The Washington times., 1913-02-17
CHAPTER v (Continued).

because / caught Anne
| i Presbury's sharp eyes on me
| in Melbourne-aS j said q
while ago, l knew shed talk-as she
surely will the minute she gets back
and j thought might as well get ahead
| of her, come home and face the music
before anybody got a chance to expose
me- At the worst-if what you sug-
gest has really happened-it's an OPEN
, and-shut case; no ones going to blame
the woman: and it ought to be easy
enough to secure a separation, or di-
| vorce-"
You'd consent to that?" inquired
Drummond, intently.
I'll do anything she wishes"
You leave il to her, them
IF / ever find her-yeS. It's the only
decent thing i can do"
How do you figure that?'
Il went away a sick man and poor
one; / come back as sound as bell,
and il not exactly a plutocrat, at least
| this life. To all intents and purposes
/ made her a partner to a bargain she
disliked: we'll, I'll be hanged IL I'm go
ing to hedge now, when look better
matrimonial risk, perhaps-if she still
wants my name, she can have 1t.
Drummond laughed quietly. IF that's
how you feel" he said, Il can only give
you one bit of professional advice"
| Find your wife"
After a moment of puzzled thought
| Whitaker admitted ruefully: You're
right. There's the rub
I'm afraid you won't find it an easy
job. j did my best without uncoverinG
trace of her."
course
II did nv best, but, my dear fellow,
almost anybody with a decent appear
ance can manage to write note on
Waldorf stationery. ] made sure Of one
thing-the management knew nothing
of the writer under either her maiden
name or yours"
Did you try old Thurlow?''
Her father died within eight weeks
from the time you ran away. He left
everything to charity, by the way. Un-
forgiving blighter.'
well. there's her sister, Mrs. Petit"
She heard of the marriage first
through me-" asserted Drummond.
Your wife had never come near her
nor even sent her a line. She could
give me no information whatever
You don't think she purposely mis-
Frankly, ] don't. She seemed sin
cerely worried when we talked the mat
vincing way her fruitless attempts to
trace the young woman through a pri-
vate detective agency"
Still. she may know now Whitaker
said. doubtfully. She may have heard
something since. I'll have word with
her myself"
Address observed Drummond. dry
", "the American Embassy, Berlin.
Pettit's got some sort of a minor diplo-
matte berth over there
oh, the deuce! But. anyway. l can
write"
:aThink it over" Drummond advised.
! MAYBE II might be kinder not to-
"Oh, l don't know"
You give me to understand you were
pretty comfy on the other side Of the
globe. Why not let sleeping dogs lie?"
ITS the lie that bothers me-the liv-
ing He 1t isn't fair TO her"
"Rather sudden, this solicitude-
WHAT" Drummond asked. with open
Il dare say 1t does look that way.
But | can't see that it's the decent
thing for me to let things slide any
longer I've got TO try to find her. She
may be ill-destitute-in desperate
trouble again.
Drummond's eyebrows went up
whimsically. You surely don't mean
me TO infer that your affections are
involved?
Good Heavens-no!" he cried He
moved to a window and stared rudely
AT the postoffice building for a time.
"Tm going To find her just the same
il she still lives" he announced, turning
would you know her if you saw
II don't know" Whitaker frowncd
with annoyance. shes six years old
"A woman develops amazingly and
changes amazingly, often. between the
ages of eighteen and twenty four"
| know" Whitaker acknowledged,
with depection.
We'll but what was she like?'
Drummond pursued. curiously.
whitaker shook his head. It's not
easy to remember. Matter of fact, |
don't believe / once got A good square
look at her. 1t was twilight in the no.
in absolute darkness toward the end {;
even in the minister's study there was
only a green-shaded lamp on the table {:
and on the train-well, we were both
too much worked up, ! fancy, to pay
much attention to details"
Then you really haven't any
"Oh, hardly" Whitaker's thin brown
hand gesticulated vaguely. She was
tall, slender. pale. at the awkward age
Blonde or brunet?
II swear / don't know. She wore one
of those funny knitted caps, tight down
over her head, all the time"
Drummond laughed quietly. Rather
an inconclusive description. especially
il you advertise: 'Wanted-The wife |
married six years ago and haven't seen
since; tall, slender. pale, at the awk-
ward age; wore one OF those funny
knit
~ don't feel In n joking humor."
Whitaker interrupted. roughly. Its a
serious matter and wants serious treat
ment What else have We got to null
over?
Drummond shrugged suavely. There's
enough to keep us busy for several
hours he said. For instance, there's
my stewardship"
Your which," demanded Whitaker.
staring.
MY care Of your property. You left