on now; I understood it all-the hidden ring at the end of the chain, and the shadow of which it was the symbol, the mystery and disturbance of the house, the continual pretex

wo or three. And in any case, why should the marriage be concealed and the husband retained as a member of the family, masquerading as a brother? And how, after the ordinary announcement in the press, could the marriage have become a secret at all? Then once more the whispers and pointings of a score of abnormal circums

n with casual acquaintances-anything to kill the interminable time, and quiet for the moment that weary spirit of unrest which kept urging me to useless thought and unprofitable action, to examine my trouble

the other day and started the argument with the old gent o

drunk, I suppose, an

to it than that. Yes, sir, there's a shady sto

till around h

he got after the old man some more. He was in here after a drink once, and the barkeep threw him out. He's a g

your shady s

Doc Reid, you know whom I mean? Well, I was going past and I heard Reid say: 'Now, you understand what you got to do,' he says, 'keep quiet and keep away. The minute you show up here again or gi

mare of unreality which only expanded without changing when I tried to sleep. I tossed about endlessly, thinking thoughts that were not thoughts, dreaming evil dreams even while I watched the swollen shadows about the room and li

ondering who could have called me up at one

by? Hello! Hello ther

d savagely,

econd." Then Lady's voice: "Mr. Crosby? Listen: I have to go to

but why doesn't-why don't

an go. If you'

ling," I said, "if

or-wait: there's no need of waking up the whole inn. Walk up to

It was the same big limousine I had noticed the night before. I climbed in beside the chauffeur. With a clash and a grinding lurch the car swung

steady," I said to the cha

rcilious respect. "Poor petrol, sir.

a jerk that threw us back against the deep leather cushions. For a few moments we flashed under lamps and sidled around corners to an accompaniment of growling brakes and

said, "but I knew we could count on you

smooth as I slipped it out of its leather h

on any desperate midnight errand. The mere time of night is the only thin

y the glimpse of a lightning-flash the veiled and silent figure by my side. Here was romance beyond my wildest imagination: night, and hurry and mysterious need, the swift rush onward through the warm gloom, the womanhood of the breathing shadow so close to me, whose thought I could not know, whose anxiety I could not seek to fathom, whose trouble I could only help by doing ignorantly what she asked of me and then leaving her in other hands. And all this that should have stirred me to chivalry seemed only dull and weary, a thankless task. The lines of The Last Ride Together began running in my mind, and I t

he first; and now as we jolted over a section of newly mended road and began to climb a bumpy hill, the trouble suddenly became so much worse that it looked as

," said Lady nervously. "I hope we're not

ne," I answered, "but I don't belie

w anything

d in front of the machine almost before the chauffeur had lumbered from his

t adjustment, it may take half an hour to get i

sir," he grunted; "she'

all right and one all wrong?" I snap

s connection on the magneto had dropped off, and the end of the wire was hanging loose, connecting only

rked cheerfully. "I've

after some search in the puddle of grimy grease, were fortunate eno

t exactly delighted wit

r forty-mile trips in the middle of the night, and he's

ng. We're nearly there

I had again trodden upon trouble. I seemed fated to do so at eve

ou want to? I forgot all about it, b

were going for a doctor. But when we passed Madison Square and kept on south along Broadway, that errand became unlikely; and when we turned eastward over the rough cobbles of narrow side streets, I was in a state of blank wonder. We ran slowly, lurching and bumping, through interminable chasms of squalor where iron railings mounted to the doors and clots of bedding hung from open windows; where evil odors hung and drifted like clouds, and a sick heat lay prisoned between wall and pavement, and stragglers turned to stare after us as we went by.

e between two shop windows like a fish's mouth. La

loor," she said, "yes, there it is. A

as right: "And all asleep, Miss, by the look of

What time is i

tes of three

alf to herself. Then, after a little thought, "Stay her

ce at this hour!" I protested. "T

. Don't stop to tal

hieves, awakened a multitude of squeaks and scufflings behind the plaster. The banisters were everywhere loose and shaky, and in places they were entirely broken away, so that we went close along the filthy wall rather than trust to them.

gas, and as I did so a fat beetle ran from under my fe

his is the plac

But I don't understand. She

he door is unlatch

er, and she clung to my arm whispering, "I'm afraid-I'm afrai

aid. "Open i

olver in my pocket, then put my weight against the panel. The thing inside moved a little, then rolled over with a thud, and the door swung wide. What