THE SILENT WIFE!

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 40, 17 December 1920, Page 2

THE SILENT WIFE!

By MARK ENGLISH.

Remarkahle Drama MaTried

■ THE FIRST PART.

i Doris Thobury, the' sister of the child- ; rens's ward, was telling the little ones stories, when the door opened and the matron and Dr Weston came in. Doris's cheeks took u deep tint, for she loved the kindly, grave-faced young doctor deeply As the doctor went his rounds, she held each little patient's hand, for the pain liever seemed so bad whcn Sister Loris was near, and when all the patients nad been examirred her duty for the day was over. As she was going. out of the Cottagu j Hospital gate, Paul Weston overtook iier. "May 1 accompany yc he asked, and she srniled and nodded, They spoke of many things, and at last when they iiad reached a more seduTed spot the doctor : seized her hand. | "Miss Thobury," ! e said, "I love you — | I love you with all rny heart and soul ' Will you be rny wife?" She looked at tnir. j steadfastly as she answered ' ' Y e s. ' ' lt | was some time later when they parted, ; 'and when they did so Doris was the happiest girl in the world. The next morning she received a telegram : "Corne home immediately," it ran. "You are wanted at once. " And a little later she was speeding towards her home. At the very moment she was answering Paul Weston on the previous night, an interview was going on which was to alter her whole life. "Those are my terms take them or leave them. Aecept them and I pull you through ; refuse and you are ruined!" The speaker, Roger, Armer, was a strong, hard man ; he was Walter Thobury1 s rnanage", and the man he faced as he ulterecl those wcrds was Walter Thobury himself. Doris's father was a failure;- he was weak and lazy, and as he faced his manager he look.ed frightened. His unele had died and left him the liuge business of j Thobury and Co. But he did not trouble himself about the business; he left it all in the hands of Roger Armer. And now he found that he was on the bnn'k of rain, and only Armer eould pull him through, and that he would only do so on one condition, and that was that he should marry Doris. And in his we&kness and fear of ruin the crushed man agreed — actually agreed to sacrifice his daughter to save himself. When he told Doris slie was horrified. "Father," she cried, "you are not ir. earnest. Marry Mr Armer? I couldn't. You can't mean it." At last she cast aside all her hopes for the future and promised. That evening she wrote a short note to Paul Weston tc'ling him she had changed her mind and could never he liis wife. Her engagement to Armer was announced, and eventuallv Doris Thobury became Doris Armer. She found her husband domineering, and determined to break her pitfud spirit. She discovered, too, that she had been won by a trick, for her father 'a business had never been anything but perfectly solvent. * Paul Weston, a young doctor and her former lover, with whom she had been forced to break her engagement. He obtams for her a post as a nurse at a I private house, which she thankfully accepts. A few days after, she reads in tTie paper that the "missing Mrs Armer" has been found drowned, but actually the unvecognisahle body that was discovered belonged to an unknown girl to whom j Doris had given her clothes. j Tben one day a new housekeeper arI rived at Mr Farr's house, and Doris was i horrified to recognise in her one of her thief-Kusband's accomplices. One day Mr Farr's house is burgled and Doris, recognising her husband's work in this, rushes off to her old home to warn him. From the garden, she sees the figures of Armer and Isobel Vane sil-

