| Show f T THE H Eo KEEPER K p E i j 0 OF F T. T THE E. E H HOUSE USE I r would 4 V. V h be bo furio furious ni- ni nt with ith it If I t BY ALICE LICE and CLAUDE ASK ASKE I f f If i t f J l Copyright ht 1913 b ty by tb the North American C Go Co I i. i i r r f I c r i SYNOPSIS S E Beatrice Thorpe a god haired golden n fj beauty of or 21 n. n is on oa the thc theer er verge e of or matri- matri J r mon when hen she Iio hEl discovers that Bhe iho doc doesn't t love o e tho man n t to whom sh she hasI has I been en engaged for four tour years rears He re is Wilfred a young oung barrister t h I 1 seemingly of or brilliant mental attainments attain attain- m ments but nevertheless no unable to tomake 4 m make ko much of or a a. mark In his profession I y I In fact ho he ha has not been able to reach a a. living income and aud has been Blip Blip- i ported by his older and more ful rul brother Ro Roger er who ho is going to Kettle zetto pounds on him wh when n he lie weds While Wilfred IB is a regular lar Sir Galahad Galar Gala Gala- r had iad his has fallen In love 10 with f the senior brother who vho is is It of a n. rougher r. r type but with considerable more mora sub suu- atance The latter ha has hafl m made de a a. fortune for for- tune tuno in lii South Africa but has 11 returned f to England where he Immediately f fell ll c j in love love- with Ith Miss Thorpe who while 1 1 i desirable in every vl way is as poorly off oft J In this worlds world's goods hoods as 5 the young f i law lawvor lavor or she sho has s promised to marry marr L When within a n. week eck of oC the time set et for tor her har marriage the young woman virtually forces a confession slon of ot their love Jove which t has all along been mutual from the older brother A man of or tho the highest honor he bids her keep her prom promise Iso and tells teUs her ho would not for or world rob rb his brother brothel of his bride CO CONTINUED TI FROM LAST SU SUNDAY DAY CHAPTER III sat eat at In the dining room ROGER JOGER smoking his pipe lie Ire had drawn a big leather armchair right up in front ot oC the tho hearth and md nd the tho firelight ht blazing on his face leo revealed how Ur tired d dho k ho looked how hop troubled in spirit For this his strong primitive e man lean had gone on through an immense deal during the thc thelast last lavt few few hours Ho JIo had be been n fighting a. a ahard hard battle with Ith himself lIn end ond no now that thal the fierce J struggle glo was over oyer and his finer nature h hail had won the conflict he felt worn out and exhausted He lic was thankful and more than thankful that he lie was alone for tot it was close on tW two tivo hours no now since Miss Emmas Emma's neat brougham had come round to The Lilacs and Beatrice and Wilfred Wilfred Wilfred Wil Wil- fred accompanied b by the dainty old lady h bad d deputed departed to the ball Beatrice Boger ser ger remembered had h-d been as 98 white as as her dress and her har eyes eres had been J 1 ringed rinsed with h heavy n black circles His Hla theart heart had ached to see sec her ached painfully painfully pain pain- tull fully yet he had not dared to utter anything but a conventional goodnight and ana she sho had barely given gl him her herband herband band baud simply touching him with ith the I i tips Ups of ot her cold fingers er It was a a. wild stormy night tho the rain coming down In torrents and the i wind Ind shrieking and anh moaning moaning- swirling round tho hourc houte uttering loud wailing wailingS S if cries rattling down tile the chimney and shaking the thc window panes pane 0 5 Cur Curse Curc c the thc wind muttered Roger S it howls like liko a lost lott soul tonight He glanced over 1 his shoulder as he spoke for he lie had a curious feeling that somo on one w was s standing tan behind him him him-a a w weird uncanny presentiment ment that ho lie 4 was not alone In the room then room then he ho laughed au hed at himself for fOl such foolish fancies such fanCies such old wives wives' cs 1 tears fears It was iaz very dark in m the dining room thou though h. h and the tho two high hiSh candles burning on the tho mantelpiece gave but a u. feeble light lIht so o that the big room wa was half In shadow hadow There were portraits I of ot Miss Emmas Emma's ancestors hanging allt all t round the walls walls stiff stiff old fashioned portraits of oC dead men and dead women wom worn en and cit and Roger felt their painted eyes S fixed upon him He shifted in his c What hat did the they think of ot him he wondered f lent hent folks folk of or the past Were the they sorry for him Had they ever e suffered t as he was aa 5 Ing Ing loved and renounced A bell rang the bell of oC the outside door door ant and Roger felt puzzled as to who S could be calling at The Lilacs at such R a late lato hour tot for it was now past 11 Still SUll It was no affair alir- of ot his hia for tor he was only onh a 0 guest thoro thero himself yet et he lie wondered who stood stool outside the do doOr r He had hat heard no rumble o of I carriage wheels no sound o of horses horses' 5 hoofs hoolI so so that whoever craved cra admittance admittance admit admit- tance had come on foot Coot plodding through h the wind and null rain and the theS S drifting snow S He heard hear the old ohi butler patt pattering