The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-20

this? and can't you feel little
glad that J have been unwilling to
deceive you for a minuteT"
But still Frayne sat silent. fixing
velma with a gaze that seemed to
burn her flesh like live GOALS. HIS
lips. stirred not at all, but In the
seething cauldron which had been
his brain he was repeating over and
over the words Velma had first
spoken-the desolating syllables
that spelled the ruin Of all his dear
est hopes.
. Speak to mel" pleaded Velma,
growing more and more alarmed by
his silence as well as by the wild
glitter of his eyes. Tell me that
you forgive me and that you viii
try to forget me-"
The death-like pallor Of Frayne's
face turned red; every drop OF
blood in his body seemed rushing
to his head; his temples throbbed
as If they would burst.
Once more something far inside
his skull snapped, and for the Sec
ond time his eyes looked through
a thick mist Of crimson. He leaped
to unsteady feet with long rasp.
ing laugh that echoed through the
room like nothing hanan.
"You say it's not too late!" he
shouted hoarsely, striding back and
forth before the chair In whose
depths Velma was covering. "You
are sadly mistaken. I tell you II is
too late-too late for Dorothy, too
late for me, too late for you and
for the man whom the other day
you hated and now you say you
love. Your change Of heart has
not come soon enough to save
vestige Of happiness for any one"
Again his unnatural laugh rang
out and he sank back into his chair
as IL exhausted by his effort
II don't understand YOU" Velma
faltered. "You can't mean that
Dorothy knows-that she has found
out about MS"
Now you are getting at the
truth rasped Frayne, his face
once more pallid and wNnkling in
hideods mockery Of a smile. "Doro-
thy knows everything-more even
than you and do, suspect"
With gasp of establishment
Velma bounded from her chair.
Then she has left you? That's
why you are so unstrung, so unlike
yourself" she cried.
Frayne nodded.
You must tell me where she has
gone" Velma commanded, bending
over him, hand on his shoulder, so
that l can follow her. I will 20
down on my knees to her-I will
make her forgive and come back
to you. She can't be so cruel and
hard hearted as to wreck your hap
piness and her own like this. Tell
me where she has gone, Martin. so
that I may find her and make
everything right before 1t is too
late"
II tell you It is already too late"
said Frayne 'slowly. where Doro-
thy is gone you and | cannot follow
at least not yet"
His words struck Velma's ears
like a funeral knell. An icy chill
swept over her. driving the roses
from her cheeks and leaving them
as ashen as Frayne's own. The
spectre of fear hich had been how
ering at her shoulder was suddenly
become a real and terrible monster
whose ugly arms were selling her
in their pitiless grasp.
For Gods sake tell me what has
happened" she begged. "You can't
mean that your wife-that Doro-
thy
The dread words choked in her
throat; her quivering lips refused
to voice what her heart told her
was truth.
For answer Frayne rose, grasped
her wrist in one of his. freezing
hands and led her swiftly into the
dining room.
AS the door swung open and re-
vealed Dorothy's body lying there
on the sunlit floor a sobbing cry