The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-29
~ n WEEK OF FUN AND LAUGHTER is prom
s. .sed readers Of THE TIMES next week with The de-
kS ii ightful story Of "TORCHY' by Sewel Ford

ITS Madness" she said, "our
being together like this"
Then l pray l shall never be
sane" l said. "Oh. Mercia-my
sweet, white, beautiful Mercia-
| love YOU"
The passion in my voice
brought faint tinge of color into
her face.
"Ah, don't. dont," she whis-
pered. Don't you understand
how impossible 1t is that the
daughter of Manuel Solano can
ever be anything to your
No." l said stoutly, 81 don't.
I've already sworn to you that l
had no hand in your fathers
death, and you believe mel
know That you believe me-"
YES" she said, Il do believe
you. l believe you against my
own eyes, against the evidence of
all San Luca, against reason It
self. But II you did not kill my
father, you know who did"
"Mercia," l said, who do You
think | amp"
She stared at me in bewilder-
ment.
You are Ignace Prado." she
said slowly.
Before Heaven" I answered,
81 am nothing of the kind"
There was a moment of siren
uous silence. Then, with a wild,
impulsive gesture, she laid her
hand on my arm.
WHO are your" she whispered
fearfully. Speak to me! 1 feel
as if | was going mad"
81 caught her hands and drew
her towards me. "Mercia, my
heart" I said, "you must give
me your trust, as l have given you
my love. | swear by my love for
you that I am not Ignace Prado,
and that | know nothing of your
fathers death. More than that
| can't tell you for the present,
but you must believe me, Mer-
cia."
II feel that you are speaking
the truth" she gasped. "And the
stronger this feeling grows the
more | fear for you. 1t is true
YOU have just Left Guarez and
Rojas bound, but they will not
remand bound forever. There
were four others besides Prado
whom the council condemned and
every one of the four has been
killed"
81 know nothing about the in
fernal business" | said, lex
cept that they've bungled me
three times, and that somehow
or other they've managed to get
hold of the wretched Milford"
Milford" she repeated, look
ing at me In horror. rs that
the man they tried to poison?"
YES" l said. "He vanished
two days ago, and Heaven knows
what's happened to him by now. "
She drew a deep breath. "Ah, u
she whispered, that explains the
disappearance of Da Costa. He
was watching the house, and he
was to write to Guarez every day.
We have heard nothing"
1t was with difficulty l brought
the girls thoughts back to her
present situation.
"Mercia," said, when are the
Tregattocks expecting you back?
Soon?"
She nodded her head. II told
them | should be away for few
days. l did not know how long"
well, it seems to me-" said L.,
that the best thing we can do
when we get to London is to drop
you at a hotel. Then you can go
back to them tomorrow, as Il
you'd just come from Woodford. :"
"And your" she asked anxious
ly.
81 must go back to Park Lane.
Whatever happens, ] must stay
there for another fortnight"
But it is Madness" she whis-
pered; more than ever madness
now. Do you think Rojas will for
get
NO" I interrupted, smiling;
I'm quite sure he won't forget
for long time" Then I looked
straight into her eyes. "Mercia,
I said, why did you come to
Woodford?"
"Guarez sent for me-" she an
swered simply. "He said that you
were to die the next day, and,
though you almost converted me
that night in your study, l still
desired your DEATH"
"But what could you do?"
persisted.
"Guarez meant to use me as a
decoy. l was to bring you to the
Hollies, and once there" She
shivered.
when It came to the test,
however. / did not have the cour-
age to injure you," she confess