houetted on the blind. Then one day Mrs Vanderdecken, the owner of a famous pearl necklace, is invited to dinner. Doris watches from behind a curtam,' and hears Armer. who is also preseni, ask her if she is not fearful of her pearls bein.g stolen. HAD DORIS BROKEN HER VOW OF SILENCE ! "Afraid ?" Nina's high American aceent. was extraordi-narily carrying. Doris, behind her curtain, heard the laugh that accompanied her words. "Notmuch!" continued Mrs Vanderdecken. "I nearly always wear my pearls, and I don't mind telling you in confiden-ce" — she smiled archly into Armer's impassive face — "that I sleep with them under my pillovv." Helena Farr leaned forward. "That's wher© I liid my jewels!" she cried excit-edly. "Only for that, they'd have been stolen when the burglars came the other night. They ransacked my room but they never thought of looking under the mattress." An awkward silence ensued. To Merton Farr the subject was, naturally, most distasteful, seeing that ainong the gnests round his table sat, disguised as liis seeretary, one of the cleverest detectives of the day. He changed the subject abruptly. "I expected Dr Weston," he said to Xina. "I still expect him. But a doctor's time is not entirely his own." "Indeed, it isn't" agreed the sprightly widow5 turning to Anner. "Of course," she said. "you know Dr Weston. A charm. ing man, isn't he?" "I know Dr Weston very slightly." Armer spoke stiffly. Doris wondsred at the coolness of the man. And then she saw a footman hurry round, and throw the door open. "Dr Weston," he aunounced, and Paul, looking very well-bred and good-looking, came quietly in. "I'm awfully sorry I am late!" he said, as he shook hands with Lena and bowed politely to the table in general. Conversation became general. Doris .saw, to her amazement, that Armer was treating Paul, who sat opposite to him, in a most cordial manner. What his object for this was the girl could not imagine. P;.Vul met Armer's advances coolly. It seemed to Doris that Dr Weston was as much surprised at the change in her husband's manner as she was. And, certainly, now she could have a locg uninterrupted look at Roger. He was very mu'ch changed in everv way. His face; always stern, was now hard as well. A curiously furtive expres■sion replaced the old straight forward glance. "If "-«e awful life of sin and crime he's living, she thought. "It's bound to tel\ in tiare. Oh, if only he would give it up ! Have I the right to stand asid.e, and not do all I can to save him? Have I? Have I? ' She stood back quickly. Helena had given the signal. The ladies rose, and hled to the door. Armer detained Mrs Vanderdecken for a minute. It seemed to the distracted Doris that- he could not bear to let t'ne pearls out of his sight. He had been most attentive to his partner during the meal. He was evidently saying something about the fastening of the clasp, for Nina put up her hands to the clasp, and made some laughing r.emark which Doris could not hear. The ladies passed through the hall, and into the drawing-room, before Doris could recover herself sufficiently to slip away. "Never mind," she thought; "I can eaxily slip round the terrace, and in at the side door." She waited a short time, until the men had settled down to their wine and cigars, and then, quietly ■ opening the window, she slipped out on to the gravelled path. "After all; I need not be uneasy. So long as they rernain clasped round Mrs Vanderdecken's n.eck, there's no danger."

This was what Doris told herself ; but deep down in her mind lay an uneasy feeling that it was not so impossible as she- would hke t-o believe. It seemed that nothing that was bad and cruel was impossiole for Roger Armer. And then, even as she tiu-ned the angle of the house, she came face to face with the man of whom she was thinking. How he got there, she didn't stop to think. That he was there s-he knew. The moon shorie down upon his face — pale aiid hard as ev.er. The faultlessly cut evening-dress showed off to perfection his equally fauitless figure. He looked strikingly handsoxne, and Doris's heart contracted with a strangiely sharp pain. It- was beyond doubt her husband on whom she gazed, arni yet she experienced the sensati-on that a stranger stood before her "I beg your pardon!" he said formally. "I hope I did not alarm you. Ihe fact is the dining-room became insufferably hot. 1 came out for a breath of air. " Sheer amazement held Dcris silent. He was actually pretending that she was a stranger — she, the ill-treatsd, insulted wife of Roger Armer was beirg addressed by liim as though he had never seen her before ! And then came swiftly an explanation of Armer's conduct. He believed her to oe dead ! Sh.e was dressed in uniform, and moonlight is dcceptive, plays strange tr:cks with form asid features. And she herself was changed. She looked old-er. And yet it seemed impossible that he did not recognise her. Well, letqt be so. It made her task more easy. Nurse Angela must say to Roger Armer things that Doris Armer clare .not utter. "Roger Armer" — she spoke in low, tense tones — "I will give you a word of waming. Yo.i are being watched. Do not return to the house. You cannot stcal Mr.s Vanderdecken's pearls. i know I ought to tell Mr Farr what you are. But if you will go — at once — I will not speak. Because of — the past, I will be silent." Her voiee choked- ; she hardly knew what she said. Armer continued to gaze at her. She could see his face change coLour. Then t'ne look of blank astonishment faded. "It is good of -you, Armer said. "Only — I don't understand you, Surely you are r" a mistake — taking me for somcon© else ?" «« — no." A strange doubt gripped her. This man was Rcge-r. and yet — he wa-s not Roger. She determined to rnake sure. " You are Roger Armer?" " Yes, I am — Roger Armer, but—" "Quick !" She pushed him from her. Her quick ear had caught the sound of an opening 'window. She glanced up, to see the shock head and coloured spectacles of Mr Smith leaning out of the passage window above them. "I've warned you. Go." Without a ba-ekward glance, she sped away, nor did she pause until she had gaihed her own room. She locked the door and threw herself down into a chair, her heart beating as though it- would suffocate her, every nerve tingling with excitement. "How will it end?" she moaned. "llow can it end? He believes me dead, and I — I alone — can save him. I am his wife. Nothing can undo that. I have broken my vow of silence, a vow I should never have ta-ken." She .sat for what seemed to her a long time, her face hidden in her hands, thinking what was best to. be done, praying to be shown elearly where her duty jay. At last- she rose, and bathed her tearstained face. "I will go to him to-morrow. I will tcll him that- it was his most unhappy wife to whom he spoke to-night. I will impiore him to give up his double life to rnake arnends to his victims, and return the jewels he has stolen. If anyone knew that Nurse Angela was Doris Armer, vhat would they think? But no one 1- r.owr, except Paul — my one, my only friend. Armer waited till the white-capped 5g-

