Evening journal., 1922-01-28

had displayed any particular talent
in any direction such as amateur
theatricals or that sort OF thing, but
all recalled the creature had done
had been to sketch clever but rather
cruel caricatures now and then for
our amusement
Just one more question, Mrs
.Tyrrell." begged Barry. you said .
the girls hair looked as II II had
been bleached out in the sun; do you
remember whether IL was curly or
straight?"
Straight as a string" Mrs. Tyr
rell responded. 'Irene's hair had
been soft and curling about her face.
while her sisters was fiat and dark
and unpleasant-looking as though
she had been drownedl Now
really must hurry or you'll miss your
train"
He took leave Of Mrs Tyrell at
the station Just as the New York
train was pulling in. but made no
attempt to get aboard; instead ne
waited for the Western express and
as he entered the Pullman he chuck
led to himself.
Cad, what luckl" he murmured.
What a coincidencel Fate played
right into her hands"
CHAPTER XII
The group which gathered In Pro-
fessor Semyonov's shabby, comfort
able living room few days later was
a strangely assorted one, but the
faces OF all held the same intent ex-
pression and their eyes were focused
on the boyish figure which lounged
easily in the window scat. All the
tenants OF the house were present
except the keeper OF the antique
shop; Gordon Ladd, moody and
silent; Henry Griswold with his little
skull-cap; the professor himself as
imperturable as ever, and even the
paie. shrinking little Miss Shaw
from her attic studio.
In addition the Chief had con-
descended TO come over from head
quarters and lend his august coun-
tenance to the proceedings, and
Sergeant Craig stood near, looking
as though he were not quite sure
what was going TO drop on him,
while. unseen. outside the door two
stalwart men remained on guard.
=, .sTve got a little story to tell you
all; Il won't take long. The hgure
IN the MAnuUH rAA a. ANNAA~I
Deem silence rewarded him save
for an audible gulp from Craig and
a slight rustic OF Miss Shaw's gown
. as she settled back resignedly in her
chair. Barry went on:
Long ago out in a village in
Michigan. two girls were left
orphans under the rascally guard
ianship OF hypocritical bank
president. The older girl was del
icate the younger crippled TO the
point OF physical deformity but
with a strong determined, alert
mind. They we're possessed OF
little property and their guardAn
made up his mind TO marry the
oldest girl off as early and as well
as possible. but he saw his chance
with the younger one because OF
her infrmity. He put her in an
institution which was practically
an idiot asylum, and her older sis
ter was powerless TO help her.
Tt is wonder that the little
cripple's mind didn't give way with
the horrors about her, but it didn't
even when a greater horror and
grief came into her life. TheiI
guardian sent the older sister to a
fashionable school in another
State where a daughter OF a rich
family grew fond Of her and tool
her to her own home in a distant
city for a summer vacation.
There the orphan met and mar
ried a man Of wealth whom sh'
loved devotedly, but who fell int
the tolls OF a designing woman o
undeniable fascination; the woman
who was shot to death downstairs
few nights ago. the erring black
mailing wife OF Mr. Griswold
here"
A gasp that was like the stirrin
OF dry leaves ran around the littl
circle, but no one spoke and after
moment Barry continued:
There were two years OF happ
married life. however. before tn
other woman appeared upon IN
scene. and during those two year
the bride was enabled to provid
for her younger sister remove ht
by law from the hands Of the
guardian and have her completed
I cured OF the physical disabilii
which had crippled her. In retur
the younger sister adored her pa
sionately with a singlehearted Dc
votion which bore fruit in lat,
years.
When the woman known to a
of you but one as Mrs. Van
eloped with the husband of n
older sister Il broke her heart ar
L destroyed her mind. She die
within the year and when her hu
band heard OF it he shot himself
remorse; the cartridge shell fro
that shot was found among the 81
called Mrs. Vane's effects a fe
days ago.
In the meantime. however, 81
had found her husband again. su
ceeded by ruse in making circur
y stances appear in the eyes Of Il
law as though he had condoned n
unfaithfulness. and has been blac
mailing him ever since. playing wi
FIRE but never again permitting he
self TO be burned, since Il wSu
.rcan tho iosr OF her income
''She may have almost forgoE,
thai first mad escapadc. but s.
reckoned without that little sist
OF the girl-wife whose lie she III
brought down to the grave.
"She was pienufully sIppli
with money and :he little sister W
poor with her own living 10 ma
while she pursued her search. b
e.