Show THE THREE STRiNGS By NAT NATALINE ALINE SUMNER SUMMER LINCOLN Author of The tiThe Nameless Man Copyright 1913 1918 b by D D. Appleton Co Copyright Public Ledger Company READ THIS FIRST Evelyn E Preston returning to her home In Washington a unexpectedly finds the hoUe deserted and after an Interval al of several hours finds a a. dead end man in the 11 library brn ry He Ire wasn't there when sho arrived ar nr- rived The coroner summoned says the tho theman theman thoman man ha has been dead twelve hours hours ten ten hours hour before beor discovery cn Evelyn declares tho the Ibm library bell en rang ranI a a. few tew minutes before be before U- U fore tore sho she found the ho body Those present at nl the In ettl Investigation estimation allon are tire the Hayden the iho family physician Maynard a n friend o of the tho family y Mrs Ward ard ard the housekeeper and Evelyns Evelyn's Evelyn's Evelyns Eve Eve- lyns lyn's stepfather Peter Burnham In an extremely nervous ncr and Irritable condi condi- tion meets his hl friend James Palm Palmer r In Inthe I tho the restaurant of a a- a Washington hotel whore whore- they ther are presently Joined d by Evelyn Evelyn Eve Eve- lyn and Marlon Van Ness Ne her friend L Evelyn velyn and her stepfather ther are arc surprised to see ee ce each other and Burnham Is la further surprised to hear they have h a guest Another guest 1 ho asks Whom do you mean 7 THEN READ THIS CHAPTER 6 6 Evelyn Even shot a 3 half resentful glance at nt him then curbing her hot temper which his censorious air and manner Invariably aroused she answered l I cheerily None other than your our old frIend Dan Maynard Maynard In town exclaimed Burnham Burn Burn- ham In plea pleased ea surprise Not only In town but ut he Is top stop stopping ping pin at our house rattled on Evelyn noting noUnS with some surprise that Marian had permitted her Honey Honey dew ew melon to be bo taken away uneaten The Tho servants servants sen ants are putting the house In or order er Upon m my word Burnham polished his e eyeglasses and looked hooked through them at Evelyn Even Where here Is la Mrs I Ward 7 Ill tersely Dr Dry Hayden Is lookIng lookIng look look- Ing InS after acter her and Marian Marlan Is coming I back to help m me tako talco caro of or her Burnham stared at his stepdaughter Mrs Irs Ward ard Ml what ill what next When hen did you and she arrive In Washington Washing Washing- ton EYel Evelyn Tl 7 Palmer stopping his exchange of oC small talk with Marian Harlan glanced at Evelyn and her expression caused his interest to quicken Evelyn E was not used to subterfuge and the tho look she had favored her step stepfather Cather with Ith was Indicative of oC her feelings Wo We didn't come together she ex- ex ex eX 1 Mrs l Yard Ward only arrived this afternoon while I 1 reached tho the house house- house It She stopped to help herself to beefsteak and several vegetables Yes prompted Burnham and his rc restless Blanco Flanco passe passed from one companion companion com corn panion to the other You reached reached-If A hand was laid on his hll shoulder er and Ma Maynard nard cut Into the conversation Found nt at last 11 laughed tho actor r Evelyn E elyn you OU told mo to meet you OU at atthe atthe the tho Shoreham and I have been waiting waltin there until it dawned on me me- meto to tl try this hotel How are you OU Burnham and Palmer too shaking hands as the men rose Marian 1 have havo you met Mr Maynard May rny- nard nard Mrs Mrs Van Ness asked Evelyn Evolyn I and Maynard turned to encounter a pair of dark brown eyes raised to him himin I in n earnest appeal The next instant Marian's Marians hand was waR taken In a 0 warm arm clasp and m slowly released as Palmer Palmor mado room for tor Maynard to sit between be bet between be- be t tween them My Iy wife will bo be o delighted to know you have arrived ed In Washington said She was overjoyed ed when your telegram emma mn flirt FIl ting you ml might ht get here An any moment What brings s you Ou back hack to this country Maynard War yar ar world work began hegan Maynard No no soup he broke e off to sa say to the waiter wailer Bring mo me whatever cr Miss Preston Proston has ordered Palmer I hear you 1 0 ha have ha e your hands full with government gov SO emment contracts for erecting temporary temporary temporary tem tem- office buildings here and at cantonments All architects are bus busy these days replied Palmer accepting another cigar from Burnham In In fact every everyone one Is bu busy I 1 Imagine you have your hands full tull at the state slate department Mrs oIls Van Ness 1 Marian Marlan directly addressed looked up from the bread pellets