The Washington herald., 1912-07-14
THE GOLDEN WEB

her bosom. He tore of his own coa
and threw it over her.
i "Are you badly hurt?' he asked an.
xiously.
4 Il am not hurt much" she answered
weakly, but"
But WHAT" he demanded.
\ She commenced to cry softly but in,
sistently Black fear rose up to torture
him. But what!" he repeated, with
sinking heart.
1T has gonew she murmured, cross
ing her hands upon her bosom.
what has gomez" he asked. Quick =
The deedp she whispered Don't
look at me like that. | couldn't held it
1t was a trap, of course, to get ME here
and / was a fool. The letter was from
you, but | ought to have known that II
was a forgery / was taken unawares
She was like a madwoman. She would
have torn the clothes from my body
| struggled | called out 1t was nc
use She has taken it away"
But you are not hurt?" he cxclaim-
>ed anxiously.
| '1-nop she answered. a little va
cantly. But it is gone! | was not Fl,
to be trusted with it. l ought to have
given it up to you
She was very pale, and he was afraid
of her fainting. He summoned the
landlady once more. She was waiting
on the stairs close by.
Something very serious has hap
pened here" he said. sternly This
young lady has been assaulted and
robbed"
I'm sure I'm very sorry the woman
declared "You can't blame any of us
though never heard a sound, no
more, did Hilda, and can't prevent my
+, dodgers having visitors"
I'VE won't discuss it" Deane said
sharply. But if this is Miss Mon
tague's room"
1T isn't" the woman interrupted.
ITS my sitting-room Miss Montague
has only an attic, and she came to me
and said that she couldn't receive Wis
itor there, and asked me TO lend her
nv room for a few minutes"
| Deane nodded "The other rooms on
this floor are unoccupied, of course
he said. ''Oh! it's quite easy to under
stand. / don't need to ask you any more
questions | don't want any more ex-
plantations. If you want to keep this
out of the police court, you will do ex-
actly as | tell you"
Yes" she exclaimed eagerly. 81
will do anything"
Send your servant for cab, v
Deane. said, 'and arrange this young
lady's dress so that | can take her
home"
Il will fetch her a bodice OF my
own" declared the woman, hurrying off.
Winifred had risen to her feet and
was leaning forward, with her face half
buried in hey bands. Deane turned to-
ward her.
She ay2.1ea lis gaze. "Don'tm she
begged. -o',,,. don't talk to me.
can't bear =
But | may say he began
NO" she interrupted, almost fierce
ly. Please say nothing. mean it.
| cannot bear TO talk! | cannot bear
to be talked tor
A little throb of anger darkened his
| face. She had not even common graft
tude for her rescue! She had but one
thought. one regret-the loss OF that
future of luxury to attain which she
anger burned in his blood-a pain which
he could not analyze shook his heart.
Then there came the sound of voices
on the stairs, feminine voices raised in
anger! The door was burst open. Ruby
stood there upon the threshold, looking
in upon them, her lips curved in an
ugly smile of triumph. her eyes ablaze.
Behind her stood the landlady, a black
bodice in her hand. her forehead wrin-
kled in a reprecating frown.
so you've found her, have you?'
Ruby exclaimed, her face turned toward
Deane, her finger outstretched to where
Winifred sat shrinking back in her
chair. Thieves, both of you Thieves. !.
Thievesw
Deane pointed to Winifred's torn
clothing And that" he asked.
ct was restitution" the girl declared
fercely The deed was mine! Your
millions are mine! She stole it for
you-her brother was a murderer for
you! How do you think the story will
look in the newspapers. Ell? Inciting
to murder and theft Isn't that crime?
Swindlers, both of you" she cried pas
sionately. You'd have kept me beg
gar, eh," she cried to Winifred. while
you clad your poor body in silks and
laces, covered yourself with jewels and
made him marry you? And l was to
starve-to starve or worse! Well, we'll
seel Well see!'
Young lady," Deane said calmly,
you are being led away by your irnag-
ination. You have taken paper away
from Miss Rowan which you seem to
think is going to turn out a sort of
El Dorado. 1t isn't worth the paper
its written on
Its a lie!" the girl shrieked. 1--WE
taken il to the lawyers. 1t is genuine
they all say So"
Deane almost lifted Winifred from
her chair. That remains to be seem"
he declared.
In any case, it was stolen!" she cried