The Marshall republican., 1909-07-23

I'VE lnutes, and tECn h would re-
turn home. Surely It was a slight sac
rilce to make for the man who was
goinG to lose her--perhaps forever"
Where does the w"asherwoman ele-
ment come in?" asked Van Loo, who
began to feel bored.
I'm coming to that. Now, as Du.
val sat waiting Tor her, in came a lot
of men he knew to wish him good
lick on his voyage-just as you chaps
came here tonight. Among them,
Barret, was a man she knew. His
name was B~elfontaine. He was an
Old friend OF hers, and a constant Wis
itor at the countess house. He knew
nothing, of course, OF Ergenie's en-.
gagement to Duval."
"Well?" asked Barrett In the same
stifled voice.
WELL" resumed Denton, lighting
another cigar, the men were .oanng
around Duvals room, talking, wnen
suddenly in came Eugene. she had
left her maid in the hall and HAD
come IN alone-to confront q roomful
OF men. She just stood still a second.
painting with terror. She saw Beilon.
tame and knew he recognized her. II
he once let out the secret OF her pres.
ence there she was disgraced forever.
The visit was innocence itself; but
the whole world would condemn her
unheard."
How did she get out of it? What
did Bel-what's.his-name-do?"
Before Belfontaine could say a
word, Duval used almost the same
words l did to that washerwoman's
girl tonight. He asked If she had
come for the wash, or some such ques-
ton. and sent her away, leaving the
other men to believe she was really
some working-girl.".
And Beltontaine?" asked Van Loo.
Denton laughed.
Why he said, that's the very
point OF the whole story; and that's
just where this miserable memory OF
mine fails ME don't remember
what Belfontaine did. You see, Eu.
genie's safety, her whole future, hung
on Belfontaine. All the other men
present were strangers to her. But
b~elfontaine was a different PROPOSE
ton. Why, Barrett, the poor girls life
lay In the hollow Of his hand
Denton's voice had lost its habitual
carelessness and there was a ring of
genuine appeal in 1t.
I'll tell you what Belfontaine did,"
suddenly announced Barrett.
What! Do you"
Yes. i remember the story per
fectly now. | must have read II in
the same magazine that Denton did.
l suppose, Denton. the magazine may
have been lying about your rooms
somewhere and l picked It up"
mo doubt, no doubt" assented his
host eagerly. And i"
What did the man do?" broke In
Van Loo.
Barrett sat silent a moment before
continuing. His face was very white.
and there were in II lines that had
not shown earlier In the evening. He
was looking out Of the high window,
across the city.
you forgot a point in the Seal
OF Silence Denton" he began at last,
his ayes wandering over the distant
river-lights as he spoke. "Or perhaps
you never grasped the point Mt all;
Belfontaine loved Eugene"
Denton started, then tried to cover
his confusion with a laugh.
He loved her." wen; ON Barret.
They had been friends all their lives.
and from childhood he had worshiped
her. She knew nothing Of hfs love. He
had tried to succeed In life with the
Wild hope OF winning her. Then came
that horrible evening when he met
her face to face In Duval's rooms. He
knew nothing. At first, Of her motive
for coming there. AL he knew was
that his idol and his lifc-hopss lay
crushed In the dust. TheE IlavAl
found . means Of telling HIM the
whole truth. and he
And he-"echoe6 Denton.
Say" broke in Carter. This 10 q
fake story from first 70 Last. rye read
Bslsac's works from bssinninS 70 enc,
and he never wrote q story on such
lines. The plot, the style, che han
ding, are utterly uElike Baisac. Iahe.
heve it's q story Denton made M. ana
that he told II to M by wey Of try.
ing It on the dos, before ssnaing It 70
a magazine. And I believe Barrett
knows it's q fake. too. and 10 Just Try
Ing TO help Denton out."
"Pardon me-" remarked Barret,
but I happen to know It 10 not Q
fake as you catl t."
We'll, them" said Carter trium-
phantiy rs the men rose TO 20, how
do you reconcile your knowledge OF
the story with what you said hais
an hour g about never having read