ure had disappea-red, and then, ealing a ( quick glance round, to see no one else was j looking, he slipped into the shrubbery. j Had not Mr Walter Smith oeeu ,.o in- j tent on following Nurse Yngeti s iro\ ements, he would have gained siune va]u. J able informatton respxeting Mr Eocc-r 'I Armer. II But even the ^xeitest detertnes orcas- j ionaliy make miit is.es, and this vas one ' of Mark Lewis's liggest., as no cre wan '■ mere rcady to concide t han hiruseii'— . k later on. £ jr Meanwhile, Armer had lcachc.l the wicket gate leading to the woo-D A low soft whistle, and a man. app •..wai before U him. "I've had an advndnre, Hailow,." ,4rmev said. "Come Rn-ihsr awav and I'll ^ tell you. Oh, yes. we've f.lonj y timo,! Farr and the other nnn Aiu't 1(-.t e tl cir wine for soine time. The f-o;t is too good — cigars, too, 'beyond reproach." A pity, said Ifenry Barlo'w, who was so disguised that ■ eogdRioi- was mintie ally impossible, 'tl at ...u , >d have ikat ad\ enture. i va* w.itehinGf a!. 'he tune from behind tlv.se ulv f tvogrceu I sa'.v you and nor>;"Doris! Was that Doris?'' Airrm's tones were full of astonishment, "How she'.: changed! I'd never have re'mgmsed her. My g-)odti>-«s, you linve ;una7.el me ! ' ' "\ou're too ieck!ess/ .-wmrr' llfity Barlow complained. And then in a tenle ' wh.sper, he add^d ; Is eveiytlmig ar ranged?" | gjj "Yes, Nina Van is ripe for a fiirtation and 1 understand the fastmmg of her necklace. It's int'vcate, but it's practically the same as that Rimsi m voman's necklace I, pinched rmsh La'.vsi'liniied' necklace I pinched as she was jeavmg the | cpera in July." "Well, be careful ! iYnis Anner 1-i-avs "Or tliinks she knows." laughed ihe other. "The odd part aboat :t n.l is— that™ every body believes her to I o dead'" "Oh, well!" Armer shrugged his shoulders impatiently. "We can't 1 o::h>'rr:IJ., about Doris. I've got to get on w > t H the pearl business. I expect my vharmir is wond.ering why I don't put ni a a nppearance. If there w as no Wanda-, I might do worse than consider N ' i. a d anderdecken." "There is Wanda — and Were is Doris, also," said Henry Barlow. They conversed in low tones for a few minutes, and presently Armer strolled leisurely in, through the dining-room window, and he joined the other men "All right, Armer?" Merton Farr asked. "Oh, yes! Never could stand a hot room." Paul Weston looked steadily at him. There was something about Roger Armer to-night that he did not understand. Roger ^ Armer did not look in the le.ast- ill. B.ut, yes, there certainly was something strange about hina. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE WINTER GARDEN. Nina Vanderdecken looked up invitingly ACt into Mr Armer's face. She swept aside her rich dress, and made room for him on the sofa beside her. The group of ladies had broken up. Helena had attacPed herself to Paul Weston. Morton Farr was wishing that Doris was present. Her dislike to joining the part-y rather puzzled him. "Have you seen the winter garden, Mrs Vanderdecken?" Armer whispered, as lie skwly waved the widow's jewelled fan to . £ fl no aua iro. ■ "No ; not- for ev,er so long. Mr Farr was telling me of some wonderful orchids he .had secured." She sent him a flirtatious glance. "Will you allow me to show it to you?" Nina shivered a-ffectedly. "Won't it be eold?" "No ; quit-e the reverse. It is overheated, I think."

