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f SYNOPSIS. ^^>Mary Pagre. actress, is accused of the ^nuxac-r of Jatr:<_s Pollock ar: 1 is defended Ifcy her lover, Pfcilip Lansdon. PoiiocK pvas intoxicated. At Mary's trial she adfmits she had the revolver. Her maid testifies that Mary threatened Pollock with it previously, and Mary's leading | man implicates Langdon. IIow Mary dis- j appeared from the scene of the crime is a mystery. Brandon tells of a strange hand j print he saw on Mary's shoulder. Further evidence shows that horror of drink pro- j luces temporary insanity in Mary. The; lefense is "repressed psychosis." Wit- j pesses describe Mary's flight from her in- j loxicated father and her father's suicide, purse Walton describes the kidnaping of I Mary by Pollock, and Amy Barton tells of Mary's struggles to become an actress, of Pollock's pursuit of her and of another n/*?!jrinn when the smell of liauor drove Mary Insane. There is evidence that DanBB iels, Mary's manager, threatened Pollock. Mary faints on the stand and again goes; K Insane when a policeman offers her j Br whisky. POLLACK'S THREAT. | ^HE green shaded lamp flung a HI wide pool of mellow light over the scattered papers on the taI A ble and brought out. boyish Huts in Langdon's dark head as it lay his folded arms, sank in ineffable KCCUIUCOd. Ail through the long hours of the t Bght he had kept his lonely vigil?now Bring over the legal documents on the Bble, now pacing the floor in a frenzy HB anxiety, or making his way down Re echoing corridors to look in with Bute suffering at the room where Dr. Boster and Nurse Walton watched so : Blently "beside a moaning, twitching Bgure on a narrow prison bed. But ^^Bhen the scanty furniture of the office Bras gradually emerging from the en% ^ _ a. _ * _;v i Ig cioajx 01 mgai mio visioie ug- j tie bad at last sunt into a doze plete exhaustion. Miss Walton, to the door, an eager message lips, turned silently and pityingy. Some betraying sound reach, however, and he lifted his head start, blinking to find the lampaling before the gray of moraling, he got to his feet and to the window. He flung it Qd drew in great breaths of tbe :he first time since Mary's at' madness in the courtroom he 1 ? 11 i j ^ wetuizeu luuy now ueuieuuuus au asKet the tragedy was to the defense, and Rn spite of his grief, as a lover, over Bier suffering, the, lawyer in him exKilted in the episode which cemented Bto place the cornerstone of his case. flrThe thought of this lent a hint of Buoyancy to his tired body as he made wiother trip to the cell where, at Dr oster's orders, tliey had carried Mary. Hill screaming with frenzy. Mary herself was sleeping soundly Hhen he glanced into the cell, and Dr rroc nn hie fnAf fro nlrlv Cffrotnh. Ilpow^a nao vu uu? ilxvllssxij ocawlvu jg, while Miss Walton was bathing her fed eyes at the basin in the corner. Both greeted him with a smile, and. iswering the question in his eyes ther than the one he huskily whis^red with his lips. Dr. Foster said: ^She will be all right now. She oke, conscious, Just after your last sit and is now sleeping soundly, here's nothing to worry about?at ast, not just at present" Thank GodT Langdon's voice broke i the words, and Dr. Foster put opt I hand and patted the shoulder of A ?Ann<vA? vmovi ooni^r>rrltr corirxy* I. innii icaosuiuigi;, ^?j - j Rve all say that, but you'd better go some rest now; yon look done up.'* fch, I'm all right," said Langdon. (ut, Doctor, is she?is it going to be [ssible to go on with this trial? Can ary bear it?" MI think so." The answer came slowi uOf course yesterday's scene was Ll very bad. But yon must realize at the attack, while it was plainly Ie to the'whiskey thrust upon her, ls only to some extent brought about the fact that the liquor was handLher at a time when she was hysIcal and had been re-enacting events it kept her earlier experiences conptly in her mind. Given healthy poundings and happiness, I wouldn't! try about attacks in the future." Ingdon nodded absently, for his rt was echoing the earlier words of [great alienist: "Given healthy surfcdlnrs and hatroiness I wouldn't Iy about attacks iu the future," he was vowing to himself that what it might, he would yet win lorn and happiness for her. had not dared hope that she d be well enough for the trial to nue for some daps at least but t she woke a few hours later she1 ti she was perfectly able to go Iburt even then. And so, no more lan bmnr late, the proceedings ftoctinued. B hour had seemed a very short Mary and to Langdon, but it ators who crowded the rooms to oors, whispering excited reminlts of the day before. mini iii i 111 i i in n run iiiiinr m miin i 1 IlC m rr vy\ w v M l\ I The Grc?it McClure My: FREDERICK LEWIS JOHN T. M'lNTYRS, kirk Deceive Stcriej c.r:u ZL^JGnc ^Vh;Hevcr do'ihts !k:<1 lingered in the ' minds m the public :is to the voracity ; and the strength <>r' the defence built ! up by La;iUi'.'