The evening world., 1911-10-14

Come. dear madame, Isn't this the
right to tell the whole story?
Don't be uselessly obstinate. i beg you
not to see in me the implacable md
severe magistrate | was t~wenty-four
hours ago, but simply a loyal. sincere
friend, who is devoted TO YOU beart and
soul! You can speak with entire frank
ness. You have no cause to fear that
your words will be turned against you!
The question Is simple! Tell us the
whole truth-the real truth, understand
that, concerning NJ. Grenet's murder.
And to maintain the simplicity of such
a question NJ. Marathon sent a pun OF
smoke toward the ceiling, murmuring:
Your Havanas are excellent, H."
Nine. Grenct turned her sphinX-face
toward me. A wan smile lowered on her
scarlet lips. She seemed to be calling
upon me TO witness the purity or her
intentions before answerinB--as she
could answer, alas!
what can | tell YOU" she began IN
a troubled voice, that you do not know
as we'll as |, NJ. Marathon? You are not
ignorant that the hands which stran-
gled my unfortunate husband are neither
mine nor NJ. Stephenson's. You were
the. first to discover that the letter con-
tanning the pretended confessions OF my
guilt was the work OF a forger-and NJ
Stephenson annot be this forger. since
he was In you hands when IT was
brought to you! You are Inconsistent
with yourself when you ask me to re
veal the truth! 1t Is exactly as If you
should ask VI. Stephenson himself
l remember very well that at this In
slant ! raised my arms In the air In an
attitude Of protest. which drew upon mt
this remark from the Judge;
uNn uga1.gg gestures my lad'
"Alas.'' Nine. Grenet continued, with
out raising her voice. "All gestures are
useless! All. Those which | AVE made
and those NJ. Stephenson has vainly at
tempted to escape his fate. even yours,
NJ, Marathon, nave led to What To
uniting around n table In an out-of-the-
way village the man whom you had
accused OF the murder of NJ. Grenet and
tho widow OF the unfortunate victim
On! our acts. our acts'-so evoid OF
importancel what awaited my first
which was, after the mournful discovery,
20 beg NJ, Stephenson to go into my
dinlng-roOn. to discover there. In his
turn, the corpse Of NJ. Grenet?'
"Ah! Yes,' interrupted M. Marathon
THAT was a REGULAR woman's idea"
"a woman's idea" repeated Nine
Grenct, Tho word is correct 1t was
again a woman = idea, was II not, that
strange step OF disappearing from my
home. as II voluntarily TO accuse mysel.
OF a crime which It IL Impossible that
could have committed-that idea OF hid
ing myself from the keen eyes OF JUS
tlce! A woman's Idea. the stratagem o.
the Intelligence Office! Wasn't that TN
safest refuge possible for me to Invent
Could | find a more certain conceallng
Of my identity?
But your hnal intentions, bless my
soul!' exclaimed NJ. Marathon vehe
mently, upsetting his glass OF chartreus,
on the tablecloth! Where would yol
have ended with your mode OF wililllj
compromising yourself?"
Mime. Grenet paused, She looked a
me tenderly. Her eyes, fun OF agitatin,
emotion. rested with all their mysterloul
authority upon my defenseless ones
And in the same calm, quiet voice sh'
let fall the following words;
ITO compromise hopelessly the mar
whom | loved with all my pure soul, al
my unappreciated v'rtue' TO rivet L
the chain of my life him who. after TN
death OF my unfortunate husband
could no longer, must no longer, escap
from It, And NJ, Marathon, | regrc
neither my apparent lies nor the sub
terfuges which chance has favored
since everything has succeeded beyonl
my hopes! .
Wei, that's good! Chance will favo
US again."
You are always right. NJ. Marathon