, 1915-07-15

through 1t 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 spellbound.
Then 1t was you who sent the let
teri"
Andrew bowed.
Il simply mentioned It. SIR" he con
tinued sedately. in order to show you
that when | give information my mo-
are by no means always selfish,
Good night, sir The buffers voice
was still that of the excellent servant
trained to a becoming humility. But
before he had reached the door he was
arrested by the voice of the detective.
"One minute. Why did you double
cross Denver Jones, and what made
you pick me for that Fourth National
captureF"
well you see. sir" the Master Mind
explained blandly. Jones had the mis-
fortune to offend me. Besides, ST.. |
knew that on account of your success
in this case you would be promoted to
a high place in the detective service,
and as l was then situated 1t was not
well for me to have skillful men in
high places. Good night, sir"
Marshall was at pains presently to
e 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. 1t vas agreed be
tween them that the detective should
maintain a 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
foiling the expected effort of the rob
Der against the jewels in the safe.
Wainwright was to hold himself In
readiness for n m m at any time,
but chose not to share directly in the
watch. Ii 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 it had
been. Yet the exac aso for his
course defied analysis.
Meanwhile Lucene was in despair
because of the desperate situation with
which she was confronted. A just
Judge must nave taken into considera-
ton 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 lenienl, though 1t might find her
guilty. But she had no mercy toward
herself. She had come to know the
truth at lhst-the truth she had voiced
to the Master Mind-that it is impossi
BILE to build happiness on lies. She
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 by
making her his wife. Thus she had
foully betrayed his faith. Whatever
the penalty for truth ut the outset, the
truth should have been told. She I'M
derstood now. Her conscience had
warned her. She had stified 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 had
been wrought. 1t was too late to undo
the evil accomplished by her treachery
There vas nowhere any hope of re-
demption. She had sinned: she must
do penance with a life of agonized
mourning for the bliss she had lost.
There was left to her only the ability
to spare her husband in some measure.
That she must do. though her heart
break.
1t was just five minutes before the
hour Of 2 when Andrew. In his cupola
room, extinguished his light. which
had shone from the tower windows
like a beacon. Creegan, lurking within
the shadows of clustered strawberries
a hundred yards from the mansion.
heaved a sigh of relief. Then, as the
calm of the place remained unbroken.
he began stealthily to make his way
toward the massive bulk of the house.
Marshall had established himself in
IA window seat Of the library. from
which he had an extensive view of his
surroundings.
Farther down the room toward the
rear. the alcove. in which was the safe.
showed its draperies of portieres along
the line of the opposite wall. Facing
him. a little further toward the front
was the wide doorway into the hall,
through which was to be e e a part
OF the stairway. The softly burning
hall light cast its illumination over the
stairs and hall itself, and shone
through the doorway into the library,
though the radiance here was dimmed
50 that objects were only barely visi-
BILE In shadowy wise. From time to
time the detective had undertaken a
cautious round Of the house to make
SURF that nothing f u nefarious sort
was anywhere under way. But as the
appointed hour OF Andrews promised
burglary approached he held his po-
sition fmmoyably In the window seat,