down tho the hall tiLe the SlOW MOW creak of oC the key Joey being turned In iii the tho lock and when t. t i the door opened It seen seemed ed a as ag if a 3 hla blast t of or wind Ind anI and rain ruin swept in then caineS' caineS came caine S' S the low murmuring murmuring- of voices voices mens mena voices halt half drowned b by the sobbing of tho the storm tho the drench of oC falling rain J n Roger knocked the tho ash out of oC his hisor pipe e on or the Hurb of or lh the thio grate and proCeeded pro- pro to fill the thic bowl with tobacco IFo ITe would smoke for 01 another halt half hour 4 he reflected and then go to b bed d and I try his best to sleep to for l' l h he might be beable beable able table to f forgot got Beatrice In lila his dreamt dream dream- t J. J he prayed be lie ml might ht not dream about her Mr though Then as ho thou thought ht of oC Beatrice ho he ceased to listen to tho the storm or oz to tu remember that the ballS hall ball S door floor of or Tho Lilacs still sUll stood tood op open n JIe forgot er c everything In the world till heard the sound of or the butlers butler's voice and found that thit tb th tho old man had hind come into the room and andas was vas address address- f Sn lug ing him somewhat anxiously j t Theres fh n. n man just come conic come conic light through the snowstorm sir sir and and r he e says aS a'S his hia business la is with t Mr fr Heron Herem l' l but out would he be meaning you or Mr Wilfred I think to aak a l But to Ia say r the tho truth the tho old servantS servant cr S dropped Cropped his voice olce to to a low m mysterious Whisper t grasper ho is a a. rough looking man nd nci i 1 dont don't much like the look ook of ot him or or f his coming at It this hour for there na l a B a a. burglary up at t Canon Raner 8 you QU mR may Hl C heard beard apt lant week and anda Ce ie have hae a lot of or silver here here tine fine old eor la n plate t e 54 5 ned and knit his lila bro brows 8 y S sort of chap you Ott Oll A. A clarc 5 J f sort ort of chap Id i- i piLa Ball Bailey T spread out his hands bands iere e- e esir sir you ou couldn't nave nac doii de- de e- e ii 0 rt rl th tho mn man otter bettor r. r ho answered red I look R a daredevil U sort Bort of tel fel- a a regular rb j 1 tramping vagabond I. I Not ot the sort of person It would be safe saCe to let lot into a at 11 o'clock s so I put the chain across the hall hail door Ho smiled with Ith pleasant cunning as asIf asIf asIf If he expected Roger Hoger to praise him but the latter did nothing of ot tho kind In- In t he lie lose 1050 impatiently nth to his lila feet and frowned at the timorous old but but- leI ler Let the poor devil il in in he said sald It ItIs Itis It Itis is not the thc night to turn a t do dog from the doors listen to the rain pelting down Besides s the tho man nian you ou describe is enough a R. pal of mine some mine some friend of oC my amy mining days das a poor chap down on hi his UPP uppers who uppers who Ii who has found out that I am staying here and has tramped miles mUes to a see flee e me Halle Bailey save gave on e a deferential bow Where am sin I to show the gentleman sit sir he lie asked His HisS boots wOuld bo be rather lather muddy mudd for tor the dining room 1 Theres There's the little room now leading ot off the hall hail hallwhich which Miss Mies Beatrice us uses es as a a. kind of ot studio Theres There's a fire tire there tonight t. t I Yes show the fellow in there I Roger interrupted He was racking his brains as to who tho the mysterious In Intruder In- In might be e. e for Cor he knew lenow so many men of the t typo PI the old olti butler had described black described sheep who had gorto gozo orto astray goats who had ben been driven en forth into U the wilderness R to starve e He lie heard Bailey shuttle shuffle out of tho the dining room and he hc listened to a l. l short colloquy which took place between the time butler and the unknown visitor in the tho hall hail but he could not distinguish any words the wind was howling too loudl loudly and the rain and snow snow lashIn lashIng lash- lash In log Ing down with greater reater violence than e eAt eVe ever At last Bailey came carrie back The person sir he Is s waiting ai ln for you ou in tho the studio I have lit the tho lamp The old man paused a R. moment then added with considerable lion tion IJ lie He is really rall a very rough rough- I looking individual indi If anything n I should i b be wrong you'd oud ring you'd-ring ring for 01 me at nt once wouldn't you ou sir Ir Roger nodded and a a. faint taint smile flitted over o his face for Cor he lie admired the old mans man's flash lash or of spirit then still sUlI smiling ho lie took his slow wa way down o n the thc hall huh to the tho small room where tho stranger er wa was awaiting him a room which he ho felt fell some Iome Intense p. p curiosity curl curl- os It to see ec now noi that he had been told Beatrice used it as s a a. studio lo He lie knew she was as fond rond of ot painting but hut sh sho hi had n never neven Cl shown him an any of or h her r rork work ork for they hind had made friends up in London where Beatrice often often otten stayed stae with with-i friends and this was the tho first time he ho had visited Th The Lilacs He opened the door then started back with