THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA.
The Hollow
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SYNOPSIS.
t'hollls Wrandall la oiiml murdered In
a mail hoiiBe near New York Mm. Wriin
dull Ih summoned from tho city and Iden
lllls Ihu body. A young woman who ac
companied Wrandall to tho Inn and suh
reipiontly disappeared. Is HUHpected.
Mrs Wrandall stints back for New York
In nn auto during a blinding snqw storm.
On the way she meets a young woman In
tlio roHil who proveH to bo tho woman
who killed Wrandall Keeling that tho
Klrl had dono her a pervlco In ridding her
of tho man who though (die loved him
deeply, had caused her great sorrow.
Mrs Wrandall determines to shield her
end takes her to her own home. Mrs.
"Wrandall hears tho story of Hetty Cns
tlelon's life, except that portion that ro
laics to Wrandall. fhli and tho story of
tho tragedy sho forbids me. gin ever i
tell Hho offers TIetty a homo, friendship
find security from peril on account of the
tragedy Mrs Sara Wrandall and .Hetty
attend the funeral of Challls Wrandall at
the home of his parents. Sara Wrandall
und Hutty return to New York after an
nhsenco of a year If. Kuropo. Leslie.
Wrandall. brother nf C'hnllls. makes him
elf useful to Sara and becomes greatly
interested In Hetty Hnra sees In lyii
llo's Infatuation possibility for revenge on
tho Wrandalls nnd reparation for the
wrongs sho suffered at the hands of
Challls Wrandall hv marrying his mur
deress Into tho famllv. I-obIIo. In com
pany with his frtond Brandon Hooth. an
ortlst, visits Sara at her country place,
lesllo confesses to Sara that ho Is madly
In lovo with Hetty Sara arranges with
Hooth to pain a picture, of Hetty nooth
Jias a haunting feeling tliut he has soen
Hetty before looking through a port
folio of pictures by nn unknown hngllsh
nrtlst he finds ono nf Hetty. Ho speaks
1n her about It Hetty declares It must
he a picture of Tlottv alvnn. an Kngllsh
nclress. who resembles her very much.
J.cslln Wrandall Women Impatient ond
Jenloun over the alcturo painting and de
olnres ho Is going to propose, to Hetty at
the first opportunity Much to his cha
grin Lesllo Is refused 1y Hotty Sara,
between whom nnd Hetty a strong mu
tual affection hns grown up tries to per
niinde the girl that sho should not let tho
tragedy prevent her from marrying.
CHAPTER XI. Continued.
"You rlo luiow It, don't you?" ho
wont on.
"I God ltnowB I don't want you to
love mo. I never meant that you
should" sho was saying, as If to
herself.
"I Htipposo It's hopolcRS," ho said
dumhly, as hor voice trailed off In a
whisper.
"Yes, it Is utterly hopeless," Bho
said, and sho was white to tho lips.
"I I aha'n't say anything more,"
said he. "Of courso, 1 understand
how it 1b. Thoro's somo ono olso, Only
I want you to know that I lovo you
with all my soul, Hetty. I I don't
bo how I'm going to got on without
you. But I I won't distress you,
dear."
"Thoro isn't anyono else, Brandon,"
ho said In a very low voice. Hor fin
gers tightened on his In a sort of des
peration. "I know what you are think
ing. It Isn't Leslie, it never can
bo Lesllo."
"Thon then " ho stammorod, tho
blood surging back Into his heart
"there may bo a chance "
"No, no I" alio cried, nlmoBt vehe
mently. "I can't let you go on hoping.
It Is wrong so terribly wrong. You
must forgot me. You must "
Ho seized her other hand nnd held
them both firmly, maeterfully.
"Soo horo, my look at mo, doarest!
"What la wrong? Toll met You are
unhappy. Don't bo afraid to tell me.
You you do love me?"
Sho drew a long breath through her
half-closed lips. Her oyoB darkened
with pain.
