Charred Wood

nterested him more than any other woman he had ever seen; and he had a vague idea that he had met her before-but where? He was wise enough to know where such interest

most as charming and he had not even been interes

moment the detective was sure of his ground. It was easy to figure that out. Worse than all, the woman was afraid-or why the v

rray. Then she had referred to the incident on the bluff road very openly and without embarrassment These th

. He knew their prejudices. What would they say if the heir presumptive

here was something wrong. He knew there was danger to himself, to his heart, and to his peace; so he decided that he had better go away at once. Then the face he

d! She needs help; stay to give it." That was Mark's firs

of suspicion. Mark was too old a student of human nature to miss the significance of the look, and Saunders was too young at his

mind to profit

s. You are thinking of

d puzzled. "Veil? Lady? Oh, yes. Sure I am. It would

ow? You didn't

ees are good at guessing. Don

gs," said Mark, "both go w

and a little taste of Brand

r teeth-and especially into mine; for you know

s they approached

," said the clerk, throwing

without a stamp; it had come by messenger. The detective turned his back

-only a few lines-an invitation to tea that afternoon at

ay. Won't you come with him? He likes you-that I know-and he always

cer

Ath

Mark's pocket as he saw Saunders

hasset pretty quickly, eh

e reply was obviously inadequate, but Mark wanted the d

ented. "Square, tinted envelopes for bills we

hemselves. Saunders took the cigar Mark offered, a

away his cigar and rose. Something in his t

little while

write letters. I

ary; there were important papers in his room, and he didn't care to have his identity known just now. Then he smiled cheerfully, for his whole plan of acti

anks a safety deposit

l has one and its term

ced in his pocket. Then he went out. At the bank he rented a box and left the papers he didn't want Saunders to see. He felt satisfied that nothing Saunders found would relieve him of s

n the stove-a smudge made by a hand that had blackened itself by diving down into the ashes to search among the burne

f-or worse? Mark had heard of pretty criminals before, and he knew that beauty without is no guarantee of virtue within. But he had resolved to go through with the adventure, and he would not change his

him overly friendly, even anxious to ta

see the Pa

th him this afternoon. I

es. The Padre's a wonder, and the last man one m

o learn more

lican Church they would make such a

and man of the old Bishop of the diocese; but the new Bishop had to have new counselors. That's one way of the world that the church fellows have gotten into. Some sa

o much?" que

the Padre built that, and the big college, too, the one you see from the train. He was pr

s he dr

ths ago. Some of the young priests used to come to see him, but seldom any of the older ones. I got all I

cry over it," said Mark; "but someho

Went to school, by gosh!-dead game! But when they made him a priest he jumped right to the front. His last money went into the college he built. He has only five hundred a year to live on now. You know, Gr

the detective was beg

nger, isn't s

closed his eyes.

told

w a thoughtf

it, died, and his family went over to your country to buy a title for their only daughter. The girl up there must be a rich

N

the mill people. By gad, Griffin, they just love her! I passed her just now going into O'Leary's. The old man was crushed at the mi

r side every summer. There's one Atheson family in America worth millions, but I know that crowd; she doesn't belong to

ery woman wears a vei

rain, and the shade, an

s over, and Mark would not be probed. He had made up his mind to

ed all day. That's bad business policy for a Yankee.

ers g

hey're not like ancestors who wouldn't h

out to make his way toward the rectory. As he passed the Fir