The Washington times., 1916-05-21

shade OF mlsriving. which he could not
quite crystalline into definite sus-
picion.
she walks oddly" he unused, AZ
though she were not used to that skirt
When Myra stepped into the car she
tripped over the border Of her gown.
and would have fallen backward had
not varney caught her arm.
1T rs 50 clumsy she laughed ,s With
Alden sat bisde Myra.
What did you see. Misr Maynard,
while YOU were in the trance" he
The girl looked Mt him with n pudding
laugh In the blue eyes.
Not thing
FULLY. and made NO further comment.
Sarn ae escorted escorted Mrs. Maynard into
| the library. while Myra paused in the
vestibule. to allow Alden to lift her
cloak from her shoulders.
Suddenly the girl turned toward the
physician and with face upturned to
him, put her hands upon his shoulders
WITH a languorous look in her eyes
an expression absolutely foreign to
| every memory of those unusually de-
nurc depths-the girl spoke In low
| tone:
81 love you!"
Alden stepped back in astonishment.
and then the meaning OF the sudden
declaration overwhelmed him.
| .Miss-Myra-what-do-you ssy?" he
81 love you. Payson.''
| The girl raised her lips coduettishly.
She clasped her arms behind his
shoulders. as their lips met. Alden was
| facing the mirror of the antique ma
hogany hat tree. as they stood there.
The Eupreme moment OF bliss-the first
kiss-seemed disappointing to him some
| low. He looked over her shoulder ana
II al..l.. .n2AA Al 10 NNaA
| mirror.
IT was not the face OF Myra Maynard
which lay upon his shoulder.
| Even as his lips brushed the glorious
| hair he saw the face OF a man.
II was the sardonic. crime gnarled
visage OF the Master OF the Black Or
der.
, hind his shoulders toward the revolver
| which protruded from his hip pocket.
Fetr:fied with horror. the physician
CROPPED mentally.
In that Instant the revolver was
| against his back.
Alden sprans aside and srasped the
slender wrist.
The report Of the shot, which shat
tered the mirror. brought Varney and
| Mrs. Maynard into the vestibuie.
The face OF the girl was dove-like
In its innocence and gentle surprise.
What is III" cried Varney.
manded Mrs. Maynard.
Alden was holding the revolver. From
It's muzzle still trailed thin line OF
smoke. He looked at the weapon which
he snatched away so opportunity.
Miss Maynard tried to kill me-" he
cried. hardly hearing them. as he stared
into the girls eyes.
Myra shook her head and looked pity
ingly. almost scornfully, at the phNsi-
| Clan.
"Poor DR.. Alden" she lmurmured
| with a laugh. He In so upset. We
mustn't pay any attention to what he
says.
4 < great light burst into the mystified
mind of the physician.
1T is not Myra's fault! She lid not
try to kill me-"
."Of course not" said the girl. OR
Alden. you will begin to bore me before
long. an afraid"
you are not INyra " cried the physi-
clan. pointing an accusing finger which
trembled with emotion. THE soul OF
the master of the Black Order has en-
tered Myra Maynard's body"
The girl laughed and Varney turned
to follow her mother as the two women
went into the drawing room. Alden
stared after them. a thousand terrify-
ing fears for the real Myra whirrinR
through his brain!
(To be continued next SundayD
See this episode today. HIPPODROME,
9Th and n. Y. ave.-Adv.