The Ordway new era., 1918-02-01

carefully. She could conceive OF bui
one reason for Stephens presence In
her house. and It rather amused her. II
was, of course. NO friendly visit he
had come either to threaten or to
cnjole. Yet what could he dot What
had she to fear1 She went over the in
terview In her mind. Imagining him
crushed and subdued by her superior
subtlety and faesse.
With little smile Of coming triumph
upon her lips she descended the stairs
and swept into her pleasantly warmed
and perfumed little drawing-room. She
even held out her hand cordially to the
dark, grim figure whose outline against
the dainty white wall seemed SO inap-
propriate.
This is very nice Of you indeed, Mr..
Strangewey," she began. "I had no Idea
example and come to town."
She told herself once more that her
slight instinct Of uneasiness had been
absurd. Stephens bow, although lit
tie formal and austere, was still an
acknowledgment Of her welcome. The
shadows of the room. perhaps. had pre-
vented him from seeing her out
stretched hand.
"Mine is a very short visit, Miss Mau-
rel," he said. ~ had no other reason
for coming but to see John and to pay
this call upon you"
II am greatly f1attered." she told
him. 'You must please sit down and
make yourself comfortable while we
talk. See. this is my favorite place"
she added, dropping into corner Of
her lounge. "Will you sit beside me7
Or, If you prefer. draw up that chair"
my preference" he replied, "is to
remain standing"
She raised her eyebrows. Her tone
altered.
"It must be as you wish. of course. I"
she continued; "only have such pleas
ant recollections of your hospitality at
Peak Hall that should like, II there
was any possible way in which could
return it"
Madam" he interrupted. "you must
admit that the hospitality of Peak Hall
was not willingly offered to you. Save
for the force of c,rcumstances. you
would never have crossed our thresh-
old"
She shrugged her shoulders. She
was adapting her tone and manner to
the belligerency of his attitude.
"wen?"
"You want to know why I have found
my way to London?" he went on. II
came to find out little more about
you"
About mel"
ITO discover II there was anything
about you." he proceeded deliberately.
concerning which report had lied. I
do not place my faith In newspapers
and gossip. There was always a chance
that you might have been an honest
woman. That is why came to Lon
don. and why I went to see your play
last night"
She was speechless. It was As II he
were speaking to her In some foreign
tongue.
II have struggled" he continued, "to
adopt q charitable view Of your pro-
fession. know that the world changes
quickly, while we. who prefer to re-
main outside its orbit. Of necessity lose
touch with Its new ideas and new
fashions. So said to myself that
there should be no mistake. For that
reason sat in q theater last night al
most for the first time In my Life. !
saw you act"
"WellT she asked almost deiiantly.
he looked down at her. All splendid
self-assurance seemed ebbing away.
She felt sudden depression Of spirit.
a sudden strange sense Of insignin-
can..e.
II have come" he said, ''if I can, to
buy my brothers freedom"
ITO buy your brothers freedom7''
she repeated. In q dazed tone.
my brother Is infatuated with you" !"
Stephen declared. II wish to save
him."
The woman's courage began to as
sert itself. She raised her eyes to his.
Exactly what do you meanT she
asked calmly. 'In what way is any
man to be saved from met II your
brother, should care for me. and !. by
any chance. should happen to care for
him. In whnt respect would that be a
state fr.n which he would require sal
vation2"
"You make my task more difficult" ."
he observed deliberately. 'Does It
amuse you to practice your profession
before one so ignorant and so unappre-
ciative as myself II my brother
should ever marry. It Is my firm inten-
tion that he shall marry an honest
woman"
Louise sat quite still for q moment.
A flash Of lightning had giittered be-
fore her eyes. and In her ears was the
crash Of thunder. Her face was sud
denly strained. She saw nothing but
the stern, forbldding expression Of the