.;i ir: i been shattered at one blow. For Mary. : * everyone said, might indeed li.V e been actress enough to feign madaess :it the sight of the ! drunken policeman, but she could not ! have feigned that great bruise on her j shoulder. The shadow of the gripping i U ?* " 1? 4 K AnA c/?o i?c 1 iati ao ] ? it i uauu ILLl liJ^f u\i\JL oiui ^ ucuvaiu .?*. | told mutely of how the cruel fingers j had torn into the tender flesh. The newspaper bearing Dr. Foster's j article on "Repressed Psychosis" which the- District Attorney had so sarcastically introduced as evidence had been pored over by every juryman, and from coast to coast the dramatic story '' .. ' ' % ^ " : V W She Came In, Very Pale, Very Wan, but Serenely Calm and Smiling. of the scene in court was the one subject at the breakfast table of rich and poor alikeIt seemed incredible to those who had watched the frenzied, screaming woman carried out the day before that she could ever regain her sanity. When she came in, very pale, very wan, but serenely calm and smiling, nothing but the fear of being shut out from the final scenes of the great drama kept the crowds from wild applause. The prosecutor alone did not look at her. He felt at that moment almost as if he hated her with personal vindic tiveness. For he. too. had had an all night vigil, seeking some ruse or legal technicality that would keep the events of the day before out of the records of the case. He knew only too well that any jury, having seen Mary's seizure, would be readily convinced that she might have suffered in the same fashion on the night when James Pollock was killed, and that if they were convinced of that, proving Mary's guilt was going to be the hardest struggle he had ever known. In consequence the opening hours of ? 1-- a i ? ??^ COUIT were marseu uy a series ui iullcx i wrangles during which even his honor) lost his temper, and the restlessness of ' the spectators became open disorder But for all his acidity of wit and skill at argument it was a losing fight that the District Attorney waged. He was conscious of that himself. Therefore it came as no surprise when it was at last brought summarily to an end by the judge, who ordered the testimony or tfce policeman as to Mary s mauoess i entered as evidence. With a long breath of relief Langdon turned back toward his seat, suddenly becoming conscious that he was holding a crumpled scrap of paper which the bailiff had thrust into his hand some moments before. He remembered now that the court officer had said something when he gave it to him, but he hadn't caught the words, and it was with entire indifference that he opened the note and read the hastily scrawled words. But at the sight of them indifference gave place to excitement Crumpling the paper up in his hand, he turned sharply to the bailiff. "Call George Brennan!" he said, and there was triumph in his tones. Brennan was the same cleancut young detective who had told of the disappearance of Daniels, and the first question asked him revealed what had been In the note. "Mr. Brennan, I have Just received a message which says that you have found Mr. Daniels. WH] you tell the court, please, the circumstances of the finding of the missing man?" XXTxiTl H nroen'f- a qp of finding' him," said tbe detective, with a smile. **You see?he Just came home! I "/as hanging around tbe apartment house in case anyone brought a message to Mrs. Daniels when I saw him come into t&e V^stiirafe. He rh$d \ three days' growth of beard on his face, | a*d h^clothes were all mussed up as f If fceM been sleeping in them. He / / , f ge Case of TT^ A /f% IL0 ?3 s&$ I Pi iu \ >tery Story, Written by In Collaboration With Author of the Ashtcn Head the Story iy Tyl0'C'iii-j 'Pictures opyri^'ht, i ^ 15. by McClure Publi .fciic-i xiAJKZJ-?' 