Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-07-01
CHAPTER XI.-(Continued.) J

sne SAID shortly, and led the way down
the hatchway to the laboratory where
Betty had regained consciousness that
first remembered morning Since then
Betty had never been there. She had
a doll-baby suite of rooms we'll for
ward, hardly tenable for one so tall
and athletic as Betty. While most of
her time, even in stormy weather, was
spent on deck, still many of her meals
were served in the tiny sitting room,
all gay with blue and gold-blue the
color of Betty's eyes, and gold like the
sun in June weather.
Betty stumbled along the unfamiliar
passageway. Tyoga knocked twice at
a bolted door and after little wait the
portal swung inward and Tyoga thrust
Betty within.
"She wanted to see you" she an
nounced. brusquely. I've got to get
dinner
LIE Malheureux bowed low. I'm glad
OF your company" he said. Il have
a lonely life, and such an interruption
Is pleasant one"
We'll, If you appreciate my coming
so much, show your appreciation" sug-
gested Betty, do tell me why I am
here, and who you are?"
Il will do neither" answered lie
Malheureux. DO not ask me. l dis
like to be compelled to be so discour-
teous as to refuse you, but / must
You have been very i'll, but health is
returning to you, and when you re-
turn home you will think of this jour-
ney only as a pleasant dream. You
have had no cause to complain Of your
treatment here, save you?"
mo" faltered Betty. Only I'm ac-
-customed to knowing why and where
fore, that's ALL"
That's ALL you say" said LIE NAL
heureux. Don't you know that Why's
and 'wherefore's' are the sum total Of
existence? Don't ask me about them.
Ask me anything else!"
Then 1 shall promulgate who"
chanced Betty, desperately. "Tell me,
do you know who murdered Cerisse
Wayne?"
She was unprepared for the reply,
yet intuitively knew that it was what
she had anticipated.
Yes assented LIE Malheureux.
what is more" he continued, watch
ing a swift question form on Betty's
lips, Il saw the deed whan it was
done!"
Betty shrunk from him with eyes
7ilated, mouth agape.
Then YOU" she began.
Il did not" promptly retorted LIE
Malheureux. II did not kill her.
would have saved her If 1 could. But
1t was impossible. The tragedy was
inevitable, it was foreordained and it
had to happen. Nobody can ever
clinch with Destiny. The first few
days you were aboard this boat you
tried it, my dear Miss Lancey. The
result? You nearly had second at
tack of fever and nervous prostration.
When you resigned yourself to events
as they course, you commenced to feel
better, as you must admit. To dis
miss the unattainable, and to welcome
what may come, is the right doctrine
of living. Why do you worry with
what you cannot affect?"
Il don't dare to think" said Betty.
But since you, whoever you are, have
hauled me off in this high-h handed
ia shion, l consider there's some largess
coming to me. If you knew who mur-
dered Cerisse Wayne, why don't you
tell me? That is, unless you're in duty
bound to protect the murderer! Come,
tell me, do
What benefit would that be to your"
questioned LIE Malheureux.
You forget I'm a newspaper wom-
anu" argued Betty, "and l draw salary
for gathering the news and turning it
In to my city editor"
Some distance from your city editor
now, aren't you?" suggested LIE NAL
heureux.
well, couldn't I send my paper a
wireless?" flashed Lefty. you've an
instrument there!"
"Ho, ho!" laughed LIE Malheureux.
$50 that's why you wanted to come
into my laboratory, is it? You heard
the clicking, recognized it, and thought
if you dared enough you might COM
municate with your friends. great
idea, that! And 1 must confess you
are plucky girl, Miss Betty, but
warn you, If you tamper with these
instruments in here, you'll tamper with
eternity, and I'd advise you to let these
apparatuses alone"
Bah! I'm not afraid" sneered Bet
ty.
Neither has any troublemaker ever
been afraid of the trouble she started
till it's too late to stop 1t. You're
woman, and of course you'll do. as you
please. but"-he shrugged himself
Rgain-'youd better be warned"
"I'll promise not to meddle IL you'll
tell me one thing" persisted Betty.
"You should have been a corpora
tion lobbyist" responded LIE Malheur-
eux; still l shall be generous! But
what is it?"
who did kill Cerisse Wagner"
"a man who loved her." replied lie