Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-02

got something definite to show me
III iichf C,offv laf,s have IL.
Copyright. 1897. By J. b, Lippencot. Co.

| only / warn you now, as i WaTHeu
you the last time you came down. that
1 won't have the matter harped on ana
raked over continually, and nothing
but suspicious and gossip and lot OF
hearsay tales to show for 1t. / just
want to make that quite clear to every
tone.. -..-.-.. e~.
"Sit down. Sophy. won't you?
Evelyn. my dear. have chair. Sit
down, every one. Now, Cotty, what
ever It is, get it off your chest and
let's have done with It,"
Sophy Abbott sat down stifiiy. She
unfa Stoned her coat and let 1t trail a
regal length upon the floor. Her checks
were unwontedly flushed: her pale eyes
bulged little more than usual.
Lacy took a chair between her father
and her husband. Every now and then
she stole q look. half daring, half
frightened, at Manning's grim face.
He was still angry. he was still dread
angry with Cotty, and not with her.
She looked past him at Evelyn. who
sat at the foot Of the table leaning
back in her chair. Evelyn was angry,
too. 1t was simply dreadful to have
Evelyn and Monkey both angry at the
same time.
Cotty Abbott opened his dispatch
case and took out folded paper. He
opened it, tapped II. took out a pair
OF pince-neZ. cleared his throat, ana
tapped the paper again.
Before l pass this paper round,
he began. II would like-er-to pro.
test against the manner in which my
| efforts to elucidate this case have
er-been received"
He cleared his throat again. JAS
every one here is aware. was not
satisfied as to the identity of the per-
son who has claimed to be one Of my
uncie's grandsons. was not at all
satisfied. I said to Sophy that same
evening" mean the evening Of the
er--day, the-er-last occasion that We
all met said to Sophy on that very
evening that I was not satisfied.
"Sophy was not satisfied either. and
Tom Mendip. ffollinton, who was pres.
ent. agreed with us that the evidence
as to his identity was, in point of fact,
not evidence at all. Those were,
may say, his very words. He gave 1t
as his considered opinion that the evi.
dence was not really evidence at all.
Sophy and I agreed with him."
Sir Cotterell leaned forward.
If you've merely come here to re.
peat your brother.in.law's opinions,
Cotty-"
He hasn't" said Sophy Abbott. in
an unpleasant voice. She opened her
coat little farther, and famed her.
self with a fur.lined glove.
Perhaps" said Sir Henry Pro.
there. perhaps We could cut out these
preliminaries. His tone was very
urbane. whats this paper you've
brought down, Cotty?"
Sir Cotterell flung himself back In
his chair.
"Cut the cackle and come to the
horses" he muttered.
Cotty looked about the room, frown.
ing.
II imagined that the person most
concerned would have been present. Is
it not intended that he should be pres.
ent?"
Sir Henry made a bland gesture.
'Laydon is, unfortunately. away"
he said.
He was here yesterday" Cotty's
little eyes stared at him suspiciously.
Sir Henry made no answer, and
Sophy Abbott thrust in with:
Most extraordinary Why. 1t looks
1t almost looks as If" She
paused, coughed meaningly, and added:
We'll. perhaps we'd better not say
what II looks like"
Suppose you tell us what's In that
paper, Cotty." said Sir Henry rather
sterniy.
rh's a statement" Cotty rustled
1t with an air Of triumph. They might
say what they liked; but ne had got
the woman's signature. His voice rose
q little.
Its a statement signed by the
woman. Pearl Palliser."
"A statement Sir Cotterell
raped out the words. His hand
stinensd on the arm OF the chair,
statement" said Cotty Abbott.
signed by her in my own presence.
ana witnessed by Tom Mendip.ffeliin.
ton. II declares that she recognized
this man as her husband, Jim Field.
he went to see her the day after
my uncle had accepted him as his heir.
and she Immediately recognized him TO
be her husba nd. James Field.
Her exact words were. I thought
ia seen a ghost.
He paused and surveyed the circle of
faces-Sir Henry very grave: Manning
frowningiy incredulous: Sir Cottereli
with the look tof a man struck hard
and unawares. He saw Lacy. bril-.
iiantly flushed. her mouth open az II
to speak: and Evelyn sitting back In
her chair quite still and pale. one hand
lightly clasped At her breast and a
strange little smile on her lips.
Manning got up. came round To her.
leaned over the back Of her chair.
spoke low and urgently In d tone
meant only for her:
Evelyn. it's gone far enough
Ehe turned her eyes on him will, n
slow wonder In them.
How did you know"
He shrugged his shoulders.
ITS gone far enough. The old man
can't stand any more"
Sir Cottereil was trying TO speak, He
looked at cotty. put out a trembling
hi nd. and said
Give me-the paper"
Evelyn got up. She rested her left
hand on the table and leaned n little
forward. She did not quite know what
she was going TO say. and che found
herself repeating Manning's words:
think--this has gone far enough
A look of relief and satisfacfioc
crossed Sir Henry's face. He sat bacL
In his chair. The Abbotts turned ana
stared at Evelyn. Sir cotterell said
again: mai"
Give me--ths paper"