The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-08-25


Il could not stop Marks drinking"
Cayley's letter went on. hut /
kept him within certain bounds.
Yes. kept him outwardly decent,
and perhaps now I was becoming
like tho eannibai who keeps his vic.
tim In good condition for his own
ends. l used to gloat over Mark.
thinking how utterly he was mine
70 ruin az pleased. financially.
morally. whatever way would give
me most satisfaction. had but 70
take my hand away from him. and he
sank. But again ! was In no hurry.
Then he killed himself. That IN.
tile little drunkard. eaten up with
his own sciflshncss and vanity. of.
fercd his beastiiness TO tho trucst
and purest woman on this earth. You
have seen her. MIR. Dillingham;. but
you never know Mark Albeit. Even
~ he had not been a drunkard. there
Fas no chance for her OF happiness
with him.
Il had known him for many years.
but never once had l seen him
moved by any generous emotion. To
have lived with that shriveled little
soul would have been hell for her:
and q thousand times worse hell
! when no began 20 drink.
!. $50 he had TO be killed. was the
,niy one left 20 protect her. for her
bother was In league with Mark TO
ring about her ruin. would have
lot him openly Tor her sake. and
nth what gladness. but I had no
mind TO sacrifice myself neediexsiy.
He was In my power. could per
suade him 20 almost anything by
flattery: surely II would not be diffi.
cult to give his death the appearance
Of an accident.
II need not take up your time BY
1eiling you Of the many plans I made
Ind rejected For some days In.
elined toward an unfortunate boat.
ing accident IN tho pond-Marh. a
vSery Indifferent swimmer. myself al
mcst exhausted In q gallant attempt
20 hold him up.
And then he himself rave me the
10ea. he and Mas Norris between
tAsr, and 10 put himself In my
hands: without risk OF discovery.
sbouid have said. had you not dis.
Xbvered me.
= we were talking about ghosts.
Mark had been even moro vain.
pompous and absurd than usual. and
I could zee that Miss Norris was ir.
r1tated by n. After dinner che sug.
Uested dressing UP as . ghost and
frightening him I thought II my
duty to warn her that Mark took
any Joke against himself badly. but
ne was determined 20 DO n. I gave
1 way reluctantly. Reluctantly. also. I
told her the secre, Of tho passage.
There II an underground passage
from the library 10 the bowling.
grssn. You should exercise your In
gsnuity. Mr.. Dillingham;. IN trying to
dfscover II Mark came upon u by
accident q year ago. II was . god
ssnd to him: he could drink there In
greater secrecy. But no had to tell
me about It. He wanted an audi
ence. even for his vices.
II told Miss NcrTfa then. because
I y vAs necessary for my plan that
Mark should Be- thoroiy frightened
without the passage she could never
have rot close enough TO the bowl
1ng-green 20 alarm him properly. but
~ arranged II with her she made
the most effective appearance. and
Mark was IN Just the state of rage
and vindicsiveness which required.
11lss Norris. you understand. II .
professional actress. need not say
that TO her I appeared to be ami
mated by no other feeling than q
boyish desire 10 bring off . good
5oke--a joke directed A. much
against the others as against Mark.
He came TO mo that night. N I
expected. sim quivering with indig.
= nation Miss Norris must never be
aked to the house again: I was TO
Z make . special note Of II: never
again. II was outrageous. Had he
net . reputation as q host 20 keep
M he would pack her off next morn.
Ing.
II ccmfortsd him. I smoothed