The Washington times., 1918-07-03
CHATTER xCVm
A Dread Discovery.


Miss Rachel expressed ne sur
prise when her brother, HIS face
little more sallow than usual, his
keen eyes dull and trimmed with
black, put in his appeaRancs At
breakfast the next day.
"Ach," she said-her accent was
more markedly Teutonic than was
his-"you have returned was sx-
pecting you" She handed him .
cup OF coffee. She made no refer
ence to the proposed wedding nor
did he refer to It He swallowed
his coffee and made . pretenss Of
eating, but 1t was evident that his
mind was disturbed and his
thoughts troubled.
The scene OF the night had not
been prolonged. Lillian had reeog-
nized that the man was in too per
turbed a state to be able to seriously
discuss his position.
Let US leave everything TO the
morning." she had said you need
rest, Mr.. Won Geldenstein- I recon-
mend you to go to bed. and perhaps
a good sleep will pun you togeth-
er. Hide those horrible clothes
away somewhere. And as for
these"-she indicated the bundle on
the floor and the handkerchief
which contained the objects remov-
ed from the safe-'rlet as put them
all into the safe for the night. and
lock them up. No one must know
or have any suspicion OF this freak
l must be in your eonfidenee, but
/ alone
'Td give half a million"-ths man
muttered.
Leave all that tin tomorrow,s
she interrupted You are quite
safe as yet. Try not to think to-
night" As she spoke she pushed the
articles, including the peaked cap,
into the safe. 'Eow lock this" she
commanded
II don't know how opened II. he
said. He pushed the door to; IL
fastened with a snap, proving that
the machinery Of the lock had not
been damaged.
Now let US CO." said Lillian, ds-
cidedly, "and heaven grant we don't
disturb the house"
Cautiously Leave House.
They were obliged TO leave the
room, as Lillian had entered II BY
the window. The man followed me-
chanicaIly. She closed the windows
a best she could from the outside,
and then re-entsred the house by
the garden door.
Tomorrow" she whispered. =
can say that let you In You ar
rived late, and .no one but I heard
you ring at the front door bell Y0u
understand"
He nodded. and no further words
were spoken between them Perfect
stiffness reigned in the house, and
they made their way to their re-
spective rooms without interruption
Lillian slept that night She
found herself Unexpectedly IN
volved In a totally new mystery,
mystery, too. that promised. II she
PLAYED her cards carefully, to bene-
Mt her very materially. "I would
give half a million" the man had
said, and she had interrupted him,
Judging 1t unwise to strike any
bargain that night
"He leads a double life" she told
herself, "a kind of DIR. JelCyll and
Mr.. Hyde, the one character totally
unconscious OF the doings Of the
other. The change must have come
upon him Unexpectedly, when I
surprised him. There is no doubt
that he was really noErlueo 10 uno
himself dressed up like a peripa-
tetic peddler, or an old clothes man
He has never troubled about II be-
fore. because IL has not materially
interfered with his life, but now Il
is different: he has lost his bride,
and he has realized the abomina-
tion OF his sub-conscious existence.
"He will want to know the truth,
what he does and where he goes to.
He will want to put an end to a
state OF things which must become
intoIerable for him. And. luckily,
l may serve myself and help him
share his secret, and he certain
ly will not want to take anyone else
into his confidence. ] must do my
best for him and then-he Is not
unEenerous. and money means so
little to him"
Dreams OF Wealth.
II was by visions OF future
wealth and independence that LII
ian'S rest was disturbed last night