The Washington times., 1913-06-16

81 still do not see," she said, in what
way / am concerned in this.
1T was your fellow-passenger, Coun-
tess, not yourself. concerning whom we
might be able to give us some informa.
| tion. We understood that he Joined the
train hurriedly. If you like, / will read
you a description Of Douglas Guest.
Emily de Reuss looked him in the
| face and shrugged her shoulders,
| necessary. i am not in the least In.
terested in the young man, and when
tell you that I went to the trouble
and expense Of engaging compart.
nent you will perhaps understand thai
/ should not for. a moment have toll
stranger. The gentleman who accom-
panied me to London was one OF the
house party at Maddenham Priory and
an old friend"
The officer closed his notebook with
little sigh and bowed.
1T only remains for me-" he said,
Ito express to your ladyship my regrets
at having troubled you in the matter.
Personally, your statement confirms my
own view of the case. The young lady
is excitable and has been deceived.
Emily de Reuss inclined her head and
touched the knob of an electric bell. AT
the door the officer turned back
1T would perhaps be as well" he
said, 'if you would favor US with the
name of the gentleman who was your
companion"
IL think 1t quite unnecessary" she
answered. "I have certain reasons,
not perhaps very serious ones, but
still worth consideration. for not pub
fishing it abroad who. my companion
was. 1t must be sufficient for you
that he was one of my fellow guests
at Maddenham Priory, and a friend
for whom 1 can vouch."
The servant was at the door. MI.
Grey bowed. =
rAs your ladyship wishes, Of
Emily de Reuss made no immediate
movement to rejoin her guest. She
was a woman OF nerve and courage,
but this had no time for thought. She
had answered as though by instinct
1t was only now that she realized
what she had done. She had lied de-
liberately, had placed herself. should
the truth ever be known, in an ut
terly false IL not dangerous position,
for the sake of a boy of whose antece-
rested, at any rate, the shadow OF a
very ugly suspicion. She had done
this, who frankly owned to an abb
sorbing selfishness, whose conduct OF
life ever gravitated from the center
Of self After all, what folly! She
had been generous upon impulse. how
ridiculous!
She walked slowly out to where
Douglas sat waiting. She came upon
him like a ghost in the dim light. and
when the soft rustling OF her gown
announced her presence he started
violently and turned a bloodless face
with twitching lips and eager eyes to
hers. The sight of it was a shock to
her. He had been living in fear. then
her falsehoods for his sake had been
HAS he gomez" he asked incohe-
rently..,
Was Wa. it-aoous me'"
you'd better tell me-" he begged.
She sat down by his side and glanced
around. They were alone and out Of
earshot from the windows.
My visitor" she said, was de-
tective-from Scotland Yard. He came
to know II / could give him any In
formation about my fellow-passenger
from Accreton on February TO-"
Why? Why did he want to know"
There was a murder. he said-a
Cumberland farmer, and young man
named Douglas Guest was missing"
Douglas Guest" he said. hoarsely.
was in that train. He was killed. 1t
was In the papers"
so the detective believed" she said,
man.
"Ahw
Has taken up the case and posi-
lively refused to identify some Of the
clothing belonging to the dead man.
There was some talk of young man,
who answered to the description of
Douglas Guest, having forced himself
into my carriage. The man came to
ask me about this"
And You told him-what?"
She adjusted a bracelet carefully, her
beautiful eyes fixed upon his haggard
face
Il told him a lie." she answered. Il
told him that my companion was a
fellow guest at the house where l had
been staying"
A little sob of relief broke In his
throat. He seized her hand in his and
pressed II to his lips. 1t seemed to her
that the touch was Of FIRE She looked
at him thoughtfully
You are Douglas Guest, them she
asked, quietly.
Il am" he answered