Evening star., 1927-09-19
in,,aa from Yesterdays star.l



N "In be glad to tell you
everything know, Victor,
she said simply, meeting his eyes with
her own honest ones, why didn't you
let me know what you wanted in the
first place? It would have saved sc
much time and trouble"
"Well. my dear, believe 1t or not, as
Won like" he smiled cynically. Il al.
most lost my self control when l fell
in love with you! Oh Anne" and for a
moment he relapsed into the old
Strafne. "I love you. Why couldn't
YOU have returned my devotion! we
could have been so happy, so congen.
ian Our tastes are the same, our.
hYou're going Just a little too far,
Anne broke in coldly, II may be a
cheat, but I'm not a thief-a muir
derer-! What is it you want to
know"
Straine stiffened. His eyes flashed.
''Your father has the formula for a
death ray, as well you know my dear
girl. / want that"
Anne stared at him in genuine sur
prise.
''Death ray?" she questioned blank
ly, what do you mean? I never saw
oner'
II did not say you had seen it. I
want to know where he keeps the
formula, that Is all!''
but I'm telling you never saw or
heard of such thing, Victor" There
was no mistaking her sincerity, and
Straine's brows, knit into a frown.
That" he said at length, lis most
unfortunate for we shall now have to
inconvenience your father before we
allow him to play on a golden harp
for the rest Of eternity. Too bad!''
Anne gasped.
''Victorn she said, and her anguish
would have wrung a heart of stone.
"are you quite sure that dad had that
ray? He always confides in me, and
you know you are as closely asso-
ciated with him as anyone has ever
been, yet apparently you never saw 1t,
either! Couldn't there be some mis-
take?"
I'VE never make mistakes, your
father stumbled on this ray. last year,
and repored it to his government. The
War Department ordered it destroyed,
but the formula was kept"
Then it's In Washington! Dad
wouldn't keep a dangerous thing like
that, Victor, you know how good he is,
he wouldn't hurt f1y!"
Probably not, but the fact remains
that during the last war he was re-
sponsible for some important discov-
cries that were invaluable to his coun-
try. And as you can well imagine, a
death ray would be quite card in
some quarters"
"Victorm Anne burst out, "who are
you? I know now that you are not
q Britisher! They don't come into our
country and steal from us! / know
who you are, you're Russian, and
Sonia is your wife! Where's poor Lady
de We're, what did you do with herr"
Quietly, quietly, my dear, it won't
help you to be inquisitive. Sonia does
not happen to be my wife. I'm a
bachelor, and as far as Lady de We're
Is concerned, never laid hands on
the woman"
Somebody threw her overheard!
You know about everything that went
on aboard the steamer! You forged
the letters, you made me go to Mr..
Winston's room"'
"Annew Straine seized her wrist,
turning it till she cried for mercy,
what do you mean about forging
letter, tell me at once! I never sent
you to Winston's room, you must be
crazyr'
'::Then who did? Your Russian com.
panion? Oh, you needn't tell me
you're Innocent, You needn't try to
make me believe you didn't put that
glass slipper into my room, and the
other one In Chris bed! You wrote
his letter to me, and mine to him! Oh,
how blind I have been, how stupid and
how wrongr' And tears sprang into
her eyes. Poor Anne was nearly at
the end Of her rope.
Straine released his hold upon her,
and his face set into new and terrible
lines, made Anne tremble.
$50 that was itr' he said in a hard
voice, his lips barely moving, "that
was it! It wasn't Winston, fool that
was! She played me falser'
Anne, watching him through her
tears, could not understand his mean
ing, but she saw that a new element
had entered into this critical siuation
Her words had brought unwelcome
news to her captor, and the knowledge
gave her a little hope.
do you mean that you didn't write
those letters. or do the other things
Victor?" she asked timidly. why
did you come with me upon the ship:
To make me marry your"
Believe what you like" he replied
fndifferently, II repeat just one thing
II I have failed in my duty to my
country 1t is just for one reason.
fell in love with you. Many a mar
has been ruined by woman, you are
but another Helen Of Troy!'
Victor, If could only see Dad I'd
be willing to ask him for this ray! Il
1t of great value?"
Worth millions, but he will not
sell. Anne, why should he? Except
for one thing perhaps, to save you
My dear girl, If you will write your
father a note at my dictation you may
yet see once more the light of day"
I'm WRITE" Anne agreed without
the slightest hesitation, give me pen
Gil and paper. But how will you gel
such q letter to him, Victor? By
cable?'
mo. He is on his way to Pan
ANA now, with Mr.. Kean and his wife
They sailed from New York yesterday
morning!"
"oh" Anne drew a long breath
Then you'll meet him at the steame,
ana tell him you're holding me fol
ransom?"
Exactly that" said straine, III W,
canr'
IF you can?"
If your Government authorities dt
not get a sudden gleam Of intellig
ence, Straine sneered, so far we have
outwttted them at every turn."
DO you mean that there were de
tectives on our steamer"
Most certainly, my child! Winston
and his mother. If she is his mother
80 say nothing Of your beloved Chris
topher himselfm
"Oh, not Chris, Victor, I know h,
wasn't after you. He was trying t,
make me come back to him, that wa
all! He didn't have a thing agains
you, / know he didn't And Ann
rushed to the defense Of the man sh
loved. Whatever happened to her o
her father. Chris must not be In