The Washington times., 1913-07-01
CHAPTER xxxv.
The Net OF Joan's Vengeance.

~UCCESS-Complete, ovcrpowerfng.
unquestioned. Douglass Jes-
sons novel was more than
the book of the season-it be-
came and still remains classic. There
is much talk nowadays by minor writers
OF the Difficulty of making name, Of
the inaccessibiljty of the public. AS
q matter of fact, there never was
time when good work Was so quickly
recognized both by the press and the
public, never a novel which sees the
light of day. but meets with appre-
ciably more or less than its merits.
There was never a seconds hesita-
tion about THE Destiny of Phillip
Bourke'' The critics pl. sed and the
public bought it. Edition followed edi-
tion. Douglas Jesson took his place
without an effort among the foremost
writer's of the day.
And this same success brought him
face TO face with one of the great crises
OF his life II brought Joan to him,
successful at last in her long search.
Their interview, which, IL unexpected,
must surely have savored of the dra-
matte was reduced more or less to the
commonplace, from the fact that she
came to him prepared, already assured
OF his identity, for who else cou-i have
hillside village where they had both
been brought up?
He walked into the waiting room al
the Courier equally prepared. for he
had seen her pass the window She
turned and faced him as he entered
carefully closing the door behind him.
with a grim smile Of triumph about her
thin, set lips.
.At last, then. Douglas Guest" she
exclaimed. laying his book upon the
table. Are you not weary, of skulking
under false name?"
81 chose 1t as much for your sake as
mine, Joan." he gravely replied.
Her black eyes dashed hatred and dis
belief upon him.
You don't imagine that you can max
Gs nenaes believe have sns fooisd
people. but I think your turn has come
at last ] did not come here to hster.
Co any fairy tales"
You will forgive me II 1 ask what
you did come for. Joan. / would rather
you had come as friend. but 1 fear
there Is no chance of that"
She laughed mockingly.
Il have searched for you many days,
she said, land many nights l have ran
] have walked many hundreds of miles
over its pavements until / have grown
sick with disappointments. And low
that have found YOU, Douglas Guest.
you are right when you say tnat 90
not come as your friend-
You had a motive. l presume?"
Yes, / had a motive / wanted 10
look into your face and tell you that
the net of my vengeance is drawn close
about you, and the cards are gathered
in my hands: Today you are flushed
pale with fear"
LOAN" he said, looking across the
table into her face. distorted with pas
sion, you believe that 1 killed your
father?'
believe: 1 know it,
Nevertheless, did not raise my hand
against him. / took money because II
was my own. / left him sound and
well"
There are Others" she exclaimed
scornfully, who may believe that. but
not many ! should sI as;,v think; .vou vii,
be a happier woman all your life IL you
VIII listen TO me now. Your father was
killed that night and robbed, but not
by me. / took twenty pounds, which
was only a tithe of what belonged to
me-not penny more. 1t was after
Two in one night7" she interrupted.
..It doesn't sound ingenious. Douglas
Guest. though you are welcome, Of
course. to your own story"
Ingenious or not, II Is true, he an
ENeTeO. Iou are very dSdhiSe
me. and some hard thoughts from You
/ have certainly deserved. But Of what
you think I am not guilty, and unless
you want to do thing of which you
will repent until your dying day, you
must put that thought away from you"
do you think that ! am a chfld?"
she asked scornfully. DO you think
that ] am TO be put of with such rub
bish as that? I made all my arrange
mepts lcng ago for when / found you.
In Tess than an hour you viii be in
prison.S
loan. you are very hard.r he said.
81 loved my father, and / hate you,"
size returned passionately.
He nodded:
.I misjudged you." he said. refec-
lively 81 never gave You credit for
such tenacity of purpose. ] did not
think that love or hate would ever burn
their way into your life"
Then you were fool" she answered