The Washington herald., 1914-02-01

cord"
said nothing to her. but when they
came within hail 1 called to them:
"A man has jumped over the clifY-he
was with this lady"
The coastguards took her address and
mine; then began to search for what was
left Of the man. I took the woman back
with me to Eastbourne, holding her
by the arm all the way.
Ny friends had a private sitting-room
at the hotel on the ground floor, to which
admission was gained by a separate en-
trance. i led her to that sittins-room
and rang the bell.
Send UP to Mr.. Stephens, in No. 10
and tell him that 1 shall be glad to see
him here as soon as he can make it con-
venient to come. And tell Mr.. Ward I
wish to see him."
Who's Mr.. Stephens?" asked the
woman as soon as the waiter had gone.
And what are you soing to say to my
husband? Who are your
She spoke sayagely. trying to shake
herself loose. But she was weaker than
!, and she could not do II.
Il am Judith Lee" told her. ''I
am going to tell your husband everything
i know about you
And what do you know? I only saw
you once before in my life"
Only once. You will presently hear
what 4 know about you. if you have
not already guessed"
think she had I saw II in her face.
Almost Immediately her husband cana
hurriedly into the room. He seemed dis
turbed.
Il am told Miss Lee wants to see me-
are you Miss Lee? What are you doing
here with my wife,"
I told him everything-his wife never
even attempted to interrupt As | pieced
my story together think she began TO
have feeling that 1 was somthing al
most supernatural-that she was afraid
Of me-
When / repeated word for word. the
conversation which had taken place be-
tween the guilty pair the woman sank
on to the floor and the man seemed dazed
Then came the horror OF the suicide
which she had prompted.
II am aware" / said, that II would
be difficult. Mr. Ward. to bring home
against your wife the full measure Of
her guilt to the satisfaction Of a crimi-
nal court. I admit the dexterity with
which she has eluded responsibility. on
one condition I am willing to let her go
with you, to wherever you may choose to
take her and to hold my tongue. She has
done all these things to gain possession Of
the fortune left by the late Mrs. Dawson.
Render an account OF the money she
left. resign all claim to 1t, transfer it in
its entirety to the woman to whom il
rightfuily belongs. and l will leave Mrs.
Ward to her conscience. / may add that
! communicated last night with the
authorities at Scotland Yard, and that a
detective is coming TO Eastbourne by tn.
first train which leaves London. I have
sent a message to a friend who is STAY
ing In the hotel. Mr.. Arthur Stephens.
a solicitor Of high standing. He will
probably be here in a minute or two,
ready to draw up a formal assignment
to Mrs. George Ryder of what ought to
have been hers at the beginning. How
is it to be-"
] could see that his lips were dry: with
the tip OF his tongue he moistened them.
His voice was husky.
I'm willing TO do what YOU wish,
Miss Lee. / am willing to do everything,
IL only you will say moth
ng to any one else of what you have
Just now been saying to U.S."
Then I knew that my surmise had
been correct, and that he had at least
some sort of guilty knowledge Of his
~ife's nefarious conduct Arthur Ste
ohens entered.
Il am very sorry to have disturbed
rou. Mr.. Stephens. but l am in pressing
need Of your services. This is Mr..
Athelstan Ward. He is in possession OF
certain property to which he has no
title: at any rate. no moral title. Con-
'cious OF that fact, he wishes TO assign
t to the rightful owner. / want you to
RAW up short form which shall give
egal and valid expression to that wish
" his Afterward. / may have to re- .
quest you to go with him into matters
II account: that you will be able to do
alter in the day. At present. all / ask
-ou to do is to draw up a brief form
which shall have the effect I have mem
toned Here are pen. ink, and paper"
Within a very few minutes that form
vas drawn up. As Mr.. Ward was In the
ct of affixins his signature the door
pened. and some one else I knew came
This. / explained, lis Inspector Ellis
( Scotland Yard. Inspector, this is Mr..
Ithelstan Ward. He is about to sign =
ocument: perhaps you wouldn't mind
citing as one of the witnesses to his
ignature?"
The paper was signed and witnessed.
hen 1 made certain other explanations;
kept within the letter OF my bond, but
gave Mr.. and Mrs. Athelstan Ward to
nderstand that il they did not keep
trictly within the letter of theirs, their
-ouble was only just beginning. After
reakfast the inspector and Mr.. Stephens
tent up to London with that undesirable
usband and his still less desirable wife.
n the evening they returned to East
ourne. They rendered their report Mr..
nd Mrs Ward had been called to a strict
in the course of the day they
ad been stripped OF every farthing OF
heir ill-gotten gains. Berths had been
ooked for them on a steamer which was
.aving the very next day for a South
merican port. They were informed that
certain amount of money would be
redited to their account when they
.nded; with that they would have to be.
in the world afresh. Whether they sue
eeded or failed. they would return to
ngland at their peril. / do not think
lat either of them is ever likely to set
,ot on English soil again
Soon after the quartet quilted the hotel
n their way to London, I kept the ap-