The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-18
CHAPTER XXI.
Watching.

Watching
II don't know what TO do. Dacre! II
tight the chap, as I said / would do yes
terday, how do / know what misery I
might not bring down on her head? He
certainly got the whip hand OF me when
he said 1 would find it difficult TO corner
him."
Mr.. Dacre looked at Sir Douglas weary
face with sympathetic eyes. my dear
chap that's what the BLACKBOARD calcu-
lated upon" he said cheerfully. HE
knew you and Miss Rosemary cannot
call her by that chaps name-were In
love with each other. and produced that
fact as a trump card guessing that you
would hesitate 10 hound down the man
who was her husband But if you take
my advice you will not only do all you
can to trace this mystery to it's root. but
will fight the man for her sake as you
said last night"
And then he will claim her. and she
will be miserable and disgraced," Sir
Douglas groaned. II spoke passionately
last night because I was so overwrought
by the hideous discovery that she was
the woman he bad married but I feel in
clined TO offer him a certain sum a year
~ 50 away anu 4c1NE tttl III peace
My dear Douglas, Dacre said earnest
~, believe me. it is cruel 10 the girl to
do that She loves you and you love her.
and this farce of a marriage. il is easy TO
see, was merely a matter OF convenience.
He probably did not see her till the day
ne married her. and who knows what lies
that chap Craven told her to get her to
consent TO go through the ceremony ?
Besides, this man is certainly an impos-
/ tor and II he would go so far as TO take
a dead mans mace he would not stick at
| a little thing like bigamy"
'Bigamy." Sir Douglas exclaimed.
''What do you mean, Dacre? Don't jest,
man. for Gods sake,"
Il mean." Dacro replied. that there is
nothing to prove he hadn't a wife pre-
viously, before the other ceremony took
place; but, of course, there is nothing TO
prove that II was so. only It is d bare
possibility. When I am in town / shall
begin the great search. only you must
not be disappointed II fall" he added
II know you will do your best, old
chap" Sir Douglas answered. II think l
Will go up town with you. l feel could
not stick TO this place with my own
thoughts as company. Besides. she might
feel easier il I were away" he added
bitterly
Il don't think II will do any harm 10
come up 10 town with me-" Dacre said
briskly. Our friend. Mr.. Usher or
knight-has the advantage OF US By a
few hours. but that does not matter. Are
you sure that Lady Mallaby is III TO be
left?"
Sir Douglas nodded II think So The
nurse has gone away for a few days holl-
day and Keziah is looking after her now;
but she is quite well. only a bad cold has
kept her from being down stairs, thank
goodness. for Il might have had a dam
gerOus effect upon her II she had met
my late visitors"
Half an hour before he went 10 the sta
ton with Dacre, Sir Douglas paid a visit
10 his mother. She was sitting in her
usual place. staring out toward the maze
with moody, restless eyes.
I'm going up 10 town for couple OF
days. mother" ne said cheerfuily. rs
there anything you'd Ike me to do FOR
you?"
She looked at him without answering
for a moment. Then she said slowly:
why do you so away? You do no good
by going. Every time you leave Luck
House you separate yourself from the
treasure"
Sir Douglas sighed YEARLY His eyes
had just noticed the slim, black-robed
figure OF Rosemary sitting In a chair. a
book In her hand and an inefable ex-
preston Of sadness upon her young face
'"The treasure I am leaving behind me
can never be further from me than Il Is
now, mother" he said slowly, and he
knew that Rosemary had understood
him, for her face famed for an instant
then went deathly pale.
Il don't like IL. the old woman NUT
tered. I want the treasure to be found
and the luck OF Luck House made sure
They call II In the village the House Of
Il-Luck, and l hate it, hate itF'
Never mind. mother he said sooth-
ingly. when ] return I will begin an
other search, and perhaps I shall sue
coed Who knows2'
You laugh at the legend" she re-
torted in a veXed tone. You have never
believed in II, and I know what | know "
II will take il up seriously when | re-
turn" he said patiently. "GOOd-by, dear"
Then he dropped a light kiss on her fore
head and left the room without CHANGING
in the direction OF Rosemary, though she
was so close to him that her skirt nearly
brushed him. But when he was I'm the
corridor he felt light touch on his arm,
and, turning, he saw Rosemary behind
him, her face pale with emotion
7 must speak TO you" she said quick
ly; eft Is important, Sir Douglas"
He followed her TO her little sitting