Show MrEKlfL MILLIONS i 1 By JULIAN HAWTBOEHE tCopyrlsht 1891 by American Press Association ton J PART ONEDEVTIL CHAPTER I HARRY TRENTS SEW HOME I is less than twenty years since the Trent murder in New York and it was one York of the great sensations of the time But the FrancoGerman war following close upon it distracted public attention The mystery connected with it was never t cleared UP and today there are few people peo-ple who remember it It lies at the threshold c thresh-old of our story however and wa must speak of it before going further In the year in 1S70 the city above Sixtieth 1 Six-tieth street was thinly settled Upper I Fifth avenue with the park one side and a waste of vacant blocks on the other was like a country road There were irregular water in hollows sometimes with stagnant watr them or rocky hillocks adorned with an occasional board shanty but there was no promise of the array of palaces that lookdown look-down upon the peoples pleasure ground today I to-day When therefore the year previous Buy Trent had laid the foundations of his new house half a mile or more beyond be-yond civilized limits ho was called a clever fellow or a fool according to the temperament of the critic Conservatives Conserva-tives prophesied that be would remain in lonely grandeur for twenty or thirty years to come while optimists declared that ho showed even more than his usual shrewdness shrewd-ness in securing betimes a site which later was sure to fetch four or five times its present value Harry Trent himself said little but went on with his building He was certainly no fool in a general Tray of speaking Ho was between fifty and sixty years of age and his hair was white but then it had been white since his youth and his face looked fresh and young In figure he was above middio height graceful and well built His manners were exquisitely suave and courteous and bad a polish not exactly American I fact he had lived many years abroad and was received re-ceived in the best English and French society so-ciety He was a personal acquaintance of the late Emperor Napoleon HL and was said to belong to the Prince of Wales set But though cosmopolitan in his way of life be was a good American in his political and social opinions It was his business that took him abroad Stretched out on the rug He was of good family and his father had I left him a property sufficient to relieve him from the necessity of work But Harry Trent had not an idle bone in his body and i he had no sooner completed his university 1 career than he gave proof of his activity Instead of taking up a profession however how-ever or cultivating the fine artsas his line taste and organization might have led 1 you t suppose he would he directed his energies to trade After spending a few years in a bankers office to learn the meaning of finance he rented a place uptown up-town and appeared before a startled community com-munity as a diamond merchant After a if one must follow trade there are few articles of commerce more agreeable agree-able to deal in than diamonds They are beautiful to look at profitable to handle and they stimulate the imagination The romances of diamonds are among the most fascinating of the worlds stories The spelt woven by these stones is mysterious it differs from the vulgar craving for money The living changing intangible spirit in them allures forever those who have once aures yielded to it Its glory seems unearthly for it is like nothing else of earth yet one would scarcely venture to call it heavenly It gleams most brilliantly from the midst of human blood and crime and misery The diamond necklace sparkles like a river of flowing light on a womans i bosom but on that river the souls of both Vif men and women are hurried to death The y hollow of an infants hand may hold a gem cole to raise aa army or provision a city yet it is but a form of the commonest of physical products I is our invincible love of beauty that gives it its value yet a I evil and ugly passions are Its foster chil dren Its possesion carries power but ever threatens destruction Be a that as it may Harry Trent dealt I in diamonds and built fame and fortune I from them In a comparatively short time 1 be became the bestknown and wealthiest merchant in the trade No one was a surer Judge of their purity and value diamonds of unequaled purity and splendor seemed to crystallize beneath fingers He knew tao hsstory and owners of a the great gems of the world and stones were believed to pass through his hands equal in quality t any extant Withal like all true diamond merchants be was as silent a the grave No one could tell with certainty ft what his transactions were or who were t his chief clients Therefore on tho principle prin-ciple of omne ignotum pro magnifica fabulous fabu-lous reports were circulated about him He had bought and sold the jewels of empires He had weighed In his balances the crowns of the sovereigns of Europe He had bargained with the Shah and the Sultan In his books might be found the names of every millionaire of contemporary contempo-rary times Halt the diamonds of Old Vorld history either were or had been in his possession and were replaced in there the-re ala of their putative owners by skillful imitations in paste So ran the gossip at which Harry Trent when he happened to hear any of It would laugh heartily