Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-02


coct schemes of reprisal in cell. At the
last moment Mrs Carmac interviewed.
81 know what it means to he tempted,
and to yield" she said sadly, realizing
now that her own somewhat checkercd
record was not hidden from anyone in
that room. "You, MIR. Raymond, have
only yourself to blame for your misfor-
tunes Even your physical injury is the
direct outcome of an attempt to steal the
few trinkets | prize. But would never
forgive myself if | turned you out into
the world penniess and suffering. Please
tell me the truth. Have you any money!"
"Very little" came the sullcn answer.
al have spent a good deal during the last
few days"
"But how" she cried, genuinely sur
prised "You are under no expense here"
"Since candor is in the air, may as
well acquaint you with the facts, said
Raymond bitterly. "You blurted out
your own secret, and | thought | saw a
way of improving my position. | should
have won too if it were not for piece OF
cursed ill luck in the finding of those boxes.
| employed Duquesne to ferret out your
early history in Paris. If disappear, you
had better pay him well, or he may take
it into his head to go to Rupert Fosdyke
with the story. OF course don't expect
you to place much credence in anything
| say; but mere commonsense should
show you that the only safe course is to
send me to Paris with sufficient means to
secure Duquesne's silence. That is a fair
offer. Take it or leave it, as you will.
Let me point out, however, that the
Madeleine Demoret affair supplies
reasonable excuse for my journey, and,
if you are as generous as you can afford
to be, | promise to devote myself wholly
to the task of diverting any suspicious
Duquesne may have formed as to the
motive behind my previous Instructions. y
Tollcmache, with wisdom beyond his
years, seemed to know when to strike and
when to hold his hand. Raymond's sug-
gestion was eminently reasonable. The
evil spirit that had raised all this commo-
ton could best allay it.
"Come, Yvonne,' he said. "Let us
leave Mrs. Carmac to determine this mat
ter as she thinks fit. offer no opinion.
Mrs. Carmac has not compounded a
fclony,-that responsibility rests with me,
and, if she chooses to employ Raymond
fere. He knows the penalty if she is
troubled by any future act of his. I'll
hunt him round the globe!"
VVONNE never knew what terms her
mother made with Raymond. That
they did not err on the side of parsimony
may be taken for granted. Long after the
tornado that swept through Pont Aven
that Christmastide was forgotten by all
save a few, the eX-secretary was able to
buy share in an automobile agency.
Lorry was hugely amused as the two
descended the stairs. Socrates believes
that there isn't any guile in my compo-
sition," he grinned. 81 wonder what he'll
say when he reads the screed to which
that beauty has just put his left-handed
signature?"
dad will agree with me that you car
ric1 very difficult matter through with
great skill, Lorry," said Yvonne.
"But the joke is that if Raymond stuck
to his guns | was done for. Who cares
tuppcnce whether a skunk like him goes
to prison or not? Not soul! But the
whole press of Europe would stand up on
its hind legs and roar if the Carmac mil
copyright. 1918, by Edward J. Cloie.