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Show ll f: 7 SERIAL : IzitiielzI : j SMUGGLER I By. ll I" l ELLA MIDDLETON ; j: TYBOUT 8 Hlaitrationi by Rajr Walter! esai la 8VNOPSI8. Three alrts - l.lluliath, llahrlalla aid fll.l I. ( (or 1'KIKI.I.t to ap-ml (he mimar Ih.-r,. iiii U.ur.l an-onor tl r fcer.. frlstum..! liv n.i apuar. nilv .1. 111-111-l slriinK.T. who, tln.lltii! h l.na h lousing III ..( Ih.lM. look atlJoVIII, Ill III a. Ill- Uniting a photo ..f ihr in... The voting Wmiimii m.-l a Mm. tlrntiiiin. anxiously awaltlne her htisli.tml. who Ii.i.I it limnlu f..r aalllns 'I'll, v w. r. Inlr.i.lu I to l.or.l Wilfrid and l.n.lv Kdllh. A ruling., by Iht.n. -mi waa r.-nl-.l Two in- II niHetl. Th-v proved l.i Ih John f Blake anil il..r.l..n llnoi.tt. one n frl-n,t n( KliiMl...h (.ith. i a wlap "f yellow tiitlr frntn Mr. f Initiate's i... k.'t Ml Into th" Imn.la u( KIU" Mm. llriihnina Imlr waa hla.k. .'Mill's f..r tli.- a.. f. I y .it mi amis, l.a.lv Kdllh I. ft lli.-tii In ii safe m Ilia minute Mr tl.ir.l.in lleine-lt was propsrlv liiimlui-t. esiilaln.-.l lilii a. linns nn larir.l atop Kits,., nlone. as rilnretl Ihe cellar, nvrrhenrltig a rnnver aallon tharn la-twren Mary Anne anil a mnn. Ilf provp.l In be har aim. rhnrai with murder. Al a mrif. which wnn held nn the rnrka, Kllxahelh rather mya-tartnualy mya-tartnualy loMt liar ring. tH.ialiis a Beared by Hie entire rnirly. Ilahrl.-lla wlliiea..! a plntinv arena between l.n.ly K.lllh ami 1-nr.l Wllfrl.l. h-alnuay being the eiiuaa. Mury Anna brought hark Kllit.-l Ii rlns. Kim.' went aslllng with tl.ir.l.in Herniate Hi. trlr.1 In perauii.l-. Ii-r tu return the Jewels lefl In Ihr. girl's rare by l.a.lv K.lllh Al midnight l.lla aaw Iwn mrn-om of thorn ili.r.L.n ll.nnett-atiemnllnf ll.nnett-atiemnllnf tn for. a an nitranen Into Ihelr hoathoiiae. Hha admitted In hera.lf that ah, hn.l nearly lovrtl him anil ho llevd heraelf used as a tool. Mrs. lira, bam. slik. tol.1 Kllae of hrr husband's Ion. for anoilirr woman. llnrdon ll.n-natl ll.n-natl nn.l IILiko r-liim.-.l with Mr. (Ira-ham's (Ira-ham's ho.lv. Ila lia.1 han nuir.l.T.-.l. Ix.r.l Wllfrhl mw anlky. Ijiily K.lllh ionn.l..l In Kllaa Ihsl tlhika ami llvn-ri.il llvn-ri.il warn thlov-.s. Iji.ty Killih la. bar tn whara Ihay warn trvlna tn brn In. Tha Clrla wara awnkanail lata at nlahl by a nnlaa In tha roltaaa. Thry founil Plnke sn.l Ih-nnait awnlllnir l.anv K'llth. who. thry lolil lha (Iris, wns Nail Minima, a notorious rrnok. ami lyiM Wllfrhl. a siniiRRlar. wanlad for mur.lT. Thvy ra-fusnl ra-fusnl to ballava. Ulaka provrd In In fovernmant offl.'sr. CHAPTER XVIr Cenllnuad. At last It cama A Ktiilthy step, a ubdiiAd nisi In of iklrta, a whispered word of caution, and we were aware that aome one had entered the din lng room and stood so near the shnl-terlnK shnl-terlnK portiere that It moved ellnhtlr. We rould hear a low voice command aome one to no to the foot of the slain and listen for movementa above. Then sllenre attain, and a whisper from Mary Anne that everything was qufet. A faint IlKht appeared throiixh the openltiK of the portiere, and, partlnK II atlll further, we saw two figures: One man, on his knees at the door of the safe, while the other, a woman, held the lantern. Her luck was toward us, but we knew only one person with that wealth of itoltlen hair, slim, graceful grace-ful figure, and those duizllug white shoulders enhanced by the low-cut black (own. Kllzabeth's Aimers closed tightly on my arm, and I know she, too, had rocognlied Lady Edith Campbell. Camp-bell. The man bungled at the lock, and ahe spoke sharply to him, her voice hard and slinging. lie muttered aomelhltiK, but she did not answer, for the door of the snfe swung open, disclosing the box she had placed