Evening star., 1933-08-04
I 4T1heWhife { CoCIkafoo
II Kiesos G. Ebssks,s

envelope were not of first Importance.
It's true that my sister" He checked
himself, glanced at me, and made his
first allusion to the secrecy of. the
affair. Il conclude that you've taken
your-er-ariendS@ he gestured 10
ward me and the Lovsehiens. an incllr
the I0vschiems, I did not relish-'.iuts
your confidence regarding this affair"
"Only Mr.. Sunbeam" said Sue. "Whc
well, we'll" Francis interrupted
It's quite all right The important
"But I did not tell any one else"
went on Sue firmly, refusing to be In
Francis glanced f,eetingiy At the
Lovschiems. followed his glance and
was caught by q c,riousT still express
sion on Grethe's face. She met Francis
eyes directly, but there was look III
hers could not fathom as she said
very deliberately and distinctly:
Miss Tauy's mother told US some
thing Of the strange conditions under
which Miss Tally would inherit money
from her father. She told us in conf
dence, hoping that we would give what
assistance we might to Miss Tally She
had Nd other friends" There was .
nice lack Of emphasis on the words
"other friends" but they stood out
definitely in their implication.
Il hope I do not need to assure you
that we have told no one. # there Is.
as We have feared, scheme to rob Mis-
Tally Of her inheritance, it Is not one
we have brought about by q careless
revealing OF her mothers dying conf
Ia 6.o o.
Of our knowledge from Miss Tally. We
understood, Of course, that 1t was .
delicate matter and one that invited
danger"
Fine and fair and careful.
At once my growing opinion Of the
precious two gave one feeble flicker and
collapsed. It was far too fine and fair
and careful. Grethe's eyes were too eau
tious, and they held too broodingly .
flame as they met Francis Tally's. I felt
that her claws were unsheathing them
selves. her white muscles gathering
tensely.
And look at Marcus face confirmed
my feeling. for it bore silly look Of
relief as his quick -witted mate spoke.
"Oh. Of course. OF course" said
Francis Tally, carelessly. as II it didn't
In the least matter. "The point IS we
don't need the papers that were in the
envelope. There Is a perfectly simple
way Tor my sister to prove her identity
And suppose she Is willing to do 20
at once and end this uncertainty"
IU match your own token, Francis"
said Sue pleasantly.
Francis whirled sharply to look at
her. Even Lorn, who had, as usual,
mysteriously turned up at crisis,
seemed to sense something under her
voice and caught his speculative,
thoughtful look and wondered about It.
There had been something queer about
LONESOME impalpable difference. It
had come with Francis Tally's unher-
aided arrival. but it was nothing to
which had . clue. What had he been
doing-vhat. perhaps, had he discov-
cred? There was certainly something
very strange back Of his guarded dark
eyes as he watched Francis Tally.
What do you mean?" Francis' voice
went upward note or two
only that" said Sue still pleasantly.
Francis face slowly darkened.
But my dear girl" he said. 1t b you
Who must prove your identity 70 me
Don't you think you are reversing mat
tefs . uttle?"
NO" said Sue quietly. Thsss vas
11rnness under her voice, but - Nas
still quiet and. curiously, thew Vls .
spark Of gayety In the glance he 11Tmg
toward me. was interested to note
that Ffanci' face was less bland. what
would he say? What would he do7 He
shot . glance at Nine. 0Teehe, who
watched with her feline look q secret,
guarded waiting. He said:
You forget that am sole a1bster Of
the matter. And In any case, sister. I
think it might be better 10 continue
our conversation IN less pubic place.
Shall We" He motined toward the
parlor: and Sue preceded him, meekly
enough. but With another glance ct me.
Grethe, with . sharp word to Low
schiem, vanished. Lovschiem followed
her, and Lorn, looking undecidedly after
Francis, as If waiting for some indica-
ton of Francis wishes, sat down beside
me. Neither Of us spoke for . time: I
was lost In my thoughts, and Lorn was
equally engrossed in some mysterious
speculations Of his own.
WELL" remarked ut last, having
reached q cul-de-sac in my reasoning
from which there was only one exit, and
that too incredible to take
We'll enough, I suppose" he replied
. bit grudgingly. He was watching the
door to the parlor carefully. We'll
enough"
said bluntly:
See here, Lorn, I've got . feeling that
you know more about this affair than
you are willing to admit. Is that true?"
His chin sank . little into the collar
Of the dark topcoat he still wore owing
to the barnlike chill Of the hotel. He
had slouched down In his chair, and
looked flabby and baggy-trousered and
altogether ineffective.
Yes and no." he said. If I do
know something, the time isn't ripe for
1t yet"
He hicked look at me- I could read
nothing at all in his clouded dark eyes
You're not telling me to mind my
own business, are you?"
MOT precisely" said Lorn, with rather
startling candor. but 1t might be better
for you II you did"
Unexpected danger asssas SUNBEAM,
e01U10FFMV.