Show THE THREE STRINGS By NAT NATALINE ALINE S SUMNER LINCOLN Author of liT The he N Nameless Men Med I I I I I I Copyright 1918 1915 b by D D. Appleton Co Copyright Public Ledger er Company n READ THIS FIRST Evelyn oln Preston tun discovers the bod body of oC a D. stranger cr In the library of oC her homo home In n I Washington ton Her mother and stepfather Peter Petr Burnh Burnham arrive c. but are unable t to o throw an any ll lI ht on the mystery Captain Cap tain tamn La In lovo with Evelyn learns that his letters to her have been Intercepted and nfl blames Burnham Burnham Burnham Burn Burn- ham tells the police pollee that ho hoe has reason to belle believe that La killed the tho unknown There are two servants fler In tho rho household hol whose actions arc aro suspicious suspicious Mrs Mrs Ward the hou housekeeper and Jones the butler The They dislike and distrust each other CHAPTER 30 Continued Continued Jones gathered up the soiled dish dishtowels dishtowels dishtowels towels In silent fur fury As he ho tucked them under his arm some sonic dark stains on one cloth caught his eye Ce Ah Paint Is 18 It or ink 7 Ii Ho lie sniffed at th the cloth holding holdin It close under his nose And why did you ou put putI fr fresh h paint on your our suitcase Instead of replying Mrs Ir Ward ard walked Into the tho servants servants' dining room and sitting down composedly picked up her knitting Jones hesitated uncertainly un unI uncertainly un- un certainly In hi tho ho hall haU then thrusting the note which Marian had given Iv n him Inside a pocket ho followed Mrs Ward ard Into tho the room and stationed himself opposite her hel Wh Why did you ou alter the Initial on the suitcase he hc demanded and waited In n growing wrath for Cor an answer Re Rc- Rc none h he again aln addressed tho the housekeeper Silence w will III not help you ou ho announced I know know all all Then why T.-hy h ask me questions Inquired in inquired inquired In- In Mrs Irs Ward artl practically Because I desire delre to know w why that taxi driver Is here so often otten in the back wa way in the window yonder pointing pointing- to the one opening opening- on the walk which separated tho rho Burnham residence from Il Its next door neighbor and which gave save light and air to the rooms on that side of ot the house What doc does s he here re of or so o secretive a nature Mrs Irl Ward laid down her knitting knitting- and met his angry gaze saze with one equally QuaIl furious What hat concern is It of yours That is m my affair That is no answer Mrs Ward shrugged ged h her r shoulders disdainfully Then I shall M say tho the butler leaned closer cloer shall I say that that mana mans the Jack presence In this house is for you a a. menace Mrs Irs Wards Ward's ards ard's laugh did not ring ring- quite true Since you must know know know- she commenced commenced com com- and paused to glance over her shoulder Yes Y Es Jones Jonel came nearer What l That at man an you rou call the Jack box The taxi driver prompted Jones Go on on woman That man man man- manthe the loud buzzing of ot tho the front door hell bell interrupted her Answer the bel bell Yes yes in a a. moment Jones came yet ct nearer The taxi driver who is he A detective now detective now go O and Mis Ward oard resumed her knitting CHAPTER 31 31 Tho The Handwriting on the Wall B By the time Jones reached the the- front hall he found the the- door open and Mrs Irs Burnham awaiting his arrival nl with an angry sparkle in her eyes yes Late again Jones she remarked ed and her tone caused the butler hutler to flush uncomfortably lieu Help Mr 11 Burnham of oft off with his coat cant and then assist him tobed to bed bell Burnham rejected the butlers butler's ala with the same petulance ho had shown to Maynard when the tho latter offered his assistance Im not a bab baby he ho remarked through chattering teeth What hat if I Idid Idid Idid did catch a chill coming cominS' home Lillian its it's nothing serious Here Ilene take m my keR keys Jones and bring me some whisky whisky whisky whis whis- ky from the sideboard Jerking the bunch of ot keys from the front door lock where he had left It dangling In his haste to enter the house he tossed It to tho the waiting rant se and laying his hand on Maynard's Maynards arm started with him up tip the staircase Mrs Burnham turned to follow follo when Evelyn J who had remained In the vestibule stepped Inside In Inside Inside In- In side the house closed tho door and called her