thore In Its wrappings of soft white paper. Eagerly she bent to get It, but aa she took It In her hands a whistle blew shrilly, hasty steps approached ap-proached and the room anddenly seemed full of people and lights. The man sprang to Ills feet with an oath, but his arms were seised by two men In uniform, who In terms more forceful than polite admonished blm lo keep quiet and mako no trouble. And the woman Lady Edith? She atood erect, with head flung back and blar.lng eyes. A scarlet spot flamed In her cheeks, glowing brilliantly at flrei, then fudlng to marble whiteness 8 as she looked at the array against her. For a moment ahe said nothing; then, turning to Mr. Hluke, she spoke In an even, mechanical voice. "I congratulate you upon the success suc-cess of your coup." lie came nearer and beld out his hand authoritatively. ! "I will relieve you of that box," he aaid. "I will not give It to you." "I should regret to use force with a woman." Hut we could bear no morn, and with one accord pushed aside the curtain cur-tain and entered the room. "It Isn't true!" cried Ellzaboth, rushing rush-ing to her side. "Say It Isn't truo, anil we will believe you." "Even now, In the facepf everything would you believe mo!" "Yoa," 1 said; "we would Indeed. It Is your word ak'nlnst theirs why fi should we not believe you? Only say j It Is not true. Tho box la yours, but I why did you get It this way? You had only to toll us you wanted It." j "You hear?" ahe said, standing tall I and erect, ber eyes on a level with j Mr. Ulake'a aa she looked at blm. t Ignoring hla outstretched band. "My j word against yours, and they believe I 'I ' : I tn u-.. furce." he r p.-ai. 1 I l.i- In 1. II .Mill pli-mie' "SloiV ;li. t..ili-.ell.' quickly. "I .i.lv ll.liih. h.a; I tunc the box? Tlr.lhk voll Finely la a altll.lo nmi- tor lor )uil In nuil-fy thla num. Let us (i.'ii It Hii.l prove 1 a I in wroiii; once for nil, mid then tiiitli.T )nu nor 1 need eer aei h I III tiKlln." She una ruj..cd the llrat layer of piilH-r, then puuM"! iinrertnlnly. ' Toll me I hey ui e yours." ahe snld In a queer, choked Voire "your imnh er a I'eiirl. -and 1 will believe you. Only look at me and I' ll me so." The uri'Mt brown eyes looked Into tiahrlill.-s clear hur.l ones siemllly for a tiilnuie peihit!a. then fultcred: 'he long lufihes drooped upon her lie. k. lllld ahe tilrlu-.l nal.e, speech-leas speech-leas self conferscil II thief. llulirlelle. with a kIkIi which was nl-moat nl-moat a sob. huuiled the box to Mr. Illake. lie lmwed gravely, removed the rover, n ml Mrs. Mundy's famous emeralds glittered In their bed of Jeweler's Jew-eler's rot ion. As long as I live I shall hate eiiieiulilH, for they enn but re-cull re-cull Mint most painful scene, bringing vivlilly before me the averted faeo, and hent golden head, of our once , loved friend. "Surely." mill Cordon llenneit, "there Is no line In prolonging this scene." "None whatever." agreed Mr. Illnke, making a sign lo tho officers who held the mnn I even now think of as laird Wilfrid. "I urrest you." auld the officer, "for the murder of Harry ttiahain." Homeihlnx flushed In the Until, and wo beard a sharp click, accompanied by a suppressed scream from Mary Anne. "Not that!" abe cried. "Oh, good I .or. I! not that! Ikm't put the 'and-Cliffs 'and-Cliffs on 'Int." "Mo quiet," her son snld. "Don't you see the gnmo Is up?" Hho did not heed him. but stood he-fore he-fore tbo officers with rnlsed hand and a certain dignity of carriage which commanded attention In spite of her gingham apron and round rrd face. "Aye." alio said: "the murder of Mr. (Irnham. 