"No. I don't lovo you. Oh, I am
bo Borry to havo given you "
He was almost rudlant, "'Tell me
tho truth." ho cried triumphantly.
"Don't hold anything back, darling.
If thero Is anything troubling you, lot
mo shoulder It. I can I will do any
thing In tho world for you. Listen:
WfrmM
A l-"r .Si V " 1.1
f SMI I
"8ome Day You Will Tell Me Every
thing,?" 1 know thoro'B a mystery Bomewhore.
I havo felt It about you Mwnyt). I
have soon It In your eyea, I havo al
ways sensed It stealing over me when
il'in with you thla Btrango, buwlldor
iug atmosphere of "
"Hush! You liniBt not Bay unythlug
moro," Bho cried out. "I cannot lovo
lyou. There' Ib nothing moro to bu
laald."
"Hut 1 know It now. You do lovo
into. I could Bhout It to" Tho mis
erable, whipped expression In her oyes
checked this outburst. Ho was struck
Iby It, even dismayed. "My deurcst
one, my love," ho suld, with lnllnlto
ItendornesH, "what 1b It? Tell mo?"
, Ho drow her to him. His arm went
(about hor shoulders. The final thrill
vsf ociUwy boundod through hie yolus.
The feel of her I Tho wonderful,
Btibtlo, fomlnlno feel of her! Ills
brnln reeled In a. now and vnBt whirl
of intoxication.
Sho sat thero very still and unre
Hlstlng, her hand to hor lips, uttering
no word, scarcely breathing. Ho wait
ed. Ho gavo her tlmo. After a little
whllo hor fingers strayed to tho crown
of hor limp, rakish panama. They
found tho Blnglo hatpin and drow It
out. Ho smiled na ho pushed the hat
away and then preHBcd her dark little
head against his breast. Her bluo
oyes woro Bwlmmlng.
"Just this once, Just this once," sho
murmured with, a sob in her voice.
Hor hnntl atolo upward and cnreBeed
hla brown cheek nnd throat. Team of
Joy started In his oyes tears of ox
qulslto delight.
"Good God, Hetty, 'I I can't do
without you,' ho whispered, shaken
by his passion. "Nothing can como
between us. I must hnvo you always
like this."
"Cho sara, sara," sho sighed, llko
tho breath of tho summer wind as
It Blnga In tho trees.
Tho minutes passed and neither
spoke. H1b rapt gazo hung upon tho
glosBy crown that pressed against him
bo gently. Ho could not see hor eyes,
but somehow ho felt they woro tightly
shut, as If In pain.
"I lovo you, Hetty. Nothing can
matter," ho whispered at last. "Tell
mo what It Is."
Sho lifted hor -head and gently with
drew hereolf from his embrace He
did not opposo her, noting tho serious,
almost Bomber look In hor eyes aB sho
turned to regard hi in steadfastly, an
unwnverlng Integrity of purpose In
their depths.
She had made up her mind to tell
him a part of tho truth. "Brandon, I am
Hetty Glynn."
Ho started, not bo much in Burprlso
ns nt tho abruptness with which sho
made tho announcement.
"I havo been sure of It, dear, from
tho beginning," ho said quietly.
Then hor tonguo was loosed. Tho
words rushed to hor lips. "I was
Hawkrlght's model for elx months.
I posed for all thoso studies, and for
tho big canvas In tho academy. It
was cither that or starvation. Oh.
you will hato me you must hato me."
Ho laid his hand on her hair, a
calm smile on his lips. "I can't lovo
nnd hato at the same time," ho said.
"Thoro was nothing wrong In what
you did for Hawkrlght. I am a paint
er, you know. I understand. Dooa
does Mrs. Wrandall know all this?"
