Evening star., 1921-07-02

hear this Did he allude to the Nor
ris Barnes affair at all?"
He did" Wrayson answered. He
gave me to understand. In fact, that
he had discovered little more than
he wanted to-.
The colonel stretched out his hand
for a match, and relit his cigar.
You believe, then" he said, that
Heneage has succeeded in solving the
mystery of Barnes murder, and IS
keeping the knowledge to himself?'
That was the conclusion l came
to-" WraySon admitted.
The colonel smoked for moment
or two in thoughtful silence.
Well" he said. "it isn't like He
neage. l always looked upon him as
Il man without nerves. a man who
would carry through any purpose he
set himself to without going to
pieces about it. Shows how difficult
it is to understand the most obvious
Of u.s."
Wrayson nodded.
But after ALL" he said. lit wasn't
to talk about Heneage that I brought
you down here. What l want to
know is if you can help me at all
with Louise"
The coloners forehead was fur
rowed with perpleNity.
MY dear Herbert" he declared.
there is no man in the world l would
sooner have for son-in-law. But
" hat can l do? Louise wouldn't listen
20 me in any case. / haven't any au-
thority or any influence over her
say it to my sorrow. but it's the
truth. If it were my little girl down
at home, now, it would be a different
matter. But Louise has taken her
life into her own hands. She has not
spoken to me for years. She certainly
would not listen to my advice"
'Then if you cannot help me direct
ly. colonel" Wraysoy continued, "can
you help me indirectly? have asked
you a question something like this
before. but 1 want to repeat it.
have told you that Louise refuses to
marry me. She has something on her
mind. some scruple, some fear. Can
you form any idea as to what 1t may
be%
The colonel was silent for an un-
back in his chair. looking up through
the cloud of blue tobacco smoke to
the ceiling. In reflection his features
seemed to have assumed a graver and
somewhat weary expression.
Yes" he said at last. Il think that
I can"
Wrayson felt his heart jump His
eyes were brighter. An influx of new
life seemed to have come to him. He
leaned forward eagerly.
You WILL tell me what it is. colo
nel?" he begged.
The colonel looked at him with
queer little smile.
Il am not sure that I can do that.
Herbert" he said. "I am not sure that
it would help you if did. And you
are asking me rather more than you
know.
Wrayson felt little chill Of dis
ceuragement.
Colonel" he said II am in your
hands. But I love your daughter. and
swear that I would make her hap
py''
The colonel looked at his watch.
do you know where Louise is?'
he asked quietly.
mo. II. Frederick Mansions. Bat
tersea." Wrayson answered.
The colonel rose to his feet.
II will go down and see her." he
here for me. 1 will come straight
back"
Colonel. you're brick" wrayson
declared. walking with him toward
the door.
'Tn do my best. Herbert" he an
swered quietly. but I can't promise.
can't promise anything"
Wrayson watched him leave the
club and step into a hanson. He
walked a little more slowly than
usual. his head was little bent. and
he passed a club acquaintance in the
hall without his customary greeting.
Wrayson retraced his steps and as
cended toward the billiard room.
with his first enthusiasm a little
damped Was his errand. he won-'
dered, so grievously distasteful to his
old friend. or was the colonel losing
at last the magnificent elasticity and
vigor which had kept him so long in
dependent of the years?
There were others besides Wrayson
yho noticed a certain alteration in
the colonel when he re-entered the
he called for a drink without wait
usual greeting was unspoken, he
sank a little heavily into a chair. and
he called for o drink without wait
ing for some one to share it with
him. They gathered round him SYM
Feeling the heat a bit. colonel?..
Anything wrong downstairs?"
Continued in Tomorrows Star.)