Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-02
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

CHAPTER V1ll-Contlnued.
Evelyn refused to admit now that she
had ever yielded to doubt or anxiety. The
hysterical outburst of last night was
natural, perhaps, under the clrcum-
stances, but quite nonsensical. Even
Warden himself must be made to believe
that Mrs. Laing was only indulging an
exuberant sense of humor in claiming his
fealty. Meaning, therefore, to tone down
any apparent asperity in the paragraph
referring to the three newcomers. she
added a few lines beneath her sigma
ture.
1.-The Men Of Oku have not yet ap-
peared. I am longing to see them. They
are really the most picturesque villains
in the piece. 1 am just going for stroll
by the side of the loch. and / shall not
be little bit alarmed If / find deco
rated calabash sailing in with the tide"
There is nothing new In the fact that
the most important item in a woman's
letter is often contained in postscript.
but never did the writer of a harmless
and gossipy missive achieve such amaz-
ing results as Evelyn Dane brought to
pass by the words she scrubbed hurriedly
after the magic p. s."
For others than Evelyn Dane were TAX
ing thought that morning. Baumgart-
ner Won Rippenbach and Ffguero-locked
in the library and seated round small
table drawn well away from the door
were settling the final details of a scheme
that aimed at nothing less than very
grave alteration in the political map OF
the world, while Rosamund Lang was
planning an enterprise which should have
an equally marked effect in the minor
sphere of her own affairs.
Yet the fortunes of these five people
gathered at Lochmerig, and of many
millions In other parts of the earth. were
absolutely controlled by one of those triv-
ial conditions which appear to be SO lu-
dicrously out of proportion with ultimate
achievement.
Baumgartner. being a rich man, OBJ
jected to delay where his interests were
concerned. Refusing to await the tardy
coming of a country postman, he kept a
were brought by train, and it was this
mans duty to ride in each day with the
post bag for Lochmerig Lodge and re-
turn some hours later with the first out
going budget. The house letters We're
dropped into a box in the entrance hall.
and a notice intimated that the time of
clearance was at noon. To an unscrupu-
Ious woman such an arrangement offered
the means to do i'll deeds that makes i'll
deeds done. Rosamund. ready to dare
anything now to save herself from con-
tumely. actually set out to find Evelyn
and taunt her into an admission that She
had written to Warden.
Miss Dane is not in the house,
madam" said the London foOtman on
duty at the door. She went out some
time since-in that direction and he
pointed toward the glistening firth that
brought the North sea into the heart Of
Inverness.
Mrs. Laing pouted prettily.
.'Oh, DEAR" she sighed. II do hope
she has not forgotten to write. l shall
never find her in time. Did You happen
to notice if she posted letter.
The footman sought inspiration by
yes, madam" he announced, after a
pause I'm almost certain Miss Dane
went to the box. Yes. I'm sure of it,
Madam was very much obliged and tip
with most charming smile that she did
not on any account wish Miss Dane to
believe that she was suspected Of forget
fulness. 1t was then some few minutes
after II. and this gracious lady was
sympathetic enough to inquire if the foot
man did not become very tired Of remain
ing on duty many hours in one place.
"Oh, it's nothing compared with Lon
don. ma am" said he. Here we have
sunshine-if the weather is f1ne-an' fresh
air all the time. I only came on duty at
o'clock. an l go off at 1870 for the
first servants dinner.
Mrs. Laing was talking to Billy 'ThrinS
in the hall when the postman groom came
to clear the letter box. She darted for
ward with that irresistible smile Of hers.
I'm so glad happened to be standing
here she exclaimed. Il have just re-
membeSed that I have stupidity left out
of letter the very thing I most wanted
to say. 1t would never have occurred to
me if I hadn't seen you. The letter Is
addressed to Capt. Warden. May have
it,"
The man was Baumgarten's servant. He
had never before set eyes on Mrs. Laing.
but he knew the Hon. Billy quite We'll
so he raised no objection to this smartly
dressed ladys eager search for her In
complete letter. Though her hands fun-
bIed somewhat, she soon picked it out
Here il is!'' she cried. delightedly,
this one-Capt. Arthur Warden, Poste