The Washington times., 1919-09-28


deliberate answer eYou afs e
for the society Of any decent ~
Or woman" ne young voice ~
rs calmno1s end rang win ~
Deiacours face went q rtara.
white and be staggered irain.t
chair.
You have betrayed vom com.
tFy, the relentless voice went ~
you got possession of a. inr,e
tant military document which -.
sold 20 one of our agsnts nav,
seen the proof of m III m
French Government had had mv
m0Wledgs g year aga you uorl
not have got 81 60 easily
You Iie-you nai" came m
hoarse ory. a. Delacour lourhf ssr
brsath 10 speak. somsthlne rrIapsr
his throat NE a band Of iron. -
that Be had to force ths words out
@Y0u Hs-you nsl"
Knowing 50 little Of truth yo
SELF & SIS no doubt natural v
should think 50. vas the seorfi
reply Fl win only say nat ~
proof vas in ny fathers possession
and 7 happened By chance 90 sssf
OF course, yon know that secret
Service work must Be- EsD. ans
but Z win 50 70 the length 81 Bub-
hcly branding you asa traitor and
scoundrsl unless you agree % ~
terms You could deny t. but I
think you know who Is most NAV
to Be bslisVed-you OF u"
Dslacom had droDred into a
chair and vas rsstlessly gnaulnr
his mder-lip. while he looked round
furtivsly, seeking a way 81 sseaBs
from thsnst that was closing round
him. Had be not felt il d1awlnr 4
little tighter every day. though hs
had tried 70 persuade himself that
he vas free and safsf
"And those teFms9e be INQUIRED
with q not very natural assumption
Of careless disdain. Tan curious
to learn them.
They are that from hencs1oF,h
you give up your pursuit of Miss
Marchmont-that you never intruds
upon her again.
Delacour laughed wildly-holll
BY. Il vas such e laugh asa nan
might give as be gees 70 the seat
fOld-fun Of Hls. but with the
prayers for the dead in his sara
81 might have kn0Wul" be cried
$50 hat s. H9 7 might have
moWniH he leaned across ghs
table and looked At Archie htsntiy.
you think you have gof the best
Qf me. be gnarlsd; "but I am not
done win yet You do not take tie
feelings Of the young lady into con
sideration. my dear sir 1t Is pos
sible that she NAV not wish ns g
leave her 50 abruptly; that she
may prefer me 20 you
THAT has nothing g 40 with q.
Archie said. keeping his temper
admirably. though bis face flushed
''The only concern ] have at pres
ent is to see that she IS protected
from you. even though Il IS against
her win. She shan Be need non
the contamination Of y0ur pres
ence; on that 7 am determined.
DelaeOur dropped his head on his
hands He could not aHord % defy
young Rendel-with his father At
the back Of him-that be knew.
The secret be had thought 50 care
fully hidden had leaked out IN spite
Of all his care and precaution He
could not account for IT,
Z wonder" he mused, Ell that
rascal De Saba has been at work?
It almost looks Ike It. Twas a fool
to quarrel with him; be knows too
much. But he is such a horrible
little brute and his insolence was
unbearable. He seemed to think I
was no better than himself
He looked up after a few minutes
You have the whip-hand Of me-
he said, "and you know It. must
accept your terms: I have no choice.
I resign in your favor he bowed
mockingly, a sneer on his hand
some, evil face.
you undertake to leave Miss
MarChmont alone? Very ven. As
.Ong as you keep your promise you
nay 80 unharmed FOR me. II you
break It, shall know"
"shaH give you my word Of
lonor?" with a jarring laugh. laying
stress on the last word.
Archie made no reply. Il had