The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1916-03-06
~ZnE,s The Story Of
A Thrilling Serial of Devotion and Mystery

The sun shone brightly. never so
brightly before, thought Noel Crawley
when Hutton drew his blinds at 8
o'clock the next morning and laid
dozen letters and some newspapers on
the table beside his masters bed.
Crawley had had exactly six hours
of unbroken and dreamless sleep. and
he awoke like a giant refreshed to
the glorious realization of freedom.
The milestone had slipped from his
neck The nightmare horror had gone
and the sun shone. He was alive
again.
Hutton, that observant philosopher,
noticed the change in his masters
CHEEKY Good morning" and felt de-
voutfuly thankful.
Crawley sat up in bed and drank
the cup Of tea which the man had
brought
"Ill have my bath at once" he said,
and there was something more than
the old triumphant ring in his vibrant,
youthful voice. "And I'll be ready for
breakfast in half an hour"
That settled Hutton. He retired
smiling. The clouds had rolled away.
He was peculiarly susceptible to ex-
whistling a CHEEKY air, and, in dis
creetly low tone, he joined in himself
as he laid the breakfast table.
Crawley was distinctly himself
again, and he turned to the small
pile of letters without misgivings,
even though he recognized Zoe's
handwriting on the first envelope. He
opened it. cheque fell on the bed.
CHI nrf RI
ran as follows:
Dear Mr.. Crawley: l send you
the enclosed. Use it as you think
best, and repay me as, and when.
you like. I am sorry for what l
said this afternoon; l was upset.
Please forgive me. OF course there
Is no absurd condition. You will
see that the cheque is made pay
able to me. There Is no time to
pay It into my own account With
kind regards, sincerely yours,
DIANA BROOKE"
"Well, I'm hanged" was Crawley's
astounded comment as he picked UP
Godfrey Brooke's cheque in favor of
his wife, for 10000 drawn on the
Bank Of England.
There was something almost un-
canny about it. He fingered the check
nervously. He had never held so much
money in his hand before, nor was
he likely to again. Ten thousand
pounds! A fortune! And Brooke's
signature. A strange medley of fam
Ciful thoughts came to him.
He wondered how Zoe had got the
check out of him, what possible ex-
cuse she could have made for asking
for such preposterous sum. He won
dered what on earth Brooke could
have been thinking about to give such
a sum to woman. He might be
generous to fault and throw away a
hundred or two without much thought,
but a man, especially a millionaire,
does not throw about thousands.
RE Gets Also a Letter
from Leveredge.
= He smiled little cynically as he
read Zoe's letter over again, and then
replaced it with the cheque in its en-
velope. He would return it immedi-
ately. He could have shouted for
sheer joy that circumstances had not
placed him in the position when he
would even have had to go SO low as
ITO use Brooke's money to save
Brooke's wife.
He was glad. in way, to notice
that Zoe signed herself "Diana
Brooke" 1t told him that she was
cautious. He liked the discreet tone
of the letter: he liked the Dear Mr..
Crawley." 1t puzzled him just little
remembering as he did the passionate
wording of the last letter she had
written him; but nevertheless he was
very satisfied Yes. 1t was altogether
eminently satisfactory.
He returned to the perusal of the
- IT 4
There were several bills, two or three
cards Of invitation, tickets, circulars
and letter from Messrs. Leveredge
& Maberly. He opened it eagerly. 1t
ran as follows:
Dear Mr.. Crawley Referring to
our interview of today"--it was a
typewriter letter signed by Mr.. Lew
eredge-I propose calling upon you
at $3.50 tomorrow morning for your
answer. We are anxious to meet you ,,
in every reasonable way, but you
must see that the exhibition must
open at the usual time tomorrow un-
less you close with our offer-Yours
faithfully,
81. LEvEREDGE"
Crawley laughed as he read the
letter. Leveredge might come and
go. What mattered it? Afterward,
when Leveredge knew, there would
be the very devil to pay; but Crawley
regarded the crisis with equanimity.
He was quite prepared to pay the
devil; indeed. he was prepared to do
anything now.
He was thoroughly enjoying his
bacon and eggs, when Mr.. Leveredge
was announced.
Morning Crawley!" he exclaimed |
fatuously. Didn't expect to find you
up so early. How goes it,"
"Splendidly," said Crawley, with his