"Yes everything. Sho knows and
understands. Sho la an angel, Bran
don, an angel from hoaven. But," sho
burst forth, "I am not altogether n
Bhnm. I nm tho daughter of Colonel
Castleton, and I am cousin of all tho
Murgatroyds tho poor relation. It
Isn't ao If I wero tho scum of tho
earth, 1b It? I am a Castleton. My
fnthor comos of a noble family. And,
Brandon, tho only thing I'vo over dono
In my ltfo that I am really unnamed
of Is tho decoptlon I practiced on you
when you brought that magazine to
mo and faced mo with It. I did not
llo to you. I simply let you believe
I was not tho tho peraon you thought
I wna. But I deceived you "
"No, you did not dccelvo me," he
said gently. "I road tho truth In your
doar eyes."
"Thoro are other things, too. I shall
not speak of them, except to repoat
that I have not dono anything olso
In my llfo that 1 should bo ashamed
of." Her oyes wero burning with enr
ucstuess. Ho could not but understand
what Bho meant.
Again he Btrokod her hair. "I am
Buro of that," ho said
"My mother was Kitty Glynn, tho
netresB. My father, a younger Bon,
fell in love with hor. They woro mar
rlod agatiiBt tho 'wishes of his father,
who cut lilm off. Ho wns in the serv
ice, and ho was bravo enough to Htlck.
They went to ono of tho South Afri
can garrlsotiB, and I was born thero.
Then to India. Thon back to Ixuulon,
whero an aunt had died, leaving my
father qulto a comfortable fortune.
Hut his old friends would hnvo noth
ing to do with him. Ho had lived
well, ho had made llfo a hull for my
mother in thoso fiontler posts. Ho de
serted us In tho ond, after ho had
squandered the fortune. My muthur
mndo no effort to cojnpel him to pro
vide for her or for mo. Sho was
proud. . Sho waa hurt. Today ho Is
In India, still In tho servlco, a mar
tinet with a record for bravery on
tho field Of battlo that cannot bo
taken from him. no matter what else
may befall. I hoar from him once or
twice a year. That Is all l can tell
you about him. My mother died three
years ago, after two years of invalid
Ism. During thoso years I tried to
repay her for tho aacrillco sho had
madu In giving me tho education,
the " Sho chdkod up for a second,
and thon wont bravely on. "Hor old
manager made a place for mo In one
of his companies. I took my mother's
namo, Hotly Glynn, and well, for a
season and. a half I was In tho chorus.
I could not stay thoro. I could not,"
sho repeated with a shudder. "I gavo
It up after my mother's death. I was
fairly well equipped for work ob a
children's governess, so I ongaged my
self to"
Hho stopped In dlsmny, for he waa
laughing.
"And now do you know what I think
of you, Miss Hetty Glynn 7" ho cried,
seizing her hands and regarding her
with a eerloua, steadfast gleam in his
oyes. "You arc tho pluckiest, sandiest
girl l'vo over known. You nro the
kind that heroines are made of. Thero
la, nothing in what you'vo told me thnt
could In tho least alter my regard for
you, except to increase tho lovo I
thought could bo no strongor. Will
you mnrry me, Hetty?"
Sho Jorked her hands away, nnd
held them clenched ugaliiBt hor breast
"No! I cannot. It is impossible,
Brandon If I loved you less than I
do, I might ay yes, but no, It Is lm
poaalblo." Hla oyefl narrowed. A gray shadow
crept over his faco.
"There can bo only one obstacle so
serious as all that," ho said slowly.
"You you aro already married."
"No!' Bho cried, lifting hor pathetic
eyes to his. "It isn't that. Oh, please
bo good to me! Don't nsk mo to say
anything moro. Don't make It hard
for mo, Brandon. I lovo you I love
you. To bo your wlfo would bo the
most glorious No, no! I must not
even think of it. I muBt put it out
of my mind. Thoro Is a barrier, dear
est. Wo cannot surmount it. Don't
nsk mo to tell you, for I cannot. I I
am so happy In knowing that you lovo
me, and that you still lovo mo after
I have told you how mean and shnnie
lesa I was in deceiving "
Ho drow her close and kissed her
full on tho trembling lips. Sho gasped
and closed her eyes, lying llko ono In
a swoon. Soft, moaning sounds came
from her lips. Ho could not help feel
ing a vast pity for her, Bho) was so
gentle, eo miserably hurt by some
thing ho could not understand, but
know to bo monumental In its power
to oppress.
