The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-19

! me
Less through self-satisfaetlon than
through contempt for pack Of muir
derous monErels-lmpatience that |
have 10 consider such creatures as
Popinot. Werthelmer. De Morbihan,
and-an that crew.
/ -And Bannon." she corrected calm
iy-"you meant to say.s
Well he stammered. discounte-
nanced.
1T doesn't NATTER she assured him.
Il quite understand. and strange as it
| may sound. I've very little feeling in
the natter And then she acknowl-
edged his stupefied stare with weary
little smile. Il know what I know
she affirmed with obscure significance.
I'D give good deal to know how
much you know" he muttered in his
confusion.
But what do you know p she caught
him rp--~against Mr.. Bannon-ag
nv father. that is--that makes you 50
ready TO suspect both MIN and ma?"
Nothing" he confessed-T know
nothing; but suspect everything and
everybody. And the more / think of 1t,
the more closely examine that brutal
business of last night. the more
seem to sense his will behind 1t ALL
as one might glimpse a face in dark
ness through a lighted lattice. Oh,
laugh if you likel II sounds high
flown, know. But that's the effect
get. What took you to my room. II
not his orders? How comes he to run
with De Morbihan. If he's not blood
kin to that breed? Why are you run
ming away from him, il not because
you've found out his part in that con-
spiracy?'
His pause and questioning look
evoked no answer: the girl sat move.
less and intent, meeting his gaze with
countenance inscrutable. And some
thing in her impassive attitude
worked little evaporation into his
temper.
why" he declared hotly-"if dare
trust to intuition-forgive me if pain
you
She interrupted with Impotence:
Eve already begged you not to con.
slider my feelings, Mr.. Lanyard! If you
dared trust to your intuition-then
what?"
Why, then I could believe that Mr..
Bannon, your father-I could believe it
was his order that killed poor Roddyl"
There could be no doubling her hor-
rified and halfincredulous surprise
"Roddy?" she iterated in a whisper
almost inaudible. with face fast blanch-
ing. "Roddy-'
Inspector Roddy of Scotland Yard"
he told her mercilessly, was murdered |
in his sleep last night at Troyons. The
murderer broke into his room by way
of mine-the two sdsoin He used my |
razor, wore my dressing-gown to pro-
tect his clothing. did everything he
could think of to cast suspicion on me, !
and when came in assaulted me,
meaning to drug and leave me insen-
sible, to be found by the police. For
tunately-I was beforehand with him.
/ left him in my place-drugged, in
sensible-when stole away and met
you there in the corridor. You didn't
known"
How can you ask" the girl |
moaned. Al
Bending, forward, an elbow on the
table. she gripped her hands together I
until their knuckles shone white
through the skin-but not as white as
the white face from which her eyes
sought his with look of dumb horror,
dazed, pitiful, imploring.
You're not deceiving me? But no
why should your" she faltered. But
how terrible, how unspeakably awful"
I'm sorry" Lanyard mumbled I'D
have held my tongue If hadn't /
thought you knew"
"You thought knew-and didn't lift |
finger to save the mani" She jumped |
up, with blazing face. "Oh, how |
could your"
"No--not that never thought that.
But, meeting you then and there, so |
opportunely--I couldn't ignore the
coincidence; and when you admitted |
you we're running away from your ia
Their, considering all the circumstances,
was surely justified in thinking 1t
was realization, in part, at least, of |
what had happened that was driving
you away"
She shook her head slowly, her in
dignation ebbing as fast as 1t had risen. /
81 understand" she said; you had
some excuse, but you we're not right. |
ran away-yes-but not because Of
that. | never dreamed"
She fell silent, sitting with bowed |
head and twisting her hands together
in way he found it painful to watch.
But please" he implored, don't |
take 1t so much to heart, Miss Ban |
non. II you knew nothing, you couldn't |
have prevented IT,"
No. she said brokenly, Il could |
have done nothing i'll had known. But
/ didn't. It isn't that--it's the horror
and pity OF 1t. And that you could
think"
But I didn't" he protested-"truly |
I did not. And for what did think. |
for the injustice did do you, believe
me, I'm truly sorry" I
you were quite satisfied" she said,
mot only by the testimony of appear
ances, but to a degree, in fact. You |
must know-now must tell you"
Nothing you don't wish tot" he in
terrupted quickly. "The fact that |
practically kidnapped you under pre-
tense of doing you service, and sus-
pected you of being a spy of that Pack, !
gives me no title to your confidence"
Can blame you for thinking what