The Washington herald., 1920-05-15
xCvI.-AN UNwELCoME TASK.

xCvI.-AN UNwELCOME TASK.
There was silence in the library
after / had spoken. Alice's face
was a study. Evidently this solu-
tion of the mystery had not hith-
erto occurred to her.
You admit that you did go down
to the library, after we all had
gone to bed?" / was determined to
sift the matter to the bottom. and
now was a favorable time.
Alice nodded dejectedly.
Tit wasn't because of any fir-
tation. Helene" she maintained
"it was all through Tony insisting
that he had some special things to
say to me-and he. couldn't get a
decent opportunity when all the
rest of you were round"
I smiled a crooked little smile
again.
And so you jeopardized your
own good name. for the sake of an
idle chat with Tony. did your"
Yes, it was foolish of me. But
he was SO persistent. And l was
worried to death over my card
losses"
And so you crept down TO meet
Tony. and have this chat with
him."
She nodded.
And you never once suspected
Tony of breaking into Mr.. Lloyd's
safe?"
Alice shook her head.
We'll. you're goose" re-
marked. frankly. But, as nothing
was stolen at that time. we needn't
rake up the wretched affair. sup
pose you didn't know that Mr.
Lloyd's safe had again been tam
pered with"
"Oh Helene-how?
"He told me so himself" I said
"and. what's more, he assured me
that he'd seen the form of Tony
disappearing through the open win
dow of the library"
Alice gave small. affected
scream. Then she produced her
pocket handkerchief. IA and began
dabbing her eyes again.
II was so fond of Tony" she
shifted. It's awful to believe those
things about him.
knitted my brows. What was il
Mr.. Travis Lloyd had said?
Il don't think the motive was the
stealing of money. II ] remember
rightly. l believe Tony took some
papers-or tried to take them. They
were private papers. Valueless, ex-
ccpt for sentimental reasons. Mr.
Lloyd seemed awfuIIy upset"
Alice rose to her feet. Evidently
my speculations had ceased to IN.
terest her. Her thoughts were all
on her precious diamond bracelet
and the chances that it might once
more come into her own tenacious
hands
"Oh Helene. do get it back for
me-" Her eyes-big. blue and ap.
pealing-were fixed upon my face
But how can 1 find Tony"
protested.
Alice fumbled in her bag.
'Look-here's his address-go tC
see him
am not fond of these unpleas
ant jobs. Yet invariably they fal
to me.
I'll see what I can do. Mean.
time. cheer up. And write a long
newsy letter to your husband
Alice" I patted her reassuringly or
the shoulder. Hes worth a hun.
dred of any of your other friends
So Alice made her exit. much tc
my relief
Mrs. st. Aubyns didn't ask the
reason for our interview. She
merely said, quite gently and kind.
ly (although / know she doesn't
care for Alice):
Il ought to have told you to ask
your friend to stay to dinner. my
dear. But she went off in such a
hurry that l hardly had a chance. -
We dined that night in a small
sitting room opening off Jim's bed.
room. The motor drive had moi
tired him much, and he looked
more like his old self than he had
done for long time. Dear Jimr
We were a cheerful trio. Always
Jim's eyes looked at me, in a wist-
full sort of way. There were love
and longing in that look, and an
eager question. too.
A great hope came to me that
Jim's memory would be restored
AS Helene Beauclare l wanted to
be desired and loved-but as Helene
st. Aubyns the desire was even
oh. how 1 wanted to tell Jim the
truth-the whole truth!
int hn Sf