Show IL d THE DOUBLE DOU BLE CROSS RO r j ERvi ceJ CO copyright ey and coracao Cori Cor Apao pur inc THE STORY jim stanley new navy york bustness man orders hla his desk andl phone taken to his home intending Inte nl to finish hla his dictation there bollo waterman hla his partner cornea comes ir fr noth both are in love with dorla doris colby stanley pro proposes tossing a coin to determine which shall first propose to dorla doris waterman wine nina morgan wa bermans ter mans secretary and mistress has overheard his conversation with stanley and resents wa bermans teri ter nans mans plan to desert her wa torman says lie he la Is penniless and must make a rich marriage lit fit urges nina to toll tell doris that stanley I 1 ims as wronged herN her nina lna doris admits to her father hp hel interest in both men but Is in unable to decide which to marry nina tells doris her story exacting a promise that doris will not tell the source of her information dorla doris Is convinced of stanleys Stan leys duplicity and Is brokenhearted en realizing that it it stanley she loves waterman and doris accepts him stanley accepts the aho situation and as a wedding present gives his share of the bu business alness to waterman lie ile arranges with his secretary frank wilson to take charge ot of hla his other business interests te ile he to ie going to india CHAPTER V VI 6 doris had had a white night slie site was an uncommonly healthy healt liy girl and tier sleep was ordinarily sound tilt hut perhaps it la Is not surprising that on tills this particular night the wheels got going round the truth Is tile shock she had received from nina morgans revelation was tremendous she vot have been more surprised it 11 she had bad suddenly discovered that her own fattier father was a rogue and the lie height of her previous contI confluence dence in jim stanley was measured by the depth of the lint flint now overwhelmed her he state of mind was waa indeed peculiar for a kirl girl who bus just engaged herself to be married site she thought mostly in fact not of the he man of her choice hut but of tile the man whom she nad discarded for him in fact if waterman could have known tile the thoughts that were surging in tier her head the he better part of that night he would hove been a good deal ills disquieted quieted word by war word and step by step site ehe retraced the details of her talk with nina morgan site she examined reexamined re the girls story slie she tried to flail a flaw in it tried to see what possible motive nina could have had find for lying in there could be none arid and yet she had a wild impulse to go to stanley the very cry next morning tell blin tho ahn girls wary etory and osk ask him film for gods sake to explain it hut tills this she elie realized she could not possibly do site she had given tier her word of honor no she was hound bound to silence by tier her own net tier her niala found her slightly while dressing for a new source of anxiety had just occurred to her hy har fattier father no she must go eo to church alone she found herself reluctant to tell tier father of her engagement she could not explain tills this to herself it surprised her but there it was she made up tip her mind also not to 0 o see film until slie she had seen waterman again site she could not disguise from herself the fact that she was most unhappy knew perfectly well flint it if tier her father saw her he would guess it nud and gues guessing ging it though he might not ask he her r why tie he would be distressed if she withheld her confidence no she aho could not tee film until she had had time in which to get a better grip upon herself site she could adjust herself hersel f to what she lind had to fam face but she must have time church was the safest place she would go to church waterman arrived at tile the church in time for the recessional standing dIng there lie heard the diminishing frolces of the lie choir the last throb of the oron organ the final annul hallelujah tile the ultimate mate A amen men doris skilled brightly as site she c came a me up the aisle lets ILAs go for a walk site she said it was 0 lovely soft october morning the air was blond bland tile the sun wits was bright there wad waa no wind nt at all tic the were almost hiie the sk tes 0 of t paris in the mouth of may rollin Roll ln said doris as soon as they were out ot of earshot ear shot ot of tile the church door ive been thinking about willit about jiff yes yes I 1 know so have L 1 11 I ive been wondering if we aro doing quite right what do you mean there come possible way b by v ellch I 1 can test the truth of that girls lils waterman was considerably jarred jarrea by Y this heaven h basw what might not turn up it I 1 his fiancee were allowed to continue tonti nue thinking along tills line cut but he objected L 1 I tho thourl ugilt tuk you von were thoroughly convinced that thai she vas telling tile truth so I 1 nin so for far as anybody rno can he be convinced by a story that hint Is unsupported by independent evidence after you left lost night I 1 sleep I 1 beat my brains for hours trying to imagine vital motive sit alic might ila lieve re for lying to me hut bill it 11 int seem pos sible that hint tiny iny such antle could exist and it now mv flour deur girl im afraid there anything