New-York tribune., 1910-02-06

SllI0DSG OF IiSI- DIIC !C4L ~ Se'1AE
that was WHY
stumbled to nv feet. feeling sick and dizzy.
and upset the little table with my glass that
Jim had placed at my elbow. Sorry, Mary
I'm ALWAYS a clumsy man." l SAID, forcing
laugh III ask YOU to excuse me- | must get
back to the office I have to see Lord South
bourne when he returns. He's been out motor
ing all day"
7'Oh. but You'll come back here and sleep
Mary protested. You can't 60 back TO that
horrible flat
'Nonsense!' I said almost roughly. There's
nothing wrong with the fiat. Do you suppose
I'm a child or a woman
She ignored my rudeness. You look very
bad Maurice" I" she responded almost IN a WINS
per as we moved toward the house
was acutely conscious that the others were
watching my retreat, especially that 1nqu1s1-
tive little Nereker woman, whom was begin
ming to hate. When we entered the dusk OF the
drawing room, out Of range OF those curious
eyes, | turned on my cousin.
MARY, for Gods sake don't let that woman
or anyone else speak of Anne IN connection
with Cassavettil" l said IN a hoarse undertOne
'Annei Why, what on earth do You means:
she faltered.
He doesn't mean ANYTHING, except that he's
considerably upset" said Jim's hearty voice
close at hand. He had followed us IN from the
garden. You go back to your guests, little
woman, and make EN- talk about anything II
the world except this murder affair. Try
them there's no stopping her,-and II they
won't serve, try palnistry and spOOks and all
that rubbish. Leave Maurice TO me. He's
faint with hunger and inclined to make fool
of himself even more than usual OF with
you"
Mary made a queer little sound, which was
half Sob half a laugh. 'A1 right III obey
orders for once, you dear, wise old Jim Make
him come back tonight, though"
She moved away, slender, ghOstl1ke little
1-t1It IYrl laid n
kindly hand on my shoulder.
Buck up. Maurice. Come along to the din
ing room and feed, and then tell me all about
There's nothing to tell" persisted. But
l guess you're right, and hunger's what's wrong
with me-"
T MANAGED to make a good neal,-I was
desperately hungry, now | came TO think of
It,-and I'm waited on me sOl1c1tOusly- He
seemed somehow relieved that | manifested a
keen appetite.
That's better" he said. as declined cheese
and lighted a cigarette. When IN difficulties
have square meal before YOU tackle 'em;
weight in gold give 1t you for nothing. Now
about this affair. It's more like a melOdrama
than a tragedy. You know, or suspect, that
Anne PendenniS IS mixed up IN 1t p
% neither know nor suspect anv such thing. -
l said deliberately. l had recovered nv self
possession. and the lie, | knew, sounded like
truth, or would have to anyone but Jim Cay
ley.
Then your manner Just now was ineXplica-
ble," he retorted quietly. Now, Just hear me
out, Maurice: it's no use irving to bluff me.
You think | am prejudiCed against this girl.
Well, I'm not. I've always acknowledged that
she's handsome and fascinating TO degree {:
though, as | told YOU once before, she's a CO.
quette to her tingertips That's one of her char
acteristics. which she can't be held responsible
for, any more than she can help the color OF her
hair. which IS natural and not touched up-hNe
Amy Nereker's, for instance. Besides Mary
loves her and that's sufficient proof 10 me
that she Is o. h. IN one wav. You love her too
but men are proverbially fools where hand
some woman Is concerned" "
What are YOU driving at Iim2" | asked.
At any other time | should have resented his
homily. | had done before; but now /
wanted To find out how much he knew.
~ timely warning, nv boy | suspect, and
YOU know, or I'm very much mistaken. that
Anne PendenniS had some connection with this
man who was murdered. She pretended last
night that she had never met him before: but
she had-there was a secret understanding be
tween them. | SAW that. and So did vOu and
| saw too that her treatment of YOU was mere