The Washington herald., 1912-07-14

any come. we shall keep them until we
hear from her."
Deane turned away and re-entered
his brougham. Il shall find a note at
my rooms, | daresay," he remarked.
Good morning. Mrs. Merrygold.'
His words were prophetic. He called
at his rooms on his way to the club for
lunch, and found note there addressed
to him in Winifred's handwriting:
"Wednesday morning.
you will understand, of course, that
this is the end. The jewels which you
/ gave me | have returned to-day by
registered post. One ring ] have kept.
1t is. think. the least valuable of any.
but | did not wish to part with it. II
you insist, however, it is always at your
disposal.
Il am going back where | belong-to
the world which ! should never have
quilted Everything has been great
mistake. Please understand that you
are absolutely and entirely free in every
way. ! only trust that | may live long
enough to atone in some measure for
my folly. ''wINIFRED ROWAN"
Deane read this letter over dozen
times. One thing alone seemed clear.
She had deserted him. She had not
even waited for the final issue. She
had fed from the sinking ship with a
haste almost indecent. She had made
no terms. suggested no compromise.
Deane, when he thought the whole mat
ter over. was still puzzled Such pre-
cipitancy was not logical. II his hand
was no longer strong enough to open
\ the gates of the promised land, it could
at least have lifted her up from the
miseries of her past life. He found
! himself. after a study of her few lines,
curiously depressed. She had gone
willingly-apparently without regret ex-
cept for her wasted opportunities. He
felt an emptiness in his life which he
failed to understand There had been
nothing of the sort when Lady Olive
had held out her hand and hidden him
farewell. Was he getting sentimental?
/ He set his teeth. Absurd! 1t was an
episode happily concluded! Outside
there was thunder in the air-a storm
for him to facel
His solicitor did not beat about the
bush. in the face of that document.
Mr.. Deane." he said. the Treasury do
not proposec to proceed with the prose-
| cution OF Hefferom. Its existence, of
course, throws altogether a different
light upon the whole situation, what
ever may be its exact legal worth. Hef-
ferom was simply engaged upon task
| solid behind him. There is not
shadow of evidence against him"
Very well" said Deane, let Hef-
/ 81,
to Scotland Yard | never anticipated
ever come into evidence"
You knew of its existences" the
lawyer asked
Deane answered calmly so far as
Sinclair himself was concerned the af-
| fair was swindle. for il was he who
recommended me to jump the claim
said he thought there was some stuff
! let him off a hundred pounds he owed
ancient history. The mine is my prop
Mr.. Hardaway listened with a grave
face. "Deane," he said, Il hope and
believe that you may be speaking the
hands OF unscrupulous people We had
notification this afternoon that a suit
is about TO be commenced against your
corporation"
The sooner the better" Deane an
swered. We'll know where we are, at
any rate | claim that by the statute
felt. II II was not, then the inducing
- ,,L Il, 81,
was a damnable conspiracy"
Your corporation fights with YOU, of
course" the lawyer asked.
"Of course" Deane answered. What
else could they do? We fight to the
endr'
That night. shares in the incorporated
Gold Mines Association stood at 90. At
closing time the following day they
stood at "a A few lines in the paper
had done it An action had been
started by Hefferom and the legatees
OF the estate of the late Richard Sim
clair. claiming as their property the
Little Anna Gold Mine. The thing had
been talked about for some time, but
now that it had actually occurred, peo-
pie seemed none the less staggered
The city believed in Stirling Deane-
il had believed in him 50 implicitly that
in its heart it had never placed any
faith in this cloud of rumors. Yet there
it was now in black and white 1t was
no longer possible to speak of COM
promise. The matter was to be fought
out in the open courts, and failure
could spell nothing but ruin to one of
the richest corporations in London
Deane's photograph was in all the pa
pers-also the menu of famous din
ner which he gave to his directors. He
scent a check for 5000 pounds to a !
hospital, and was reported to be going
on the turf. The lawsuit he treated
everywhere as a Joke He was careful
always to wear the usual bunch of vio- |