Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-14

any pretense," he said Otherwise l should
be forced to take action, with the most
lamentable consequences for you, Devar.
Now l shall hold my hand, provided you
obey me implicitly. Send for your over
coat. go straight to the Central Station,
and travel to London by the next train.
You can scribble some excuse to your
mother; but, if | have any cause even
to suspect that you have told her who |
am, l shall not hesitate to put the police
on your track You must vanish and be
dumb-for three months at least. If you
are hard up, l shall give you some money,
sufficient for a fortnight's needs, and you
can write to me for further supplies at my
London address. Even a rascal like you
must be permitted to live, | suppose; so |
risk breaking the law myself by screening
you from justice. Those are my terms. DO
you accept them?'
The red face had grown yellow, and the
steel gray eyes that were heritage of the
Devar family glistened with terror; but the
man endeavored to obtain mercy. Dash
it all, Medenhamr' he groaned, don't be
too hard on mel I'm goin' straight now
pom me honor This chap Marigny-"
"You fool! offer you liberty and money;
yet you try brazenly to get me to fall in
with your wretched designs against Miss
Vanrenen! Which is it to be, police cell or
the railway station?"
Medenham moved as if to summon the
hall porter In frenzy of fear Devar caught
his arm.
For Gawd's sake" he whispered
You 60, them"
Eyes"
Il am prepared to spare you to the ut
most extent. Tell the hall porter to bring
your overcoat and hat and to give you
sheet of note paper and an envelop. Show
- e,
shall start you with twenty pounds. You
can send from London tomorrow for your
belongings, as your hotel bill will be paid.
But remember! One treacherous word from
you and l telegraph to Scotland Yard!'
Mrs. Devar had a bad quarter of an hour
when penciled note from her son was de-
ivered at her room and she read:
DEAR MATER-I hardly had time to tell
you that l am obliged to return to town this
evening Please make my apologies to Miss
Vanrennen and Count MAR MaTls srsr
Medenham frowned little at the refer
ence to Cynthia; but something of the sort
was necessary if open scandal was to be
avoided
AS for Dear Mater" she was so I'M
nerved that she actually wept. Hard and
calculating though she might be, the man
was her son, and the bitter experiences of
twenty years warned her that he had been
driven from Bristol by some ghost new risen
from an evil past.
MEDENHAM, however, believed that he
A'A had settled one difficulty, and pre-
pared blithely to tackle another. He ran
the car to the garage where he had arranged
to meet Dale.
Have you seen Simmonds?" was his first
question.
Eyes, my l. Yes, SIR
"Where is he?"
Just off for a snack, sir before goin to
the hotel"
Bring him here at once. We will attend
to the snack afterward. No mistake now
Dale! He must see no one in the hotel until
he and have had talk"
Simmonds was produced. He saluted
"Glad to meet you again, my Lord he
said. 81 hope haven't caused any trouble
by sending that telegram to Bournemouth
but Dale tells me that you don't wish your
title to be known"
Forget it," said Medenham. Il have
done you a good turn, Simmonds. Are you
prepared to do me one"
Just try me, sir.
Put your car out of commission. Stick
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