and declare that it was lucky nobody knew how really ends meet difficult it was for him to make both The truth a usual doubtless lay between be-tween the extremes but may reasonably be held to have inclined toward the large extremity rather than the small one Kings end queens and other people of august station tion are sometimes in pressing need of money and have little except their jewels t offer i exchange for it Their jewels may or may not be their personal property at all events paste reproductions are cheap and easily come by Who know or can expect t know whether the Regent de France the Pasha of Egypt the Sancv or even the great mogul aregenuino bogus I bogus where are the originals Whispers Whis-pers have even been heard regarding the kohinoor but it is to be hoped that i this case at least there is no basis for them cse leat Meanwhile Harry Trent continued diligently t gently at work on his new house We have seen many fine houses erected since then but it is safe to say that Trents house is itill as good as anything in tho way of a dwelling New York city Its excellence however lay not so much in external 4ts adornment in the fittings and furniture inside i 4 It stood on a corner lotor rather on 8 i corner lot and two adjoining onesand I there Tras space on both sides of it while at the back was a roomy inclosure and I stables It was built of a reddish gray tone with broad projecting windows ad I snitting plenty of light The plan of the rooms and staircases was most agreeable I at Whatever point you stood you saw around 3 yn only charming vistas harmonious I Mnes soothing colors and spacious perspectives I per-spectives Every room was a picture in it ieif combining with the others t form a I i store elaborate picture Yet the eye was never wearied by petty details the minor features constituted and contributed t the s wtole effect instead of detracting from it 0 c n > There was nothing in the house that did not belong to Harry Trent not only in the ordinary sense of proprietorship but as being be-ing the material incarnation of his thoughts tastes and accomplishments His house was heand it is paying him no small compliment to say so A mans interior is not always so comely an object of con temptation You might discover indeed here and there a picture a statue a sweep of drapery or a passage of color that indicated indi-cated regions in the designers nature of a somewhat sumptuous sensuous or voluptuous voluptu-ous tendency but they wero never obtru sive never out of due subordination to the rest and were after all only what would be expected from a man of his artistic and generous temperament But what was Harry Trent going to do with his new home He was going t live in it doubtless but did he mean to live alone This question had latterly thrown a good many charming women into a meditative medi-tative frame of mind I was known of course that Harry TIent had been mar rird hut that was in his youth his wife had died within a year and had left him childless There was nothing then in the way of his marrying again and upon other grounds such an event was probable For a has already been I intimated he was still to all intents and purposes a young man That quality in him that led to his being called Harry Trent instead of Mr Trent or Henry may serve t convey one meaning He was still in the swim he was not on the retired re-tired or retiring list he was modern and active fossilized and antiquated Men younger in years than ho had not half his elasticity and vitality He kept pace with the times and looked ahead rather than tmes backward Moreover he was fond of society so-ciety and constantly in it and a man more liked by women could not be found It was not that ho dazzled them with his own brilliancy but he made them brilliant bo drew from them the best that was in them and enchanted them with themselves Mirabeau had the don terrible da la familinrite Harry Trent bad the no less terrible gift of sympathy magnetic sympathy to employ once again that abused adjective There was a vigorous masculine fiber in him that never fails to attract the other sex They felt that he understood them and could manage them could do the thing they wished to have done whatever it might be This of course is not quite the same as saying that the American Castellan as he was sometimes styled was a man whom women could afford to trust There were stories about him never fairly authenticated however how-ever that pointed to a different conclusion con-clusion If we give car t the gossips of the world who would escape Harry Trent was a man of the world and he was a highly cultured a fastidious man Low intrigues would not come in this way on the other hand he made no profession of saintship he went to church and was privately charitable for the rest you must take him for what ho appeared and he was taken for a uncommonly line fellow But t return t the marriage question The opinion gained ground that Harry Trent contemplated matrimony though no seer was found bold enough to point out the particular woman who was to enjoy the cood fortune of being made his wife Some fancied it might be the handsome New Orleans widow Sally Matehin who was known to have been on terms of cordial frendship with him for many years and at whose house in West Eighteenth street he was often seen But experienced critics objected