"Listen, dearest," ho said, after a
long silence; "I understand this much,
at least: you can't talk about it now.
Whatever It Is, It hurts, and God
knows I don't want to mako It worse
for you In this hour whon I am eo
selfishly happy. Time will show us
tho way. It can't bo insurmountable.
Lovo always trlumpha. I only ask
you to repeat thoso three llttlo words,
and I will bo content. Say them."
"I lovo you," Bho murmured.
"There! You aro mlno! Three
llttlo words bind you to me forever.
I will wait until the barrier la down.
Then, I will tako you."
"Tho barrier grows stronger evory
day," flho said, staring out beyond tho
treo-tops at tho scudding clouds. "It
nover can bo removed.'
"Somo day you will toll mo every
thing?" Sho hesitated long. "YeB, beforo
God, Brandon, I will tell you. Not now,
but somo dny. Thon you will Beo
why why I cannot " Sho could not
completo tho sentence
"I don't bellovo thero Is anything
you can toll mo that will alter my
foollngs toward you," ho said firmly.
"Tho barrier may bo Insurmountable,
but my lovo Is everlasting."
"I can only thank you, dear, and
lovo you with all my wretched hoart."
"You aro not pledged to somo ono
else?"
"No."
"That's all I want to know," ho said,
with a doop breath. "I thought It
might bo Leslie."
"No, no!" alio cried out, and ho
caught a noto of horror In hor voice.
"Doos ho know this tills
thing you can't toll mo?" ho demand
ed, n harsh noto of Jealousy In hla
volco.
Sho lookod at him, hurt by his tone.
"Snrn known," sho snld. "Thoro la
no ouo olso. But you aro not to ques
tion her. I demand it of you."
"I will wait for you to tell mo," ho
said gontly.
Nonsense," cried tho elder Mrs.
Wrandnll, lifting her lorgnette again.
"1'uro, honest, unmixed blood, that's
what it Is. Thero Is birth in that
girl a face."
' You'ro always talking about birth,
mother," aald her son sourly, as he
turned away.
' It's a good thing to have," said hla
moihor with conviction.
"It's an oasy thing to get In Amer
ica," said he, pulling out hla clgarotto
case.
It was then that Sara prevailed upon
them to stop for luncheon. "Hotty nl
w.i)s takes these long walks In tho
morning, and alio will be disappointed
if she finds you haven't waited "
"Oh, as fdr that " began Leslie and
stopped,vbut ho could not have been
more lucid If ho had uttered the sen
tence in full.
"Why didn't you pick her up and
bring her homo with you?" asked Sara,
aB they moved off In the direction of
tho porch.
"Sho seemed to bo tnklng Brandy
out for hla morning exerclae," said he
surlily. "Far bo It from mo to
Umph!"
Sara repressed tho start of surprise.
Sho thought Hetty was alono.
"Sho will bring him In for luncheon,
n p m ft
"She Doesn't Seem Especially Over
Joyed to See Me."
CHAPTER XII.
Sara Wrandall Finds the Truth.
Sara had kept tho threo Wrandalla
over for luncheon.
"My doar," said Mrs. Itodmond
Wrandall, as alio Btood. beforo Hotty'a
portrait at tho end of tho long living
room, "I must ay that Brandon baa
aiiccoeded In catching that lovely llttlo
aomethlng that makes her eo what
shall I Bay? bo mysterious? 1b that
what I want? The word 1b as eluaivo
as the expression."
"Subtle is tho word you wnnt,
mothor," said Vivian, standing bwldo
Ioallo, tall, slim nnd aristocratic, her
hands behind hor back, hor manner
ono of nbaoluto Indifference. Vivian
was more than handsome; she waa
striking.
