The Detroit times., 1915-08-10
1.-THE AVALANCHE" -.
A Serial Mystery Story of
Absorbing Interest

mistake. II hardly seems possible.
but I'll try to believe It."
very WELL" said Treverton curt
ly. "I'll listen to you"
He flung himself into chair and
folded his arms across his chest.
Haig remained standing.
IL did meet lady that night"
said the latter after few moments
Of silence. land we motored to Cav
thorpe. That lady was my wife,"
"Your wife? You can't expect me
to believe that"
well. It's true. We had been
married for three years. We had
| separated. She came down here,
stayed at this very inn. and we
made 1t up again"
what was she like?"
About the same build o. your
wife-dark hair and eyes. II 10 pos
sible the chauffeur may have mis-
taken her for your wife. She wore
q thick VEIL"
Treverton laughed contemptuous-
ly. 81 should like some evidence"
he said.
Hsig put his hand in his pocket
and pulled out slip Of paper.
"A copy of the marriage certifi-
cate" he said, and he handed the
paper to Treverton. The document
seemed genuine enough. Richard
Haig had been married to a woman
Of the name of Joan Carbery. at a
registry once In Liverpool three
years before the date of Haig's de-
parture for Central Africa.
This proves nothing" said Trev-
erton. 1T certainly does not prove
that you did not elope with my
wife"
"You can Interview the landlord
of this INN. He will. I daresay, re-
member that Mss Joan Carbery
stayed here about that time, and
that she left here on the same day
that left the Mowbrays. His
hooks will probably show the
dates"
Didn't your chauffeur know your
| wife by sight?"
He'd never set eyes on her
| never knew I was married"
| Some one must have known.
Why did no one come forward when
| the csse came before the courts?
Advertisements were placed In all
the papers"
"Only two people knew was mar.
ried. dare say they didn't see
the advertisements. and II they did
they thought no more about it. A
married man Ia not above running
away with another mans WIFE,"
| Treverton rose to his feet. There
Is a good deal to be explained" he
said coldly. There Is the evidence
Of two letters--one written from the
Hotel Splendid in Paris. You
stayed there. didn't your"
"Yes, / did. Well, know moth
ing about the letters I didn't write
them"
Where Ia your wife,"
in her bedroom. Would you like
to see herr
Yes. I should"
Haig left the room, and returned
, In less than a minute with tall.
dark-haired woman. She was OF the
same type rs Alice Treverton. and
might have been mistaken for her
by people who did not know either
very well. She had the same hard,
beautiful face, the same grace and
slenderness. Of form, and she was
about the same age.
This Is Mr.. Treverton," said
Haig. I'm afraid he does not be-
lieve my story. Perhaps you can
convince him that II In true"
Treverton bowed. and Mrs. Haig
scrntinixed him for q few seconds
without speaking. Then she smiled.
Perhaps, Mr.. Treverton," she
said slowly, you will believe me. I
am hardly likely to defend my hus-
band II he deserted me for another
woman"
Treverton colored. "The story
does not sound very probable" he
said coldly. But, of course, I am
not really in a position to say that
II II untrue until I have examined
the evidence"
"You shall have the opportunity"
said Haig dryly. II suppose you
think it's nothing to me or my wife
that you've dragged my name
through the dirt. But you'll find
you're mistaken. I'll have my name
cleared in q court of law"
Treverton WINGED. and look of
fear came into his eyes. He was
thinking of his wife.
MAY ask you few questious!"
he said. looking at Mrs. Haig.
20. certainly. Mr.. Treverton.
Won't you sit down! There Is no
need for us to quarrel. IL there?
Dick II rather hot-tempered and you
must forgive him. or course, we
are terribly upset by this shocking
scandal. I don't profess to under
stand how the mistake arose. but
I'm sure Il was q mistake. Now,
Dick. don't scowl at Mr.. Treverton.
There n nothing to be gained by
making a scene. am all for peace,
am I not"
She seated herself in a chair and