The Washington herald., 1914-06-14
toOpyrisht. lsil.,
Copyright. fsiil
y HE three young men sat together in
Z a private box at the fashionable


skating rink. It was Sunday. after
noon. The music was inspiring. the ic,
was not too crowded. Yet all thret
seemed content to remain onlookers
They sat and watched one of their littl.
coterie. and their faces grew sloonnier
Only Knox. who had been over in Pari.
for a fortnight, slipped his tea in content
ment and remained unimbued by the gen
eral depression.
You fellows~don't seem very gay" h,
remarked presently.
How can We be gay" Sammy Fore
replied, motioning with his head toward
a passing couple. with that to look at;
Poor old Len!'
Knox put up his eyeglasses and fol.
lowed the direction of his friends gesture
Il admit" he sighed. that 1t is a some
what depressing sight to see one Of our
own pals guilty Of such a shocking breach
of taste. Why do you allow it. you fel.
lows? Dash 1t all. q supper room would
noon! Has Leonard gone out of his
senses?" ,-H- ..
They all began to talk at once but
Sammy silenced them. Come" he said,
'for the moment had forgotten that
Algy knows nothing Of this"
You know the young woman, Algy"
Knox nodded. Miss Rose Montressor,
back row Of the Hilariry, and not too sure
of her place even there. A loud. bold
looking young woman whom none of
Us excepting Len. has ever spoken to
that know Of"
Your estimate of the young woman" :"
Sammy Ford declared, brings you into
line with US No doubt you are askins
yourself, then, the same questions which
are driving US almost crazy. Firstly, why,
in the name Of all that's reasonable, Is
Leonard advertising himself here on Sum-
day afternoon and at every other place
you can think of with such a person?
Secondly, what in heavens name Is the
matter with the fellow? He looks fright
ened to DEATH
Have any Of you fellows tackled him
about it?" Knox asked.
Done our best" Sammy Ford re-
piled. He only mumbled something
about her being jolly decent sort Of
girl. and ran of. He's given US the 60
by altogether. And all the time, as you
one Of the incest little girls in London"
They relapsed into silence for a time,
silence broken a little abruptly by
Knox rs Leonard short Of money or
anything Of that sort?'
Not herew Sammy Ford, answered.
He Is up to his eyes in 1t. though that
wretched little hussy must have cost
him a bit. Her clothes weren't fit to
look at a month ago. Now she's got
sables like a duchess, hats like lamp
shades and she reeks Of an the per-
fumes of the Burlington Arcade"
mighty queer business" Knox re-
marked, thoughtfully. 'PH tackle Len
first opportunity. Haven't seen him since
I got back from Paris; SO 1 shall have
an excuse
The couple whom they were discuss
ing swung by at that moment. The girl
was dark, gold-visaged. over-dressed,
and her unpleasant voice and shrill
laughter reached them like a jarring
note She skated badly and clung to
boyish and rather pleasant expression was
marred just now ny a curious tighten
ing Of all the lines of his face He
looked, as Sammy Ford had recently de-
clared. like the ghost OF himself.
Something wrong there. without a
doubt" Knox decided finally. TT must
be investigated.
Knox presented himself at Leonard
Spendler's rooms about half past seven
that evening. He brushed past the some
what doubtful manservant and 5trolled
into the bedroom. where his friend was
with 4 white lie in front Of
a looking glass.
Thought this would be safe time
to run you down, old chap" he re-
marked. How are your
Rotten Leonard replied shortly.
Knox seated himself on the edge Of
the bed. What's wrong, Len?' he de-
Through the looking glass he saw the
boys face hardeE.
Nothing"
Rot" Knox replied. You're making |
a laundering ass of yourself with a silly, |
underbred girl. There must be some ex- |
PLANTATION. Out with it,
For a moment there was a stout 81
lence. Then, without a word. Leonard |
crossed the room to the door. turned the
key, and came back. His lips were quiv-
sring. He spoke with a sob.
"Algy. old man, I will out with 1t.
Swore wouldn't. Got to break my word.
can't stick 1t out any longer. Look at
ne. I'm a murderer
Knox stared at his friend fixedly. Leo
lard sat down by his side upon the bed.
You take it very quietly" he went on,
but the things like nightmare to me.
t was all my own fault. / drove Rose
dontressor home one night. She lives
luite respectfully down with her people
n Hendon street, West KensinSton. 1
vent in and was introduced to her faith
II and mother. They're shocking, both
4 'em. OF course, they made fuss over
ne and Rose wouldn't let me go. There
vas a beast of a chap there who kept
m trying to come and talk to her.
Vretched bounder he was and no end of
nuisance. To escape from him, Rose
nd 1 went into the back room. He fol-
owed us there and kicked up a row. 1
vas a bit lit and 1 couldn't stand the
hap. / called him a cad and he came
or me. There was brass candlestick
n the mantelpiece and I struck him
With it right across the head. He went
own, Algy, just like a log-never moved.
lose got frightened and we called some
ne. Fortunately, only the old man came
l. They found Td-Pd killed him"
But how on earth has a thing like
MS been kept quiet?" Knox asked.
Have you read of the disappearanceI
Z Robert Jules, stockholders clerk?"
Knox nodded. 'I saw something about
in the newspapers" he admitted.
That's the chap" Leonard went on.
hoses people have certainly behaved