Evening star., 1933-06-17
CHAPTER XII.
A New Misunderstanding.

L Y bed, Col. LIE Sage Strode to the
heavy iron-plated door Of his
room.
That wasn't Maj. Langeac's knock,
but it was the knock all right.
Warily opening the door, LIE Sage
cloak which presumably concealed a
Moorish woman, for no face was visible.
"Yelverbury?" he inquired in a whis-
| per.
Its I, Margaret" she whispered in
reply, as she slipped into the room, and
LIE Sage locked the door.
"Oh, I am in such trouble, Col. LIE
Sage. I've come to you for help. You
will help me, won't you?"
What is it?" asked Col. LIE Sage. A
little coldly, Margaret thought.
Could it be that he was another Of
those people who promise everything
waited her solely for his own ends, or for
her possible usefulness to him.
You will help me?" she asked him
urgently, seizing his arm
What is it?" again asked Col. lie
Sage.
Yes. Definitely unenthusiastic.
He had been very different from this
when it had been a question OF her be-
ing useful to him.
Il did my best to help you, Col. lie
Sage. And I'll help all I can. I'll do
anything you ask, if only you'll help
me now, just this once"
Margaret fought back her tears
tears of pain, misery and disappoint-
she could trust-except Otho? And yet
she had felt such confidence in this
man. An instructive liking and trust.
What was he saying about Yelver-
bury? Why talk about that now?
"Oh, Col. LIE Sage, do listen to me
and help me. My Oldest and dearest
"One moment, Mrs Maligni. You
must answer my question before we go
any further. I must know where am. :"
'Oh, Col. LIE Sage, I trusted -
Yes, Mrs Maligni And I trusted
you absolutely, although it's not my
custom Now, tell me why didn't you
give me the password when you came
that, just tell me where you got it."
Il don't understand Col. LIE Sage"
"You don't? At the end Of our talk
together, you suddenly shot it at me,
and I admit you made me feel some
thing of a fool. What was the idea ex-
actly, Mrs. Maligni, in concealing the
fact that you knew all the time who
was?"
But I didn't I :"
And I wonder how the devil your
husband got hold of it. And I'd have
sworn that that legionnaire lad was
honest, too straight, too fine. I sup
pose he gave me and the password
away to Riccoli, and Riccoli told 1t to
the Malignis, and Jules Malignl told
you" =.
"Told me what?" cried the bewildered
Margaret.
Look here, Mrs. Maligni. There's
the small matter Of my life at stake,
and you can believe me when I say
that it is very small matter in COM
parison with my success. That Is an
enormous matter, and stick at abso-
lutely nothing when I am working for
my country.
How long have you known who I
am? Who else besides your husband
and his father know who I am? And
who was it told you a password that
I'd have sworn only and one other
man ever knew? It's important.
WAS it your noble husband, or was
it Riccoli himself?"
"Col. lie Sage. what are you talking
about2 What has happened since I
saw you last? My husband told me
you were a German secret service Off
Ger, Carl Won Mittengen, masquerading
as Herr Schlacht, and hoping to get
something out of the Kaid. I never
dreamed you were anything else until
you told me so, the last time saw
you.
LAS for the word you are talk
ing about-nobody has ever told me
any password, neither my husband
nor Maj. Riccoh, and know nothing
A foyar oho,1t
Col. LIE Sage stared hard into Marga-
ret's eyes, which met his unwaveringly
unf1inchingly.
Suddenly he spoke.
Tell me this, then" he snapped.
Where did you get this word 'Yelver-
bury? Why did you say it to me?"
Where did I get it? I was born
there. Why did / say it to you? Be-
cause you asked me where my home
was. Yelverbury's my home. What
are you talking about?"
1t was too much. Margaret burst
into tears
Col. LIE Sage put his arm about the
trembling, shaking, sobbing figure.
Margaret" he said kindly, tell me
Just one thing, and I'll never doubt
you again. Not for a moment. Tell
me some one else who lives, or lived,
at your Yelverbury."
my father, DR.. Maykings," sobbed
Margaret my mother, nv brother
Jack, my husband was at school
there :"
Eyes. Any one else?"
THE Rev. Henry Hoalne was the
vicar. His son used to play with u.s."
Yes. And who was your big mani"
"Sir Robert Vaudeville Belleme."
"Ah! And his SOM"