Evening star., 1923-07-01
CHAPTER VIII.

The little party of late diners
Iassed on their way to the farther
md of the room, leaving a wave of
artisciality behind, or was it, An
drew Wilmore wondered in a mo-
ment of half-dazed speculation, that
1t was they and the rest of the gay
company who represented the real
things and he and his companion who
were playing a somber part in some
unreal and gloomier world. Francis
voice, however, when he recon-
menced his diatribe.. was calm and
matter-of-fact enough.
You see," he continued. argu-
mentatively. 81 was morally and
actually responsible for the mans
being brought back into society. And,
far worse than that, I was respon
upon his wife. Ergo, / was also re-
sponsible for what she did that night.
The matter seems as plain as pike
stan to me. l did what i could to
atone, rightly or wrongly it doesn't
matter, because it is over and done,
with. There you are, old fellow, now
you know what's been making me
nervy. I've committed wholesale per-
jury. but I acted according to my
conscience and I think according to
justice. The thing has worried me,
admit. but it has passed, and I'm
glad it's off my chest. One more
iiqueuf, Andrew, and if you want to
weil talk about my plans for the
future"
The brandy was brought. wilnore
studied his friend curiously, not with
out some relief. Francis had lost the
harassed and nervous appearance
upon which his club friends had com
mented, which had been noticeable
even to diminishing extent, upon
the golf course at Brancaster. He
was alert and eager. He had the air
of man upon the threshold OF some
enterprise dear to his heart.
Il have been through a queer ex-'
perience, Francis continued pres
emily, as he slipped his second liqueur
Not only had l less than twelve
1 should commit a serious offense
against the law, but a sensation
which I always hoped that I might
experience has come to me in what
/ suppose I must call most unfortu-
nate fashion"
THE woman?" wilmore ventured.
I Francis assented sloomily. There
was a moments silence Wilmore
the metaphysician, saw then
strange thing. He saw a light steal
across his friends stern face. He
saw his eyes for a moment soften, the
hard mouth relax. something incred-
ible, transforming shine, as 1t were
out OF the mans soul in that moment
of self-revelation. 1t was gone like
the momentary passing of a strange
CLEAN of sunshine across a leaden
sea, but those few seconds were suffi-
ctent. Wilmore knew we'll enough
what had happened.
Olfver Hilditch's wife," Francis
went on, after few minutes pause,
presents an enigma which at present
cannot hope to solve The fact
that she received her husband back
again, knowing what, he was and
what he was capable of, is inexpld-
cable to me. The woman herself is a.
mystery. I do not know what lies
behind her extraordinary -immobility.
Feeling she must have, and courage
or she would never have dared to
|, rid herself OF the scourge of her life.
But beyond that my judgment tells me
nothing. I know only that sooner or
later l shall seek her out. shall dis
cover all that l want to know, one way
or the other. 1t may be for happiness
1t may be the end of the things that
count"
Il guessed this" wilmore admitted.
with little shiver which he was
wholly unable to repress, -
Francis nodded.
ITO be continued tomorrow)