The Washington times., 1918-11-16


have been the evening after"
Zine country for motoring
Griniths continued, stroking HIS
horses head.
aThe roads I have been on seem
very good" was the somewhat
bored admission.
you haven't . ear Of your own
here. have your
'Not at present"
Captain GriHiths glanced BE-
tween his horses ears for q few
moments. Then he turned oncs
more toward his companion
'.Gr. Lessingham," he said, Ayou
are aware that l am eommandant
here?"
~I believe LessinKhsu. replied,
that Lady Cranston told me So"
at Is my duty, therefore" Grif- ]
nths went on, ito take a little more
than ordinary interest in casual
visitors, especially at this time OF
the year. The fact that you ara
well known to Lady Cranston 16.
of course. an entirely satisfactory
explanation Of your presence here 1
At the game time, there Is certain
information concerning strangers
OF which we keep q record, anal ,
your case there Is q line or tive :
which he have not been able 70 m
up"
sIf can be Of any service bss- !
singham murmured.
Precisely" the other interrupt
ed, 'T knew you would feel ike
that Now your arrival here-wa
have the date, I think-October 9.
As you have just remarked, -xnnl
didn't come BY train. How did you
conner"
Lessingham's surprise was appqr-
emily quite genuine.
%Is that a question which you AK
me to answer-oiicialiyT" he In
HIS interIocutor shrugged N
shoulders $1,000 p 49,
II am not putting Official qdl5s
tions 70 you at all" he replied. 80
am cross-examining you. a. u1lElE1
be my duty. under the efrcS1E
stances, simply because your fries
ship with the Cranstons 49,
course. a guarantee as to your posH
ton. But, on the other hand.
think 1t would be reasonable II yua
were to answer my question.
Lessingham nodded.
perhaps you are right" he a.
mitted- AS you can tell By inding
me here this afternoon. / am q
great walker. I arrived-on foot.s
II see" Grifiths reflected. The
other question which we usually
ask is, where. was your last stop
ping placer
stopping placer Lessinghan
murnured.
Eyes, where did you sleep tha
night before you came here?T Grif-
fths persisted
Lessfngham shook his head A.
though oppressed by some distSste-s
ful memory
but I did not sleep at aII,s ne.
complained. 'It was one Of the
worst nights which I have even
spent In my life"
Captain Grifiths gathered up hts
reinS.
'weIL" he said. with eIumsyMFt
casm. Il am much obliged to yo1,
Mr.. Lesslngham, for the straiehkS
forward way in which you have an.
swerec my questions. won't bother
you any more just at present. Shah
l-see you tomorrow night at Hatn-i
sail Haul!"
Lady Cranston has asked u,s n
dine" was the somewhat reserved
reply.
His inquisitor nodded and eanter-
"a away. Lessingham looked after
him until. he had disappeared, Ihen
ne turned his face toward DrsS&
marsh and walked steadily into the
lowering afternoon Twilight va
falling as he reached Mainsail Haul
where he found PhiIippa entertaEsl
Ing some callers, 10 whom Rha
promptly introduced him LAssfnRl
ham gathered, almost In the art
Few minutes, that his presenee' ID
Dreymarsh was becoming q Eab-
'ject OF comment ~
Ny husband has played bridrs
with you at the club, I Think =
lady by whose side he found hfae
SELF observed You perhaps didnl
near my name-MrS Johnson
7 congratulate you upon your
husband Lessingham replied. Il
remember him perfectly well ~
cause he kept his temper when j
revoked" > -
Dear me!'' she exclaimed. Een
must have taken a fancy to you,
then. As q rule, they rather con-,
plain about him at bridge
It formed the impression.s I,ew
singham continued, "that he va
rather a better player than the ma
tority OF the performers there.
Mrs. johnson, who was a dark Sua
somewhat forbidding-Iookiug LADY.
smiled
He thinks 50, At any rata" she
conceded. Didn't he tell me hat
you were invalided home from the
frontg"
Lessingham shook his head.
Il am quite sure that II was noe
mentioned" he said. '~We walked
home together as far as the ho.sI
one evening. but we spoke onlys Of
the golf and some shooting In the
neishborhood."
Philippa, who had been Faaneu-
vering TO attract Lessingham's at
tention, suddenly dropped the cake
basket which she was passing,
There was a little eommotion- Les
singham went down on his hands
and knees to help collect the fnag-
ments, and she found an opporfn-
nifty to whisper in his ear.
BE careful That woman fa-a
cat Stay. and talk to me. PlsSSS
don't bother, Mr.. LessiuEhan. wen1
you ring the bell instead she con
tinTsd, raising her voice.
Lessingham did as he was asked.
and affected not to notice Mrs.
Johnson's Inviting smile as he re-
turned Fhilippa made room br Him
by her side.
"Helen and were tslkins hsR4-,
ternoon, Mr. Lessingham." Rss Ezld.i
"of the days when you and Dick
were both in the Magdalen eleven
and both had Just . chance OF being