some surprise for fOl he thought he remembered that Bailey had told him he had lit the lamp yet et th the tho room was plunged In darkness darkness- blank engulfing darkness What did it ft mean What was up up He Re hesitated a second then stepped boM boldly across tho the threshold Is any one In this room oom 1 he de de- de Answer and and give ghe your our ml name a am A amA man laughed a a low ugly laugh lauh 1 I give I e you ou her name instead he lie answered His voice spoke poke out of or the tho darkness Shall Sinai I t tell lf you ou that I come from Crom Lydia Stanley From Lydia St Stanley nley repeated no Roger er What the tho devil il do you mean 7 Who ho Is Lydia Stanley I 1 never ne heard th the name before lIe He struck a a a. match as he spoke anI Mid and n. n as he lie did so o a n. man cam camp forward ornard from the corner cornel wh where re he hA had b been en standing a t tall tahl rough looking fellow cHow whom Roger failed to recognize Ah Ahi h. you dont don't remember Lydia do O you OU Mr r. r Hel n the man said in low menacing tone then as the flare of Ctr tho the match revealed rC no Ropers Roper's ers er's face race to him he star started Led back with a n. hoarse cr cry Curse it all all who are nrc you Joon h ho AX- AX x x- x claimed I r came hero tonight to find timid rl I CHAPTER PTER IV P. c U A XI instead of or Wilfred Heron neron f you have ha found Cound h his is brother Ro Roger er spoke in slow stead steady tones lones then oven even as the t two o men I gazed at each other silently search- search the match Roger was holding in his hand flickered and went out So youve you've n never ner er heard Wilfred 1 speak of or Lydia Stanley Stanle oh eh eh That's a name hes he's thought better than to mention men muon- tion in this house The strange stran-c. unbidden guest spoke in hoarse jarring tones but his voice olee wa was wag that thal of oC an educated man it was wa full of ot bitterness howe however 1 and a a. curious contempt He seemed to be hurling scorn at Roger venom Roger venom I r have ha never ne h heard ard my brother broth or mention men men- tion lion Lydia Ldla Stanleys Stanley's name I was wa unaware unaware un un- un- un aware that such a a. person existed even evon Roger Hog fumbled about in fri the time dark for fora forn a n moment and antI at last succeeded in finding tho the lamp Ho lit it quietly then thon turned and fixed his eyes ees on the tho Intruder He lie was very verv calm and compo com com- po posed po cd but ut ho lic wanted t to pet get et to the tho bottom of the matter maUer and hear what the man had to say the say the tall rou rough rough- h- h looking looking- fellow tellow who faced him clad lad in such clothes anti and with a 0 hUn hungry n wolfish look in his dark ee eyes ami his lila chin chum bad badly In need of a shave r I I beg bes your our pardon pardon ou you look an arm Honest man an and God knows know there thelO are f few o of th them about but mv my brains brain's brainson on oil fire tire I r am half halt craz crazed 11 with a sense of lily inv poor sisters sister's wrongs my sister who hio is s breaking breaking- her heart because your precious brother has pla played t d her hem false raise What hat do 10 you mean Incan Do you vou re realize realize re- re alize what you ou are saying Why h you OU must be bp mad Wilfred has n never yel pla played ed edan an any woman false he ho h has s been devoted to the tIme lady he Is rs going to marr marry for years Ears Vh Why hA he absolutely absolute l worships Miss Thorpe She means menns the whole world to him hint S Fo so o he lie tells tell you vou so 00 o he lie tells 5 most likely Weely hut m my sister could coult n oen your rOUT eyes es finely finely m m mv poor tty pretty little Lydia Look t l here re Mr Ir Stanley l I presume that Is your OUT name name name- you you ou must explain yourself more fully ull If you OU want me mc von even to listen to your our wild statement My I brother f Ts is cr very d dear ar to mt me understand under under- stand tand and I T have o time thi greatest rN respect ani admiration for Miss Thorpe Thorp so 80 all this reference to your yonI sister is 18 most mORt S no Roger r breathed the thc words word hot hotly i but the other othAr man merely uh laughed ugly rJ ugly lauchter thou laughter then all aU unbidden drew up upa a hall hair In front of ot the few red ashes aphes still burning i in th the tho grate and lank s-ank down heavily You Tou OU ha haven't nt n a drop Qt whiskey to offer a n. fell fellow U T suppose he ho asked ld sullenly Im wet ct to the Vie skin and ancl my clothes are art none of oC UI the warmest t. t You rou shall sh have a drink at once I Im I'm m sorry T I forgot ot to offer you 1 one PI Roger I lal rang time the bell and old Rn Bailey 11 e made nade hf hum his Immediate appearance a anti ami nor had Iad a shrewd suspicion that tlc the plucky old fellow had lu be been n hanging about Rho outside waiting to s see e ir it he lie would t b bp be- nf needed e- e eltI so If o ho lie gave a the time butler Lutier a reassuring nod S. S Brim in tile the Tailor ami amin n 1 some n soda water pt-id pt tn tumblers pies so c. c relieved look 1001 air sIr A came over O BanC Baileys Bailey's 6 face and h ho I cheerfully enough out omit of ot tho this room to S I j |
