Evening star., 1922-06-04

had paid in order to obtain peace.
But he simply desired to marry this
young English lady Of the highest
social standing, whose father was
heir-presumptive to an earldom.
After discussing the situation for
some time I advised her to make a
clean breast of the whole affair to
Mr.. Mansfield and tell him of her
indiscreet letters.
Tell him the whole story just as
you have told me-" I urged.
She shook her head. saying:
Arthur would never believe me.
He would declare that while he was
at the front with his regiment l was
flirting with the patients in the hos
pital."
III he really loves you he would
believe your version of the affair" 1
remarked.
mo. Mr.. LIE oueux." she replied in
hard. strained voice. Il cannot do
that-Ireally cannot"
Il suppose you have not replied to
this letter." I said.
mo. What could say?" she an
swered. That is why l am in such
fear that at any moment he may ap-
pear in London. He has got his dis
charge from the French army, 1
know. He has invalided out.
** +*
uER decided reluctance to- inform
IL the police struck me as extreme
ly curious. l pointed out to her that
if she wrote to the prefect of police
in Paris nformfng him of the where
abouts and identity of the notorious
Rossignol she would suffer no fur
ther persecution. To this she de-
clared that if she did SO he would
know that she had betrayed him. and
that he would then be relentless in
his revenge. He would call her as a
witness at his trial and then expose
her having written letters Of anec-
ton to him"
Think Of my family" she cried in
terror. Think of the scandal and
all it means to me-my love for Arthur
and all my future. No.sNo! Mo-"
Well" 1 said with a sigh. "if you
are so determined, Miss Duff1eld. not
to tell the police, then I should see
him should he come to London and
endeavor to temporize with him. We
know him to be a fierce and desper-
ate character who will hesitate at
nothing, as was proved by his ex-
ploits as a motor-bandit and his fight
with the police. Therefore 1T will be
best to humor him, and, II possible,
entrap him"
But how can 1 do it," she asked,
in blank despair.
IT will assist you II you like" ]
replied. "I must not appear actu-
ally upon the scene. You must act
as though entirely upon your own
initiative"
At this she thanked me very warm
ly. saying: (,
"Ah, you do not know how Erate-
full am to you. though we are COM
parative strangers. I feel now that
I have a friend and protector-some
one to advise me-"
MY advice is to make a clean
breast Of the whole affair to Mr..
Mansfield" !. said. But as you have
decided against such =. a course, we
must adopt another. and I will con-
slider it for day. and we will meet
here the day after tomorrow"
But if he comes in the meantime?"
Keep what appointments he may
make, but inform me Of it over the
telephone" and 1 gave her the num-
Der, while she gave me that Of her
father, and ten minutes later saw
Z.
NEXT day, just before noon, she
~ rang me up on the telephone ask
ing IL she could come and see me.
| The matter was very urgent, so I at
once consented. -... -..
When the good-looking girl en-
tered my room l saw by her coun-
tenance that something had taken
place.
II have seen him. she exclaimed
breathlessly. when went out
this morning I met him at the corner
of Deanery street. and Park lane. He
was awaiting me there. and spoke to
me-" ~
well what did he have to say?'
"He wants to see mo tonight in st.
yare4s Park -