Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-05
THE MESSAGE
BY LOUIS TRACY.
By
Copyright. lsee. By Edward J. c,sds.)

thorized to hand YOU $3.50 to meet any
expenses incidental to your mission. Your
passage on the Water Witch is paid for
by the way"
Again the older man failed to under
stand why the young officer should laugh
with the grim humor of one who bids fate
do her worst Certainly the situation had
in 1t some element of comedy. Gold was
being shOwered on Warden from the skies
promotion and distinction were thrus,
upon him-yet he was miserable as any
man In England that day.
Something on his minds il a WON
an?" unused the shrewd official, and the
time came when he remembered the idle
fancy.
In the freedom of the street Warden
soon recovered himself Not even an all
absorbing passion-rendered more intense
by reason of his self-contained nature
could deprive him of the habit of years
In the colonial office at the moment lay
letter from the Governor of Southern
Nigeria commencing him in the highes,
terms for his cool Judgment. resourceful-
ness and decision. He showed these quail
ties now. He hurried to Charing Cross
and dispatched three telegrams-One to
Evelyn begging her to communicate with
him instantly: second to his friend in
Ostend. thanking him for his kindly
offices and requesting that the money
should be paid into a named bank. and
the third to the Iarbor master at Dover,
asking him to inform Peter Evans of the
pilot-cutter Nancy that he must travel
to London by the earliest train after ar
irving from Ostend.
Then he went to the Savoy
Rosamund's telegram had been handed
in at LOchmerig the previous night. 1t
occurred to Warden that She must have
written 1t about the time his message to
Evelyn was delivered. If SO, and it was
true that the Baumgartner household nad
already departed on board the Sans Souci.
there was an obvious question to be an
Swered.
AS he anticipated, Mrs. Laing was in
the hotel. In fact, she was about to dine
in her own room when Warden's card was
brought to her. She FASTENED to meet
him. all smiles and bushes.
How awfully good of you to come so
soon!'' she cried. "And at just the right
hour! l hate eating alone. but l dislike
still more being at table by myself in
us go to the cafe. and then it doesn't
matter about ones toilet
Il don't wish to disturb your arrange
ments'-he began. but she was not to be
forced into serious discussion at once.
who said anything about Disturbance"
she ratified on. You could not have met
my wishes better II you had guessed
them. Now, don't look so glum. 1t is
not my fault that your pretty governess
was ready to fiirt with other men, is it?
about it."
He fell in with her mood. A woman
will dare anything when she loves or
hates, and he credited Rosamund with
excess in both directions. Yet it would
be strange, he thought, were she playing
some deep game not Immediately discern
ible. if he did not unravel the tangled
skein of her deceit
II got your letter. Of course" he said,
when they were seated
han I q
why you are disconsolate,'' she said, look
ing at him frankly.
1T may be. At present l am chiefly
curious. HOW did you obtain my London
address?'
Didn't you telegraph it?'
ITO Miss Dane-yes."
You dear man. what would you have
done If telegram were brought to re-
mote place in the Highlands for a lady
whom you knew was gone goodness
knows where in a yacht?'
Surely it might have been forwarded
to her?'
Yes, If you or 1. or any other reason
able being were the addressee. But the
everything was to be sent to their Lon
don house, which Is closed. except for a
caretaker Mrs. Baumgartner herself
told me they did not expect to be in
town under month or six weeks
Have they vanished into thin air?''
Something of the kind. They spoke
vaguely of a cruise round the Shetlands,
but 1 am sure that was meant as blind
They wouldn't take Figuero and Won Rip
penbach as their sailing companions for
the mere fun of the thing, would they"
did they offer no excuse to their
guests?"
"Oh, yes Billy Thring-sorry. but
must mention him-well, his brothers
death was the ostensible reason. 1 don't
believe a word of it. l. d. B. is not the
man to break up a pleasant house party
because one of its members has suffered
bereavement There Is something else
going on. / am honestly feminine enough
to want to know what it is. l was SIM
saw Figuero and the dainty Evelyn In the
garden. discussing things with bated
breath"
Warden frowned He could keep tight
rein on his emotions. but this was try
Ing him high.
"Would you mind telling me how a
man who is dining with lady can best
express polite incredulity at her state
ments?" he asked.
VERY neat she retorted, but in this
instance you are the water and I the
duck. If you think 1 am deliberately
telling you untruths. why not choose
some less exciting topic? How did you
like Ostend? I adore it. The people
amuse me-they are SO naively shocking,
or shocked. as the case may be. Did you
see that fat F'renchman who struts about
in a ridiculously tight and glaring bathing
suit?'
"Of course you want to talk about
Lochmerig." he said, quietly. Now,
Mrs. Laing, it will be wiser to speak in
plain language. Evelyn Dane Is my
promised wife. If possible. 1 would marry
her tomorrow. That is no figure of
speech. If she were here now, and the
law permitted. would marry her within
the hour. You know me we'll enough to
believe that once my mind is made up
do not change. Well, then. why are you
endeavoring to create discord between me
and the woman l lover
Rosamund flushed. She had expected
him to say something of the kind, but
it was none the less disagreeable in the
hearing. The fury that convulsed her
found ready outlet in the tears that
stood in her beautiful eyes
(To be continued tomorrow