Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30
CHAPTER XIII
LIES.

Wy LUMIEY tOld me MINI"
~ self" there were two
7 bright pink spots in Ali
~ sons cheeks. two flames
of anger, that you had
whisked your husband off in an air.
plane because you we're afraid
IT know! That's his story. The
story he told every one" Daphne
was tragically patient. That wanted
TOTO finish what I'd begun and SO
I carried my husband away! 1t never
seemed to strike Lumley that apart
from anything else I'd not much mo-
tive, considering that his death left
me beggar!'
you didn't know about the an
nuity until your husband was dead!'
Alison flung that at her. You said
SO yourself, in a restaurant to that
man Compel"
Did DR.. Lumley say that?' Daphne
seemed almost shocked. She turned
back to Robert pltifully. You know
I don't believe there's anything that
he could say that he hasn't said
against me! He's very convincing
liar! And he hates me like poison!
Why he's even been down to Scotland
Yard, prying about and trying to find
out if he could get hold of any gossip
against me! And then coming down
to my house the other night"
You know perfectly well that you
sent him there!" Alison could not
hold herself in.
II did? My dear. why on earth
should -" Daphne was almost bland.
do be sensible, Alison! You may
dislike me, but you can't imagine that
I'd be such fool as to send man
who hated me to pick up gossip to
use against mel"
You sent him down to Marley be-
cause you hoped Id get killed"
"Alison!" Her father Numbered
that.
A reproachful little cry from
Daphne. ALLISON! You promised me
you wouldn't tell any more lies if
! told the truth"
She turned hurriedly on Robert
"That's what I mean, Bob. He's
absolutely poisoned the child's mind
against me. so that she'd believe
anything! I think if he told her that
I meant to kill you or kill her. she'd
believe that! He's taught her to
look on me as a sort of monster"
Allison doesn't believe anything of
the sort her father answered for
her. Nor do 1. In any case, it
doesn't matter what she thinks"
But it does!" declared Daphne.
"That's just it. If you knew the
sort of time I'd had, just because of
him Everywhere I went. I'd settle
down. hope for little peace And
then the old story'd start over again.
I got so desperate, Bob, that Id have
gladly gone to the Home Office. asked
for an elimination order myself! I'd
have been glad to face even that sort
of publicity rather than go on like
this
Then why didn't you get an ex-
humation order?' Alison spoke
harshly, bitterly.
Daphne said simply, Il couldn't. I'M
fortunately. You see, nv husband d
always been terrified of being buried
alive. So he made me promise to
cremate him.
Very convenient" Alison's eyes
were blazing.
"You see?" Daphne said that to
Robert. piteously. That's what its
been like always. I'm judged with
out evidence, found guilty."
MY dear, forget i'll" he pleaded
IT can't" She gave cry. I've been
70 desperate that I've been driven to
lie, even to you'll" Her tone dropped
to whisper, slow, rustling whisper
min
Tending myself! I know I was wrong!
But, oh, my dear! When you came
along-I could hardly dare to think
that you were really true!"
Trust me now. then" He was i'm
petuous as he leaned over to her.
Trust me and forget all this, Daphne,
put it behind you! I don't want to
hear the rest! We won't think of it
and if any one tries To-" his glance
at Alison barbed that thrust I'll see
they don't touch you
You don't know what you're say
ing. Ask her what she said to me just
before you came I'M"
What did you say?" He was ter
rifying when he looked so stern, al
most as If he meant to hit her. but
Alison answered him without waver-
ing.
Il asked her if you knew her real
name! I asked her if you knew that
her real name was Poynter."
But Daphne now did not shrink or
show fear. She sighed deeply.
You see? He's even primed the
child with that!"
Il don't see" he began, puzzled.
Don't you?" said Daphne bitterly.
"1t's true, you see That is my real
name. I lied to you. Bob. I didn't
dare to tell you. I was too afraid!
You might've heard those stories. You
might have realized that I was Mrs
Poynter, who was supposed to be a
murderess!"
My poor darling!"
so I went back to my maiden
name-Sumers. With a gesture of