Nma Vanderdecken ros,e. "In that case, I'll go." She looked senlimentaJly at him as she laid her beringed hand upon his arai. Armer pressed it tenderly, and returned the glance with interest, ' All was going well ! They passed into the conservatory tog.ether. The sliade-d lights, the warm, enervating atmosphere, delighted Nina. After duly admiring theorehids, she sauk into one of the tane lounges whicli were placed about beneath the exotic plants and shrubs. The seat seleeted by Mrs Vanderdecken liad its back to the windows. She did not see that one of them was sliglrtly open. Armer sat in a low ehair opposite her, commandiirg a view of the winslow. Presently, he raised his hand slowly, and smoothed his liair. The dark figore of a man crept silently in, and dropped );ehin d a huge orange tree. "I suppose," -siglied Mrs Vanderdecken, "w.e ought to go back. Won't people tailc ?' Let them talk, " Armer said tenderly. "We are very bappy here, you and I?" He took her hand in his, and pressed t. "Yes," she murmured. "Mina, ti lere's something I want to say to you " But what Armer intended to say Nina Vanderdecken never heard. The lights went suddenly out, plunging the winter garden into darkness. Mrs Vanderdecken uttered . a scream, and clung to Armer. Iie held her closelv, and then, with genile foree, he put ner from him. "Do'n t be alarmed," he said. "Something lias gone wrong with the electric current. I'll go to find out what it is.' Sit still — you may fall over something. I won't be a minute. " But Nma was real-ly' friglitened. She uttered a shrill scream, and clung still tighter to him. "Oh— oh! Dpn't go ! I ean't he le-ft, Mr Armer! YTou mustn't go!'' Armer could willingly have choke-d her Her cries had reached tlie party in the drawmg-room. He could see Farr's br.Iky i'orm approachiiig. Quick as light, a hand shot out from the darkness and gently removed the neeklace whicli Armer had uniastened. The owner of the eager liand ci'awled through the foliage, reached the open door passed through it, closed it silently behind him, and then, keeping well in the shadow, disappeared into the copse. In less t-han it takes to tell the story, JTenry Barlow was specding towards London with Mrs Nina Van d cr decken's priceless rope of pearls in his pock,et. Whatever's the matter?" Mr Farr asked. , "Oh, the light has failed ! Don't be | } alarmed, Mrs Vanderdecken. It isn.'t the first tinie this has happened. I shall have i to send for the e'-sctrieian. It may be | 011 again atiy time." ! His hand touched the switch. Once more i ihe garden was flooded rpsy pink. : "Ihere, you .see it was hut rncmen- | lary. ' He smiled at Nina reassuringly. | Come into the dining-rocm, and let me 1 give you a glass of wine. Or would you cai'e to go upstairs ? Helena's nurse is tliere. If you feel faint, Nurse Angeia will know what to do. There's ^Veston, too. "No, no ; I don't need a doctor or nurse. I — I know you' 11 laugli at me, but I experienced -such an uneanny sensation ! As if I wasn't — alone." Armer laughed. "You weren't ; I was with you." And | then he added gravely : "Do you know, J, too, had the feeling that some third per.son was present." Farr peered ahout. | "Impossihle ! No one could have got in uuless they passed through the drawingI room. The doors on the terrace are •'!- I way.s secnrely locked at night." Farr offered his arai, and led the still trembling Nina through a side door into the drawing-room. Armer, full of soli-cit-ude, followed. She put her hand to her thrcat, gave a faint, gurgling cry, and sank helplessiy into a chair. Farr and Armer gazed at her in digmay. It was true ! The tliick rope of hawless gems was no longer decorating Nina Vanderdecken 's plump, white neck. "You must have dropped them in the winter garden," Morton Farr said. "Go, like a good cliap, Armer, and hunt ior them. Don't upset yourself, dear Mrs Vanderdecken. Armer '11 fmd them, and I bring them back in a moment. Now drink" this. That's better !" i Nina swallcwed the wine, and her coloui- | returned. I3ut her nerve seemed gone. i "I shall never see them again!" She | moaned. "They are stolen ! There was j someone else in the garden, someone besidg | Mr Armer and I. Whoever it was, stoie Imj pearls." She staggered towards the door "I'll help Mr Armer look. Tliey entered the conservatory, to find Roger Armer and oue of the footmen searching among the plants.

