The evening world., 1921-06-01


an had ruined him, drew out a re-
volver and shot her"
Il tell you it's an abominable lie!
Hugh Is not an assassin cried the
girl fiercely.
II merely repeat what have heard
on very good authority replied the
SNUG faced man with the thick red
lips.
And you have, OF course, told my
mother that-eh?"
'T didn't think 1t was any secret"
he said. Indeed, think IT most
fortunate we all know the truth. The
police must get him one day-before
long"
For n few moments Dorise re-
mained silent, her eyes fixed across
the broad river to the opposite bank.
"And II they do he will most GER
tainly clear himself, Mr.. Sherrard."
she said coldly.
"Ah! You still have great faith in
him." he laughed airfly. "Weli-we
shall sec" and he grinned.
"Yes, Mr. Sherrard. I s.:ll have
faith in Mr.. Henfrey. I know him
we'll enough to be certain that he is
no assassin"
''Then ask you Dorise, why Is he
in hiding?" said her companion. "If
he is innocent, what can he fcar?'
"I know he is innocent"
"Of course You must remain In
that belief until he is found guilty"
you already condemn him!" the
girl cried in anger by what right
do you do this, 1 ask?"
well, common sense shows that he
Is in fear lest the truth should CINE
10 light" was Sherrard's lame reply.
"He escaped very cleverly from
Monte Carlo the moment he heard
that the police suspected him. but
where Is he now? Nobody knows.
Haynes of Scotland Yard. who made
the Inquiries when my fat in Park
Lane was broken into, tells me they
have had a description of him from
the Paris police and that a general
hue and cry has been circulated
But the woman is still alive, Is
she not?"
Yes. She's hopeless idiot, Haynes
tells me. She has developed honi-
cidal mania as a result of the bullet
wound in the head, and they have
had to send her to a private asylum
at Cannes. She's there in close con-
f1nement."
Dorise paused. Her anger Rad
risen and her checks were flushed.
The sandwich she was eating clicked
Then she rose abruptly, and look
ing very straight into the mans eyes,
said:
ct consider, Mr.. Sherrard. that you
are absolutely hoIrd. Mr.. Henfrey Is
O friend of mine and whatever gossip
there Is concerning him I will not
believe until hear his story from Lis
own lips"
IT merely tell you of the report
from France to Scotland Yard" sad
Sherrard.
you tell me this in order to preju-
ce me against Hugh-to-to'-
Hugh Whom you fove--eo ?"
sneered Sherrard.
YES do love him." the girl
blurted forth. 1T make no secret of
1t! And II YOU like you can tell my
mother that! You are very fond OF
acting as her factotum."
1T is to be regretted, Dorise, that
you have fallen in love with n fell
low who is wanted bv the police" he
remarked with a sigh.
AT any rate love real genuine
man." she retorted with bitter sar-
casm. IT know my mothers inten-
tion Is that I shall marry you, But
I tell you here frankly-as I stand
herc-I would rather kill myself
first"
George Sherrard with his dark
bushy brows and thick lips only
laughed at her indignation. This In
censed her the more.
"Yes," she went on. You may be
amused at my distress. You have
laughed at the distress of other
women, Mr.. Sherrard. Do not think
that am blind. I have watched
you, and I know more concerning
your love affairs OF the past than
You ever dream. So please leave
Blairglas as soon as you can with
decency excuse yourself, and keep
away from me in future"
-But really, Dorise-!" ne cried, ad-
vancing toward her.
IT mean exactly what 7 say. Let
me get back. When 7 go hshing l
prefer to go alone" the girl said.
''But what am I to say to Lady
Ranscomh?"
'Tell her that I love Hugh,
laughed the girl defiantly Tell hc"
that I intend to defeat all her clever
intTEues and sly devices"
His countenance now showed that
he was angry. He and Lady Rams
comb thoroughly understood each
other. He admired the girl and her
mother had assured him her affec-
ton for Hugh Henfrey was but n
passing fancy. This stubborn out
burst was to him n complete revela-
ton.
1T have no knowledge of any in
triEue, Dorise," he said in that bland
superior manner which always irri-
tated her. She knew that a dozen
mothers with eligible feminine en-
cumbrances we're angling after him
and that Lady Ranscomb was
greatly envied by them. But to be
the wife of the self-conscious yss-
well, as she had already so bltntly
told him. she would die rather than
become Mrs. George Sherrard.
'TntriGue!" the girl retortcd,
why, from first to last the whole
thing is a plot between my mother
and yourself Please give me credit
for Just little intelligence First. I
despise you as coward During the
war you crept into n little clerkship
In the Home ONCE in order to save
your precious skin, while Hugh went
to the front and risked his life flying
a bomber over the enemy's lines.
You were n miserable stay-at- home,
hiding in your little bolt hole in
Whitehall when the Zepps came over,
while Hugh Henfrey fought for his
King and for Britain. Now 7 am
quite frank, Mr.. Sherrard, That's
why I despise you!" and the girls
pale face showed two pink spots in
the centre OF her checks.
Really" he said in that same SUI
perior tone which he so constantly
assumed. II must say that you are
the reverse OF polite. Miss Dorise,"
and his color heightened.
Read To- Morrow's Interesting install.
mont