The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-10-19

TIC cHlcTCu WlluOut hHOCAlh6
and saw at once that he was In 9
strange condition. He scarcely
greeted me, but sank into my easy
chair, and drawing out his pipe, be
gan to fill it. Then l saw, too
what l had never seen before. His
fingers were shaking.
Boy he said, 'have you. any
wine?"
"The duke sent me some claret,
I answered. "Will that do?"
"Ay!"
I summoned Grooton and order
ed the wine and some biscuits. Ray
was man who ate and drank
sparingly. Yet he filled tumblel
and drank 1t straight off.
"You and l." he remarked. ARE
the only two who sat the whole
show out. 1t was a grind, wasn't
it,"
''It was" answered, "but I have
slept and feel none the worse for
1t. Lord Chelsford carried us on
splendidly. There is solid WORK
here" l said; something worth the
planning"
touched my notebook almost af
fectionately, for the work was fas
cinating. now that 1t had attained
coherent form. Ray smoked on and
said nothing for several minutes
Then he looked up at me.
Have you a spare bedroom. Du
caine?"
"One or two" I answered. They
are not all furnished, but one at
any rate is decent"
"Will you put me up for day
perhaps two?"
"Of course" l answered, "but-'
He answered my unspoken ques.
ton.
1.-THE duke has turned me out,
he said grimly. "Who would have
suspected the old man of such
folly? He believes In Blenavon.
told him the plain truth, and he
told me that I was liar" >
81 thought that he would be diff
ficult to convince" l remarked. Il
"He has all the magnificent pig,
headedness of his race" Ray an
swered. "Blenavon is Blenavon, and
he can do no wrong. He would sum-
mon him home again, but fortunate
ly the young man himself is nc
fool. He will not come. You told
Lady Angela?" -
Everything" -
"She believed your" /
81 think that she did, ap;
swered. W
His face softened. ~
1.-THE duke showed me from the
door himself" he said. "You viii
not object to my sending note to
Lady Angela by your servant?'
MAKE whatever use of him you
choose" l answered. There are
pen and ink and note paper upon
the table"
Then l settled down to my work
Ray wrote his note. and went up
stairs to sleep. In an hours time
he was down again. There were
black rims under his eyes and
could see at once that he had had
no rest. Grooton had brought his
bag from the house, and a note
from Lady Angela. He read 1t with
| unchanging face, and placed 1t
carefully in his breast coat pocket
81 am off to the village to send
| some kilograms" he said, land aft
| erwards | shall go for a walk"
what about lunch?" l asked
glancing at the clock.
None for me-" he answered
Some tea at o'clock, IL may
have it. l will be back by then
He swung off. and l was thank.
full, for my work demanded my
whole attention and very careful
thought. At a few minutes after
4 he returned, and Grooton brought
us some tea. Directly We were
alone Ray looked across at me with
a black frown upon his face.
"You know what they are saying
in the village about you, young
man."
Il can guess" answered.
"Who Is this girl, Blanche
Moyat?'
"A farmers daughter" answer.
ed. 1T seems that l paid her too
much or too little attention. am
not sure which. At any rate, she
has an imaginary grievance against
me and this is the result"
"She tells the TRUTH"
81 have not heard her story" !
answered, "but it is true that l en-
couraged her to suppress the fact
that she had seen man in the
village, and that he asked for me-
what folly!"
Perhaps" answered. "You see.
| thought that a verdict of found
drowned would save trouble"
This accursed woman at the
Grange is in 1t, l know" Ray re-
marked, slowly filling his pipe. u
wonder If she knew that I was
about? That would give her = zess
for the job" -
"She knows that you were at
Braster at the time" said. 1T was
the night of your lecture"
Ray began to blow out dense
clouds of smoke. =.
Were SAFE" he said, both 81
us. There's just link in the chain
missing" -.
"The police have been here with
warrant in search of that link" I
remarked.
They'll never find 1t. for it's in
my pocket" he remarked grimly.
Colonel Ray" l said. suddenly
nerving myself to risk his anger,
there is a question which l mist