The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-05-16
CHAPTER xv-continued.

CHAPTER Xv-Continued.
--A3--
His voice rang out like pistol-shot.
"How did you know that?"
She turned away from the rail and
threw herself back In her chair. His
hand, however, she still kept in hers.
"Uncle Joe was minister at Rio, you
know, the year 1t all happened" she
explained. HE told us the story years
agO-how you came back from Europe
and found things were not just as they
should be between Margaret's mother
and your partner, and how you killed
your partner"
His nostrils quiyered a little. One
felt that the fire of suffering had
touched him again for a moment.
"Yes, 1 killed him." he admitted.
"That is part Of my creed. The men
who defend their honor in the law
courts are men / know nothing Of.
This man would have wronged me and
robbed me of my honor l babe him
defend himself in any way he thought
well. 1t was his life or mine. He was
poor fighter and I killed him."
"And Margaret's mother died from
the shock"
"She died soon afterward."
The stars grew paler. The passing
vehicles, with their brilliant lights,
grew fewer and fewer. The breeze
which had been so welcome at first
turned into cold night wind. She led
the way back into the room!
II must co." he announced.
"You must CO." she echoed, looking
up at him. "Good-by!"
She was so close to him that his
embrace, sudden and passionate though
1t was, came about almost naturally.
She lay in his arms with perfect con-
Vent and raised her lips to his.
He broke away. He was himself
again, self-furious.
LADY Cynthia" he said, Il owe you
my most humble apologies. The evil
that is in me does not as a rule break
out in this direction"
'You dear, foolish person." she
laughed, "that was good, not evil. You
like me, don't you? But I know you
do. There is one crime you have al
ways forgotten to develop-you
haven't the simplest idea in the world
how to lie."
Eyes. I like you," he admitted. 81
have the most absurd feeling for you
that any man ever found it impossible
to put into words. We have indeed
strayed outside the world of natural
things" he added.
.Why?" she murmured IT never
felt more natural or normal in my
life. ! can assure you that l am low
. ing it. feel like muslin gowns and
primroses and the scene of those first
March violets underneath a warm
hedge where the sun comes sometimes.
feel very natural indeed, Sir Tim
othy.'
"What about me| he asked harshly.
I'm three weeks time / shall be fifty
years old"
"And in no time at all 1 shall be
thirty-and entering upon terrible
period of spinsterhood"
"Spinsterhood! he scoffed. "Why,
whenever the society papers are at a
loss for paragraph, they report a
few more offers of marriage to the
ever-beautiful Lady Cynthia"
Don't be sarcastic she begged. II
haven't yet had the offer of marriage
/ want, anyhow"
you'll get one you don't want in a
moment" he warned her.
She made little grimace.
"Don'ti" she laughed nervously.
How am to preserve my romantic
notions of you as the emperor of the
criminal world, If you kiss me as you
cid just now-you kissed me rather
well-afld then ask me to marry YOU?
1t isn't your role. You must light
a cigarette now, pat the back of my
hand, and swagger off to another of
your haunts of vice. sM
TN other words, 1 am not to pro-
pose?' Sir Timothy said slowly.
'syou see how decadent l am" she
sighed. Il want to toy with my pleas
ures. Besides, there's that scamp of
brother Of mine coming up to have
drink--I saw him get out of taxi
and you couldn't get it through in
time, not with dignity"
The rattle Of the lift as it stopped
was plainly audible. He stopped and
kissed her fingers.
Il fear some day." he murmured, 81
shall be a great disappointment to
you"
CHAPTER EII