Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23
CHAPTER XVII.
Debit and Credit.

nodded. somewhat shamefacedly. and
once more made a pitiful effort to
straighten his STOPPING shoulders. Herries
looked away. wretchedly, and then. as if
understanding something Of what must
be in his mind. took it upon himself to
dismiss the servants, but bidding them
remain within call. and also to see to it
that no word went elsewhere of what
they had seen and heard i'm the banquet
hall.
The rest of the company We're regard
ing the eA-engineer of the Olive Branch
with very varied expressions. A sickly
pallor had overspread Slyne's rigid fea-
lures as he heard the title by which
Herries had addressed that untimeous in
truder. Capt. Dove. his hands sun on
the table before him. and crOuching as
If to spring. was breathing jerkily from
between set teeth. like one with a seizure,
The Marquis of Tngoldsbys narrow fore
head was corrugated b. a liked and
splenetic frOwn, which kept his eyes and
mouth at their very widest. Behind
Sallic's questioning. compassionate, cloud
ed glance lurked hope. and fear and
steadfast determination: she was still
holding fast the stem of her wineglass.
Justin Carthew looked as if he did not
know i'm the least who or where he was.
Mr.. Joblings purple visage and pendu-
lous jowl spoke plainly the apoplectic and
painful nature of his emotions. OF them
all only the Duchess of Dawn seemed to
have preserved any measure Of Self-poS-
session.
While Herries was giving the butler his
orders she crossed toward the fireplace
with little characteristic, impulsive ges-
ture
Il hope you haven't forgotten me. Tor
quil?'' said she, almost timidly. 1t could
not but hurt her to see what the years
had made Of the man who. when she had
met him last. had been little more than
teasing, mischievous schoOlboy.
II knew you at once. he replied, and
blinked back at her and cleared his
throat intentionally. The pinch OF his
present decayed estate before her once
more quickened his numb sense Of the
grievous injury done him by Capt. Dove.
He glanced again in Capt. Doves direc-
ton, but the old mans gaze met his alb
solutely mystified: and his heavy heart
began to grow hot again as he recalled
how often his cunning taskmaster had
cOwed him by dint of threats to disclose
his unknown identity to the police.
I'VE all believed You were dead. said
the duchess, and he answered her stu
pidly. at random. His sullen eyes had en-
countered Slyne's, in which he read Alright
dismay unspeakable and stunned seek
ing after some elusive scheme to turn the
tables upon him yet She saw how dis
trait he was. But you'll tell me by and
by something of your adventures. said
she. L JUST Na0tCu 10 say now SIdO l.
am-that you're safe and sound after all.
And now I'll be off to the drawing room
with Ingoldsby. We're only in the way
here. I know You must have great deal
to say to your sister.
He started at hearing Safie SO styled.
His restless regard had reached her, at
the end of the table next him. and he
wondered what il could be that had
brought such an uncomfortable CLEAN of
relief into her still bewildered eyes
70
you don't mind, he answered the
duchess. I'D like you to stay beside her
until l get rid of some OF those others, il
you don't mind.
She nodded. if rather reluctantly, and
turned aside toward Herries as Salle ap-
preached. holding out to the shabby
prodigal whose belated return had
brought about such a SIMPLIFYING change
i'm The situation there, tremulous, eager
hand.
You're just in time Sallie said to him
IN such a glad warm, grateful voice that
even he who knew very we'll her Sener-
Gus nature was almost surprised by her
evident pleasure in thus admitting his
prior right to the high rank and vast
heritage which he believed should have
been hers but for him. He was infinitely
emiarra ssed when, before them all. she
stopped and touched with her lips the
back of the c'awlike, toil-stained hand he
had tried hard to withhold from her.
"A
i'm such WISE looked UP into his flushed
face with a swift shy smile. the. fiutter
Of the fledgling hope In her heart stirring
softly the priceless lace that outlined her
bosom and the little golden iocket that
lay therein.
you're my brother-lny stepbrother.
now. aren't YOU. Mr.. Brasse?" she asked,
almost i'm n whisper.
1T seems &c. Salle," he answered. me
chemically. his wandering wits almost be-
l.; ntp-n1 "a unconscious
of the name by which she had always
known him had brought to his mental
vision a blurred picture of her on the
bridge of the Olive Branch in a stlH
breeze. himself at the tiddley hatch.
And everything that might have been
mine is yours now:
ours" he corrected. without any in
terest. as If that was of no consequence.
'.There should be enough for us both:
and in any case, 1 need very little-now
But it's all yours by law. isn't it?'
she urged II must make sure, be-
cause" She looked back over her
shoulder. Mr.. Jobling had Joined Slyne
and Capt. Dove: the three of them were
engaged with bated breaths. in sibilant
argument their heads very close together.
Lord Ingoldsby had just risen and was
slouchinS over to the otner lnglenook,
where the duchess had made Herries sit
down. Only Justin CartheW relnained mo,
tionless. half turned in his high-backed
chair leaning heavily on one of its arms
while he still stared almost unsee1ngly,
at Salie and her companion.
GLOW does that fellow come to be
hereo'' asked the engineer, indicating Car
thew with a puzzled nod, and, as Sallle
told him what had occurred since she
herself had arrived at Loquhari0t. his eX-
pression grew always more blank again.
But when she went on to explain now
SLIME had tried to entrap her for his own
profit his dull eyes frightened and began
to burn.
And now" she said. at last. perhaps
he won't want to marry me-wnen there
nothing to be gained by 1t. / can't tell
you how thankful am that you We COME
home in time.
Carthew got up from the table then and
came limping forward to greet the man
whose belated homec oming had made
such a difference to him. And Mr.. JOB
ling evidently fired by his example. FOL
lowed to beg an introduction from her
ladyship to his lordship.
i've been acting for Lady Joscelin, my
lord" he explained. very volubly, having
thus secured his lordship's by no means
favorable attention, lust as l would
have been most happy to act for your
lordship if / had KNOWN He came
to a sudden stop. except for stfHed. ex-
plosive hiccough, as Capt. Dove shoulder
ed him aside and confronted the ex-en-
gineer of the Olive Branch with his most
SLEEK, benevolent expression.
SLIME was close behind Capt. Dove. The
pallor had passed from, his face. Mr.. job
ling apparently did not deem it polite
to push In again just then. He choked
down his not unnatural indignation and
stayed lowering about, very i'll at ease,
in the background. The others, all but
Sallie, had also moved a little away.
But it did not seem to be Capt. Doves