'E done It 'e struck the blowhut why? Ask the woman beside be-side 'im, 'er with the soft 'ands and the yellow 'air. Ask 'er why he done It. Ain't she 'Is wife? Ain't 'e lived and breathed and worked fur 'er ever sence the evil day he fust seen 'er the day 'e come to me and told me was agoing to take up a trade and live honest and respectable? Wot did she do fur 'Im? Hho smiled on 'Im and she coaxed Mm, with 'er aweet voire and pretty ways; she said she couldn't live wl'out 'Im. and more, too. And she told 'Im 'ow rich she waa, I .MflBgq "My Word Against Youra, and They Believe Me." and 'ow easy ahe made 'er money takln' whatever aha laid 'er 'ands on, and amticgllng Joola and slch acrost tho border to 'er friends In the atntes. Wot did she marry 'Im fur? She dldn'l love him " The man made a sudden motion, hut the officer laid a restraining hand upon his arm, and Mary Anne continued, con-tinued, pouring out the words In a steady stream which admitted of no Interruption. "Hhe wanted somebody lo do 'er dirty work, Hint's why she married 'Im. and tired enough of 'Im she got, fur all the gold key she gave Mm an' the cuff button which I thought I'd die when I seen It In yer 'ands. Miss .Use. Wns there a stormy night ahe didn't send Mm out on the ocean wl' a boat-load fur the other side, carln' not n hit whether 'e ever come back or not? Did she ram fur anything but erself? "Don't I know 'ow fur years, ever senco she fust seen Mm, she's made that poro dead man work fur 'or? An honest mnn 'a was, too, at fust, with a wife and child, but wot did she rare? 'E was crazy shout 'er, am) once I heard Mm say 'e'd toiler 'er to purgatory purga-tory and wuhs, and e left Ma wife and hlld whenever she railed Mm, which ahe did wl1 a lock o' 'air and some fool verso. Hhe liked Mm. too liked Is fine Agger and 'andanme fuce, and when he come around she 'ad smile .mil to spare, with nothing left fur Willy but black looks and sharp words Oh. I know!" "Will some one stop the woman?" uld Mr. Hluke helplessly; but Mary nne had more to say, and went close o her daughtur-ln-law, addressing hor llrectly. "When you sent fur Mm this sum nor," she said, "and 'e come as usual, you didn't like It because he brought Is wife pore, pale, boiuoly little thing ao you waa extra aweet to Mm lights when you met In the boat-'ouse. and be tailed you out on the tea. you " ' ' '" """" V Iwi ..lull". J'lil my hoy he:i- h'fl he hlml. eatln' 'Ii- '.art out with love and Je:ihuii.y And jou tnnile a .; 't. you two. Boa o:l could bn toi'ith.-r llhvlz. fur Mm ih uii-'hl you couldn't live apart. Mill Mild. So e wan to leave 'In wife fur good and all and go abroad, I ami von una to Join Mm there, fn-t In-tin' In-tin' the police In Motitie.il know how th.y could git Willy Bit Im fur some-I some-I thin' 'e done because you 'told Mm to Hut you wanted to rIoe up the bit-' bit-' n.'FS ere fil-l. you allld. and sit the I einern'da rllfely landed, su a you I would be sure of the money they'd bring. And Willy wasn't to Kit a rent. : fur you mailed It yersi lf. but 'e i thoiiL-ht e hn.l em. fur you give Mm a box Jest like It one llltthl. llti'l started 1 Im and Mr. tliuhiiin off fur the other ! shore. You never thouiMit. though, ! win n you two was talkln' In the bout- house Jeat before they sailed. Hun me and Willy was In the passageway i llsirnln' lo you. We 'card Jest 'ow Mr. tiruhnm was to hind Mm with the empty box, and anil away Immediate. b avin' Mm riiiiuht hnrd nnd fust. I Well you kilo wed 'e would never peach I on you." ! She paused and awaltowed convulsively. "So Willy went out In the boat atone with Mr. tlrnhiiin. and Willi Ms 'cart black wl' rnue and passion. And airuek the tnnn iticiinln' to stun Mm pcr'np". Hut 'e killed Mm killed Mm. And I sny now. and Ood In 'raven knows I'm right, that this worn an murdered 'Arry (Irshiilu. not my hoy not my boy." "O Mirer." said