The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-07
CHAPTER xxx.

Ct1AEIEtL Explains the Truth About Garshore. Soor after noon four days later was about to go out for a stroll as far as the club. when the electric bell rang and opened the door.
 I fell back in abject surprise. My visitor was none other that the sweet faced girl. the remembrance of whom was ever in my thoughts.
 ssMr. Ralston!'' she exclaimed. lift ing her fine eyes timidIy to mine. IT well. you'll forgive me for coming here alone to your rooms. I know ought 1 not to have done so." she exclaimed quickly as I invited her in. "But I wanted to speak to you very particu- lariy"
 ssForgiver. I cried. "why. there inst anything to forgive. Miss Maynard"
 ssBut Mother Grundy would have something to say" she laughed
 .frJo, the old lady's dead and buried Hong ago., declared. ushering her in Ito my sitting room, and drawing the ibfx armchair forward for her, noticing how dainty she looked in her fresh blue cotton dress trimmed with white lace. and straw mushroom hat with flowers.
 Those brown laughing eyes looked out at me mischievously. but only for a moment. As soon as she had settled herself she glanced around the room. hesitating for a few seconds. and then bending to me seriously said:
 -It's great presumption on my part to call here, MT. Ralston. know. But Myra Stapleton has told me that you are her friend We only met for a couple of hours. yet somehow-weH. have since wondered if you would be my friend also?"
 sYour friendl" echoed in delight. Why. of course. Any service you wish me to render I am absolutely and entirely at your service. Myra is an old friend of mine, and you are her friend therefore mine"
 'eIt is so very good of you to say so,,' replied the girl. her chest rising and falling in a deep-drawn sigh. The fact Is Pm in great distress. and I con- trived to induce my mother to bring me up to London on pretense of going to the dentist's-i order that might see you"
 Your visit is an unexpected pleas if I can do anything to assist you please rely implicitly upon me-
 recollected that it had been alleged that this dark-eyed. neat-waisted girl had been witness of Granny's crime. How was that possible? What con- nection could she have with the wom-s an who so closely resembled the fair 'Roumanian. Lydia Popescu?
 1T wonder" she exclaimed. leaning back in her chair and fixing her splen- did eyes upon mire-'I wonder. MT. Ralston. if you could keep secret?:
 ssWhatever you may tell me- Miss Maynard. shall never pass my lips" ! I declared earnestly T swear to pre- serve silence"
 She drew a long breath as over her thoughtful expression.
 'Myra is my best friend" she said. after a. brief pause. ''We have been together ever since we were tiny tots in the nursery Therefore she has no secrets from me. Recently she has told me certain facts by which I have realized in what deadly peril she ex- ists."
 Peril of what?'' I asked.
 sOf falling the helpless victim of un- scrupulous persons. An, MT. Ralston. she is in love and will not listen to reasonr'
 stared at her. Was she about to denounce Granny? Was she about to reveal to me the bare, naked truth concerning the unidentified woman who died so mysteriously in Redcliffe Gardens?
 Tell me all. Speak quite plainly, for whatever you say I shall regard it entirely in confidence
 ..MySa told me long ago of her great affection for MT. Gough-the man now wanted by the police. Indeed. met him several times. Once he was out with Lord Middleton's hounds. He is your friend. I believer"
 "7e is. Miss Maynard-my best and dearest friend.'
 And of course. you disbelieve the terrible charge against him?"
 T do."
 'tAnd so do I.'' she said. frankly.