that had she been the destined bride she would have become Mrs Trent long agothe acauaintanco was now too old t issue in that manner A few enterprising enterpris-ing spirits threw out suggestions looking toward Olympia Raven a beautiful girl of eighteen and a cousin of Harrys by marriage But Olympia was really too young even for Harry and besides sides he had quietly made known his intention in-tention of inviting her and her mother to come and live with him which it was agreed he would scarcely have dono had he ment to wed her nor would he have settled an income of S000 a year on the mother and daughter had he looked forward t becoming the formers soninlaw So one hypothesis after another was advanced and rejected and at the end nobody was wiser than at the beginning The house was completed what seemed judged by our standards a wonderfully short time for it was ready to bo lived in before the end of the winter season of 1S70 say In carnival time But Harry Trent had himself superintended the work in all It stages and had seen to it that the work mens hours of rest did not exceed their hours of labor And yet when all was done and February was drawing to a dote he still delayed moving in It may have been merely accident it may have been that he was waiting for Olympia Raven and her mother to get ready or possibly for all men have their weak sidebe was the least bit superstitious and was haunted by a recollection of that old proverb 4 When the house is built death enters in But he was strong and healthy in the full enjoyment of a life that had never met with a serious failure or disappointment In everything he attempted ho had been successful suc-cessful and either prudence or a naturally happy temperament had kept him from spoiling his nerves and digestion by too anxious and assiduous labor I ever the afternoon close of a mans life promised to be sunny easy and prolonged it promised so to bim Ho had built a house perfectly adapted to his needs it was ready to receive re-ceive him his many friends impatient for the house warming were counting the days that had to elapse before Lent came and postponed the celebration to a remote Easter and still Harry Trent made no sign What was the matter with him He had in fact visited the bouse almosi every day letting himself in with his passkey pass-key and sauntering through the beautiful roms where fires were kept burning in the open grates by the caretakers in charge He contemplated the interior from all point of view andin all moods sometimes some-times tentatively makinga slight modification modifica-tion of arrangement which he was as likely as not to restore the next day He seemed loth to persuade himself that was really just as he would have it and yet he could devise no improvement So might a lover studv the face of his mistress afraid to believe be-lieve that her lovely features were absolutely abso-lutely without flaw or so might any mortal mor-tal regard the most nearly perfect earthly achieement unable t suggest any better of it and conscious that ing it yet vaguely 1 some way nothing of this earth could be perfect indeed The 25th of the month arrived and found the situation unchanged Hairy Trent had on that day gone to afternoon tea at Mrs Matchins it being her day at home and had remained till after 6 oclock A dozen other people were present and the talk was lively Harry himself seemed in particularly tine spirits When he took his leave Mrs Matchin accompanied him to the anteroom and stayed there a few moment speaking with him in an undertone under-tone They were undoubtedly on confidential confi-dential terms and for every straw must count it sent up her stock a the possible Mrs Trent several degrees She came back with a deepened color and a mysterious smile and entertained her company more brilliantly than ever Harry Trent walked t his club only a few blocks off where he temporarily had rooms and took dinner there with two or three friends one of whom was his chief clerk The latter afterward drank coffee with him in the smoking room At about oclock Trent left the club without saying where he was going and he did not come back that night Let us follow him ourselves A recent spell of warm weather has melted the snow from the streets but no wit has fallen clear and cold again The dry bracing air tingles in the nostrils Harry Trent throws away his cigar and fills his lungs with the frosty distillation of the stars then ho buttons his coat across his chest and steps out at a sturdy pace His white hair glistens glis-tens like silver beneath the rim of his silk hat his ruddy kindly handsome face with its aquiline nose blue eyes and well set lips is alternately revealed and shadowed a he approaches and passes the street lamps At the corner of Twentysixth street and Fifth avenue where the up town I Delmonicos now stands he halts and seems to deliberate A beggar creeps up and mumbles a peti ton Harry looks at him a moment and then draws off his glove t give him a I quarter A woman walks by him lingers and turns to pass him again Harry says I Take care my child theres a policeman round the corner 1 A hack driver draws up at the curb and touches his hat Harry hesitates There were no elevated roads in those days but finally ho shakes his head and continues his walk up the avenue I will do me good t foot it he says to himself