Gunnison news-champion., 1924-05-09
CHAPTER SI

C'te tN ~
Francis and Margaret sst IN the ros.
garden on the follow NJ morning
Their conversation was i!ttl. dis
j".Bted, q. the runvrr-atlOn Of lovers
IN secluded and beautiful spot
should he. but 'hcy ume hack often
10 the -rhl-ct of Sir Timothy.
II have nlsuuirrs'god your IA
th-r." Francis t.r'Hrad. and admit
that have. lr hHs ben to some extent
his own fault To me he vas always
thu deliberate seoTrr against any code
Uf morals. = r-hrI against the law even
- u"' criminal p actual deeds.
honestly belesrd that the Walled
Hou-. Was 'a. srvns Of ilsTcputabl-
orgies that your father Vas behind
Fairfax In that rnli-bloDied murder.
and that he was r"Ep"us!ble In some
sin. s'"r way for the DISAPPEARANCE OF
Reggie Wl'unr" Most Of these things
seem to ha," he"n shnms ike the
Fight las night
She moved unrnslly In her place
Il ain glad did not So. that" she
said. with = shiver
= think he en' on. "ihut the rsA-
con shy y"ur father Insisted upon
,I.nd1 rynrh.n's and my rr"srnre there
vas that he meant II as a sort o! allie
cory Half the vices IN ~. h. claims
are unreal"
Margaret passed her arm through
his and Ieaned Il little toward him
II you Knew just one thing / have
never told you" she cOnfided. i think
that you would feel sorry for him
do. NOR. and more every day. because
IN way that one thing Is my fault
Notwithstanding the warm sunshine,
she suddenly shlvsred Francis took
her hands In his. They were cold and
lfeicss.
Il know that on. thing. dear" he
told her quietly.
She looked nt him stonlIy There
was questioning fear In her eyes
you know"
Il know that your father killed
Oliver Huditch"
She suddenly broke out into a stream
~ words There was passion Ia her
tone and IN her eyes She vas almos,
the accUser.
My father was right. then % She
exclaimed He told me this morning
that he believed that 1t was TO you
or 10 your friend at Scotland Yard
that Walter had told his story But
y"u don't knOw-you don't know how
terrible the temptation wus-how-
you see ! say IT quite cuolIy-how
Oliver iIiidltCh deserved TO die. lie
WAS trusted by my father in South
America and he deceived him. he
Forged the letters which Induced me
10 marry him. II was part Of his
scheme OF revenge This was fine first
time We had any OF us met since.
told my father the truth that after
noon. He knew for the first time how
my marriage came about. Ny hus-
band had prayed me to keep silent.
refused. Then he hecnme like n devil.
We we're there, We three. that night
after you left, and Francis, as live,
II my father had not killed him,
should have!"
There was time when believed
that you had" he reminded her. Il
didn't behave Ike a pedagoslc up
holder OF the letter Of the law then.
did II"
She drew closer TO him.
You were wonderful" she wh,s-
pered
Dearest, your father has nothing
TO fear from me-" ne assured her ten
derly. "on the contrary. | think that
can show him the way TO safety"
She rose impulsIyely 10 her feet.
He will be here directly" she said.
He promised 10 come across at
half-past twelve. Let us go and meet
him. But. Francis"
For single moment she crept into
his arms. Their lips met. her eyes
shone Into his. He held her away
from him n moment later. The change
was amazing. She was no longer a
tired woman. She had become a girl
again. Her eyes were soft with hap
piness. the little lines had gone from
about her mouth, she walked with all
the spring of youth and happiness.
1T Is marvellous" she whispered.
i never dreamed that should ever
be happy again"
They crossed the rustic bridge which
led on to the lawn Lady cynthia
came out of the house to meet them.
She showed no signs OF fatigue. but
her eyes and her tone were full of
anxiety.
Margaret" she cried. do you know
that the hall is filed with your fa-
theirs luggage. and that the car Is
ordered to take him to SOUTHAMPTON
directly after lunch;"
Margaret and Francis exchanged
giances-
Sir Timothy may change his mind"
the latter observed. Il have news for
him directly he arrives"