The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-09-30

why didn't you tell me this be-
fore?" asked the baronet angrily.
II didn't know that this was the
woman you were after. Besides, I
wanted to find out who this Leslie
Varney was-the coincidence in the
names interested me-
ooh, did it," snapped Sir Ralph.
well, I'll thank you to leave my cous-
ms wife alone. l dare say Steele paid
her some attention on the boat, and
that has evidently made Mrs. Melas
jealous. What we are interested in is
why she should say he belonged to
her"
For much the same reason-that
she's in love with him. suggested
Erdsley
Sir Ralph caressed his. long mus
tache. "Well, if she's as keen as that,
there doesn't seem to be much chance
for poor old R. G. Still, I think III
have another shot,
Lets get off to London at once"
urged the other man. his face wrink-
ling with irritation and Impotence.
1--WE must take our chance of war
rant being out They would have warn.
ed us from the office if things had
been as bad as that"
Three hours. later the enterprising
financiers were seated in a second
class compartment on their way to
London by way of Dieppe.
AS the train neared London Erdsley
rudely jerked at his friends newspa-
per and asked abruptly: Don't you
think it funny that your cousins wife
and that kid Steele got mixed up with
at Hastings should both be called Les
lie?"
The baronet did not trouble to raise
his eyes from his paper, which he con-
tinued to hold tightly in both hands.
Nothing very funny in the coinci-
dence. 1t would be much funnier, not
to say idiotic, to suppose that Os-
wald's wife and the Hastings nurse
girl were the same person, if that's
the idea you have got into your head"
Thus rebuked;, Erdsley relapsed into
silence.
Sir Ralph Decides
To Have a New Try.
At Victoria the confederates sepa-
rated. Erdsley after accommodating the
position by means of the telephone,
screwed up his failing courage and
proceeded to the city offices of the
Aquidaban Syndicate. Sir Ralph tele-
phoned at once to the Royal Grand.
Mrs. Melas was not in, but he directed
the clerk to make an appointment for
him at three o'clock that afternoon.
He sauntered slowly down the Hay
market and reached the hotel seven or
eight minutes to the hour. He met
Mrs Melas coming out.
She stopped, confused, at seeing
him. Then she extended her hand.
Don't think l was going to dodge
you" she said in shaky voice. Il
was just going out for minute to
send a telegram
May l walk with you little way?"
he said in his tenderest manner.
She nodded. and as she seemed I'm.
certain in which way to go he deftly
steered her through the Admiralty
Arch into the Mall.
Its impossible to talk amid that
crash and roar" he remarked with a
backward glance toward Trafalgar
Square.
What do you want to talk to me
about?" she asked peevishly. She lift
ed her veil and he could see, for all
the scientific measures she had taken
to efface them, the marks of tears.
You know what l want to talk
about, Jenny" he said quietly.
She made petulant movement and
looked away from him across the park.
His pride was revolted. Was it posi-
BILE that she considered him, Sir Ralph
Gaveston, a bore? 1t seemed absurd
Impossible.
Don't you care for me little?' he
asked, cropping for her nand.
"Oh. really, Sir Ralph" she protest
ed, fretfully, II don't feel bit inclined
for this sort of thing. No woman does
so early in the afternoon. OF course, I
like you-youre a good sort, but"
Cant you give me an answer yet,
jenny" he pleaded.
mo, | cant-so there!" She stopped
and stamped her foot on the gravel.
You are spelling your own game by
bothering ME like this. Why are you
in such hurry to marry me? You are
not in love with me the least bit
The baronet's tenderness melted
away. He profited by the pause in
their walk to light cigar without ask
ing her permission. He assumed non
aI,n ot, hot.