Whats a couple of miles 1 i Softened light comes through the curtained cur-tained windows on either side of the street carriages rumble up and down over the uneven pavement ever and anon pausing t set down their occupants at a carpeted doorway At Thirtysixth street Harry pauses again and before his mind rises the picture of the young Olympia a figure of youth health and arch intelligence who I even now perhaps thinking of him only a few doors away Shall he go in and pas the evening there He nearly yields to the suggestion and takes a step or two in that direction But no I he had promised himself him-self something different he will see Olympia tomorrow He turns again and resumes his wak Yet Olympia wa really thinking of him at that moment and tomorrow welL Tomorrow sometimes tmorrOve sometes means never No such reflection disturbs Harry Trent The exercise has warmed his blood and his heart is light The constant success of his life had its effect upon him He does not believe that misfortune can overtake him Mortal man seldom or never lives t Harrys age withouthaving done something some-thing that he ought not t have done Yet he has done much good in the world His reputation among his fellows is untarnished untar-nished I he has enemies thoy have not declared themselves But has he an enemy At any rate be fears none Like other fortunate men he has faith in his star of Croesus like them too he forgets the legend By this time he has passed beyond the most thickly settled portion of fashionable New York the rumble of carriages is less frequent and there are gaps between the houses Foot passengers are few His steady footsteps are echoed distinctly from tho frozen pavement His shadow only attends him a he walks now lengthening behind now slipping beneath his feet and startnJ out ahead of him Darker shadows shad-ows gather in the side streets As he reaches the park something seems to detach de-tach itself from the darkness on the left ahd move forward to where a broken boarding bespread with a gaudy placard announced the appearance of a favorite actress in the tragic drama of Leah provides a convenient screen Harry Trent passes steadily on and the shadow follows him And now at lengtb the goal of the little journey i in si ht There stands the new house solid and shapely on its strong foundations built to last and t be the abode of prosperity and happiness As Harry Trent appoaches it ho slackens his pace and a proud glow of proprietorship expands his breast He sees as in a swift vision the prospective of the years to come Within these four walls is to begin the long succession of a happpy prosperity Rich powerful and peacelul they shall take their place as the best type of the foremost nation of the earth TOe women shall be beautiful and bountiful the men eminent and honorable friends of the great and great themselves The house of Trent stands dark and empty now but the hour is at hand when its window shall be illuminated and its doors opened and all the city come t do it homage There is pleasure for an imaginative mind in doing privately and a it were bi stealth thins that ordinary persons would make no secret about Harry Trent in spite of his proved aud practical business sagacity has a lively imagination and as the miser steals off to count his money or the lover t serenade his lady love so had Harry become infatuated with the inca of spending an unsusp3cted night in his new house He would not shar with any other that virgin experience and it i would be agreeable in after years amid the stir aud voices of an overflowing family fam-ily ana social lfe t look back upon the first night of solitude and meditation With an inward smile of satisfaction inwad smi satifaction accordingly ac-cordingly Harry Trent ascends the steps and puts his key into the lock The door yields before him and swings on uoiselcss hinges but as he closes it the hollow sound resounds through the darkness Hereupon Here-upon presently steps are heard in the distance and a light appears carried in tho hand of the faithful caretaker who with his wife maintains guard in the basement Strictly speaking of course Harry will not pass the night alone nor perhaps can a man of his business and social importance import-ance ever bope to escape entirely from the knowledge and supervision of his fellows It was possible that several persons might know of or suspect his present where abouts But on the other hand caretakers care-takers can hardly be said to count a occupants occu-pants and i a man believes his movements to be untraced bo is just as content for the so time being a though they really were Youre not dozing at your post I see sergeant says Harry for the man was a i reterin of the war How is Mrs Simpson Simp-son sonIn good health sir and thankee we I want looking for you so late The fact is sergeant Ive come to spend the night Is the bed ready lIt I It is sir and a good lire in the grate Thats right I want to find out you see what sort of dreams the new house will give me May they be good ones sir youll come honesty by em I any one calls will I let em in 2 Wel visitors are not likely to be frequent fre-quent this evening This is something of a scout reconnaisance you understand However if anyone does come it will ben > be-n particular business I should suppose so they may come up Very good sir Youll not b turning