The Washington herald., 1914-06-14

a silly ass, Leonard" he pronounced
You ought to have owned up right away
The thing was only a brawl What mad,
Miss Montressor's people behave SO de
Gently about it? The fellow must hav,
been friend of theirs"
They thought 1 was engaged to Rose,
Leonard explained slowly.
''Hm!" Knox remarked. And nov
you've got to marry the girl?'
And now," Leonard assented gloomily
"as you say. have to marry her."
Told Miss Huntington YETI"
II can't bluff it." Leonard groaned
TN have to In a day or two. Because
Rose insists upon having our engage
ment announced
ANY objection to my interviewing ths
old man,
IT don't see what good it can do
Leonard replied. 1T isn't he who's urg.
ing the thing on"
| Who is. then?' Knox asked. You're
not in love with Rose Montressor, are
your
''Of course I'm not" Leonard declared
Indignantly. ''But-well, she expects II
herself. She told her father the lie be-
fore he got me out Of the mess"
"1n 90 and have a chat with the old
fellow, anyhow" Knox declared.
IF you do" Leonard begged him,
"tust let him know that you're a par
ticular friend and that / am not telling
any one else. He is rather scared over
the whole thing now that it's over He
got it managed through a doctor friend
VINO almost lives with them-rather q
low-down sort Of beggar, but he's a doc
tor. all right They're a bit scared about
conspiracy"
Knox paid his visit to No. is Hendon
street. West Kensington, on the follow
ing afternoon. He found the neighbor-
hood, as he had expected. Q little ur-
savory. The door of his house was
opened to him, after some delay, by
Mrs. Montressor. She listened to Knox's
inquiry suspiciously.
II am not SO sure that Mr. MontressoF
is in." she said. what might your
business be?'
Knox gently insinuated himself into the
passage.
My dear Mrs. Montressor,'' he ex-
planned. Il am a great friend of Leon
ard Spendler's. Need I say any moref
1 should like to have just q word or
two with your husband II / might be
permitted"
the door. The passage was very narrow,
and Mrs. Montressor was very large.
Henry" she called up the dingy lin
oleum-covered stairs, there's a friend
here of Mr.. Spendler's wants to see you"
There was an inarticulate sound and
silence. Mrs. Montressor threw open the
door of a little room hung with cheap
tapestry, Indian fans, and other awful
adornments.
"Mr. Montressor will be down in one
moment" his wife announced. ANY
frfard of NJ 10 alr -
welcome. Take a seat, sir. You know
my daughter, / dare say?"
'1 have the pleasure Of knowing her
by sight very WELL" Knox admitted.
And a dear good girl she is,'' Mrs.
Montressor continued. emphatically.
Never a moments trouble to me since
she was born. I was on the stage myself,
Mr."
Knox" he told her.
Mr.. Montressor. who turned out to be
elderly, with a dyed mustache and bags
under his furtive eyes, entered the room
with an air Of marked anxiety. The sight
of Knox, who was looking very pink
and white. and seemed to be a little
nervous. appeared. however. to console
him.
Mr.. Montressor," Knox ssid, holding
out his hand. SVery good Of you to give
me few minutes. My name is Knox"
Mr.. Montressor breathed more freely
There was certainly nothing alarming
about his visitors appearance.
"Sit zee down, SIR" he invited. You
are the first Of Mr.. Spendler's friends, sir,
who has found US out You are well
come"
Very kind Of you, I am sure" Knox
declared. "You are wondering. 1 dare |
say. why I have come. I'll try and ex-
plain"
Mr.. Montressor nc ided gravely.
If your visit has a serious purpose, |
SIR" he said, I'VE should be glad to |
hear it."
Il do not know that it has exactly"
Knox replied, but 1 couldn't help COM
ing to see you. Poor cid Len is fairly
knocked over by this little affair"
My wife and l." Mr.. Montressor de-
clared solemnly. have known no sleep
since that awful moment 1 have run a
risk, Mr.. Knox, which / would run for |
few mems sakes. / liked young Mr..
Spendler. I ask for your sympathy, Mr..
Knox, in what / did. 1 have broken
the laws. I have made myself a con-
spirator. 1 did it for your friends sake.
[ ask confidently for your sympathy"
You have it." Knox assured him. You
have it, without a doubt. It was spien-
Idly done. But forgive me. Mr.. Mont.
ressor. Neither Leonard nor I can feel
quite satisfied in our minds. 1t seems
TOO wonderful to think that a man can
De spirited off the face of the earth
md all trace of him be lost
Mr.. Montressor nodded self-approvingly.
Il take no credit to myself, SIR" he
said. but l will tell you the truth. 1
achieved a wonderful performance. 1
have n friend. doctor, gentleman.
oecuniarily unfortunate, yet a gentleman.
His name in Boulder. 1 took him into
ny confidence ] said, You have an
opportunity here Of doing a great deed
L was he who managed it. There was
ne Of the victims of that shocking rail-
way accident at the end of the street {
whom no one could identify. whom no
me claimed. In his grave lies my friend
Tules." 4
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