'ii&JS. ?TuT -r: % looked like ;i hum after a rhree 'lays' jag. but I had no trouble reeo-iii/ing him." | **L'id lie seem ex' ited?or anxious to get into the buildiag without being seen "Xo. lie moved slowly, as if he was dazed. lie hesitated quite a while be- , fore he rang the bell of his apart- 1 rnent, but as soon as 'he'd pushed it j he got impatient, and kept calling. ! Hello!' up the speaking tube, and : when someone answered he said 'Open ! the door quick! It's me?your father.' ' When the latch clicked he went in, but ! ? i . i jt I lie maae no enort 10 ciose me aoor after him, so I followed. Both Mrs. Daniels and the daughter were in the doorway of the apartment to meet him, and while they were kissing and hugging him I walked in." "Did Daniels seem startled at the sight of you T "No. He seemed sort of stupid as if he was sleepy, but when Mrs. Daniels told him I was a detective and that he was wanted as a witness in the Page trial he woke up fast enough and got very excited He said he had nothing to tell and wouldn't accept service of any subpoena. 4I don't know anything/ he kept saying, and when I asked him where he had been he said he'd been on a little spree to forget his business troubles." "Did you tell him he would have to onnflif i n /lAiirt 7' iu v.vui t "Yes. But it wasn't what I told him about the law, but what his wife said that seemed to convince him. She told him she had every faith in him, and that what he had to tell wouldn't do any harm, and for him to go. So he said he would if I'd give him time to wash up." "Is Mr. Daniels in court now?" ."Yes, sir. He is in the witness room. A stir of excitement swept through the room, but deepened to an ominous whisper of suspicion when. Brennan 'dismissed, the bailiff summoned the former manager of Mary Page. For Daniels slunk into the room with an ashen face and trembling hands. Great beads of sweat stood out visibly on his fnrohoarl his voipa whpn took the oath was husky and uncertain. If ever guilt was written large upon any man, it was apparently written upon the erstwhile jaunty theatrical mana ger. The judge, studying him with eyes psychologically keen, wished he had the full papers of this case before U?tvt 4/v 1/vn rk/\TTf Trrif r\/\CiCi Li nil tu i train inuie ux tuio u cw w iluttoo. ana inwardly vowed a recess to study them should the evidence take any un expected turn. Daniels, however, re covered some measure of self-control under the preliminary questioning and gave his occupation as "manager of the Covington Theatre" with a hint of pompousness, but Langdon's next ques tion brought the startled look back into his eyes. "Mr. Daniels, you say you knew the defendant well and that you starred her in 'The Seekers.' Will you tell us frankly, please, just what made you '7.:-'...V.V. jf : r v::;>S% / v'c : Jl :::::: ^ ^3 ^ iTj)^ "' y-'' ^ggB{B>Seffiow*RMaD8QWEa^SBw9BSB^^^B8Sg?SBSMS^MM<h6QaTOBKS^yyajr8Sro>.^ t "I starred Miss Page because Jim Pollock said he would put up the money." select Miss Page for the leaiing role of the new play and what share*James Pollock had in your decision?" For an instant Daniels hesitated and cast a furtive look at Mary. Then, clearing his throat, he said with a hint of brnsqueness: "Well, I guess ifs no secret now. 1 starred Miss Page because Jim Pol lock said be would put up the money to back the show If I would give he/ the chance." Mary gave an Involuntary gasp of dismay, and again Daniels shot a fur- i tive glance in her direction aa Langdon asked: "Dki Miss Page know of thiaT "Of course not I told her that I had seen her work in stock and thought : *gfie was a 'good &ctr6&&." ' 1 , '"What agreement did ytxs have with J Mr. Pollock regarding bla attention to Miss Page?' ' ~ f "X<-uo. TIi it wasn't inv business. That \>:.s i:]? iu Lira. /All I askt-d was fair p'::.v- a:H- tin*t he sh:>uM >;:k i ? even ii Miss I'jive iun:cd him down. J knew^he didn't like him." "Isn'l '! *:*"(' I :::' v?>:i h;: 1 a witli Mr. I*?.:: n-k : .:: !y ; . y ;; j ;:vi j:<>rs;>i:> ; ^ !!' day M!.-s !';?? siuut ! In*r ci'iiir "Yl-s. it'-" ; .1;. was r:;: 1 ho ; ran-'.' y?.n brt'ii I i:i by M.-< Page t'? !: ov r her r.i a. LJ% f s:iid vnii were !>': i!:>ir i;i v. Page was <)!!<' < ? nc l. and !.o want ?i , IliO to lis , V'.>' > J'. *v: il'i'I.l i.:;' th: '5 It'?." Lanadon Pushed ! frown. !. Tlertx- i? member. .Mr. j >auiV!s." Lo saM ii "i!i:;r v<??j :*re J. , ; .. ,j . - , ..J],- \r quest, your honor, i':::r the name *M:\ 1 tangdon* be substituted for the word ; you." as 1 i?y 'vime.' Y<>ur-r?st i; ltjr'sai/t til.