Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-30

think me guilty You we're not the onil
person capable Of seif-sacrince. My poo
husband brought HE doom upon him
self"
II see.' said the man ironically, "by
being so lndiscreet as to come between
you and your lover. suppose"
mo, by intriguing with the enemies Of
his country"
She said that In a low. tremuous voice
without looking at him. He stared round
at her for the moment stupehed. Their
the blood rushed to his face.
ITS a iie-an Infamous lle" he eaid
with difficulty. moderating his voice. ''Do
you expect me, who knew your husband
who have sailed with him. taken his
orders--do you expect me or any one who
had the least knowledge Of him, TO be-
lieve that?"
Heaven forgive me for telling you,"
she faltered. but ohl / can see the mo-
| ment has come Yes, George had plans
certain plans which 1 had seen--which
he was In treaty to dispose of to a for
eisn Power lie had been exasperated
by the promotion of Admiral Lindsell
over his head-and 1 have always sus-
pected that he was little mad. He was
very strange In his manner at times. The
absurd suspicious he conceived of me are
proof of II. There was a man
German-who used to visit him. He
used to go up to London a great deal
TO see this man have always sup
posed. That night / saw the man talk
Ing In the garden with him. They went
into his study together. Then said good
by to my friend-the man you cav me
with-and went to bed. When 1 heard
that he had been shot l guessed what
had happened l searched Georges desk
and found that the plans had disap-
peared. 1 found, too, proofs of his trea-
SON. which l at once destroyed" She
broke off, ut Ia terrible to have to tell
you all this. Martin"
He listened, tense with interest, skeptl-
cal, yet with ever-increasing dlsmay.
80. of course" she concluded lamely,
"I had to let suspicion fasten on you-and
me, 1 couldn't toll the truth
But II your story is true-which beg
leave to question-how do you explain
the murder7 Why should the foreign
agent shoot him when they were in
league together"
"They were quarreling when they
went into the study. Ono of the letters
suggested that there had been a dis
agreement about terms. My own view ls
that George at the last moment refused
to part with the plans and that tho for
eigner shot him in the struggle which
ensued."
But, good Heavensl" cried Arrol.
horror and amazement mingled in his
tone, what proof have you that the
admiral did not die defending his coun-
try's secrets from the spy instead of in
the act Of betraying them? Could you not
have como forward and told the police
that these plans were misslng-that you
had seen strange man enter the study,
and so forth2 With such an explanation
ready you stood by ready to see me
swing!"
4.
she reiterated, but as to tell
ing half the truth about the foreign |
agent, 1 knew perfectly well that If he |
was arrested the whole CHASTITY story |
would come out. I couldn't bear to sec |
father denounced as a traitor, |
80 preferred to stand in the box and let |
that barrister suggest all those horrible |
things about you and me-"
Arrol sat motionless, gazing blankly be-
fore him while people passed to and fro |
across his line of vision as unnoticed as |
though they had been transparent. Hun
areds Of times had he speculated on the
mystery, the key to which he at one time
had been suspected of holding. He had
long ago reverted finally to the theory
which he had formed Immediately after
the admiral's death and which he had
stated to the woman at his side. Amid
The many possible alternative explanations
which he had rejected the one now put
place. He would have dismissed It as
Incredible. Infamous. dishonorable to
hose who formed 1t as we'll as to the
lead. Even now he refused to accept It.
He turned to Mrs. Plessey
II don't believe a word of this yarn. It
s horrible that you should ever have en-
.ertained It. I see In 1t another attempt
% preserve your reputation-this time at
he expense of a dead mana final effort
% hush up your perfidy"
Mrs. Plessey laughed unpleasantly.
oh, was sure you would say that--quita
Iure! 1t cost you no effort at all to be-
ieve that 1 had betrayed my husband,
hat was willing to let you go to tho
sallows rather than speak. but when 1t
urns out that 1t was the man who was
suilty, then, of course, you dismiss the
tory as a lie. You men are so chivalrous,
10 generous toward us women!"
He felt that there was a measure of
ustice in her reproaches and remained
ilent thinking. How did this revela-
ion, II true. affect him? At the moment
10 could not see very clearly. He re-
urned to the matter nearest his heart.
Admitting for the sake of argument
hat your theory OF your husbands muir
Ter is the true one" he said, what bear
ng has it or can it have upon Maud?
Why should she not marry me?"
Because Huron knows-he knows aIlP'
What then2 cannot believe that any
nan would be such skunk as to use his
OF a mans shame as a means
4 forcing his daughter into marrying
i'm"
"You don't believe it9" she laughed
IT can. Men often are
hunks"
ut seems to mo that you have no rea-
on to complain OF mems cfivalry." he
etorted hotly. ''As to Huron, tell him
o do his worst. II your husband was
I tell you frankly I don't
elieve-he deserves to be branded as
UGH"
II don't think Maud would agree with
-ou. You will excuse me II don't my
elf OF course, now I have told you
he truth, there is nothing TO prevent you
rom publishing It on the housetops and
o clearing your reputation. which you
re so anxious 10 do. Huron would be
our most helpful witness"
Mrs. Plessey rose and looked at him
you can take me hack
o my hotel II you like. or we can say
ood-by now. Which shall II be2'
He felt conscious OF an intense hatred
or the dainty, smiling little woman
those companionship so many men on
he pier-head were envytng him. The
and was playing a waltz. Two young
iris broke into step as they passed, and
heeked themselves laughing. A party
Z provincial exeursionists were indulg-
az in chan and mild horseplay little