSLY.
The two men l had brought there. to
the center Of England. were very badly
wanted by the English police. and for all
l knew they might both have already
fallen under observation.
Cunliffe had remained In London on the
previous day-to have an interview with
Garshore. What the result of that had
been now puzzled me. for he had not
promised.
Il don't half like this. Phil" declared
Granny, standing aside with me. twisting
a cigar nervously between his fingers. Il
was far safer out in Turkey"
You wished to see Myra and explain to
her." I said You will now have an
opportunity
YES, l know But will she believe me?
that's the question. In any case, ! must
show myself to her in my true colors-
an adventurer. without a shilling"
"It will be the best test of her affec-
tion," l remarked quietly, at the same
time wondering what would be Elfrida' s
explanation OF Garshores thralldom upon
her.
AS we had spoken the Minister clock had
struck noon, and almost Immediately
afterward a waiter appeared, announcing:
Two ladies to see you. sir.
/ gave orders for them to be shown IN,
and In a few seconds Myra and Elirida,
were standing before us. Myra had
motored. her friend over from Nation
upon their secret expedition.
The lovers grasped hands in silence-a
silence more eloquent than words. Tears
stood In the eyes Of both.
Granny was the first to speak.
"Myra." he faltered, IL am here to
ask your forgiveness. I'm not what I
pretended to be. I am only a poor man
SO poor that. before we go further. ask
you to release me from our engagement"
She started. staring straight at him.
''Because-ah! 1t is because You do not
love me-" she blurted forth. tears in her
eyes and her lace pale as death.
"No-because l still love you better than
my life, Myra," he assured her in low,
hoarse voice. holding her hand still in
his. Because. loving you as I do. 1 re-
fuse to allow you to ally yourself with one
so unworthy of you or Of your family
a man who-weil, / may as we'll tell the
There! I have told you the truth! he
added. And now I ask you to forgive
me-to forgive and forget me-"
For a moment the girl was silent, her
gaze fixed upon him.
NO she said magnanimously. Until
I know the truth, dearest, I REFUSE to re-
lease you from your pledge to me-"
He sighed.
."The truth. Ah.' he exclaimed with a
bewildered air. would that 1t could really
be told!'
Elfrida was standing near the window
facing me. That she was nervous and
Gnstrung was plain from her drawn.
blanched features and the terrified look
Her attitude was that of one brought
there much against her will and dreading
the terrible ordeal she had resolved to
face.
himself from the meeting with his well
beloved he introduced Winch to the two
girls. saying:
LAS 1t was Mr.. Winch who first gave
information to the police against me.
perhaps he will make explanations Of the
reasons which prompted him to give me
an opportunity to escape. To him I owe
my present liberty"
Certainly" answered the clever thief.
II discovered that l had been misinform-
ed-W1llfully mlSln1OrmeQ regarding your
guilt, Granny"
"In connection with the affair in Lon
DOM" asked Myra Stapleton, breathlessly.
"No, in connection with another affair
that was equally mysterious he re-
sponded; and then, turning to Granny.
he added: Perhaps, Cough. you had best
explain the affair yourself
My friend hesitated, unwilling to COM
NIT himself before the woman he so
dearly loved. That meeting was indeed
dramatic, yet I felt pride that 1 had at
last arranged it-that / had brought the
lovers face to face. One person I had in
yited was, however, not present-Ralph
Garshore.
Yet, In the circumstances. was his abb
sence to be wondered at? He no doubt
feared to be denounced as Arthur Ruff
ford by the trusting girl over whom he
had held such enchantment and whom he
had so grossly deceived. l had had no
wire from Cunliffe, therefore l did not
expect him.
i prompted Granny to speak, and at
last he said:
I'll tell you the facts of what occurred
two years ago In Vienna-that is, I'll ex-
plain as far as know them. Two years
previously in Galatz l had met a smart
ard very attractive young girl named
Lydia Popescu. daughter of poor clerk
In the employ OF the Danube commission
ers. Quite Unexpectedly ! encountered her
again one afternoon in the Franzenrtrg,
In Vienna, walking with man some years
her senior. whom she introduced TO me as
her husband, Prof Branchini of the Uni