* judge. w!..? \ us still narrowly study ing L?aiiit !s. "Was t!:ar first day t ho only time you i and Mr. Pull" U quarreled about finan- i cial support for the play in case Miss I Page left the company?" The ones- J tion was quietly asked, but pregnant j wi:h a meaning that brought the blood i infr* nniii<i!.<'? fnro "No. it wasn't." bo snapped. "When ! I found bow dead set Miss Pnge was ! against him, I knew he^asn't going to win out in that same. I tried to make my position safe, but he wouidn't promise anything, unless I promised to arrange things so that you?I mean Mr. Langdon?was denied admission to the theatre." "When did you have the last quarrel on that subject with Mr. Pollock?" "On the day that 'The Seekers' opened." With an abrupt gesture Langdon caught up the sheet of paper on which were pasted the torn scraps of the note to Pollock and held It up before the witness. "Mr. Daniels, did you write that letter to Mr. Pollock?" "My God! Where did yon get that?" The cry was a confession, but Langdon repeated his question, and this time Daniels said with sudden sullenness: "Yes, I wrote it" "When?" "The day 'The Seekers' opened. There?had 'been a scene in Miss Page's dressing room, and?and?I was afraid the show would be queered if Pollock didn't let the girl alone." "Why didn't you finish it?" "Because"? Daniels hesitated and moistened his dry lips with a nervous tongue, "because?I?I?thought it sounded pretty raw, and I'd better'let things go till I saw Pollock that night" Again the ominous little murmur that meant suspicion crept through the room, and Daniels shuddered, gripping the sides of his chair to hide the trembling of his hands as Langdon turned to the stenographer and said quietly: "Mr. Wilson, will you be kind enough to turn to the testimony of the bellboy, *Joe,' as given yesterday and read it, beginning with the words, 'was there anyone in the hallway when you looked b^ck?" There was a slight rustling or papers. when the clear voice of the stenographer rang out "Question: Was there anyone in the hallway when you looked back? Answer: Yes. The fat man who had been at the banquet the one they called Mr. Daniels. Question: What was he doing? Answer: He was standing close to the door of the gray stiito with his ear against It as If he was listen- i lug." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. Now will j you please turn to the testimony of Randall Williams, and read the testimony beginning with the words, 'Where were you when you heard the shot? " "Question: * Where were you when you heard the shot? Answer: Just outside the door of the banquet room. Question: What did you do? Answer: I ran down the hall in the direction from which the sound came. Question: Did you meet anyone? Answer: - Yes. I ran bang into Daniels at the corner where the corridor turned. I nearly upset him, I guess, for he caught at my arm and held on as if to steady himself. Question:"? "That will do, thank you," cried Langdon sharply. "And now, Mr. Daniels, will you tell us what you did when you overheard the voices of Miss Page and Mr. Pollock talking in the gray suite and why you were so agitated when you met Mr. Williams?" "Because," the voice of the manager rose to a sudden scream, "because I thought he had killed them both?as he had threatened to do!" Tn An instant the Drosecutor was on his feet, but, quick as he was, the judge was quicker. The unexpected turn HAD come in the evidence, and his honor briefly announced a thirty minute recess. Had HE been the stage manager, rather than Daniels, he could not have chosen a more dramatic moment to bring the testimony to its temporary close. Every man and woman among the spectators was keyed to the highest tension by the swiftly moving events, 4-Visvasv f A tVjA ClXiU tw Uiup UVUl IUC3C UU^uw IV Lut. flatness of mere waiting strained patience to the breaking point The scraping of chairs along the floor, the shuffling of feet the waves of shrill whispering question and comment?all the sounds of restless humanity replaced the tense silence which had gone before?and when at last the clock bad ticked out its slow half hour and the bailiff brought Daniels back to the wit- i ness stand there was an audible sigh , of tellef frtfth tfte; ^pe<Jtatdfs that under u; any other circumstances would have i won a laugh from Langdon. Now, however, be was too intent upon the possibilities t!i;it !::y be!.!; 1 Daniels' startling sta;< i?:?. ;11 t?? be even conscious Of tile ftII*-: net' taaf was wnit-Iiii:ir with si! !i.;iv;11 <-nr:'is?:y t!:? enactr.:c!it ui t!:is ' I.r w; s p.ji.re than thank:"'. 