"Thoro Isn't anything subtlo about
Hetty," Bald Sara, with a laugh. "Sho'8
qulto Ingenuous."
Leslie wns pulling at his mustache,
and frowning slightly. Tho sunburn
on bin nono and forehead had begun
to pool off in chnpjjy little llakoa.
"Hipping llkcnoBB, though," wbb hla
comment.
"Oh, porfect," said his mother.
"Hoally wonderful. It will mako Bran
don famous."
"She's bo hoalthy-looklng," said
Vivian.
"Kngllsh," remarked LcbIIo, aa If
that covered everything.
I suppose," she said carelesBly, al
though thero was a slight contraction
of tho eyelids. "He la a privileged
character."
It waa long past the luncheon hour
when Hetty came In, flushed and
warm. She was alone, and sho had
boon walking rapidly.
"Oh, I'm sorry to bo bo late," eho
apologized, darting a look of anxiety
at Sara. "Wo grow careless with
time. Am I shockingly lato?"
Sho was shaking hands with Mrs.
Redmond Wrandall as sho spoke. Los
He and Vlvlnn stood by, rigidly await
ing their turn. Neither appeared to
bo especially cordial.
"What Is tho passing of an hour,
my dear," said the old lady, "to ono
who la young and can sparo It?"
"I did not expect you I moan to
say, nothing was said about luncheon,
wns there, Sara?" Sho was In a
pretty stato of confusion.
"No," said Leslie, breaking In; "we
butted In, that's all. How aro 'you?"
Ho-clUBped her hand and bent ovor It.
Sho wns regarding him with slightly
dilated eyes. He misinterpreted tho
steady scrutiny. "Oh, It will all peel
off In a day or two," ho explained, go
ing a shado redder.
"Whon did you return?" she asked.
"I thought tomorrow was "
"Lesllo nover has any tomorrows,
Misa Castleton," oxplnined Vivian.
"Ho always does tomorrow's work
today. That's why ho nover has any
troubles nhead of him."
"What rot!" exclaimed Leslie.
"Where Is Mr. Booth?" Inquired
Sara. "Wouldn't ho como In, Hetty?"
"I I didn't think to ask him to
stop for luncheon,' Bhe replied, and
then hurried off to her room to make
herself presentable.
Hotty was In a stato of norvous ex
citement during tho luncheon. Tho
encounter with Booth had not resulted
at all as sho had fancied it would. Sho
had botrayed herself In a most discon
certing manner, and now was moro
deeply Involved than ever beforo. Sho
had boon dotermluod at tho outset,
sho had failed, and now ho had a
claim an Incontestable claim against
her. Sho found It dllllcult to moot
Sara's steady, questioning gaze. She
wanted to bo alone.
After luncheon, LobIIo drow Sara
asldo.
"I muBt say Bho doesn't seem espe
cially ovorjoyed to see me," ho
growled. "She's an cool aB Ice."
"What do you expect, Leslie?" she
demanded with somo asporlty.
"I can't stand this much longer,
Sarn," ho said. "Don't you see how
things aro going? Sho's losing her
heart to Booth."
"I don t Bee how wo can prevent
It."
"By gad, I'll havo another try at
It tonight. I say, haa sho said any
thing?" "Sho pities you," Bho said, a ma
licious Joy In her soul. "That's akin
to something oIho, you know."
"Confound It all, I don't want to bo i
pitied!"
"Then I'd advlso you to defer your
'try' at It," sho remarked.
"I'm mad about her, Sara. I can't
Bleep, I can't think, I can't yes, I can
eat, but it doesn't taste right to' mo.
