Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-14
THE PASSERS-BY
~ BY ANTHONY PARTRIDGE.
Copyright Copyright
BY Mcclure
All RIGHTS Reserved

Copyright. 1910.
BY Little, Brown & Co.
All Rights Reserved.

of the presence in this country of man
named Jacques Leblun, and also the rea-
son for his presence
Il am perfectly Well aware of it, the
marquis answered. AT the same time,
to say
I'VE need not play with Words Han
naway said. I'VE both know a little.
We can both assume a little. Leblun
came here to discover the man who es-
capped from the Place Noire on the night
of the raid You were that man. Lord
Ellingham. 1t is you for whom Jacques
Leblun is searching
Lord Ellinsham stood quite still. He
made no sign. His cheeks, indeed, had
no color to lose. We'll" he asked. quiet
ly, have you come here to tell me that?
Or have you come here to" tell me that
you have already told Leblun?
Z had no thought of anything of the
kind" Hannaway exclaimed, hastily.
But l want to explain to you something
that has happened. Leblun laid a trap
for me and l fell into it. He spoke Of
Mademoiselle de Lanson. He spoke of
her as beggar and he spoke of her life
| today. He smied-an irritating, madden
ing smile. Mademoiselle de Lanson had
done well for herself. she had for her
lover the Marquis of dillingham;! He said
this with his eyes watching my face.
told him that he lied. l was fool-it
was SO obvious a trick. And when |
flung the lie in his teeth all that he did
was to smile. Then why, he asked. does
the money of the Marquis Of Ellingha m
provide luxury for Mademoiselle de Lam
son? could not answer. He knows that
I could not answer"
Lord Ellingham was silent for several
moments. Il wonder he remarked.
! chow he ever got hold of my name /at
all?"
He traced Christine" Hannaway said.
Then. of course. he searched for the ex-
PLANTATION of her altered circumstances.
His inquiries led him to you. Perhaps
he was not absolutely certain that his
explanation was not really the truth. At
any rate, he tried it on me and ] fell.
Does Mademoisele de Lanson know
this?' the marquis asked
'She does not as yet" Hannaway an
Swered.
Keep il to yourself the marquis or
dered. 'Leblun may come and see me.
At any rate, I shall be prepared
He looked at his visitor as though ex-
pecting him to go. HannaWay hesitated.
IF l could be of any assistance, Lord
dillingham; he suggested, almost timldly.
Lord Ellingham shook his head. His
face showed no signs of fear or emotion
of any sort. Pray do not disturb your
self, Mr.. Hannaway," he said. Il need
not, 1 know. mince words with YOU. If
this thing has to come, | must meet 1t.
Afterward-well, it doesn't mucn matter.
You will excuse me, | am sure. 1t is
more than time that l was on my way
down to the house.
The marquis. as was his daily custom,
walked from his club toward the houses
of parliament. Acquaintance whom he
met and whom he unfalllngly recognized,
noticed nothing altered in his demeanor,
except, perhaps, a slightly added gracious
ness, smile more noticeable than usual.
Yet, indeed, he walked vera much like a
man in a dream. All the Vine that one
terrible question seemed to be ringing in
his ears. When would it be? How soon
lowed to reach the house, to make his
speech, to take up the cudgels once more
on behalf of his hard-pressed party? How
| soon? he asked himself. Would he be
allowed to return home? Would he see
his wife again? His face g-ew gray and
his lips quivered. as he thought for a mo-
ment of the shock this thing would be to
her. There was no way to avoid 1t now.
Leblun was on his track. Nothing in the
world, to past master like Leblun. was
SO easy as to bridge over the years, to
trace his career back, step by step, to
that terrible night when he fed from the
Place Noire. He had no defense, there
was no hole for escape. He was guilty.
He was the man who should have suf-
fered in prison, as Marcel had suffered.
He was the man, indeed, whom the au-
thorities had thought they were punish
ing. There was no hope, he told him.
self; nothing to do but to. keep brave
face to the world. and pe~haps-but that
he must think of more seriously The
ethics of suicide had always interested
him. Surely. if any one was justified in
escaping from life he was.
A beggar with tray of matches
touched him upon the arm only one
penny box, sir. Buy a box, guvnor."
The marquis shook his head. The man
still kept his place. They Were passing
four-wheel cab. dawn up against the
curb. The beggar leaned over his tray.
"Step into that cab for one moment, sir,
he muttered under his breath. 1T is
Marcel who waits for you there
The man glided away. Lord Ellingham
tn ned involuntarily toward the cab
drawn up against the curb. Inside was a
furtive figure with black-rimmed eyes
and CHASTITY face. 1t was Marcel, hiding
among the cushions. afraid to look out.
and yet eager to attract his attention.
Lord Eilingham paused After mo-
ment's hesitation he crossed the pave
nlent and stepped into the cab.