The Washington times., 1913-10-23
THE DAILY SERIAL
I THE HERITAGE OF CAIN
GREAT BIG THRILLING STORY
7 m ~ = - o BY ISABEL OSTRANDER
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER

I moment in your behalf. Try not to be
discouraged should events not move for
ward as quickly as you could wish.
An investigation of this sort may
terminate suddenly, and in a totally un-
foreseen manner at any time or drag
| on for weeks In way which Will seem
interminsble. We shall be working in
the dark, but we will be making head
way, be confident of that. Keep me
promptly informed-your brother has my
! town address-of any events which may
transpire."
Il win, Mr.. Yorke. And 1 want you
! to know that I've all-have the ut
most confidence in you and your ability.
/ shall wait with what patience l can
muster. Only find him for me-fnd the
man who murdered my poor Victoria.
That is all l ask OF life now"
When Yorke re-entered the hall the
others had disappeared. He found
| Madge alone on the veranda, lying back
| in long, low chair, with her eyes wear
lily closed. They opened slowly at his
| his face which made her lean forward
suddenly and grip the arms of her chair.
Mrs. Ashley" he began, without any
preamble. when did you last see Mrs.
Van Rensselaer, alive?"
"Why''-she hesitated and moistened
| i1er dry lips with her tongue-"when
we said good night and went to our
rooms after the Goodalls and Mr.. Mer-
rlman had gone.
Il want the truth, please" he said
| sternly, his eyes fixed steadily upon
hers.
The truth I-why, I have just told
the truth" she broke off.
Mrs Ashley" Yorke spoke ssd;, With with %n- da
liberately withheld from me an incident
which it is of the gravest Importance
that I should have known. / must ask
you to tell me, without further evasion,
,aNw
and Mrs. Van Rensselaer, the night OF
her DEATH"
But there is nothing-nothing to tell
your she protested uncertainty. 1t
was merely-that is, nothing occurred
which could have the slightest bearing
on your investigation
VIII you allow me to be the best
judge of that: will you believe that In
justice to her and to yourself You
should speak,"
But can tell you nothing,'' she re-
peated. II see no Justice to her In re-
peating a little confidential incident of
absolutely no Importance. And as for
justice to myself''-She drew herself up
in her chair and her eyes flashed.
Can you dare to insinuate that l
my friend, or of the cause-if cause
there could be-which led to it,"
Mrs. Ashley" Yorke pressed her in
exorably, you were the first to discover
and report Mrs. Van Rensselaer's death.
You were the last, as far as is yet
thorities, from the family and from
me. Should the coroner compel you to
speak, you will be open to awkward and
invidious criticism
She understood his veiled threat, and
sank back in her chair.
Il did not tell the coroner" she muir
INJURED, ''for the same reason that 1 did
not mention II to you-that 1t was Q
trivial incident, and had nothing what |
ever to do with the tragedy which came
after.
And l did not tell Dysart. because
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, asked me herself
not to speak of ii 1 am perfectly will
ing to tell you exactly what occurred.
but 1 warn you. Mr.. Yorke, that you
will be wasting your time"
Il am willing to risk that" he said.
When you went upstairs, did you ac
company Mrs. Van Rensselaer, to her
room?'
No. IL bade her good night, as 1
told you. and went to my room. / pre-
pared to retire, but feeling unable to
sleep yet l sat down to read by a low
light. My room is just down the hall
from Mrs. Van Rensselaer's, and in
rather more than an hour after going
upstairs l heard-sounds in her room"
What kind of sounds?'
"As if some one were crying softly.
threw on my dressing gown and went
down the hall to her door. She was Sob
bling Quietly to herself-long, low sobs.
as If She had tired herself out. L knocked
gently. She didn't answer. and the SOB
bing continued, SO l opened the door and
went in"
''WelI?''
She was seated on a low chair by
the window, and started to her feet as
] entered, but when she saw who it was
she threw her arms about my neck and
burst into a DassiOn of weenin2
Il succeeded in quieting her after a
time, and when she was fairly calm /
tried to get her to tell me the cause of
her trouble She insisted that II was
of nerves, would be quiet all right in the
morning. She was sorry to have dis
turbed me, and asked me to promise to
say nothing to Dysart about IT, that he
worried so about her, and there was
really nothing the matter. And that is
all there is to tell.
Il begged and imp.ored her to tell me
if she was really in some trouble, so
that ] might help her. but she denied
steadfastly that anything was wrong.
her. closing the door after me. I went
to my room. but could not sleep, and at
last in desperation I rose and took a
veronal powder.
The deep sleep which that produced
MAJ account for the fact that I heard
no sound from her room during the
night. until awoke with a start in the
early morning. You see. Mr.. Yorke,
there is nothing in that which can be of
any assistance to you"
And do you yourself believe Mr.. Van
Rensselaer's explanation Of her tears"
Mrs. Ashley's face assumed an i'm
passive masklike quality which warned
Yorke that he was treading on hopeless
ground. and repelled further question
ing. more DEFINITELY than words
There is nothing else for me to think