The Washington times., 1920-08-22
Chauville's Secret p~D15rrl~ III

80 II is youths seems a
strange way 10 treat a guest. Let
me see. was your guest. wasn't II"
Dartin nodded.
And you are now, Mr.. Baxenter;
your room has been changed. that's
an. Believe me. II is no wish OF
mine that you should be here. 1
am only sorry for the necessity. i
own but one msstsr IN this world,
Mr. Baxenter, and that is 'circum-
stance"
Robert leaned back YEARLY "a
the pile OF rugs. He was feeling Q
good deal OF pain from lying in his
cramped position, but he did not
intend that his enemy should have
the satisfaction OF seeing his suf-
ferings.
IL suppose, Mr.. Dartin, that there
is not the least use in my buster
ing and swearing vengeance-no
doubt you have arranged matters to
make that quite useless. Do you
know, I've always had a sneaking
regard for your particular class of
scoundrel. You're so complete"
Dartin made a gesture OF impa-
tience and rose from his chair. The
other smiled at his annoyance and
went on:
Don't lose your temper, Dertin;
IL anybody ought TO do that It's |,
surely. The games yours--so far.
always hghi IN the last and then
see what terms / can make. 1t
seems it, cOIae 70 this BOW. What
is Il you want with IAe-money?"
There was short laugh from
Dartin at this, as he re-seated HIM
self and lit a fresh cigarette.
Hardly" he said. Il think, Mr..
Baxenter, that ] could buy you up
and few more like you. No, it's
not money"
He paused a moment as though
he expected a question from the
man on the rugs; then he went on:
"My terms, since you are good
enough to mention them, are easy.
want you to remain here for three
days. This is Monday. have
made arrangements for a letter to
be posted from Manchester on
Wednesday evening, acquainting
your. firm with your whereabouts.
That will be Thursday afternoon.
at hast, before you can be found.
That will give lis ample time
Haverton and cross the Channel
tonight. You see. Mr.. Baxenter, I
have read your notes. and really
you have worked up your case well
too well for your health, in fact.
am simply making it sure that
you are powerless to harm us until
we are out of the country. don't
think it'll be worth your while to
follow u.s."
"And you are the murderer of my
poor cousin!"
For the first time Dartin let his
eyes rest on his prisoners face.
"Ah! There, Mr. BaXenter, you
must believe my word II was an
sccident-but, I'm afraid, a criminal
one. I have done many things in
my life, but never wilfully killed a
man. Why don't l kill you now If
am a murderer? Dead mems
tales, you know"
81 expect Mr. Dartin has some
excellent reason why he should
not do so. 1t suits your book, /
presume. I wouldn't have thought
that a murder more or less would
have worried you. After all, they
can only hang man once"
Dartin looked at his watch.
You can believe me or not, as
you will, but have never ceased to
regret your cousins death, and I
rather welcome this opportunity Of
explaining matters. l have put the
memory from me as far as I can,
but would give all possess to call
him back. That's Gods truth, Bax-
enter"
A step sounded beyond the door
way. and Haverton's voice called,
and so, without another word. Oar
tin lit a fresh candle in the lantern
and left the cellar, locking the door
on the outside.
Baxenter lay still, ruminating on
what he had heard. Thursday
,Iat was about seventy hours of
5ais torture. He thought of Stella
and what she would suffer. Per
haps, not hearing from him, she
would call at the office: she knew
where he had spent the weekend
might they not institute a search?
He knew that the girl was leaving
by an afternoon train to Cardiff to
join the company, and he had prom
ised to call on her before she left.
She would hardly have time, after
all,'to visit the office.
Then he asked himself whether
he was still at Adderbury Towers.
Was 1t not just as likely that the
two scoundrels had moved him
during his insensibility to some
other hiding place? All he could
be certain of was that he was in
cellar, and that II was not intended
he should leave II before Thursday.
He had listened to Dartip's foot
steps as they had died away on the
stone floor, had heard whispering
as he spoke to Haverton, then had
fallen this dense silence. II was
L. II ~ H..