Evening star., 1923-02-03

ting room. When Miriam passed
through the door she saw he was
standing in the middle of the floor.
with his hands in the pockets Of his
coat. Just inside the doorway she
halted and grasped one Of the por-
there's
Looking at him intently, she asked:
why did you not 60 with Hayden?"
There was a new note in her voice
10 note that was at once quavering
and harsh. Rennisons gaze fell to
the floor.
"Why-welI, to be frank with you.
Miss Warburton, / hardly know" he
faltered, apologetically. Il should
have remembered that Hayden told me
you had a severe headache this after
noon. 1t was thoughtless of me to
remain. I'll admit. In the circum-
stances, perhaps-
He moved toward the chair on which
lay his hat and cane. Swaying lit
tie. Miriam moved toward the table.
Don't go--please." she said wearily.
II did not mean to suggest that you
leave me. But Hayden went out so
MISUNDERSTANDING you here alone
with me. If you and I had met be-
fore / would have thought nothing
lof 1t, perhaps-but--well, the fancy
just struck me that it was a little
strange str that you should be here.
Rennison picked up his hat and
stick
please stay-a little while" Miriam
pleaded weakly. as she sank on the
! terrible seems about to happen to me
tonight. but I cannot tell what 1t is.
| Oh. why did Hayden leave me?
must not be left alone"
Rennison hesitated, then tossed his
hat and cane to couch.
Perhaps my story of the murder
of young Claiming has depressed
you" he said. I'm sorry If"
you must tell me more" the young
woman replied, as she glanced at a
, little onyx clock on the mantel. sit
down, please, Capt Rennison.'
Rennison, seating himself, regarded
! his companion speculatively. She
| was gazing at the table. Her fingers
knife again.
What more is there concerning
this unfortunate affair that you would
have me tell you?" he asked quietly.
who was Claiming to have seen at
the Navy Department. Miriam asked
"Mr. Horsford. one of the assistant
| secretaries"
He CMr. Channing) was not under
any sort of Suspicion"
! "None whatever. His death was one
| of the most severe, IL not the sever
est, blow that has been inflicted on
the department for many years"
Rising slowly. Miriam gripped the
edge of the table in front of her.
| This Charming was not traitor,
! ed brokenly.
Looking at her steadily. Rennison
held her gaze.
"Oh, no, Miss warburton.- he re-
piled with a smile. You surely know
he was not that"
Something in Rennison's gaze as
well as In his tone and words kindled
the light OF q new fear in her widen
! ing eyes.
| "I know he was not that" she re-
sudden change from weakness to de-
| hant anger, she stamped a foot and
cried: Capt. Rennison. you lie"
The smile seemed to freeze on the
face of the Army officer as, with a
vibrant voice, the young woman went
on:
You lie. He was seafalcon spy
as you are"
| Rennison. sinking slowly back on
This chair. was thinking quickly. In a
flash the whole aspect of the stu
alton had changed. The woman was a
professional actress. but was she only
acting now? Like most trained
thinkers. this young Army officer was
quickly. That Miriam Warburton
had slain oliver Charming for the
purpose of taking from his body the
secret of his invention Rennison did
not DOUBT But Wndt possibly COui u
have suggested to her the idea OF
branding her victim as a Seafalcon
spy? Charming. the inventor of the
device, was on his way to the Navy
! Department to give the secret or ms
Invention to the government. Miriam
Warburton must have known that no
| spy would do a thing like that.
| But. quickly as he thought. Renni-
! son did not allow his thoughts to be-
come confused. In few moments he
! had shaped q course.
| Come. come, Miss Warburton. Is IT
| not time that both of us were drop
ping our Masks" he said chidingly'
| Claiming was not spy, of course.
| 1 shall not attempt. however, to de-
ceive you concerning my relation
with the affair. But II we are to
work together hereafter In the inter
est of the great brotherhood and its
chief let us not begin our relation
ship, as their agents. by pretending
that each OF US does not know the
purpose OF the other. er.--