The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-03-07


why I've been little on the nervy side
lately, and why I took these few
months out Of harness."
Good God!" Wilmore exclaimed,
setting down untasted the glass Of
brandy which he had just raised to his
lips.
II want to finish this matter up"
Francis continued calmly, ''by making
a clean breast Of 1t to you., because
from tonight I am starting afresh, with
new interests in my life, what will
| practically amount to new career.
That is why preferred not to dine
at the club tonight, although am look
ing forward to seeing them all again.
1 wanted instead to have this CONVEX
sation with you. I lied at the inquest
when / said that the relations between
4 Oliver Hilditch and his wife that night
seemed perfectly normal. lied when
said that knew Of no cause for ILL
will between them. / lied when said
that left them on friendly, terms.
lied when I said that Oliver Hilditch
seemed depressed and nervous. lied
| when said that he expressed the
| deepest remorse for what he had done.
| There was every indication that night
Of the hate which happen to know
| existed between the woman and the
man. have not the faintest doubt in
1 my mind but that she murdered him.
In my judgment, she was perfectly
| justified in doing So"
"You see," he continued, argumenta-
lively, Il was morally and actually re-
sponsible for the mans being brought
that, was responsible for his being
thrust back again upon his wife. Ergo,
was also responsible for what she
did that night. The matter seems as
plain as pikestaff to me. did what
I could to atone, rightly or wrongly 1t
doesn't matter, because 1t is over and
done with. There you are, old fellow,
now you know what's been making me
| nervy. I've committed wholesale per-
| jury, but acted according, to my con-
science and think according to JUS
tice. The thing has worried me,
admit, but it has passed. and I'm glad
it's off my chest. One more liqueur,
Andrew. and If you want to we'll talk
about my plans for the future"
The brandy was brought. Wilmore
studied his friend curiously, not with
| out some relief. Francis had lost the
harassed and nervous, appearance
upon which his club friends had COM
mented. which had been noticeable,
even, to diminishing extent, upon the
| golf course at Brancaster. He was
alert and eager. He had the air of a
man upon the threshold Of some en-
| terprise dear to his heart.
| 1T have been through a queer ex-
perience," Francis continued present
ly, as he slipped his second liqueur.
"Not only had rather less than
twelve hours to make up my mind
whether should commit, serious Of
Tense against the law, but a sensation
which always hoped that might ex-
| perience. has come to me in what I
suppose must call most unfortunate
| fashion"
1.-THE woman Wilmore ventured
Francis sassented gloomily. There
was a moments silence. Wilmore, the
metaphysician, saw then a strange
thing. He saw light steal across his
friends stern face. He saw his eyes
relax, something Incredible transform
ing. shine, as 1t were, out of the mans
soul In that moment of self-revelation
It was gone like the momentary pass
ing Of strange CLEAN Of sunshine
| across a leaden sea, but those few Sec
onds were sufficient. Wilmore knew
well enough what had happened.
"Oliver Hilditch's wife," Francis
went on, after few minutes pause,
presents an enigma which at present
I cannot hope to solve. The fact that
she received her husband back again,
knowing what he was and what he
was capable of. is inexplicable to me.
The woman herself is mystery.
do not know what lies behind her ex-
traOrdinary lmmobility. Feeling she
must have, and courage, or she would
never have dared to have ridded her.
self Of the scourge iof her life. But
beyond that my judgment tells me
nothing. only know that sooner or
later shall seek her out / shall dis
cover all that want to know, one
way or the other. 1t may be for hap
piness-it may be the end of the things
that count"
II guessed this" Wilmore admitted,
with a little SILVER which he was
wholly unable to repress.
Francis nodded.
Then keep it to yourself, my dear
fellow" he begged, like everything
else am telling you tonight. l have
come out of my experience changed
in many ways" he continued, "but,
leaving out that one secret chapter,
this is the dominant factor which
looms up before me. l bring into life
a new aversion, almost a passion. An
drew, born in tea-shop in the city,
and ministered to by all that has hap