The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-11-17
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HER HUSBANDS
WIDOW
CHAPTER LIN.

He became suddenly conscious of
the cruel irony of his tone. He flushed
more deeply than before. 4 beg your
PARDON he said. IT you are her faith
er don't wish to insult you. But II my
suspicious are true-as I'm sure they
are--good Heavens. man." he burst
out, regarding the other with a horri-
fled amazement, Il wonder you don't
shoot yourself!"
may do that yet. my young friend
Oberved the baronet grimly, resuming
his walk. Meantime you will give me
credit. l hope for a certain amount of
natural feeling. Whether Leslie Is
proud of me or not"-he smiled rueful-
ly-"and I'm well aware she isn't |
don't want to do her an more harm
than / have already done. You ana l,
therefore. are talking to each other
just as friends OF hers in her interest
"A great danger threatens her and
her boy. That man Erdsley whom you
collared at Maxim's found out that you
and she were married. After the scene
at Wilton place l sent him to Egypt to
find out ii there was any truth in your
story. l did not believe that you had
been previously married to Mrs. Melas,
and, of course. at that time it was to
my interes. to prove that you were ly-
ing. Well. Erdsley has come back l
have not yet seen him, but he has seen
Leslie, and tells her that my suspicious
were correct--that you were not mar
ried in Egypt, at all events to Mrs. Me
at Victor. rs that correct?"
LeslIes Fate Hangs
on . Terrible of"
Il prefer not to answer just yet
replied the soldier.
The baroner shrugged his shoulders.
so much the better. Now the position
is this: Erdsley wanted Leslie to
bride him to keep silence-tried to
blackmail her, in fact. Unfortunately
she not only rejected his proposal with
contempt, but overwhelmed him with
insult-pitched him in the water, and
so FORTH" Both men smiled dryly.
Il know Erdsley," continued the bar
onet. He Is the most indicative man
alive, and whatever line l choose to
take he will publish the fact of your
marriage with my daughter far and
wide. Leslie and her child must live
all their lives in the shadow Of this
scandal unless'-He stopped and con-
sidered Steele attentively.
OuAcSS "udt OcluduUSO the SOL
der, hoarse with eagerness.
Unless you are prepared. in spite of
Erdsley, to stick to the story you told
at Wilton place. You must brazen it
out and proclaim yourself that wom-
ans husband. That is the only solu-
ton I can see."
Victor bit his lips and stared blankly
before him. The frown grew deeper on
his brow as he thought. Sir Ralph
walked up and down, smoking continu-
ously, and every now and again shot a
keen glance at him from beneath his
heavy lids.
Victor drew a deep breath. you
mean, l suppose. that shall have to
live with Mrs. Melas-behave as her
husband in all outward things-let her
call herself by my name?"
Nothing less than that would dis.
arm suspicion"
II see," Victor reflected. And If
agree to that, do l understand you to
mean that you, will leave Leslie and
her boy. in undisputed possession OF the
estates?",
Il thought had made that clear to
YOU, Captain Steele I, am not q scru-
pulous man, but there are things bar,
and one Of them is fighting against my
own daughter"
And perhaps for the first time In his
life the baronet's dignified manner I'm
piled genuine dignity Of soul.
Victor gritted his teeth. It's q ter
rible thing you ask me- he compalined
ITO you the scruple may sound strange
but well. the woman is not
my wife and can't marry her in Les
lies lifetime
"Of course" he admitted. Il dop't
know that there's any moral law
against going about with Der and let
ting her call herself NY wife. Still
- he broke off, considered
for a moment, then burst out passion