"I can't find them." Armer rose from his knees. "It's mo.st extraordinary ! ■ never left. Mrs Vanderdecken. In fact" — be hesitated, and glanced at the distracted woman apologetically — "my arm was vevy close to her, It's ineredible that anyone could steal the neeklace off Mrs Vanderdecken 's neck witb.out my knowledge." "The window was unlatchcd, sir." ' Charles came forwarcl. Morton Farr turned angrily. "And whose fault is that but yours." In vain the footman declared that he had locked and fastened the window. Roger Armer's face was a study. Sympathy mingled with shrewdhess. "I'm afraid," he said quietly, ''that Mrs Vanderdecken is riglit. She has b,een robbed. The gang who vohbed me — and you, Farr — has been here again. There is no tinie to lose. If you will allow me, 1 will go at once to the police-station. " "Thanks, old man ! In the meantime, 1 will ring up, Scctland Yard — " He paused. He had culy just remembered that he had a detective in the house. He beckoiied Armer on one side. "Armer, I'm going to let you into a secret. You saw my secretary at dinner — Mr Smith?" Armer nodded. "Well, lie is the celel-rated Mark Lewis, oue of the keenast 'tecs of the day." "I employed Jeffrey Smart," said Armer. "He is no use ! I'd hest he off." He turned abruptly aw'ay. He, like Heni-y Barlow, made straight for the woods. A hicycle lay among the brushwood. He mounted A, and in half an hou« had caught the last ivi-train. Snfe in the solitude of a first-class compartmcnt, Armer wip.ed his brow. "A narrow sbave that! What a scare that Doris gave ma! She's a plucky one. But all's well that ends well. In a few hours' time the fair Nina's pearls will be well out of the eountry. And after that I really will retire from the professioti. EngJand will -be too hot to liold us!" His face wore a look of regret. The "profossion," as he called it, was too mteresting to be reiinquished without a pang. Meanwhile, the commotion at Fairwell Manov had somewhat subsided. "Armer's gone to tell the police, ' Farr toki Lewis. The detective looked anupyed.

"Excuse me, Mr Farr," he said, "hut you should not have allowcd anyone to lea-ve the house without telling me." "But Armer — surely Mr Armer is above suspicion," Mark Lewis shrugged his shoulders. "No one is above suspicion until the guilty part is discovered. I think my disguise has served its purpose. I wiil now assume once more the personality of Mark Lewis, detective." To this Morton Farr agre.ed at once. "It's most extraordinary," he said. "Someone inside the house must have opened the conservatory door. Mustn tthey?" The detective smiled. "Looks like it. And now, with youv perxnission, I will search your guests — and the servants." In vain did Mr Farr protest. Mrs Vanderdecken backcd up Lewis. "Of course, the guests are a matter of form. But the servants — ah, they aro quite another matter!" "I will ring up the police-station, and ask them to send along an officer to help me." "But," protested Mr Farr, "Mr Armer has gone." "All the same it will be more satisfactory if I myself ring 'em up." Morton Farr accompanied Lewis to the telephone-room. "Hullo! There's something the matter with your telephone. It won't aet ! It's been tampered with! It doesn't work!" Closer inspection proved this to b.e the case. Inquiries also showed that since Roger Armer had used the instrument no one else had done so. Lewis made a mental note of this, hut he said nothing — pnly asked Mr Farr to send a special messenger to the policestatron, as the telephone was useless. As soon as the inspector arrived, accompanied by a female detective, he proceeded with the disagreeaMe duty of searching guests and servants. The foriuer took it philosophicaliy — make jokes ahout it — hut it was evident that the servants resented what they term. ed "the insult." Lewis took the female search, er on one side. "I want you to be very particular about searching Nurse Angeia." "You think -?" Mrs Shale hegan. "Not that she's the thief ; but that she's shielding the thief. Bring me any letters — or anything else you may find — privately." But when they sought for Nurse Angeia she was not to he found. Her room was empty. (Continued on page 4.)

THE SILENT WIFE. (Continued from page 3.)

"1'LL STAND BY YOU, MY DEAREST."