in quite yet sir 2 uSo not for two or three hours probably prob-ably Good night Good night sir and a pleasant awakening awak-ening With the dawn of the next day came snow covering the roof of the new housed house-d the stone steps of the entrance and the vacant avenue Sergeant Simpson aroused himself betime and having filled a coal scuttle with coal mounted the stairs to tho door of the library which communicated with the chamber in Which Harry Trent was to have slept The library door was ajar and the sergeant was surprised to see light of the gas within still burning Had the master fallen asleep in his chair He knocked softly and then there being no response bo ventured t push open the door and enter The gaslight falling on the broad table that stood near the fireplace cast a shadow over the hearth rug so that the sergeant did not at frt see what lay there He noticed that the last embers were expiring in the grate but as he stepped around the corner of the table ho started and the coal scuttle fell from his band wIt a crash Stretched out on the rug but in an oddly constructed position lay the form of Harry Trent The noise of the falling scuttle did not rouse him indeed the sergeant with the practiced eye of a soldier bad perceived in a moment that he was dead But ho I thought that the man had died from a stroke of the heart or apoplexy He was not prepared for the further revelation and a he realized it a groan of horror burst from him I From the back of the neck a little to the left protruded the hilt of a knife or daeger curiously carved The rug was soaked with blood Harry Trent had not died a natural dcaih nor had be slain himself He had been murdered CHAPTER IL KEPPEL DARKE pjiw lflTir I 1 1Ik iIwr = JfY i11tL The strange fixed Tits cjcs upon Mm On the morning of the Trent tragedy at about + 8 oclock Olympia Raven awoke fromjthB r ileen of health and inc and f rrtf x X sL4 < w c remembered that she badanappointmenl at 1030 A half smile of meditative satisfaction moved her lips and dimpled her cheeks at the thought Apparantly the appointment was not an unpleasant ono For that mat had far been few disagreeable ter there thus fa ben very agreeable experiences in this young las career Her father had died before she I was old enough t comprehend the bereavement bereave-ment For a time she and her mother had been poor but their wealthy cousin Hay had come generously to their assistance and had placed them beyond the reach of poverty pov-erty Olympia had been an attractive chile and she grew up to be a beautiful girL She had more than usual intelligence and education edu-cation in the conventional sense was little more than a pastime for her Their cousin Harry who having no children of his own had ideas a to how children ought to be brought up putherin the way of getting sound training She was of spiritualistic mystical temperament and possessed perceptions per-ceptions and susceptibilities unknown to the generality But she was of a wholesome whole-some constitution and had seldom been in poor heat She was very fond of cousin Harry and be was so young in his ways and spirit and entered into her thoughts and point of view so easily that she regarded him a a companion com-panion rather than a a guardian and a man three or four times her ago They laughed and chatted together and went to theatres and balls and danced together Whether she had ever thought of him as a possible suitor for her hand is an abstruse question It is safe to say that i she did the idea a not likely to have been of her own suggestion sugges-tion The traditions of their intimacy were against that Ho however may have prepared pre-pared her mind for the entertainment of it Men of the world like Harry Trent know how to manage women some women at least them without scaring or antagonizing Now Cousin Harrys birthday fell on the 2Sth of February and Olympia wishing to please him had resolved to make him a present of her own portrait This plan was the more easily realized because she ha latterly made tho acquaintance of a certain Mr Keppel DarKe a young portrait painter paint-er who had a delightful studio in Twenty third street Mr Darke was himself delightful de-lightful in Olymplas opinion He was tall and rather slender with powerful blue eyes and hair black or nearly so which he wore longer than was common so that it curled about bis neck His manner was grave and for a young man very impressive impres-sive ho was Laconic in speech observant and beneath a quiet exterior impressionable impression-able He kept bis face including his upper lip close shaven You might have taken him for a tragedian or for a clergyman except that his costume was incompatible with the latter character He affected somewhat of a brigand style of dress indoors in-doors velvet outdoors a long cape overcoat over-coat and I broad brimmed hat People turned t look at him as he stalked along the street Fashionable men of his own nee said he was a conceited ass Girls and did thought him deliciously romantic not know how to talk to him Married women commonly dismissed him a unavailable unavail-able for social purposes with the reservation reserva-tion that he would be all right i he became famous His brother artists without expressing pressing much personal affection for him admitted his talent This magnanimity came the easier to them