The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-07

took no stock in such revelations of the occult. With Mary. however, it was different. And al the sight of the message written on the slate that Cheiro at last showed her, she screamed: Look '" she cried ''The warning I fearedv' "You are in danger,' he read, "of losing one you love through the treachery of one of your kin. Make him swear to be faithful! ]"
 "Ah!" she cried. "So you would abandon and go back to her oh-wby did I ever 'You've no right to say thatr he said, io- dignantly '"Tm not going to abandon you" "Then swear !" she cried. "Will you swear an oath to be true to me alone, in the fashion of my own landP"
 He nodded rather helplessly, and she drew . tiny stiletto. Before he knew what she meant to do she pricked his ring finger till it bled stripped of his ring, touched it with his blood and then, prcking her own finger, slipped the ring over it. Then she flung her arms about his neck, and embraced him.
 Now I feel safe" she said. "Now know that you mine till death-that no one can come between us !"
 q say-are you going to keep my ring?' he said.
 Would you not trust with paltry ring when you pretend to love me better than life itself?" she cried angrily
 And, though he disturbed and annoyed by this temporary loss of his heirloom, he did not feel able to renew his protest.
 Look here,' he said, instead. Suppose w6 go away for while? Perhaps your sister will calm down then-eh? We could slip of tonight, you know-go up to Canada, some place like
 
 find us."
 night?"
 Then you'd better come to my place tonight at 10 o'clock" he said. "I'll make all the rangements, and slip away without your sister knowing what to do. I think both need rest! haven't known you so very long, but it's been pretty exciting"
 "Oh, mo-" she said, with a laugh "In Cor. sica would think nothing of so tame and mild an affair of the heart as this Why-no one has been killed-there is not even the danger that you must kill anyone to carry me away with you It is almost stupid, it is so tame' !"
 'I'm glad you think so!' he said. But can tell you it is quite as exciting as it need be to please me. If it got any more strenuous I think I'd have to go off somewhere and take rest cure!"
 "It is because you Americans are so phleg- matic-so stolid" she told him. You do not love with the whole heart, do we of Corsica My poor sister, find it in my heart to be sorry for her!'
 Harrasford however, stuck to his opin- ion that this affair as exciting one as he cared to become entangled with. He was not even sure while he prepared for their jour ney, whether he would be disappointed or re- lieved if Mary failed to keep her appointment if she did not appear at his rooms at 10 o'clock He liked her, but he afraid she was going to prove to be too exacting.
 Still he was rather relieved when the door bell did ring, almost on the stroke at ten He knew that he would always have been sorry had this adventure stopped short of completion. He went to the door,
 "Ah-here you are then" he said.
 And then Mona, instead of Mary stepped into the hall!
 "A1- you are here!" she cried, and flung her arms about him. "You mine then-mine forever! It only evil dream I had!"
 Harrasford greatly mystihed. But he felt that he had to make the best of things, for he was, by this time, little afraid of Mona. He could see too that she greatly excited; that she was indeed, almost hysterical.
 Even while he tried to soothe Mona the door bell did ring for the second time.
 "The other one !" he thought, with gasp.
 "Oh!" cried Mona, in terror. Tt is he-the man who has been following me! Do not let him in-save me!'
 aWhat do you mean?" cried Harrasford
 'Nothing-only do not open-do not open- if you love me-
 But the ringing was continuous now, and whoever was outside was also pounding on tho q must-hide yourself in my bedroomw said Harrasford.
 And, while she obeyed he opened the door. A big grim looking stalked in, and then wheeled around to face him, finging back his coat to show detectives badge
 .rm from the Central Oficet" he said. "I > want the woman you've got hid- }: den hereW ! <uv There's no woman here-s
 5: . a3IT1 said Harrasford. What right kM WN&HN have you to here" xSl,SXNNMl ! "Ill see for myself" said \ N&NMWk1 the man. And minute later ANT NN he had dragged Mona from her w ZE&k poor hiding place. q want you ]" k&E he said savagely. For murder
 for murder of"
 "No-nor' Shrieked Mona E3s:=sSz@ "I1l confess-wat"
 And then, while Harrasford
 in horror, and the detective with
 the utmost satisfaction, listened,
 Mona told her awful tale. . tsy -l~