Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-17
CHAPTER XIII.
MARJORIE'S VISITOR.

MAktJOES1E . V1011Ofts
NY roundabout paths to make sure
- that he was not followed, John
Waye made his way TO Sc
IL cluded nook in the Monastery
ruins. where Marjorie Lauder
dell again awaited him.
"Well?" he said, his whole face chang
ing from that of one who hates to that
OF one who loves. Everything all
The stare Of his hard eyes softened
incredibly. a tender smile sweetening his
bitter mouth.
eyes, in a way. Come and sit down
here" and Marjorie patted the turf be-
side her. II am so glad you've come. j..
And I'm glad you're glad smiled
John Waye.
you've taken no 'medicine'2" he
asked.
mo, and I've been perhaps unneces-
sarily careful to make IL appear that
have taken 1t regularly"
That's right. / don't think there's
the very slightest danger, but I've taken
steps which I think have made you as
safe as all the other patients
me here, would you?" begged Marjorie.
THAT promise you"
II know you wouldn't. trust you alb
solutely, and I'll do anything you tell
me to do :. only said It because
some one else has offered to take me
| away from here"
What? Who?"
The warmth of John Wages exclama-
ton surprised Marjorie.
Yes" she said, "Mr. James On,
| don't look like that" she added.
Like WHAT"
"Cruel, dangerous, savage wicked"
''Then I'd better look hypocritical. for
feel all that and much worse. Rose
mary :. Marjorie, I mean this
| man James Is :"
my dear friend, you couldn't tell
me anything that would make me dis
trust and fear and hate this man more
than do
"Ten me what he said, Marjorie,
dear"
Yesterday evening was sitting in
my room, when there came a knock at
the door Thinking it was a nurse,
| called, 'Come in and in walked James.
las stared, he shut the door and
then. with a great air of secrecy, said:
Ssh! want to speak to you. Most
important For you, that Isl
will you please go out OF my room
instantly said.
Say, don't be silly he said. I've
| only come here for your good. Can't I
speak to your
ut seemed to me that there could be
| no harm In hearing what he had to say.
So just stared at him and made no
| reply whatever.
See here he went on hurriedly, I
want to speak to you In confidence.
That aunt Of yours-Maud She
doesn't want you to get well at all. She g
hoping your illness will end before you're
81. Then your uncle comes into your
| money instead of you--and Maudu get
the handling Of that big wad .
See?
Now, we do just occasionally lose
case here, though very, very few, for
| the doctors wonder. And I'm afraid
! you'll be one of the cases we shall lose.
See what mean? >
II sat perfectly silent and still, and
stared at the creature.
"'Now you want to get away from
here he, went on, and you can't do 1t.
Not without my help. Any letters
| you write may or may not, be put in
the bag when the doctor clears the post
box in the hail. The doctors such q
careful man. He'd hate a letter to 60
astray. And II you got q message to your
uncle-which you couldn,t-d'yo1 think
Maud would let him start anything?
Shed tell him that what you wrote was
the best proof that you'd gone potty, a.
the doctor feared
1T felt myself going faint, but ]
| thought 1t would be best to hear him
out. I might learn something new.
"'You want to get clear away from
here, right now he went on and I'm
the only one that can get you out. The
| gatekeeper would let you pass If was
with you. But you couldn't get out Of
here in a 100 years, otherways
"'T'his isn't any prison. he grinned
but the doctor can't have any of his
convalescents clearing out before they're
| as well as they think they are. He's
responsible to those who brought them
| here, and don't forget it was Maud
| brought you herewith her husbands
knowledge and consent
Il think my absolute silence made
him little uncomfortable.
See here, I'm your friend he in
! formed me once again. I don't want
a thing except to help you. And dyou
know why? III tell you. though you've
surely guessed 1t. I'm in love with you.
II shuddered and seemed to feel my
self go pale.
"'Sure thing, I am he continued.
Why, fell in love with you the first
moment set eyes on you. Each time
I seen you, felt deeper in love-till
now I can't live without you. cert My
can't.
AN see here, you can't live without
me, either-for you won't get any better
here. And If can't live without you,
and you can't live without me why
=. there it is.
Now, don't s'pose you've fallen in
love with me like I have with you, but
you'd rather leave here and marry me,
than stop here and-not get well,
wouldn't you?
What about it?"
I still remained silent, partly because
I couldn't speak.
And look here he added, with a
hint OF annoyance in his tone. Don't
you think that anybody else but me
can get you out. Don't you think that
Waye is going to help you. He'd marry
you for your money, perhaps, If he could
get you out of here.
That man Waye Is a jailbird. a
thief and a murderer, who served a
term OF penal servitude Ask him YOUR
self II he did a five-year Jolt at San
Paolo jail and see how he takes it.
Spring 1t on him suddenly and see if he
looks good.
Well, you wouldn't trust yourself
10 a man like that, would you? Not
even II he could do anything for you
Except wickedneSs.'
II still stared in silence, but I was
trying hard to summon strength to say
what wanted to say. I did not want
ny voice to tremble and let that creature
think was afraid-think I had any
hNWE