Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-27
convyleht hy r, phillips oppenhein,

only letter YOU wrote your wife after I
took her from the degradation into
which it was your wicked JOY TO plunge
her read your threat and | know
that you would keep your word If you
could You'd take her back to San
Paulo and do your deviliSh best to push
her into the hell in which you let her
mother live That was your oath OF
venQeance~-to terrify a woman already
uuon her deathbed You needn't think
il friehtened her. il didn't | Swore. too.
that YOU should never have her, and
she knew that I was the better man and
she died content II hadn't been able
to keep Laurita away from you by other
and better means. l should have killed
you without hesitation
There was again silence From the
lawn outside came the sound of tennis
balls being struck A girls laughter
floated in. Victor Porle became sud-
denly tense as he listened.
Damn you. Ardrington!" he eX-
claimed with q sudden fame Of pas
sion. You stole my wife, Now you
cheat me ont Of my daughter You
think So-perhaps, l am not SO sure. "
For single moment battle seemed 10
be in the air, The lawyer rose To his
feet He laid his hand upon his clients
arm.
The situation is entirely changed,
Mr. Porle." he pointed out We cannot
proceed further in this matter along
legal lines, We shall be well advised. /
think, To leave for the present and dis
cuSs the matter privately"
1t grieveS me to part with your COM
pany," Lord Ardrington remarked,
touching the bell, but the advice of
your lawyer appears to me to be eX-
cellent.
Maliowes made his usual prompt ap-
pearance
You can show these gentlemen out, "
his master directed. Take them the
short way by the terrace"
Very good. my lord"
There was no pretenSe at leave-taking.
Through the window and down the ter
race, preceded by MalloweS. the three
men passed on their way to the gates.
the lawyer. his hands claSped behind
his back, apparently absorbed in con-
Sideration of his clients new dilemma:
Solomon Graunt, all the time looking
about him CuriouSly. carrying his hat in
his hand as though enjoying the light
west breeze which had sprung up,
pauSing once TO sniff at an overhanging
cluster of flowers, Victor Porle, looking
neither to the right nor to the left. his
shoulders a little hunched his long body
dropped. So they passed presently out
Of sight without backward glance
Luncheon was rendered perhaps a
less difficult meal from the fact that
Laurita was still in her room and
Blanche had a girl friend with her
who had motored over for some tennis.
Lord Ardrington had the air of man
suddenly freed-temporarily. at any
rate from great anxiety. He talked
gayly to Branches friend and decided to
play tennis himself later on. In the
presence of a stranger the events of the
preceding night were not alluded to at
all. II was not until Lady Blanche and
her guest had wandered of into the
flower gardens and Lord Ardrington and
Martin were left alone with their coffee
on the terrace that really serious word
was spoken.
What puzzles me-" Martin confessed.
little abruptly, lis why. if Laurita S
father had taken the trouble to get a
lawyer down here TO support his appli-
cation for the charge Of her and their
position so far as they knew legally was
quite unassailable, should he have
planned the attempt to abduct her on
the night before their visit"
8" can explain it." Lord Ardrington
replied. because my own lawyer gave
me a word of warning in case anything
of the sort was attempted. Legally VIC
tor Porle is-or rather was before that
little ceremony-entitIed to the charge
of Laurita. On the other hand, should
have contested his claim. and although
should have lost in the long run,