Show THE T tin 41 1 11 WH HAD HA evl NO GOD A mystery story by MARY ROBERTS RINEHART CHAPTER IX continued 4 hes single and very attractive toy my dear the entire village is trying to marry him there Is talk of the doctors daughter a common little thing when she had gone elinor a little faint and dizzy went out on the terrace she realized that the barrier between ward and herself was not only of his faith against her unbelief there was vas the insurmountable gulf between ills bis world and her world she did not fit into his life into his bis arm perhaps into his life ilfe never walter would try to get the money she must get word to him somehow for it if the bryant pearl was recovered and boroday given his freedom money would not be an immediate feces vity sity 1 she paced the terrace and tried to think it out for talbot to go back to the city an hour for the delivery of the special delivery another hour then the police would have to come out by train or motor with the best of luck it would be four before the pearl could be recovered there were a dozen possibilities the chief might be out of town the pearl might be recovered from the box without his assistance in that case he would not hold to his bis agreement with boroday she tried to head walter off but she could not locate him at none of his bis various haunts could she find him by telephone he was not at the bagos at the taxicab office he was said to be laid off tor for the day As the white clouds of the afternoon turned to flame in the sunset elinore Eli nors face grew set and hard im riot not blind ill get him for this I 1 that was what he be had said he would go after the money that night and there was murder in his heart old henriette Henr lette watching elinore Eli nors set face grew fretful she squealed if a door slammed brought food that elinor could not eats eat and finally divining a crisis tried stealthily by telephone to locate talbot or lethbridge and failed r p better eat a bite or two she entreated elinore Eli nors nerves too were on edge 1 I dont want it she said just a little soup I 1 it if you bring that tray here again I 1 shall throw it out of the window henriette Henr lette was cheered elinor whIte lipped and speechless was alarming elinor in one of her rare rages was reassuring by seven elinor knew what she must do go to ward tell him what she feared and how bow she kne knew she was not craven but her very soul was sick she sought about for some way to evade the issue or to postpone it and finally she struck on one on plain note paper she scrawled a little note in a feigned hand an attempt will be made tonight to secure the fund raised at the morning service be advised and give it to someone else to keep overnight but she realized before she had finished it the uselessness of such an attempt ward would not transfer a danger the night had fallen A line of cars from the country club was carrying town people and villagers home to the late dinners of the golf season groups of girls and men in summer garments chatting gayly passed under the wall of her garden down in the valley straggling lines of evening churchgoers moved decorously toward the churches A ragged child stood in the road below her garden and wept elinor ran down to him and took him up in her arms when she had bad soothed him she felt quieter r she went into the house and put on her hat bat there was no message from talbot no word of huff evening service was over when she reached saint judes judels the last straggler fler had gone and ward was not in sight she avoided the street lights she felt quite sure that walter was wag in the vicinity his keen eyes missing nothing ile he had put his hand band on her before she knew he was near worshiping again I 1 he jeered 1 I have riot not been in the church her quick mind was scheming desperately ahead 1 I have been alone this evening when you did not come I 1 he swung her around you were looking for me 1 I thought you might be here you sold said last night the memory of the night before stung him he released her wrist walter I 1 nm am afraid I 1 I 1 tried to make you understand last night but you listen if he were roused he be might be dangerous dont take chan chances cep dont think because he Is a churchman she was talking against time sho she had her plan now 1 I cad can tahe takee care of myself said huff sullenly lenly bui ho he kept his place beside her as she ehe started back her was for or him then she arcil after all but it do to unbend too much elinor had bad treated him with a high hand band ills very pulse ached with her nearness but chedid he did not touch her he left her without even achand a band clasp you might wish me luck 1 I wish you safety she replied he stood down in the road and watched her shadowy figure threading its way along the garden paths he had a wild impulse to run after her to kneel in the earth at her feet and cry out for her old tenderness for her alst ful eyed caresses then into his suspicious licious young heart crept the vision of elinore Eli nors face when he had planned his new coup 1 I shall warn him she had said huffs buffs mouth was hard as he be turned dmd d walked down the hill i I 1 CHAPTER X A i I 1 into and through her garden elinor walked quietly until she was safe from surveillance then she ran swiftly ruthlessly across across th the 1 e flow flower 1 er beds through the roses the terrace was lighted she avoided it making a detour that led by a side entrance into old hilares Hi larys library for obvious reasons old hilares Hi larys private telephone was in a soundproof sound proof closet before walter had taken a hundred watchful paces down the road she had bad ward at the other end of the line what with running and terror she could hardly speak once long ago she had bad heard a discussion between boroday and her father about the use