Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-06

posed his tall figure between her and the
indifferent eyes Of the doctor. Mr.. war
rem looked more sympathetic than ever.
the pompousness Of DIR. Newington.
AS . matter Of fact. Louisa had abso-
htely ceased to think. The whole future
from this moment appeared a. IN abso-
lutte blank. She had not begun to en-
MOTEL, having utterly failed In accom-
plishing that which she had set mind and
heart to do-the throwing OF the hrst
feeble ray Of light on the lanpenstre6le
darkness OF Luke's supposed guilt. She
certainly had not envfsaged the going to
bed tonight. the getting up tomorrow. the
beginning Of another day with Its thou
sand and one trivial tasks and incidents.
that which alone could prevent the awful
catastrophe Of tomorrow!
Luke standing in the dock like q COM
mon criminal!
'.rll just see about getting cab. DEAR"
said her uncle, kindly.
The first OF those thousand and one
trivialities which would 60 on And on
from now onward In endless monotony.
while Luke prepared for his trial. for his
It was. indeed. unthinkable. No wonder
that her mind rebelled at the task. refus-
Ing all thoughts, remaining like gray.
blank slate, from which every impression
Of past and future has been wiped out
and Mr.. Warren went with him. They
left the door ajar 30 she could hear them
talking In the hail. Mr.. Warren said:
Don't 60 out. Sir Thomas. It's q hor-
rid night. Fletcher will get you q cab"
And Sir Thomas replied: Thank YOU"
Won't YOU said the younger man.
wait in the library"
He had apparently rung q bell. for the
man servant came into the hall and was
duly told of to whistle for q cab.
I'D rather into another r0on for n
moment. Mr.. Warren. IL may" said Sir
Thomas. There are Just one or two lit
tie questions would like to put to you"
Certainly. Sir Thomas" replied Mr..
Warren. with alacrity.
The two men went together into the
dining room. Louisa by shutting her eyes
could almost see them sitting there In the
stately and gloomy room, which she knew
occasion on which she had lunched there
with Lord Radcliffe. and Luke. and Edie
and Jim. 1t was the day on which the
fmpostor first forced his way into the
house. Louisa had clear vision Of him
even now. just as she had seen him stand
ing that day In the hall. before his inter
view with Lord Radcliffe. Parker was
helping him with his coat and Louisa
had seen his face; the bricklayer's son
who had come forward with his marvellous
plicitly believed that he himself had to,
pay for his lies with most horrible,
death.
For that death now-and because Of tho
tmpenetrable mystery which the impostor
had taken with him to his humble grave,
Luke stood In danger of being punished
with death that was even more horrible
than that caused by q stab In the neck
under cover Of darkness and OF fog.
The one chance that there had been Of
finding q clue to the mystery had been
dissipated by the silence OF the sick man
upstairs. The hand Of death was upon
him. too He. also. would take the Sc
cret Of the bricklayer's son silently with
him to the grave.
Louisa's eyes. vacant and fearless, wan
dered aimlessly round the room. Dr. New
ington was sitting At the desk. writing
either q letter or prescription which ap-
parently required considerable amount
Of thought. He seemed deeply absorbed
In what he wrote. and from time to time
referred to q small notebook which he
took out of his pocket.
The scratching Of his style against the
paper was the only sound that struck
LouisA's ear: the rest of the house seemed +
lonely and still. Only from far away
came the shrfll screeching OF the cab
whistle.
Louisa rose and went to the door. peep
Ing out into the hall. 1t was deserted and
the dining room door was shut. She slip
ped out into the hall. DR.. Newington APP.
parently did not trouble himself about
her. Very softly she closed the library
door behind her.
Then she ran swiftly upstairs.
Go be continued tomorrow