The Mena weekly star., 1916-06-08

together bad. My wife" He faltered. and her grasp on his powerless hand grew frmer.
 Your wife is very young. Captain Armand. One day soon she will un- derstand as do"
 If that were true-possible-th I could sleep"
 His eyes closed. A weak tremulous sigh quivered at the corners of his mouth. Nolselessly she turned out the lights and left him.
 Sylvia Arnaud's room lay at the farther end of the corridor. Gabrielle knocked and immediately entered. Her manner, from that of quiet good hu- nor, had become alert and hard Her eyes were very bright, her mouth set in lines that for once betrayed no trace of humor.
 Your husband is very i'll, Madame Arnaud." she said. He is on the brink of a nervous breakdown--per- haps worse-and only you can save him. came to warn you"
 You are very kind, Miss smith"
 This Is not the time to exchange commonplaces. When he awakes you must go to him. You must tell him that you will accompany him to Ton kin But you must act at once-before 1t Is too late"
 Sylvia Arnaud drew back, white and trembling, the first lndulgent good hu- nor turned to an incredulous anger.
 Miss Smith, are you forgetting"
 That I am your paid companion? No But it is in your or my power to make our status into that of absolute equality-this moment if you wish. Do you wish itg'
 Sylvia stared blankly at the stern white face of the woman confronting her. Her anger had burned out like straw, and she was now only fright ened and a little resentfu
 IT don't want to lose you. Miss smith, she stammered. T know that you do not care for me; but in your strange way you have been friendly and I-I am very alone. have conh- dence in you. l am prepared to over look the evenings outbreak"
 That's what you cannot and shall not do, was the grim answer You have driven your husband to the verge of madness, Madame Arnaud and through madness to crime-to the mur- der of a man who surely was once dear to you"
 stIXrbnr,, In vol, t,,oo,,
 Richard Farquhar."
 'I forbid you-you are beside your self"
 Garbielle interrupted the indignant protest with a quiet decision tinged with irony.
 We are always beside ourselves when we tell the truth, Madame Ar maud. But fortunately have not much more to say. Go to your husband tell him that Richard Farquhar never was and never could be his rival in your affections-tell him whom it was you went to meet In the grove that night"
 T cannot-what you ask Is absurd"
 The gray. neat little figure came closer
 You are very lovely, Madame Ar maud" Gabrielle Smith said very gen fly and almost reverently, "One under stands why men suffer so much and patiently for you. A mans life Is In your power. Whatever he has done he loved you. He still looks up to you as a saint in heaven. Madame Arnaud, such loyalty is rare. You dare not kill itr'
 Sylvia laughed carelessy.
 That all comes too late" she said You cannot plead to me for pity. And justicel What justice dare you claim for an outcast-a cheat, a man whom all honest men shrink from-or for dissolute roue who has not shrunk from murder? They have earned their fate"
 Sylvia rose instinctively to her feet, and they faced each other in the silence of unrelenting antagonism. The little gray-clad woman turned and went quietly toward the door. For the first time Sylvia's voice sounded breathless and anxious.
 What are you going to do?"
 T am going to act for you"
 The door closed. Sylvia Arnaud ran to it and, turning the key, set her back against t as though shutting out an unreasoned, nameless terror.
 Continued Next Week.