Page 15 (1/1)

The strikingly handsoe look in her eyes For several moments she did not speak It was clear that the sudden appearance of the dead man's son had utterly unnerved her What could he know concerning Charles Benton? How much of the affair did he suspect?

"I have met many people, Mr--er--Mr Henfrey," she replied quietly at last "Iman said "It is a memory that you do not wish to recall any oodboth of theh quickly

"Yes I--well--I may as well admit it! Why, indeed, should I seek to hide the truth--froed voice "Pardonthe card Pardon me--will you not?"

"I will not, unless you tellmyself I am here to ascertain that, Mademoiselle," he said in a hard voice

"And if I tell you--what then?" she asked with knit brows

"If you tell me, then I a yourself--provided you allow me to punish those who are responsible Remember, my father died by foul means And you know it!"

The woman faced him boldly, but she was very pale

"So that is a proardingI repeat that your father was a good hest esteeht that you, his son, should know the truth"

"Thank you Mademoiselle I will protect you if you will only reveal to h assured her

Again she knit her brows and reflected for a few moments Then in a low, intense, unnatural voice she said: "Listen, Mr Henfrey I feel that, after all, my conscience would be relieved if I revealed to you the truth First--well, it is no use denying the fact that your father was not exactly the e dual existence, and I will disclose to you one or two facts concerning his untimely end which will show you how cleverly devised and how cunning was the plot--how----"

At that instant Hugh was startled by a bright flash outside the half-open , a loud report, followed by a woman's shrill shriek of pain