Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-31

Garshore. Granny" I asked him pres
emily.
already told you
him the astounding story which Elfrida
had told me. But l was under a promise
OF secrecy. My lips were sealed. Had I
been free to tell the truth-free to in
form the police that Rufford and Gar
shore were one and the same individual
then the whole course Of events would
no doubt have been altered. and VINO
knoWs-perhap s the mystery Of Radcliffe
Gardens at once cleared up. But as mat
tiers stood / remained fettered, and Gran
ny branded as an assassin.
l put a few questions to him. What
had told him concerning Myra had upset
the dear old fellow. He loved her, and
her heart was his.
his wits all those long years-and had
lived well. too-Was nervous and broken.
L had never seen him before in that
state. When the multifa rious businesses
concessions and the like he had in hand
did not go exactly as they should he
had certainly shown signs Of nerves.
But he could always SO control his face
and feelings before strangers that even
when he had but a single franc left in
his pocket he retained the appearance
OF a prosperous man. His silk hat. when
he did business. was Of the glossiest and
his perfect-ftting frocll coat was always
immaculate. The outsider could never
read the big. open. yet sphinx-like counte-
nance of Granville Cough, the friend of
diplomats. and at the same time the
associate of half the slladiest characters
on the continent Once he told me with
a light laugh that he'd rather face a
horde of armed kurds-as he had done
than hotel manager with an unpaid
bill.
'Ralston.' he exclaimed a last. raising
his troubled face to me, Il told you in
Bucharest that ] was dead broke You
didn't believe me. You know now that
told you the truth
Broke / echoed. Why. my dear
fellow. there's no such word in your vo-
cabulary."
There hasn't been-untiI the present
time" he sighed: and. rising, he went
to the window and looked gloomily out.
was quickly at his side, my hand
upon his shoulder.
Look here, Granny | said. what's
the use of beating about the bush? Tell
me the truth-tell me all that happened
in London
He made no answer. His chin had
fallen upon his chest.
Beyond the open window lay the tall
white houses and red roofs of Pera. the
quarter of the embassies, and behind, in
the hot afternoon sun. Shone the still
waters of the Golden Horn. Up in that
we were away from the squalor and noise
Of the streets. the gray dogs and the
baggy-trousered befezzed Turks, that
varied. chattering. cosmopolitan crowd
that Is perhaps the most interesting in
Europe.
I had been in the sultan's capital twice
before, and was well known at both the
French and British embassies. At the
sublime porte l had chatted with the
grand vizier and with Tewdk Pasha.
who. by the way. was my Intimate friend
/ had been present at the salamlik or
Friday prayers of his majesty the sultan,
and had received hospitality in a number
Of Turkish houses. Therefore I felt nv
mixed crowd, where the east joins the
west.
I repeated my question in voice of
deep seriousness.
II can't tell you, PHIL was his
broken response.
''Why?" I cried.
But he only shook his head mourn
fully.
Surely you-well. you'll still face the
musico''
What's the usec" he queried. NV
enemies have succeeded in crushing me.
I can't extricate myself. I'm in such a
devil Of a hole
They may have crushed you, nv dear
old fellow. but they haven't crushed me-
l declared. Why not explain the whole
truth about that affair In Radcliffe Car
dens" I've come out here in order 10
learn it from your own lips Now. take
me into your confidence-do" | urged
lowering my voice.
Il can't
Why
For Two reasons. Phil" he an
swered. unsteadilr. looking me in the
face. First. should lose your friendship
forever. old fellow. And YOU are today
the only friend | have in the whole
world and there was a catch in his
voice. And. secondly, T should
Should what?' I asked Come ont
With il. This isn't like you. Granny
I'd break faith with a woman
| said nothing. What could | saw No
man was ever more loyal to women than
Granville Cough. The other sex liked
him for his merry, easy-goins manner, his