I've Just got to havo it settled. Why,
peoplo aro beginning to notlco tho
change In me. They say all sorta of
things. About my liver, and all that
sort of thing. I'm going to Bettlo it
tonight. It's been nearly three weeks
now. Sho's Burely had tlmo to think
It over; how much better everything
will bo for her, and all that. She's
no fool, Sara. And do you know what
Vivian's doing thla very Instant ovor
.there In tho corner? Sho'a Inviting
hor to apend a fortnight over at our
place. If alio comes well, that means
the engagement will bo announced at
once."
Sara did not marvel at his assur
anco In tho faco of what had gone bo
fore. She know him too well. In spite
of tho original rebuff, ho was thor
oughly satisfied In his own mind that
Hetty Castleton would not bo such a
fool as to refuse him tho second tlmo.
"It is barely possible, Leslie," she
said, "that sho may consider Brandon
Booth qulto ns good a catch as you,
and Infinitely better looking at tho
present moment."
"It's this beastly sunburn," ho la
mented, rubbing his nose gently, think
ing first of his person. An instant
later ho was thinking of tho other
half of tho declaration. "That's Just
what I've been afraid of," ho said. "I
told you what would happen If that
portrait nonsense went on forever. It's
your fault, Sara."
"But I havo reason to bellevo she
will not accept him, If It goes bo far
as that. You are qulto safe in that
direction."
"Gad, I'd hato to risk it," ho mut
tered. "I have a feeling she's In love
with him."
Vivian approached. "Sara, you must
let me havo Miaa Castleton for tho
first two weeks in July," she said se
renely. "I can't do it, Vivian," said the other
promptly. "I can't bear, tho thought
of bolng alone In this big old barn
of a place. Nice of you to want her,
but"
"Oh, don't be selfish, Sara," cried
Vivian.
"You don't know how much I de
pend on her," said Sara.
"I'd ask you over, too, dear, if there
weren't so many others coming. I
don't know whero we're going to put
them. You understand, don't you?"
"Perfectly," Bald hor Blster-ln-law.
"But I'vo been counting on Hetty."
"I say, Sara," broke In Leslie, "you
could go up to Bar Harbor with the
Williamsons at that time. Toll her
about tho invitation, Vlvie."
"It Isn't necessary," aald Sara cold
ly. "I scarcely know the William
eons." Sho hesitated an Instant and
then went on with sardonic dismay:
"They're In trade, you know."
"That's nothing against 'em," pro
tested he. "Awfully Jolly people
really ripping. Ain't they, Vlv?"
"I don't know them well enough to
eay, ' said Vivian, turning away, "l
only know we're all snobs of the worat
sort."
"Just a minute, Vlv," he called out.
"What does Misa Castleton say about
coming?" It was an eager question.
Much depended on tho reply.
"I haven't asked her," Bald his sis
ter succinctly. "How could I, without
first consulting Sara?"
"Thon you don't Intend to aak her?"
"Certainly not."
After the Wrandalls had departed,
Sara took Hetty off to her room. The
girl know what was coming.
"Hetty," said tho older woman, fac
ing her nftor sho had closed tho door
of hor boudoir, "what Is going on be
tween you and Brandon Booth? 1
must havo the truth. Aro you doing
anything foollah?"
"Foolish? Honven help me, no!
It it la a tragedy," cried Hetty, meet
ing hor gaze with one of utter despair
"What has hapiened? Tell me!"
"What am I to do, Sara darling?
He he has told mo that he ho-"
"Loves you?"
"Yes."
"And you havo told him that hla
lovo Is roturned?"
"I couldn't help It. I was cnrrled
away. I did not mean to lot mm seo
that I"
"You are such a novlco in tho busl-
ness of lovo." Bald Sara sneeriugly
"You are in the habit of bolng carried
away, I fear."
"Oh, Snral"
"You must put a Btop to all thla
at once. V.w can you think of marry
ing him, Hetty Glynn? Send him"
"I do not Intend to marry him," Bald
tho girl, auddenly calm nnd dignified.
"I am to draw but ono conclusion,
I suppose," Bald tho other, regarding
the girl Intently.
"What do you mean?"
