The Washington times., 1918-07-31
CHAPTER CHI.
Three in Council.

let us go to the house quickly"
said Lillian, "for there's very much
that we have to tell you. Remem-
Der. though, that Esther does not
know anything of the telegram
sent You must let her think that
you came OF your own accord. She
more than half expected you"
Yes" replied Basil He was
walking along beside her, pushing
his bicycle before him. "But tell
me-" he added anxiously, Esther
is not ill?"
'No, she is not i'll. But I think
she is in danger. and I am anxious
for her to leave Helm at once-this
afternoon. We will explain every
thing to you"
The man at the lodge wished to
prevent me passing" said Basil. "A
great burly fellow with a wicked
face. / have not seen him there
before. He told me Mrs. Borradale
was not at home to visitors But
he was amenable to reason in the
shape of a tip"
He probably thought that YOU
would not get beyond the entrance
to the house" replied Lillian. That
is why 1 came out TO meet YOU.
Esther is in the morning room, so
we can avoid the front door and go
straight around TO the window. IL
she isn't there, We mus; risk the
door"
Luckily, Esther was still in the
morning room, where Lillian had
left her. She answered LiIlian's
call at once, and her face flushed
when she saw Basil.
81 thought you would come to-
day." she replied. simply.
Lillian Explains Situation.
They drew up their chairs to the
FIRE, and Lillian, having been elect
ed spokeswoman, began TO the best
of her ability to explain the situa-
tion. She soon found herself con-
fronted by a great difficulty.
1T must all seem so extraordinary
TO DR.. Fleetwood" she said. IF he
does not know as much as we do Of
the BOTradale history"
Esther and Basil exchanged
gIances. Then Esther made the
plunge.
-BasiI-Dr. Fleetwood-knowS as
much OF the Borradale story as l do
myself, Lillian. You are surprised
no doubt that we should be on such
intimate terms. so l think must
tell you what l have kept a secret
till now. In justice to US you must
know the truth"
Another secret - another mys-
tery?" Lillian looked her surprise.
do you remember" said Esther
gently, "how strenuously you ad-
Vised me not to marry Harold? You
said then that Basil Glare was dead.
and that there was no objection Of
that kind to my marriage. But you
feared for me because OF the Curse
and you were quite right. as
know too well now. Well, Lillian,
the man with whom / went through
the ceremony Of marriage that day
is not dead"
Basil CIare-not dead?" cried
Lillian in bewilderment
Yes. I suppose Basil Clare is dead
But il was not TO Basil Clare that
was married.
impossible" Lillian. upon whom
the truth was dawninE. gazed from
one to the other in a maze.
Then Esther told the whole story
as shortly as she could II she had
felt any real suspicion of Lilian's
conniyance at the change OF charac-
ter that night such suspicious must
have been quickly dispelled by her
friends undoubted surprise and
wonder.
at is astounding" cried Lillian.
and they dared to do such a thing,
can only think that Grimstead
was hard put to il. that the mar
rage had be,I arranged for that
day and he dared not postpone IL.
He must have thought that the
substitution would never be de-
tected. No wonder Esther found