Mr. Illiikn't quiet voire, "remove the prisoners." The officers now approached Ihe woman and held the handcuffs toward tier, but she shrank away against the wall. "Not that!" she cried, with the flnl note of appeal her voire had con mined. "Not that! I will go quietly. Not that." "Then go," Mr. Illake aald sternly, "and remember resistance la useless There are other men outside, and Ihe government boat Is at Ihe slip. On." Hhe turned once nod looked at us aa she walked between the two officers to the front door, and paused uncer talnly. "Uood hy." she aald very gently "You would have believed me, and I thank you. I I am glad to bavs known you. Please forget me, and good by." Tito train of her black gown swept the floor aa ahe crossed the hall, but she did not look bark again; wr heard the door close, and steps crosi the veranda, and then Mr. Illake re placed the cover on the glltterlnt emernlds and again wrapped them In soft white paper. "And this." be aald to Qabrlrlle ' "explains our presence In your cell si to-night. I hope you are convinced I spoke the truth." Hut Oabtielle waa on the couch, hei facer hlddea In the cushions, ber d lenity le-nity a thing of the past. "Oo away," she said In a smothered volco "go away, and never, never, lei me see your fare again." "Whut have we done?" be Inquired turning to hla friend with a punlei air. Elizabeth now had the floor, and th mantle of dignity descended upon her "I think." she remarked frigidly, "w need not trouble you to stay an) longer. We are quite accustomed It being alone we prefer to be alone." (lordon llennett turned helplessly tt me, but It was now my turn to Ix haughty and unappeased. Eyen undei the clrcumstnnces, 1 could not let tin others distance me, "I do not think there la anything more to say, Mr. llennett," I returnee loftily. "I quite agree with m) friends." "It seeme," he remarked, turning tt Mr. Hluke, "as though we might ai well go home." When I hey reached the door, how ever, he returned and stood before me hat In hand, and a very determine aspect about the chin. "I want to tell you," he aald, "tha' I found the scarf pin on the slip. H was a sleeve button dropped by thi man you rnll 1-ord Wilfrid, and thi rluo Mr. Illake waa looking for. I had promised him not to admit lo an) one where I got It therefore I lied aa you know. He had It set aa a pin and wished to try the effect on thi woman. You know how she gave her self away when she saw It, for yni also were watrhlng her. Tho golf key Is the badge of Ihla particular h ind of smugglers, and they all weai It In various ways. Your servant, Mary Anne, was more sinned against than sinning, and will he allowed lo K free. 1 know you would wish this." He paused suggestively. I made n reply. "I think that Is all," ho con eluded, "except to say that If I cat at any time be of service to you, or If for any reason, you want to see mn I hope you will let me know. Untl then I shall be careful not to Intrude' The hall door slammed with aom emphasis, and again we listened t steps crossing the veranda. Then simultaneously and without restraint wo began to cry, whllo Mary Anm In the kitchen sobbed heavily. This did us all good, and when ai last we opened the windows anf looked out, the oceuti sparkled sn( wintered In the morning sun and tin v. hole world smiled at us Jifst as I' hud so often dona before. At the point of the island a small dark object moved swiftly along; wi recognised the government boat, anf v niched it with swimming eyas am trembling lips until It mude the tun and disappeared. (Jabrlelle pointed to the foam In Itf wake with a hand that shook slightly. "There goes Lady Edith," she wild and wo looked out over tha unipti i svi-un In silence. (TO bU CONTlNUKI.) |