, 1924-02-13

her husband in learning, in d certain
sort of mental and social development.
Pierre was filed with doubt and with
dread, with an almost unbearable self
depreciation. And at the same time
he was filed with a nameless fear of
what Joan might herself have become.
lie stood with his hand on the knob
of that %half-opened door, bent his
head, and drew some deep. Uneven
breaths. He thought of Holliwell as
though the man were standing beside
him. He stepped in quietly, shut the
door, and walked without hesitation
down the passageway into the little
sunny sitting-room. There. before the
cracking open fire, sat Prosper Gael.
Prosper, 1t seemed, was alone In
the small, silent place. He was sit
ting on the middle of his spine, as
usual, with his long. thin legs stretched
out before him inc a veil of cigarette
smoke before his eyes. He turned his
head idly, expecting, no doubt, 10 see
the nurse.
Pierre, white and grim, stood look
ing down at him. o
The older man recognized hin at
once, but he did not change his posi-
ton by a muscle, merely lounged there,
his head against the side of the cush-
ioned chair, the brilliant, surprised
gaze changing slowly to amused con-
tempt. His cigarette hung between
the long fingers of one hand, It's blue
spiral of smoke rising TRANQUILITY into
a bar of sunshine from the window.
1.-The doctor told me to come up"
said Pierre gravely. He was aware of
the insult of this strangers attitude,
but he was too deeply stirred. too
deeply ~suspenseful, to be irritated by
it. He seemed to be moving in some
rare, disconnected atmosphere. 81
have his permission to see-to see Miss
West, If she is willing to see me-"
Prosper fllcked off an ash with his
little finger. And you believe that
she Is willing to see you. Pierre Lam
disT' he asked slowly.
Pierre gave him a startled look.
You know my nameY"
Yes. / believe that four years ago,
on an especially cold and snowy night,
l interrupted you in a rather extraor-
binary occupation and gave myself the
pleasure of shooting you" With that
he got to his feet n stood before
he mantel, ~negligently enough, but
ready to his fingertips.
Pierre came nearer by a stride. He
had been stripped at once of his air
of high detachment, He was pale and
%quivering. He looked at Prosper with
eyes of i%ncredulous dread.
Were you-that man?" A tide of
shamed scarlet engulfed him and he
dropped his eyes.
II thought that would AXE the as
surance out of you said Prosper.
las a matter of fact. shooting was too
good for o On that night you for
feited every claim to the consideration
of man or woman. l have the right
of any decent citizen to turn you out
of here. Do you still maintain your
Intention of asking for an interview
with Miss Jane West?'
Pierre. half-bllnd with humiliation,
turned without a word and made his
way to he door. He meant to go
away n kill himself. The purpose
was like iron in his mind. That he
should have to stand and, because OF
his own cowardly fault, to endure in
ult from this c~ontemptuous stranger.
made of life a garment too stained,
too shameful to be worn. He was In
haste to he rid Of II. Something. how
ever, barred his exit. He stumbled
back to avoid It. There. holding
aside the curtain In the doorway. stood
Joan.
This time there was no possible
doubt Of her identity. She was wrapped
In a long blue W her hair had
fallen In braided loops on either side
OF her face and neck. The unchanged
eyes OF Joan under her broad brows
looked up NJ him. She was thin and