Evening star., 1923-10-18

in silence for a moment or
two, and Stead watched her.
- Il suppose these men came
to you?" she said at last.
They did" he answered. AS a
great many of our men do-when
they are in trouble"
Then are you the only person who
knows about this?" she asked.
Il am" he answered.
Phillipa rose and walked restlessly
across the room; she scarcely knew
why. on the other side of the table.
which stood in the center, she sud
denly turned and faced the cashier
Would it not be possible to-to
get these men out of the way? she
asked. Toto give them so much
money to go away to America or
Canada, or somewhere? Surely they
could be-
Gould be bought OFF," he inter
rupted with one of the smiles which
Philiipa so much disiiked. Il dare
say. Miss Mannersley, | daresay they
could. Men of that sort can always
be bought off. Oh. yes, we could
furnish them with money and send
them to Timbuctoo or the Fiji Is
lands, and set them up. and in A
years time they would write for
more. and they would probably come
home and try blackmail.
And. in addition to that. Miss
MannerSley, tampering with the law
IS a very serious offense, and in this
case, to remove highly important
witnesses would be regarded as a
most reprehensible crime. No, | don't
think we can do that"
Then what do you propOse? eX-
claimed Phillipa. who was rapidly be-
coming too perpleXed for her pa
10
saying YOU can clear Sir Clinton. you
tell of these men. who seem to be
the only stumbling block. and then
YOU say you can do nothing with
them. Why do you not eXplain?'
Stead, who had risen when she did,
and now stood on the hearth rug.
looked across the table at her. 1t
struck her afterward. in reviewing
the situation. that he was cooler and
more imperturbable than ever at that
moment.
Il have explained what l have
he said, because / wished to make
the situation clear to you. If these
men rebut Kings evidence. as they
will. and nothing else is brought for
ward on Sir Clintons behalf-as
nothing else can be-Sir Clinton will
infallibly be found guilty, if not of
murder. most certainly of man
slaughter. That is as certain as that
we are here. Now, Miss Mannersley,
40 we speak III perfect COuIuehte!
Phillipa looked her astOnishment
at him without speaking.
II mean" continued Stead, without
showing any diScomposure-'T mean
do | understand that you regard
this conversation as being strictly
private as between ourselves-tha
you will not breathe Il syllable of
what | say to any One?"
Phillipa drew herself up proudly.
She gave the cashier glance which
would have made any right-feeling <
man ashamed of himself. But Stead
received it with his usual imperturb-
ability.
II have never been accustomed to
revealing condolences. Mr.. Stead" she
replied icily. 1T is not likely
should form such a habit now"
Just So" he said. "All the same,
! should like you to give me your
word that you will not diVulge to any
one what | have said and wish to
say to you. | know you so well that
l am certain if you once give your
word nothing could possibly induce
you to break it."
Thank you" she answered. half
contemptuously Il should have
thought that went without saying"
Then you give me your word?" he
asked.
II give you my word" she replied.
Stead laid his hat, which he had all
this time kept in his hands, on the
table, and. leaning his knuckles on
the table edge, bent forward and
looked across at her with an intense
expression. AS for Phillipa, she.