The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-09
CHAPTER XIII.

An Admission.
 "A K ARSHALL, the detective, at | lN tempted a diversion and re- 1
 piled to Andrew:
 A X 'tYou can hardly expect me l to place much confidence in the state | ment of a person who is a total stran- | ger to me- he objected.
 t'Of course, sir, it is true that am practically a stranger to you" An drew admitted without the change of a note in his monotone to give warn ing of the supremely audacious speech to follow. "Yow've E9so1o1a noe o4sEv sS1aco Mr. WGi,saorigbt told. yoat aoho 1oGs c feso nbS7sutes ago. But I hGUe knot0s yosG for q Iossg time, sir"
 The detective glared with round eyes at this amazing man, who dared haunt the helplessness of the law in its very face.
 "Oh, you have, have youl"
 teYes,'' came the placid answer. 'sYou were an obscure detective when you recovered those bonds in the Fourth National bank case. Your present excellent position is really owing to that besides the medal you Neceived at the time and also the l $1o,oO0 reward paid to you. But through it all you said nothing of the anonymous note you received advising you of the facts in the case and giving | you explicit directions as to how to capture Denver Jones"
 Marshall sat spelIbound.
 .1Then it was you who sent the let terl"
 Andrew bowed
 .T simply mentioned it, sir" he con- i tinued sedateIy, lin order to show you that when I give information my mo tives are by no means always selfish. Good night, sir.'' The buffers voice was still that of the excellent servant trained to becoming humility. But before he had reached the door he was arrested by the voice of the detective.
 stOne minute. Why did you double cross Denver Jones, and what made you pick me for that Fourth National eapture2"
 .sWell, you see, sir,'' the Master Mind explained blandly, "Jones had the mis- fortune to offend me. Besides, sir, I knew that on account of your success in this case you would be promoted to a high place in the detective service, and as was then situated it was not well for me to have skillfuI men in high places. Good night, sir
 Marshall was. at pains presently to seek Wainwright, whom he found on the point of retiring, and to make known the information he had receiv- ed from Andrew concerning the pro ! jected burglary. It was agreed be- tween them that the detective should maintain strict secret watch over the whole establishment throughout the night, with the twofold object of being ready for any move on the part of the sender of the black card and of I hn fc6 off Of 1oo 1-r1O- Der against the jewels in the safe.
 Wainwright was to hold himself in readiness for a summons at any time, but chose not to share directly in the watch. It seemed certain to both men that the Master Mind would be aware Of their conference. Undoubtedly he had intended that his announcement of the visit from a thief should be passed on to Wainwright, as 1t had been. Yet the exact reasons for his course defied analysis.
 Meanwhile Lucene was in despair because of the desperate situation with which she was confronted. A just judge must have taken into considera- tion her youth and inexperience, her feeling of devoted gratitude and rever- ence for the man who guided her choice, and the judgment must have been len1ent, though it might find her guilty. But she had no mercy toward herself. She had come to know the truth at last-the truth she had voiced to the Master Mind-that it is impossi ble to build happiness on lies. She 7 had lived a lie, for the hoodwinking of the man who loved her, who had honored her above all women, who had given into her keeping his honor Sby making her his wife. Thus she had foully betrayed his faith. Whatever ! the penalty for truth at the outset, the !. !. truth should have been told She un derstood now. Her conscience <ha6 warned her. She had stifled conscience at the dictation of the man whom she esteemed for his goodness to her. An , drew. Now realization of her passive guilt was fully hers. But the ruin ha6 been wrought. It was too late to undo the evil accomplished by her treachery There was nowhere any hope of re demption. She had sinned; she mus do penance with life of agonizeC mourning for the bliss she had lost There was left to her only the ability to spare her husband in some measure 2 That she must do, though her hear break.
 Gro Be Continued.) I>