Evening star., 1927-10-17
CHAPTER XVII.
inns Head

M and stranger stood trans
EN fixed in the valut like room
and stared up at the slim
figure at the head OF the
stairs, but the lady was the nrst u
recover herself.
"Janet, I am sorry that you over
heard. You intimated today that you
did not know whom to trust we are
almost in the same position, Tor we
are in great trouble ana perpieAi'S
Who is Horace Gray? :
"You know very well that he Is
my fathers lawyer. you and those
other friends of his at Daneholm. For
some reason you're all afraid to have
mo meet him, for you know he uSeu
to nlav with me when / was niue
rirl,' Japet's voice broke, but she
wont on. "Send for him to satisfy
ourselves if YOU like, but don't try
to deceive me by another impostor as
thev did at Daneholm"
IAN imposter?" Mr.. Protheroe eX'
claimed. ,,,
Perhaps my fathers friends at Dane
holm didn't know--1 never thoushl
thev did until this minute!-but they
said they had sent for Mr.. Gray ana a
when he came-no one saw him Dut
was Young man made up to look IKE
him with a wig and all! I'm SICK
of all this mystery, and hiding Ike a
crin,inau / don't want nor need the
protection Of any of you! l seem 10
have been able to take care OF my
self through this whole, horrible aHali
better alone, for it is only when pu'
myself in your hands that / get INTO
trouble. I'm going! l can ma my
wav back to New York and wait there
tlD nv father reaches port. want
nothing to do with any one VINO
doubts me-!
She turned to re-enter the bedroom,
but Mrs. Kerr ran up the stairs anu
caught he; in her arms,
"Ianet. dear, forgive me! You have
offered us the best proof In the Woriu
nv asking us to send for your father s
attorney. but of course we shall DO
nothing of the kind! l was distraught,
beside myself with anxiety and 1t was
only a momentary doubt, dear! GOOD
hv SIX of Hearts, she called back
over her shoulder. TRY to reach the
Others"
She led Janet into the bedroom once
more. still entreating that the girl
would forgive, and her contrltlon ap-
neored sincere, but, although Janet
gave every indication of being ap-
neased. the hurt had been too deep.
To remain with these people an
hour longer than necessary was un'
thinkable, but she must be careful'
for they doubted her, and, douDting'
would guard her even more closeIy
than before to see that she ala not
slip out of their hands.
Yet that was what she was deter
IA Onn0T-
tunity she would run away and hide
herself until she could reach her
father.
No immediate opportunity present
ed itself, however. In the morning
thew took their leave of Mr.. Protheroe
and motored on again through deep
pine-scented forests until at noon they
reached the shores of a lake set like
a mirror in a frame of blue-gr
mountains.
Janet's spirit was torn and it had
taken all her self-control to treat
Mrs. Kerr as though the scene of
the night were forgotten, for dissimu-
lation was utterly foreign to her, but
the beauty, and peace of her sur
surroundings gradually worked their
spell. Her determination was in no
way altered, but she felt soothed and
calm.
There had been no sign of espionage
from Norman's adherents, and as they
left Charles and the car for a speedy
little motor boat that awaited them
and steamed out over the sparkling
blue water she felt that she was free
from that menace, at least.
Some one had bungled or failed.
The mysterious thing which had
been the crux of this whole adventure
had fallen into the hands of Marriott s
associates. It would be a great blow
to her father, concerned in 1T In an
unfathomable way as he was, but
Janet was almost glad, for she would
be able to make UP to him in her love
and care whatever Disappointment was
in store for him, and she felt that
the sooner he severed his connection
with this queer association, brave and
devoted as it's members were, the bet
ter it would be for them both.
Mrs. Kerr seemed to have read her
thoughts. for she turned to her sud-
denly as they sat in the little cockpit,
with the breeze, fresh and piney,
blowing in their faces.
"JaRet, how much of that CONVEX
sation last night did you hear"
mot enough to tell me anything
I didn't know before, except that
some friend Of Mr.. Mariott's has man.
aged to get possession of the thing
which you and Norman and-and
even my father are so deeply inter.
ested in" Janet replied bluntly. II
was just thinking that I was almost
glad Of it!'
s'Glad" Mrs. Kerr echoed in blank
amazement. "But whyw
Because, although / don't know
in the least what it can be, If people
and not just two people or three
but huge associations and-and
gangs-are willing to murder each
other and wreck trains and do all
sorts of terrible things to gain it and
yet can't have any right to it, fol
none of you dare go to the author
tiles, then / don't want my father to
have anything more to do with it
and I'm not sorry that it is all over >
Janet spoke without heat and in ut
ter sincerity.
''Oh, my dear, you don't know what
you are saying!" Mrs. Kerr's sensi
tive face was twitching and pale
"You cannot understand. of course
and perhaps you will never know
the truth, but try to believe tina,
1t Is right-right for US alone
to have it, to handle the situation!
1t is by no means over, for we shall
fight to the last and you should
pray for our success, for it is vita
to you! Your fathers honor is al
stake."
His honor!" Janet exclaimed
what do you mean? You must tel
me now. Mrs. Kerr, you have gone