The Detroit times., 1913-03-22

passing. here? You have been il
danger"
What does IL matter" he re
turned. What does anything mattel
but"
"Hark'" she broke in. spasm o
terror contracting her race.
Footsteps sounded within. There
was the noise OF a door opening anC
closing. Around the turn of the wint
Alexander Blair stepped into view
His pistol was still I'm his hand.
Still here. sir7" he inquired with
an effect Of murderous courtesy You
add spying 10 your other practices
then" He took a step forward AND
saw the girl. My Cod Marjorie
Sedgwick turned white. at the cry
but faced the older man steadily.
Il fear. sir" he said, that | have
made a terrible mistake The blame
is wholly mine. leg you To believe
that ! came here wholly without the
knowledge of--of your wife
"Of whom" exclaimed Blair; ana
I'm the same moment. the girl cried
ont. "Oh. no, no. Not that"
MOTT" exclaimed Sedgwick. Then
Marjorie" interrupted Mr.. Blair
edo you know this man."
Yes" she said quietly.
Since when?"
Since two weeks.
And he has come here before?'
mo"
Then why do find him here with
you tonight this night OF all nights
He is not here with me- said she
flushing.
II came from-from where you saw
me-" began Sedgwick, ION a reckless
impulse. Believe me. sir"
One moment, Marjorie. thnK
you had best go to your room.
The girls soft lips Strengthened
into line OF inhexibility. IL wish to
speak to Mr.. Sedgwick," she said.
Speak then, and quickly
NO: wish TO speak to him alone
There Is an explanation which | owe
him
And there is one which he owes
YOU" retorted Blair. AS he seems 10
have been too cowardly to give it,
will supply his deficiencies. In order
that there may be no MISUNDERSTANDING
ing. let me present Mr.. Francis Seos'
wick. the murderer"
A low cry, the most desolate. the
most stricken sound that SedgwlcK
had ever heard from human hps,
trembled on the air. Before he couid
gather his senses to rete1t and deny
she had drawn herself to her feet
and the rose powered window framed
only emptiness. Sedgwick whiriea
uuon the other man. or course, lie
said with deceptive calmness: you
know that you lie
81 know that speak truth" retort'
ed Mr.. Blair with so profound a con
viction that the other was shaken.
"Is It possible that you really De-
lieve it," he exclaimed.
so possible that. but for the scan
dal. would do what | can not In
woke the law to do. and exact life FOL
life. And To crown all, | find you WITH
my sons wife
Your sons wife, The cry burst
from Sedgwick's lips.
in the dead OF night. at rem
devious concluded Blair.
THAT is a lie," said Sedgwick yer,
low, "for which I shall kill you II yo'
dare repeat it even to your OWL
thoughts. II was no rendezvous. Is
your mind 80 vicious that you can
believe In innocence? stop and think
How could it have been rendez
yous. when came here, as you Know
for another purpose
THAT is true said the other
thoughtfully. That still remains to
be explained.
by YOU" returned the artist. You
speak of your sons wife. To carry
out the farce OF the sham burial
shouldn't you have said his widow?
THE widow Of q day-as you We'll
know" answered Mr.. Blair bitterly.
CAS- ! do not know. at all. But
think begin to see light. The rose
topazes on the dead womans neck.
Her tOpazes. That helps to clear IL
up. The dead woman was some past
light-o'-love OF Wilfrid Blair's. she
came here either to reassert her sway
over him or to blackmail him. He
gave her his wife's jewels. Then he
followed her to the cliffs and killed
her. perhaps in drunken frenzy. And
you, Mr.. Alexander Blair, to fave your
son. have concealed him somewhere,
bribed the sheriff and the medical OF
ficer. contrived this false death ana
burial. and are now turning suspicion
on n man you know tc-be- innocent
further to fortify your position. But
what damnable lie have you told her.?
During this exposition. Alexander
Blair's face was study in changing
emotions At the close his thin lips
curled In the suggestion of a sardonic
grin
(Continued)