because the world bad not yet discovered how really remarkable remark-able his talent was One bad to know something some-thing to appreciate it He could do thin sin s-in painting that others tried but failed to do He had faculties a perception an independence in-dependence of vision given t few He was not incapable of producing work of genius No doubt he was conceited young men of exceptional powers are apt to be so and unlike un-like a lower class of vain men are at no pains to conceal it In addition he had the artistic temperament which lovely in it selfis rendered aggressivt and extravagant by the stolid hostility of convention To make an end of this catalogue of his quali ties he was sensitive and high tempered Ho came of good New England stock and he bad an income which enabled him t pay for his board and lodgingand the rent of his studio even when his portraits did not pay But for the last year or two they had begun to pay tolerably well Olympia herself had artistic tendencies and on Darkes first introduction t her they soon fell into a conversation that interested in-terested both of them He admired her because be-cause he had never before been able to express ex-press himself t a woman so fully and fluently flu-ently and she liked him because he had something in him and was different from other men Olympias beauty took his artistic ar-tistic eye and he imagined himself painting her In half an hour he had tcld her of his desire to do so Olympia at first laughed and passed it over but the topic came up again whenever thoy met and at length as aforesaid she conceived the plan of having her portrait done for Cousin Harry She made n confident of her mother and the arrangement ar-rangement for sittings was made and punctually tually carried out Darke was delighted he had never done such good work he had found himself He bad also found what was more serious that he was in love But Olympia was supposed to bo the destined heir of her cousins fortune the latter having hav-ing no nearer relatives and Darke did not like t appear in the guise of a fortune hunter This situation familiar in fiction and not unknown in real life continued until tho epoch of our story The portrait born of the love of art and nourished by human love was all but completed Dare bad never declared himself but believed that should he do so he would have a chance Finally with the last sitting and a possible cessation of their intercourse in prospect he felt that now or never ho must take a step In the ordinary American course of things he should have addressed himself in the firstinstance to Olympia herself But his pride counseled him to make an attack upon her guardians that is upon Mrs Ravan and Harry rent As regarded the former however he reflected that she was a person of feeble characterdomlnated both by her daughter and by Trent and that she would be sure i approached to refer the suitor to that gentleman To Trent therefore there-fore he decided to betake himself I Trent acquiesced the posture of the affair would be hopeful and Darke would not be reasonably obnoxious to the fortune hunting hunt-ing charge At 1030 on the morning of thoCCth of February the studio bell rang and Olympia and her mother entered Keppol Darko arose from the sofa on which he had been ying and stood before tbem His face was pale his hair disheveled and his eyes dry and heavy His expression was gloomy and distressed Owing to the lack of sleep a painful emotion or some other cause he seemed dazed and hardly to know what he was about He replied to Olympias cheerful cheer-ful greeting only with a troubled stare and un inarticulate murmur I am afraid Mr Darke is not well my dear said Mrs raven in an undertone Ic fact tho good lady thought he bad been I I acting as young men will sometimes act during the night and was not yet sober hI anything the matter I demanded Olympia coming forward t shake bands with him unconspicious of fit once I smiling and sympathetic You look very bad Have you a headache He did not seem to seo her outstretched hand Nothing is the matter he said clearing his throat 1vo had a bad night I mean Ive had bad news I cannot go on with the portrait this morning Olympia I think wo had better gosaid Mrs Raven apprehensively But Cousin Harrys birthday is day af tertomorrow exclaimed Olympia I the portrait is not done today it will be no use Wont it do as it Is And she advanced ad-vanced to remove the veil that hung before it Darku intercepted her with a gesture Non ho said ho cannot have it he wont want itl Not want my portrait Olympia opened open-ed her eyes He cannot have itn repeated Darke almost al-most savagely hIt ib mine 1 Let him keep you thats enougnl Why how queerly you talkMrDarke said Olympia eyeing him gravely What has happened Arent we friends Oh 1 beg your pardon for being a fool returned the artist inconsequently Olympia stood silent a moment I did not think you could be so absurd I she remarked re-marked at length and turned away Waitn said Darke in an imperious tone She faced him again with a flush on her cheeks I have been absurd be went on but now Im done with it I you bad told me whom you were to marry I should never have begun tt her 1 bead to marryn repeated Olympia lifting My dear I a afraid I Darke Is not himself we bad better go interposed Mrs Raven shifting from one foot to the