Evening star., 1912-09-26
CHAPTER XVIII.
Belisario Cardi.

After his enforced idleness Blake was
keen to resume his task, vet there was
little for him to do save study the one
big problem which lay at the root OF the
whole matter
The evidence against the prisoners was
I'm good shape. They We're indicted and
the trial date would soon be set. They
nad hired competent lawyers and were
preparing for desperate fight. Where
the necessary money came from nobody
seemed to know. although il was gcner-
ally felt that a powerful influence was
at work to free them. The district at
forney expressed the strongest hopes OF
obtaining convictions but there came
disturbing rumors of alibis for the ac-
cused. of manufactured evidence and CIV
overwhelming surprises to be sprung at
the last moment. Detectives were shad-
owed by other detectives. lawyers were
spied upon, the plans leaked out; wit
nesses for the state disappeared. Op-
posing the authorities was a master
hand, at once so cunning and so bold as
to threaten miscarriage OF justice.
This could be none other than Belisario
Cardi, yet he seemed no nearer discovery
than ever. Norvin had no idea how to
proceed. He could only wait for some
word from his new ally. Nittoria Fabrizi.
1t might be that he would find a clue.
and he feared to complicate matters by
any premature or illjudged action. Mean
while he encountered the results OF
Bernie Dreux's garrulty. He found him
Seil generally regarded as Myra Nell
accepted suitor, and, OF course. could
make no denial. But when he telephoned
to the girl herself and asked when ie
might call he was surprised to hear her
say
"You can't cali at all. Why, you've
ruined all my enjoyment. as II is. There
hasn't been a man i'm this whole neigh
borhood since L came home. Even the
policeman takes the other side of the
street,
''All the more reason why / should
come"
II won't have YOU hanging around un-
til | get my carnival dresses fitted. oh.
Norvin, You ought to see them. There's
frillS and rosebuds; the bodice is trim
med with pearl passementerie. and it's
dear After a moments hesitation, she
added: "Norvin. dear. what does II cost
to rent the front page Of a newspaper
Il don't know. / don't think it can bo
DONE
Il wondered il you couldn't do it and
deny our engagement
do you want to break it?" He could
hardly keep the eagerness out OF his
voice.
"Oh. no! But I'd like to deny it until
after the carnival. Now, don't be offend
ed-Ill never get my dances filled II I'm
as good as married to you. Imagine a
love you to pieces. OF course. but l can't
allow our engagement to interfere with
the success of the carnival. can To-
Don't You know this Is thing We
can't joke about?"
.of course l do. 1t has taught me .
good lesson
What"
I'll never be engaged to another man."
well. I should hope not. Do YOU in-
tend to marry me, Myra Nell?"
Il don't know. Sometimes I think I
will, then again I'm afraid nobody'd ever
come to see me If i did. I'd get old. like
YOU"
I'm not DID,"
WED both have gray hair and-I can't
talk any more: here comes Bernie with
an armful of dresses and a mouthful OF
pins. II he coughs I'll be all alone in
the world. No. you can't see me for a
week. 1 don't even want to hear from
you, except"
''What?'
"Well. the strain of dress fitting is tre-
mendous I'm nearly always hungry
ravenous for nourishment."
You mean you're out Of candy, sup
pose?'
Practically. There's hardly whole
piece left. They've all been nibbled."
Blake did not know whether to feel
amused or ashamed. He was relieved at
the girls apparent carelessness. yet this
half-serious engagement had put Myra
Nell in new light. He could not think
Of their relations as really unchanged,
and this was inevitable since his senti.
ment for her was genuine. The gro-
tesqueness of the affair-even Myra
Nell's own attitude toward it-seemed q
violation of something sacred.
(To be continued tomorrow