Evening star., 1925-10-04
The Dead Mans Tale
BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENIIEIM
A Sane Moment Came to Sir Joseph Londe

Rocke and Ann were the only guests
| The wine was good, the dinner excel
| lent, and everybody. on the surface al
any rate, was cheerful.
so we're going to lose you for g
time. Sir Francis" Ann remarked.
| He nodded, little gloomily.
| THE doctor insists he said. 81
haven't any particular desire to go
In fact I would rather stay in Eng
land just now"
II can't think why" she observed
with a little shiver. Think of the
rain and sleet outside"
! II could tell you why" he whis
pered. leaning toward her.
Where are you going to-" she
asked. quickly.
"To Gibraltar" he replied. MY
| cousin is governor there and I shall
stay with him for day or two and
afterward at Algeciras. Do
you remember who this is?''
Ann glanced at the little party of
new arrivals. Foremost among them,
very correctly dressed, very good
looking, still a little dissatisfied,
came Capt. Milton, the chief constable
toward them.
80 the miracle happened, after all"
Sir Francis reminded him. a little
drily. THAT little petrol boat was
never heard Of again.
Il won't admit the miracle" was
the prompt reply. Il said that escape
for that man and woman was an i'm
possibility. All reasonable harbors
and landing places were barred to
them. There was nothing to prevent
their making for the mid Atlantic,
though. and dying Of hunger or thirst
or being Swamped."
You think, then. that that is what
happened?" Daniel asked.
There isn't the slightest doubt
about it,
II saw both the man and the woman
alive and well a few months ago."
Ann observed.
BLESS my SOUR Milton exclaimed.
incredulously. "Where?"
''They spent last Winter in Monte
Carlo Ann told him.
THE same people? You're sure Of
that?"
Quite sure. 1 dined at their villa" :"
But surely you did something about
it," he demanded.
II did what l could" Ann replied.
I've come to the conclusion that
lunatics are too full of cunning to be
dealt with by ordinary human beings
like u.s.
You mean that they got away
again."
They got away again." she ad-
mitted
Must have nine lives, that fellow"
Milton observed. "I never saw any
one take a purler like he took from
that cliffside, and get up and walk as
though nothing had happened. :"
He took leave of them with little
bow and sauntered off.
1T is a long time now" Ann said,
thoughtfully, "since we had the faint
est news of them. 1 wonder whether
they are still in Europe"
They are lying low if they are"
was Sir Francis rejoinder.
Daniel left his place presently to
speak to some acquaintances at the
other side of the room. Ann and her
companion sat for an unusual length
of time In silence. Suddenly he turn
ed to her.
Miss Lancaster" he began. Il
think you can guess what I'm going
to say to you"
I'm afraid so," she admitted.
Then / am already answered" he
sighed. II know that I am too old
for you, and there must be many OBJ
stacles from your point Of view, but
think you know how it has been with
me lately. I am fonder of you than
Of any one else in the world. VIII you
marry me?"
She shook her head.
II am so sorry" she told him. 1T
is very generous of you to ask me,
but you see 1 have my own little Sc
cret. There is some one else
You are engaged?" he asked,
quickly.
She shook her head.
II am not engaged, because the