Evening star., 1909-08-21

Ianceboro. was IN i.anceboro tom' , ,,' amu
had been here on the night Of the nur-
der He refused absolutely to pursue the
line further even IN tfousni, out ,e
turned to the indisputabe fact OF tile
man and his danger as It anected aa JuuIaa
Calden. She must be warned and warned
promptIy But how? /; was that ques-
tion which turned him sick and com
nelled him 10 face the situation.
He was not so blind to think for
moment that his movements outside the
house were not watched with the closest
scrutiny and thorough cunning: Any al
tempt on his part to communicate Will
Miss Calden would inevitably be known
and used to her detrment. That was
point number one. always to be Kept III
mind He bethought him of the tele-
phone but here was both the chance OF
knowledge and the possibility OF benS
overheard. Il was, of course, posSlbie Tor
him to make a personal visit. which.
while known, would not betray the mat
ter of his communication; but II ne
trusted words to the wire they passed
bexond his control. and he could not tell
where he would meet them again
written line was even more to be feared.
Thus he was as absolutely the prisoner
of idea as he could be OF ooi's ana
bars.
But at the very thought of imprison-
rent he revoited. The rights OF a free
man were his. and whoever interfered 10
abridge them did so al his peril lie
gave five minutes to good honest bluster,
and then he took himself to task for
want of candor. He was not freeman.
he could not come and go as he Wonld'
and the very demonstrativeness of his as
Sertion proved simply that ne was lfShS
to deceive himself.
At this he turned to the conception OF
the situation he had shaped from his
gossip's letter. 1t spelled out peril to MISS
Calden, and peril of the deepest nature
cit +, gp,6 q
to protect her? If another mad asked
the question he would have felt his man
hood assaled. To be compelled to ask II
himself was double arraignment
However, this had the effect OF BRING
ing him to a saner mood. where he took
measure of the degree to which he Wouiu
bring danger to Miss Cafden by attempt
ing to communicate with her. He ceased
TO consider his own personality IN the
matter and took it up solely from her
standpoint. He saw himself as entlreiy
capable of going openly to the Atenburs
farm and delivering his own message.
and from that moment he held her rights
and her safety as controlling.
1t ended as any one who knew him
must have foreseen. in his taking his hat
and starting openly for the farm lie
would not compromise h'mseif or her i,s ~
the shadow of concealment and he did
not even ask himself how far This deci-
sion was influenced b. the convection OF
the uSeesSneSS of such an attempt III
event. attempt To prevent ms go
ing was apt to be made. and once with
her ne could say what he had to say and
thus put her on her guard After ne mad
said it it would be simply question OF
his ability to maintain silence.
The house looked dreary and weird
standing stark in its bare heldS- he
paused on the doorstep and looked about.
revivifyng the events of that disfnai
night. which already seemed ike TAR,
off dream Along the Plains road moved
downward a slow oX-sledge, and Grim
bleshaw played with the fancy that the
driver held watch and would report his
visit to Trafford.
Miss Calden was in the sitting room, TO
the left of the entryway and opposite the
room where it seemed that the fatal bloW
was struck. The room was dlm with
shadows and the gloom OF late No
yember afternoon. sadly in keeping with
the traces of care and tears which the
girls face showed. 1t impressed MN
that she felt no surprise at his coming.
He began abruptly, as it seemed TO him'
almost harShly:
II want to help YOU Miss Calden.
There flashed across her face a look of
resentment. as if she felt the lmphca-
ton that she needed help an insult and
then as he. dimly wondered whether he
should resort to defense or take refuge
in silence. something of the dependence
of womanhood seemed to make itself feit.
though not to the extent OF preventing
her stirring against it making itself heard
in her tone:
IF | needed help one would have TO go
very far in giving ii.
Il can't be asked to go too far. he
said quietly. II did not come until
had weighed the consequences.
She flushed at that and then grew
pale He thought it anger at first, and
then felt a sinking at the heart over the
thought that it might be fear.
You had no right to think there would
be consequences she replied, a little bit
terry.
..If there are no chances of conse-
uuences there is no need of help. he
said, quietly.
She seemed TO feel herself in the coils
of his logic, and to resent it, Yet he
knew that some stronger feeling man hef
resentment moved her. AS for himself,
the sight of her and the conviction that
she was harassed by some great sorrow,
or threatened by some great danger.
brought only the passion to help. He had
ceased to care for Trafford; he mad
ceased for the moment to think of his
the winning face and the sorrow in her
ewes was for the moment at least, the
compass of his world
How great strain would TINS wish
10 help Stand?' She asked it as ii she
did not expect answer from him.
Then in the silence that followed she
seemed to wake suddenly. and he read III
her eyes, fixed anXiously on his face.
that she was asking an answer. and an
actual answer, one that would stand the
test of eXactlOn.
if he feared the very shadows that We're
deepening. Then he drew his chair nearer
and dropped his voice
~ have come. he said. though | knew