The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-09-27
Chapter XXI.

There was a moments silence. Les
lie heard her companion draw a deep
breath, and looking out of the corner
of her eye saw that she was holding
tightly to the rail as if for support.
She felt intensely sorry for her-in-
tensel- sorry, too, for herself. Yet 1t
was something to have escaped SO mar
rowly Identification as Steele's wife.
''You do not expect me to attribute
your presence here this morning to
chance?" went on Leslie. smiling bit
terIy. #
"No, l came over from Paris last
night, and went to his rooms this
morning. He was out. said would
wait for him. Then your telegram
came. They left 1t on the table and
"You opened it,"
"Yes. Airs fair in love and war. Do
you Knoxville woman made step
toward the other with appraised hands.
bending her fingers as though ready
to tear her flesh. Her voice rose to q
scream. do you know that In Egypt l
should have killed you-poisoned or
stabbed you for daring to take him
away from me?"
From whom did you hear about the
girl?" she inquired gently.
1T would not he fair to tell you.
Someone know heard 1t from another
man who saw Victor in Paris. He
was at Hastings at the time. No one
W knew that he married the girl. Are
you sure?' s.
quite sure"
But how can you be-" The ques-
q tion was put with agonized intensity
do you know herr"
81 Eyes, | know her. 1t was of her
( that l wanted to speak to him this
morning That is why l telegraphed.
The girl has labored under the i'm
preston that the marriage was void.
S When l met Captain Steele at Jeru-
salem IL, of course, thought about
her, and as soon as l got back to Lon
don l inquired of lawyer If the
marriage was valid. He said yes"
"Does-does this girl want to claim
him." asked Mrs Melas hoarsely.
"She must do so; though 1t may
mean her ruin"
"You don't think Victor wants her,
do you?"
Leslie shook her head and averted
her face. Il don't think So" she said,
hardly above a whisper. Il
# Mrs. Melas seemed calmer now.tgShe
walked up and down the little gallery,
evidently deeply considering some
problem. She stopped short and look
ed at Leslie. -s..>
HAS the girl actually claimed
Victor yet as her husband?"
mo. l told you that l was about
to speak to him on her behalf"
Very good of you, I'm sure; fore
ing a wife on him that he doesn't
want" Mrs. Melas emitted shrill.
discordant laugh Il see you are one
of those good people who go about
because it's their duty. When did
Victor meet this girl?" she asked
abruptly.
I'm September four years ago
HIN, well, I don't think your Hast
ings friend need trouble about Captain
Steele. I advise her never to go near
him or to let him know that she's
alive.
why not?"
We'll, he'll deny it, of course, If
you challenge him-men are such
liars" Mrs Melas leaned with folded
arms upon the balustrade and stared
Leslie steadily in the face. But, you
see, he and l were married in Egypt
six years ago-two years before your
penny farthing nursery maid appeared
on the scene"
you mean to say that you are Vic
tor Steele's wife," said Leslie, wonder.
ing If she had heard Alright. The
bearded figures on the Assyrian re-
liefs seemed to be swaying strangely
That's what I said There was
note If defiance in Jenny's voice.
Cues that particularly worry your"
she added with a sheer. a..,..
Worry mel" An hysterical laugh
-..:t was half sob escaped from the
girl. She caught at the rail for sup
port Worry me? Why should it?
The woman who thought she was
married to Captain Steele ought to be
glad of her release from such a
scoundrel!"
The last words came with some
thing like hiss
Mrs Melas flushed hotly. "He is
not a scoundrel," she protested. ITS
its long and involved story l
can't tell you all the circumstances. y
She went on hurriedly. as if anxious
to defend the man about whom she
had made some damaging statements
f"He was very young at the time 1t
4 was done to protect me-to get me
out of harem You wouldn't under
stand-the law out there is very com
pick"
Marrying damsels in distress and
then leaving them seems to be his
hobby" remarked Leslie lightly. Her
voice sounded very far away. ss.I had
gathered you encouraged Sir Ralph
Gavenston."