1 t ? t :u \vh.;<e tlie p: ' fr : l 1 Le [ au?l it was with a rush <?i relief tiiut lie saw tl:c latter tal:e I.: s< at when court rea:;;! : :i!:,.o,.l that, after a.:, i'aaiels's i r was to pass without a le'jral wrangle. It made his first ; .. ; :t c >s . i )iO. "Mr. I yci .:ay that yon had hcarl .Mr. I k ihv.-aten to kill the 'fMHl.'iI:t : .. soli. u hi YOU 1111J f.;! that tiii'-at was ma/.e a:i I 'o wj: ' ro it \ o 11 an or,ca>i:-n w&en i : ' st . -:i:an unwitting a<-c-: : i :: I.;'.: >:\ uuring the re -::r. l-M'-'.l A st.il> <*auirht .it Mary's, throne :u (!u v.*o::Is lifting her head, s'u- ! I at L inrlon with such an expression in Iior eyes that for a : ~' KiSil llBlM A Startled Sob Caught at Mary's Throat. moment he forgot the court, the judge and the witness on the stand, and knew only, with a blinding rush of joy, that whatever happened?she loved him. That realization was surging thrnnffli Marv herself at the moment. and she felt as if she were seeing him for the first time?truly and fairly. The protective maternal instinct that is always the real keystone of a woman's deeper love came to the fore for the first time and was followed by a swift fierce gladness that James Pollock was dead! Whatever the tragedy and the suffering that enmeshed her. at least Philip was safe, and. at the thought all the fear and the horror of the law left her, and she drew a long happy breath that was almost a mute paean of gladness that it was she who could pay for his safety. Langdon himself was equally shaken by the wonderful little interlude that Ulr/v n e+roil? nf ennchino uau V.U1JUC UAC CL ou^uu. VA. through the dreary gloom of the court scene, but those about him attributed the unsteadiness of his voice to excitement and only Mary guessed the real reason and flushed rosily under her own thoughts. "Mr. Daniels." Langdon was asking in that strange, choked voice, "will you please tell the court the circumstances of the?the attempt upon my life?" "I didn't know it was, you know," protested Daniels. "I understood it was just to be a kidnapping?to?to get you?Mr. Langdon, I mean?out of the way till after the opening of The Seekers.'" "You say 'just a kidnapping,' Mr. Danic's." broke in the judge harshly. "Did yun not know that the law does not consider 'kidnapping' a light offence?" "Yes, I know." Daniels's voice was hnskv and unewtain. "I knew, but? all I had was invested In this new play, and if James Pollock had pulled out then, I'd have lost it all and?I've got a wife and daughter. I didn't think any harm would come to Mr. Langdon; in fact, Mr. Pollock promised it wouldn't, or I'd never have let that man Shale take the watchman's place." "When was that?" "During the rehearsals, as I said. Jim came to me and said that Philip Langdon was butting in too much, that he was upsetting Miss Page and mak ing trouble for him?that is Pollock? and he wanted him out of the way. Then he said he had a plan to kidnap Langdon and take him out to the country till after the opening of the play. At first I wouldn't listen, but?finally I?did. It sounded simple enough. I was to send for Langdon late tnat night, supposedly to ask him something about the Page contract- In the meantime we were to drug the watchman and let Shale?Pollock's jackal, they call him, you kn^w?take his plar \ Then when Mr. Langdon was leaving the watchman was to nab him and carry him out to a waiting automobile and cart him off." "Were these plans carried out?" "No. That is, not the latter part It was then that I found out about the attempt at murder." "Will you tell the court In detail Just what happened on that night?" "Well, I?X sent for Mr. Langdon," said Daniels nervously, **and he came. In the meantime we had given the regular watchman knockout drops and left him In a corner of the balcony, and Shale took his place. When Mr. Langdon was leaving I called this supposed watchman and, acting on Jim's instructions, told him to show Mr. Langdon out oi the stage door. But I tell yfloMifc W?K&y *> shrill note of hysterical emphasis?"I tell you I knew nothing of that open trap door in the stage. I thought tie I was ? ii.? to ?; ;:! i : out of t!;e theatre. Aiiii when i ' : 1 Mr. L dons cry? !