The Washington times., 1912-11-03
CHAPTER XVII.
.ow a Slate Was Cleaned.

kirkwoou! the voice said again.
quietly. and there was a ring Of cheer
fulness In his voice.
I'm Heavens name. man. what are
II am here to prevent a brave man
"But-but that house! You came out
| OF Il, did you not?"
Yes. The house is mine"
Yours! Do you known who is In It
"Yes. In 1t Is a man named PAN
coast man who well deserves the
fate that you have planned that he
shall meet tonight. But the game you
n 10 play is hardly worth the
candle: You must not play It,"
The moonlight was shining on them
| now. and Kirkwood saw that the face
| OF Rylance was white and set.
For tonight, at least. the man Is un-
| der my protection" kirkwoOd said. II
"ou to make no effort to modest
, him."
you ask too much" said Rylance.
whose voice had grown hard and cold.
Too much!' Kirkwood murmured
| bitterly.
Rylance started, then laid a hand on
| the shoulder OF his companion.
Forgive me, Kirkwood," he said In
an altered voice. III you knew all. you
would forgive me for what ! said Just
now. l have a slate to clean, and I
have sworn to clean It before | meet
one who has been deeply wronged by
| the man to whom you are giving shelter
tonight. II you knew what this man
| II know everything" kirkwood inter-
rupted quietly.
| Ryiance's hand fell from the shoulder
Of his friend and he drew back IA step.
You know he exclaimed incredu-
lously.
II know all that you can tell me-aye.
and more. II you permit yourself to
be governed by my advice tonight. you
will not regret 1t; You have made some
| mistakes in the last two years. but you
have never made one that Is nearly so
great as that which you were about to
| make tonight"
There was a pause.
| What is 1t you want me to do?
asked Rylance sullenly.
Il want you to give me the revolver
you are carrying now"
| Rylance hesitated, then his hand
moved to a pocket Of his coat.
| For tonight, then" he muttered, and
laid revolver in kirkwood's hand.
There is much l have to say to you
AYE. we shall talk" said Kirkwood
| Now. come with me-.
! Rylance drew back.
"lou are going to take me In there
Yes"
Have a care. Kirkwood. how you
tempt me-" said Rylancc. warningly.
Il trust you. Come
| Slipping an arm through one of Ry-
lance's. Kirkwood led him across the
street. AT length they passed on the
porch of the villa.
| Kirkwood, drawing out his key, thrust
Il into the lock and opened the door. a
| moment later the figure Of Ward was
silhoutted In the doorway OF the rccep-
ton room
THAT you, Kirkwood?'' Ward asked.
YES" said Kirkwood, who, entering
first, held the door open for Rylance.
The head OF the Leeds detective moved
quickly forward as his eyes attempted
to penetrate the gloom OF the hall.
Everything all right?' he asked.
Again taking Ryiance by the arm.
Kirkwood led him toward the door of
As Ward stepped back and the light
from the room fell on the face OF Ry-
lance. the figure of the Leeds detective
stiffened suddenly.
Rylance, recognizing the man before
him. drew back quickly.
"You!' he gasped.
81 believe you gentlemen have met
before" said Kirkwood, smiling gravely.
"Oh. yes" Ward answered dryly. II
remember you perfectly. Mr.. Rylance.
Once In Leeds, you gave me your hand.
IN Canada, you withheld 1t. VIII you
kive 1t to me now?''
Rylance. looking at him half-searching-
Iy, ,half-wonderingly. did not see 1t.
Yard read the question In his eyes.
MRS; Rylance is with friends" he ex-
AS you are" Kirkwood said, and
} grasping the right hand OF the bewil-
dered Rylance. he placed It In that Of
Ward.
thus, Kirkwood seated himself at the
little desk. from which, earlier In the
, evening. he had taken the photograph
that had caused Pancoast's collapse
There, seizing sheet Of paper, he hur-
riedly wrote on It five or six lines. This
I0One. he and STAINING IN Ea rl ~
side. he thrust the paper into one OF
his hands.
r "Come-get out OF this he muttered
Without turning to look at either OF
/ the other occupants of the room, Ward
went out to the hall and closed the door
, behind him.
, And now. sit down." said Kirkwood
D as he wheeled large easy chair to-
. ward Rylance.
frown darkened the face of Ry.
t lance and his eyes were burning fierce
ly.
. In Heavens namo. what does all this
,, mI,inmery NUN mean?" he demanded, an,
? srly' Am ! fool. or is 1t that you
= IN It l am asked to believe that my
enemies are friends Speak-auickly
=, hlrkWood! / can stand no more! Tel
2 me what II means.'
IT means the games played out =
= = said kirkwood, quietly.
Played out!"
yes: and every game that's finished
i Ss. Sas a loser and winner wou win
= Il winr exclaimed the now ,hor
n oughly bewldered Ryiance.
q yes, for the law Is done with vol
ana now kirkwood. laying his hand,
= on the shoulders of his friends, gentI,
y forced him into the chair.
e You mean that I am no longer q
g fugitive-that the world knows tn,
a whole truth at last?"
I ne world does not know It. but II
a VIII. The fact that It is still in igno
n rance or your innocence is due to tn,
e ialiure or your friends to find you IL
/ the course of a search that has LASTED
more than twenty months"
d Jhe police know, then, that my
e Two months after your flight from
s leeds. old Rigdale, the cashier, recov
cred his reason and told how, while lis
I tehing through the door that separat
3 ed MIN from you. he heard ali tha
n passed between you and Mr.. Isbister
a He has. not forgiven YOU for insistins
e on having your money. and he still
persists In calling you a murderer. Blu
t the charge Is only fgurative. Befor,
a your arrival at Leeds. he had feared
@ that old Isbister would take his owr
r life"
n And ouillan?"