Evening star., 1924-04-22

! 81 ciedr ana lucl0 was her statement
that lt threw upon the affair a flood
of light, whilst so frank and truth
| ful was her tone, her narrative hung
| so well together, that the bench be-
gan TO recover from the shock to it's
| faith and was again in danger of be-
| lieNing her. Trenchard saw this and
trembled. To save Wilding for the
cause he had reSorted to this deS-
perate expedfent Of betraying that
cause. 1t must be observed. how
ever, that he had not done so save
/ under the conviction that betrayed
it was bound to be. and that since
| that was inevitable the thing had
! better come from him-for Wildings S
sake-than from Richard West
/ macott. He had taken the bull by
! the horns in a most desperate fashion
| when he had determined to hoist
| Richard and Blake with their own
! petard, hoping that after all, the
! harm would reach no further than the
! destruction of these two-a purely
/ defensive measure. But now this girl
/ threatened to wreck his scheme just
as it was being safely steered to har-
! Dor. Suddenly he swung round, in
/ terrupting her
/ Lies, lies, lies" he clamored, and
| his interruption coming at such a
| time served to impress the duke most
unfavorably-as well it might.
! 1T is our wish to hear this lady
out, Mr.. Trenchard," the duke reprov-
| ed him.
But Mr.. Trenchard was undismayed
| Indeed, he had just discovered a hith-
erto neglected card which should put
an end to this dangerous game.
81 do abhor to hear your grace's
patience thus abused" he exclaimed
with some show of heat. This lady
makes a mock of you. IF you'll allow
me to ask two questions-or perhaps
three-.Ill promise finally to pick
this bubble for YOU. Have 1 your
grace'S leaye?"
well, we'll" said Albemarle. Let
US hear your questions" And his
! colleagues nodded.
! Trenchard turned airily to Ruth.
! Behind her Diana satan attendant
! had fetched a chair for her-in fear
! and wonder at what she saw and heard,
! h + eyes ever and anon straying to
Sir Rowiand's back, which was toward
| her.
This letter. madam said he, for
the possession of which you have ac-
counted in So-so-pictureSque a man.
ner, was intended for and addressed
to Mr.. Wilding, you say. And you
| are prepared to swear to it,"
Ruth turned Indignantly to. the
bench. Must I answer this mans
| questions?" she demanded
! II think, perhaps, it were best you
| did" said the duke. still showing her
! She turned to Trenchard. her head
( high, her eyes full upon his Wrlnkled,
| cynical face. Il swear, then" she
| began, but he-consummate actor that
! he was and versed in tricks that inn
press an audience-interrupt her,
| raising one of his gnarled, yellow
bands.
! Nay, nay" said he. 'I would not
have perjury proved against you. l
do not ask YOU to swear. 1t would
! be sufficient if you pronounce yourself
prepared to swear"
She pouted her lip a trifie, her
whole expression manifesting her
! contempt of him: II am in no fear OF
perjuring myself" She answered fear
/ leSSly. And ! swear that the letter
! in question was addressed to Mr..
! Wilding."
LAS you will" said Trenchard. and
was careful not to ask her how she
came by her knowledge. THE letter.
no doubt, was in an outer wrapper, on
: which there would be 4 Superscrip-
tion-the name of the person to whom
! questioned, and Luttrell, who saw the
drift of the question, nodded gravely.
NO doubt said Ruth.
/ Now you will acknowledge, / am
sure. madam. that such a wrapper
would be document of the greatest
I importance-aS important. indeed, as
/ the letter itSelf-Since We could de-
pend upon it finally to clear up this
/ point on which we differ. You will
admit so much, ! think"
why, yes" she answered, but her
voice faltered a little and her glance
was not quite so fearless. She, too.
saw at last the pit. he had dug for
her. He leaned forward, smiling
quietly, his voice impressively sub
dued, and launched the bolt that was
to annihilate the credibility of the
story she had told.
Can you, then. explain how it
| comes that that wrapper has been
| suppressed? Can you tell us how
the matter being as you state tin
| very self-defense against the dangers
| of keeping such a letter your brother
| did not also keep that wrapper"
Her eyes fell away from his face,
| they turned to Albemarle, who sat
scowling again, and from him they
fiickered unsteadily to Phelps and
Luttrell, and, lastly. to Richard, who.
very white and with set teeth, stood
listening to the working OF his ruin
| II do not know" she faltered at
! last.
/ "Ah.' said Trenchard. drawing q
deep breath. He turned to the
| bench. Need I suggest what was
/ the need-the urgent need-for. sup
pressing that wrapper" quoth he
Need ] say what name was inscribed
upon ft?. | think not. Your grace's
| keen insight, and yours, gentlemen,
| will determine what was probable.
+ Sir Rowland now stood forward. ad-
dressing Albemarle. will your grace
! permit me to offer my explanation Of
| thlSE -
AfbemarIe banged the table. His
| patience was at an end, since he
| came now to believe, as Trenchard
| had earlier suggested, that he had
been played upon by Ruth.
"Too many explanations have /
| heard already, sir" he answered. He
! turned to one of his secretaries. In
! his sudden access of choler he forgot
! his colleagues altogether. The pris-
oners are committed for trial. said
he harshly, and Trenchard breathed
freely at last. But the next instant
! he caught his breath again, for a
ringing voice was heard without de-
manding to see His Grace of Albey
marie at once, and the voice was the
voice of Anthony Wilding;
CHAPTER Nj.
The MarpIOt.
/ Mn Wildings appearance produced
as many different emotions as there