The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-04

your case, OlO IL NOT!
"All that side of my life has
been IA triumph, Mr.. March
urst," said the solicitor. quietly.
"Good- good" There was .
touch of wistfulness in old Rogers
voice. Lets hope it will prove
the same for Lord and Lady Liss-
mere. All, but you hit it. there,
my friends foundation Of rock
Ia foundation of rock-splen-
did,"
AFTER all-what complication
can arise to hurt them except
perhaps when Lord Lissmere cries
halt to this Egyptian drain on his
resources. Even that one could
hardly call complication. And
at its worst, he would have to face
nothing more than charge Of in
gratitude brought by the lady to
whom he owes his life charge
$ which /. her, extravaganza and .
glance at the list of payments he
had made her would easily refute.
Nothing desperately serious or
complicated there, ! believe" said
the solicitor with faint smile.
But there was no answering
snnil on Roger Marchurst's lips,
for he knew of more serious pos.
sibilities than those mentioned.
There was, for instance, the
matter of the killing of that OBJ
scure and nameless stranger in
Sais's house at Cairo!
That was weapon against Liss-5
mere's liberty which embittered or,
disappointed Sais might use at any
moment.
Old Roger shook his head.
81 am afraid It i not quite 50
simple as you may- think just
i now," he said quietly. "And !
confess that I do not look into the
future with unlimited confidence.
Lissmere was extraordinarily en-
tangled in Egypt. / think T know
the whole facts they will be laid
before You some day if necessary
and I am making q few inquiries
on my own account. There is q
person, more Or less concerned in
the matter, at whom i find myself
looking q little askance. But /
hope to contrive rod for his back
in due course. We shall see in
good time. Now, come to lunch"
He laughed quietly. u
It was Crichton Hoodless to
whom he had referred. He sus-
pected that Hoodless was in league
with Sais to prey upon Lissmere.
He had managed to CLEAN that
Hoodless was in funds this from
one Sir Godfrey Livingfold, = fel
low clubman, and that selfsame
relative who. feeced by Hoodless,
had condemned the adventurer to
keep out of England. Livingfold
naturally had not gone into details
with Roger Marchurst, but he had
no hesitation in saying that Hood-s
less had recently RENTED fair
sum in settlement of "debt" and
evidently, therefore, was in funds.
Roger Marchurst had been very
pleased at this promising and sig
nificant start of his investigation
but his confidence would have dis
solved instantly or have been
transformed into something very
like horror had he dreamed Of the
cruel weapon upon which Hood
less relied for defence-and at
tack.
The weapon of Sais, as far as
Roger Marchurst knew, comprised
threat against Lissmere's liberty.
But the weapon of Crichton
Hoodless had deadlier powers
power to wiring the heart not only
of Lord Lissmere, but of his wife
to wiring their hearts. haunt and
harrass their consciences, to drive
out from their lives all happiness,
and instead to steep them in the
icy water of despair. O
Like every weapon of every
blackmailer. it could be used only
once-but once would be enough
to devastate their lives.
They had gone away to their
home radiant. confident, aglow
with love, blindly trusting each
other, convinced that the past
would lie silent, be still or adjust
itself. She was so grateful for
this happy ending of the past, this
suspicious beginning of the future,
that she had often prayed her
thanks and gratitude for it all, and
would ever pray for it's continu-