Evening star., 1925-09-24
sT Couldn't Have Taken Revenge"

dress to Sir Rawdon'S face
Wells dark skin had flushed and
seeing the detectives eyes on him, he
appeared - hesitate whether he
should let the little incident pass in
Silepce or make some explanation.
After an instan. ne decided on the
latter course.
These photographs We're taken yes
terday at the wedding reception of
Capt. and Mrs. Haste by my cousin,
Paolo Magnani." he said. 'I-that is
I'D mentioned to him ! was coming
down here last evening, and suppose.
as he addressed this letter to me at
the court, he must have forgotten that
i didn't expect to stop the night. If
all had been we'll. ! should have been
on my way to New York by this time.
But actor-folk never remember other
peoples engagements and seldom
their own"
Now, why is Wells annoyed with
himself for telling me about his cousin
sending the letter here, and why did
he stumble about so, trying to get
out of the scrape the best way he
could?" pondered Dagon.
i've often seen your cousin on the
screen" the detective said aloud. II
have heard him called the handsomest
man star, as we'll as one of the best
romantic actors, in the moving picture
world"
He might have added. "But / didn t
know till now that YOU two We're
cousins Instead, however, he said:
II see he's a good photographer as
we'll as good to photograph"
Yes. he's a keen amateur photog-
rapher," the other agreed, apparently
rather surprised that the detective
should pursue a subject which seemed
f,,+a rny- \, ,i,,, nta
asked permission to do these yester-
day. That smile on the brides face
looks tragic now-as things are. l
suppose you've seem many portraits
of-Miss Carroll? She was much
photographed for newspapers.
II knew her slightly" Dagon said.
Wells turned an asfonished glance
upon him, and the detective quietly
repeated the information he had given
Anson-hoW. while trying 10 spot
thief he had posed as a footman in
Mrs. Payntor's New York house.
Miss Carroll wouldn't have remem-
bered me, or recognized me If she
had" Dagon finished. But, of
course, no one who'd ever seen her
could forget what she was like
I'm glad you've seen her." Wells
broke out. Tell me, do you think
any human being. man or woman.
could have the heart to hurt such a
lovely creature? Could you-no mat
ter what the provocation?'
II don't know" Dagon answered,
his manner changing, so that he
spoke, not as an official spy. but as
one man to another. Il don't know.
! am supposed to have Italian blood
not. anyhow I've had black moods
when I could imagine myself doing
anything"
II have Italian blood in my veins.
And I've had those moods. too" said
Rawdon Wells. Il don't conceal from
YOU that my mood wasn't far from
black when l knew that I was to be
thrown over for my best friend. No
use to conceal it! Every one knows
or guesses. But 1 couldn't have taken
revenge on the girl.
II couldn't have hurt Miss Car
roll, and if I wouldn't murder her, I
certainly wouldn't have stopped to
kidnapping, especially after she'd
married another man. Still-if the
circumstances We're only a little diff
ferent, ID take the guilt on myself in
stead of letting Pandora Haste be
suspected for a single hour
What do you mean: If the circum
stances were a little different" asked
lJdSOll. buL, OIL COURSE, uou dilS"SI
that question unless you wish"
II do wiSh.' said Wells. You are
q detective sent here by Scotland
Yard to find out what's become of
Mrs. Haste, and suspicion points my
way in spite of what that poor child
said. You have a right to suspect me.
and perhaps you do. But l can't help
feeling If we'd met in a happier way,
we should have been friends. The
reason is, you look very much like
some one I cared for n good deal, and
j can't get the resemblance out of
my head. So I do wish to talk
frankly to you-that is, as frankly
as can. and Ill gladly tell you what
my meaning was. 1t was this:
can't, even for Pandora's sake, say
that I was such an abominable viii
lain as to harm the bride of my old
est pal, in my own house. where I'd