softly h by name Come In the dining room mother dear she said paid I must have ha a word with you alone and tho the quiet emphasis emphasis emphasis em em- on tho the last word belled belied her unnaturally unnaturally un un- naturally high color and brilliant eyes es Please mother Seeing Mrs l Burnham Burnhan Burn- Burn han ham hesitate she moved forward and gently encircled her waist with her arm Spare Just a n moment to mo Mrs Burnham bent forward and kissed her with warmth Of Ot course courso Evelyn sho said cheerily Say as asman man many words to mO as you ou want ana nna she led the way into the drawing room pausing only long enough to turn on tho the lights Sit h by mo me here she suggested making herself herselt comfortable on tho the sofa floCa but Evelyn 1 too nervous nerous to remain quiet only paused in her restless moving moving movi i ing In about to stand In front of ot her i Mother lother sho she b began g and In spite of ot her determination to keep her voice I steady it shook I 10 lose lo a Reno Bene La I Montagne Ion tagne Mrs Burnhams Burnham's expression altered You think you do Evelyn Eveln she corrected corrected cor cor- gently No o mother Evelyns Evelyn's gaze never ne shifted I 1 lovo love Rene and I 1 Intend to marry him Need we go so Into that 7 Mrs 1 Burnham Burn- Burn ham bam smiled not unkindly Suppose for tOl tonight we Just admit tho the first you premise premise you love lo him Thank you OU mother Evelyn eln rested her hands against the table at aL her back and steadied herself Rene she nhe blushed hotl hotly Retie loves me Mrs Burnham gazed steadily at her daughter and a sudden wave of or tenderness tenderness tenderness ten ten- swept over or her and for tor a second second sec sec- ond the charming picture picture Evelyn Evelyn In her straight young oun beauty and her tattered Belgian costume costume was was blurred from sight eight b by blinding ln tears l Belous of or her mothers mother's emotion Evelyn waited a n moment before speaking speaking Rene nene loves me and I J love Jove Rene Ilene she reiterated Therefore mother will you ou announce our engagement tomorrow morning Mrs Burnham sat Mat bolt holt upright Will WillI I 1 do what she demanded Announce m my cn engagement to la Rene ReneLa La Montague My y dear child Mrs Burnham I raised her hands in horror Utterly oC of But wh why Reno anti I have havo thought of or it It and we wo are re tho the most concerned Preposterous fumed filmed Mrs Burn- Burn ham Why hr the mans man's under a cloud I Exactly mother that Is why I I wish our enla engagement announced Evelyn en stood proudly erect Shall you ou make mako the announcement or I I. I mother Mrs Irs Burnham stared at her In blank astonishment Have you ou taken leave of ot your Venues senses she demanded demand cd Sit do down don n here Evelyn l' and let us discuss this matter rationally Thanks s. s mother but I 1 prefer to stand eland I I-I I I will not keep you Ion long In fact her smile was very winning I 1 but wait walt your answer Mrs Burnham sighed The sity of pf life life It she exclaimed Why do you rou pick out the thc one man I could not welcome as a son in But why cant can't you ou welcome him asked naked Evelyn Impetuously Reno Rene Is 15 all nIl that thit a man should be tender be-tender tender true and brave bra Look at the record he lie had made in that gallant arm army of France You hn have lm c e every IY reason to be proud or of orRene Rene Hone mother Why Vh then are you ou so absurdly prejudiced against him He lie has never done demo anything to you ou Not to me perhaps perhaps perhaps- began Mrs Z Burnham but Evelyn eln her gave ga no notime notime notime time to finish h Is ls It fair to tal take e Mr Burnhams Burnham's opinion about Rene Bone Instead of mine she demanded holl hotly My Iy word Is Just Justas as good as his If It not not not- Stop toP Evelyn Mrs Burnham held up her hand Imperatively Imperative It IL Is not nota a question of or word but of Jud Judgment ment you OU are arc immature impulsive impressionable Impressionable Good Goo gracious mother Evelyn laughed An Any more Ims you youcan youcan ou can think of ot Mr Burnham is determined determined deter deter- I mined to get Rene Bone into trouble and ItIs it itIs itis Is plain to be bo seen cen that he has Influenced influenced you against me mc I Mrs Burnham flushed You are unjust un- un unJust unjust un un- just Evelyn eln she remonstrated You carr carry your dislike of ot your our stepfather