Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-04

simply, as soon as ne reached ner
side, and she stepped out into the
street 1T thought you would como
down, and I wanted to speak TO you.
for I did not get chance last night
They were both watching me, prob
ably because they thought / was III,
and had to chatter like q magpie to
keep up appearances"
you did It very WELL" Van Torp
said. III had not seen your face
at the window when got out OF the
automobile yesterday I shouldn't have
guessed there was anything wrong.
But there is-something very
wrong-something / can hardly bear
TO think of. though must. until
know the truth"
They turned into the first deserted
street. they came to-
II dare say I can give guess at
what II is," Van Torp answered grave
". ct went to see him alone yester-
day on purpose. before he started. and
must say, if it wasn't for the beard
I'd feel pretty sure"
He had a beard when I married
him, and It was like that-just like
that"
Lady Maud's voice shook audibly,
for she felt cold, even in the sun
shine.
'T didn't know" Van Torp answered.
'1ThAt alters the case. II we're not
mistaken. what can do to help you?
Let's see. You only had that one
look at him, through the window, Is
that so?"
and it's not high above the ground,
and my eyes are good. He took on
his hat when he said good-by to you.
and I saw his face as distinctly as
see yours. When you've been mar
risd to a man"-she laughed harshly
you cannot be easily mistaken
about him, when you're as near as
that That is the man married. I'm
intimately convinced of It, but I must
be quite sure Do you understand"
'Of course. If he's really Leven.
he's even a better actor than I used
to think he was. II he's not, the re-
semblance is just about the most ex-
traordinary thing! It's true only
saw Leven three or four times in my
life, but I saw him to look at him
then, and the last time / did, when he
made the row in Hare court, he was
doing most of the talking, so / remem-
Der his voice"
There's only one difficulty" Lady
Maud said. Some one else may have
been killed last June. It may even
have been the pickpocket who had
have happened, or do in books! But
a. 81
New York and who sold you the stone
YOU gave me, is he not?"
"Oh. certainly. And that was at
the end of July, and Leven was killed
late in June"
Eyes. That only leaves n month
for him to have been to Asia-that's
absurd
Utterly, totally, and entirely impos-
sfble," asseverated Mr.. Van Torp.
zone of two things. Either this man
is your husband, and II he is, he's not
the man who found the rabies in Asia.
Or else, if he is that man, he's not
Leven. 1 wish that heather girl had
been here yesterday! She could have
told in a minute. She'd better have
been here anyway than cutting around
the Mediterranean with that fellow
Logothetii"
yes" Lady Maud answered grave
ly. But about myself-if Leven is
alive, what is my POSITION mean-I
don't really quite know where I am,
do II"
Anybody but you would have
thought of marrying again already" OBJ
served Mr.. Van Torp. looking up side
ways in her eyes, for she was taller
than he. Then you'd really be in q
bad fix, wouldn't you? But as it is.
don't see that it makes much differ
ence. The mans going under a false
name, so he doesn't mean to claim
you as his wife, nor to try to get
divorce again, as he did before. He's
just going to be somebody else for his
own good. and he'll get married that
way, maybe. That's his business, not
yours. don't suppose you're going
to get up in church and forbid the
banns, are your"
II would, like a shot" said Lady
Maud. $50 would you, I'm sure!
Think of the other woman!"
That's So" answered Van Torp
without enthusiasm. However, we've
got to think about you and the pres
ent, and decide what we'll do. 1 sup
pose the best thing is for me to put
him off with some excuse, so that you
can come on the yacht"
please do nothing of the sortl"
cried Lady Maud.
But I want you to come" objected
her friend.
'T mean to come. Do you think I'm
afraid to meet him?
Van Torp looked at her in some sur
prise, and not without admiration.