Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-09-02
CHATTER NNI

tn forget caution almost. iut
l. q l"t quite. Perhaps he was de
tcIr,l lY the look on John
St'clc's fac Scornful, mockin- as il
La.f iubitin9 him to east all prudence
- th" Winds. This biz OF evidence
that lie had not cal ulated upon il WAS
hard t. give it MP. but no other course
remained. Besides, another Gillctt-
knew Of IFS existence. Lord RouSdale
felt he could not drpend on that per
son in III emergency IF his kind
The nobituan moved toward the
,cSk. Til" Paper :luttcrad from his
to,h Gr-cr>. When once moro John
Steele buttoned his coat IL" affidavit
had again found lod-mcut i'm lis waist
cat pocket.
What John steele said was for Lord
RonSdale alone. After Gillctt had
gone he laid down q condition.
And il I refuse to let you dictate In
purely private concern" Lord E0ns-
dale. W lite with passion. had answer
90
The end will be the same for you.
AS matters stand Sir Charles no doubt
thinks still that You would make
desirable parti for his niece. Ills wife.
Lazy Wray, Unquestionably shares
that opinion. Their combined infiu-
pnce might In tine prevail and Joce-
Ign Wray yield to their united wishes.
This misfortune" with cutting deadli-
ness of tone. 1t is obvious must be
averted. You will consent to with
draw all pretensions in that direction
or you will force me to make public
this paper. A full exposition Of the
case l think would materially affect
Sir Charles and Lady Wray's attitude
as to the desirability Of an alliance be-
tween their family and yours"
land yourself? You forget" with
a sheer, chow it would affect your
"Myselfv John Steele laughed. You
fool! Do you imagine ! would hest
tate for that reasonT
"You love her yourself, and
joan Steele stepped toward him.
"Stop Or have once been almost
on the point Of killing you tonight.
DON'T He broke of. 1.-THE condition
Ysu consent or not?"
And II l-you would
keep your cowardly secret? Yes!'
Lord Ronsdale nodded his head
slowly. indicating that he would cease
his attentions to Jocelyn Wray. And
as he did so a venomous expression
came into his face.
A day month after that night in
Lord Ronsdale's rooms Captain For
sythe. calling on John Steele, found
himself admitted to the sitting room.
The rooms were partly dismantled, a
number Of boxes littering the place
indicating preparations to move. John
Steele came in. His face was paler
than 1t had been-thinner like that Of
man who had recently suffered some
severe illness.
A short time passed. They talked
on various topics. The military maj
pulled more quickly. 1t seemed thu
irony Of fate or friendship that now
that he was just beginning to get bet
ter acquainted with Steele the latter
should inconsistency determine t.
leave London.
Anything can do for you wher
you're awayY began Captain For
=. sythe Command me If there is
Needn't say
There's only one thing" JohI
Steele looked at him. His voice wal
steady. quiet "And we've alread!
spoken about that. You will let mi
know if Ronsdale doesn't keep to thu
letter Of the condition."
Very WELL Captain Forsythe's ex
preston changed slightly. but thu
other did not appear to notice.
Il shall leave with you certified cop
les Of all the papers," said Steele in ,
short. matter OF fact tone. ''These. to
gether with the one you furnished me
are absolutely conclusive"
1.-THE enc I furnished you" Captain
Forsythe rested his chin on the knoll
of his stick. odd about that, WASH
it-that the day in the library at STRAIT
horn House. when was about to tel
you how l had better success the sec
should have been interrupted? And,
looking at the other furtively, "b.
Jecelyn Wray." Steele did not an
swer. III had only seen the drift
of your inquiries, had detected NOR
than mere perfunctory interest
With the confession given me on he
deathbed by the landlady that she hat
testified falsely to protect her goot
for nothing son and acknowledge;
that another whom she did not know
by name, but whom she described
infinitely, had entered the house on tn
fatal night-with this confession IL
your hands a world Of trouble nigh
have been saved. AS 1t Is" he endet
half ruefully. you have found M
most unlike the proverbial friend II
need. who iS"-
"a friend indeed" said John Steele
placing hand on the others shoulder
while Il smile somewhat constrained
lighted his face for a moment, "wh,
Mt once rose to the OCCASION hastepet
to London on the receipt Of lette
that was surely i test of friendship
''Oh. l don't know about that!
quickly TEST Of friendship, indeed!'
Captain Forsythe looked slightly EN-
barrassed beneath the keen searchin:
eyes. Don't think Of it, Or BE
Sides" Frightening, Il had to come
Telegram from Miss Wray, don't yor
know"
Miss Wray!' Steele's hand fel
suddenly to his side. He looked with
abrupt, swift inquiry at the other.
Captain Forsythe bit his lips. "By
Joye, forgot" he murmured. "Was
not to say anything about that"
However, as you have John
Steele regarded him steadily. You
received 4 telegram from
'At the same time that your letter
intercepted me at Brighton"
Asking you TO return to LondonY"