The Detroit times., 1910-04-23

'-sse-s-es-e
1 would be rid of drag of a husband.
and free from the threatened ex-
posture of Cecil Wanless at the same
time, ..
or so, IL flashed upon the sharpen
ed intelligence OF Ronald Bray brooke.
The woman was playing a part. In
reality she had nerves of steel and IA
courage as great az her audacity Ac.
cident was finding her way OF get.
ting rid OF her husband and dan
gerous foe at the same time. How
cleyerly she could tell the story In the
witness-box afterwards. Sir Charles
in confinement and Wanless dead.
And the cold-blooded wretch was play.
Ing up for that.
The last thing I'm the world Bray
brooke wanted was for his presence
| i'm the house to become known. stu.
he could not stand there and see muir
der done before his eyes. The pluck
Of young Wanless was beyond ques-
tion. but the odds were terribly
against him. He was sinking TO his
knees now: the red stars were be-
ginning TO dance and wheel before
| his ewes. And that woman looked,
and with just the faint suggestion OF
smile In her eyes. The knowledge
fairly maddened Braybrooke lie
strobe forth out OF the thick darkness
into the bondoir. and without a word
OF warning dealt Altamont a crashing
/ blow ON the side of the head With
out groan he collapsed on the floor.
Il fancy | have arrived Just H..
time" Ronald said coolly Another
| moment and | should have come too
late. How are you feeling now. Wan
less?"
Wanless had staggered TO his feet
and was standing gripping the edge
of the table fighting for his breath.
/ His face was almost black. great
| moisture stood on his forehead He
| pointed with shaking finger TO u
I bottle and glass that stood on the
cabinet close by Presently he man
aged to get a few drops of water be-
tween his dry lips. Meanwhile, AL.
lament lay like log where he had
| fallen, nobody semed TO take the
/ faintcst notice of him.
II hope you are not hurt" Lady
Altamont managed to say.
Il fancy I'm all right now Wan
less gasped. II had no idea that Sir
Charles was so strong II you had
net turned up | should have been
done for. Braybrooke."
The ease with which Wanless ut
tered the name was not lost on Lady
Altamunt. She recognised at once
that these two men must have met
quite recently. She had quite count
ed on the fact that Wanless had re-
L parAa1 IN uhrnnla
the victim of his own passion. She
could see now why Wanless was In a
| POSITION 10 defy her But what was
Bray doing there at all at that
time Of night? And how had he cor
trived to get into the house? lad:
Altamon' was puzzled. and she did
not Ike that feeling
Now that Wanless is all right. per-
haps II would be just as well to have
look at Sir Charles" Braybrooke
said cColly. II was sorry To have to
deal him that tremendous crack, but
the situation was too critical for any
half measures. Why didn't you inter
/ fere?"
| The last question was flung at Lady
Altamont almost rudely. She started,
and little color came into her
cheeks she tully understood the MD
den meaning OF the question.
II lost my nerve" she stammered.
lust for the moment | was SO ter
ribly frightened that | could not
move Unless you had appeared. | am
I quite sure that my unhappy husband
would have killed my very unfor-
tunate guest. And yet | was power
less 10 avert the tragedy.
II quite understand" Braybrooke
! said drily. We will discuss the mat.
ter at greater length presently. In
the meantime | see that Sir Charles
| is coming to-
! The baronet stirred uneasiy and
opened his eyes. All signs of his late
passion had gone. He passed his hand
YEARLY across his forehead.
Why can't sleep" he moaned. II
have not slept for a week Give me
some of nv stuff
Ito Be Conftuued.l