The Washington times., 1909-07-03

Because I think you owe me an ex-
Her Her eyes widened at that. Il owe
you an explanation she exclaimed
Exactly. A change has come over
your manner toward me, and ] want
TO know the reason for it. ! believe
in being straightforward, and above
board in such things, and consequently
have come direct TO headquarters TO
find out Now, if it is simply that you
don't want to know me t-,,,-
Mr.. Graham, she interrupted hur-
riedIy, do you really think II is neces-
sary to go INTO these things
II do" he insisted. The more so,
because I gather from your manner
that it is not for the reason have
mentioned, but from something you
have heard or discovered which you
think to my disadvantage.
is it not SOP he demanded, as she
scrned away, reddening and confused
before his searching scrutiny.
/ 1t was hard for her to maintain an
armor Of reserve thus in the spell of
pleading in her ears Suppose-her heart
tnTilled-supDOse ne could offer some
valid explanation? But no, that was i'm
possible. he was simply trying to de-
ceiVe her now. She had too certain proof
OF his defects. Her anger famed up
afresh.
ask my reasons she flung out indig-
nantly, and would have left him.
But he laid OBTAINING hand upon
her arm. II do need to ask, though,
he declared. Wait. just moment,
criminal is aIIowed to SPEAK in nh his own own
defense May I not even know the
charge upon which I have been con-
demned2 Surely. IL cannot be because
you saw me dining last night with
to dictate your associates or amuse-
ments," she avowed tmpatiently. If
you are really seeking for some Tea-
son or offense on my part, why go any
farther than your deliberate ignoring of
my dinner invitation?
Your dinner invitation? I never re-
ceived any"
Her lips curled in scorn. So he was
going TO attempt that flinsy excuse,
! when she herself knew not only that
the note had come to hand. but that he
had made merry over 1t with his land
lady. Pahl
You doubt me?" protested Graham.
You believe L did receive it? But see, -
with sudden recollection. 4 can furnish
1 you proof that ii never came Fortu-
nately keep a record of every letter,
| In this little book"
He thrust his hand to his upper. left
/ hand waistcoat pocket to produce a
memorandum book and a ne drew Ii
forth, brought with il the crushed re-
mains of the rose she had dropped 10 the
| pier.
Blushing and confused. Robert stoop-
ed quickly TO recover the flower fallen
to the deck; but, although he did not
1 know il, the rose had pleaded his cause
! more successfully than a mountain OF
! testimony.
He had secretly cherished hsr rose, the
| ecstatic thought flashed upon her like a
/ revelation. He was wearing II next his
| heart! Was this the act of a coxcomb
who believed every woman he met was
She Smiled as he glanced I'D in en-
! barrassment after hastily stuning the
/ rose back into his pocket
81 hardly think 1T will be necessary to
show the book. Dir. Graham" she said
softly. Il am quite willing TO take your
word for it, that you did not get my
note
And now thrusting her arm inti-
mately into his, as they started to walk
the deck together, tell me how II is
that you are on The Lucania2 Was Il a
trip YOU had already planned. OF did
MYSELF"
TT was a sudden natio-1.'' he laughed
/ so sudden that I can hardly realize
yet that ! am here.
You see," he explained. last night
/ in studying over some cases your father
| has instructed TO my hands ! struck q
point which 1 believe has hitherto prov
/ en- the stumbling block in the way Of
| things up satisfactorily, though, ] need
( ed the testimony OF man Eho Is ROW
| residing in London. and since It is d
/ matter I would hardly care to handle
| by correspondence-here am
! 'sOh: ] see" she commented. tride
| disappointedly. She had thought ht
J might possibly have come away III TO
| mantle pursuit of her
/ Still. there was a drop Of honey In
/ his words. too. If he had been study
! ing over the Delafield cases last night
: he could not have spent a very Ions
/ time in company with the girl she had
! seen him with at the "ROVersi-"
| Moreover, mis- next words br ought
| compensation, for he sighed happily:
| .sAh, I never dreamed that I woulC
strike such luck as finding yoJ
/ aboard"
She cast down her eyes before the
srdor in his tone. and murmureC
I shyly that she really must hunt NJ
Mrs. Keith. and find out how she Wai