she Rhe was arranging ar arranging ar- ar ranging In n a neat before her Well rather wo work worl night and day It It must muni bo ho n terrific strain ac acknowledged ac- ac Maynard So much responsibility re responsibility re- re rests on tho department department depart depart- ment There was a haunting quality In Maynards Maynard's Ia nar 8 voice which no matter m how trivial trl his hh remark Impressed his hiM t I listeners and Marians Marian's heart beat fast I as memory of other scenes rose to torment torment tor tor- I ment her ler but Jut her manner Indicated only polite attention and after u a fraction fraction traction frac trac- tion of or a 1 second Maynard continued his remarks Washington is a n changed city he stated Tho Shoreham reminded me particularly of oC Paris In its military ap appearance appearance ap- ap except that the tho u uniforms are aro I not worn and faded By lly tho wa way Burnham among amon the French officers I met thero there was Rene nene La Montague Reno Rene The startled exclamation escaped Evelyn eln before she sho could check it and her confusion was f so 80 o great that sho she failed to observe the lowered looks s sor of or two of her companions Burnham and Palmer exchanged glances then their o oyes cs es dropped to their cigars clEars and they thoy smoked in silence As Evelyn elyn set down her goblet of or water wl a page stopped at her elbow A A telephone has hils just como comp from your our butler Miss Preston ho ex explained ec e.- to ask you to to return home He said ld Mrs Irs Ward ard was quite Ill Ml Evelyn pushed aside her plato plate Ill rn go so at nt once sho she announced But Dul the rest of oC you ou need not come until later I have o finished As sho spoke Marian rose and Maynard Ia nard also tossed asido o his napkin and stood up Walt Wait a n minute remonstrated Burnham Burn- Burn I ham Well Ve go SO with you ou Evelyn Here Mere waiter walter bring me tho the check an and Maynard engage a touring car cas outside will you ou 1 I Nodding assent the actor sped on his errand leaving the others to follow follow fol fol- ollow ol- ol low moro slowly He was fortunato fortunate In securing a a. seven passenger car and Burnham bundled his party Into It with small ceremony We e are aro right In your our neighborhood ho said as Palmer drew di ew back the tho car carcan carcan carcan can leave you after aCler It h has s taken us home Theros Thero's plenty of room Palmer Jump In Perhaps suggested Evelyn It would expedite matters mallers to stop for Dr I Ha Hayden den If It ho In is not at your our house I can go o for tor him and bring brinS' him right over an answered an an- Palmer and Burnham agreed as Good Idea ho he said shortly I hope I 1 am not crowding you Evel Evelyn n as sho she shrank against Martin in making making mak mal I ing room for tor him on tho the back scat seat I Oh no she the replied and sat silent j i grateful for the cool night a air It which fanned her checks cheeks Sho She had tried to I forget the mysterious tragedy while In Inthe Inthe inthe the hot hotel I had even barely mentioned it to Marian when she picked her up at it ather ither t ther her apartment to tako t. her out to dinner dInner dinner din dIn- ner but tho the sudden summons home had brought bro it vividly before her Suddenly Sud Sud- denly donly t sho ho caught Maynards Maynard's e eyes and his gave save her a sense of oC com comfort Cart As the car turned Into Connecticut Connecticut Connecticut Con Con- avenue he leaned forward and addressed Marian Van Nes Ness 7 he asked Arc Are you ou warm enough I solicitously ly You have hae no extra wrap and tho the night air Is 19 chilly I Marian looked at him then glanced awa away I am very comfortable g murmured j jPalmer Palmer who had chosen to take uke fj vacant seat eat by the chauffeur In pul to trusting tru his weight v on nt ou I of or the small phot ot chairs in the to tot I neau of oC the tho machine addressed Burs BUrl ham several times but apparently ha lu words word's were drowned In the ru n wind Ind occasioned b by the speed of or tk tb I car for Cor Burnham made mado no response short time later tho the car ear drew up the curb and stopped before beCore the Euro Burn ham residence Maynard was the first one out ot tb machine and turned at once to Marian For a brief second her had bud rested lightly on his arm then as moved as sho she sprang to the Evelyn elyn was no less lesa quick in setting getting cs Wt and not waiting wafting to see ce what becs beca e of ot the otHers she aho cau caught ht Marian tj bi the elbow and hurried her Into ills liI house and amI upstairs jj I Moro Ioro tomorrow if g |