Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-07-14

q man who bad recently suhered some
severe Illness.
a short time passed They tailed
on various topics. The military man
puffed more quickl~ It seemed the
irony Of fate 4 frerde'iin That now
thut lie was just beginning to set bc;.
ter acquainted with steele the latter
should inconsistently determine to
leave London.
Anything can do for you when
you're awayT began Captain For
sythe. Command me If there is
Needn't say
There's only one thing" John
Steele looked at him. His voice was
steady, quiet. "And we've already
spoken about that. You will let me
know II Ronsdale doesn't keep to the
letter of the condition.
VERY we'll" Captain Forsythe's ex-
preston changed slightly, but the
other did not appear to notice.
II 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"
"The one furnished your Captain
Forsythe rested bis chin on the knob
of his stick. "Odd about that, wasn't
it-that the day I'm the library at STRAIT
horn House, when was about to tell
you how I had better success the sec
ond time visited the landlady, we
should have been interrupted? And"
looking at the other furtively, ''by
Jocelyn Wray." Steele did not an
swer. 'If had only seen the drift
Of your inquiries, had detected more
than mere perfunctory interest!
With the confession given me on her
deathbed by the landlady that she had
testified falsely to protect her good
for nothing son and acknowledging
that another whom she did not know
by name, but whom she described
minutely, had entered the house on the
fatal night--with this confession in
your hands a world of trouble might
have been saved. AS it is" he ended
half ruefully, ''you have found me
most unlike the proverbial friend in
need, who is"-
"a friend indeed" said John Steele,
placing hand on the others shoulder,
while a smile somewhat constrained
lighted his face for a moment, "who
at once rose to the occasion, hastened
to London ON the receipt Of a letter
that was surely test Of friendship
"Oh, / don't know about that!'
quickly. "Test Of friendship, indeed"
Captain Forsythe looked slightly en-
barrassed beneath the keen searching
eyes. Don't think Of 1t, or Be
Sides" Frightening, II had to come.
Telegram from Miss Wray, don't you
know"
Miss wrayg Steele's hand fell
suddenly to his side. He looked with
abrupt, swift inquiry at the other.
Captain Forsythe bit his lips. 'By
Jove, forgotW he murmured. "Was
not to say anything about that"
However, as you have John
Steele regarded him steadily. you
received telegram from
AT the same time that your letter
intercepted me at Brighton"
Asking you to return to LondonT
EXACTLY She-wanted to see me-"
"Aboutg John steele's eyes asked
question. The other nodded. "of
course. Not difficult to understand.
Her desire to hush up the affair. Her
fear" with short laugh. ''lest the
scandal become known. A guest at |
Strathorn House had BEEN
~ don't think It was for
'You found out" shortly, "that she,
too, had learned-knew"-
eyes; she made me aware OF that at
once when she came to see me with |
Sir Charles. 1t was she sent your lug
gage
"sir Charles2 Then he also
"No. You--you need feel no appre-
hension on that score" A peculiar
expression came into the others glance
"You see his niece told him 1t was not
her secret; asked him to help her. TO
trust her. Never was man more
but he kept the word he
gave her on leaving for London and
forbore to question her. Even when
they drove through London in that
fog
"Yes, yes. know
''You2 How
John Steele seemed not to hear "She
saw you that DightY"
"she did. alone in the garden of
Villa. Sir Charles behaved
AN right, my dear, Some
day you'n tell me, perhaps he said TO
Ler. Meanwhile TN possess my soul
In patience, So while he smoked in
the cab we talked It over"
"Well2' John Steele said shortly
"And the upshot Of Il all was"-
"She suggested my going TO Lord
RJNsdale."
"ro invoke his assistance. perhapsg'
Steele once more laughed. "As an old
friendg Captain Forsythe started to
speak. The other went on. "Well
wen keep his secret as long as be
keeps his compact"
"But'-
Il promised What does II matter2
Sir Charles may be disappointed at not
,eIng able TO bring about But for
ler sake-that is the main eonsidera-
ION"