The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-21

old Hoodless would suggest. Hood
less"
His brows knitted suddenly at
this new idea that Hoodless might
conceivably be BLACKBOARD. But
that was side issue. He forgot it.
whats the middle course?"
He thought desperately-con-
fusedly.
"There is not one-it's a
damned deadlock. -. No! There's
e. way!'
He stopped in his stride abrupt
ly, as a flower of hope blooned
marvelously in his mind.
"Go to a good woman, tell her
everything-openly ask her what
to do-do it at all costs. -. All!
Go to Louise herself!o
It was dazzling-certainly, it
dazzled him.
"She has suffered enough, too
and she is good. She wouldn't be
a saint or a fanatic surely-and
she couldn't Observation-Disclosures
was the feminine Of blaclxguard.
Eth, but that was an idea. The key
of the lock. Safe--surewise
To confess to Aer-to ask her adj
vice. Yes, that was it. The thing
was settled. No need to puzzle
over the complexities of it any
longer. Splendid. Splendid. He
would do that" Z
He was due TO lunch with her
to-day, in any case. But he would
go Immediately after breakfast.
Abide by her decision good
woman who had known suffering.
He laughed, lit a cigarette and
almost light. hearted again, turned
back to the villa.
The misunderstanding beggars
and children that he met and
passed on the way back gained
generously from his boyish relief.
Sails was still sleeping sleeping.
He went in and looked at her
hung over her for little, wonder
ing with a queer, family reckless
pride at her beauty-then break
tasted alone.
"She Is so tired-she has ridden
50 far" said the smiling Olympic
with tinge Of apology in her low
voice. "When she awakes she viii
be exquisite-she will be fondw
Bina, the little Nubian maid,
showed her white teeth, laughing,
nodding. She was awaiting with
a curious collection : perfumed
oils, spirits, and such things, to
massage away the last effects of
Sais' physical WEAKNESS.
Marchurst lit cigar and left the
women to their sleights and
mysteries.
He glanced at his watch, decided
that it was too early yet to 60 to
the hotel, and began to plan
phrases in which to describe his
dilemma to Louise Lammarsh.
Then, q few minutes Nlater,
Olympic, silent, self-possessed, still
smiling her strange secret smile,
came to him with a white envelope
bearing the mark of the hotel.
He opened it, to learn that his
problem was solved-temporarily,
at any rate.
Louise wrote, hastily, a few
lines only, to say that she was
leaving at once for Cairo, en- route
to Nice. Her friend, Mona, and
the lawyer, had telegraphed from
Nice that her presence was inn
perative there. A man, resembling
Charles Lammarsh in some re-
spects, had been taken from the
sea. He was unacceptable, but
it was hoped that Louise could help
settle the question of identity to
the extent of saying whether this
poor flotsam had been her husband.
Marchurst folded the letter, and
looked at Olympic.
"Has a steamer gone down the
river this morning, Olympe?" he
asked.
"While Monsieur was walking
before he breakfasted."
"Thank you, Olympic"
"Pas du tout, Monsieur"
Olympic went into the house
smiling.
Dick Marchurst stared across the
cleaning water levels of the river.
"Well, the gods have settled that
for me-" he said slowly and gave
an imperceptible shrug. "She will
write again, though-she promises
that. Meantime, l pay my debts
and, not to be hypocritical about it,
and, further, being a Marchurst,
pay them willingly" he added with
a queer blend of relief, reckless
ness, excitement and touch of
self-contempt in his voice.
Olympic came to him again.
"Sais is awake and desires