LOVERS THREE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3828, 10 May 1913, Page 5

LOVERS THREE.

[ALL RIGHTS KKsKRVED.j

BY ARTHUR APPLIN (Author of “Robert Ailes' Wife," “The Stolen Heiress,” “The Chorus Girl,” Etc.).

IN PRISON. She could not conceive the object of his visit. He could hardly liave come to help her. The opportunity had been offered him in the p. lice court an hour ago, and he had watched her led away, in her own eyes shamed.and disgraced—a prisoners “Won’t you sit down? I want to talk to you, and what I have to say is in strict confidence.”

Phyllis found herself with her back against the wall. “I prefer to stand. I didn’t thing there was anything move to be said between us. You know I intend to repay you the money I owe you. The furniture and effects I left in the cottage at Pinner will be sold and the proceeds go towards the liquidation of my debts. And then, when 1 recover possession of my diamond pendant Egglington shrugged his shoulders, and drawing forward tho solitary chair sat down. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until the police have discovered Aaron lehbert, or, rather, I should say his corpse. You’ve only yourself to blame for finding yourself in "this position.” “I blame no one. It’s fate.”

Egglington smiled cynically. His blue eyes remained fixed on Phyllis Carlyld’s face. They seemed to be looking right-into her heart, aiid were cold, calculating, hut sensual. “Fate is responsible for a. multitude of follies. But once in the hands of fate, it isn’t easy to escape. I’ve come to offer you my services for the last time.” “It’s too late! I don’t want your help.” “You can’t do without it!”

She was pressing her body tightly against the wall. She wished it would crumble on to her. It- seemed as though there was no escajoe from this man; free or a prisoner lie pursued her. She liad just spoken of fate. Did fate intend, she wondered, that her life was, after all, to be linked irrevocably .with his?

“It’s too late,” she repeated desperately, scarcely knowing what she said but more frightened of the silence than of speech. “I suppose tho news of my arrest is already all over London; in a few hours it will bo all over Europe. I'm disgraced. I shall never be able to look an honest man in the face again——” She stopped abruptly as her thoughts flew suxxuenly to the two men who had been fighting for her, Peter Gate and Sin. Gate, in spite of his.help, in spite of his protestations, believed hei -;mHy. Only because ho loved her ho still fought for her.

When her guilt was proved, or her complicity in the crime that had been committed, he too would turn away from her in horror. He was a man—honest and honorable—living in the world of men and depending on their good opinion for his position. And Sin ?

Her hands went up to her fate as if to hide it, and the emotions it might betray from Egglington. Her body trembled, but site was conscious of a delicious glow pervading it. She wondered why the thought of Sin should; affect Tier so strangely. He too was an honest man —and lie had said he loved her. Instinct told her his love would survive any test. Hilt ha;d ho spoken in jest or in earnest? She had never met a man of his typo before. He was certainly not a woman’s man; it was bal'd to know what lie was—just, honest as the day, without knowing the meaning of fear. “Why do you cover your face? Are you afraid to look at me?”

Egglington spoke abruptly, but she preferred: it to the sauvo voice he had been using. She made an. effort for composure and tried to dismiss Sin from her thoughts. She held herself erect, looking at Egglington with her old proud independence. “Sav wliat you came to say and go. I’m tired,, and want, to be left alone.”

“Expecting a visit from your new lover, Mr. Peter Gate, eli? Haven’t been long in finding a substitute for Hertford.” If Egglington expected to hurt Phyllis ho was disappointed. The shot missed fire. “I never really loved Mr. Hertford. I liked him, and I would have married him. I would have married anyone in order to save myself from you! Now vou know the truth!”

Lord Richard slowly nodded his head and a slight smile parted his lips. He ran his fingers through his hair, which was rather long and dark. "Ivo known the truth for a long time. That’s why I can save you. Think well what that means, Phyllis. Your plight is more desperate than you realise. The fact that you intended to leave the country with Hertford is ip itself sufficient evidence that, if*nothing worse, you were his accomplice.” "Nothing has been proved, against Mr. Hertford yet. And remember, you’re speaking of the dead.” Egglington did not reply at once. Ho knew the value of silence. When lie spoke it was in ia whisper, intense, almost dramatic. "I know that Hertford killed Aaron Ichbort.” "That’s a lie!” "I know too that Hertford visited you on the night of Ichbert’s disappearance. Perhaps you didn’t see him. I admit that’s possible. But lie came to see you—and found Ichbert. And there’s something more I know, but I shan’t tell even you yet.

