Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-17

future. Mrs. Berry burst into ever-ready
tears.
OH she sobbed What will my hus-
band say! 1 told him it was such a good
thing-it isn't my fault. What will he
say
The sharp. wailing tones broke through
Mrs. Cary's momentary paralysis. She
sat up and brought her fat clinched fist
down with a bang upon the table.
YOU she half screamed at the rajah.
"You-you black swindler-you thef-it's
you who have done it-you who have
ruined us all with your wicked schemes.
You baited us with this clubhouse-you
pretended you wanted to do us such a
lot of good. didn't you? And all the time
you meant to feather your own nest with
diamonds and the Lord knows what. Give
us back our money. you heather swim
dler. For you aren't Christian! You
pretended that, too. just as blind
Her flow of frightful, coarse invectives
came to an abrupt end. Col. Carmichael.
who knew now why his presence had been
required, leaned forward and pushed her
firmly down in her seat.
For heavens sake. Mrs. Cary. hold
your tongue he expoStuated in a rapid,
emphatic undertone. You don't know
what you are saying. You are not in
England. A little more Of that sort of
thing and our lives aren't worth an hours
purchase"
IT don't care" she retorted. with all the
true what I say! It's true!"
1T is true The interruption came
from the rajah himself. He had risen
and stood before them, very pale, but
calm and composed, his eyes fixed with
haggard resolution on the furious face Of
his accuser. 1T is true. l am swim
dler. have ruined you all. Why should
you believe it was done unwitttngly? Yet
that is true also. l. like my poor friend
here whom I used as my tool. believed
that was doing the best for you all. But
l have ruined you. l have done worse
than that have ruined my country. my
people. You have friends who will help
you in your distress, but who will help
miserable homes only to cast them into
deeper misery. / have taken their pitiful
savings. meaning. without the use of
charity, to increase them tenfold. have
hope and have left them with a deeper
despair. Not all my weath-and not q
stone, not a farthing piece shall be held
back from your and their just claims
upon me-wil fill up the ruin of those l
wished so we'll. 1t is true-I stand before
you all dishonored man."
There was a moments petrified silence.
Even Mrs. Cary's coarse nature stood
baff1ed before this pitiless, dignified self
accusal. Nor could the colonel find
word to say. He had been ready-know-
ing the native characterize defend Mrs.
Cary from the stroke OF q revenging dag
ger His half outstretched arm sank
powerless before the stroke of these few
words. spoken with calm which thinly
covered chaos of remorse and broken
hearted grief.
II have a question l should like to ask
you. Mr.. Travers''
There was general uneasy start. Each
shook off his broodng considerations and
turned with surprise to this unexpected
speaker. 1t was Beatrice. hitherto silent
and apparently unmoved. who leaned
across to Travers. He himself felt the
blood rise to his face. In his absorbed
state he had not noticed her presence.
and now that he met her cold eyes a
curious discomfort crept over him-a dis
comfort that was nearly fear
IT will answer your question to the best
of my ability he said, quietly.
THE rajah has spoken OF you as his
tool. and I think from your tone that you
think yourself aggrieved. In what way
have you suffered? What is your share
of the losses?"
II have lost all I have
'.All YOU have, no doubt. But your wife
is very rich. and L believe has grown
richer within the last year. ! am anxious
to know If you intend to follow the
rajah's generous example and meet your
liabilities with her fortune"
The colonel, who had been staring va
cantly at her, gave start of recollec-
ton.
Yes he exclaimed, energeticaly. The