Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-20
CHAPTER XVI.
MARJORIE'S ESCAPE.

" passed; and, half-turning from
a the body; the father asked
a a quietly, coldly:
You did this?"
mo; only indirectly, I'm sorry to
poisoned. :. His head is bleed
Ing, too. Who struck him?"
IT did"
DR.. Charters turned again to the body
of his son, embraced it, one arm be-
hind and beneath it. Suddenly he
whirled about; but. ere his extended
hand could come to rest, John Waye
struck from it the pistol it had just
drawn from the dead mans hip-pocket.
DR.. Charters sank back beside the
body Of his son.
And now you'll shoot me, too?" he
said. We'll, go on. I've had enough,
and he took his sons dead hand be-
tween his own.
mo! Not yet, Half-hung Simon. Not
here and now! But some time; never
fear
My son." groaned Charters. 1.-THE
only thing ever loved"
Yes, Simon. D'you know now how
1t feels? And If a hound like you can
suffer so at the loss OF a poisonous cur
like that, what do you imagine a man
feels. at the loss of the lovehest, the
you devil! Who are you?" cried
Charters, springing to his feet
Who am I, Ell? You shall know
when the time comes, Charters. .
And listen, Simon. Spider Schlitz is
gone, the life choked out of his lying
throat. Chick Dorson is nearly gone,
for he hangs in four hours time.
"Gunman Gryde is gone; your son
James, the son whose feet you put upon
the path that led him to that death.
All gone, Simon, and you're being kept
for the last
And, meanwhile, clear out and take
those two she-devils, your wife, Fanny,
ever you go, I will punish you there,
Simon, and you shall have a filthy
John Waye backed from the ROOM
locked the door, and having first visited
the doctors bedroom and consulting
room, hurried to the waiting car.
Its almost unbelievable" said the
Rev. Laurence Weldon as he sat
opposite John Waye in the vicarage sit
ting room, an hour later, while up
stairs, his sister gave tea and comfort
to slightly fearful Marjorie.
DO you still believe it, by the way?"
asked his guest
Your own story? Oh, absolutely"
answered the vicar warmly. Besides,
doesn't Marjorie's actual personal ex-
perience confirm all you've told us?
What'll happen there now"
They'll all bolt the moment they
know I've cleared out like this-for fear
I'll put the police on them.
But the police ought to be called"
tnteriected the vicar. II feel very
YES interrupted waye. But you
remember, when I told you the whole
story, you agreed to take no action. Do
you realize that, in spite of all this, the
place is a perfectly run nursing home
and it's crammed full OF sick people
What's to happen to them? Surely the
right thing is for DR.. Studley and your
sister to carry on. with the highly quail
fed and able staff that they've got. The
moment that Charters, Machado, and
the two women are out CT the house
there isn't a soul there VINO isn't abso-
1utely above suspicion"
Il hate the idea of letting them CO."
said the vicar. And that Lauderdell
woman"
Not a shadow Of proof" said John
Waye. Not Charters himself could
prove anything against her"
There's one certainty" observed the
vicar. Marjorie mustn't go back to
that vile woman's house"
Good heavens, mol Charters having
failed her, she'd find some other instru-
ment"
But suppose Charters & Co. don't
bolt?"
There's no need for haste" con-
tinued Waye. There's no real reason
why they should be arrested at once, If
they bolt. only beg of you to let me
get well out of the country first. am
very much in hiding myself.
las said, the gang had retired from
business and had got away with it.
living blameless lives In lucrative Job
and a safe retreat in new country.
Charters, a clever doctor. had roped
in Machado, a minor crook whom he
picked up in Chicago as the ideal part
ner for his scheme. And Charters
wife, Frisco Fanny. could deceive the
devil himself While the other fend,
his daughter -in-law, actually was a
trained nurse before James got hold of
her in America.
NO firmly believe that, but for this
Lauderdell woman, that gang would
have been safe
And what becomes Of Marjorie now?"
If looked 10 years younger than
do and were on flrmer
ground :" said John Waye &.
1Do you know am but 40 yet, al
though am so gray-haired :"
Meanwhile.
Now you Just settle down, my dear"
said Sister Weldon in the room above
''and realize that you're as safe as
safe"
Sister Weldon pulled up an armchair
and seated herself
That's nice, sister And where
am to go? I can't quarter myself on
your brother indefinitely"
We'll, my dear, that question doesn't