Evening star., 1921-06-19

was as though they stood upon the
edge of the world and peered down
wards. into the forbidden depths; as
though, they suddenly found them
| selves in the presence of a, thing so
wonderful that thought and speech
alike were chained. Wrayson :involun-
tarily followed the direction %: their
rapt gaze. The stranger certainly pre-
sented somewhat formidable ap-
pearance. He was standing upon
slightly higher ground, and the mas.
slve proportions of his tall. powerful
ii figure stood out with almost star
Ting distinctness against the empty
background. His face was half in the
shadow, yet it seemed to .Wrayson
| that some touch of the mystery which
was quiverfng in the drawn face OF
the two women was also reflected in
! his dimly seen features. Something
| indefinable was in the air. something
80 mysterious and wonderful that
voices seemed stricken dumb, and life
itself suspended. An owl few slowly
out from the wood with ponderous
| their heads. Every one started: Nine
ae Melbain gave a half-stifled Shrek.
ihe strain was over. Louise and she
! were 'half sobbing now in one
another's arms
81 will leave this fellow to he dealt
with as the owners of the chateau
may direct" the stranger said stiff1y.
turning to Wrayson. You can tell
| them all that we know about him"
he turned on his heel but the baron
| lalo his. hand upon his shoulder and
| peered into HES face inquisitively.
We should like to know" he SAID.
whom we have to thank for the
capture Of this intruder"
| - am a stranger here. and to all
OF you.' was the quiet answer. You
| thing of this fellow BEFORE. he added,
pointing TO- his captive. who was now
standing sullenlX in the center of the
group. Il felt sure that he was up
10 no good. and watched him"
For the first time the fair-haired
| little tourist. who had been dragged
! so submissively into Sheir midst. suf-
, fered a CLEAN of intelligence to ap-
| pear in his face. He changed his po-
sitlon so that he could see his captor
T.. better.
All: he muttered. you have seen
me before. eh?" And / you. perhaps:
/ Let me think: Was it"
Wrayson. s friend leaned little for
| "ard, and with the careless ease
OF enc f1icking away a fly. he struck
| the speaker with the back Of his
nand across the face. The blow was
not a particularly severe one, but its
| victim collapsed upon the turf.
! LOOK here" his assailant said.
! standine .e for a moment over him,
you can go on and finish your SEN
tence if you like. l only want to
warn You that if you do I will break
| every bone in your body. one by
one. the next time We meet. Go on.
II you think it worth. while"
Inc man on the ground was dumb.
because he was afraid. But the same
thought presented itself to all of
them. The baron. who was least of
all. affected. expressed it.
! Perhaps. sir" he said. you will
| not object to telling me-the Baron
1
| truder."
Wrayson's friend edged little
| away. There was no response in his
| manner to the courtesy with. which
sImseit' shn eEr9n' had Sought to introduce
You have nothing to thank me
| for; he said shortly. My name would
be quite unkRown to you. and I am
| leaving this1RaEt of,tf,e wsrla at once
FerJnai me to wtsh' you good even
He had already turned on his heel
| when Mme.f de Melbain's voice ar
| rested him. Clear. and perefnptory
the first words which had passed her
lips since the surprise had come to
| a new note into an atmosphere from
which an element of tragedy had
| never been, lacking.
| ."Please STOP
| He turned and faced her with OBJ
vious ,unwillingness. She stretched
! him to go. but addressed at the same
time the two men. apparently game
keepers. who had suddenly emerged
| from the wood
M: Robert" she said. we have
| caught this man trespassing 'in the
| cautions which 1 understood you had
| taken. Take him away at once. If
| you please. trust that YOU will be
able ito. hand him over TO the gen
|. darmes."
NJ Robert. the steward of the es-
tates. an elderly man. whose face
| was twitching with anxiety, stepped
! forward with a low bow.
| Madame" he said. I'VE had word
Of this Intrusion. We were even now
was another: also. who climbed the
wall-ah! I see him. The English
| man there"':
HE is our friend" Nine. de Mel
| balm said. You must not interfere
| with him.
! ;."As madame wills. Come. you ras-
cal."' ne added; gripping his prisoner
| by the shoulder. I'VE will show you
what it means to climb over. walls
and trespa$s on the estate of Nine.
la .Baronhe.' Come then"
The intruder accepted the situation
with the most philosophic calm: Only
| one remark he ventured to make as
| he was led Off. l."
TT is not hospitable, this! I only
wished to see the chateau by moon
light"-
| dor: turned to follow them.
| ,."Ti1e fellow might try. to escape"
| he muttered: but again Nine. de Mel
| balm called to him.
| You must not go away she said,
"yet.'
| Then she, moved forward with
smooth. deliberate footsteps. yet with
! something almost supernatural in her
white face and set. dilated eyes. 1t
| was as though she were looking once
| more through the windows OF the
| world. as. though she could see the
| figures of dead men playing once
more their part in the game of life.
And she looked always at the Eng
Listen: :.,she said. there is some
thing. about you. sir. which ! do net
do you come FROM"
He made no answer. Only he held
out his hand as though to keep her
away, and.drew a little. farther" back.
"You shall not ESCAPE" she con on
with a sort of staccato incisiveness,
crisp and emotional. mo! you are
here, and you shall answer. Who are
I you .wt6 rcofpef here TO mock us all !:
because it is 2 dead man who speaks
eyes? You will not dare to say you
are Duncan Fitzmaurice"s
The figure in the shadows seemed
to loom larger and HarEer. He was
no longer shrinking away
whona-you speakHr: he declared. II
am ia twandsrfr.::: i fave. mo- nathe and
noytd .Mmsss de Melbsin .reeleds sand would
have, fallkns sThe eI .foE5 aas moment