Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-06

az shall be delighted" I assented.
about eight o'clock, suppose 2"
mot about I implore you," Janet
answered earnestly. SANDY shall
catch you some trout this afternoon,
and they must be served to the Sec
ond. Say a quarter to eight, please"
Il will be punctual." I promised.
I spent the afternoon wandering
about the moor, inspecting the golf
links and speaking on the telephone.
Punctually at twenty minutes to
eight l passed up the long, neglected
drive and presented myself at the
front door of the somber- oking
house. The summons of harsh bell
was answered almost Immediately
by an Immaculate butler. Janet.
from the other end of the cool white
hall, came forward to meet me. The
dinner was well cooked; the cham
pagne was excellent; and my / u.s..
with a twinkle in his eyes, called
my attention to the fact that 1t was
opened in my presence. AS soon as
the last CO rse was concluded, Janet
led the way out onto the tagged ter
race, where a table was already az.
ranged with dessert and coffee.
"You are a brave man, Sir Nor
man." my hostess said abruptly.
"Why?" l asked.
"You know-and you alone-that
I once killed man-although you
don't altogether know why" she
went on softly. "How do you know
that I have not within me the maxi
ings of a modern Lucrezia? I have
read quite a good deal about poisons
Il may be said even to have studied
the subject-and YOU have delivered
yourself into my hands"
"Why should you poison me?" I
argued. al will do both you and
your husband the credit to believe
that you don't bear malice. Revenge
is a senseless sentiment"
My host leaned forward in his
chair. His face was solemn and
broeding.
"You have things against me dat
ing from far back" he said.
/ nodded.
"But 1 am in the same position as
Scotland Yard" reminded him.
"For those things I have no case.
For those misdemeanors of which I
suspect you in the past I could at
the present moment go only so far
as to procure a warrant charging
you with feloniously wounding po-
lice inspector. For the rest, l sus-
pect, but I have no proof"
You suspect what?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"There are limits to my candor," I
protested mildly. "You must admit
aloof, inasmuch as 1 dine at your
table, discuss your peccadilloes and
pass on, like an ordinary guest.
What l may suspect of the past l
keep to myself. / am your enemy.
and you know it. If it pays you to
attempt to murder me, l imagine
you will try"
Janet would desert me If I did"
he declared with grim smile. "She
finds these little conferences with
you so inspiring"
She looked at me with that won
derful smile of hers. She was little
way behind a pillar, and her face
was hidden from her husband.
1T do not like to hear you say that
we are enemies" she murmured. II
would rather think that we are like
the soldiers who fight in two oppos-
ing armies. We fight because 1t is
our duty. So we are enemies because
it is our duty. Even that does not
interfere with personal feelings"
THAT is true" l admitted care
lessly. "I could neve. absolutely
dislike man who played such good
golf as your husband"
"And what about me?" she de-
,.aanded.
"You drive me to be obvious" I
replied. mo one could possibly dis
like a person who contributed to the
beauty of the world"
She laughed softly.
"Why, you are a courtier, Sir Nor
man." she declared. "Your compli-
ments and the perfume of those
roses and the flavor of the Benedic-
tine are getting into my head. I be-
Gin to picture you as the serpent who
has crawled into this Utopian para
dise.y
Talking about golf" her hus-
band intervened in a harsh tone
what about game, Sir Norman? =?
VIII you play me tomorrow morn
ing?"
CONTINUED in our next issue)