The Washington herald., 1910-11-11

was never quite sure Of -.
We'll. I'm not enjoying myself" he
said frankly: and If you take my advice
you'll hurry our departure, or when the
police come nosing round it might be
| awkward"
Usher laughed. you mean amusing
net awkward
II mean what I saidi' Craven replied
''fhis chap detests US. / told you last
night what Laura told me she overheard
that cat OF a woman. Kezlah, telling him
And it VIII be better 10 go away before
We are politely shown the door by our
host"
Usher's dark eyes flashed with laugh
ter He can prove nothing; neither can
that old Keziahl l am his eousin-whai
is there wrong about my conduct? What
can he proye?"
AT present he suspects nothing tangi-
BILE" Craven answered. but the slightest
thing VIII make him play US up by put
ting US out OF the housed"
There are two things I do before leav-
ing Luck House. Usher said slowly
THE first is to find out If there is any
treasure at all in the grounds. and the
second is
Well" Craven said curiously. what
is the second?"
Usher rose and paced the room with
slow steps.
The second is that I have fallen In
love- he replied quietly. and l mean
TO succeed in love as l have in other
things"
what? These are early plans for .
recent widowerr' Craven laughed.
Il didn't know that giri-she was a
convenience" Usher remarked serenely
''and as she is dead l am free to marry
again. / suppose you know who the lady
is?'' he added. It's Miss French"
Craven looked at him thoughtfully. To
his cynical mind it was amusing that
Usher should have fallen a victim to his
own plot. and he decided that he had
better keep the secret a little longer
until he had the cards all in his own
hands Between them he and Laura were
driving the girl into a hole. and II was
not advisable 10 let Usher know who she
was yet
If I were you he said slowly, i
would let love alone for bit. You don't
want to queer things IN that way"
she Is the lOveliesi little thing ] have
ever seem" Usher said slowly I'D do
anything for that girl-and she's the first
feminine thing / have ever felt that for
Suppose she turned out TO be here un-
der a false name" Craven suggested.
"She might be a thief.
Usher laughed. Il shouldn't care rap
about that. ! am far worse than she
could ever be. for We are thieves already,
II It comes to that! And. he went on.
IF she took that pendant Of Iaura's IN
see her through II. In fact. I'm going TO
tell her so as soon as I can"
While he had been speaking Craven
had gone 20 the window and. throwing II
open, let in the stream of mild January
sun.
There's one thing I'd like 10 remind
you Of ne said slowly. The moon is
on the wane now. and ali chance of To-
eating the hidden treasure has gone for
another month. Besides. so far as l
can see. and as ] always said before. /
can't see the use OF such knowledge 70
you while you don't own Luck House.
This chap has refused TO sell, you told
me"
Usher laughed. 'Ees, he did, acting on
the advice of his mother and the solic-
itor, Dacre; but they did not calculate
upon my personal influence upon trust
ing young man Dacre is In London, sulk-
ing over the loss of a fortune to his
client. and the old mother is evidently
too III 10 attend to any business.
What have YOU been doing, then ?'
Craven asked interestedly.
Merely this. In a friendly conversa-
ton with my cousin. Sir Douglas. l have
arranged 10 take Luck House for six
months from June-and then, my good
Craven. ! shall begin real Investigations
on the property
'Phew!" Craven's whistle was soft bur
infinitely expressive. and he felt a return
of that old pride that had first gripped
him when meeting for the first time a
man with a stronger and more brilliant
brain than his own.
Have you got it hard and fast" he
asked-"in writing?T
Yes, my boy-in the good old black
and white, with his signature affixed.
oh, it's all right, fixed up to the very
last word, and only needs a sixpeRny
stamp 10 make It absolutely safe"
And where does he intend to go?"
Craven asked.
He thinks of taking his mother away
Cor change of air; she has been so III
was the careless reply. The servants
get board wages. and so I shall have il
10 myself. OF course. you and Laura
must come, too. I could not do with
out my felloW-eonspirators."
And Miss Ffreneh?'' Craven asked
dryly. rs she ALSO one of the party?'
NO, I'm afraid ii won't be easy to
shake her allegiance to the present
firm" was the reply. 1.-THE one person
who viii gnash his teeth at my success
viii be Mr.. Dacre. who win be too late
to do anything"
Here's a telegraph boy coming toward
the housel" Craven said quickly. do
you expect one?"
Usher's eyes became suddenly alert. II
told Coxon TO wire If anything hap
pened." he said slowly; but / don't
think it can have. Anyway. call the
boy here and lets have a looki
Craven did as he was told. and the next
moment had taken the telegram from
the boys hands and glanced at 1t
quickly.
It's for Mallaby." he said.
Usher took it from him, and with a
deft movement held the envelope over
the hot-water jug on the table. It was
the work of a second to read il and re-
turn the piece of thin paper TO the en-
velope. which he did with a slight
grimace.
The sword has fallen" he laughed.
This is from Dacre. and he informs his
client, my worthy cousin, that he is on
his way to Luck House on important
business connected with Ralph Savage's
will"
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.
copyright. 1902 By The North American Company)