“I think the police are on the wrong track; I might put them right. If I did so it would clear your name entirely and remove some of the stigma that will otlierwiso attach to Hertford’s. And sinco he was your friend,” Egglington sneered, "that may not displease you.” "If what you say is true, why have you kept the knowledge to yourself until now?” Phyllis cried qnicldy. "I've been waiting,” Egglington replied, "and looking for proof. I’ve been waiting—for you.” Phyllis found herself staring at Eg-

glington with dreadful fascina: ’on. Her breath began to come quickly. She heard the noisy beating of her own heart; her bosom rosb and feli tumultuously. Egglington was smiling, Ho ran his eyes over her figure as if she were .a horse or a dog, ■ something whoso va’uc ho was appraising. Th ugh fascinated, her sense of repulsion increased. “I don’t understand,” Phyllis said jerkily. “You must. tell the police all you know, whether it's to my advantage or not. I insist.” “Not so fast,” tlie man int.’minted. “Think a moment. You can't insist- on anything. Who would believe you now? No one can force me to speak, for no ono else knows what I know, so no one can prove I’m keeping anything back. But I’m willing to speak; I'm willing to save you. And though, at the present moment, you’re a prisoner in Holloway, I'm willing to make you my wife and give you my name.” “Your name!”

“An honorable name,” he replied quietly. “Yours has been dishonored. As you say, tho news is all over London by this time. It is being shrieked from the gutters. Your portrait has been printed in all the half-penny newspapers. The history of your life is being hawked on tho pavements. “The world, that supremo, relentless judge of frail humanity, will by to-night have tried and condemned you. And there’s no appeal from the verdict of the world; its sentence is seldom, if ever, rescinded.” “I can fight the world.” “You can’t. A man can’t fight it single-handed, and you’re only a woman.”

“I’m not quite alone,’’ she said desperately. She fighting already with her back to the wall. She looked superb, her splendid dark hair tumbling and disordered, her face now robbed of its color, dead white, her head erect, set proudly on its marble-like pillar, her quivering figure softly outlined beneath the simple black dress. Egglington unconsciously drew liis chair a little closer. There were not many women so beautiful as this woman. ■ Slie possessed something the average girl lacked, something more than mere physical beauty, though that appealed to him strongly. “If you're relying upon Mr. Peter Gate,” Egglington said slowly, “you’ll find him ia broken rood. •She shook her head. It was not of Gate she was uhinking at that moment.

"Well, it’s the last chance I’m going to give you. Do you accept my offer ?” A scornful refusal hovered-on her lips, but ore she spoke it she realised to the full her position. Her funds were running low, her meagre income had gone to pay some of her pressing debts. She had intended to obtain work; but now she was a prisoner, .site was powerless. ® If she did not soon obtain repossession of her diamond pendant she would find herself in the direst poverty. Oho had many acquaintances tiro .world over, but as Egglington said, they would turn from her ‘now. Since she had hidden herself away at Pinner, she had neglected her few friends. Even if she had not been too proud to accept their help, it was not likely they would come to her rescue now. It was true, she was terribly alone. "The police will be able to prove that this farmer who was arrested last night had in his possession some of the notes stolen from Ichbort,’’ continued Egglingwn. "They may not be able to prove ho stole them, but he shared the plunder. Suppose they say he shared rfc with you and Hertford? Finger-prints arc dangorout things. , Suppose some of these missing notes were once in your possession Phyllis started? guiltily and recovered herself too late, \ "I only said, suppose'!” He rose to liis feet and stood close beside her, so close that his breath fanned her face, while Ids thick-set, rather ungainly body touched hers. "Come, Phyllis, don’t be foolish! I love you, but my patience is about at an end. Promise to marry mo, and I’ll make arrangements at once. You shall be free to-night and safely ensconced under the roof of an ancient aunt of mine who will chaperone you until our wedding can’take place. Your answer; it must be ycJ or no 1” (To bo continued on Monday.)