The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-25


after false start i've been nuisance. old
Henry. and no mistake. I've done HARM and God knows
I'm sorry. never thought to bring trouble"
The serious and honest. 1t real dis
he suffered. AS for me. / dare say made UNI
convincing sounds of protest and depreciation for was
very much embarrassed But he wouldn't listen He
waved his
here he. old
and-and something like asylum I've done harm.
I wherever l go. I'm under devlish
wish you'd believe that It's no will of mine.
Tm-ridden by neutrality-suspicious.
Another OF my party bewitched. you'll observed
knows what 1t will end in.' said Carthew.
almost past caring. Anyhow you're rid of me to-
Think of with what charity YOU can! 1t
won't be much. expect
looked with haggard started to
and abruptly went away. leaving it unsaid and
staring after him.
If I'D been myself that day would have fol-
lowed after him, think. him GO My
grief very heavy
This. was have said, after lunchspn, and
/ saw OF Mary Iawtord OF carthew until
dinner time. for neither of them turned up for tea
where they had hidden themselves.
OF that ghastly feast. our last dinner together
prefer say nothing ALI Again haven't the heart
1 take up my tale once more with my return TO the
drawing room after setting Lord Mendham and my
their customary evenings play in the little
beyond. had left Mary and Carthew in the
drawing room. but when / came back they
They might decencies
of guests in house, said bitterly, and turned away
robbins was in the door OF the ROOM looking very nerv
and upset Again he begged for word apart
with me- great wearlness
go on! Get 1t out! only be quick, for | haven't
much patience tonight
The man came nearer and lowered his voice TO half
whisper:
ITS for your sake / speak sir. For your own
sake. believe me! keep silent no longer.
daren't Its-Mr Carthew sir. Begging your pardon
speaking so. him stay You'll
to arm IL you do, sir. mean IT. know what / m
a-sayng Don't let him stay here
| blinked at him in utter amazement This from the
stoiid and respectable and perfectly trained Robbins.
couldn't have been astonished he'd flung the
in my face and stood on his head
Look here. my mani" said I. Either you're drunk
crazy or a bit of both In any don't TO
hear any more of this indecent rubbish Just you
clear out of this, and tomorrow box and
wages from the housekeeper and go That's all
Now clear!"
But again my amusement. fellow his
ground He step still. could
that he trembling all and
white and wet. He wrung his hands like
For Gods sake SIR, said he hear ME out: tell
YOU know what m saying Hes the Harvest
Moon Nh. Carthew has He's got the Harvest Moon
here in this house for he'd leave behind him in
London had IT, SIR had 1t once. and he stole
1t from down at Suva IN the Fills Sir Henry War
rim, as WAS valet to then. he Princess
Mata at Tuganai then the Sir Ienrys
killed Sir Henry for it. Then l got away
mate / was going fetch it back England and
sell it and be rich and never work more bat
how they found out-Mr. Carthew and the rest. They
sped and followed Mother McDonaids III
Suva. and they broke in night and it. They
left me for dead sir, but wasn't dead. not quite
got well again after month. And the Harvest Moon
was gone-gonethat great. beautiful. wicked that
to ave made my fortunet'
The fellow down just here and wept. while
stared at him. quite incapable OF speech
himself after an instant.
When saw his face here knew it at once though
Ia never known his And he hals knew mine
He asked me if I'd been Pacific.
lied. l says l hadn't
'oh. sir, Mr.. Carthew got Moon, that
III swear. Make him take it away from here before
it brings arm death. most likely. like it as
done to all the others Its wicked bewitched thing
sir. and once you've looked at 1t the
more Don't let it stop here. Make him take
it AWAY.
Well
Robbins poured out to talk,
trembling and weeping and wr1ngng his hands.
to have laughed in his face, had him locked up
and l truly believe tried to laugh. but somehow /
couldn't.
Mad and grotesQue nightmarish yarn una
douhtedy was-unworthy of belief by the most credu-
oas child found myself preposterousy convinced that
II swift flashes 7 thought Carthew's
strange haunted eyes of the known fact
that he had been in that Of the world of his
curiosity about Robbins thought of attempted
berry in London. the naked footprints my borders.
the brown with the bushy hair carthew's
urbed face when he learned OF their presence thought
OF his words of that afternoon I'm ridden by
something bewitched" last I thought of the fat
wallet had kept for him in my safe.
looked at the Robbins, and the fellow stared
back at me. shivering.
I'm talk TO about this extraordinary tale later
said l. Go back to work.
He cried. twisting his hands together: "oh. sir--sir'
He tried to say abruptly al
II was the last time him alive.
With my head whirling and, fancy. steady
afoot crossed the hall 10 the bookned library
ing to down there with think
things outfit. indeed they worthy of thought and
not the rawlings of II mailman On the way popped
into my head that matter Carthew's runnnaged
patch box. ! wondered If Robbins had done and
determined find later
The comfortable, broad leather scented library
lighted but dnyeandies in here and there. and
the big writing table moonlike reading lamp. At
first thought the empty, then Mary Law
ford sitting alone beside big table. beyond
long windows wide the soft night air
She with her hands table before her
and her head bent The light the round globed
lamp fell across her and burned in her gold hair She
hadn,t mel stood shadows o
doorway. and didn't speak, watching WITH
think, the saddest heart his
and live Then, Just | about step forward
Carthew rapidly the the
the
1t Saunders he said. The fellow that wallets
me- He seemed to be explaining his absence. Saanders
thought my things had been rummaged again
frightened. P'rhaps they had been. don't know