Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19

of bait I've expected"
Stuyverant paled. "But, good Heavens,
Baron! how could This note from Miss
Thurley-not forgery, you Think"
Il am not prepared to say. 1t may be
genuine; it may all be a lie. This Wenck
note is forgery-and clever as the fiends!
1t sums up all trap, my son, to compass a
double murder"
Stuyverant went white about the mouth.
"Murder?"
aSit down." urged the Baron more quietly.
"This is a matter of life and death to the
beautiful woman l feel you would serve to
the uttermost limits of your strength"
"My life! My life! l mean it, sir?"
"Then, in the name of the Heaven you
implored, be calm little and assist me as
far as you may"
aYou think she's alive? She may be there
that village, North Winog?"
at is the barest hope in the world. 1t is
far more likely she is far away in another
direction alone knows where!-and
yet, it is all we have at present, and you
might at least investigates; though the dan
gers | warn you, are great.
The younger man was confident. Ill
simply take dozen men-picked fighters
gun fighters, at that-and clean up"
$50 | feared!" It was dryly remarked,
she is there at all, and alive, your course
would ring her knell the instant your men
appeared. 1t is no idle threat, that part OF
the letter that warns the Duke he must be
certain to come alone, his friends no closer
than the village. Of what avail are friends
a mile away"
@Then I'll go alone, though all the demons
out Of Hades-"
@And be quietly captured there beneath
the window. When they find you are not
the Duke, what then? And you wouldn't
expect, with letter as false as this, that
Miss Thurley, as you call her, would be
standing at the window waiting to leap into
your arms?"
Stuyverant saw the situation, yet chung
to a species of hope. "Good Heavens, man!
do you expect me to do nothing? If she's
there at ALL and in momentary danger OF
her life, I've got to take a chance that's
ALL"
1And give yourself none, commented the
Baron dryly @If you mean to help in this
affair, 60 over, if you please, to North
Winog, with your car and your man, and
ascertain, if possible, whether or not any
strangers have recently come to that neigh
borhood in peculiar circumstances and are
occupying any old mill.
"And them"
linen report TO me, OF dC IlOSC duopI
some sane expedient for the safe delivery OF
the captive, should you find her actually
imprisoned and alive Whereabouts"
PUT you?" demanded Stuyverant. "In the
- meantime you are certainly as deeply
interested-perhaps more deeply interested.
Where will you be with your men? What
will they all be doing?"
SECURING the darkest, farthest corners OF
all New York." said the Baron laconically,
@endeavoring to retrieve any time we may
lose by sending you off to this village
"Then you think she isn't there?"
The Baron smiled. at would be almost
| too good to be true"
II shall 60 and see," said Stuyverant.
"God grant l may find her safe!' He
flung on his coat, which had fallen to
chair.
"Amen to that!' answered the Baron, his
fine old mouth slightly twitching, and his
eyes suspiciously moist Then he placed
his hands on Robley's shoulders. "Dont
take the slightest unnecessary risk, my boy"
he added. "Serve her as far as you like
with your life, if you must,-but be certain
first it is service. My affection for you is
great. To sacrifice another life-youth-
Take no risks, no risks that can do no good
in the end!"
Stuyverant was greatly affected. His fine
young face took on an expression approx