THE SUNDAY BEE: UMAIIA. AUGUST C. 1922.
' I IK
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I . aa
j? ELIZABETH DEJEANS
FINAL INSTALLMENT.
The Clouds Roll Awijr,
Marie wat right: Weat had gam
bled on hit latt chance and had
lost Her scorn of Breck had
rung true, her revenge triumphant
was , ringing clear, amusedly cer
tain. West had shrunk; a high
handed, 'perfectly assured,' non
chalant gamester, a conscienceless,
clever man of the world, an artist
and actor of talent perverted.
Wetf Dunbarton-Kent changed,
while they looked on, into the
'hunted criminal His body seemed
to shrink and his statue lessen; his
shoulders lifted and rounded,- his
neck shortened, his jaw protruded
jjM sharp line narrowed his fore
head; his eyes grown furtive and
gleaming peered from a face that
belonged rightfully to the rogues'
gallery. The metamorphosis was
more astounding 'and far more
painful than the superficial change
wrought by a disguise removed;
that which had been a superb
woman changed into an erect, ar
rogant, well-featured ' man; this
was a revelation of mental deform
ity, revolting.-tickening.
He was looking from tlu's side
to that,, swiftly considering. He
moved sidewise toward the black
opening .in the paneling, glancing
into the darkness, glancing over
his shoulder at the cottage door,
listening the while. He looked at
none of them, yet observed them
fitful glances. 1 hen he de
rided: with a crawlinc leap he
cleared .the far end of the table
and ran across the room,' catching
ijp some of the scattered bills as
he went. He climbed the book
shelves as one would a ladder, lie
opened a casement ' window and
-crawled through it They all
t uroed and watched him. his
, body disappeared; for a brief mo
nynt they saw his hands clinging
the sill then they disappeared.
Marie said softly and sweetly;
but in a voice they all heard. "It
was necessary. He had ' but one
fear the law." Then suddenly,
she drooped against the table and,
before Breck could reach her, she
slid to the. floor, a huddled heap.
' WHIe'tts had sprung towards
her, but Breck hid leaped the
table and had reached her first He
lifted her up. "She has fainted," he
said. "I ought not to have let her
do it, but it was the only way."
He held her carefully, guarding
her oddly twisted, hanging arm;
stood upright and, over her bead,
which drooped against his breast, .
he looked at the three who had
crowded close; at Haslett and Wil
letts, who did not know what to
do nftct, at Mrs.- Dunbarton-Kent,
f lio was saying in quivering agi
ktion: "Give her to me, Breck
t hey may come at any moment.
My poor child! And you "
She looked old and broken, her
head shook spasmodically.
"No one is coming," Breck said
briefly. "She was acting she beat
him at his own game and without
anyone's help. You're indebted to :
Her for your release from that man.
l ve suspected Mrs. bmiti) tor some .
I ve searched her house sev
eral times. I've watched it night
after night, under difficulties. 1
searched it again tonight She was
not there, and. there! was ho. clew
to the jewels. I went a second time
to her bedroom . and found it
locked. There were movements" and
I . know she must have come by
some secret way. When there was
silence again, I knew she had gone
and then it came to me. I got into
the room and searched every inch
of it and I found it, a concealed
stairway down into the cellar.
Then I heard voices there was a ;
gap in the cellar wall and only the :
paneling between me and the cot
tage the . paneling was a door
which was closed. X opened it in
time, thank God!" He bad spoken
Capidly he gave his orders tersely.
'lather up that stuff on the floor,
Willetts, and I'll tell you what to
d6 with it. 'And you, Mr. Haslett,
look after my aunt she's ill. The
trouble here is a dislocated shoul
der, I think. I didn't notice till she'
used her , left hand. : The sooner
we get to the house the better." '
One afternoon, i three : weeks
later, Burton Haslett walked .
briskly along the lower road until
he neared the entrance to Colfax
Hall. Then he walked more slow
ly, his eyes keenly observant. The
old brick pile was being repaired.
there was scaffolding across its
front and piles -of lumber on its
mnkempt lawn. '-'"-.
le went on then to Kent house
"trance, stopped there, and stood
aamg. - Mrs.-' Smith s ' noose had
disappeared where it had stood
was a heap of blackened debris.
