Evening star., 1918-11-03

gave him the tips or her fingers.
II was wondering whether we
should see you again before we went."
she said. I'VE are leaving for WASH
ington tomorrow"
"By the 8 o'clock train. hope?" he
ventured.
She raised her eyebrows.
"Why. "1 lSna are re you going. too"
II should have thought most of the
munition works." she observed, "were
further north"
"They are" he acknowledged. "but
have business In Washington. BY
the bye, will you both come out and
dine with me tOnight?"
Van Teyl glanced at his sister. She
II am SO sorry" she said, "but we
are engaged. Perhaps we shall see
something of you in Washington"
II have no doubt you WILL" Lut-
chester replied. "Ail the same" he
added. ut would give me very great
pleasure to entertain you at dinner
this evening"
why particularly this EVENING""
she asked.
He looked at her with a queer di-
rectness. and Pamela felt certain very
excellent resolutions crumbling. She
suffered her brother to leave the room
without a word.
Because" he explained, II think
SOu Will Iluu u ulIereul atmosphere
everywhere. There will be news in
the evening papers,"
"NeWs?" she repeated eagerly. You
know 1 am always interested in that"
"The reports of a German naval vic.
tory were not only exaggerated"
Lutchester said calmly; they were
untrue. Our own official announce
nrent was clumsy and tactless but
you will find it amplitied and explain
ed tonight"
De-, 1;.,ta int
which bordered upon excitement.
You are sure?" she exclaimed.
"Absolute ely" he replied. MY noti-'
ficatfon is official"
$50 you think if we dined with you.
the atmosphere tonight would be diff
ferent?" she observed. with sudden
attempt at the recondite.
Lutchester looked into her eyes
without finching. Pamela. to her an
noyance, was worsted in the moment
ary duel.
I'VE cannot always choose our at
mosphere," he reminded her. .r.-.
Mile. Sonia is perhaps connected
with the regulation of tho munition
supplies from American"
Mile. Sonia" Lutchester asserted,
"is an old friend of mine. Apart from
that. 1t was my business to talk to
her." "
- "Your business?"
Lutchester assented with perfect
gravity. ="
Within day or two" he said;
could explain a great deal"
Pamela threw herself into a chair
almost irrftably.
"You have the cult of being mys-
terious. Mr.. Lutchester," she declared.
ITO be quite frank with you, you
seem to be the qneerest mixture OF =
any man / ever met"
1T is the fault of circumstances"
hn oil n I'M
PEELED to present myself to you In an
unfavorable light Those circum-
stances are passing. You will soon
begin to value me at my true worth"
we had half promised" Pamela
Fischer this evening"
"The more reason for my interven-
tion," Lutchester observed. "F'ischer
is not fit person for you to asso-
ciate with"
She laughed curiously.
"People who saw you at the roof
garden last night might say that you
were scarcely judge" Pamela re-
torted.
cumstances- might have considered me
guilty of an indiscretion." Lutchester
admitted. ''but they would have heen
entirely wrong. On the other hand.
your friend Fischer Is n would-be ,
murderer. liar. and Is at the present :
moment engaged III luITlkueS WnlcH
are a most immoral compound Of du-
plicity and cunning"
II shall begin to think" Pamela :
murmured, that you don't like Mr..
Fischer"
IT detest him heartily" Lutchester
confessed.
II find him singularly interesting"
Pamela announced. sitting up In her
chair.
II dare say you do." Lutchester re-
piled. Women are always bad Judges
Of our sex. All the same. you are not
going to marry him."
How do you know he wants to
marry me?" Pamela demanded.
Instinct"
"And what do you mean by saying
that am not going to marry him?"
Because" Lutchester announced.
you are going to marry some one
else" -..
Pamela rose to her feet. There was
little spot of color in her cheeks
"Am indeed!" she exclaimed. "And
whom. pray?"
THAT I will tell you at Washing
ton" Lutchester promised.
You know his name. then?"
Il know him intimately" was the
cool reply. What about our dinner
I'VE arc going to dine with Mr.
Fischer" Pamela decided.
II really don't think so." Lutchester
objected. For one thing, Mr.. Fischer
Will probably have to attend the
police court again later on."
What about?"
"For having hired a famous mur.