Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-23

stage manager was experimenting the
erection Of some new scenery.
"Mr Heepman," she exclaimed, IT can
not stay to rehearsal! I have to 90 out"
He turned heavily round and looked at
her.
Rehearsal postponed he declared.
solemnly. Shall you be back for the
evening performance or shall We close
the theater?''
His clumsy irony missed its mark. Her
thoughts were too intensely focused upon
one thing.
Il am sorry" she replied. turning away.
II will come back as soon IS I can
He called out after her and she paused.
look here" he said. you were absent
from the performance the other evening.
and now you are skipping rehearsal with
out even waiting for permission. 1t can't
be done, young lady. You must do your
playing around some other time. II you're
not here when you're called, you needn't
trouble to turn up again. Do you under
stand?"
Her lips quivered. and the sense Of i'm
pending disaster. which seemed to be
brooding over her life, became almost
overwhelming.
I'll come back as soon as I can she
promised. with little break In her voice;
las soon as ever I can. Mr.. Heepman."
She hurried out OF the theater ana took
her place once more among the hurryfng
throng Of pedestrians. Several people
turned round to look at her. Her white
face. tight-drawn mouth and eyes almost
unnaturally large seemed to have become
the abiding place for tragedy. She herself
saw no one. She would have taken cab.
dissuaded her. She walked steadily on
to Jermyn street. walked up the stairs to
the third floor and knocked at her broth
er's door. No one answered her at first:
She turned the handle and entered to find
the room empty. There were sounds.
however. in the farther apartment and
she called out to him.
Arthur she cried, ARE you there?"
Who is it?'' he demanded.
ut is I-Zoe" she exclaimed.
what do you want?''
II want to speak to you. Arthur.
must speak to you. Please come as
quickly as you can"
He growled something and in q few mo-
ments he appeared. He was wearing the
morning clothes in which he had attended
court earlier in the day, but the change
in him was perhaps all the more marked
by reason Of this resumption OF his old
attire. His cheeks were hollow his eyes
scarcely for an instant seemed to lose
that feverish CLEAN Of terror with which
he had returned from Liverpool. He
knew very well what she had come about,
and he began nervously to try and bully
her.
IT wish you wouldn't como to these
rooms, Zoe" he said. I've told you be-
fore they're bachelors apartments and
they don't like women about the place.
What is it? What do you want?'
II was brought here last time without
any particular desire on my part" she
answered, looking him in the face. 1--WE
come now to ask you what accused plot
this is against Stephen Laverick? What
were you doing in the court this morn
ing, lying? What is the meaning OF 1t.
Arthur"
IF you've come to talk rubbish like
that" he declared. roughly. you'd better
"No. it is not rubbish! she went on.
fearlessly. Il think I can understand
what it is that has happened. They have
terrified you and bribed you until you are
willing to do any despicable thing-even
this. Your father was good to my mother.
Arthur. and I have tried to feel toward
you as though you were. indeed rela-
ton. But nothing Of that counts. I want
you to realize that know the truth. and
that will not see an innocent man con-
victed while the guilty go free"
He moved a step toward her. They
were on opposite sides Of the small round
table which stood in the center Of the
apartment.
what do you mean" he demanded,
hoarsely.
isn't it plain enough?" she exclaimed.
You came to my rooms week or so
ago. a terrified. broken-down man. II
was in yours. You sent for Laverick He
pitied you and helped you away. At
Liverpool they would not let you embark
these men. They have brought you
know very well, Arthur. that it was not
Stephen Laverick who killed the man in
Crooked Friars alley! You know very
we'll that it was not Stephen Laverick!"
"Why the devil should I know anything
about t." he asked. fercely.
A note Of DaSciOn suddenly Crept into
her voice Her little white hand. with its
accusing forefinger. shot out toward him.
Because it was you. Arthur Morrison,
who committed that crime" she cried
''and sooner than another man should
suffer for it, I shall go to court myself
ard tell the truth"
He was for the moment, absolutely
speechless. pale as death. with nervously
twitching lips and fingers. But there was
murder in his eyes.
What do you know about this?' he
muttered.
Never mind" she answered. II know I
and think like anybody else-that you
are the guilty man. l would have helped
you and shielded you. whatever 1t cost
me. but I will not do so at Stephen Law
erick's expense"
What is Laverick to your" he growled.
He is nothing to me-" she replied. but
the best Of friends. Even were he less
than that. do you suppose that would
let an innocent man sunerT
He moistened his dry lips rapidly.
"You are talking nonsense, Zoo" he
said, nonsense! Even II there has been
some little mistake what could do now?
I have given my evidence. So far as !
am concerned, the case Is finished. /
shall not be called again until the trial"
"Then you had better go to tho magts
trates tomorrow morning and take back
your evidence" she declared, boldly, for
II you do not. I shall be there and shall
tell the truth
Zoe" he gasped. don't try me too
high. This thing has upset me. I'm Ill:
Can't you see 1t. Zoe? Look at me.
I've had the fear-the fear always with
me. You don't know what 1t is-you can't
imagine. It's like q terrible ghost keep
ing pace with you wherever you go. lay
ing his icy finger upon you whenever you
would rest, hooking at you when you try
to drown thought even for 4 moment.
Don't you try me too far, Zoe. I'm not
responsible. Laverick isn't the man you |
think him to be. He isn't the man I be- |
lieved. He did have that money-he did. |
indeed"
That" she said. lis to be explained. |
But he is not a murderer.
Listen to me, Zoe." Morrison con.
tinued, leaning across the table. Come |
and stay with me for q time and we will |
go away for q week-somewhere to the
seaside. We will talk about this and /
think 1t over. I want to get away from |
London. We will go to Brighton. II you /
like. I must do something for you, Zoe. |
I'm afraid I've neglected you q good deal.
Perhaps I could get you q better part at |