Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

grace of long limbs, exceedingly delicate and
shapely. Nevertheless, he moved slightly
so that he stood now in the little ray of light
streaming out from the room.
Il suppose it was our old friendship that
saved me- he declared. 3Do you hear
that? They are dealing
From where they stood they could hear
the soft patter of cards upon the green baize
of the table. Lucille did not move for a
moment. Her bosom was rising and falling
quickly, there was storm in her eyes.
3You are clever, my dear Jernyn,' she
murmured. @Some day, perhaps we
shall see
She walked away and took her place at
the table. Jermyn strolled off into the
shadows of the garden, threaded laurel
shrubbery, and stood by the lake. He was
sensitive enough to feel keen1y the little
scene that had been precipitated upon him;
but at the back of it all the greater happiness
prevailed. Life had never seemed so splen-
did to him as in those few minutes when he
walked in the gardens he loved and finally
turned his face toward the house, curiouslv
picturesque in its indistinctness, with the
lights streaming from every window. The
half-hour was up. In a few minutes Svbil
would be his once more!
HE entered the house through the library
IL window and watched the game looking
over Lucille's shoulder. She did not once
glance toward him. Then the door was
opened and the butler appeared, ushering
in visitor.
@Mr Norden Smith, SIR he announced,
ito see the Marquis of Lakenham."
Jermyn turned at once to greet his visitor
He was, as matter of fact, rather glad of
the distraction. He was glad too of so
plausible an excuse for going in and breaking
up that billiard match, which apparently
was still continuing Norden Smith was a
tall, colorless, thin American, loosely built,
with a long, intelligent face and high fore
head. He was wearing dinner clothes of a
somewhat transatlantic cut, and a small,
precisely tied black bow. Jernyn advanced
to meet him and held out his hand
AYou are friend of Lakenham's, 1 I'M
derstand, he remarked. Il am very glad
phone l think. My name is Annerley.'
"Glad to meet you, Sir Jermyn Annerley,
I am sure Smith replied. Lord Laken-
ham stayed with us out in New York, and
he made me promise that I'd look him up
if l ever found myself in this country. I
happened to hear by accident that he was
staying here; but I've no wish to intrude. l
won't stay longer than just to shake hands
with him, if he is anywhere about"
fOu 11luSIn IE1Ilk OF nur1y1nS, Jermyn
declared Hospitality ACome along and III
take you to him. He's playing billiards."
As Jermyn threw open the door of the bill
lard room he stopped at the threshold, his
right hand gripping the side of the door, alb
solutely motionless bereft for moment of
all power of speech, a numb, nerveless figure.
The American, looking over his shoulder,
was the first to break the silence.
"My God!' he exclaimed. whats hap
pened here?T
TERMYN clutched at his companion and
> drew him into the room. His voice, when
he spoke, seemed to come from long way
off. He was scarcely conscious that it be-
longed to himself.
"Close the door!" he ordered ave mustn't
let anyone in!'
Lying yard or two in the room was
Lakenham, fiat upon his back, with one arm
gripping the leg of the billiard table, as
though he had tried to draw himself up and
failed. Far above him, curling its way to
the ceiling, lowered thin blue cloud of
smoke. There was faint smell of gun
powder in the air, and in the center of his
crumpled white shirt front little hole, with