more to do about it 1 anil and you go an on torturing yourself like this tho the good 1 I 1 know I 1 know holly idolly and it fair to you to lot you see me ine like ilk tills this but I 1 have been trying to think what I 1 should to do in such a ense case say any if idere 1 were a lawyer I 1 have seen hi my V father try several cases in court und ive been wondering what he would do it if tie lie were trying this anse 11 waterman was increasingly it wits no part of his plan that mr air colby should be dragged into tills this business ive been wondering the girl went on if I 1 make an effort of somo some kino kind to go into the truth of tills this girls karla story without tier her knowledge perhaps I 1 should have cross exa examined min ed tier her lust night in detail I 1 wish now that I 1 had nut but I 1 was so startled and so shocked that I 1 do it and it seemed imps impossible sit e that nay any girl would go to another with such a tale anle unless as it were acro the truth it seems so an now 1 I know I 1 know sato waterman Water imin soothingly it seems so horrible not to to give jim a chance to explain I 1 cant fla that hut but 1 might perhaps start a some 0 me inquiry of my own unable to turn her thoughts from tills this dan dangerous gerou s channel waterman made up its his mind to do the next b best ea I 1 tiling thing very well lie he said if you cannot let it go us its it Is why not let me hike it up till for you what do you well ho he said there lire are such things as aa private detectives defectives 1 I was thinking of that very well tomorrow morning ill have them lit in how can you yon do that if I 1 dont te tell if you the story atory you need not tell me the story at ull till all I 1 need to know Is what I 1 know already that it Is a tale 0 of f scandalous intrigue between jim and some as 03 yet yei unnamed un named person par by the cwajk wa I 1 I 1 presume it to be a woman yes well went on waterman 1 I it t theres anything ilke that tn in stanley stanleys Stan leys Is immediate past a couple of expert detectives tec tives would dig it up quick enough Ter perhaps hups so it t jim were to be right nere here in III new york but you forget lie be la Is kalug away at once I 1 doris intelligence was one ot of the for which waterman haq bod always adt admired alred tier her now lie curnal it 11 to io himself bat he went va tin quickly gly bhatla true jims golue away but bu the woman I 1 take lake it Is still liro fiere unless bites going with him no said eald dorle dorl saca not going wita ill ailin but with her in new neav york aej jim in india I 1 dont believe auci yul private detectives would him a ot a 0 chance but the best that we wa can do dd and we cant do that un youre willing to give ale aie tile the worn tins ans name doris reflected SAC had given tie bet word of honor not to repeat tile lie story that nina had told tier her would site she ot would otte ebe not be breaking her word if she disclosed the identity identify of her in ill formant for munt she thought it but tier her anxiety to learn lie file truth over orar ruled tier hor scruples think she decided ill tell you her name after all I 1 only promised not to repent repeat the story that site cite told nie me god said waterman an that it simpler her name naine Is nina morgan good heavens fleaven sl t cried waterman nina filo alo danl why ashes my secretary 11 doris turned her startled sturt led eyes on waterman Vat erwan oh slie site gasped she tell me thail yes eliy we ite the most amazing a 1 tiling thing I 1 ever heard nina morgan I 1 to think that quiet little thins illing tills lias been in anil and out of my office every day for over a year and I 1 never guessed extraordinary tra ordinary well it only shows you never can tell oil now just put tills this all out of your head leave tt it to me it if theres anything in tills this story thesa mca that I 1 shall see eee tomorrow will dig it up soon enough and it if as vi liepe theres nothing in it find that out too they walked in silence tor for a block or two they were thinking of the pame aine e tiling thing but their the fr thoughts though ta were scarcely harmonious and when male dorle broke the silence she added one more inore shock to the many which waterman find bad supported curing their brief stroll 1 wonder site she said cald abruptly lit U it ir would do any goodsir good or me to sec am that I 1 orl agai nl ile he gave lher her a startled look heavens what an ideal he be managed to ejaculate 1 I suppose you could ond find out where she lives for me mel why er cr why er cr yes perhaps I 1 coull could he said ue he spoke vv with alth 9 great rent deliberation lie ile needed the timeto time to think but lie he went on as soon as he had developed a defense to tills this new peril 1 I must say I 1 think thanh you would be most mos unwise to go to tier her tats giri t told 0 lit you tills this story it seemed impossible imo to you that tufit phe elie was lying now assuming that thai she ehe has told the truth if you begin such an as this tile the first thing you know jim site she had find given him film awny away it if he found that out nut tie he would round on her of course she would round on you find and I 1 think that you yiu would not he lively likely to vint interview A faint mounted quickly in