Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-28
CHAPTER Xxx.
Explains the Truth About Garshore


Soon after noon four days later was
about to go out for a stroll far as the
club, when the electric bell rang and
opened the door
/ fell back in abject surprise. VI,
visitor was none other than the sweet
faced girl, the remembrance of whom
was ever in my thoughts.
Mr.. Ralston," she exclaimed, lifting
her fine eyes timdly to mine. II we'll
you'll forgive me for coming here alone
to your rooms. / know | ought not to
have done So she exclaimed quickly as
invited her in. But I wanted to speak
to you very particularly
"Forgive"' / cried. Why, there isn't
ANYTHING to forgive. Miss Maynard
But Mother Grundy would have some
thing to say she laughed.
NO, the old lady's dead and buried Ions
ago" [ declared, ushering her into my
sitting room, and drawing the big arm
chair 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 ou
al me mischievously, but only for mo
ment. AS soon as she had settled hersel
she glanced around the room. hesitatins
for a few seconds, and then bending to m,
seriously said:
Its great presumption on my part t.
call here, Mr.. Ralston, l know. Blu
Myra Stapleton has told me that YOU are
her friend. We only met for a couple o
hours, yet somehow-well. l have since
wondered If you would be my FRIEND
also?'
your friend"' ] echoed in delight
why. of course. ANY service you wisl
me to render ] am absolutely and entirely
at your service. Myra is an old friend o.
mine, and you are her friend-therefore
mine
1T is so very good of you to say so,
replied the girl. her chest rising and fall
ing in a deep-drawn sigh. The fact is In
in great distress. and I contrived to in
duce my mother to bring me up to Lon
don on pretense of going to the dentist 8
in order that l might see YOU
your visit is an unexpected pleasure.
assure you, Miss Maynard, and if l car
do anything to assist you please rely i'm
plicitly upon me"
| recollected that it had been alleged
that this dark-eyed. neat-waisted cir
How was that possible? What connection
could she have with the woman who ST
closely resembled the fair Roumanian
Lydia Popescu?
Il wonder" she exclaimed, leaning back
in her chair and fixing her splendid eyes
upon mine-"I wonder. Mr. Ralston, II
you could keep a secret?"
Whatever you may tell me, Miss May
nard, shall never pass my lips. | de-
clared, earnestly. II swear to preserve
silence.
She drew a long breath as over hel
beautiful countenance spread deer
thoughtful expression.
'Myra is my best friend she said
after brief pause. I'VE have been to-
gether ever since we were tiny tots in the
nursery. Therefore she has no secrets
from me. Recently she has told me GER
tain facts by which T have realized in
what deadly peril she exists"
Peril of WHAT" l asked.
"Of falling the helpless victim of un-
scrupulous persons. All. Mr.. Ralston
she is in love and will not listen to rea-
SON.
/ stared at her. Was she about to de-
nounce Granny? Was she about to re-
veal to me the bare. naked truth con-
corning the unidentified woman who died
so mySteriously in Radcliffe GardenS2.
Tell me all. Speak quite plainly, for
whatever YOU say I shall regard II en-
tiiely in confidence
''Myra told me long ago Of her great
affection for Mr. Gough-the man now
several times. Once he was out will,
Lord Mddleton's hounds. He is your
friend, | believer"
HE is, Miss Maynard-my best and
dearest friend"
And, of course, you disbelieve the ter
rible charge against him.?
Il do"
"And so do L. she said, frankly.
You. Why. il has been said that You
were the actual witness of the crime.
Is not that trueo''
She was silent, with her face half turn
ed from mine. Upon her cheek ! saw a
telltale look. but il was evident that she
did not intend to satisfy me, for her
answer was an evasive one.
Il have made no statement: | SHAH
10 ed
ston. you do not know in what difficult
position / today find myself. aware of
all the perils besettinT my friends, and
YET at the same time unable To state the
truth"
WHY metz
For reasons that must remain my own
secret" size replied, quietly. in hard,
strained voice. | saw that within her
was a strong desire To tell me the actua!
facts, but she was prevented from so
doing by some mysterious fear of conse-
duences.
They say YOU went to that house in
Radcliffe Gardens on the night Of the
tragedy, Miss Maynard, l remarked.
watching her countenance the while.
Her cheeks went paler in an instant.
but with an effort she answered
"As I've already told you, / shall make
no statement.
"And allow this terrible charge against
Granny Cough to proceed"
Mr.. Cough is an unfortunate Vict i'm
of untoward circumstances--like myself,
she declared.
the victim of Ralph Garshore." l
added
All. of course" she cried. suddenly
starting toward me- You must know
Garshore. He was with the Stapletons
the other day when you visited them.
Had you met him before?''
II had seen him before. but We were
not acquainted. All | knew of him was
that he was Coughs bitterest enemy
Yes. he is. she declared
Then she sat N silence for a long me.
her eyes fixed upon the carpet Ii seem
ed that she dared not look again into my
face. while |. on my part. sat there en-
tranCed b: her peerless beauty. So sud-
denly had she appeared in my rooms. a
fairylike vision on that bright summers
day that ] sat fascinated beneath her
spell. My speech had, / think. been