Gibbs, looking utterly Immune
to either . tragedy or comedy, in
tent on his Roman nose, as usual,
received the , Dunbarton-Kent
lawyer and relieved him of his hat
and cane. "Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent
Mill receive you in the library, air."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent was seat
ed, from winter habit, before the
fireplace whose only warmth now
Mat its shining brass. She looked
older, her huge .cheeks sagged
more, and, at times, the jerking
of her head, a relic of shock and
prolonged nerve strain, was notice
able. "So you chose to walk from
the station I suppose you wanted
to tee the ruins, again," the said
with her utual abruptness. She
eyed him keenly. "You've had
some word from him, of course. I
knew it at soon at you telephoned
that you were coming out."
"It's good newt," Haslett said
quickly. - "He's out of the country
he writes from Paris."
"He wants money, I suppose?"
she said grimly.
"Yes an allowance. He x has
seen our New York papers and he
realizes Miss Angouleme tricked
him."
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's red
brown eyes flashed. "Not one
cent! Notify him that we've
turned him over to the police."
"That was Breck's advice, but
we wanted your sanction." Haslett
took a paper from his pocket.
"Breck. advises that I send him
this letter: .'Your communication
received. I am instructed to
notify you that, the Dunbarton-,
Kent family has given your pres-:
ent address to the police. Mrs.
.Smith it charged with theft and
arson, and you are implicated with
her. Wherever you are, she is
supposed to be. ' Furthermore,
competent witnesses have made
statements which have been ap-
. pended to Richard Dunbarton
Kent's will. So far as your fam-
' ily is concerned, you have ceased
to exist.' I agreed . with Breck
. that it is the only way to deal with
him."
' Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent nodded.
'"Take all hope away from him
He'll gamble away what money he
has with him, then he II drift out
It's the end he deserves. I mean
to put him out of my mind."
"ThaVa right. Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent Villets, Greene and Jones
. all are pleased over . what yon
have done for them. Willets is
the only one who . knows the
whole truths Greene and Jones
think as the public does, that West
was sentangled with Mrs. Smith
and that he ran away, to escape
the scandal Willets will neTer
speak unless the Dunbarton-Kent
interest demand it. :. He's trust
worthy.".. "Break says he is. Haslett." She
spoke Breck's name with respect
and contrition.
There was the same note in
Haslett's confession: "I am
poor judge of character, your hus
band often said so, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent
I should have judged
Breck more correctly. ; I apolo
gized to him, but he cut me off:
'Forget, it.' he said. 'My . uncle
taught me the wicked folly ot, be
ing dishonest I have never had
anv desire to steal from that day
to this. We will not refer to the
matter again." ' .1 , 4
"The same thing he said to me,
Haslett, when I begged him to
forgive me. 'Don't think about it,
Aunt Bulah we'll never speak of
it again. Just remember my
uncle was a good judge of charac
ter.' He's been wonderful. Has-;
lett, the way he has taken charge
of things here, advising me what
to do about Bella and Colfax, and
other things.. I feel like weeping
from shame and pity when I look
at that carveri face of his". . Her
lips quivered too much fox her to
go on. '
Haslett looked grave. Mrs.
Dunbarton-Kent's future depend
ed so much upon relief from axi
ety and strain. And she was not
happy, far from h. "He is a
strangely quiet and self-contained
man, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent. And
capable. I have been endlessly
grateful to him for insisting, that
Mrs. Brant-Olwin's pearls must be
put back at once in the hole in
the .cellar where West had had
them, and that her . detectives
should be allowed to-make the
discovery. As it turned out, Wests
setting fire to his house before he '
made off was a most fortunate
thing, for it disclosed the entrance
to the cellar and brought Mrs.
Brant-Olwin's detectives to the
scene. Breck saved the day for
us."
"And Marie," Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent said jealously.
"Yes, indeed Miss Angouleme,
too," Haslett agreed promptly.
Her love fbr Marie was Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's
greatest joy, and
Hasletr grasped at the safe sub
ject. "How is the'? '
' "Her shoulder is well again,"'
she said more brightly.
Haslett rarely asked Mrs. Dun-.
barton-Kent an abrupt question,
but it wat a thing he had pon.
. dered. If Breck should marry
Marie Angouleme and settle down
happily with Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent at Kent house, Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent's
way would be
smooth; she would have compan
ionship and Breck would be an
efficient manager of the estate.
"Does the love Breck?" he atked.
Her face clouded. "I'm not cer
tain. 1 know she never cared for that
for West. I've told her hit his
tory, as we regard it now, an ex
perience that has made a noble
man of Breck. But all the said
was, It it a most sad history,
madam his fare shows how he
has suffered.' That was all. She
is just the tame devoted child to
me, sweet, but so grave. She
never speaks of Breck, and noth
ing would induce me to ask her
Marie did not know how long the sat
a question or meddle I've had one
' severe lesson in match " making.
