Evening star., 1935-06-29
CHAPTER XII.
~TGr


A LISON'S voice seemed to com'
n from miles away as she salo
"A That's why you wanted M
4 a on the honeymoon!
What are you talklnI
about" But there was q gleam o.
fear now in Daphne's eyes. Her voic'
was Neutrality-suspicious., trifie I'M
patient. But it did not deceive th'
girl.
To Alison, 1t was as II film wa
unrolling before her, shadowy, httlt
blurred; that hotel among the noun
tains-a climbing accident, perhaps
lust one survivor. A search party
which failed to find two bodies
already safely buried somewhere
buried maybe under the floor OF al
old Spanish kitchen.
So neat, so very simple! No won,
der Daphne had fought hard to make
her go with them. But even now
now that she knew and was warned
would her father be safe? Even while
she lived, Alison thought. there were
other ways; Daphne might induce
him to insure his life.
Yet if she told her father. Guy
would be charged with murder
Daphne would see to that! Gould he
prove his innocence? Was there any
way to save them borh? Must she
choose between them?
Guy-or her father?
With a sudden, brusque movement,
Alison eluded Daphne and stood up.
Il don't care what you say. I'm
going to the police!"
"Oh? About what?" Daphne seemed
merely amused.
I'll tell them everything-that you
got Guy to go down there. that you
planned to kill me-" Alison was a
little breathless. That you killed
your husband"
You've said that twice" There
was menace in the slow tone. i've
said nothing. I've made allowances
for your state of nerves. But twice
is enough. You must have some evil
dence, Alison, before you make wild
statements of that kind"
Who? DR.. Lumley. think not" :"
Daphne seemed completely self-pos-
sessed. People don't die. in this
country Alison. without death GER
tificate and my husband died of a
duodenal ulcer. Fortunately, can
prove that"
She stopped, for Alison was not
listening.
There he isl"
A car had hooted outside. Alison
Il - Lo R,1f tho
which had backed up to the pave
ment wa3 not Guys, but her fathers,
and the man who got out and stopped
to speak to the chauffeur was Robert
himself.
Daphne had followed the girl; their
eyes met.
"Well?" Vibrant with triumph.
Alison did not answer; she turned
away with sinking heart. Twenty
minutes! Where could Guy be? What
could have happened?
The bell was ringing. Was she going
to face her father with the whole
story. tell him everything, knowing
that each word she spoke would strike
at Guy? Daphne was looking toward
the door expectantly.
White, shaking, desperate, Alison
spoke almost to herself, Il wonder if
father knows that"
Knows what?" Daphne snapped
out the words tensely.
That your real name is Mrs. Poyn-
ter? He can't marry you under a
false name, can hep"
"Oh, hush! Be quiet!"
Such small thing. Yet there was
Daphne staring at her with beady.
frightened eyes; her face had turned
a greenish- white. There was no YES
tige of her triumph left, nothing but
stark fear.
The handle of the door was turn
ing when Daphne's hand went out
and clutched at Alison's arm.
Listen" Daphne muttered, her lips
close to the girls ear. Il give in!
I'll break off the engagement. Only
don't tell him-leave it to me-"
"Hullo! You here? Where did you
find f1er?" Robert, coming in, looked