The Washington times., 1918-04-12
Part One-(Continued)


one she cared to make a conhdant
of-no one. that is. among her i'm
mediate surroundings. but her con-
science pricked her: had she done
wrong, The thought OF 1t tortured
her: save her no rest, night or
day.
How Lillian Learned the story.
At last, stricken to death in her
turn. she could bear II no longer.
Lillian had been staying in Oak
ley, and had been kind to her. She
remembered that Lillian had known
Of the Chevalier's disappearancs-
1t was to Lillian, therefore, that
she turned.
Thus II was that Lillian became
possessed OF the terrible secret OF
Oakley Manor.
Such was the story. less detailed
and more superficiaIly told, that
young Kelton read from the paper
which the Italian left in his hands.
It was the tale OF his fathers sin.
his mothers frailty. When he had
finished reading he laid down the
manuscript and burst into tears.
For he knew that he had taken upon
himself a burden of knowledge, that
he must carry as long as his life
endured.
Lillian Looks fer n Beck.
Lillian awaited the return OF
Pietro that day with unusual i'm
patience. She was confident that
he would bring back all the money
he needed-probably more--and that
on the following day she would be
free. Only one night more to spend
in this hovel, amid the soualor of
foul court, the hateful sights,
sounds. and scents that assailed
her from all sides Tomorrow she
would be back in the comfort OF her
own home; there she could breathe.
wash herself with pure water, and
feel clean again. ,.
Suddenly her eyes rested on the
cupboard in which her clothes had
been thrust the night when she had
been forced to hand them over to
Marietta 1t occurred to her that
she might find a book slowed away
in some dark corner Of this re-
ceptacle. and accordingly she pro-
ceeded to make an examination OF |
the shelves.
She found no book There was q
medley Of rubbish; old clothes. bot
ties, boots, hats. and such like
thrown about in careless disorder. /,
Male and female belongings were
heaped together regardless Of senti-
meat or delicacy. And there we're
certain objects which puzzled LII
liam, though some she recognized |
with a half smile as instruments
accessory to crime in Its various
branches Surely Pietro was care
less in leaving this cupboard TN
locked. Presumably he had no fear
OF Lillian. or had not thought it
likely that she would make such a
search.
The Criminal PrrapherBalia.
Lillian found 1t amusing to e1- /
anime these articles with some mi
nuteness. They were. perhaps. more |
interesting than a book would have |
been. There were clothes which
were evidently used for the pur-
pose OF disguise; 1t was easy to
embroider a story round any one Of |
these garments. There were wigs.
too. and false hair OF various kinds.
There were implements such as
burglars might require. Lillian tried
to puzzle out the use OF each one.
OUT lpunu II was q ldSA Ouu
her power. She understood better
the heavily weighted sticks, the
knives, and daSgers. There was
one dagger with a peculiarly mar
now blade and a point as sharp IS
a needle: there were stains upon it
which made LiIlian><hudder. for she
felt certain that they were caused
by blood.
1T is a criminal museum" she
muttered to herself: "and to think
that it was I who brought this wolf
into the city. nourishing him, and
let him loose" She felt a sense OF |
responsibility for all the crimes
which the examination OF that cup |
board was revealing to her.
Strange. indeed. were some OF the |
articles which she brought to light, |
and over many OF them she ponder
ed deeply before she restored them
to their place.
What Is this-and this-and |
this" Such was the question she
asked herself repeatedly. My God. |
what is the meaning OF these:"
The last words were uttered |
aloud. From a tumble OF red scarfs
and handkerchiefs strange object !
had fallen to the floor. Lillian
.
most afraid TO touch 1t. Then she
carried It to the window and ex- |
smined It carefully.
A GhastIy Find.
The claws OF some animal-appar-
emily a bear-made 1t fit over the
hands OF a man and attached at the
wrists by heavy straps-this was
what Lillian had found. There was
fur to cover the back OF the hand.
and the claws were SO contrived
that they curved forward over the
top OF the fingers.
God IN. heaven" the woman re-
pested. blanching to the lips. She
held the object at arms length: It
was as II she was afraid Of II. Her
eyes narrowed in the horror OF
sudden understanding. or was It
with the confirmation OF suspicion:
1t was evident that to her there was
p meaning in the strange thing
which she had discovered.
She Now Understood.
81 guessed it." she muttered
again. but l could not understand.
Now | see-I see" She remained
awhile. too stupehed to think or act.
1t was growing dusk. or a sud
den she realized that, II all was
well, Pietro must very shortly re-
turn. As the thought struck her
she glanced through the window