Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-28

VOHN MERRIWEATHER entered
with remarkable good humor
into the conspiracy my mother
~ had designed. He never knew
what it was all about, He had
an irresistible impulse to do whatever
my mother asked him.
The climax of her plot was the black
bag-a touch of genius, that. Its
triumph was the suggestion that he
should go the following morning and
look up LaXton at the Lord Nelson and
ask to be shown over the excavations at
Newplace.
we instructed him exactly in his
part. We told him that he had arrived
from Hollam Bay in taxi on Tuesday
night and spent Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday with US in bed with very
bad cold. On Friday night he had
been called to London on business. ana
1 had seen him off by the $40 train.
He knew nothing of the tragedy OF Pel
and was ignorant of any connection be-
tween that and the visitor We desired
to keep secret from Laxton.
Somebody jumping his claim on the
ruins, l spoSe," said he. But 1 dont
want to know. The less l know, the
less likely to go wrong
H. was Sunday morning. He Went
:down to the village about hall past III
:and found LaxtOn at the inn. Whetner
he puzzled that aStute person was Gill
cult to say But he found him enter
ftaining, even went to a service at
Marines church with him, and had
look at the diggings afterwards:
Meanwhile, l sat at home in the gar
den, weighing the question whether l
.should GO see Veronica or leave her
alone. / wanted very much to see her,
sbut I feared that seeking her now might
jseem lack of faith.
NV mother came out and sat beside
.me and looked with me across the estu-
cary to Passage. -
1T was lust thinking I want to look
sup the Seabrooks," said. and don't.
why not?"
+, Because going might be like asking
"Oueer beings, men, Tom" said my
.pother F'"Do you know, there's nothing
iY1ore amusing to a woman than man
itrying to let her down lightly? Sne
Hike to give him a GOOD shakms
YOU'RE very fond OF veronica afen I
tyou?"
! ooh. Tom! Do 1 look like born
iIdiotp If I didn't know you were heao
lover ears in love with Veronica do you
think I'd have. But now, I'm going
over to Standpoint to see Mrs. sea-
broke. Will you escort me?.
Mother! You're wonderful. l
paused. You know we're sailing pretty
close to the wind"
! "I like excitement. Never Worry
hone Tom. And particularly don't try
Ito tell me how close to the wind we are.
II live Veronica. while you-well, that's
nuite enough. I'm going to get nat
! It was quite true, supposed. olo
mot understand how the feminine mlno
worked. Perhaps I appeared 10 We We
Monica in the same light. But she hao
said I was an understanding person.
Al SandvDoint. three feminine minds
Morked to such purpose that Mrs. Sea-
hrol-e and my mother thought tramp
along the cliffs would do Veronica Sooo
and Veronica agreed. NJ
! well" said Veronica when we nao
Aot going at a good four miles an nouf'
fhow's the poor foot?"
| 1--WE got the bandage on, ana oon
Amp SOS you'd notice 1t. 90 II r.+
I Enormous lark, wasn't 1t? That
Skinner with his, Pardon, madame,
Nous avez'-this, that and the other
shing!"
Immense" said I.
I We went quiet after that. For II was
not, an enormous lark, and veronica
knew it and knew it. We had con-
reived and done a daring and CANCER
Gus thing, and the consequences MlsnC
for a half hour, side by side. She
wa we'll, small as she was, being
1.-THE and strong. In a little s.I brown own
frock and hat which mace ner Eye
xeem bluer than ever, she came aloNs
beside me, lovely picture of youth ana
How old are you?" she asked sud
Alas" said. ST shall never see 70
again. And I feel SO. I suppose you q
Thought of some figure between tne
II hadn't thought anything about It
except that we've been behaving IKE
two children. Playing about bout why n1
s uHr Garry on like anything?"
weighed my answer. 1t became q
DO you want me to demand explana-
tons, Veronica"
Il would give them" said Veronica;
"But you'd be better pleased Ii l
asked for none"