I loo too far tar far You Tort mean menn ho he has carried his dislike dislike dis dis- I like of ot Reno Rene too far retorted Ev Evelyn lyn bitter resentment a against Burnham getting the better of ot her determination to curb her anger aner lIe He has even ven to I preferring false charges against Rene Bone Gentl Gently Evelyn gently Mrs Irs Burnham Burnham Burnham Burn- Burn ham rose Do not say thin things In anger which you OU mo may bitterly regret In later ter I i shall never n regret one opo word I T say In defense of ot Rene nene responded Evelyn Even with undaunted spirit And when Mr 11 Burnham charges Rene killed that thai unknown man In our library he lies Mrs Burnham laid a firm hanu LII erI on LI I I Evelyns Evelyn's shoulder flush she comI com corn m mantled Rene will hoc he an opportunity opportunity to prove his innocence shortly I I understand She faltered red for a second second sec sec- ond then continued sternly I understand under tinder stand he has been cen arrested for the crime Evelyn shrank back from her mother and covered ered her face with her hands When she looked up her expression had altered Either you or I will announce in tomorrows tomorrow's papers m my engagement to toRene Rene which Ilene-which which shall it be sho she asked Evelyn Mrs Irs Burnham seldom used that tone in addressing her dau daughter and anel the girl Irl looked at h her r dumbly Have you OU considered con what such a step means In tho the face of or my disapproval You mean mean giving giving uj up my fort l o Ye Yes By the terms of your fathers father's will you forfeit your our Inheritance If it you marry may against m my wishes I Well what of oC it Evelyn E shrugged I h her r shoulders disdainfully lI Thank God money Isn't everything I You ar are VEr very young Mrs Irl Burnham Burnham Burn Burn- ham smiled faintly In this case caso there is more than monc money involved I a crime crimo and public scandal Child Fora a a. second Mrs Irs Burnhams Burnham's come composure com- com e i deserted her You must be beI mad to desire to announce your en engagement engagement en- en I to a man whom your vur stepfather stepfather step step- father char charges es with Ith a heinous crime I Charges Charge can bo he disproved retorted Evelyn Mother Iother she laid an Imploring Im Imploring Im- Im hand on her hr arm Mother Iother I assure you ou Reno Rene Is not guilty no matter how much circumstantial evidence evidence evi evi- dence points to him he ho no more killed this man than did Peter Burnham m. m Rapidly approaching footsteps caused Mrs Irs Burnham to turn abruptly and she w welcomed Maynards Maynard's entrance al almost almost almost al- al most with eagerness I ha have persuaded your husband to togo togo too go o to bed bcd she he said I think he ho will rest ver very comfortably He lie has given me mo a prescription to fill for him can you ou tell mo me where to find tho the nearest i i l I drug store which stays open all nl night ht I am afraid atraiLl it Is fully six Rix blocks i away aw on Connecticut avenue exclaimed ex- ex claimed Mrs rs Burnham It is a n shame I to 10 take you OU out at this hour of oC the tho nl night ht Not a bit hit of ot It Maynard nodded gall gaily all at Evelyn Eveln Too bad you OU cant can't stroll downtown with me me r eI Evelyn n. n the walk might do you ou good not in that thin dress hastily Fortunately to tonight tonight to- to night I was as cast for an appropriate costume uniforms arc not conspicuous ous OUR these days clays Our uniforms are always conspicuous I ous rebuked Evelyn elyn Just think of or orI I the gallant men wearing them All honor to them Maynard raised his hand In quick salute Someday Some Someday day God will willing InS InS' Ill I'll go up UI in the line with the boys bos in khaki and over o the top until then then then- A quick RI sigh h completed completed completed com com- the sentence Ive tal taken en your our la latchkey Mrs frs Bu Burnham rn m. m so dont don't ha have 0 anyone anone wait walt up for me me and he hurried hurried hur hur- ried out of tho the houseGo houseGo houseGo house I Go to he bed and get some pome rest Evelyn Evelyn Evelyn Eve Eve- lyn suggested u ested Mrs Burnham pausIn pausing pausing paus paus- In ing with her hand on the electric light button hutton We can tall talk more reasonably after a a. good nl nights night's ht's sleep Come Como and Sf see e me after breakfast an and remember remember remember ber ber- ber Continued tomorrow |