Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-22
BARONESS ORGY


Y C0mpany.l
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHAPTER XXII-Continued.
And the ruling passion strong in death
was stronger still In face of this new life
to be led-the life of tomorrow, full of
the unknown, the ugly. the sordid and
mean, full of nameless dangers and Of
possible disgrace. The puppets were still
dancing. moved by the invisible strings
held by the hand Of the implacable giant
called Convention; they danced even as
though no gaping and ravenous lions, no
bulls of Bashan. were there to see. Even
before each other they hid the secret
mysteries Of their hearts; he his over
whelming passion for her, she her dread
for his immediate future.
They had not forborne to talk OF Philip
de Mountfords death: they would not
have admitted that there was anything
there that could not be discussed with
perfect indifference-she, reclining against
the cushions. and he in immaculate morn
ing coat, with hair smoothly brushed, and
speckless tie and linen, talking OF things
which meant life or death for them both.
He had told her all he knew, his visit
to Philip at the Veterans Club. his quar-
rel with him. the hatred which he bore
to the man that was dead. He made no
secret Of the police officers questionings
nor of DR.. Newington's extraordinary at
titude.
"One would think those fellows had a
suspicion that I had murdered Philip"
he said, quite lightly
And her face never moved while she lis
tened to these details. analyzing them In
her mind, comparing them with those at
which the morning papers had limited.
the 'clues" and startling developments.
to obtain confirmation of which her father
had. gone out to seek Sir Thomas Ryder.
Luke de Mountford would no more have
dreamed Of telling Louisa of the dark
SllSnicf0n0 which really fhronfpnod him
than he would have laid bare before her
some hideous wound, If he happened to
be suffering from one. The police Off
GERS tnsolence and the doctors easy con-
what was imminent. but beyond that he
had no fear. Why should he have? And
having none, why worry Lou with plants
that might agitate her?
Remember that he. individually was
quite convinced that Philips murderer
read his morning paper, and knew as well
as anybody that for the moment suspicion
rested upon him. Seek whom the crime
will benefit was a phrase freely used
in the press this morning. But 1t was
only a question Of time; an unpleasant
phase to be traversed, some mud that
presently would have to be brushed off.
No use to worry Louisa with it. Fortu-
nately she took it lightly, too. She was
far too sensible to attach Importance to
such nonsense.
Nevertheless, mud thrown in such bound
less prOfusion was apt to hurt very con-
siderably. Luke had to set his teeth this
morning when he peruSed the Times. and
even now there was in him a sensation
of having been bruised all over. after his
second interview with Travers, and his
talk with DIR. Newington in the library.
Louisa did him good. She was calm and
sensible and a woman of the world. She
never puzzled Luke, nor had she that
ODpin0 n he. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the
peculiar attribute of the woman Of today.
In face Of her serenity he almost despised
himself for the intensity of his own pas
sion. She was SO pure. SO womanly In
her tenderness. a girl still, she was hard
ly conscious OF passion. But she knew
that he was in pain-morally and men,
tally in pain-and that worse was yet to
come: and she. the commonplace. sensible
girl, brought forth her full array of calm
and Of triviality, checking by placid
smile the faintest onrush of passion in
him. for passion could but torture him
now. when his very soul was troubled
and every nerve on the jar.
And thus Col. Harris found them.
When he entered Louisa was recount
ing to Luke the menu Of last nights din
ner
''And 'Homard Ia Danoise' was a per-
feet dream she was saying. II suppose
1t would not be etiquette to ask her ex-
cellency for the recipe
Luke rose as the colonel entered and
passed his hand across the back Of his
smooth head. gesture peculiarly Eng
lish and peculiarly his own. The older
man was undoubtedly the most troubled
of the three.
Its damnable business this, he said.
as soon as he had shaken Luke by the
hand and thrown off hat and coat.
Does Sir Thomas RYDER asked Luke,
lightly, 'also think that I have MUIR
dered Philip
He knew where Col. Harris had been.
Louisa had not thought Of keeping this
from him.
Toms a fool" retorted the colonel. in
voluntarily.
1t was tantamount to an avowal. Luke
never f1inched; he even contrived to smile.
Louisa sat up very straight. and with an
instructive movement gave the sofa cush-
ions nervy shake up. But her eyes were
Don't worry. sir" said Luke, very
quietly. ''I'll get out of it all in good
time
"Of course you will. Damn it all!'
CALCULATED the other fervently.
The inquest, you know, is tomorrow.
1t was Luke who spoke and Col. Harris
looked up. quickly.
Then he said. surely some light will
be thrown on this mysterious business"
Lets hope so, SIR" rejoined Luke,
dryly.
HAS Uncle Ryder told you anything
fresh. father? anything that We don't
yet know?'
Col. Harris did not reply. and Louisa
knew that there was something that
Uncle Ryder had said. something awful,
which had caused her father to wear the
troubled look which had terrified her the
moment he came in.
Something awful!-which would affect
Luke!
Won't You tell us. father she said,
what Uncle Ryder told you? Luke
ought to know
oh rejoined Luke. there's no hurry
I'm sure. Col. Harris will tell me pres
emily. Lou, you were coming to the park
this morning. l suppose We can't go to
the Temple garden show very WE'LL
Not very we'll, I Think she replied
'ibut I'll come for a walk after lunch with
pleasure. Father must tell us now what
Uncle Ryder said.''
Then as Col. Harris still seemed to hest
tate. she became more insistent and her
voice more firm.
Father. DEAR she said, II must know,
as well as Luke"
The old man took a turn up and down
the room. with hands behind his back
He would not look either at Louisa or at
Luke, for 1t would be easier to tell them
everything without meeting their eyes.
And he had to tell them everything. To
her as well as to him. 1t was no longer
any use trying to avoid the subject, pre-
tending that it was trivial, unworthy of
discussion.
Facts had to be faced at last. like the
dervishes at Omdurman, and a plan Of
campaign decided on in the event of mo-
mentary defeat.
Ryder" he began. quite abruptly at
last had the hall porter of that con-
fnf,y 1oA NJ 70 cxyI,iI o