Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-22

lest he should wake TIP one morning ana
ind himself no longer in love. Tho last
OF these fears had hold Of Molly now
and was teaching her all tho others
From merely loving she had fallen in love.
Even Mr.. Pollock saw something unusual
and disconcerting about her tonight
she came into the room and stood IN front
of him.
What's the matter. father7' she asked
and II such thing had been possible
when she was speaking 20 him. Mr.
Pollock would have thought her voice
sounded bored Mrs Sanderson sold
something Important
so I do. so l do. SIT down, my chiS
You don't look quite yourself, and Tn
not surprised I'm sure II has been n
most disturbing day IN many ways"
Molly sat down and Mr.. Pollock came
and doomed over her from the hearth
rug.
Il have something OF very grave I'm
portance TO say 10 you Something of
international Importance" he announced.
A little smile fitted over Molly's face.
She was beginning TO see the funny side
OF her parent.
swered. What IS II about7'
1T ia about your-your late admtrer,
Christopher Brent"
The polite attention went out % Mol
lys face. She leaned YEARLY back in
her chair.
"Oh. father. don't start that again. I'm
20 tired OF IT You have said quite
enough about 1t"
MISS this il something you have never
heard before" said Mr.. Pollock. his tact
flying away in his excitement. You
We're not aware, I take ii. that Mr..
Brent is suspected OF being spy
German spy
Molly stared at him moment and
burst out Laughing. "oh. father. that's
really too ridiculous. However did you
get hold of that idea7'
This is no laughing matter. You may
be sure. Molly. I should not distress
you by telling & you unless I had good
grounds for the assertion. Certain IN
portant documents which the admiralty
had intrusted TO young Sanderson have
disappeared"
That IS no reason why Chris should
have stolen them"
Il am quite aware OF that As a,
Justice of the peace. Molly, I have
learned not TO connect statements TO
rashly and without proof. 7 do nit
positively say that Brent has stolen
them. What I do say is that suspicion
points in his direction. As matter
Of fact. It points in the direction OF
Mrs. Lee az we'll"
Mrs. Leer Molly's supine figure
Strengthened to uprightness. Il
shouldn't be surprised If It were Mrs
Lee, l shouldn't be a bit surprised"
The process of reasoning that had
taken place so quickly IN Molly's mind
was as follows: Mrs Lee IS flirting
with Chris. love Chris Therefore mrs;
Lee is a German spy" This satisfied
Molly completely. She could not help
feeling glad that Mrs. Lee was a spy.
Although. of course. she was very
sorry that important admiralty papers
had been stolen.
ssThere YOU are. then" cried Mr.. Pol
lock. triumphantiy. What was l tell
ing YOU"
That's not the same thing as saying
It's Chris" declared Molly, somewhat
elliptically. Il won't believe II OF him,
nothing would make me-"
Can YOU explain why they are SO IN
innate, then? If it isn't that, it's cer-
tainly something else" and Mr.. Pol
lock resettled his pince-nes with an air
of triumph.
Molly sat silent. clutching the arms
of the chair.
''They are supposed to have met yes
terday for the first time" continued
Mr.. Pollock. remorselessly. ANY fool
can see that's fairy tale. Can't your"
Molly did not answer. but her head
dropped little lower.
Very we'll, then, II they had met be-
fore yesterday. why did they conceal II
If their acquaintance is innocent. Why
should not they be open about IT. 1nsn
there's another thing. Why doesn't
well. then, let him give his reasons. He
declines to. Something ffshy about
that. Ell? Well. haven't you got any
thing to say"
Mrs. Lee a spy" repeated Molly.
thoughtfully, having taken not the
slightest notice of this last speech of
her fathers. For It flashed across her
that this would account for a great
deal. If Mrs. Lee was a spy, and II
Chris. too. was a spy. II meant that he
did not necessarily care for her, after
all: that they were merely working to-
gether.
(TO BE CONTINUED NEXT sunday
Copyright. 1915. by Edward ]. Clode.D