Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20
TORN ACROSS

then she let a good half minute of silence
settle down behind her words.
She didn't know, of course, what it was
that cast the spell that seemed to have set
tied with such paralyzing effect on both OF
them. She didn't know that the light IN
her dark eyes and the polse OF her straight
young body, and the swordlike flash OF her
voice, brought back to both of them, almost
in the living presence, the figure of another
woman, many years dead. She couldn't
know how the room itself, and even the
broad chair her clasped hands rested on the
back of, added to the picture and made the
reality of it almost uncanny.
But she did know, somehow, even before
the silence that followed her words was
broken, that she had won a victory. The
man who had looked so big and dangerous,
when seen from long way off. whose orders
had brought it about that she had just been
practically turned out of the hotel, was, now
that she faced him in his lair, hardly formid-
able enough to be angry with. A sort OF halt
pitying contempt would fit the occasion bet
ter. He was getting paler and sicker look
ing every minute, and he seemed equally
unable to look at her and to take his eyes
away.
AS for the old doctor, what made him feel
more fool than he had felt IN twenty
years, was the fact that he had been afraid
of this weakling, this "lath painted to resem-
BILE iron," and that the young Diana who
stood there so straight and STILL as if she
had an arrow in her culver for each Of them,
and was waiting only to decide which to
transhx first, knew that he had been afraid.
If only she would move or say something!
N1ON'T you-take chair and sit down.
" he ventured finally.
A smile flashed across Pa1nela's lips. Il
doubt if | have to stay as long as that" she
said.
1t was Hiram who took a seat instead.
One might have said he wilted into it, rather
than sat down. The action never swerved
Pamela straight eyes from the doctor S lace.
Il suppose" she went on, that you have
told Mr.. Williams what | suggested Monday
morning, that thought Peter Darvel hadn't
lost his mind at ALL and that thought test
ought to be made whether he couldn't COM
municate by using the Morse code?"
YES" said DIR. Allen, a have just been
telling him."
you thought on Monday" Pamela pur-
sued "that Mr.. Williams would object to
test like that. Does hep
The doctor turned to Hiram with a look
of inquiry. But it wasn't until the other
man spoke, answering the question with an
other of his own, that Pamela eyes went
round to him.
what does it matter to you" he de
manded fretfully, whether l object or not,
whether the test is made or not?"
at matters good DEAL" said Pamela. Il
have been trying to find the answer to some
questions. | tried to get you to answer yes
terday in Chicago, and you said you couldn't.
l think that if Mr.. Darvel hasn't lost his
mind he will be able to answer"
How shall we know what he answers
Hiram demanded. Il don't understand
telegraphy, neither does the doctor. What's
to prevent you from making up any answers
you please?"
Pamela smiled again. Nothing could
be very much easier, could it, than to send
down to the railroad station for the agent?
Let him ask Mr.. Darvel the questions, if he
can't understand spoken ones, and let him
write down the answers"
YES" said Hiram. "And have my fam
ily affairs in the mouths of all the gossips in
Edmonton before night"
"If you like" said Pamela, "you can just
trust me to tell the truth. | shall, of course.
l think you know that, really"
There was another little silence.
YES" said the doctor, Il think we Go. |
do, anyway. And though can't answer for
Hiram" He broke off there with another