The Washington times., 1913-10-14

! was troubled-what did she say or do,
| lately, to make you so sure, Lucille?''
| "Well-I'm sure I'm not doing wrong
in telling you'll spoke to her about
You spoke to her?'
/ Yes. only yesterday afternoon here
| on the veranda, before you came out.
| l asked her If l could do anything for
her-to help her. l told her / felt sure
something was worrying her, that she
had some trouble which was depressing
| her
And she?"
She did lot deny it." Lucille rose
suddenly and walked to the veranda
railing, looking out over the lake, just
as Victoria herself had stood the previ-
| Gus day.
She didn't deny it, Madge half
whispered to herself, in CONSERVATION.
Did she-did she offer any explana-
tion? Didn't she give any clue as to
she must have told you something"
! No" Lucille spoke low and hesitat-
ingly, with her face turned from Madge.
| She laughed my suggestion away.
admitting that she-she'd had some
trivial worries lately, but that 1t was
nothing of any account. But still her
1 manner was far from convincing
so is yours thought Madge.
There's something you are not willing
| to tell me-"
1
"Oh! I cannot believe tive are maxi
ing mountains out of molehills. This
| awful tragedy has unsettled our minds
| so that we look for signs where none
| exist. and suspect all sorts of fanciful
| secrets and plots. We mustn't let our
nerves get the best of US. dear. or We
" ont be able to do anything to help
/ poor Dysart and Robin. After all. l
| am sure we shall find that there is no
| mystery whatever about it-that this
l -; N
| larry. There can be no other possible
| explanation"
Look" cried Lucille excitedly. point
| ing across the lawn. Who is that? Il
can't be Phillip Merriman returning al,
I ready! Yes, it is Phillip! Oh, and
there's some one with him-can it be
| Franklin Yorker
Phillip had indeed appeared at the
edge of the little clearing. and now
hastened toward the veranda steps.
| loosely-built stranger. whose long, un-
hurried strides set the pace for his
| shorter. quickened steps.
! On the veranda Madge advanced to
meet them, and gazed with frank CT
rlosity at the celebrated. eccentric
genius, who the previous year had
estourded the civilized world by sending
| tC a summary but well-merited eXecu-
ton the first secretary of foreign
embassy and relegating the scions Of
grace and exile, for a dastardly muir
Der in the name of diplomacy which
had baffled the well-seeming efforts Of
the secret service and bidding fair to
go down in history as one of the
worlds great, unsolved mysteries.
AS Phillip pronounced the name
"Franklyn Yorke," she saw before her
in her minds eye the vision she had
unconsciously conjured up whenever ne
had been mentioned. and comparison
with the reality which stood before her
was like a dash of cold water.
She had imagined a man of we'll
poised rniddle-age and imposing build.
dark perhaps. with the keen eyes. large,
capable, delicate-fingered hands and
confident. reliant manner of physician.
The man who actually stood before
her was disconcertingly youthful in ap-
pearance, although his face was deeply
lined as though from exposure; thin and
lantern-jawed. and 50 sunbrowned as
10 make his shock of hair seem almost
light in comparison.
He was big-framed and lanky. with
abnormally long arms and gnarled, spat-
,IIate hands He stood like a diffident
schoolboy, his mild eyes fixed upon her
with the politely concerned expression
of an outsider drawn into an intimate
family trouble but wholly disinterested.
1T was rood of you to come, Mr..
YOrke." she said quickly. I'VE deeply
appreciate it, and ! need not tell you
how relieved we feel to be able to rely
utterly upon you. Mr.. Merriman has.
of course, given you the details of our
great trouble?"
Yes. so far as it was possible for
him to do so.
Then in order to lose no time. will
you tell me in which direction y-ou wish
TO start your inquiry? The body
Yes You discovered the. crime. be-
lieve, Mrs. Ashley? Will you conduc.
NE yourself to the bedroom of Mrs.
Van Rensselaer-do you feel up TO it?
may want you to give me some little
details OF the general appearance Of the
rocm-nothing has been disturbed. I un-
derstand?"
Nc nothing has been touched. except
that poor Dysart-Mr. Van Rensselaer,
knelt on the floor with his wife's head
raised upon his knee for some time be-
fore he could be persuaded to allow his
friends to lead him from the room.
II can hardly bear the thought of
entering that room again. Ii seems as
If shall never be able to gee anything
before me but Nictorias terrible staring
ewes. gazing up from that sea of blood.
Oh. but will not be such a weak fool.
II can help you to find any trace
give me The key. please Mr.. Merriman.
will lead the way
FrankIyn Yorke sCTutinZed her care
! fully as he followed her unfalterinS
steps up the wire staircase. What was
her true relation to the dlnerent actors
, in this extraordinary traRedv-mercly
that of the deeply regarded family
friend she appeared? Perhaus.
And vet her voice. when she spoke Of
poor Dvsart" had thrilled curiously
with 4 deeper timbrc than th" name OF
the dead <oman had brought to her
t"res anguish.-d though the were.
She paused hef"-A wide v'hi'n door
at the center of the front of the house.
and inserted tho kew, in the lock with
steady hand. The door swung silently