Evening star., 1920-02-22
THE SURE WINNER

had become little afraid of him. /
temporized. ! asked him to my house
again in seven days time, at the same
hour. which was 10 o'clock. That time
will have arrived in thirty minutes
from now.
Il spent night filed with bitter
self-reproaching, ! felt L had done
very wrong in listening to that man,
The following evening ] went to John
determined to tell him what | had
done. AS ! mounted the steps of the
house where he lodges he opened
the door. and | saw that he was see
ing lady out. She was in the act of
drawing down her veil, but l saw her
face clearly. 1t was very lovely, with
a great mass of beautiful red-gold
hair half-concealed by the sweep of
her hat. Her costume left nothing to
be desired, and necklet of sable was
secured by a magnificent emerald,
which famed in the light of the hall
electric lamp. AS she went out she
left a delicate perfume Of verbena.
looked at John. There was a light I'M
his eyes which I had never seen there
before. That perfect vision Of red lips,
OF eyes black as jet. of splendid red
gold hair appeared to have dazzled
him.
he listened TO my story with but
poor attention. He showed anger but
/ felt that 1t was quite half feigned.
Then he said: You have been feeding
on monstrous lie. But see that
you will not accept my plain denial. /
cannot do more than deny it, however.
And l won't do more. Go ahead and
prove 1t against me. If you can.
swear, before you and my Maker, that
never stood In a dock for any crime.
any offense whatever. Good God.
Janet. what a thing is this you force
me to swear"
That was six days ago Mr.. Tired.
ways. Tonight, in twenty minutes.
time, the appointment 1 made falls
oue. nave spent week of the most
complete wretchedness. / know there
Is something wrong. thought Of
you several times, but hardly dared
to come to you with my story. At
the last moment ] suddenly made up
my mind"
Such was Miss Caseldy's story. Per-
sonaliy. the only interest it held was
IN listening to nice-looking girls
expression OF her trouble. Would
Tredways plumb for depth in SO sim
pie narrative? He questioned at
once
Can you let me have picture of
John Bartle?"
She pressed open a gold l6cket sus-
pended round her throat and took out
a small photograph.
THANK you, Miss Caseldy. And
your f1ance's address"
twenty-five Cadorgan Mansions
Piccadilly"
That is block of expensive hats?"
yes, indeed"
But Bartle was just an engineer"
when l went abroad he was He
has come into some money since
then"
HE must have. Now l want you to
send to me. directly you go home, the
last letter you received from Bartle~
after you went to America The ques-
tion of comparing dates may arise
Have you his letters?"
"All of them. You shall have the
one you ask, without fail"
Very good. And now I should like
to see this very commonplace black
mailer and put two questions to him"
A motor bus rumbled us to the
Euston road, Miss Caseldy living in a
street off that thoroughfare. Tired
ways designation of the fellow as
commonplace was keenly accurate.
He had arrived and was slouching
about Nm front Of the house; an UNDER
sized travesty of the human animal,
half way back on a reversion to type
only not a william because he was
weakling. Miss Caseldy. in advance
of us. engaged this remnant in con-
versation. Tredways and I came on
leisurely. Suddenly my companions
right hand shot out. gripping the fell
low by the waistcoat, while with his
left he forced back the mans head SO
that the light from a street lamp fell
upon the wildly glaripg face.
Name" rasped Tredways.
"Judson," was the gasped-out reply.
What prison We're you in last?"
Il I, L..