She and Breck talk, at meals and
so on,"" but it's plain - that they
avoid each other. I'd like to be
lieve that she's happy I know
Breck is not he's wretched, for,
Haslett, I'm certain he loves a
woman, but it's not my little '
Marie it's Mrs. Brant-Olwin."
"Mrs. Brant-Olwin!" Haslett
exclaimed. ; - '
"Yes. They are devoted to
each other he goes to see her
every day. , They've been' devoted
to each other ever since they met
at my- dinner. What troubles
Breck is that history of his he will
have to tell her and he may lose
her." - ;
Haslett had been "suprisedly pon
dering. He said with decision: "
"She grew up in a rough country;
his i early history won't matter to
her. If she loves him, she will
. marry him." .
"Yes, like Bella. She threw
"everything to the winds and mar
ried Colfax. Willingto risk life
with him in a Brooklyn flat do
her own work and all that! Bella!
I must say the letter she pinned
Mo my pillow before she eloped
, changed my opinion of Bella
somewhat she's .a woman, after
all.; I suppose we're all alike, given
the chance." She was thinking of
Marie. She did not know, but she
was certain her child loved Breck
as dearly as ske had loved Richard
Dunbarton-Kent Her heart ached
over Marie. ---.
"I think Bella and Colfax will
come out all right," Haslett said
hopefully. "I've" thought so ever
since I went to see them and took
Bella your forgiveness and your .
offer to make them comfortable',
in Colfax Hall and give them an
income provided ' Colfax made
good. I told you how Bella broke
down and Colfax vowed he would
make good. Colfax is not a bad
sort what he needs is some one to
keep him straight. He told me he'd
1
J
loved Bella ever since she wat
little girl and that he went to
pieces because of a quarrel they
had. - Evidently the loved him
for she hat married him, finally.
It shows that there U something
fine in Bella. When I told them
what Mist Aagoulenie had ddne
for the family and of the wrong
we'd done Breck, they were ter
ribly upset. Colfax said, '1 told
you, Bciy I knew the wat a good
honest little thing. That child an
adventuress I You write to her
and beg her pardon.'. Bella said the
" would did she?"
"Yes. not a bad ton of a letter,
Miff, but evidently ashamed of her
self. I doubt if Marie and Bella
will ever enjoy each other, but if
Bella will make a man of Allen
Colfax, it's all I'll ever ask of her."
"Well, on the whole, things have
turned out better than I expected,
Mm. Dunbarton-Kent." .
"Yes," she agreed half-hearted-,ly.
"I don't mean that I am un
gratefulI'd like to see Breck
looking happier, and my little
Marie. You had better stay to din
ner, Haslett"
"Thank you no. I must get back
to towu. And, Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent, remember Marie Angouleme
alone in the big room; Gibbs knew.
is really, your daughter now you've
legally adopted her you have that
joy. She'Jr marry happily some
day. And if Brent marries Mrs.
Brant-Olwin, he will be near you
you. won't be losing him.'V
That evening as usual they took
their coffee 'in the .library, Mrs.
Dunbarton-Kent, Marie and Breck.
Mrs. Dunbarton-. Kent seated irr
her huge chair, Marie in the corner
of the divan, Breck backed against
the mantel shelf.
Marie had set her cup lown and
was idly plaiting into little folds
the red' chiffon of her gown, a fold
for each thought: only three
months ago, she had seen, for the
first timer Breck standing like that.
Three months? A lifetimel He
had grown thinner. He looked so
wretched always, when he came
back from visiting Mrs. Brant-Olwin.
But tonight he looked bet-,
ter, as if he were excited. Evi
dently the bad days were over for
him.' Mrs. Brant-Olwin was a
real woman today he had told her
and she had understood. They
were happy. It was true one
made or marred one's own life.
Way down in her own heart, she
had never really believed ill of
him; she loved him. It was jeal
ousy of Mrs. Smith a creature
who had never existed that had
led her to strange imaginings.
Jealousy distorted everything, bred
suspicion, destroyed faith. She had
tried to atone by helping to clear
his name, by serving his family,
by driving West out in a way that
had saved the family from ex-'
posure. 'But he had turned to an
other. It was 'a bitter punish
ment. . S ; - '
Marie's hands came together,
gripping. Then she stiffened, for
Breck was speaking, lie had said
abruptly:-"I am going away, Aunt
Bulah. Mrs. Brant-Olwin has an
immense tract in Arizona. She
wants me to make salable property
of it, irrigate it, and divide it up
into ranches. It't work 1 tau !,
1 have been considering it for ttM
hut two weeks today I decided.
