Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-06

eyes was the look of a man who is walt
ing-and waiting for something to hap
pen that will mean the end of all his
happiness. That was,in fact, exactly
how matters stood
His wife and Joan had been in London
since the previous night-had gone there
on such prosaic business as seeing the
dentist. Vertigan had left Harptree that
morning and had announced his intention
of seeing Lady Wimberley before she re-
turned to Harptree. Vertigan had drained
John Erleigh dry. The headmaster, fore
ing matters to a crisis. had refused to
borrow any more money from his wife.
So Vertigan had laughed and said that it
was easier and simpler to go to the
source of the stream.
John Erleigh had let him go. Weeks
before he had come to this decision--that
If Vertigan asked for any more money he
would not give ii to the man. His decision
had been arrived at suddenly as he had
caught curious expression of pain and
fear In his wifes eyes when he had asked
her for the last thousand pounds. 1t was
better for her to know the truth than to
look at him like that-out of the anguish
OF her soul. Besides, he felt that he was
breaking to pieces under the strain. He
ought to have told the woman he loved
before he married her. 1t was late now
but perhaps not too late. She might have
pity on him: she might be able to under
stand. On the other hand, the confession
1T amounted to that though it did not
come from his own lips-might mean the
end OF all happiness.
And now he was waiting with fear in
mis- eyes for his wife to return. The train
was due at Harptree at quarter to four
Ammo had announced her intention OF
returning by that train.
The clock struck the half-hour-halE-
past three-and after that the minutes
dragged even more wearily ohm Erleigh
could not concentrate his mind on any
thing. For more than an hour n half
written letter had lain before hlm-a
letter OF no Importance, such as any one
could write without effort. But John
Erlelgh could not finish II. When he was
not looking at the clock his eyes were
nxed on the window, where the yellow
hight was changing to a dull gray. The
aoney disappeared altogether and then
the giant arms and fingers OF the tree
And then 1t grew so dark that he could
not see the face OF the clock. The ticking
OF IL seemed very loud ond very slow.
Then the great abbey clock chimed out
O'Clock and the whole room seemed to
Vprate' After that there was silence for
teW minutes, and then the purr of a
motor and the crunching of wheels on the
gravel drive John Erleigh shuddered
~
Ing from sleep. He heard the distinct
tinkle OF bell, and then the opening and
closing OF the hall doors, and the sound
OF footsteps and voices in the halI.
John Erleigh rose to his feet, walked to
the door and then returned to his seat al
the table It was impossible to 20 out
into the hall and greet his wife Just as II
nothing had happened. He would wait
until she came to him. She should find
MIN there. hiding his shame in the dark
ness.
The sound OF voices died away ana
again there was silence. Perhaps VertI-
gan had not struck the blow after all. or
perhaps the servants had told his wife
that he was out. He had not runR the
bell for tea; he had gone out at O'clock
and no one had seen him return. At anv
rate there would be a respite for a few
hours, perhaps for a few days. He
breathed more freely.
Five minutes passed and then he heard
his wife ask servant where he was. a
few moments later the door opened and
she entered the room.
Are you here, JackP' she querled, as
she peered into the darkness.
Yes, dear" he answered. rising to his
feet. Il am here"
She did not ask him why he had not
come out into the hall 10 greet her, or
why he was sitting in the dark She
closed the door and made her way across
the room TO the RED glow Of the hre.
stoopinB, she broke up some OF the coal
with the poker. and there was the flicker
Of Few feeble flames. The light showed
her face, but not very clearly
II "a AFRAID you've had q Wretehad Jour
ney, said Erleigh. nervously. Ills wife
did not reply and then he knew. foa cer-
tain, that Fefiigan hsd carried out his