"Is It necessary to ask that ques
tion?" Tho puzzled expression remained In
tho girl's oyes for a tlmo, and thon
alowly gavo way to ono of absolute
horror.
"How daro you suggest such n
thing?" sho cried, turning pale, then
crimson. "How dare you?"
Sara laughed shortly. "Isn't tho In
ference a natural ono? You aro for
getting yoursolf "
"I underBtand," said tho girl, through
pallid lips. Her eyes woro dark with
pain and misery. "You think I nm al
together bad." She drooped percept
ibly. "You went to Burton's Inn," Bontcn
tlously. "But, Sara, you must bellovo mo.
I did not know he was married. For
God'a sake, do mo tho Justice to "
"But you went thero with him," In
sisted the other, her eyes hard as
steel. "It doesn't matter whether ho
waB married or free. You went."
Hetty throw herself upon her com
panion's breast and wouud her strong
arms about her.
"Sara, Sara, you must lot mo ex
plain you must let mo tell you every
thing. Don't stop mo! You havo re
fused to hear my pica "
"And I still refuse;" cried' Sara,
throwing her off angrily. "Good God,
do you think I will listen to you? If
you utter another word, I will
strangle you!"
Hotty shrank bnck, terrified. Slowly
sho moved backward In tho direction
of tho door, nover taking her oyea
from tho impassioned face of her pro
tector. 'Don't, Sara, pleaso don't!" sho
bogged. "Don't look at mo like that!
I promise I promise. Forgive mo! I
w ould not- glvo you an Instant's pain
for all tho world. You would suffer,
you would "
Sara suddenly put her hands over
her eyes. A single moan escaped her
lips a hoarse gasp of pain.
"Dearest!" criod Hetty, aprlnglng to
her aide.
Sara threw her head up and met her
with a cold, repelling look.
"Walt!" she commanded. "Tho tlmo
haa como when you should know what
Is In my mind, and has been for
months. It concerns you. I expect
you to marry Lesllo Wrandall."
Hetty stopped Bhort. t
"How can you Jest with me, Sara?"
Bho cried, suddenly indignant.
"I am not jesting," said Sara lev
elly. "You you really mean what you
havo Just Bald?" Tho puzzled look
gavo way to ono of revulsion. A great
shudder swept over hor.
"LoBlie Wrandall must pay his
brother'a debt to you."
"My God!" fell from tho girl's stiff
lips. "You you must bo going mad
mad!"
Sara laughed softly. "I havo meant
it almost from tho beginning," sho
said. "It came to my mind tho day
that Challls waa burled. It has never
been out of It for an Instant since that
day. Now you understand."
If sho expected Hetty to fall Into
a fit of weeping, to collapse to plead
with her for mercy, sho was soon to
find herself mistaken. The girl
straightened up suddenly and mot her
gazo with ono In which thero was tho
fierce determination. Hor eyes were
steady, her bosom heaved.
"And I have loved you so devotedly
so blindly," sho said, in low tonea
of scorn. "You havo been hating mo
all these months while I thought you
wero loving me. What a fool I havo
been! I might havo known. You
couldn't love me."
"When Leslie uBks you tonight to
marry him, you are to say that you
will do so," said Sara, betraying no
algn of having heard the bitter worda.
"I shall refuse, Sara," said Hotty,
"If You Utter Another Word, I Will
Strangle You!"
overy vestige of color gono from hor
fnco.
"Thero la an alternative," an
nounced the other deliberately.
"You will expoBo mo to him? To
his family?"
"I shall turn you over to thorn, to
lot them do what they will with you.
If you go as his wlfo, tho Becrot Is
safe. If not, thoy may havo you aa
you really are, to destroy, to annihi
late. Tako your choice, my dear."
"And you, Sara?" naked the girl iqul
etly. "What explanation will you
have to offer for all thoso months of
protection?"
Hor companion stared. "Has tho
prospect no terror for you?"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)