Mrs. Brant-Olwin says she will
come to tee you and explain."
. There wat perfect silence for a
moment. In the day past, had
Wett made such an announcement.
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent would hae
saidN"Aod when are you and Mr.
Branl-Olwm to be married?"
Bat of Breck the asked no
questions: there were few people
whom Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent re
spected at profoundly at the did
Breck, or of whom the stood hi
greater awe, or over whom her
heart ached more. And there was
her child to be considered Marie
first of all. Breck and Mrt. Brant
Olwin had decided wisely; Mrs.
itrant-Ulwin belonged in the west.
They would go west and be mar
ried and live there; Breck would
be happy. And. for her little
Marie, it would be far better.
"It is for you to decide, Breck."
she said in the affectionate way
Marie knew to well "I have
hoped that you would stay at Kent
house," there wat a alight quiver
in her voice "find your happiness
here and, in a way, take the place
of my dear husband. I am not in
the least afraid of your past it's
made the finer mau of you. ' All
that will ever worry me is that I
misjudged you. But you know
best in which direction your hap
piness lies. And, Breck, I have
already made arrangements: 1 ,
want you and Bella to live in
comfort: there are 2.000.000 of
your uncle's money that I have
saved for your children. I have
settled 1,000.000 on Bella with a
proviso. Colfax the other 1.000,
,000 is yours, without any proviso.'
West doesn't exist." -
Breck had flushed to crimson.
He held out his hand to his aunt,'
"Thank you. Aunt Bulah. 1
ilon't know how to thank yov
enough. It's what you've said
not the money " he said jerk
ily. Mrs. Brant-Olwin has been
kind too. I'll explain before I
go away I can't now," a'nd he
turned on his heel and left . the
room.
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent was look
ing at her child. . The .light ell
full on Marie's face; she was look
ing at Breck through the window.
There are times- when misery in
vites sympathy; there are other
times when sympathy would ' be
an added hurt Mrs. Dunbarton
Kent rose and left the room as
noiselessly as possible.
Marie did not know how long
. she sat alone in the big room,
but Gibbs knew. He appeared
with his tray. Contrary to all
custom, he bore on the tray the
evening paper. He took Marie's
coffee cup, but that did not stir
her from her frozen attitude. The
tinkle of the spoon which Gibbs,
also contrary to custom, dropped
on the floor, did not startle her.
She looked at him with wid
vague eyes.
"I beg pardon. Miss," Gibbs
said, but have you seen the cvoii'Y.g
paper, Miss?" '
. For the first time since she had
come to Kent, house Gibbs had
asked her a question. If Marie
had been in a condition to notice,
she would have been astonished.
"No," she returned, vaguely. She
looked, without seeing, at the fold
ed paper Gibbs had placed on her
knee. '
'There is a little' notice of your
self : there, Miss of your : adop-
Mrs. Brafit-Olwin," and Gibbs in
dicated exactly the "paragraph on
Mrs; Brant-Olwin," by pbinting to
it. "I have been in the service
of the family for 15 years, Mips,
- and I make- free to offer "
Just what Gibbs was .making,
free to offer Marie did not "hear,
for she had read the first lines of
the paragraph on Mrs. Brant-Olwin
and had risen as if lifted by
wings. She passed through the
outer door like a winged Mercury.
From the window, Gibbs watched
her flight into the park and
.smiled.
"Monsieur Breck?" Marie said.
Breck turned with a convulsive
start. He had been looking at the
ruins of the cottage. But only for
a few moments, for he had come
down slowly through the park and
Marie had flown. He was so as
tounded he said nothing.
Marie came nearer, into the
clear moonlight.'' Her black curls
were loose on her white shoulders,
her cheeks vivid, brows knitted,
intent upon a purpose. "I ran
to ask you a question "
"Yes?" Breck said vaguely.
Marie came close. He looked
white, expressionless. "Why is it
that you leave Kent house, mon
sieur?" 1
He looked less blank; the color
began to darken his face. "Because
I can't endure it here!!!
' "Because you love Mrs. Brant
Olwin and she is to marry Mon
sieur Wakefield," tensely. . '
"I love Mrt. Brant-Olwin! No I"
Marie's whole being relaxed into
utter relief. She breathed words
that sounded like a prayer. She
bent her head, her little hands lifted
to her breast, palms together, ti e
attitude of prayer.
Breck looked at her and la