Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06

piled. mo wonder you see 1t! Everyone
can see it except Jermyn himself. Here have
| come all the way from Dinard to try and
get few days alone with him down here,
and 1 find myself compelled to sit at the
head of his table and play propriety for his
little actress. Why in Heavens name
doesn't he behave like an ordinary mortal
and keep her where she belongs? Upon my
word, if only had the heart to laugh, it's
the most absurd situation that anyone could
possibly devised"
mo doing anything with Jermyn,"
Lakenham said decidedly. Hes got it in
the neck Fairly bowled over You wouldn't
believe the rot he talked to me just now,
after he'd been out moon gazing. | don't
know what it all meant except that he'd
marry the girl even if she turned out one of
the worst
"He thinks he would" Lucille remarked;
@but he wouldn't really, you know. The
trouble of it is that the girl herself has been
SO clever. Apart from that elusive memory
of yours, which l am beginning to hate, 1
suppose you never heard anything at the
club or anywhere about her?'
@Not single word Lakenham declared.
3And the memory?"
"Blank as ever, he ans ,cered gloomily.
Lucille knocked the :sh from her ciga-
rette. "Aynesworth," she said, turning a
little toward him, a am used to having my
own way in life. | want to upset this mar
rage
$50 do IT, he replied buntly.
She raised her eyebrows. you? But
why2 Where do you come in?'
He smoked in stolid silence for several
moments. Again that rather curious light
shone in his dull eyes. "Never mind, he
muttered shortly. at isn't necessary to tell
you. l want to upset it. | would if l
could"
she leaned back IN her chair and laughed
~ softly @After ALL she murmured, Il
am glad I came. The situation is improving
| am no longer in the limelight as the central
fool. Oh, my dear Aynesworth, Heaven
bless you for this!'
He looked at her suspiciously. "Don't
understand what you're getting at" he de-
clared.
you wouldn't she answered, wiping her
eyes. Ell ask you no questions. If guess,
that must be proof of my wonderful won1an's
sagacity. Now about that little illusion of
yours. There is something that it is just
possible might help
what is it?' he asked eagerly.
@You know that an hour or SO ago Sybil
Cluley tainted at the door of Jermyns study
as they were coming away?'
ayes, know that, he admitted. Il never
saw fellow SO scared in my life as poor old
Jermyn was"
@Girls don't faint for nothing, as a rule"
Lucille continued. "While you two were
safe in here have been spending few min
utes in the study
Find anything?"
"There was an illustrated paper face
downward on the writing table, Lucille told
him. at was open at a photograph of Sybil
Cluley; but part of the next page, which
contained an interview and an account of
her life, was torn out. 1t had evidently been
wilfully destroyed
Lord Lakenham sat quite still, blinking
quickly. "Well?"
at occurred to me-" Lucille went on
softly, "that in that interview you might
find something that would give you an idea,
which would perhaps help that little memory
of yours to life. 1t seems all the more prob
able, doesn't it, when you consider that
someone-Sybil Cluley herself, of course
during the time that they were in the study
together had deliberately torn out that page?"
"By Jove!" Lakenham said slowly, sitting
up in his chair. @Are there any more illus
trated papers in the house,"
@There is another copy of the same one in
the drawing room,' she answered. Il was
or, nv, av IN oat If when I mot Iar,,,x,, nv,