Evening star., 1927-10-23
Continued from Yesterdays star.l
CHAPTER XXXIII.
At Bay.


YANET stood staring at Philip
Marriott as though she had seen
ghost, and in the glow OF
~ the greer. shaded lamp he did
look rather ghastly, for he was
desperately pale and his race oTaw.
from suffering. He broke the silence
at last. =. so-n
It is a week today since we meI'
think ,o,,,
"You?" she whispered hoarsely
"Where is my father"
II should be glad to tell you if !
knew" he said gravely. I'm fact
vDuld declare a truce and take you &c
him if I could. Won't you sit down!
Janet did not reply at once. She
sstood with heaving breast regarding
him, and at last the storm broke
"It was trick, then, trick! my
father is not here. and you sent tnat
swoman with a lying message to prlnE
fme! I thought you played tair; " at Nat
a fool [ was! / should nave ieI Nd'
sfinish YOU in the plane that day..
"Whv did,'t vou"" he asked quietly
eerd then shrugged. However. that
doesn't matter. As to fair play. ans
Sfair in love ana war YOU Know, MISS
%Dane. and this is-war! l nave 70
thank you for saving my life, much as
syou may regret 1t.
Her lip curled.
did you bring me mere III oiueA ~
tell me that?"
He smiled slightly.
mo. 1 wanted to have little tank
with YOU that is vital to us botn. But
won't YOU please be seated?
: He gestured again to chair anu
<1anet drew herself up to her slim
height. ,o+
mir. Marriott, I have nothing what
ever to say to you. l do not kIloW
how even you dared to perpetrale lnie H
latest outrage. but you cannot nope ~
gain anything by it. You sPok9 H ,aaue llu,e
it is war between us! l SHAH leave
"Sorry. but I'm afraid you'll ma
yhat rather difficult" His tone was
st;II nuiet and he shook his neau
.danrecatinglv. "My dear Miss Dane
7 am sure you do not want to make
n scene before the servants, espe-
cially as it would be useless: You 90
NOT imagine would have played tnis
rather cruel trick upon you mao
not arranged beforehand 10 INSURE
your continued presence?"
Janet stepped aside from the door,
xrav and put her back against the wan
as she suddenly drew the reVoiVer
from her belt. ..1,o
"<een YOUR hands on the table,
nlease Mr.. Marriott. If you move
them. I warn you that / am not Wen
acquainted with firearms ana qulte Dy
accident this might go OFF! Now VIII
give you just two minutes py that
sa11 +nat woman or whoever your
servant is and direct that your front
door be opened for my departure: IL m
anv other order is given ! shall nre:
Not a muscle Of his body moved, put
fba smile broadened about his mouth,
nreening I'D to his eyes as the minute
hand of the clock crept slowly around
and she spoke through set teeth:
"One"
Still he remained motionless LOOKING
steadily into her eyes and Janet !elt
sbe blood turning to water in her
veins. He was only bluffing. OF course.
he would wait until the last halt.
rninute-but the half-minute nao
come! Somehow in a flash she knew
that no power on earth would Dreak
1in. that he would stand there de-
fenseless and let her shoot him down
before he would speak.
'sYou have 10 seconds!
The minute hand moved reIentlessiy
to it's mark and with a httle SOD ol
defeat her arm dropped.
Then Marriott came around the taoie
IN her side and took the revolver gent
" from her unresisting fingers.
"Whv. it's miner he exclaimed In
surprise. $50 good of you to have
saved it and brought it to me-"
E"You are hateful!' Tears OK rage
at her own weakness stood IN ner
eyes. st shall never forgive YOU
never! Oh. don't want ever TO speak
To you again"
s"Did you-before?" He stood quite
close to her, looking down at her
averted face. "In spite OF the fact
that / was your enemy, in your esti.
nation at least, If had not tricked
YOU into coming here tonight, would
YOU have forgiven me for that otner
timer"
a"You did trick mev' She lifted her
head, defiant once more. You SAID
yourself that 1t was cruel. What sort
OF warfare is 1t that you wage with
women"
Her tone was sharp as nife-blade
with Scorn, and he Strengthened his
shoulders.
5"When women enter the lists with
men they must expect no quarter.
Miss Dane, when I met you on the
Sudanic, thought you were the will
ing agent of your father and his
friends. Later, when I took your
-
came convinced that you were the
Innocent cat's-paw in the game, that
perhaps you had actually run away
and fate led you of all people TO take
that particular liner. But while lay
81, the hospital during this past week
you have identified yourself with your
fathers friends in manner which
leaves no doubt that you were the
cat's-paw or victim Of coincidence IN
t. erog mt 0TflV a Will.
ing agent, but one of the moving
spirits in the whole despicable trans
actiop..'
Janet listened to his denunciation In
silence for as her anger cooled, she
began to think, Why had he caused
her to come here. resorting to trickery
and going to infinite pains? What
had he to gain, since the object of
contention was already in the hands
Of his associates, as she had learned
by eavesdropping in old Mr.. Proth-
eroe's queer dwelling? II his mission
and that of his friends was accom-
plished, what further object could he
or they have in view?
Suddenly she smiled.
"Why should deny it, Mr.. Marriott?
I am here in your hands. it seems.
III were innocent and tried to vindi-
cate myself you would not believe me,
and in any case, why should protest
TO you? Is your personal opinion Of
so great Importance"
He stared, his already pallid face
taking on an odd, blush gray hue and
all at once he swayed. cropping as If
for support.
"Oh, what is it?" Enmity forgotten
wholly, she had caught his arm in
both her hands to steady him. What
is the natter"