Evening star., 1927-11-04
CHAPTER XLVI
"A Face From the Dead


TOR a long time Janet sat at the
l. table in the little tea shop, but
her mullins hardened and the
i tea itself grew cold. Philip Mar
lott was safe, the sailors had been
in time to rescue him, but it was not
the Philip of that Island dream. He
had never existed save in her own too
credulous heart. The man who had
bent in such loverlike fashion over
the golden haired woman as he assist.
ed her down to the car was the Mar
lott who was her sworn antagonist!
He had not hesitated to lure her to
his house with a cruel false message
about her father;- but she had scored
one against him when she drugged
him and took from him the cryptic.
gram, but he had retaliated! He was
determined to win 1t away from her.
and when they were captured by
Norman, and he saw that neither
shock nor grief nor fear would make
her give up the secret, he had tried
a counterfeit of love!
He told her that he played the game
according to his own rules, and how
easily she had been deceived! What
little fool he must think her! Jan.
cts cheeks burned with the recollec.
ton. How clearly she could see now
that her eyes were opened! There
hadn't been any mistaking his atti-
tude toward that woman lust now:
there was possession in it, and pride
and-love.
Aware at last that the elderly wait.
ress was lowering near, regarding her
with curiosity not untinged with un.
easiness, Janet beckoned to her. paid
her bill and went out into the shad.
ows.
Her dream was over; shattered,
1t did not matter, though.
nothing mattered but to carry out her
iathers plans, for even if he had loved
ner 1t would have been hopeless. Thew
were separated forever by this hideo,ls
AFFAIR that had cost her father his life,
Ihey were as far apart as the poles
and never could they have met again
IN those hours when death stared them
IN the face. Still--oh. if the memory
or that time could only have been left
to her unchanged!
She wandered on. needless of the
asslng of time and unaware in the
depths of her bitter disillusionment
that car had purred softly out of
the shadows beyond the tea shop and
followed slowly in her wake, through
every twist and turning. 1t was only
when the blaze of lights in the theatri.
cal district brought her to conscious.
ness of her surroundings that she was
aware of gay, jostling throngs pouring
out of the playhouse and realized that
it must be well on toward midnight.
r There remained still the accomplish.
ment of her task! If she had been
duped by her, fathers enemy in the
most cowardly, despicable fashion, It
was her own fault for lowering her
flag. but at least he had failed in his
design! He had not learned the secret
from her nor succeeded in persuading
her to renounce the VOW she had made
to herself and now. soon, he would
realize that she alone was responsible
for the final collapse of his cherished
scheme.
The long line of taxis at the public
stand on the great, blazing thorough
fare was emptying fast, but Janet
hailed one and asked: -.-. ~.
Have you plenty of petrol?"
Juice, you mean?" The chauffeur,
big Irishman, grinned joviallv.
Sure. miss; is 1t to Albany you'll be
wantin' me to take your"
mo, Mineola," Janet smiled wanly.
. It'll show YOU just where when we
get there"
She jumped in and, shutting the
sdoor, sank back on the shabby cush-
ions. closing her eyes. The days
ceaseless wanderings had wearied her
more than she knew and the reaction
from her surprise and disillusionment
left her tired, tired! The car which
had followed her from the tea shop
was still just behind and turned off
Broadway when hers did. following
again through street after street to
the bridge, but Janet would scarcely
have cared had she known; to find
Nat now and through him reach a
real friend of her father. that was TIE
one thought that filled her sick soul.
CONTINUED in Tomorrow's Star.)