Evening star., 1925-11-05
The Double Cross
BY A. E. THOMAS.
Mystery Story of Dramatic Power.
by Mead &
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

got quite a little fever and that he
sent for the doctor. I'm sorry to rul
away like this, and ! dare say 1T
, nothing of Importance. but If 1t turned
out wrong | should be sorry that
hadn't gone home promptly. Sa,
goodbye for me TO Rollin, please
Good bye, dear" And she was gone.
| Doris was veXed. She had counte,
upon Jim'S sister to amuSe Rellin IL
the course of the evening. Now i
seemed that her chances for a tete-a
tete with Jim were less than ever
She rang for the maid, and even more
hastily than before she continued
dressing.
Downstairs in the library Stanley
already dressed. was sitting at the biz
desk. Wilson stood beside him, anX
iouS as he never had been before in al
his life.
For the first time in his life also h,
found himself in opposition to jim
Stanley. He found himself upon the
verge of q. terrific adventure. He was
about to be plunged into it head first
| and the water was too deep and too
! cold for the little man. However
there was no budging Stanley. He
was committed to it, and therefore
! Wilson. though terrified at the pros
! peCt, regarded himself as committed
also.
Very WELL" Stanley was saying ir
! a scarcely audible voice. Now yol
are certain you understand"
Yes" replied the secretary, lin SC
far as that goes. But i beg you tC
! reconsider before it's too late"
Reconsider what? Can anything
| alter the facts? No. no, my friend
retribution shall fall on this mans
head before the rise of another sun"
"Oh, sir, I'm afraid
! "Of what"
| For you. sir
why. what can happen to me?"
! Waterman is an ugly customer
| He's strengths temper is violent. II
you Eoad him to desperation
| That's it-that's it, cried Stanley
| That's what I'm going to do
He may kill you"
IN take the chance
I'm afraid-Im afraid repeated
| Wilson in a shaking voice.
Stanley glanced once at the door and
| then he said:
Listen, Frank. Once in the life OF
every man there comes a time when
he stands at the crossroads. l stand
| there tonight. Once the choice is
| made there can be no turning back
| | have made my choice-and now
! forward march,
But. sir, | beg yOu-'
You say he may kill me? Very
! true What of it? Do you think
wish to live if this wretch is to so un.
punished?"
Nevertheless. sir, =
Wait" interrupted Stanley. Let
me think. Yes, I'm afraid I've been
selfish in this thing. ! haven't thought
of you at all. Yes, yes. there's danger
! IL this for you. too. More than little
danger. Perhaps I have no right to
expose you to it,
NO, no. 1t isn't that protested
Wilson.
It's not too late You had better
| leave this house noW-at once. Then
whatever happens under this roof to-
night your skirts will be clear"
No. sir said Wilson firmly. If
you're set on going on with this. III
stand by
This is your moment. Think
again.
II have thought. sir. III stand by"
Good
But Wilson had not given up.
"All the same, sir" he began
A gentle swish of silk. Both men
turned. Doris stood in the doorway.
Wilson effaced himself through the
door that led to his tiny office, adjoin.
.
He was in for il now,
"Ah, my dear Doris cried Stanley,
beaming upon her. How charming
you look
Am l a little late?'
"No, no." Stanley assured her
glancing at the tall clock that stood in
the corner.
"RoIlin is always late" continued
Doris. Hes still dressing
IN tell Jefferson to hold back din
ner a bit," said Stanley, starting for
the bell.
She checked him.
NO, please
MOP"
Don't waste any time. please" She
spoke with nervous haste. I've got
to talk with YOU. This is my only
chance. I've been trying to do it all
day. but you wouldn't let me. And
Rollin hasn't let me out of his sight
since we came. 1t almost seemed as
if he were afraid to-"
"Surely-surely he's not jealous Of
me?"
Perhaps" said Doris with a sigh.
'Rollin jealous of me" Jim cried
His best friend? Incredible"
If she suspected irony, she gave nc
sign She was too intent on her owr
immediate purpose.
Come closer, please" she mur.
INJURED. Jim hesitated briefly. then he
crossed the room and sat down beside
her.
You saw - the other day - OF
course" she began.
But he only answered non-commit
tally, "Well?"
Il told YOU l was happy. but OF
course you know better. I'm miser
able
MY dear Doris
"Oh. l don't mean that it's al
Rollins fault. I don't wish to blame
him for everything. Maybe I've failed
him. | don't know how-Ive done my
best But, anyhow, it's all no use
Hadn't you guessed it?''
We'll, l wondered" he admitted
He was uncomfortable. An exchange
of confidence had been no part of his
plan.
You saw that he was drunk" she
hurried on. well, he often is. And
| can't believe him any more. And
| then when I catch him in a lie he
RACES so that I'm afraid of him. Their
about money! don't begrudge it tc
| him-but he spends large sums in nc
| time at all-in the market, he says
| But there are ways of finding out.
don't spy on him, but things come tC
| me that | can't doubt. And he nc
| longer makes any pretense of being ir
| love with me-
| Doris, this is tragico'
Yes, but that isn't all I've got tc
say. | must hurry, too-hell come
down at any moment. SO don't inter
rupt. jim She paused briefly as
| if reconsidering. but then went on: 81
| feel that l must ask your forgiveness. >
What for?" he asked in genuine
| surprise.
Just before you went to India" she
continued, "a certain person came tC
see me and made an accusation
! against you-a shocking accusation.