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I was a little startled She laid her hand on my arm, and sank her voice to a whisper

"Look after her, Mr Hastings My poor Emily They're a lot of sharks--all of the about There isn't one of theet money out of her I've protected her as much as I could Now I'm out of the way, they'll impose upon her"

"Of course, Miss Howard," I said, "I'll do everything I can, but I'ht"

She interrupteder than you have All I ask you is to keep your eyes open You'll see what I h the open , and Miss Howard rose and moved to the door John's voice sounded outside With her hand on the handle, she turned her head over her shoulder, and beckoned to s, watch that devil--her husband!"

There was no tier chorus of protests and good-byes The Inglethorps did not appear

As the motor drove away, Mrs Cavendish suddenly detached herself froroup, and moved across the drive to the lawn tofor the house The colour rose in her cheeks as she held out her hand to him

"Who is that?" I asked sharply, for instinctively I distrusted the man

"That's Dr Bauerstein," said John shortly

"And who is Dr Bauerstein?"

"He's staying in the village doing a rest cure, after a bad nervous breakdown He's a London specialist; a very cleverexperts on poisons, I believe"

"And he's a great friend of Mary's," put in Cynthia, the irrepressible

John Cavendish frowned and changed the subject

"Cos This has been a ue, but there is no stauncher friend in England than Evelyn Howard"

He took the path through the plantation, and alked down to the village through the woods which bordered one side of the estate

As we passed through one of the gates on our way ho in the opposite direction bowed and sirl," I remarked appreciatively

John's face hardened

"That is Mrs Raikes"

"The one that Miss Howard----"

"Exactly," said John, with rather unnecessary abruptness

I thought of the white-haired old lady in the big house, and that vivid wicked little face that had just s crept over me I brushed it aside