~4 * . .. i ; ? move lor a ndnuto. T I r-.>hed I o w 11 a la! ui rr.t-i ? ?i j ao ;..ae ii^Lits. 1 yo;i tell w!': \ 'i saw;" "i saw Mr. I...:. _ .--u aaia^Sng t<> the i-(I. oJ aa open la. t led down - :ae t' ::t'y t'"Ot t ? tat.* eement collar , l?\ iv.*. an . Shaie stand: a-.r to one side, with a biaei:-ja<k in his band. L li:i a2i11 he was to hit Laia^tlon. ai:<l 1 si: :: .1hw,1 it awav from him and : Lu'Otl i.; iiu-1 ii Lack i.; <>:i the sla^e. . T!. > Yciy word--: he made uic I realizr he < 1*. i;i'r know in* real reason oftihat so I !i: i tite b'nek: jack me and {< ?:: Mr. Lanplon ;:> the :.'>or my-eo" and >av.- him safciy i array." "1 . i yo::%^\ e Mr. i'oil k-U a^:'!n that ! "Yes. Win n I ~ot had; to the stase I found hi:n there denouncing Shale ' for having failed to do !:i< part. an<l I when 1 asked him if he had meant j murder. he said. "Yes! I meant to have I him killed through an apparent acciT~". I ti ll you here I and now. that 1*11 kill Mary Page and I I'll kill myself, before I^angdon shall win her!' That's what Jim Pollock said, and that's what I thought he had done?that night. 1 SWEAR I didn't go into that room! But I heard them quarrel, and I heard the scream and the shot. And I thought he'd done it ?and I ran away, in sheer horror? that's all! My God! You must believe me. It's true that I quarreled with Jim Pollock, not once, but many times. It's true that he didn't play fair with me, but can t you see tnat I naa everything to lose.and nothing to gain by his death! It's meant ruin to me? and ruin to my wife and little girl" His voice broke pitifully o^er the last words. Leaning forward, fce buried his face in his shaking hands, waiting for the next question. But it didn't come. That tragic outburst had carried conviction, not merely to Langdon. but to everyone in the room, and whatever shadows of suspicion had hung over Mr. Daniels faded before the pitiful but indubitable veracity of his story. The mystery, if mystery it was, of James Pollock's death was still as impenetrable, and the cords of the low fhflf- fnr a time seemed to be lOOS ening from about Mary Page, bad tightened again. But to Mary and Langdon that testimony of the manager had brought something that for the time at least J seemed greater than the -aw?an un! derstanding of Mary's heart vision of | what might yet be if freedom could be j won for her. It was a strange moment for a great i love to find expression, and a strange j story wmon naa waKenea it, ami. ; while Langdon felt deep in his heart that no words were needed after that glance of Mary's he could not forbear following her to her cell when court had adjourned. She glanced up at him with sudden shyness when he came in, and her hands went out waveringiy. but whether to hold him off or to cling " ^ she cpuld not herself have told. Langdon had no doubts, however, and caught them close in his warm grasp , and drew her to him in a silence more eloquent than words. Then, stooping till his cheek lay against her hair, he whispered unsteadily: "Mary, when Daniels told of James Pollock's attempt on my life, your eyes said something to me that they have I never said before. Did you monn it, ' dear?" Then, as she clung to him mutely, he laughed softly and added: "I know you did. You can never deny it now. my darling, and when all this is over, I am going to ask yoa a i ! "1?I think you'd better go now, piease, Phil!" question?and?and make you put into words what your eyes told me today. May I. Mary?" For an instant she swayed against i him, her head buried in fcis shoulder, the:: with a sad little sob she drew back. "That's all such a long, long way In the future, Phil," she said wearily. "Oh, let's not even think of it There are so many things in between." "Dear!" he cried in sudden pity, and would have taken her in his arms again, but she shook her head and turned away, saying unsteadily: "I?I think you'd better go now, please, Phil! I'm so tired." j "0f course," he answered quickly, contrition in his voice. "I was a brute to bother you now. Only. I wanted you to know, dear, that whatever happens my love is around you. and I will protect you?with my life, if need be." Catching up one of her -alender little hands, he crushed it against Tais lips. j Then he was gone. ?T? be continued.] I Willi II