Evening star., 1921-06-28

You can wait. at least, until she
| is we'll" he said contemptously.
Sydney Barnes was wholly un-
abashed. He watched Wryson pour
! brandy between the girls lips; oatne
her temples and chafe her hands. An
the time. he stood dogsedly WaitinE
decency or humanity would weigh
! with him for one single second. Inc
fever of his great desire still ran nke
fire through his veins. He did not
think of the girl as human creature
at all Simply there was a pair OF
lips there which might point out to
him the way to his paradise.
She opened her eyes at last. Sydney
Barnes came step nearer, put
Wrayson pushed him once more
You are feeling better?" he asked
kindly.
q sitting posture.
Tell me-" she said. how did ne
die? 1t must have been quite SUD. :.
den. Was it an t?-or-or-,
He saw the terror in her eyes. and
he spoke quickly. All the time he
found himself wondering how II was
that she was guessing at the truth.
I'VE are afraid" he said that ne
was murdered. 1t is surprising tnat
you did not read about it in the
papers"
She shook her head.
II do not read much" she said.
land the name was different. Who
was it-that killed him?"
mo one knows" he answered
when was it," she asked.
He toid her the date. She repeated
1t tearfully.
fore" she said .'He was terribly ex.
cited all the time. and know that
nf
happening to him. He had been
threatened" .,
son asked.
She shook her head.
HE never told me-" She answered
was very, very good to me. 1 was
at the refreshment room at LONDON
bridge when first met him. He
used to come in and see me every
day. Then he began to take me out,
and at last he found me a little house
I had been SO tired all my life, she
added, with a little sigh. "and down
there I did nothing but rest ana rest
and wait for him to come. II was
foo good to last, of course. but !
didn't think it would end llke TINS;
ney Barnes insisted on being heard.
"It's my turn now" he said, stand
ing by Wrayson's side. Look here,
miss. I'm his brother. You can see
that. can't you?
nicer to look at than you.
Never mind that" he continued
eagerly. I'm his brother, his near
est relative. Everything he left be-
hind belongs to me-!
"Not-quite everything" she pro-
what do you mean- he asked
"You may be his brother" she an.
swered, but l." holding out her left
hand little neroveiy' 1 was MS
wife,"
CHAPTER xXXVI
THE, MURDERED MANS EFFECTS
Both men had been totally unpre-
pared for the girls timid avowal. To
Wrayson, however. after the first mild
shock of surprise, it was OF no special
import To Sydney Barnes. although
he made a speedy effort to grapple
with the situation, it came very much
as thunderclap.
"You have your certificate" he ask
ed sharply. You were married proper
ly in a church,
She nodded. I'VE were married at
Dulwich Parish Church." she an
swered. 1T was nearly a year ago."
VERY WELL" Sydney Barnes said. 1T
is lucky that I am here to look after
your interests. We divide every
thing, you know"
She seemed about to cry.
II want Augustus" she murmured.
He was very good to me-"
Look here" he said, Augustus
always seemed to have plenty of oof.
didn't he?'
She nodded.
He was very generous with it. too"
she declared. HE gave me lots and
lots of beautiful things"
His eyes travelled over her hands
and neck. destitute of ornaments.
where are they?' he asked
sharply.
1--WE had to sell them" she an
swered, ito get along at all. / hated
to. but I couldn't starve."
The young mans face darkened.
Come" he said WED better have
no secrets from one another. You