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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1913-04-25, Page 6..,5555 --4. 5555 _ . ._ \,For a Weal Or, A Dark Temptation OC CHAPTER XXXIV.-(Cont'd) When every hope of treeing Gay failed signally, Mr. Lennox adopted the last measure that was left him -took the ev- ening train for Passaic, and proceeded at once to the home of Evelyn St. Claire. The heiress sat in the library -her blonde head bent on her jeweled hands. Not once, but a thousand times since her thrilling interview with Percy had she regretted 'the astounding revelation that had slipped from her tongue in the heat of the moment. She had been a fool to reveal the fact, that the lost love whom he had so bit- terly mourned was still alive. She uttered a desperate, mirthless laugh. It was a glorious revenge, but it doe? not satisfy me," she muttered; "I will-" The rest of the sentence was never ut- tered, a peal of the bell interrupted her reverie, and the next moment a servant entered bearing the card of Russel Len- nox. Evelyn St. Claire frowned. "Tell this person I will not see him," she exclaimed angrily. "You must see him, my dear young lady," said a determined voice close be- hind the servant, and, pushing the aston- ished man aside, be strode into the room, bowing low to Miss St. Claire as he spoke. She sprung to her feet fairly convulsed with anger and amazement, staring at the bold intruder. "How dared you force your way here?" she demanded furiously. "John," she exclaimed. collie; charily to the servant, who staked etar g 'h lessly at the etran; ere "show this son out, at once -lose no t me. I: he;re- epees to go quietly -threw w ler. on:. And she emphasized the -mime with a stamp of her da:.,.y fee: ti -. the velvet hearth -rug. Quick as thought the detective theose the servant from the tbre.clf. eMeeee door, and quietly turned the key -- the lock. And in that instant Evelyn St, eenie recognized him as the very ob. gen- tleman who had secured. the ;•a er. mat I was missing from the tie. f -r brr to the New York newspaper c% . e "There is no occasion for hys:.ertea alarm, Miss St. Claire.' he rsid sternly,' at that moment displaying hie o'3'ia badge. "I have no wish to harm you. I am here in the cause of justice, you mu': tell me what you have done with L::t-e Gay, the adopted daughter of Mr. Rem- ington, and where she is to be found now, living or dead. You are my prise ner. Mese St. Claire, until this mystery is cleared up -you mint speak." A harsh, discordant laugh fell from Evelyn St. Claire's crimson lips. "It is strange," thought the de:eotive grimly, "that one so beautiful should be so utterly heartless, so cruel." She faced the man defiantly, a mock- ing smile still curving her red lips. At whose instigation is this arrest made?" she inquired with superb indif- ference. His answer changed her into a fiend incarnate. "M the instigation of one who loves the girl.ebetter than life itself -Mr. Percy Granville, o3 Redstone Hall." A blood -curdling laugh interruptedhim; Evelyn St. Claire sprung to her feet with w face fairly livid with passion. "Go back and tell him this for me," she 'blurt. mit furiously, "I do know the fate of Little Gay, but no power on the face of earth can force me to reveal it! It will be a hard matter for you to prove that she did not fly from his arms wil- lingly enough." "You shall be compelled to reveal all!" declared the detective, angrily. "Never!" she retorted. ' You may lock me up in solitary confinement while my life last*. you may torture me on the rack, you may kill me, but I will never disclose the fate that has overtaken Gay - Bell Esterbrook, come what may!" "Tell me one thing, that I may spare those who love the girl as much suffer- ing as possible; is ehe living or dead?" You shall never know," replied Eve- lyn St. Claire. "I will carry that secret with me into my grave." CHAPTER XXXV. The detective looked into the beautiful face gravely. "I will give you a week to think the matter over, detaining you in safe cus- tody in the interim; at the end of that time if you still refuse to reveal to us where we can find Little Gay, living or dead, you will be called upon to answer for a crime you would not like to hear me name." Evelyn St. Claire fell back in her cosh, coned arm -chair with a low cry on her lips; but her fright, however, was only momentary. She faced him with defiant, shining eyes. I repeat, once for all, that I will carry the secret of Little Gay's fate down to the grave with me without revealing it. Percy Granville shall never clasp her to his heart -my rival shall never triumph over me," she said vehemently. The detective looked at his watch medi- tatively -it wanted a quarter to nine. "We are in time for the through ex- press back to the city," he said, "You must come with me, Miss St. Claire." "Where do you propose taking me " she asked, with a gasp, shrinking back from him, her face paling to a dead white. "I shall keep you a close prisoner at the Remington mansion for one week in order to bring you to your senses. After that must depend entirely upon yourself." Bravely defiant to the last, she utter- ed no word of comment when he rung for her wraps to be brought her. He led her to the carriage in waiting, and in silence they made the memorable journey. Mr. Lennox kept a close watch on the haughty beauty's every movement as they entered the railway ear. He believed she would make a sudden dash for liberty, and he meant to frus- trate any such attempt. In this he was quito mistaken. She al- lowed herself to be conducted to the Rem- ington mansion without the slightest re- monstrance. The banker's wife met them in the corridor. Her eyes were red and swollen with weeping. The greeting between the ladies was constrained and embarrassing. Iics. Remington followed her into the apartment that had been set apart for her use, begging her, with all a woman's eloquence, to tell them the fate of Little Gay. -Your prayers and pleadings are all in vain,' Evelyn declared. "You shall never learn the truth from me." "Have you no heart?" sobbed the ban- ker's wife. bitterly: "'Think of the lives you have wrecked. Poor Little Gay was sweet and innocent -think how shame - .illy you have betrayed her girlish fr.ezdehie; she never harmed you, yet yeet have speiied her life," A e 'e k ing laugh fell from Evelyn St .45 • her life. have I?" she repeat- s 'es'triumph. "I am wellea teal to aeknowledge :t. She stole my! f 'se- but for her he would, a e =. e. I hark her. She should ahalee : e -seed my path if she would have ec-aped a rival's terrible venge- Far hears Mrs, Remington pleaded with her, hutr e might as well have prayed eo a heart ea marble. neither tears nor' entreaties softened or moved her. This was the message that she was obliged --• take down to the drawing -room e her husband. and to Percy, woo was einr up and down the room like one cemented. Eve.y:: E:. Claire acknowledged that she, and she aor.e, could unravel the dark mystery tb_ t shrouded the fate of Little Gay-ehe e: