Evening star., 1925-09-14

swered. My ship doesn't sail till to-
morrow | shall be on her in time.
l have my car, and I'm just ready
TO start
He had apparently thrown OF his
first annoyance at the sudden intru
sion of his friend. His face relaxed
an extremely handsome! dark face.
with eagle features, and splendid
! brown eyes under long, arched brOws
that dreamily contradicted' the. fierce
energy of other features. He smiled
very pleasant, disarming smile. But
! II did not disarm Haste, who continued
/ to stareaand frown.
You'll not. start till you've shown
me where. my wife is and I've made
sure no harm has come to her" Ken
sahl. What have. you done with
Eve?"
What have T. dome with Eve?"
Rawdon Wells echoed, utter blank1ess
on his face. "I-doha knew what'you
mean" .s.a-. ~
Haste had spoken from the. thres-
hold. Now,he walked into the room.
He had always been curious about
kDoh's laboratory. which was never
shown to any one, even intimate
friends like himself; but now he en-
tered unseeingly, hardly aware,
despite all the paraphernalia of the
chemist thai he was In a laboratory.
His nostriis, however. noted a peculiar
Eodor of burning as he strode in and
stopped close to Wells.
''You do know what mean" he
said There's no use pretending. The
whole things been a monstrous plot.
You invited us here-you almost in
sisted son lending your house-just for
this."@
Wells face hardened. Just for
WHAT" 't, -,
done with Eve? Tell me The truth.
or by heaven. I'll choke It OUT OF you
Ken. you're mad,' cried the other.
You can choke nothing out of. me.
Two can play at the choking game,
il it comes to that but we're not fools.
so why should 1t? | tel yeu I haven't
seen Eve since the wedding.I motored
down here, because
"Ah why -
Because l had something
to clear up before leaving s..
Yet you let every one believe you
were going straight to Liverpool"
There's nothing in that. Whether
/ went straight to Liverpool or came
down to my own house was my affair.
While the house was lent to us.
1t was ours. But all that's piffie! /
know you've got Eve hidden some
where. Whether it's jpst-a CHASTITY,
practical joke ypu'fe playing !sor
whether you've done away with her
because she was mine. not Sydurs. l
don't know yet but | will know: I'VE
found footprint in bloed which led
us to- the secret door behind the tap
estrv-and then red finger marks. not
dry Vetoed, If you've killed her
Rawdon Wells tanned olive skin
seemed to fade.
You believe such a thing of me-"
he broke out. Il thought we were
friends
so did j. But now l know we're
enemies.
) Very well" the other said The
footprint you speak of isn't mine. nor
the finger marks. I'd die a hundred
deaths sooner than hurt hair of Eve
CarrolTs head. If harm come to her
In this house Il won't take, anything
of the sort for cranted-.YetE- it's as
much a mystery to me asrto YOU. And
whether we're TO be friends or
enemies. you're bound to give me the
benefit of the doubt"
''The benefit of the doubt, Haste
bitterly echoed. With no other an
swer he walked about the room, ex-
amining everything. looking with min
gled fear and eagerhess for any sign
that Eve had been brought Into the
laboratory, living or dead, Suddenly
he sprang forward with a cry.
.'.'Her handkerchief. cried,
snatching up,a bit of cambria and lace.
1t had lain on the table -whers Wells
had flung his hat and gloves -2and
placed several packets of papeEs be
side a legallooking tin box: and 1t
was at this table Rawdon had been
standing when Haste burst into the
room.
Her monogram" he said, "and even
without that I'd know it was Ewes
by the perfume. It's the scent she al
ways uses - -,
TT Is her handkerchief, grant
YOU Rawdon admitted, but L stole
it when 1 said goodbye to her after
her marriage with you today ken: 1t
was to he a souvenir--the: only one I
have of her-except few memories
'"Rot." Ken flung lat hiIA.- You
expect me to believe that? You shall
not leave this house. Wells. You shall