The Ekalaka eagle., 1915-09-17

lasted for the whole of the next day.
The day after I succeeded in making
my peace and thought no more Of it.
Had Rachel reverted to this unlucky
accident at the critical moment when
my place in her estimation was again
and far more seriously assailed? Mr..
Bruff, when I had mentioned the cir
cumstanccs to him. answered that
question at once in the affirmative.
ut would have it's effect on her
mind" he said gravely. "And l wish
for your sake the thing had not hap
pened. Our next step in this inquiry
must he the step that takes us to
Rachel"
"She has been guest of yours at
this house." answered. "May l ven
ture to suggest-if nothing was said
about me beforehand-that might see
her here?"
"In plain English" he said. "my
house is to be turned into a trap to
catch Rachel. AS things are, l firmly
believe Rachel will I've to thank me
for turning traitor to her in my old
age. Consider me your accomplice.
Rachel shall be asked to spend the day
here and you shall receive due notice
of it."
I thanked him for the inestimab!e
assistance which he was rendering to
me, with the gratitude which l really
felt and. declining a hospitable invita-
tion to sleep that night at Hampstead,
returned to my lodgings in London.
One morning Mr.. Bruff surprised me
at the breakfast table. He handed
me a large key and announced that he
felt ashamed Of himself for the first
time in his life.
"She is coming today to lunch and
spend the afternoon with my wife and
my girls"
care Mrs. Bruff and your daughters
in the secret?'
may have observed, have no princi-
pies. My family don't feel any pangs
of conscience. The end being to bring
you and Rachel together again. my
wife and daughters pass over the
means employed to gain it as COM
posedly as if they We're Jesuits.'
II am infinitely obliged to them.
What is this key?"
''The key of the gate in my back
garden wall. Re there at 3 this after
noon. Let yourself into the garden
and make your way in by the conserv-
atory door, Cross the small drawing
room and open the door in front of
There YOU will find kachel-and find
her alone"
"How can I thank you:'
II will tell you how. Don't blame
me for what happens afterward.'
AS the clock of Hampton church
struck 3 put Mr.. Bruff's key into the
lock of the door in the wall. passed
through the garden, entered the con-
servatory and crossed the small draw
ing room. AS laid my hand on the
door opposite I heard few plaintive
chords struck on the piano in the room
within.
At the moment when l showed my.
self in the doorway Rachel rose from
the piano.
closed the door behind me. We con
fronted each other in silence, with the
full length of the room between us
The movement she had made in rising
appeared to be the one eXertion OF
which she was capable. All use of ev-
cry other faculty, bodily or mental
| = 1,, IN, Iva vat ~
looking at me.
IF Won will not speak first" l said
81 must. have come here with some
thing serious to say to you. Will you
do me the common justice of listen
ing while say it?''
She neither moved nor answered.
made no second appeal to her. l never
advanced an inch nearer to her chair
With pride which was us obstinate
as her pride. told her of my discovery
at the Shivering Sand, and Of all that
had led to it. The narrative, of neces
sity, occupied some little time. From
beginning to end she never looked
round at me, and she never uttered q
word.
Il have question to ask you,"
said. ut ohi@es me to refer again tc
a painful subject. Did Rosanna Spear
man show you the nishtgown? Yes, OF
No?"
She started to her feet and walked
close up to me of her own accord. Hel
eyes looked me searchingly in the face
as if to read something there which
they had never read yet.
".Are you mad?" she asked.
u still restrained myself. said