The Washington herald., 1912-05-12

brave man, willing always to. take his
life into his hands if the goal were
worthy. Perhaps It might be that she
had been with him. Perhaps she was
bringing message.
He heard the murmur of voices out
side. The door was pushed open. The
clerk stood on one side
This is the young lady, sir" he an
nounced-"Miss Winifred Rowan"
Deane rose for moment to his feet.
The clerk, with a little deferential
movement, closed the door and de-
parted. They we're alone in the room
together. Deane, whose self-control
was one of the personal Characters
tics which had countel for something
in his rapid access to prosperity, felt
a nerveleSs exclamation break from his
lips. The girl who came so slowly into
the room seemed so perfectly to rep
resent what Rowan himself might have
become. She was an idealiZed likeness
of the man by whose side he had fought
and suffered and rejoiced, the man
who only a few weeks ago had stood
in her place and made his desperate ap-
peal-an idealized likeness, perhaps, in
more ways than one She was young
er, and the stress of life had only late
ly set its mark upon her. She was
fair, as he was fair, with gray-blue
eyes, brown hair, and quivering lips, a
figure slim and yet plant, a manner,
even in silence appealing-enticing
Deane felt himself curiously moved at
the sight of her. Then he rememberef
suddenly how great was his need of
self-control. She was the sister of this
man who lay under sentence of death.
Perhap; she had come to plead for his
help. He must be careful. All the
time he mast be careful
You wish to see meS he asked, a
little brusquely. Il am Sterling Deane.
VIII you take chair, and tell me in as
few words as you can what you want 7?
She ignored his gesture Of invitation.
She came on until she had reached the
table before which he was seated. Then
she leaned across, and the Light of her
eyes, the very insistence of her pres
ence, seemed like things from which
no escape was possible.
"Mr. Deane," she said, Il am Basil
Rowan's sister. l have come from the
Old Bailey prison. have come" she
added, with faltering voice, and a sud-
den new terror in her face, from the
condemned cell"
Deane had a reserve stock of courage
to draw upon, and he drew upon it
freely. He looked at her with upraised
eyebrows. You have come to me" he
repeated. why"
First of all, then" she answered, Il
will tell you why"
Il think" he interrupted, that you
had better take a seat"
She seemed, indeed, in need of some
support. She sank into the chair
which he had indicated. 1t was close
to bis side, and yet placed so that the
light which fell upon her face left him
in the shadow.
you have come from your brother"
he said. DO I understand that he
sent you-that he knew you were COM
ing to me7' .--
"Yesr she answered. "He told me
to be very careful, to be sure that no
one else knew, and never to mention
your name, but have come at his bid
ding"
Very we'll" Deane said. Il shall be
kAdN ~ llGdl gONl llAGoodkN
He gave me no explanation" she
said. He allowed me to ask for none.
He told me to come to you and say
this. There is no one" she asked, in a
lower tone, looking nervouSly around,
who could possibly overhear u.s."
Not a soul"
'He told me to say" she continued,
leaning forward. and with her eyes
suddenly a little distended, that he
had no difficulty in finding the man of
whom you two had spoken-the man
whom you used to call Bully Sinclair.
He spent the evening with him, drank
with him, went back to his hotel by
invitation. Then he tried very care
fully to open up negotiations. Sinclair
became at once suspicious. He was
very violent, and declined to discuss
the matter at ALL He swore all the
time he had been robbed, and that he
was going to have his revenge Ny
brother tried to reason with him, and
in the end they quarreled. 1t was Sim
clair who struck Basil. My brother
only returned the blow. And then he
told me to say that before he could
search him, before he could search the
room, he found that the man was dead"
Anything else?" Deane asked
HE told me to say that any papers
which the man Sinclair might have had
must be in the room among his effects,
which have all been put together, and
are still there, locked up, waiting for
someone to come and claim them. He
told me to say that he had done his
best, and that whatever the conse-
quences might be he was ready to face
them. If you cared to run risks, the
number of the room at the Universal
Hotel is 27. II is locked and guarded,
but there might be ways. That is what
he said"
Deane leaned a little forward across
the table. But of himself?" he de-
did he say nothing Of him.
self?"
She shook her head. "It is wonder