anxiety other ib a kind of subdued dance of Oh its no set Yon are to be Mrs Harry Tent Yes I have it on the best of authority Here he dropped his sato and with What have tone ad spoke passion I done that you should humiliate me Do < you think it a joke that a man like me should love you 1 Well a woman may insult a man but if Mr Darke its a a mistake she Interrupted In-terrupted I have no intention of marrying marry-ing my cousinI never na Whoever told you so said what was untrue I could not know you loved me until you said so yourself your-self but i I had known it I should not consider it a joke butan honoronc Olympia cried DarKe with a vibration of the voice The expression of his face was entirely changed it seemed t radiate light and fervor The whole man heightened height-ened and expanded She met his eyes blushing deeply He came a step nearer and held out his hands Dont let me be mistaken again I he staid below his breath Our unpremeditated acts are incalculable Olympia did not know how it happened still less did she hear her mothers dismayed dismay-ed expostulation She only knew that she was in Keppel Darkes arms and that he had kissed Her Had anyone told her ten minutes before that such a thing could occur oc-cur she would have been indignant As it was sho found it strangely agreeable But after a few moments she extricated herself and caught her brat Who told you that story about meln she asked Your cousin Harry himself he replied I saw him last night and asked him whether wheth-er I might tell you tha I loved you He said that it would be bettor not for he intended in-tended marrying you himself I was so angry that I could have killed him and ever since then Pardon me said a strange voice proceeding pro-ceeding from a broad shouldered bluff featured fea-tured man in the doorway Is this Mr Darkes studio Yes but it is not open to visitors at this hour returned Keppel throwing out his arm Come some other time i you please Im engaged In 1 as he uttered the last word he glanced at Olympiaand they both smiled with secret happiness Very sorry but are you Mr Darke Keppel Darke persisted the stranger advancing I ad-vancing a step or two into the room I am what do you vantn said the art I 11st also advancing with a frown 1v t I told you that I am busy Is not that suffl clout I I centn afraid that wont do in the present case Mr Darke answered the other standing now within arms length Fact is I have some very particular business with you he added lowering his voice Perhaps you had better ask the ladies to step out it might not be pleasant for them I I you understand I dont understand at all I exclaimed KeppeL But suspect you have made some everlasting blunder Ive nothing to I conceal from these ladies or from anybody I What do you want Speak outn want Just as you please Mr Darke said the other drawing a paper from his pocket I have a warrant here for your arrest Dear me ejaculated Mrs Raven Olympia we really must Koppel lifted his chiu and laughed My arrest he repeated You have come to the wrong place I I owe nobody anything You owe me an apology I This is not an action for debt Mr Darke returned the stranger gravely It is a serious thing sir could not well be serous You are acquainted with Mr Harry Trent arent you Yes Seen him lately havent youn hI saw him last night at his new house What of it The stranger fixed his eyes upon him Mr Trent was found dead in his study this morning he said speaking slowjy There was a knife through his hearta Japanese dagger with a carved handle And it is my duty to arrest you on suspicion of murdering him Darke closed his lips and his chest heaved His face after a moments pallor flushed red The officer watched him narrowly nar-rowly and now a second officer appeared in the doorway In the rear of the studio Mrs Raven had dropped into a chair and was emitting hysteric cries Darko slowly turned until his eyes rested upon Olympia who remained motionless and mute Do you believe it he said to her No she answered in a whispered voice drawing in her breath Then matter for the rest I am innocent inno-cent Take your mother home She came forward with her arms outstretched out-stretched but he waved his hand Not while I am suspected he said It wont last long This comes at a strange time but Im glad wo understand each other Oh it is an outrage she cried passionately passion-ately striking her bands together You suspected of murder and him He never did it sho went on addressing the officer You have no right to arrest him I love him My I orders missthe officer replied with u sigh producing a pair of handcuffs from his pocket We hope it will come out all right of course But the formalities formali-ties have got to bo gone through with Holdout Hold-out you bands if you please sir There is no need of those said Darke with an involuntary shiver 1 shall not try to escape It is as much my interest togo to-go as yours to take me Como sir we are wasting time ex claimed the other sharply Here Tom I The second officer came forward in a moment mo-ment the handcuffs were on Darkes wrists Inquest is for today he added ana I jail it a good job You will go before the grand jury this week and in ten days we will have you indicted if they dont let you oft Step out sir Good day ladies And Olympia standing horror stricken saw her lover hurried from the room LO BE COXTIXUEDJ |