of tho the telephone its ita substance was that when the transmitter Is held to the chest a clear message may be sent but with the effect of distance she held the transmitter to her breast then and it seemed to her that ward must hear the throbbing lot her heart hello hello I 1 came his quick response ro no need to ask who it was abe she knew every inflection of his voice e this Is a friend elinor panted 1 I want to tell you something yes very incisive now tonight very soon an attempt she stopped what was she doing she her fathers daughter the head of the bandl band I 1 by warning ward she 1 I can take care of myself might be sending walter to his death A vision of old hilary gray headed keen eyed at this very telephone flashed into her mind old hilary whose religion had been of keeping the faith not with his bis god but with his bis men who are you the impatient voice was saying in her ears are you sure you want me this is ward of saint judes 11 elinor quietly hung bung up the telephone transmitter and stood in the darkness her hands to her throat threat old henriette Henr lette ever watchful camo came into the library beyond elinor could hear her wandering about knew the moment when she discovered her wrap on a chair heard beard her plaintive adico speaking through a window to the empty terrace miss elinor she called miss elinor I 1 elinor let her go when her shuffling footsteps had bad bandied died away elinor took the receiver down again and called the assistant rec rectors hectora tora house but this time she spoke directly into the transmitter Tb this isis Is elinor kingston mr yard nyard I 1 wonder if you are very tired tonight III 1 I tired rm pm never tired because I 1 am thinking of asking you to care up 1 I there are some things I 1 want wani totals to talk about questions that aro troubling me I 1 know it is late but 1 I saw you at the early service of course ill come up he had seen her then theal I 1 ill do my best helas he was saying of course you know I 1 may disappoint you these questions that come from within must be answered in the same way but im coming at ati once elinore Eli nors battle ewas was only half fought but she had a great hense sense of relief let him meet walter on the way so much the better let huff know that ward was out and the offering presumably unguarded ile he might hate the man but no hope of a d running fight with him would deter him from his main object the money to save word ward she was willing even anxious to let walter succeed women sometimes meet large crises with small vanities but elinor had no vanity without so much as a glance at the mirror she went out into the garden to listen for wards step on the road she knew his walk already the forceful certain step of an energetic and purposeful man man the illuminated dial on the steeple of the baptist church showed something after ten tea when ward finally came up the hill the relief of seeing him unharmed sent elinor down the terrace steps with both hands out before he could take them ward was obliged to stoop and deposit on the ground at her feet a small box that he carried the morning collection he said smiling and took her hands in his her quick alarm showed in her face but you are reckless I 1 to go about with so much money P ward was following her up the he steps 1 I dare say it Is safer with me than any place else in the world did anyone ever hear bear of an assistant rector going about with a fortune in his hand he followed her into the library and placed the box on the great table where old hilary had bad been wont to divide the annual earnings of the band ward pointed to it with his bis humorous smile would anyone suspect he said that in that box bos there Is a stone parish house a new church organ and a childrens playground then glancing at her with keen eyes he was struck by her pallor you to ask me it if I 1 am tired I 1 he cried why you poor child it Is you w who ho are worn out it be better to have me come tomorrow an and d go over the things you spoke about 1 I think we had better talk about them now said elinor desperately calm at a quarter before eleven that sunday night old henriette Henr lette bent on her evening task of sending elinor to bed wandered into the library she found word ward his earnest face glowing e expounding the tenets of his bis faith from the edge of his chair and elinor lying back with her face drawn watching the clock on the mantel old Henr henriette lette astounded withdrew not to sleep but with the wakeful alertness of old age to wander up and down the garden paths until such time as minors elinore Eli nors visitor might leave ward suddenly realized that he was making small headway when at last he be caught elinore Eli nors eyes dyes on the clock he flushed and rose ive done it all very badly he said 1 I seem to wander all about and not get anywhere you see its all so real to me P elinor had leaned back with closed eyes it Is all very terrible to me she replied this god of vengeance P this god of tenderness and mercy ward supplemented dont you see what it all means how terrible this life would be if this were aall all I 1 our little lives full of jealousies and hatreds and crimes I 1 bringing that box over there on the table up here with me tonight because I 1 dare not trust it to my fellow men I 1 who could co uld not sleep last night for thinking of yo you who are all that Is good and sweet and tender up here alone in this thiis great house with god knows what danger lurking about elinor had reached her limit the band of her self control snapped she could not hold him much longer and before lie he went he must know whan I 1 sent for you she said 1 I imd had two to reasons I 1 wanted to see you please As ho he took a step toward her and I 1 wanted to save you from something that I 1 know of M TO en CONTINUED coNTiN unD |