The Washington times., 1918-06-18
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Strangely Fascinated By Fleetwood,
Esther Tries to Establish His Re-
latiOn to a Certain Event.
Part one-(Continued)


OF this. To society they played
their part Esther, indeed, seized
upon society as a solace, as her
husband turned to his books.
Owing to Mrs. Borradale's re-
cent death, however, she could not
90 out as she would otherwise have
done; but, in a quiet way, she made
the acquaintance of many influen-
tial people, and ingratiated herself
with the little world OF New York.
It was wonderful how she bore
her burden, how she could laugh
when her heart was sore, how she
had trained herself to the wearing
of q mask.
Guy Notes Change in Esther
Guy marked the change in her,
knowing her well enough to see
beneath the mask, or perhaps be-
cause before him she was less
careful in the setting OF IT,
you are not happy, Esther" he
said.
mo" she admitted, with a sigh.
Il am not happy"
'Harold?" he asked 'T have
seen the change in him. Is it as
we feared?"
yes" she replied. "but, Guy.
there is nothing TO be done, moth
Ing to be said. Don't try to con-
sole me. You did your best while
there was time, but l would not
listen. There is no o. TO blame.
1t is fate" D
eret7" he asked.
mo. nothing beyond what I knew
before my marriage. what you
yourself know"
shall L" he began.
Attempt to unravel it?" she put
IN wearily. "NO. 1t would do no
good to me or any one. Things
must just go on as they are. Don't
let's talk. about il Tell me about
yourself"
Guy frowned. He would have
liked to be OF some service. But
Esther would never permit him TO
revert to the subject She had ac-
cepted her lot; it was useless to
complain.
She smiled cheerfulIy when Guy
told her that he was doing fairly
well: he was glad to see even the
smallest indication OF the cordial,
impetuous manner which used TO
characterize her.
You are still determined to take
no help from me, Guy?" she asked.
"Helm Court is empty and at your
disposition: or, n you want to work
for your living, why shouldn't you
manage the estate for me? l should
be glad Of it, and the people know
you down there
Declines Ess,neTs Mind Uner.
Guy shook his head. No. he
would forge his own way, as he
- "a
on all right, and there was nothing
TO complain or. AS a matter OF
fact his sporting friend had been
doing very we'll, and Guy had prof
tied accordingly. When Esther
asked the nature OF his business.
he did not hesitate to say that be
was with a commission agent. he
knew that she would not understand.
In his own way he was quite coz
tent. The life was amusing and
bohemian, and suited him: he felt,
too, that IL had sharpened his wits.
He and Lillian met often: they kept
up their compact OF comradeship.
but there was no suggestion Of
anything beyond this between
them
There was another frequent Wis
itor to whom Esther was always at
Fleetwood. who had been OF such
incalculable service on the day Of
Mrs. Borradale's death To this
man Esther was particularly at
tached, though she could hardly eN-
plain to herself the reason OF the
fascination that he had for her.
To him she could talk as she talk
ed to no one else. He never qUes-
toned her as TO her relations with
her husband, though he congrat-
ulated her with sincerity when II
became evident that Harold had
abandoned his passion for stimu-
iants.
Il don't want to know" he said.
on one occasion. when Esther had
been on the point or telling him
about herself-they had cached this
degree OF intimacy. Il think family
secrets are always best kept as
secrets. I'm quite content to have
your friendship, Mrs BorradaIe."
fleetwood Describes His Past.
He was not 80 reticcnt about
himself. Esther learned that he
was the son OF a clergyman, and
that he had many brothers. The
family had been very poor: il had
been a hard struggle for existence.
He had not worked as hard as he
should have done in his younger
days-he owned IL ith regret, but
with a merry twinkle in his eyes
that indicated he had rather en-
5oyed himself in those days. He
had attempted TO start practice in
Westchester, but there had been so
much competition that he could not
fight against it.
in Westchester," interrupted
Esther, "where?"
II was at Larchmont. he said.
He had come in unexpectedly for A
little money while there-abOut a
couple OF years ago-and had very
willingly thrown up the practice.
Now he was in partnership with A
friend. and was doing very well.
but medicine, as a profession, had
never appealed 10 him. Broadly
told. this was his story. but he had
Travelled. and had many curious ex-
periences, which he was fond OF re-
lating. and which Esther listened
&c with considerable interest Ger
thinly Basil Fleetwood had a pc
Culiar fascination for her.
She often spoke OF him to Lillian.
"T like the man." she once admit
ted candidiy, "snd to talk to him
has been a relief to me at times
when my troubles weighed most
heavily upon me. He doesn't at
tempt TO hatter me as other men
have done-he just talks, and what