Evening star., 1909-07-10

could live In that hotel for six months
on end and never need go beyond Its
courtyard.
1t was Granny's hotel. If he did not
arrive there for year. yet his letters
were kept for him.
"Oh! Mr. Cough will arrive one day
soon,' the smart reception clerk would
tell the mail clerk Hes almost due
back again"
And he was now back again and in his
old room-on the fourth floor overlooking
the embankment-a room he had occupied
regularly for years.
He was smoking and speaking of Myra
ever of her. She knew he was in Lon
don and had written him an urgent letter
asking him to come down and see her.
She would get her father to invite him,
she said. There were flower shows, ten
mis- baZaars and quite a lot of local ex-
citement. she explained. In addition to
which, her father had just bought a new
motor cara forty-six-cylinder, quite
ripping was her description Of it.
Il can't go down to Yorkshire and play
the man of means,' he declared to me.
How can /? love her. Phil, and surely
I've deceived her enough. She must
know the truth now-the bitter truth that
on his wits
"Rubbish!' / remarked. slipping the
cocktail before me. You wouldn't show
the white feather now-surely. Why. 1t
would break her neart 1ou kno" now
she loves you
"Ah! that's the curse of it. my dear
Phil. If she didn't love me so much
should have little compunction In telling
her the truth-aS I've told other girls be-
fore. My dear fellow. directly the mil
lionaire myth is exploded the girls turn
their backs and declare me to be an i'm
postor-as of course, / ami
But the sun is still shining behind the
black cloud, Granny" l said. trying to
cheer him UP.
He sighed, and for some moments did
not reply. Then saw his hands clench-
ing themselves, and he said:
by leaven. If I only had money, Phil!
If only l had thousand or so to my
credit I'd put on bold front. as you sug-
gest. I-Td-well-by Gad!-look-look-
there"'-he gasped. staring toward the
short fight of marble steps leading down
from the entrance to the hotel to the
terrace where We were seated
looked and sat for a moment speech
less.
Upon the steps. in immaculate
evening dress, his coat thrown over
his arm. and his crush hat slightly
on the back Of his head, stood Ralph
Garshore. the man who had by stealth
and double-dealing fiiched from Granny
a fortune just at the moment it was with
in his grasp.
The man did not notice US. He was
lighting cigarette. and apparently
awaiting somebody.
We both turned our heads in order that
he should not see our faces. II was a
curious freak of fate that Granny and
his bittereSt foe should be living under
the same roof
few minutes later a hanson entered
the courtyard from the Strand. and pull
ed up at the entrance. In 1t sat a young
dark-haired woman in a cream evening
cape. open and displa ying a black even
Ing gown. trimmed with silver. and with
gilstening ornament in her hair. About
her head was twisted some pearlgray
chiffon partially concealing her features.
See. whispered Cough. There she Is,
That's Lydia Popescu--the woman who
got the concession from him. So she's in
London also!''
! noted at a glance how extremely
handsome she was. Most Roumanian
women possess a splendid complexion,
and clear-cut features and sparkling eyes.
had seen many in Bucharest who were
superbly handsome. but not one to COM
pare with her.
Garahore. recognizing her, waved his
hand, descended the steps and entered
the cab at her side. giving an address 10
the gold-iaced porter. who closed the
doors, and repeated it to the driver
We were. however. too far away 10
catch what the man said, and in another
moment the cab had turned and was
driven off into the Strand, and out OF
sight
CTo be continued tomorrow