Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-23

1
down, and wanted to speak to you,
for did not get chance last night.
They were both watching me, prob
ably because they thought was Ill,
and had to chatter like maybe to
keep up appearances"
You did it very WE'LL" Van Torp
said. III I had not seen your face
at the window when got out of the
automobile yesterday shouldn't have
guessed there was anything wrong"
|, "But there is-something very
wrong-something can hardly bear
to think of, though / must, until
know the truth"
/; They turned into the first deserted
street they came to.
| II dare say can give a guess at
what 1t is" Van Torp answered grave
~. II went to see him alone yester.
day on purpose. before he started, and
must say, if It wasn't for the beard
I'D feel pretty sure"
4. HE had beard when married
him, and it was like that-just like
that"
Il, Lady Maud's voice shook audibly,
for she felt cold, even in the sun
shine.
II didn't know" Van Torp answered
That alters the case. If we're not
mistaken, what can do to help you?
Let's see. You only had that one
look at him, through the window, Is
that so?"
eyes. But the window was open,
and it's not high above the ground,
and my eyes are good. He took off
' his hat when he said good-by to you,
: and l saw his face as distinctly as I
see yours. When you've been mar
ried to man"-she laughed harshly
I you cannot be easily mistaken
. about him, when you're as near as
that! That is the man married. I'm
! intimately convinced of 1t, but I must
be quite sure. Do you understand"
) ''Of course. If he's really Leven,
I he's even better actor than used
!. to think he was. If he's not, the re-
!, 'semblance is just about the most ex-
, traordinary thing! It's true I only
. saw Leven three or four times in my
life, but l saw him to look at him
, then, and the last time did, when he
}, made the row in Hare court, he was
: doing most Of the talking, so remem
her his voice"
There's only one difficulty" Lady
Maud said. Some one else may have
!, been killed last June. 1t may even
have been the pickpocket who had
stolen his pocket-book Such things
have happened, or do in books! Blu,
\ this is certainly the man you met In
4 New York and who sold you the stone
3 you gave me, is he not?"
a "Oh, certainly. And that was a
: the end of July, and Leven was kille
4 late in June"
Eyes. That only leaves a mont.
d for him to have been to Asia-that'
J, absurd"
Utterly, totally, and entirely impos
:. sible," asseverated Mr.. Van TORI
/, Zone Of two things. Either this ma
It is your husband. and If he is, he's nc
9 the man who found the rubies in Asi.
Or else. II he is that man, he's nc
t Leven. wish that heather girl ha
been here yesterday! She could hav
d told in a minute. Shed better hav
d been here anyway than cutting aroun
the Mediterranean with that fello'
II Logotheti!"
o "Yes," Lady Maud answered gray,
4 ly. But about myself Leven
70 alive, what is my position mean
don't really quite know where an
do II"
Anybody but you would hay
thought of marrying again already" o
| served Mr., Van Torp. looking up sid
| ways in her eyes. for she was tale
l than he. Then you'd really be in
/ bad fix, wouldn't you? But as it is,
! don't see that it makes much diffe
| ence. The mans going under fall.
" name, SO he doesn't mean to clai
Il you as his wife, nor to try to get
l divorce again, as he did before. He
| just going to be somebody else for h
| own good, and he'll get married tn
1 way, maybe. That's his business, n
| yours. don't suppose you're goi1
! to get up in church and forbid tt
] banns. are you?"
j Il would, like shot!" said Lat
:, Maud. $50 would you, I'm sur
i Think of the other woman!"
l THAT'S So" answered Van To,
/ without enthusiasm. However, we,
Z got to think about you and the pre-
4 ent and decide what We'll do SUI
l pose the best thing is for me to p
n him of with some excuse, so that y,
= can come on the Yacht
please do nothing of the sort
=. cried Lady Maud
W But want you to come" object
~ her friend.
~ II mean to come. Do you think +
~ afraid to meet him?"
Van Torp looked at her in some S,
" prise, and not without admiration.
:. There isn't anybody like you, ar
" way" he said quietly. But Their.
~ going to be circus on that ship
he's Leven," he added eff he max
~ a fuss I'll read the riot act and 10
10 him up"
~ "oh. no." answered Lady Maud, w
- was used to Mr.. Van Torp's famili
>, vocabulary, why need there be a
'iu trouble? You've not told him q
coming. you say. Very we'll. If
IS sees me suddenly after he has be
''o on board little while, he'll certain
betray himself, and then 1 shall
Ell l.,