The Ely miner., 1932-06-03
CHAPTER IX-Continued

That was how il happened that
when Jim and Lucy returned to the
Royal hotel after lunch, they were
told that Mr.. Oliver Ames was waiting
for them in their suite They received
the news without sign of being moved
by il. but as they were going up in
the lift, Lucy caught Lees arm and
whispered:
You needn't see him"
"And by avoiding him let it seem
that | am afraid of him?'
Then you are going to see him?"
"Of course
She drew q breath.
I'm glad" she said; sit will be
almost a relief TO get it over"
AS they went along the corridor to
their rooms, she asked:
What has made him come Here, do
you think?"
4 think very likely Macklin has told
him who your husband is"
Would he, though? Surely he'd be
afraid TO do that?"
There's something in getting in with
your own story before the other fell
low gets in with his" he answered.
They stopped outside the door OF
their sitting room and for an instant
looked at each other.
On an impulse, she put her hand
quickly into his and gave it a tight
little squeeze.
I'm with you, Jim, whatever he has
come for" she whispered.
His hand responded TO hers for the
flashing of the merest moment, then
rather roughly shook it off and opened
the door
Ames was standing by the window.
He swung round on hearing the open
ing of the door, and stood for a mo-
ment quite STILL looking at Lee, eager
ly. searchingly. Then:
"He was wrong" he broke out.
~'Thank GOdI" He came toward them
q hand outstretched.
But Lee did not move to meet him;
neither did Lucy. They stood still by
the door. Then Lee turned and shut
the door behind them; turned back
and faced Ames squarely.
"Was he wrong?" he said, with an
emphasis that suddenly stopped Ames'
advance. and held him staring. "Look
again
In silence the two men faced each
other, still, as if some strange power
held them rooted. Then:
No, by heavens! He was right"
cried Ames. Warrington! 1t is War
rington. . -
Yes" said Lee, unmoved, sit Is
Warrington. - Ames fell back
step with an expression of very real
horror in his eyes.
Warrington ~ he said again. as If
he could scarcely believe it, and was
expecting ey cry minute to wake out
of a dream, and find that it had not
been real, after all He even passed
a hand over his eyes as if to brush
the vision away. But it remained. He
turned to Lucy.
This is the man you have mar
ried?"
Lucy found her throat quaking and
her lips trembling, as she answered
with nod:
'Yes. Oliver; this is the man l have
married"
"And you know who he is? Do you
know that he is convicted theft"
Yes"
THAT he has been in prison for
most despicable crime? That he has
done timer
Three years penal" she added. fal-
tering slightly. 'Yes, Oliver, l know
all that. But | know something be-
sides; and it is this: that my hus-
band was not guilty of the crime he
was imprisoned for"
But, Lucy, the evidence against
him was overwhelming
Il have gone into the evidence,
Oliver, and it does not seem so to me-
she answered
Good heavens! ~ cried Ames almost
beside himself. Lucy, my dear, can't
you see the truth? Can't you see that
/ and your father would never have
allowed this to go so far if there had
been the slightest doubt that he was
guilty."
what did daddy do?" she retorted.
eI don't mean that he was wilfully
careless, but, Oliver, what exactly did
he do?'
Lees deep voice suddenly broke
through.
HE went yachting. 4. That's
what your father did. Lucy"
Exactly" said Lucy, tears in her
voice and in her eyes. HE went
yachting. And you, Oliver; what did
you do? You judged by the standards
of reason. And according to logic
you judged fairly; impartially; trying
TO do your duty; trying to do the alb
solutely just thing. / am not suggest
ing for one single second that you did
anything but what, TO you, seemed
perfectly square. But | maintain that
you were mistaken. And that you
opened the way for terrible wrong TO
be done" She broke off, drawing a
quick breath.
Lucy, you don't know what you are
saying!" cried Ames. Il tell you the
evidence was overwhelming.
His defense went down at every point.
1t was his bare word against.
oh, :, mass OF damning stuff. :"
No; against Macklins bare word, "
she interrupted. THAT is quite an
other thing. Macklin lied, Oliver"
You are prejudiced against Mack
Iin," he retorted. "Godi What a trag-
edyI'' he exclaimed after a moment.
Lucy, let me speak to your hus-
band alone. There is a lot
xr-apf m GOV to him that 7 Should