her checks tie ie saw it and went on hns oh I 1 know you have kept your war word you tou tin vent told nid ms tie lie story you promised you and you hn vent but it would he be dillie tilt to convince nina morgan of flint erict 11 oil oh fear said doris iro im I 1 have told you her name now for hen eivens vens salie asahe insisted ninn warmly nily you distress yourself like this you really youve put the britter to in my hands ril III attend to it it it as if ain were tobe to he about nil all tile lie time alne as he used to be in three daya he will b be gan gone it ft mh nifty be for years just try and forget lie file whole business time will clear ptiip iti it up Ip the truth Is bound acome to come out 1 I but ashe as he spoke lie he registered an inward avow hat it never shoal diche he co could help it youre your e right rally holly alf elsaid with a little sig sigh ll 11 llana and F I 1 feel veri very con about apu I 1 about roe me yes im not making you arery happy so far far anti and I 1 winn winnith wini to 11 what a darling you yoa are bean be he an leti so a to lanch 0 0 0 when nh returned to his 08 ap apartment ariment at three that afternoon his valk valet met him blin it at the door mr to td see you sir air he be said it rean een here long 7 inquired waterman about a quater of an hour sir air waterman grunted and passed into his library the visit visitor bir was sitting comfortably on the divan dhan smoking a elgar cigar sorry to he be late bromfield rold paid waterman but I 1 help it dont apologize answered his visitor ive been very comfortable here nice place youve got yes cot bad three or four good etchings 1 isee see continued bromfield Brom neld his eye roving over the wall mind telling me where you got the nem brundt in the corner not at nil all said waterman picked it up ap one day in an old print shop to in paris cherep Cher tp not very want to buy it yes yea at a price well said waterman wil te sitting down and lighting fighting a cigarette today its not for sole sale yesterday it might have h ave been good said settling INV I 1 comfortably around his rotund figure good news then excellent replied d tho youtie younger er man 1 I became engaged to miss colay olby last evening splendid 11 salad bromfield he got to his feet strolled stroll str olleo ml over overto to waterman nn and offered his hand a lions ions nv my loy boy congratulations conara bulat tons 11 1111 pans lk a lot to you I 1 kno know w you suld said it 11 ved nd and it means a little some thing to tome me returned the other wilt will a grin very good of you replied water man rattier rather tastily it annoyed tilro film that lie he should be compelled to speak of such matters to this man if bromfield Broin Held perceived his irritation he ignored it and continued 1 I 1 am all extremely glad tv to hear of tills good news but I 1 hope ander aider the circum rt E ances you will gill not think it imper of m I 1 ask how bow soon I 1 can bo be sure bure of receiving recel vinn some corr tion from froia nn an InCe independent pendent source waterman swallowed the 16 veiled at front from and said very ivery soon it will bb be ee announced some day tills this week delighted returned the gamb gambler lerl affably my iny dear boy I 1 know you wont mind nay my interest in the matter anjou know business to la bu business and gamblers must live it therefore os as you assure me your engagement caga ga to this lady Is to be pua announced some time this month I 1 be very gladdo glad to postpone the settlement of oj y our 0 obligations to nw until time after your u r marriage f i alj thank ais said waterman wateman briefly j 1 I 1 wish that I 1 could have settled the he matter tip long before this but you know things hn hav egone awfully badly adly with me ive had find taid devils de is own ow n luck and w wel 01 lyou you know how ft t Is oh yes I 1 know I 1 ehnow know said the other with mth a genial wave hand 1 I never it pours tile valet entered with a telegram which he handed to waterman and retired very well then said Bromne Broma elf td ill not keep you any longer longe r but remember a frfd rfd hla his voice khonh th onh amIn amiable ble carted with it a certain menace a menace altogether too aelion well understood der stood absolutely upon your word in tills mutter ter you may safety safely do sol so 1 assure you its going gh and now that we ite all settled nud abill I 1 pan can begin to see my mv way out oui of the wood I 1 should like to th thank k you for your you forbearance v t No not tat nt nil not at all youve youla e hoen been a good customer of at mine why I 1 treat you well 7 Tha thanks inks all the same goodday good day wate waterman lad a presen presentiment that he was not going to like the contents of hat telegram aud and he beai 1 cyina right with extreme extreme distaste be opened it and read mod meet roe me tonight at he barclay seven there vasai signature nil tu re CHAPTER VII the hotel barclay was dingy structure of victorian hir architecture chite c that stood in the middle of the block among the west eighties it ana rr IT is lest dull respectable and quiet very quiet its quiet was the principal feature that flint recommended it to Watern waterman jun ie was sure of never nevee meeting anyo anyone ne that he knew therefore when hp received a |