"Roger must be warned — and at onc'e!" Doris's mind held but this one thoufiht No matter vvhat it cosfc her, she must tell hira that the game was np — that the daring robbery had brought his undoing. Hastily she removed her uniform, and put on her old serge suit. She must be quick. The comrnoiion the loss of Nina Vanderdecken's pearls had caused would throw the whole house out of its usual routine. "They're going to have us all searched !'' she heard Martha Cox cry indignantiy. And cook responded excitedly. "A.s if we were thieves ! Tlre idea!" She must go — before they began the search. She vished she could have seen and spoken to Paul Weston before she left the Manor. He had been so kind, so understanding. It seeined so ungrateful to go like a thief in the night. The word "thief" brought another terrible idea to tlie giiTs distracied brain. If she disappeared without an explanation they would, in all probability, connect her with the gang of burglars ! Everything seerned against her. r>i course, she could not return liom.e. She dared not. But Roger must be saved ! It, dmn't matter much what became of her onee Roger was safe. And then, lik'e a flash, it camo to her that she loved him — that it was not all daty to the man because he was her husband that prompted her actions. In spite of the fact that he vas guilty, she loved him ! A wild longing to throw herself into his arms, to beg him to take her with him wherever he went, to go with him to a new land and start life afresh togcther, ca-me rushing over her. Together they would retrieve the past, redress as far as possible the wrong Roger Armer had done during his dreadful double life. She packed feverishly, and was soon ready. And then she found herself confronted by a new difficulty. How was she to reach Westways Court? She dared not risk Ihe car a.gain. The outdoor servants were -still searching tlie grounds. She could see their lanterns, like glow-worms among the shrubs. Sudd.en.ljq she remembered her bicycle. It was in the shed at the back of the house. She would have to risk being seen. that she cbuldn't help. The back portion of the house was prac. tically deserted. Servants and guests seemed to have congregated in the hall. No oue saw her steal into the shed, no one saw her go. She dared not light her lamp. She must rfsk running across the police. As a matter of fact, the inspector's car, on its way to Fairwell Manor, passed her as she crouched in the hedge. After that she met nothing, and, after a couple of hours' steady riding, found herself once more at the gates of her old home. She dismounted, and stood a minute looking towards the house. To her surprise the gates were open, and so she got an vuiinterrupted yiew of the house, which lay at the end of the long, straight avenue. "How late they were up!" she thought. The windows were lit up ; the electric lights on the staircases were on. And then she thought bitterly that this might well be. Roger could not long have returned home. Kather imprudent, all the same. As she stood hesitating- — wondering' — dreading what lay before her, a closed car came swiftly down the avenue. Doris slipped through the gates, leaving her bicycle in tho hedge outside. Whoever these late visitors might- be, ghe did not waj .t to attract their attent-ion. A woman c out of the lodge. "How is t j niaster?" Doris recognistd the woman's voice. She had becn lodgekeeper ever since Roger Armer had purchased the estate. "Oh," Mrs Beasley continued, "I do hope he is better, doctor!" The man inside put out his head. Paul Weston spoke gravely. Every word reached Doris, clear as a beii. "I can't say Mr Armer is much better, Mrs Beasley," Dr. Weston said. "If he doesn't improve in twenty-four hours I will send to London for Sir Hector Wil8011." "Eh. dearie me!" wailed Mrs Beasley, wbom, Doris remembered, was devoted to the master — and with good reason, seeing he had practically 6aved her chiid's life, placing her in a nursing home, and pay. ing all expenses connected with a long and serious illness. "Dearie me, but it's a bad job ! It seems the car overturned atop cf Mr Armer. He was found beneath it. Lilcky job you was a-coming s long at ihe

mpment, or he might have bin lyin ' there now 1" "Indeed he might, Tvlrs Beasley, I shail see him fiist.-thing in the mornirig. 1 hope to bring another doctor and a nurse with me. In the meantime, i\Irs Sprv and Miss "S'ane are looking after him. Not that there's much to be done till he recovers consciousness, except watch him carefully." The car moved on, and was out of sight before Doris could rally from the shock the conversation had caused her. Roger had met with an accident. He had been found on the roadside by Paul Weston} and, because of this, lie was being attended to by tlie very man whom he had forbidden to enter his house ! But Paul would savp Roger's life if anyone could. And Isobel Vane was nursing him. Isobel, wlio ha-d hated her and wanted Roger's love ! It should not be ! It was unthinkable that another woman should tend him, whilst she — ihe woman wlio loved him — stood outside, in th,e cold, a pariah at his gates. "l il tell her 1 live!" She clenched her hands until the nails bifc into her soft palms. "I'll break niy vow of silence ! I'll tell him I loie him! I'll ask his forgiveness !" (To be continued.)